Vance warns Iran not to "play" U.S. before leaving for talks in Pakistan

Xinhua) 09:40, April 11, 2026

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.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
News / National

by Staff reporter

A long-running leadership wrangle within the Ndiweni royal family has intensified, with rival factions advancing sharply conflicting claims over who should be recognised as the substantive chief of Ntabazinduna.One faction is backing Dumisani Douglas Ndiweni, arguing that the chieftaincy is vacant and that he is the rightful successor. The opposing group insists that Nhlanhla Felix Ndiweni remains the legitimate chief despite currently residing in the United Kingdom.The group supporting Dumisani Ndiweni says it has acted in line with the Traditional Leaders Act, which empowers the royal family to identify a candidate for appointment. Family spokesperson Stanley Madlala Dube said the faction had formally endorsed him."The Ndiweni royal family pro-Dumisani Douglas Ndiweni faction has exercised its mandate as an electoral body and identified the last-born son of the late Chief Kaizer Ndiweni for the position of substantive chief of the people of Ntabazinduna," Dube said.The faction claims its position is fully supported by traditional structures within the Nhlambabaloyi clan, citing backing from key family houses.It further argues that Nhlanhla Ndiweni is disqualified from holding office following his 2019 conviction, maintaining that the chieftaincy has effectively been vacant since August of that year.The group also rejected the appointment of Wishes Ndiweni as acting chief, describing the move as illegitimate.However, a rival faction within the family disputes those assertions, maintaining that Nhlanhla Ndiweni remains the substantive chief. In correspondence addressed to the Umguza District Development Coordinator, the group announced the appointment of Wishes Ndiweni as acting chief pending his return."The House of Ndiweni has seen it appropriate to appoint an Acting Chief until such time Inkosi Nhlanhlayamngwe Ndiweni returns," the letter reads, emphasising that the arrangement is temporary and does not amount to a succession decision.The dispute traces back to the death of Chief Khayisa Ndiweni in 2010. Nhlanhla Ndiweni, his son, was installed and formally recognised as chief in 2014, but his leadership has faced sustained challenges from sections of the family, including his brother Douglas.Tensions escalated in 2019 when the government moved to remove Nhlanhla Ndiweni from office, a decision he challenged in court on the basis that he had not been afforded a fair hearing.With both factions standing firm, the impasse has deepened uncertainty over traditional leadership in Ntabazinduna, raising the prospect of a prolonged legal and cultural battle over the chieftaincy.
Comment by UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk on Russian designation of Memorial as "extremist"

Press releases

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

10 April 2026

Location

Geneva

I am appalled by the Russian authorities' designation of Memorial, one of the oldest and most prominent human rights organisations in the country, as an "extremist" organisation - effectively criminalising critical human rights work.

This decision is part of a broader, unsettling pattern in which the Russian authorities are applying laws intended to combat extremism to prosecute individuals or organisations under the guise that they are associated with vaguely defined extremist "movements" or groups.

Yesterday's raid on Russian independent media outlet Novaya Gazeta and the detention of journalist Oleg Roldugin, are also indicative of this continuing clampdown on civic space, freedom of expression and association, and repression targeting any individuals or groups perceived to be opposed to the Government.

I call on the Russian authorities to ensure compliance with their obligations under international human rights law. I urge them to immediately annul the latest decision on Memorial and ensure that no individual is subjected to criminal or administrative liability for the exercise of their fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression and peaceful association.

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MFA Statement

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

10.04.2026

The fact that the Russian Supreme Court, following a closed-door hearing of 9 April 2026, designated "the Memorial international civic movement" as an extremist organisation is yet another show of how Russia tends to confront its inconvenient past: by silencing those who are brave enough to speak about it openly and truthfully. For decades, Memorial's activity enabled restoring the memory of the victims of Soviet terror, including the victims of the Katyn Massacre.

Poland continues to value the group's contribution to uncovering and promoting the truth about what happened in Katyn. This sentiment was reflected for example in awarding Memorial with the Pro Dignitate Humana Prize of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2012. What is more, one of the organisation's founders and its long-time chair Arseny Roginsky was honoured with the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland as well as (posthumously) with the Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. The Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland was also awarded to Nikita PetrovMemorial's deputy chairman, historian, and researcher of the period of Stalinist repressions. We also appreciate Memorial's efforts for the protection of human rights and civil liberties in Russia.

We are disappointed at the organisation's legacy being cynically criminalised by the country's authorities. At the same time, we remain convinced that this ruling, along with other measures taken by Russia's authorities to erase the public presence of institutions and symbols that bring the true story of repression to light, will not manage to bury the memory of both the terror's victims and its perpetrators.

On the same day that Memorial, one of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, was labelled an extremist organisation, the offices of "Novaya Gazeta," whose editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov had also been honoured with this prestigious award, were subjected to a several-hours-long search conducted by Russian investigating authorities.

The day before, in yet another politically motivated trial, six activists from the "Vesna" Youth Movement were sentenced to long prison terms. The movement had also been designated as extremist by the Russian authorities in 2022. Anna Arkhipova, Yan Ksenzhepolsky, Vasiliy Neustroev, Pavel Sinelnikov, Valentin Khoroshenin, and Evgeniy Zateev were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 6 years and 2 months to 12 years.

The Republic of Poland strongly opposes all forms of human rights violations.

We call on Russian authorities to drop the practice of politically motivated trials, cease persecution of independent media, and immediately release all political prisoners.

We also urge the Russian Federation to meet its international commitments regarding the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of association, and the right to a fair trial. Unfortunately, the climate in modern-day Russia with regard to respect for human rights and civil liberties is increasingly resembling the 1930s.

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Former Top Russian Defense Ministry General Sentenced To 19 Years For Corruption

By Mike Eckel April 10, 2026

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 Russia's 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 Shoigu's 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 war's conduct. Hehe 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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-defense- corruption-popov-shoigu/33729466.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 the Delegation of the Russian Federation at the General Debate of the session of the United Nations Disarmament Commission, New York, 9 April 2026

10 April 2026 18:16

547-10-04-2026

Unofficial translation



Mr. Chairman,

We would like to express our deep regret over the lack of consensus on the agenda of the current session of the UN Disarmament Commission (UNDC) and, as a result, the inability to conduct a comprehensive discussion including within the working groups, as well as to develop recommendations based on the results of the three-year cycle of the Commission. At the same time, we are grateful for your efforts to organize an informal exchange of views on respective issues.

The current session of the Commission is taking place against the background of unprecedented developments in the world, indicating profound changes in the present system of international relations. Among them are the military operation and the subsequent humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the armed invasion of Venezuela and the capture of its legitimate President N.Maduro, the energy blockade of Cuba, unprovoked attacks against Iran with the aim to change legitimate authority under the pretext of supposed concern for non-proliferation. The number of countries whose statehood is destroyed before our very eyes by aggression is steadily growing. The consequences of using force against Tehran are rapidly bringing the Middle East closer to a humanitarian and environmental disaster and threaten to extend far beyond the region.

Ignoring the fundamental pillars of international law (IL) in order to achieve geopolitical objectives, refusing to recognize and take into account the core interests of other states, attempts to attain indisputable military superiority at all costs create a fundamentally new reality in the field of international security. Acting on the principle of "who is stronger is right" can undermine the foundations of sovereign equality and non-interference in the internal affairs - key principles on which the present world order, established after the end of the Second World War, was built. Rhetoric and practical actions aimed at overthrowing the incumbent governments only aggravate the situation. The mandate received from the people is no longer regarded as protection against military intervention. In these conditions there is a high risk of the world descending into chaos, where the right of the strongest finally replaces the rule of law. The consequences will be extremely painful and affect everyone without exception.

These events provoked the profound crisis of confidence in intergovernmental institutions and formats, including the UN. The principles and parameters of ensuring security stipulated in treaties and agreements are no longer perceived as inviolable, while international structures demonstrate their helplessness in the face of a new reality. This directly affects the system of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation (ACDN).

Aggression against Iran and bombing of its peaceful nuclear facilities placed under IAEA safeguards have become a direct attack on the NPT and a major blow to its regime. This Treaty and the non-proliferation rhetoric were used as an excuse to solve problems unrelated to non-proliferation. Iran's opponents, hiding behind good intentions, have created significant obstacles to the Agency's performance of its statutory verification functions. The inalienable right of States Parties to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, provided for in Article IV of the NPT, was called into question. The events around Iran may push non-nuclear states to search for alternative, non-conventional means of ensuring security. We hope that the upcoming 11th NPT Review Conference (New York, 27 April - 22 May 2026) will give a proper assessment of the illegal steps by western states and their negative consequences. It is important for us to preserve this unique and needed for the entire international community Treaty, which for many years has served as the cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.

The increased information stuffing from a number of western non-nuclear-weapon states regarding the possibility of acquiring their own or deploying foreign nuclear weapons on their territory is a very dangerous trend for the NPT. In particular, such statements are being made in Germany, Poland, Finland, Sweden, Japan and other countries. The destabilizing schemes of the so-called "nuclear sharing" and "enhanced nuclear deterrence" practiced by the United States and its allies, as well as non-transparent cooperation within the framework of AUKUS partnership, have a destructive impact on the stability of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. The United Kingdom and France initiated efforts to build some kind of "common European nuclear deterrence" capabilities in addition to the US "nuclear umbrella".

We are extremely concerned by the revealed information about London and Paris considering the idea of covertly transferring elements of nuclear weapons or a "dirty bomb" to the Kiev regime. This is not only a direct threat to Russia's national security, but also a flagrant violation of Articles I and II of the NPT, according to which nuclear-weapon states undertake not to transfer nuclear weapons, as well as not to encourage anyone to acquire them, and non-nuclear-weapon states - not in any way to acquire such weapons.

Against the background of the deteriorating international security, it is regrettable that the United States not only rejected the Russian initiative for the Parties to the New START Treaty to voluntarily comply with the quantitative limits set out in the Treaty after its expiration, but also announced its intention to immediately start building up its nuclear arsenal "at the first order" of the head of state. In turn, our country intends to act responsibly and carefully. We intend to develop our policy in the field of strategic offensive arms on the basis of a thorough analysis of the US military policy and general situation in the strategic sphere. For the future we remain open to seeking equal and mutually beneficial dialogue-based solutions to comprehensively stabilize the strategic situation - provided, of course, that appropriate conditions for such engagement are established.

The actions of the current US administration, specifically President Trump's order as of October 2025 regarding the resumption of nuclear testing, create serious doubts about the prospects of the CTBT's entry into force. The US abandonment of its national moratorium will inevitably trigger a "domino" effect. In this regard, responsibility will lie entirely with Washington.

When considering disarmament issues, it is impossible to ignore military, political and strategic realities, and any initiatives in this field must realistically reflect the state of affairs in the field of international security. Such an inextricable relationship is an objective reality which, in particular, was enshrined by consensus in the final document of the first Special Session of the UNGA on Disarmament in 1978. The document has laid out for decades to come the fundamental disarmament principles which remain relevant today and are a reliable foundation for any multilateral efforts in ACDN.

Mr. Chairman,

Scientific and technological progress and modern technologies, including space technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology, create vast opportunities for humanity and are becoming an integral part of our daily lives.

Russia attaches particular importance to the analysis of scientific and technological achievements relevant to ACDN. It is critical to identify and analyze challenges related to technologies and various research areas in order to reduce such risks to an acceptable level without hindering scientific and technological progress. At the same time it is necessary to assess objectively the advantages of such technologies, including from the perspective of compliance with

the existing IL.

We still consider the UNDC to be an optimal forum to discuss the issue of new technologies in the context of international security due to its specialized and inclusive nature, as well as the proven effectiveness of the decisions taken. At the same time, this dialogue should not duplicate the consideration of issues related to new technologies that is already underway in parallel formats. In particular, we consider the Group of Governmental Experts of States Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems as the optimal forum for relevant discussions. We believe that issues regarding the prevention of an arms race in outer space require further deliberation within the specialized Open-Ended Working Group, while biotechnology issues should be addressed in the framework of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.

Regarding weapons systems with the use of AI technology, we currently see no convincing grounds for the introduction of additional preventive restrictions or prohibitions. We proceed from the applicability and sufficiency of the IL, including international humanitarian law (IHL), to military means using AI. A vital element in ensuring compliance with the norms and principles of IL, including IHL, is human control over such weapons systems. At the same time the specific forms and methods of such control should remain at the discretion of states.

We proceed from the need of continued efforts to bridge the positions of states on certain most problematic aspects of the military use of AI technologies - in particular, on the development of a common specialized terminology, as well as common approaches regarding the application of the existing IL, including IHL, to these technologies, the maintenance of human control over such means, and the management of the risks and opportunities they create.

Mr. Chairman,

Current international landscape demands more than ever cooperation and dialogue aimed at de-escalation, reducing tensions, restoring trust, as well as reaffirming commitment to existing agreements in the field of ACDN. However, it is unrealistic to expect a full-fledged and productive discussion in conditions when the possibilities for such dialogue are constrained. In this regard, we view proposals for the so-called "optimization" of disarmament forums, including the UNDC, which seek to shorten the duration of sessions and statements, to be extremely harmful. The implementation of such ideas can in practice devalue discussions on critical international security issues and further aggravate already profound contradictions.

We remain fully committed to constructive work and cooperation with all interested delegations during this session of the UNDC.

Thank you for your attention.

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Shaheen, Blumenthal, Colleagues Call on Trump Administration to End Putin's Oil Profit Windfall Ahead of Tomorrow's Sanctions Waiver Deadline

Senate Foreign Relations Committee

April 10, 2026

WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) wrote Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent today calling on the Trump Administration to allow its waiver of certain sanctions on Russian oil to expire tomorrow. Higher fuel prices - driven by President Trump's war in Iran - and the Trump Administration's sanctions relief are reportedly providing Russia an extra $150 million per day in budget revenues from oil sales.

"This policy, however temporary or limited in scope, risks providing the Russian Federation with a continued stream of revenue at a time when it is actively prosecuting its war against Ukraine and continues to target Americans. Every barrel sold under the cover of this license is a resource that can be directed toward sustaining Russia's military operations, replenishing its capabilities, and prolonging a conflict that has already imposed immense human and economic costs," the Senators wrote.

"Continuing to ease sanctions on Russia as it provides Iran with valuable intelligence to target our troops and assets, putting them at lethal risk, is unacceptable."

The full text of today's letter is available here and copied below.

Dear Secretary Bessent,

We write regarding the upcoming expiration of the Treasury Department's sanctions relief permitting certain transactions involving Russian oil. We strongly urge the Department not to extend this license.

This policy, however temporary or limited in scope, risks providing the Russian Federation with a continued stream of revenue at a time when it is actively prosecuting its war against Ukraine and continues to target Americans. Every barrel sold under the cover of this license is a resource that can be directed toward sustaining Russia's military operations, replenishing its capabilities, and prolonging a conflict that has already imposed immense human and economic costs. Continuing to ease sanctions on Russia as it provides Iran with valuable intelligence to target our troops and assets, putting them at lethal risk, is unacceptable.

The United States has worked in concert with allies to impose sustained economic pressure on Russia precisely to constrain its war-making capacity. Extending this sanctions relief would undermine those efforts and send a conflicting signal about our commitment to enforcing that pressure.

Moreover, the stated justification for this policy - stabilizing global energy markets in the wake of the war in Iran - has not borne out in practice. Oil prices have not meaningfully declined, calling into question whether the waiver is achieving its intended purpose while clearly enabling an adversary. The Department has taken a similar step with respect to Iran itself, issuing a 30-day waiver allowing the sale of Iranian oil, which is set to expire on April 19, 2026. At this point there seems no justification for continuing the suspension of sanctions with the effect of providing billions of dollars to the Iranian regime.

At a moment when American leadership and credibility are paramount, we must ensure that our policies do not inadvertently finance or the very threats we seek to deter.

We urge the Department to allow this license to expire and to reaffirm a clear, consistent commitment to holding Russia accountable.

###

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US Condemns Russia Over Targeting Journalists, Urges Respect for Free Speech

By Alex Raufoglu April 11, 2026

WASHINGTON -- The United States has condemned Russia's latest actions against independent media following reports of new detentions and a high-profile newsroom raid in Moscow.

"We have seen the recent reports of two more journalists detained in Russia. The United States condemns any attempts to intimidate, harass, and punish journalists and independent voices for exercising fundamental rights to free speech and a free press," a State Department spokesperson told RFE/RL on April 10 in response to an inquiry about the developments.

"The United States considers freedom of expression to be a foundational component of a functioning democracy, a belief also reflected in Russia's own constitution," the spokesperson said, pointing specifically to Article 29, which guarantees "the freedom of ideas and speech" and protections for media from censorship.

"We urge the Russian government and courts to uphold this obligation to respect the fundamental freedom of expression, recognizing that societies are strengthened by the ability of individuals to express themselves freely without government reprisal or censorship," the spokesperson added.

Raid, Arrests, And Escalating Pressure

The comments come after Russian security forces raided the Moscow office of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta on April 9, detaining journalist Oleg Roldugin and seizing equipment and documents during a search that lasted more than 13 hours.

Authorities said the case relates to alleged "illegal use, transfer, or storage of information containing personal data," charges that could carry a prison sentence of up to six years. A Moscow court later ordered Roldugin held in pretrial detention until May 10. He has pleaded not guilty.

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.

The raid coincided with a ruling by Russia's Supreme Court labeling the prominent human rights group Memorial as extremist, further raising concerns about a widening crackdown on civil society.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, more than 10 staff members were held inside the Novaya Gazeta office during the search and were unable to communicate with the outside world for hours. The group called for Roldugin's immediate release and described the case as part of a broader pattern of pressure on the outlet.

Separately, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) detained a former freelance contributor to RFE/RL in the Siberian region of Chita on treason charges, accusing him of communicating with Ukrainian intelligence.

The man, reportedly identified by some outlets as Aleksandr Andreyev, last worked with RFE/RL more than a decade ago.

Long-Standing Crackdown Intensifies

The latest actions are part of a broader crackdown that has intensified since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Authorities have revoked media licenses, designated outlets as "foreign agents" or "undesirable," and pursued criminal cases against journalists.

Treason charges, such as those brought against the former RFE/RL contributor, carry especially severe penalties. In 2023, President Vladimir Putin signed legislation increasing the maximum sentence for treason to life imprisonment.

Analysts and press freedom advocates say the latest developments reflect both continuity and escalation.

"By banning Memorial and raiding Novaya Gazeta, the Kremlin is accelerating its war on truth and history," said Natalia Arno, head of the US-based Free Russia Foundation.

"These are not isolated incidents, but part of a systematic dismantling of Russia's civil society -- one that has unfolded over more than two decades of Vladimir Putin's rule and intensified dramatically since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine," she told RFE/RL on April 10.

Arno added that authorities are also tightening control over the Internet, social media, and VPN access, arguing the measures are aimed at preventing people from "connecting, organizing, and demanding change."

For Clayton Weimers, the executive director of Reporters Without Borders USA, the latest arrests and raid underscore a broader reality.

"Press freedom in Russia is a thing of the past," Weimers told RFE/RL on April 10. "These latest arrests are just the latest reminder that you cannot do journalism freely in that country anymore."

He noted that while independent reporting continues, much of it now operates from exile or under significant personal risk inside Russia.

Together, the raid, arrests, and legal actions suggest that the Kremlin's campaign against independent media is not a departure from past practice, but rather a continuation -- and possible intensification -- of long-standing efforts to control information and suppress dissent.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/condemns-russia-journalists- raid-novaya-gazetta/33729884.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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Compromising with authoritarian regimes not a formula for peace: Lai

ROC Central News Agency

04/10/2026 12:56 PM

Taipei, April 10 (CNA) Peace cannot be achieved by compromising with authoritarian regimes, President Lai Ching-te () said Friday, warning that doing so would undermine Taiwan's sovereignty and democracy.

Lai made the comment on his Facebook page ahead of a planned meeting in Beijing later in the day between Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun () and Chinese President Xi Jinping ().

Though he did not refer specifically to the meeting in his post, he was indirectly warning against any policy of reconciliation with China.

Taiwan "has ideals about peace, but not unrealistic illusions," Lai said, adding that history shows that compromising with authoritarian regimes comes at the cost of sovereignty and democracy and does not bring freedom or peace.

Lai also noted that Friday marked the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), saying the law, along with the Six Assurances, reflected the shared values of democracy, freedom and human rights and has served as a key pillar of Indo-Pacific stability.

Today, 47 years after the TRA's enactment, Taiwan is widely recognized as a "beacon of democracy" with a free and diverse society, ranking among Asia's top performers in various indicators, Lai said.

The United States' support for Taiwan's security and well-being has also become a bipartisan consensus in Washington, said Lai, who asserted that the world understands that defending Taiwan means defending freedom and democracy.

Lai also used the post to push again for a supplementary budget bill to support Taiwan's purchase and development of military equipment.

He said that given China's persistent gray-zone activities and military threats around Taiwan that seriously undermine regional peace and stability, Taiwan must demonstrate its resolve to defend itself in order to secure support from its partners.

Peace must be backed by strength, which comes from long-term, steady investment in the military, he argued.

Citing the Cabinet's proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.35 billion) supplementary defense budget for weapons acquisitions over the next eight years, he blamed opposition parties for stalling the plan in Taiwan's Legislative Yuan.

Lai said such actions would weaken Taiwan's defense capabilities and could also undermine international confidence in its resolve.

The two opposition parties with legislative caucuses have proposed supplementary budgets of between NT$380 billion (US$11.95 billion) and NT$400 billion to cover a package of weapons approved for sale by the U.S. to Taiwan valued at US$11.1 billion.

Cheng's KMT also pledged to finance any additional arms packages approved by the U.S. government in the future.



CNA graphic CNA graphic

(By Wen Kuei-hsiang and Ko Lin)

Enditem/ls

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KMT echoing Beijing narrative could affect global support for Taiwan: MAC

ROC Central News Agency

04/10/2026 10:01 PM

Taipei, April 10 (CNA) Remarks by Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun () echoing Beijing's cross-strait narrative could affect international support for Taiwan, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) warned Friday.

Cheng's framing of cross-strait ties as an internal Chinese matter and her calls to reject foreign intervention during the meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping () could shape how the international community responds to Taiwan, including arms sales and other forms of support, MAC officials said.

"If the Taiwan issue is portrayed as China's internal affair, it raises concerns over how the international community could step in when Taiwan faces difficulties," Liang Wen-chieh (), MAC deputy head and spokesperson, said at a press conference in Taipei.

In a statement issued Friday, MAC said that the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) share a political foundation that ultimately seeks to eliminate the Republic of China, reiterating its rejection of the "1992 consensus" as defined by Beijing -- namely "one China" and "one country, two systems."

The "1992 consensus" refers to a tacit understanding reached in 1992 between Taiwan's then KMT government and the Chinese government, under which both sides acknowledge there is "one China," while differing on its definition.

The KMT has upheld the framework, while the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rejects it, arguing Beijing leaves no room for interpreting "China" as the Republic of China.

MAC also criticized Cheng's proposal to institutionalize cross-strait relations under a "peace framework," saying such a framework was essentially a "unification framework" aligned with Beijing's long-standing policy toward Taiwan.

Liang further questioned the reliability of Cheng's account of her meeting with Xi, saying that her claims -- including that Xi had responded positively to her proposals -- could not be independently verified.

"Since we cannot confirm whether her recounting is accurate, we cannot comment on those remarks," Liang said.

Asked to comment on Cheng's suggestion that closer ties with Beijing could help expand Taiwan's international space, Liang pointed to past experiences in which Taiwan's participation in international forums depended on Beijing's political stance and could be revoked at any time.

Despite reports from China's state-run Xinhua News Agency that Xi welcomed Taiwanese agricultural and fishery products and other goods, Liang cautioned Taiwanese businesses and farmers against becoming overly reliant on the Chinese market, warning about what he described as a pattern of luring in producers with incentives before cutting them off.

"Such policies can be turned on and off at any time, leaving our farmers to bear the consequences," Liang said.

MAC reiterated that only Taiwan's 23 million people have the right to decide the country's future and stressed that party-to-party exchanges cannot replace official government-to-government mechanisms.

The government will closely monitor further interactions between the KMT and Beijing and take necessary action if any cooperation is found to contravene existing laws or undermine Taiwan's sovereignty, MAC said.

(By Chao Yen-hsiang)

Enditem/AW

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Xi's 'shared ancestry' remark 'major expression of goodwill': KMT chair

ROC Central News Agency

04/10/2026 09:39 PM

Taipei, April 10 (CNA) The chairperson of Taiwan's main opposition party described Chinese President Xi Jinping's () remarks on Friday -- that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share the same ancestry and should be united -- as a "major expression of goodwill" after meeting with him that day.

At a press conference in Beijing, Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun () was asked whether she shared Xi's vision of "reunification" between Taiwan and China.

Cheng did not give a direct response but quoted Xi as saying during their meeting that "social systems and political beliefs can be different, but our shared ancestry and the bloodline of this nation must not be severed."

"Different social systems are no excuse for engaging in secession," Cheng cited Xi as saying, adding that she believed Xi's remarks represented a "major expression of goodwill."

While many differences exist between Taiwan and China, "Taiwan's achievements and the mainland's achievements are all achievements of the Chinese nation," she said.

The two sides of the Taiwan Strait should respect and learn from each other to create more opportunities for cooperation, she added.

Cheng said during the press event that she also mentioned these differences to Xi, to which he replied that they should be addressed with "patience" and "persistence."

"The mainland respects Taiwanese compatriots' social systems and chosen way of life," Cheng quoted Xi as saying. "But he also hoped that Taiwan would recognize the mainland's development and achievements."

During her meeting with Xi, Cheng said she advocated for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, the resumption of negotiation mechanisms, and mutual benefits for both sides of the strait.

She discussed the expanded participation of Taiwan in international organizations on the basis of growing cross-strait mutual trust, and the continued operation of the communication platform between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party.

Cheng said she expressed Taiwan's hope to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA), the general assembly of the International Criminal Police Organization, and the assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

She also said during her meeting with Xi that both sides should explore Taiwan's accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Asked how Xi responded to her proposal that Taiwan be allowed to expand its participation in international organizations, Cheng said that Xi "welcomed it and responded very positively."

Since the return of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party to power in 2016, Beijing has vigorously blocked Taiwan from participating in international organizations. As a result, Taiwan has faced major obstacles in its bid to join the CPTPP and has been absent from the WHA since 2016 and from the ICAO assembly since 2013.

(By Sean Lin)

Enditem/AW

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Xi, Cheng vow to bring people across Taiwan Strait 'closer'

ROC Central News Agency

04/10/2026 04:57 PM

Taipei, April 10 (CNA) Chinese President Xi Jinping () and the leader of Taiwan's main opposition party met Friday in Beijing, and they vowed to bring people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait closer to facilitate the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

Xi met with Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun () on Friday morning in the East Hall of the Great Hall of the People, a venue typically reserved for meetings between Xi and foreign heads of state.

In public remarks prior to a closed-door meeting, Xi, in his role as head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), asserted that Taiwan is historically a part of China and remains an "inalienable" and "inseparable" part of Chinese territory and the Chinese state and nation.

As the world faces great changes, "the broader trend of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not change, and the great tide of people on both sides of the Strait growing closer and coming together will not change," Xi said.

"This is a historical inevitability, and we are fully confident of this."

The phrase "rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," which Cheng later echoed, refers to the CCP's goal to turn China into a great power by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the People's Republic of China (PRC), but it also connotes making Taiwan officially part of the PRC.

China's "national reunification," which includes annexing Taiwan, is an "essential step toward national rejuvenation," according to a White Paper published by China's Taiwan Affairs Office in 2022 and other official speeches and documents.

Vowing to strengthen exchanges with Taiwan and push for peace across the Taiwan Strait for future generations, Xi said China was willing to engage in dialogue with all Taiwanese political parties and civil society, but that engagement came with a major precondition.

He said it would be based on the "shared political foundation characterized by a firm adherence to the '1992 consensus' and opposition to Taiwan independence."

China sees Taiwan as a part of its territory, to be annexed by force if necessary, while Taiwan considers itself to be a sovereign country, formally named the "Republic of China," and it has never been under the jurisdiction of the PRC.

Echoing Xi's remarks, Cheng claimed that in the more than 100 years of interactions between the KMT and the CCP, "all we ever wanted is to guide the Chinese nation out of decline and toward rejuvenation."

"The great Chinese rejuvenation involves people on both sides of the strait. It is about the reawakening and resurgence of Chinese civilization," Cheng said.

"Although people on both sides of the Strait live under different systems, we will respect one another and move toward each other," she said.

Cheng called on Taiwan and China to put political differences aside and jointly work toward the creation of a "symbiosis of co-prosperity" underpinned by a systemic solution for preventing war.

The two sides of the Taiwan Strait should build sustainable avenues for dialogue and mechanisms for cooperation underpinned by a "shared political foundation characterized by a firm adherence to the '1992 consensus' and opposition to Taiwan independence," Cheng said, matching Xi's wording.

"Hopefully, through the persistent efforts of our two parties, the Taiwan Strait will no longer be a geopolitical flashpoint and will never be a chessboard for interference by external forces," Cheng said.

The "1992 consensus" refers to a tacit understanding reached in 1992 between the then-KMT government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Chinese government.

It has been consistently interpreted by the KMT as an acknowledgment by both sides that there is only "one China," with each side free to interpret what "one China" means.

Taiwan's independence-leaning ruling Democratic Progressive Party has never acknowledged the "1992 consensus," arguing that Beijing allows no room for the interpretation of "China" as the Republic of China, and that acceptance of the consensus would imply agreement with China's claim over Taiwan.

(By Sean Lin)

Enditem/ls

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News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa's decision to reassign Fungayi Jessie Majome from the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) to the Public Service Commission has triggered fierce backlash from legal experts, who argue the move is unconstitutional and void.The reassignment, announced in a statement signed by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya, took immediate effect and cited Section 202(1)(b) of the Constitution as the legal basis.However, the move comes just days after the ZHRC released a strongly worded report criticising the conduct of public hearings on the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3), raising questions about timing and motive.In its April 7 report, the commission detailed widespread irregularities during public consultations held between March 30 and April 4 across the country.The ZHRC said individuals opposed to the bill were subjected to harassment, intimidation, and, in some cases, physical violence. It also reported "controlled participation," with access to venues allegedly restricted and monitored.In Mhondoro Ngezi, the commission noted that men wielding whips were involved in vetting participantsan act it said violated constitutional rights including freedom of expression, equality, human dignity and personal security.Despite high attendance and broad participation, the commission concluded that the process fell short of constitutional standards and called for greater tolerance and respect for dissenting views.The reassignment has been widely criticised by legal practitioners, who argue it effectively amounts to an unlawful removal from office.Senior advocate Thabani Mpofu said members of independent commissions can only be removed under Section 237 of the Constitution, which requires a tribunal process similar to that used for judges."Reassigning Jessie Majome to the Public Service Commission therefore constitutes removal from office and is unconstitutional," Mpofu said, adding that reliance on Section 202(1)(b) was misplaced.Constitutional law expert Lovemore Madhuku linked the move directly to the ZHRC's findings on CAB3."Jessie Majome turned the ZHRC into a truly independent body For that, the president has dismissed her," he said.Other lawyers echoed similar concerns. Obey Shava described the move as "illegal" and a "constitutional abomination," while Justice Mavedzenge said the president had no legal authority to effect such a reassignment.CAB3 has emerged as a highly contentious reform proposal, with critics arguing it could extend Mnangagwa's term and alter presidential election processes, while also reshaping succession mechanisms within the ruling party.The timing of Majome's reassignmentjust days after the ZHRC's critical reporthas intensified claims that dissenting institutional voices are being sidelined.Majome, a former opposition legislator and senior lawyer, had recently drawn attention for leading what observers described as one of the commission's most assertive interventions on a politically sensitive issue.The development sets the stage for a potential legal and constitutional showdown, with calls already mounting for the decision to be challenged in court.
Xi meets KMT leader, urges joint efforts to promote cross-Straits peace, oppose 'Taiwan independence' secession

Global Times

Cross-Straits meeting helps accumulate goodwill, rebuild mutual trust: expert

By Wang Qi and Liu Xin Published: Apr 10, 2026

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, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday.

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 Straits.

Xi stressed that no matter how the international landscape and the situation across the Taiwan Straits 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 Straits to come together will not change, according to Xinhua.

He 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 Straits, 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."

Cheng said that people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are Chinese and belong to one family, according to Xinhua.

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-Straits relations, foster a brighter future for ties across the Straits, and advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Forging closer bonds

According to Xinhua, Xi made four points about the development of cross-Straits relations.

He called for forging closer bonds across the Straits 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 Straits belong to one China, he said.

"We welcome any proposals conducive to the peaceful development of cross-Straits 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 Straits. "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 also called for joint efforts to achieve national rejuvenation, according to Xinhua.

Zheng Jian, a professor at Xiamen University, told the Global Times that the meeting occurred at a critical moment  with the Chinese nation's rejuvenation accelerating, US strategic competition intensifying, and secessionists on the island rampant. It holds significant importance in reorienting cross-Straits relations toward stability, restoring exchanges, and reducing space for external intervention.

According to the Global Times observation, words like "exchange," "peace," "compatriots" and "Chinese nation" appeared frequently in Xinhua's meeting readout.

The emphasis by the leaders of both parties on shared Chinese identity and history, directly counters DPP efforts to tie Taiwan region to the US and Japan while distorting history and severing the civilizational ties between the two sides of the Straits, Zheng said.

Herman Shuai, a retired Taiwan lieutenant general, told the Global Times that the CPC and KMT, from the top level, discussed relations from the perspective of shared bloodline and cultural heritage  a major positive step for peace, especially amid the mainland's firm opposition against secessionists and some island politicians' "resist Chinese mainland, protect Taiwan" stance.

Shuai noted Cheng clearly stated that peaceful development must be based on the 1992 Consensus with deepened exchanges. Through the latest interaction, the KMT's discourse and policy line will become clearer, with more consensus with the mainland, said Shuai.

Taiwan-based media have paid close attention to this meeting, with CTiTV describing it as "historic" on its YouTube live page.

The vast majority of Taiwan media outlets highlighted the detail of the 14-second handshake between the KMT and CPC leaders.

The BBC described the meeting as a rare one, which saw both sides "stress a desire for cross-Straits peace." Major media including Bloomberg and New York Times also reported the voices advocating peace and anti-external interference by the two parties' leaders in Beijing.

Cai Peihui, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress from the Taiwan delegation and Chairman of the Board of the Cross-Strait Greater Bay Area Group Limited, said that the latest engagement has demonstrated to the international community that Chinese people on both sides of the Straits possess full wisdom and capability to resolve differences through dialogue and consultation, and jointly safeguard peace.

At a time when "official" communication channels across the Straits are not smooth and the risk of accidental conflict is rising, the high-level communication channel between the CPC and the KMT helps both sides of the Straits gradually accumulate goodwill, rebuild the foundation of mutual trust, and create conditions for the eventual restoration of institutionalized consultations, said Cai.

Choice between war and peace

Cheng Li-wun, during a press briefing, described the meeting as sincere, candid and heartfelt, and it fully demonstrated the shared aspiration of both sides for peaceful development across the Taiwan Straits.

She urged all political parties in the Taiwan region to refrain from using cross-Straits peaceful development as a tool for partisan competition or vote-seeking, stressing it is a choice between peace and war.

While Cheng continued her "journey of peace" in the mainland, Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te hyped the "mainland threat" rhetoric on Friday, claiming the island must strengthen its own capabilities, according to udn.com.

On Tuesday, Lai met with a US delegation led by Representative Zach Nunn, vowing to boost defense capabilities. Lai previously announced a $40 billion eight-year special defense budget in November 2025, but it was blocked by opposition legislators multiple times.

Shuai said the DPP has long used the "anti-China" narrative to switch public attention from its corruption and authoritarianism, but the failure of large-scale recall efforts against KMT legislators last year has shown it is losing public support. Further military spending aligned with the US would become an unbearable burden on Taiwan people.

Zheng pointed out that Taiwan is now confronted with a critical choice: whether to follow the path of peace through cross-Straits exchanges and oppose "Taiwan independence" or to defy the trend by adopting "anti-China" confrontation and reliance on the US for secession.

"The KMT led by Cheng has chosen the bright and righteous road," he added.

"We are paving the way and have taken the first step. From now on, the road ahead will only become smoother and broader," Cheng told media on Friday.

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Xi meets KMT leader Cheng Li-wun in Beijing

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 11:09, April 10, 2026

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 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.

Cheng said that people on both sides of the Taiwan 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.

Wang Huning, Cai Qi and other officials attended the meeting.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.04.10

Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date:

6 a.m. Apr. 9 (Thu.) to 6 a.m. Apr. 10 (Fri.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities:

7 sorties of PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 7 out of 7 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1150410_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1150410_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan

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KMT chairwoman says willing to do anything helpful to cross-Strait ties

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:46, April 11, 2026

BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party who is on a visit on the Chinese mainland, said Friday in Beijing that she is willing to "do anything as long as it helps promote peace across the Taiwan Strait."

Cheng is leading a KMT delegation to visit the mainland on the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. Xi on Friday morning met with Cheng in Beijing.

It is the first time in a decade that a KMT chairperson has led a delegation to the mainland.

At a press conference held by the delegation, Cheng said the meeting between the two parties' leaders was candid and sincere. The leaders of the KMT and the CPC met again -- after a decade -- demonstrating a shared desire, goodwill, and sincerity toward the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, she said.

She also reviewed the delegation's visits in Nanjing and Shanghai and expressed appreciation for the thoughtful arrangements by the mainland hosts.

Cheng said since assuming the post of the KMT chairperson, she has sensed strong calls from various sectors in Taiwan for cross-Strait exchanges and peace. Rising cross-Strait tensions would be a scenario no one wishes to see, she said.

Cheng emphasized that under the condition of recognizing the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence," mutual goodwill, communication and dialogue across the Strait are all possible.

The KMT chairwoman also urged relevant political figures in Taiwan to make the right choices, rather than neglect their duties for partisan or personal interests.

The KMT delegation's mainland visit began on Tuesday and will run through Sunday.

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Xi meets KMT leader, urges joint efforts to promote cross-Strait peace, oppose "Taiwan independence" secession

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:03, April 11, 2026

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.

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.

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.

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Drone Line: implementing a new warfare doctrine

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

9 April, 2026, 4:25 PM EEST

Drone Line, a large-scale project initiated by the President of Ukraine, continues to be rolled out across the Defence Forces. The objective of the project is to scale up a new doctrine of technology-driven warfare.

The core concept of the Drone Line project is to preserve the lives of personnel by establishing a killzone in which the enemy cannot advance without incurring losses.

Drone Line is designed to establish a unified system for employing unmanned systems, providing aerial support to infantry and continuously engaging the enemy at a depth of 10-15 km.

Drone Line constitutes the practical implementation of Ukraine's War Plan and marks the transition to the systematic employment of unmanned systems along the front line. In just over a year since its launch, the project has shown strong results: units within or supported by Drone Line neutralize one in four targets on the battlefield.

Drones as a key element of strike operations

Drone Line systematically scales the most effective solutions that have already been proven in practice.

The project consolidates the following:

combat experience from top units operating unmanned systems;

modern technologies and analytics;

stable funding and centralized support.

The project aims to create an environment in which enemy forces are detected and destroyed before they can approach Ukrainian warriors' positions. The project has effectively driven the transition from fragmented drone use to a systematic model where unmanned systems become a key element of strike operations.

Drone Line units

Since the very beginning, the project has included leading units of the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:

20th Separate Brigade "K-2" (USF);

429th Separate Brigade "Achilles" (USF);

427th Separate Brigade "RAROG" (USF);

414th Separate Brigade "Magyar Birds" (USF);

3rd Border Guard Detachment "Phoenix" (State Border Guard Service of Ukraine).

At the same time, the Drone Line project also supports other units operating within the framework of the new doctrine, including:

412th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade "Nemesis" (USF);

59th Separate Assault Unmanned Systems Brigade "Steppe Predators" (USF);

9th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade (USF);

424th Separate Unmanned Systems Battalion "Svarog" (USF);

411th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade "Hawks" (USF);

413th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment "Raid" (USF);

1st Separate Unmanned Systems Center (USF).

This is a network operating under a unified set of approaches. Drone Line helps expand the most effective units and scale best practices in the employment of unmanned systems.

Results: scope and effectiveness

As of today, over 1,000 crews are operating under the project.

The results of their operations are already having a systemic impact on the battlefield. Drone Line units strike one in four targets on the front line.

During the winter period alone, Drone Line units within the Unmanned Systems Forces neutralized over 30,000 enemy personnel. In March, enemy losses resulting from the operations of Drone Line units within the Unmanned Systems Forces exceeded 10,500 personnel.

This demonstrates the effectiveness of a systematic approach to using drones.

International support for the project

Drone Line is one of the mechanisms for direct funding of Ukraine's defense industry in the unmanned systems domain.

Under this mechanism, the Netherlands has allocated $880 million to scale up the project. Project funding has supported the procurement of FPV drones, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, and bomber UAVs for the establishment of the killzone.

Drone Line vacancies

Drone Line is open to both military personnel and civilians. The project welcomes UAV operators, engineers, IT specialists, medical personnel, administrative staff, and other professionals ready to work with modern technologies.

Each recruit undergoes specialized training, including basic military training and professional training tailored to their selected specialization and role.

Applications may be submitted through the Unmanned Systems Forces website.

The project provides for changes of duty station for service members to units within its framework. Civilians receive full support from the enlistment office all the way to their place of service.

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A bold assault "warhorse" that can swim: BTR-4 Bucephalus overview

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

9 April, 2026, 2:30 PM EEST

The development of the BTR-4 Bucephalus (Ukrainian: -4 , romanized: Butsefal) armored personnel carrier (APC) by Ukrainian designers marked an important step away from Soviet-era design standards toward modern Western approaches to crew protection and firepower effectiveness. This armored personnel carrier is in service with the Security and Defence Forces of Ukraine and has demonstrated its effectiveness in combat.

For example, the 20th Operational Brigade "Lubart" of the National Guard of Ukraine operates the modern Ukrainian BTR-4E Bucephalus equipped with the BM-7 Parus weapon station. It has also been equipped with additional counter-drone protection.

To learn more about how the Bucephalus armored personnel carrier has been put through its paces in the brigade, watch the Army Media report video below (English subtitles and auto-dubbed audio available in the YouTube player settings).

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine outlines key facts about the BTR-4 Bucephalus and its advantages.

BTR-4 Bucephalus APC: configuration and ergonomics

The BTR-4 Bucephalus is an armored personnel carrier with an 88 wheel configuration. One of its key features is a three-compartment layout, which sets it apart from the outdated BTR-70 and BTR-80.

Front compartment: positions for the driver and commander, with large armored windows providing excellent visibility.

positions for the driver and commander, with large armored windows providing excellent visibility. Middle compartment: houses the engine. As a result of this deliberate design solution, the armored personnel carrier features a through-passage along its side. The crew can now move from the cab to the troop compartment without stepping outside under enemy fire.

houses the engine. As a result of this deliberate design solution, the armored personnel carrier features a through-passage along its side. The crew can now move from the cab to the troop compartment without stepping outside under enemy fire. Rear compartment: troop compartment for seven personnel.

Importantly, troops dismount through rear double-leaf doors. This enables troops to dismount under the cover of the vehicle's 20-ton hull  a critical advantage in assault operations.

Engine and speed

The Bucephalus is powered by a Ukrainian 3TD-series diesel engine. It is loud but compact.

Engine specifications. Although it is relatively loud, its main advantage is its compact size, which enables the internal pass-through layout.

Speed. Up to 110 km/h on roads and up to 60 km/h off-road.

Fuel consumption. The vehicle consumes around 100 liters of diesel per 100 km on roads, increasing to up to 150 liters in harsh off-road conditions.

Firepower

The Bucephalus is armed with the BM-7 Parus remotely controlled weapon station, which includes the following key components:

30 mm ZTM-1 automatic cannon: a powerful weapon for engaging enemy light armored vehicles and personnel.

A 30 mm automatic grenade launcher (KBA-17) and a 7.62 mm machine gun.

ATGM capability: anti-tank guided missile integration.

Advantages of the weapon station. The gunner is seated inside the hull rather than in the turret, which significantly increases survivability in the event of a direct hit to the weapon system. The commander operates an independent panoramic sight and can designate targets to the gunner at the press of a button.

Armor and protection

The hull of the Bucephalus armored personnel carrier is made of specially hardened steel. It provides protection against 14.5 mm rounds from the front, while the side armor withstands 12.7 mm fire.

The design allows additional armor panels or slat armor to be fitted, improving survivability without reducing mobility.

Amphibious capabilities

Unlike many Western counterparts, the BTR-4 Bucephalus is fully amphibious in its standard configuration.

The vehicle is equipped with two powerful waterjet propulsors at the rear, enabling speeds of up to 10 km/h in water.

The transition to amphibious mode is rapid  it requires only checking that the hatches are sealed and fitting the air intake snorkels. The vehicle remains stable in water, without the bow digging in.

The BTR-4 Bucephalus armored personnel carrier is a bold assault "workhorse". It is suited for operations requiring high firepower, protected troop dismount under fire, and the ability to cross rivers without extensive prior preparation. In this rugged, powerful APC, priority is given to troop protection and remote fire control.

Previously, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine outlined the key features of CVR(T) armored vehicles, a new batch of which Latvia has begun delivering to Ukraine.

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Putin declares Easter ceasefire with Ukraine on April 11-12

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

10.04.2026 [12:34]

Baku, April 10, AZERTAC

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday an Easter ceasefire with Ukraine, effective from 4.00 pm (1300GMT) on April 11 until the end of April 12, in connection with the upcoming holiday, the Kremlin said.

Russia expects the Ukrainian side to follow its example, the Kremlin press service said in a statement.

"By decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, in connection with the upcoming Orthodox holiday of Easter (the Holy Resurrection of Christ), a ceasefire is declared from 4.00 pm on April 11 until the end of the day on April 12, 2026," the statement read.

It added that Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov were instructed to halt combat operations on all fronts during this period.

"Forces are to be prepared to suppress possible provocations by the enemy, as well as any aggressive actions on its part. We proceed from the understanding that the Ukrainian side will follow the example of the Russian Federation," it said.

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Update 346 - IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

International Atomic Energy Agency

10 April 2026

25/2026

Efforts to negotiate another ceasefire that would facilitate the repair of the main off-site power line at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) are still ongoing, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today. The 750 kV Dniprovska power line has been disconnected since 24 March 2026.

The ZNPP is still connected to off-site power via its sole backup power line - the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 line. It was reconnected on 5 March, following repairs carried out under the protection of the fifth local ceasefire negotiated by the IAEA.

"The damages to the Dniprovska line are located over the Dnipro River, which is the frontline in this area of Ukraine," Director General Grossi said. "Despite the complexity, both sides continue to engage constructively in our negotiations so that repairs can commence in the near future."

The IAEA continues to deliver essential equipment to support Ukraine through its comprehensive programme of assistance amid the ongoing conflict.

Under the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to the Kherson Oblast (ISAMKO), which was established in June 2023 following flooding of the region caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, leptospira strains were delivered to the Regional State Laboratory of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection in the Poltava Region of central Ukraine. The strains are intended to support the diagnosis of leptospirosis in humans and animals. Additionally, one mercury analyser with its accessories was delivered to Kherson Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Under the medical assistance programme, medical items consisting of ventilation devices and sterilizer equipment were delivered to South Ukraine Hospital. An electrocardiograph (ECG) alongside further ECG systems and an expert-level slit lamp were delivered to the National Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Hematology and Oncology in Kyiv.

One low-level liquid scintillation counter was also delivered to the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant this week.

These deliveries were made possible with funds from Denmark, Germany, Italy and Japan.

"The IAEA has been implementing its comprehensive programme of assistance to Ukraine since 2022 thanks to the support of Member States and the European Union," Director General Grossi said. "We will continue to work closely with all our partners to strengthen nuclear safety and security in Ukraine for as long as our assistance is needed."

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Russian Forces Liberate Dibrova Settlement in Donetsk People's Republic - MoD

Sputnik News

20260410

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces have liberated the settlement of Dibrova in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Friday.

"Over the past day, as a result of active offensive actions by Battlegroup Yug, the settlement of Dibrova in the Donetsk People's Republic has been liberated," the ministry said in a statement.

Additionally, the Russian armed forces have taken control over the settlement of Miropolskoye in the Sumy region, the ministry said.

Ukraine lost over 2,420 soldiers in combat against Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr over the past week, in addition to losses in manpower and equipment on other fronts, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"The losses of the Ukrainian armed forces amounted to over 2,420 military personnel, two tanks, 23 armored fighting vehicles, 57 vehicles and four artillery pieces," the ministry said in a statement.

This is in addition to over 1,280 Ukrainian soldiers eliminated over the past day by Russia's Battlegroup Sever, over 2,020 by Battlegroup Vostok, over 1,310 by Battlegroup Zapad, over 1,045 by Battlegroup Yug, and up to 365 by Battlegroup Dnepr battlegroup, the ministry said.

The Russian armed forces also carried out five group strikes against industrial, fuel and energy complex, transport and port infrastructure facilities used by the armed forces of Ukraine, the ministry added.

 Sputnik

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News / National

by Staff reporter

Exiled former Higher Education deputy minister Godfrey Gandawa has strongly opposed the proposed Constitutional Amendment (No. 3) Bill, warning that it risks reversing democratic gains and promoting authoritarian rule.In a detailed written submission to the Parliament of Zimbabwe, reportedly sent from his base in Namibia, Gandawa traced Zimbabwe's constitutional evolution from independence in 1980 to the present day.He argued that the country inherited the Lancaster House Constitution as a transitional framework, which was subsequently amended multiple times to consolidate executive authority rather than strengthen democratic institutions."The introduction of an executive presidency in the mid-1980s marked a decisive shift towards centralised authority," Gandawa said, adding that these changes entrenched what he described as the "Big Man Syndrome," where state institutions become subordinated to individual leadership.According to Gandawa, this governance model contributed to prolonged instability, contested legitimacy and episodes of political violence.He further argued that the Constitution of Zimbabwe 2013 was designed to correct these historical imbalances by promoting transparency, accountability and the separation of powers."The 2013 Constitution represented a national consensus to dismantle personalised rule," he said. "It introduced term limits, strengthened judicial independence and reaffirmed that authority must derive from the people."Gandawa warned that the proposed amendment must be assessed against this historical context, arguing that it risks undoing those reforms."This is not a neutral proposal. It reopens a constitutional wound that the nation worked painstakingly to close," he said.He also insisted that any changes affecting presidential tenure or executive authority must be subjected to a national referendum, as required by the Constitution."A referendum is not optional. It is a safeguard to ensure that the people remain the ultimate source of political authority," Gandawa said.He cautioned that proceeding without public approval would undermine constitutional order and erode democratic progress.Gandawa, who served as Member of Parliament for Magunje from 2013 until his removal during the Operation Restore Legacy, concluded that passing the amendment without a referendum would amount to overriding the will of the people and reversing years of constitutional reform.
FIA plans 2026 rules tweaks

Formula 1's first April crisis talks over the controversial 2026 regulations have concluded with the FIA promising only "tweaks" for now - but a broader push for change is clearly building.

Drivers, Japanese GP 2026

 Haas

The first of a series of meetings to discuss potential changes to the 2026 Formula 1 regulations was convened today by the FIA, the governing body said after the April 9 summit.

It was generally agreed ... there was a commitment to making tweaks to some aspects of the regulations in the area of energy management.

Further meetings are already scheduled, including technical sessions on April 15 and 16, before a decisive high-level gathering on April 20 where preferred options will be discussed.

At the heart of the issue is the heavy focus on energy management - particularly in qualifying, where drivers have been forced to lift on straights or through fast corners rather than deliver flat-out laps.

Former Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko says that shift has fundamentally altered the sport - and led to Max Verstappen hinting at a sabbatical or full F1 exit.

Max is a thoroughbred racer, he told motorsport-magazin.com. The current regulations are extremely focused on energy management - this only works in conjunction with the software engineers. The driver has been deprived of his dominant role.

While some adjustments now appear inevitable, Marko is not convinced they will go far enough.

There will be adaptations, but whether it will be possible to ensure that the driver is the decisive factor again, I cannot currently assess, he added.

Others believe meaningful changes are both possible and relatively straightforward.

Former prominent F1 engineer Toni Cuquerella told Marca that the solution may lie in rebalancing the hybrid system rather than redesigning it entirely.

With minimal changes, you can have a huge impact on how the race is run, how qualifying is done, he said.

We currently have 350kW, but that only lasts us halfway down the straight. We can reduce the electric motor's power output so it lasts the entire straight.

Former F1 driver Jean-Eric Vergne, speaking to AS newspaper, suggested part of the backlash may stem from confusion around the concept itself.

Perhaps F1 hasn't properly explained why they wanted to go 50 percent electric and the changes that would bring, said the Frenchman and now Formula E driver.

(GMM)
Lambiase exit a significant loss for Red Bull says Marko

Dr Helmut Marko admits Red Bull is facing a "significant loss" after confirming that Max Verstappen's long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will leave for McLaren.

Team, Japanese GP 2026

 Red Bull

GP is a crucial factor in car development and setup, who went his own way - not always in agreement with the rest of the technical crew, the former Red Bull advisor told motorsport-magazin.com in Vienna.

The two were like an old married couple. They had their discussions and disputes, but this is a significant loss.

Red Bull has now confirmed that Lambiase will depart in 2028 when his current contract expires .

'GP' is a valued member of the team ... Until his planned departure, 'GP' continues in his roles as Head of Racing and as Race Engineer to Max Verstappen.

McLaren also announced the deal, confirming Lambiase will join as Chief Racing Officer no later than 2028 .

The move is the latest in a string of high-profile defections from Red Bull to McLaren, following Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay.

Despite speculation, Auto Motor und Sport reports that Lambiase is not being lined up to replace Stella, who is also understood to not be planning a return to Ferrari to replace Frederic Vasseur.

In its statement, McLaren insisted that Stella and team boss Zak Brown are both on "long-term contracts).

Meanwhile, rumours that Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache could be sacked are believed to be wide of the mark - although concerns about the team's internal state persist.

The team is currently in disarray, chaos reigns everywhere, and there is no proper communication with the outside world, Ralf Schumacher told Sky Deutschland.

There is also no Helmut Marko who could provide any guidance, as far as I can see.

Even Verstappen's focus appears to be drifting, according to Marko.

Max talks more about the Nurburgring than about Formula 1, he said, referring to ongoing contact with the Dutchman, who is set to race again at the Nordschleife in April.

(GMM)
News / National

by Staff reporter

Fresh details have emerged about decades-long reports of mysterious deaths in Chief Mola's area in Nyaminyami Rural District, Kariba, where residents have long complained of victims vomiting blood and developing swollen abdomens before dying.Local leaders, politicians and health officials now say the conditions are likely linked to chronic schistosomiasis (stomach bilharzia), a parasitic disease associated with contaminated water sources.Former Kariba MP Isaac Mackenzie said the issue has persisted for decades without sustained intervention, while current legislator Shine Collins Gwangwaba said he has witnessed more than 40 suspected cases in his lifetime, calling for urgent government action.Veteran journalist Shame Makoshori also confirmed the long-running nature of the problem, describing it as a "systemic failure" to address a recurring rural health crisis.Health experts cited in the reports say severe, untreated schistosomiasis can lead to liver damage and complications that cause internal bleeding, which may explain the blood-vomiting symptoms reported by villagers. Proposed interventions include mass drug administration and specialist procedures to treat advanced cases.Authorities from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority said the matter falls outside their mandate, while the Environmental Management Agency urged caution pending final confirmation from the Ministry of Health and Child Care.The Ministry has reportedly begun assessing the situation and is considering treatment programmes, though funding constraints remain a key challenge.Residents in affected wards continue to express fear and uncertainty as the long-standing health concern persists.
Featured

Artemis crew home safely after completing historic mission to the Moon

BBC International News Apr - 11 - 2026 , 09:22 5 minutes read

The four astronauts who flew in Nasa's Artemis II mission around the Moon have splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean after a flawless return.

The crew are now safely aboard a waiting ship and recovering from a nine-day voyage that took them further from Earth than any humans in history.

Their Orion spacecraft was travelling at more than 24,000mph (38,600km/h) when it hit the Earth's upper atmosphere and its heatshield was subjected to temperatures half as hot as found on the surface of the Sun.

Their safe return clears the way for the next stage of the Artemis programme, which aims to land humans on the lunar surface and eventually build a permanent base on the Moon.

The extreme heat meant the capsule, which the astronauts named Integrity, lost contact with mission control in Houston for six minutes during the descent.

There were cheers when Commander Reid Wiseman's voice was heard saying: "Houston, Integrity here. We hear you loud and clear."

The mission's moment of maximum jeopardy had passed, and soon the spacecraft's red-and-white parachutes opened and sent the capsule sailing majestically through the sky.

"Good main chutes!" the Nasa commentary enthused repeatedly, until the capsule hit the ocean for a perfect splashdown.

"A perfect bull's eye splashdown for Integrity and its four astronauts," Nasa commentator Rob Navias said moments after the landing.

The crew capsule, named Orion, splashed right on schedule in the Pacific Ocean, within a mile of its target

The astronauts - Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen - were carefully extracted from the capsule and taken by helicopter to the USS John P Murtha, where they will undergo medical evaluations.

Nasa said they would be flown to Houston to be reunited with their families on Saturday.

As they waited on the ship's deck they could be seen smiling and chatting while posing for photos.

President Donald Trump welcomed them home and said the entire trip had been "spectacular", repeating an invitation for them to visit the White House.

Nasa has not yet confirmed when they will make their first public appearance.



At a press conference, Flight Director Rick Henfling said there had been a lot of anxiety but also a lot of confidence while bringing the Orion crew home.

"We all breathed a sigh of relief once the (capsule's) side hatch opened up," he said.

"The flight crew is happy and healthy and ready to come home to Houston."

Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator at Nasa, was full of praise for the astronauts.

She said the four were all individually impressive, but that she was proud of their "teamwork" and "camaraderie".

"I think they really brought an amazing sense of what we were trying to achieve," she added.

"It was a mission for all of humanity."

Thumbs up from the history-making crew: L-R Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman

The Artemis II mission began its final descent at 19:33EDT (23:33GMT) when the European Space Agency-built service module - the cylinder of engines and solar panels that powered Orion throughout its lunar journey - detached.

Live pictures showed the capsule push gracefully away, homeward bound.

Next came the riskiest part, between re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere and splashdown.

The capsule's angle of approach had to be precise: too shallow and Orion might skip off the atmosphere like a stone off water; too steep and the heat would be damaging.

In the event, according to Nasa's TV coverage, the angle of attack was perfect and the capsule hit a narrow target of sky southeast of Hawaii as it headed for the Californian coast.

There had been concerns over the spacecraft's heatshield, which protects the capsule from the extreme heating as it slams into the thickest part of the atmosphere.

In the previous, uncrewed test flight of the Artemis system in 2022, the Orion capsule's shield suffered unexpected damage which raised questions about how hot the interior might get on a crewed mission, even though temperatures on Artemis I stayed within safe limits.

Engineers responded by changing the way the spacecraft reenters the atmosphere that simulations showed would reduce the thermal load on the shield. This mission was the first time that new return path has been tried in flight.

We'll have to wait for the full data to see how much the heating was reduced, but whatever the engineers decided clearly did its job of bringing the crew safely home.

Speaking at the press conference, Nasa associate administrator Anit Kshatriya contrasted the precision of that angle with the 250,000-mile journey to the Moon.

"The team hit it, that is not luck, it is 1,000 people doing their jobs," he said.



The Artemis programme aims to step up Moon exploration, land humans on the Moon for the first time since 1972, set up a permanent lunar base and aim for a crewed mission to Mars.

The next flight, Artemis III, has been redesigned under Nasa's new administrator Jared Isaacman to be an Earth-orbital mission to test rendezvous and docking with the SpaceX and Blue Origin lunar landers, and is pencilled in for mid-2027.

The first actual Moon landing - Artemis IV - is targeted for 2028, though there are doubts that target is achievable.

Today's homecoming does not put boots on the Moon. But it confirms the hardware works, the trajectory holds, and the people can take it.

The foundation has been laid. But the hardest part is yet to come.
Next article: Artemis crew home safely after completing historic mission to the Moon

Tankers urged not to pay toll to Iran for use of strait

Previous article: Tankers urged not to pay toll to Iran for use of strait

Featured

Chimpanzees in Uganda locked in vicious 'civil war', say researchers

BBC International News Apr - 11 - 2026 , 09:33 4 minutes read

The world's largest known group of wild chimpanzees has split and been locked in a vicious "civil war" for the last eight years, according to researchers.

It is not clear exactly why the once close-knit community of Ngogo chimpanzees at Uganda's Kibale National Park are at loggerheads, but since 2018 the scientists have recorded 24 killings, including 17 infants.

"These were chimps that would hold hands," lead author Aaron Sandel said. "Now they're trying to kill each other."

The study, published in the journal Science, says the intensity and duration of the violence may inform how early human conflict developed.

Sandel, an anthropologist from the University of Texas in the US, and co-director of the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project, says chimpanzees are "very territorial", and have "hostile interactions with those from other groups".

"[It's] like a fear of strangers," he told the Science podcast.

But over several decades, Sandel said the nearly 200 Ngogo chimpanzees had lived in harmony.

There were divided into two sets - known to researchers as Western and Central - but they had existed overall as a cohesive group.

Sandel said he first noticed them polarising in June 2015, when the Western chimpanzees ran away and were chased by the Central group.

"Chimpanzees are sort of melodramatic," he said, explaining that following arguments there would ordinarily be "screaming and chasing" and then later, they would grooming and co-operating.

But following the 2015 dispute, the researchers saw that there was a six-week avoidance period between the two sets, with interactions becoming more infrequent.

When they did occur, Sandel said they were "a little more intense, a little more aggressive".

Following the emergence of the two distinct groups in 2018, members of the Western group started attacking the Central chimpanzees.

In 24 targeted attacks since the split, at least seven adult males and 17 infants from the Central chimps have been killed, the study found, although the researchers believe the actual number of deaths are higher.

The researchers believe many factors such as the group size and subsequent competition of resources, and "male-male competition" for reproducing may be to blame.

But they say there were three likely catalysts:

The first, were the deaths of five adult males and one adult female - for reasons unknown - in 2014, which could have disrupted social networks and weakened social ties across the subgroups

The following year, there was a change in the alpha male, which the study says coincided with the first period of separation between the Western and Central groups. "Changes in the dominance hierarchy can increase aggression and avoidance in chimpanzees," it explained

The third factor was the deaths of 25 chimpanzees, including four adult males and 10 adult females, as a result of a respiratory epidemic, in 2017, a year before the final separation. One of the adult males who died was "among the last individuals to connect the groups", the research paper said.

Sandel and his colleagues said their findings encourage people to rethink what they know of human conflict and warfare.

"In the case of the Ngogo fission, individuals who lived, fed, groomed and patrolled together for years became targets of lethal attacks on the basis of their new group membership," they wrote in the paper.

If chimpanzees - one of the species closest to humans genetically - could do so without human constructs of religion, ethnicity and political beliefs, then "relational dynamics may play a larger causal role in human conflict than often assumed", they added.

James Brooks, a researcher at the German Primate Center in Germany, said it was a "reminder of the danger that group divisions can present to human societies".

Commenting on the study in Science, he wrote: "Humans must learn from studying the group-based behaviour of other species, both in war and at peace, while remembering that their evolutionary past does not determine their future."
Next article: Man accused of coercing wife into sex with 120 men goes on trial

Featured

Christina Koch becomes first woman to travel around the moon on Artemis II

GraphicOnline International News Apr - 11 - 2026 , 07:58 2 minutes read

American astronaut Christina Koch has made history as the first woman to travel into deep space and journey around the Moon, following the successful completion of NASAs Artemis II mission  a landmark moment that has also resonated strongly in Ghana due to her academic ties to the University of Ghana.

The mission, organised by NASA, saw a four-member crew travel farther from Earth than any humans since the Apollo era, marking the first crewed lunar mission in more than five decades. The Orion spacecraft splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California after a 10-day journey that included a flyby of the Moons far side.

Koch, serving as a mission specialist, played a key role in monitoring critical onboard systems, including life support, navigation and communications. Her participation adds to a distinguished career that already includes the longest single spaceflight by a woman and involvement in the first all-female spacewalk.

The Artemis II crew, led by commander Reid Wiseman, also included Victor Glover  the first Black astronaut to travel beyond low Earth orbit  and Jeremy Hansen, the first non-American to journey around the Moon. Together, they carried out a series of tests designed to validate systems for future lunar missions.

The return to Earth marked one of the most critical phases of the mission, as the spacecraft endured a high-speed re-entry, with external temperatures soaring to approximately 2,760 degrees Celsius. A brief communications blackout occurred during descent, before contact was restored and parachutes deployed to ensure a safe splashdown.

For Ghana, Kochs achievement carries additional significance. She previously studied at the University of Ghana under an exchange programme, a connection that has sparked national interest and pride. The university has celebrated her accomplishment as evidence of the global impact of its academic community.

Beyond its scientific objectives, the mission has been widely viewed as a milestone for diversity and inclusion in space exploration. Kochs journey represents a breakthrough for women in space, while the diverse composition of the crew reflects broader efforts to expand representation in high-level scientific missions.

The Artemis II mission is regarded as a critical step towards future lunar landings and long-term human presence on the Moon, with engineers set to analyse data gathered during the flight to refine systems for upcoming missions.

As the world looks ahead to the next phase of lunar exploration, Kochs historic voyage  from a student experience in Ghana to the far reaches of space  stands as a powerful symbol of possibility and global collaboration in science.
Featured

Tankers urged not to pay toll to Iran for use of strait

BBC International News Apr - 11 - 2026 , 09:37 4 minutes read

Tankers that want to pass through the Strait of Hormuz are being advised not to pay money to Iran to allow them through, after a ceasefire agreed on Tuesday failed to get traffic moving through the waterway again.

The agreement was supposed to include reopening the strait but Iran has suggested that ships must seek its permission or they may still be "targeted and destroyed" and has said it could levy a fee in return for safe passage.

"We do not believe the payment of tolls is the right way to go about this," said Phillip Belcher, from Intertanko, a group representing tanker firms.

"We are amazed that this appears to be one of the starting points of negotiations," he told the BBC.

US vice president JD Vance is meeting representatives of the Iranian government in Islamabad in Pakistan on Saturday to try to nail down details of a ceasefire deal that already appears to be in jeopardy after continued air strikes in Israel and Lebanon and a stalemate over the vital shipping lane.

Belcher said Intertanko, which represents 190 independent tanker operators and more than half of the world's oil tanker fleet, was still advising members not to use the strait as "an attack could take place at any time".

"We do not believe the Strait is safe until there is a lasting cessation of conflict, where all attacks against ships have halted and where there is some sort of coalition-of-the-willing oversight for ships to go through, where Iran does not have sovereignty of the strait," he said.

Charging a toll was "against the whole idea of international laws and free passage through international waterways", he said.

"At the moment the Strait of Hormuz is under the de facto rule of the Iranian military," Belcher said.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a branch of the Iranian military oversees much of Iran's economic activity, but has been listed as a terrorist organisation by the US and the EU.

"The IRGC is a designated terrorist organisation and so the payment of monies to a terrorist organisation should be avoided," said Belcher.

Since the current war started, Iran has indicated it wants to impose new rules for traffic moving through the pivotal waterway.

Some media reports have suggested that Tehran's plan includes the right to demand transit fees to the tune of $2m (1.5m) per ship, with the proceeds shared between Iran and Oman - the two countries which border the strait.

Earlier this week President Trump suggested the US and Iran could levy fees as a "joint venture".

However he later appeared to backtrack, posting 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."

Arsenio Dominguez, secretary general of the International Maritime Organisation, the United Agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping, told the BBC that countries should respect the already established right to freedom of navigation.

"International straits in accordance [with] international law are actually for the use of everyone and that's why no toll restrictions should be imposed," he said.

The war has reduced the passage of tankers through the strait to a trickle. Only 15 vessels have made the trip since Tuesday, compared to an average of almost 140 each day prior to the outbreak of the conflict, carrying a fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies. Almost 800 ships have been left stranded in the Gulf, most of them loaded with cargo.

The longer the blockage lasts the greater the impact on global supplies of oil, gas and fertiliser, with a worldwide knock-on impact expected on the prices of fuel, electricity, food and medicines.

The chief executive of Swedish tanker firm Stena Bulk, Erik Hanell, said it was not yet clear when the disruption would end but that his firm would not make any moves to use the disputed Strait until they were 100% certain it was safe for the crews on board.

"We need safety guarantees," he said.

"I know there are discussions going on between the US and the different shipping communities, and maybe Iran as well, but at this stage we have limited information."

Stena did not have any direct contact with the Iranians, he said, and would not pay any tolls "as a standalone company" or while there was no information from official channels.

"Longer term, paying fees to travel through the Strait of Hormuz would be like paying fees to use the English Channel," he added.

"That's not a world we would like to continue with. It's definitely something we want to avoid in the long term."
Christina Koch becomes first woman to travel around the moon on Artemis II

Next article: Christina Koch becomes first woman to travel around the moon on Artemis II

Featured

UN Secretary-General names Ghanas Anita Kiki Gbeho as South Sudan envoy

GraphicOnline International News Apr - 11 - 2026 , 08:44 2 minutes read

The United Nations has appointed Ghanaian diplomat Anita Kiki Gbeho as its new Special Representative for South Sudan and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

The appointment was announced by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres in a press statement. He commended Ms Gbehos extensive experience across political, humanitarian and development operations within the United Nations system. She takes over from the late Nicholas Haysom, whose leadership of UNMISS was praised for its impact on peacebuilding efforts in the conflict-affected country.

Ms Gbeho brings more than 25 years of experience working in complex environments, including conflict and post-conflict settings across Africa and beyond. Her career has seen her contribute to UN operations in countries such as Somalia, Sudan, Iraq and Cambodia, positioning her as a seasoned figure in international diplomacy and crisis management.

Prior to her latest appointment, she served as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in South Sudan, while also holding the roles of Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Coordinator. In these capacities, she was instrumental in coordinating humanitarian responses and development initiatives, and at times acted as Officer-in-Charge of the mission.

Her previous assignments include senior leadership roles within the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia and the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, where she worked on stabilisation and peace support efforts. She also served with the United Nations Development Programme in Namibia and held positions within the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Ms Gbehos academic background includes studies in the United States and Ghana, earning degrees in social sciences and international relations from the University of Ghana and the State University of New York.

Her appointment comes at a critical time for South Sudan, where the United Nations continues to play a central role in peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and support for political stability. As head of UNMISS, Ms Gbeho is expected to lead efforts aimed at sustaining fragile peace and advancing long-term recovery in the country.

The development also underscores Ghanas continued contribution to global diplomacy and peacekeeping, with Ms Gbeho joining a distinguished list of nationals who have served in high-level international roles.
Featured

GES Recruitment Portal: Step-by-Step guide for trained teachers seeking posting

GraphicOnline Education Apr - 11 - 2026 , 06:06 4 minutes read

The Ghana Education Service has launched its official recruitment portal, offering a streamlined online application process for trained and qualified teachers seeking employment in public basic and second-cycle schools across the country.

The portal, accessible at https://gesrecruitment.gedp.tech, is designed to manage applications for three categories of teaching staff: university graduates, College of Education graduates, and diploma holders. The recruitment exercise is conducted based on government approval and available vacancies, with postings determined by subject specialisation, regional preferences, and the needs of the service.

Who can apply

The eligibility criteria vary slightly depending on the applicant's qualification pathway, but certain requirements apply uniformly across all categories.

For university graduates, applicants must hold a recognised related degree in education from an accredited tertiary institution and must have successfully completed all academic and teaching practice requirements.

For graduates from Colleges of Education, a Bachelor of Education from an accredited college is required, along with successful completion of all academic and teaching practice requirements.

Diploma applicants must possess a Diploma in Basic Education or a recognised education-related diploma from an accredited institution, and must have completed all teaching practice requirements.

National Service and Licensure

Across all three categories, applicants must have completed national service and possess a valid National Service Certificate. Additionally, candidates must have passed the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination conducted by the National Teaching Council and hold a valid NTC Teacher Licensure Certificate.

Required documents

Before beginning the application, prospective candidates should ensure they have the following documents readily available: academic certificate, licensure certificate, National Service certificate, Ghana Card, SSNIT number, a passport-size photograph, and a birth certificate.

Step-by-step application process

The online application process is straightforward. Applicants must first access the GEDP recruitment portal using the official link provided. They should then navigate to the appropriate applicant tabGraduate (University), Graduate (College of Education), or Diplomaand click on "Apply Now".

The next step requires filling out the application form with accurate information, including personal details, academic qualifications, NTC licence certificate details, and National Service information.

Once the form is completed, applicants must upload the required documents, including academic certificates, licensure certificate, National Service certificate, Ghana Card, birth certificate, and a passport-size photograph.

After uploading, applicants are advised to review all details carefully before submitting the form. Upon successful submission, a confirmation slip should be printed and kept for future reference.

What happens after submission

Following submission, the Ghana Education Service screens all applications to ensure all requirements have been met. Shortlisted candidates will be notified, and official results will be released via the GEDP recruitment portal.

Successful applicants will receive official appointment letters and will be posted to schools based on subject specialisation, regional or district preferences, and vacancy availability. The GES has indicated that applicants must be ready to serve wherever their services are needed, and that posting to deprived areas will be prioritised.

Successful candidates must report to their assigned district office to complete documentation before assuming duty. Original documents must be presented for verification at that stage.

Important notes for applicants

The GES has emphasised that recruitment is merit-based and transparent. Applicants are strongly advised to avoid middlemen or unauthorised agents who may promise favours in exchange for payment. All information should be verified from official GES communication channels.

The service has also warned that false information or forged documents will lead to immediate disqualification. Applicants should also be aware that postings may be outside their preferred region depending on where the need is greatest.

Recruitment made easier

The introduction of the centralised recruitment portal represents a significant step toward digitising the teacher employment process, reducing the need for physical applications and long queues at district offices. For thousands of trained teachers awaiting posting, the portal offers a clear, transparent, and accessible pathway to employment in Ghana's public education sector.
Featured

Govt distributes over 8,500 laptops to 1 Million Coders project

Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Apr - 11 - 2026 , 06:57 3 minutes read

The government has presented about 8,500 laptops to support the national rollout of the One Million Coders Programme (OMCP).

The programme is the governments flagship initiative to equip young people with digital skills to enhance employability and position the country competitively in the global digital economy.

The presentation, which marks the beginning of Phase one of the programme, will see the deployment of laptops to 130 learning centres across the country, as well as selected universities, to facilitate training in coding, artificial intelligence and other digital skills.

Speaking at the presentation held in Accra yesterday, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, said the government had carefully assessed the pilot phase of the programme before scaling up to the nationwide rollout, emphasising that the initiative was not merely about training large numbers but ensuring measurable impact.

Distribution

Mr George explained that each of the 130 centres would receive 50 laptops, bringing the total allocation to approximately 6,500 devices for community-based training.

In addition, about 2,000 laptops were secured through private sector support for distribution to universities, with further government supplies expected to augment the allocation.

Mr George disclosed that the laptops had been customised to meet the specific needs of the programme and would support structured learning in coding and emerging technologies.

He recalled that the pilot phase, launched nearly a year ago, initially targeted 500 beneficiaries across four centres, but received overwhelming interest, attracting about 94,000 applications within 48 hours.

Ultimately, close to 1,000 participants were trained, providing critical insights for the full rollout.

To ensure nationwide access, the Communication Minister said the 130 learning centres were in all 16 regions, with the Greater Accra Region hosting the highest number.

Mr George added that the government aimed to expand the centres to cover all constituencies in subsequent phases.

We are collaborating with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to include persons with disabilities, allocating 50,000 slots through the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), while ensuring that others outside the federation can also apply through the main portal, he added.

Partnerships

Mr George underscored the role of key implementing agencies, including the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications, the Ghana Digital Centres Limited and the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, in delivering the programme.

He stressed the importance of collaborating with academia, indicating that the first phase would be rolled out across 12 universities, with infrastructure support to enhance digital training on campuses.

The minister commended the private sector, particularly MTN Ghana, for its financial contribution towards the acquisition of laptops, emphasising that such partnerships were critical to the success of the programme.

Beyond training

Beyond training, Mr George said the initiative was designed to create employment pathways, revealing that agreements had been reached with industry players to absorb graduates into remote and outsourcing jobs.

We've signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an agency called II Africa that has agreed to take 100,000 of our graduates and place them in remote jobs and work.

Yesterday, I met with the Business Outsourcing Services Association Ghana (BOSAG), and they are also looking to take out another 100,000, the Communication Minister said.

He added that each learning centre would be managed by a newly recruited technical officer, creating employment for 130 young Ghanaians in the first phase.

Mr George emphasised that the programme would go beyond training numbers, with systems in place to track participants demographics, completion rates and employment outcomes, ensuring measurable impact and accountability in building a skilled digital workforce for Ghana.

This whole programme is not just about ticking a political box and saying we've done this; it's about scaling, re-scaling and upscaling the next generation of Ghana's ICT professionals, he said.
Yesterday was filled with a barrage of Motorola leaked renders, showing the Razr 70, Razr 70 Ultra, and the Edge 70 Pro. Today, the Edge 70 Pro and Razr 70 Ultra have been spotted in two separate certification databases.

The Razr 70 Ultra with the model number XT2655-4 has been given the go-ahead in China by 3C. The certification reveals that it will have support for 68W wired charging. Incidentally, that's the same level as the Razr 60 Ultra, so there's no upgrade in this regard on the newer model.

Meanwhile, the Edge 70 Pro with the model number XT2607-1 has bagged the TDRA certification in the UAE. This process hasn't revealed any specs, it just confirms that the Edge 70 Pro has this model number, basically - unlike the Brazilian Anatel certification from a while back which didn't associate the name with the model number. That one has however revealed that the Edge 70 Pro has a 6,500 mAh battery with support for 90W wired charging.

Via
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has met an eight-member delegation of Permanent Representatives to the United Nations at State House, as Zimbabwe intensifies its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 20272028 term.The visiting envoys are on a familiarisation tour of the country aimed at deepening understanding of Zimbabwe's governance systems, development priorities and foreign policy direction.Zimbabwe is seeking to return to the influential global body decades after its previous terms in 19831984 and 19911992, with authorities positioning the country as an active supporter of multilateralism and international cooperation.The government says the campaign is part of broader diplomatic re-engagement efforts aimed at strengthening ties with the international community and securing wider support ahead of the UNSC vote scheduled for June this year.If successful, Zimbabwe's election would enhance its participation in global decision-making and mark a key milestone in its international diplomacy drive.
Senators appropriated $25 million for Typhoon Sinlaku emergency response expenses after a six-hour special session on Saturday.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero called senators into special session Saturday to appropriate $25 million from the General Fund. Senators changed the funding source to the Rainy Day Fund through an amendment.

The governors submitted Bill 1(6-S) is a proactive measure against inevitable Sinlaku recovery and a lesson learned from Typhoon Mawar, according to Bureau of Budget and Management Research Director Lester Carlson.

Carlson told senators during Saturdays special session that Sinlaku is an extremely serious event that will cause extensive damage whether it is a direct hit to Guam or not.

The funding request is a measure to ensure officials have done everything they can do to prepare instead of coming together after storm, Carlson added.

This typhoon has been concerning because of its lack of forward movement, and its forecast to come directly over Guam. To be as prepared as possible, this measure has been prepared before you to put our best foot forward. Were coming to you before what we pray is not a major event, Carlson said.

He said the island has made a good start identifying seven schools for potential typhoon shelters, as well as receiving officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and American Red Cross. However, he stressed that more funding should be expected for resources purchase orders tied to recovery efforts.

[Even] $250,000 doesnt get you much when clearing drainage in Malesso, or any numbers of places. Were asking for bodys consideration to have [the] tools to get the island back after the storm. People took notice of this storm and its potential impact. I hope for the best, but were here trying to plan for what might be something less than optimal, Carlson said.

Speaker Frank Blas Jr. was apprehensive about recovery efforts costing $25 million, especially because we cant do anything until theres damage.

Carlson admitted there is no way to tell whether $25 million is too much or too little, but he assured senators that complete accounting reports of spending related to Sinlaku recovery will be submitted to the Legislature, including funds not spent, employee overtime, vehicles, equipment and other expenditures.

Vice Speaker Tony Ada was especially concerned about accountability. He said it is important to show the public that we are keeping to what is demanded of us, which was the responsible use of the islands money.

You will get full accounting. We do not want to incur issues. We will give everything you need, Carlson said.

The source of the appropriations was originally proposed to come from the General Fund.

Appropriating from the Rainy Day Fund came through an amendment by Sen. Telo Taitague.

Referencing BBMRs Consolidated Revenue and Expenditure Reports, or CRER, Carlson said the government of Guam is $48.1 million ahead of where would be every month that we calculated revenue collections during the 12-month revenue report BBMR submits every October.

Carlson said there is $24,995,412 available for appropriation in the General Fund.

However, responding to further concerns, Carlson said he is not set on $25 million and would settle for a number the legislature thought was fair. His main concern for the bill was allowing the funds and resources ahead of time to help the island in its aftermath.

If the number was $15 million, if we need more, we could always come back, but we want to be proactive. If you feel that proactive is $15 million, Im not going to hold the line at $25 million, Carlson said.

The move to appropriate from the Rainy Day Fund was championed by Taitague to avoid using money needed more urgently by the other entities, such as the Guam Memorial Hospital and the Department of Public Health and Social Services, which are still awaiting a $20 million appropriation and expecting funding cuts to health care programs, respectively.

There was a comment earlier about the Rainy Day Fund as a great gauge to put us in good bond rating...It was not for bond rating. It was for emergencies, and we are in an emergency. We can avoid major damage that would cost us more. Most especially, its about keeping people safe, Taitague said.

Sen. Chris Duenas added an amendment to Taitagues amendment to include in the appropriation of the $25 million the $7.1 million unused from the appropriation to Public Health for SNAP benefits through Public Law 38-75.

Reporting requirements

Sen. Telo Taitague put in another amendment for village mayors and other funding recipients to not only keep detailed reports of their spending but also track the eligibility of expenses for reimbursement as well as track the status of pending FEMA reimbursements.

Her amendment also included a mandatory 30-day period for submitting reports, as opposed to the 60-day period initially proposed.

Sen. Chris Barnett added to the point, saying 60 days is not good enough.

I know thats the standard, but that basically means were not going to figure out how dollars are spent until two months later, and thats [too long], Barnett said.

The amendment was passed with no opposition.

Despite heated discussions across a six-hour session, the senators were all in agreement of the necessity of the bill and of prioritizing the safety of Guam, especially following lessons learned from Typhoon Mawar.

This is a good move forward in regard to proactive measures...Resiliency is learning from history and doing better, said Sen. Sabina Perez.

The length of the session was in part due to several short recesses for senators to share or request specific information regarding each others proposed amendments.

Most notably, Sen. Sabrina Salas Matanane was accused of prioritizing personal interest by Sen. Barnett when her original amendment to raise the allocations to village mayors from $100,000 to $250,000 only included a small handful of villages, such as Dededo, Yigo, Mangilao, and Hagat.

Barnett, Taitague, and Sen. Therese Terlaje questioned Salas Matananes reasoning, despite her claiming to have made the decision based on discussions with Piti Mayor Jesse Alig, president of the Mayors Council of Guam.

The senators pointed to numbers from a 2020 census, acquired during recess, showing that Hagat was the 10th most populated village on island, as opposed to other villages with at least 2,000 more residents not receiving the funds.

Barnett also pointed out that Salas Matananes family is from Hagat, and Taitague pointed to the fact that southern villages and villages in low hanging areas are hit the hardest and most prone to damages during storms.

Deliberations eventually resulted in Taitague amending the amendment to allot $250,000 to all villages, with caveat that whatever mayors do not spend within a certain amount of time be reverted back to the General Fund or Rainy Day fund.

Ada said the insinuations made were not necessary and that senators could have instead tried to work more amicably with Salas Matanane.

Communication doesnt happen a lot because there is always that divide. Doing something for so long you think its always right when its not. But Im glad we got the bill going through. It gives the administration the opportunity to start prepping personnel, so when storm comes, and we all pray it does not, but at least everything will be pre-positioned and can be executed immediately, Ada said.

The amended Bill 1 (6-S) was unanimously passed 13-0 with senators excusing members not present. Sens. Shelly Calvo and Jesse Lujan were not present for the vote.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Jailed businessmen Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, once hailed as rising entrepreneurs, are awaiting a Supreme Court decision on whether they will be granted leave to appeal their convictions and sentences in a US$7 million fraud case linked to the Presidential Goats Pass-On Scheme.The two, who are serving a combined 33-year sentence, appeared before Justice George Chiweshe on Tuesday, where their application for permission to appeal was heard. The judge reserved judgment, saying he needed time to consider the submissions.Mpofu was sentenced to 19 years in prison, with 10 years suspended on condition of repayment of US$2 million, while Chimombe received a 14-year term, partly suspended upon repayment of over US$964,000.Their convictions stem from allegations that they defrauded funds meant for the rural livestock empowerment programme through fake contracts, phantom beneficiaries and financial mismanagement. The High Court previously dismissed their appeal bid, describing their arguments as "frivolous and vexatious."The Supreme Court will now determine whether the pair can proceed with a full appeal against both conviction and sentence, in a case that has become one of Zimbabwe's most closely watched corruption trials.
The series of attacks on TP-Link routers and access points, announced on Tuesday by the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), apparently targeted Microsoft Cloud. However, according to the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), Germany was only affected to a small extent. Previously, the Federal Intelligence Service and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution had actively warned of attacks and provided indicators of compromise.

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The APT-28 group, attributed to the Russian military intelligence service GRU, exploited a zero-day vulnerability discovered in 2024 (CVE-2023-50224) in its attack, security authorities confirm. The goal of the attacks, which redirected DNS requests to servers controlled by the attackers, was to take over actually effectively encrypted sessions to Microsoft's cloud services, the company reports in an extensive statement.

Germany Got Lucky

Fortunately, in view of the successfully disrupted attack campaign, we assume a very small number of affected individuals in Germany, says BSI President Claudia Plattner in response to a query from heise online. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution initially estimated the number of affected devices at 30. The intelligence services have individually contacted identified affected parties  which was possible given the manageable number.

Most of the affected TP-Link devices are several years old, some well over a decade. Network devices like routers can become an entry point for attacks  regular hardening measures, especially closing known security vulnerabilities, are essential, warns Plattner. If attackers manage to penetrate the router, they can compromise not only the device itself but potentially all connected devices. In security circles, the import ban on routers imposed by the US regulatory authority FCC in March is seen in close connection with the discovery of the GRU campaign.

However, for many of the affected models (complete list from NCSC), there have been no security updates from the manufacturer for a long time. For some of them, however, alternative software from the OpenWRT project is at least available. According to OpenWRT activists, these versions are not compromised in the current case. Spot checks by heise online have meanwhile shown that some of the affected models are still being sold in electronics stores in Germany.

Read also The US router ban and its transparent justification

(vbr)

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.
Officials from Washington and Tehran met face to face in Islamabad on Saturday, in a shift from earlier plans for indirect negotiations. Pakistani mediators took part in the discussions, which lasted about two hours and are set to continue.

The United States and Iran are holding direct ceasefire talks in Pakistan for the first time since 1979, as both sides seek to bring an end to the illegal US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran that has disrupted global energy flows.

The talks mark the highest level of direct contact between the two countries since the Iranian revolution. Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held separate meetings with both delegations before the negotiations began.

The United States delegation is led by JD Vance, alongside envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Irans team includes Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Both sides arrived after weeks of conflict that have raised oil prices and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

A Pakistani official told the Associated Press that the talks had started and were progressing well, though it was not confirmed whether all participants remained in the same room throughout.

Al Jazeera reported that the initial session took place in what sources described as a positive atmosphere. Delegations are expected to resume discussions over dinner and continue at a technical level in the coming days.

The negotiations follow a two-week ceasefire agreed earlier this week, though violence has continued across several fronts. Israeli forces have carried out strikes in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah has launched rockets towards northern Israel. Lebanons health authorities reported casualties from recent attacks, and Israels military said it had struck more than 200 targets in 24 hours.

Disputes over Lebanon form a central issue in the talks. Iran has insisted that any ceasefire must include Israeli operations in Lebanon, while the United States and Israel have treated the theatre as separate.

Another key issue concerns Iranian assets held abroad. Iranian officials have called for the release of funds frozen for decades under sanctions.

Control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a further point of dispute. The waterway, which carries about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments, has seen traffic fall since Iran restricted access during the conflict. US officials have said mines placed in the strait have slowed shipping, while Iranian media has denied that US vessels have entered the area.

President Donald Trump said in a post on social media that the United States had begun clearing mines in the strait. He wrote that the operation was carried out as a favor to countries all over the world. Iranian officials rejected claims that US ships had crossed the waterway, according to state media cited by international outlets.

The talks in Islamabad have drawn attention from global leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron said he had discussed the negotiations with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and called for the ceasefire to be extended and applied to Lebanon. Indonesias foreign ministry described the talks as an initial step towards a broader settlement.

Pakistan has taken a central role in organising the negotiations. Officials in Islamabad said the country aims to build momentum towards a wider agreement that would stabilise the region and restore trade routes.

Despite the diplomatic push, tensions remain high. Statements from both sides have reflected deep mistrust. Iranian officials have questioned US intentions, while Trump has continued to post messages criticising Irans position in the conflict.

On the ground, fighting has not stopped. Israeli strikes and Hezbollah attacks have continued alongside the negotiations, and regional actors have taken steps to prepare for a possible escalation if talks fail.

HT
Conservationists announce 'peoples public hearing' on rollback of Roadless Rule

Hikers enjoy view from 3,969-foot Looking Glass Rock in Pisgah National Forest.

The future of some of Americas last wild forests  including treasured landscapes in Western North Carolina  is at risk, say conservationists who announced a public hearing this month to air concerns about a significant rollback of the national forests Roadless Rule.

The peoples public hearing is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at Ecusta Brewing Co., 451 Ecusta Road, Brevard.

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to roll back the 25-year-old Roadless Rule to make way for road building, logging and mining in the largest reduction of public land protections in its history. Meanwhile, the federal government has reduced transparency requirements, making it more difficult for forest advocates to speak up.

These forests belong to all of us, said MountainTrue Resilient Forests Director Josh Kelly. If the federal government wont hear from the people, well create those opportunities ourselves. Western North Carolinians deserve a voice in decisions that will shape our forests for generations.

Organizers say the event is a chance to learn more, make comments and stand with others who care deeply about the future of the public lands.

We hope folks will come out and express what these backcountry gems mean for them and all others who enjoy their beauty and recreational opportunities, said David Reid, National Forests Issue Chair for the N.C. Sierra Club.

In 2001, the U.S. Forest Service adopted the Roadless Area Conservation Rule to protect nearly 59 million acres of national forest lands from road building, logging and industrial development. Supported by overwhelming public input, the rule has safeguarded clean drinking water, wildlife habitat, and backcountry recreation opportunities for more than two decades.

Now, that protection is under serious threat, the conservationists say.

In June 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to rescind the Roadless Rule, opening these lands to new roads, logging, and mining. If finalized, the rollback would affect nearly one-third of all national forest lands in the United States  including more than 150,000 acres in Pisgah and Nantahala national forests alone, South Mills River and Laurel Mountain.

Roadless areas are far more than lines on a map. They provide drinking water to tens of millions of Americans, store vast amounts of carbon that help slow global warming, and support thriving outdoor recreation economies.

Roadless areas are our countrys beating heart of biodiversity  places where the wild is still wild, said Will Harlan, Southeast Director at the Center for Biological Diversity. Wildlife  including hellbenders, warblers, and trout  depend on roadless areas, and we need them, too. They protect our drinking water and scenic views, and they safeguard a vital part of our heritage and humanity.

About 15 percent of Pisgah and Nantahala national forests are Inventoried Roadless Areas  places like Linville Gorge, Craggy Mountain, the Black Mountains and the headwaters of the South Mills River, which supplies drinking water to 80,000 residents of Henderson County.

According to a Made x Mountains survey, outdoor recreation is a $5 billion industry in Western North Carolina, supporting roughly 48,000 jobs.

Importantly, the Roadless Rule already strikes a balance of allowances. These areas are not designated wilderness, and allow the Forest Service to carry out responsible stewardship like prescribed burns and habitat restoration within them. At the same time, the rule prevents permanent development that fragments forests, increases erosion and wildfire risk and degrades water quality.

Resources, maps and information about the roadless rule can be found at roadless.org. Those who cant make the April 30 event may submit comments at roadless.org/contact-representatives.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Armed robbers ambushed a police patrol in Harare early Friday morning, overpowering three officers and stealing a service rifle, a vehicle and mobile phones in a daring attack that left the officers hospitalised.The incident occurred at around 12:20am along Northolt Road near Divaris Makaharis School in the Mabelreign suburb, according to an internal police memo.Inspector Magidi, Constable Chihanga and Constable Nyamushamba were on a stationary patrol when they were confronted by three suspects wearing black balaclavas and armed with a claw bar and a high-powered torch.According to the report, Inspector Magidi ordered Constable Chihanga to open fire, but the Heckler & Koch G3 rifle malfunctioned as he attempted to shoot. The attackers immediately advanced, smashing the vehicle's windscreen and surrounding the officers.Constable Nyamushamba managed to escape through the driver's door but was struck on the shoulder with a claw bar. Inspector Magidi attempted to confront the attackers but was hit on the forehead with a brick and collapsed.Constable Chihanga, who was initially trapped inside the vehicle, fought back and struck one of the assailants with the rifle butt before forcing his way out. However, he was subsequently struck twice on the head with a claw bar and fell to the ground.The attackers seized the G3 rifle, along with its magazine, before fleeing the scene in the officers' vehicle, a white Nissan Tiida.All three officers were rushed to Parirenyatwa Hospital, where they are reported to be in stable condition.Police have launched a manhunt for the three suspects and are working to recover the stolen vehicle, the rifle and two mobile phones taken during the attack.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A prominent Bindura lawyer, Elatone Bonongwe, has been sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison after being convicted of masterminding a violent armed robbery that left a Pfura Rural District Council engineer seriously injured.Pisirayi Kwenda of the High Court sentenced Bonongwe and his accomplicesMusa Gandi, Justin Mwale and Terrence Musingwinoto 20 years' imprisonment each, with five years suspended on condition of good behaviour.Co-accused Aubrey Chipashu and Agnes Kunaka were each sentenced to 18 years, with five years similarly suspended.The court heard that the robbery occurred on October 26, 2025, at the Mt Darwin residence of engineer Emson Chitsungo.Evidence presented showed that Bonongwe orchestrated the attack earlier that month, recruiting his uncle, Gandi, to assemble a team. The group armed themselves with an AK-47 rifle, a bayonet knife and iron bars before travelling to the target location in a Toyota Sienta.Bonongwe reportedly identified the house before separating from the group, which then scaled a precast wall to gain entry.During the attack, the gang subjected Chitsungo to a brutal assault, including burning him with a hot iron while demanding cash and valuables. He sustained serious injuries, including a fractured forearm and severe swelling in both feet.The assailants stole cash, clothing and electronic items valued at approximately US$30 049.Police later intercepted the suspects at a roadblock in Mazowe as they attempted to flee towards Harare. Officers from the Support Unit fired warning shots after the group tried to escape, leading to the arrest of four suspects at the scene, with others apprehended subsequently.Some of the stolen property and weapons used in the robbery were recovered from the vehicle, while further investigations uncovered WhatsApp messages linking Bonongwe to the planning of the crime, including instructions to assemble the robbery team.Property worth about US$21 000 was recovered.The conviction marks a dramatic fall from grace for Bonongwe, who had previously been regarded as a respected legal practitioner.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Padenga Holdings Limited has called on government to review its gold royalty framework, urging authorities to reduce the 10% levy applied when prices exceed US$5 000 per ounce, warning that it could hinder growth and investment.The group, which has transitioned from a crocodile farming business into a predominantly gold-focused miner, said the current royalty regime risks eroding profitability at a time when it plans to invest about US$40 million in exploration this year.Under the framework introduced on January 1, royalties are set at 3% for gold prices below US$1 200 per ounce, 5% for prices between US$1 200 and US$5 000, and 10% for prices above that threshold.The policy comes amid a strong rally in global gold prices, which rose sharply last year and are forecast to climb further, potentially reaching between US$5 500 and US$6 000 per ounce.The surge has significantly boosted Padenga's valuation, making it the second most valuable company on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange after Delta Corporation Limited, with a market capitalisation exceeding US$1 billion.Gold now accounts for about 94% of Padenga's revenue, underscoring its strategic shift into mining.However, chief finance officer Oliver Kamundimu said the royalty structurebeing levied on turnover rather than profitposes a major concern."When it comes to taxes that are not based on profit, such as royalties that go up to 10% on turnover for gold prices above US$5 000, we urge the authorities to consider maintaining them at 5%," he said.Kamundimu proposed a staggered approach, where only the portion of gold prices above US$5 000 would attract the higher 10% rate, rather than applying it to total revenue.He also appealed for a review of the Intermediated Money Transfer Tax (IMTT), arguing that it increases operational costs as it is charged on transactions rather than profits.Despite these concerns, Padenga posted strong financial results. Revenue rose 26% to nearly US$266 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, driven largely by higher gold prices, while profit after tax almost doubled to US$70.7 million.Cash flow increased by 84% to over US$110 million, strengthening the company's ability to fund expansion.Looking ahead, Padenga expects to produce approximately 84 600 ounces of gold this year, broadly in line with its earlier projections, with performance continuing to benefit from firm global prices.The company's position highlights growing tension between government revenue measures and the need to sustain investment in Zimbabwe's mining sector, particularly as gold remains a key driver of economic growth.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe and Zambia have signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of the Lion's DenKafue railway, a major infrastructure project valued at over US$2 billion.The planned rail line will stretch 311km, with 217km on the Zimbabwean side and 94km in Zambia, alongside 445km of rehabilitation works on existing infrastructure.Once completed, the corridor is expected to significantly improve regional trade efficiency by shortening key freight routes. Distances to Beira will be reduced by 800km, to South Africa by about 1,000km, and to Dar es Salaam by roughly 500km.The project is seen as a strategic step in enhancing cross-border logistics, lowering transport costs, and strengthening trade links across Southern and Eastern Africa.
Chinese FM pays tribute to cemetery of Chinese People's Volunteers martyrs in DPRK

Xinhua) 09:42, April 11, 2026

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.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
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Most employees are fine with their pay. So why are they still thinking of leaving? Nick Martin from Remote says Australian small business owners are asking the wrong question.

Whats happening: Since 2022, Australian workers have had a legal right to discuss their pay openly. Pay secrecy clauses are banned. And new research from Remote suggests that around 70 per cent of employees would consider leaving a job where pay concerns went unanswered, even if they were otherwise satisfied with their salary.

For a long time, the unwritten rule in most Australian workplaces was pretty simple. Dont ask. Dont tell. Salaries were private, often contractually locked away, and talking about them could get you in trouble.

That changed a few years ago. And the ripple effects are still playing out.

In December 2022, the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act made pay secrecy clauses unlawful. Employers can no longer include contract terms stopping employees from discussing what they earn. Penalties for breaching these rules can reach $93,900 per breach.

Critically, these rules apply to every Australian employer regardless of size. Theres no small business exemption. If youve got staff, this applies to you.

But the legal piece is almost beside the point now. Whats changed more broadly is what employees expect, and what happens when those expectations arent met.

Nick Martin, APAC GTM Lead at Remote, puts it this way: the real tension isnt about whether employees are happy with their pay. Most of them are. The tension is about whether they understand it, and whether they feel like they can talk about it.

Remotes Global Payroll Report found that while most employees report being broadly satisfied with their salary, around 70 per cent said they would consider leaving if they couldnt have open conversations about pay. That gap, between satisfaction and loyalty, is where businesses are quietly losing people.

What employees are actually asking

Its worth being clear about what pay transparency actually means in practice, because its not the same thing as everyone knowing everyone elses salary.

What workers want to know, according to Remotes research, is more straightforward than that. How was my salary set? What do I need to do to earn more? Am I being paid consistently with others doing similar work?

When those questions go unanswered, even competitive salaries start to feel arbitrary. And when things feel arbitrary, trust erodes.

Separate research from Korn Ferry found that 83 per cent of Australian employees cited poor pay and compensation as the main reason they would leave their company. That figure is striking, but its also consistent with what Martin is describing. Its not always that the pay is bad. Its that the lack of transparency around it makes people feel like theyre being kept in the dark, and over time, thats just as corrosive.

As Barbara Matthews, Chief People Officer at Remote, put it: Pay conversations in the workplace are often seen as uncomfortable or even inappropriate. But silence only breeds inequality. When organisations encourage open, honest discussions about compensation, they set the foundation for a truly transparent pay culture.

The number isnt the whole story

Remotes data shows this isnt just a younger worker issue, though that cohort has helped push it forward. Their research found 88 per cent of employees aged 16 to 24 are satisfied with their salary, compared to 68 per cent of those aged 45 to 54. Yet across both groups, the willingness to consider leaving over unanswered pay concerns stays consistent.

What that tells you is that its not really about dissatisfaction with pay itself. Its about wanting to be part of the conversation, rather than just handed a number and told to get on with it.

Theres a hiring angle here too. Job postings that include salary information receive an average of 50 per cent more applications and are three times more likely to attract qualified candidates, according to ZipRecruiter research. For a small business competing against larger employers for the same talent, thats a significant advantage to leave sitting on the table.

Employees have also consistently identified job security and fair pay as the top two reasons they stay with a current employer. As pay transparency has become a more public conversation, workers are paying closer attention to whether the pay structures at their workplace actually reflect fairness, and theyre less willing to take it on faith.

Three things SMEs can start doing now

Martins practical advice for business owners doesnt require an HR department or a new platform. It starts with defining pay bands. Establishing clear salary ranges for roles gives staff a reference point and makes conversations about progression far less fraught.

The second piece is running regular pay audits, even simple ones. Benchmarking what youre paying against the market on a consistent basis helps catch gaps before they become reasons for people to look elsewhere.

The third is using whatever data you already have to stay across patterns in your workforce. Inconsistencies dont always announce themselves. Often they build quietly until someone brings it up in a resignation conversation.

Theres also a harder legal edge to this now. From 1 January 2025, intentional underpayment of wages became a criminal offence under Australian law. Getting payroll right, and being able to show staff clearly how their pay was determined, carries more weight than it ever did.

The bottom line for small business owners is less complicated than it might seem. Paying people fairly still matters. But being willing to explain how those decisions are made, and creating space for people to ask questions, is what turns a fair salary into a reason to stay.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Photo: Exilenova+

Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, reported strikes on an oil depot and pipeline station in Russia on Saturday night.

"Russia was under attack last night. There were attacks in the city of Tver. Oil depots are located there, among other things. Also, the Krymskaya oil pipeline station in Russias Krasnodar Krai was attacked  its been hit for the second time this week," Kovalenko wrote on Telegram on Saturday.
Ukraine's air defense shoot down 133 of 160 drones, hits of 20 drones recorded at ten locations

The Ukrainian Air Defense Forces destroyed 133 of 160 enemy drones, but recorded hits on 20 attack drones at 10 locations and downed drones at 11, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.

"According to preliminary data, as of 08:00, air defense forces shot down or suppressed 133 enemy UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas type and other types of drones in the north, south and east of the country," the message reads.

In total, on the night of April 11 (from 18:00 on April 10), the enemy attacked with 160 attack UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas type and drones of other types in the directions of Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk of the Russian Federation, TOT of Donetsk, Chauda of the TOT of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, about 100 of them - shaheds.

The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, unmanned aerial systems, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Meanwhile, 20 attack UAVs were hit at 10 locations, and downed UAVs (wreckage) were found at 11 locations.

The attack continues, with several enemy UAVs in the airspace, the command added.
Iran says armed forces remain at full readiness, warns Israel not to continue attacks on Lebanon

Xinhua) 09:44, April 11, 2026

TEHRAN, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said on Friday its armed forces remain at full readiness, as during the 40-day "asymmetric battle," given the "frequent breaches of promises" by the United States and Israel.

It made the remarks in a statement carried by Iranian media while stressing 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.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East, and tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz.

A two-week ceasefire was achieved between the warring parties early Wednesday. Despite the truce, Israel has continued its attacks on Lebanon, which Iran said will jeopardize the ceasefire and talks to permanently ed the war. 

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
In Sumy region, 23 people injured in past 24 hours due to Russian strikes

In Sumy region, 23 people were injured as a result of Russian strikes over the past 24 hours, the National Police of Ukraine report.

Over the past 24 hours, 33 attacks by Russian troops were reported on 23 settlements in Sumy region.

In Sumy, 17 people were injured, including a 14-year-old child, 13 women, and three men.

Also damaged were 12 apartment buildings and one private residential building, a kindergarten, 10 light vehicles, and windows were broken on the premises of one of the enterprises.

In Konotop, as a result of enemy attacks, two women, aged 60 and 52, and two men, aged 30 and 37, received injuries of varying degrees.

Residential, administrative and commercial infrastructure facilities were damaged, including apartment buildings, vehicles, retail establishments, a financial institution, a medical facility, and utility networks.

A 55-year-old woman was injured in the town of Seredyna-Buda. The strike destroyed a private home.

In the village of Krovne, Sumy district, a 46-year-old man was injured and a truck was damaged.

In Romny, an attack damaged electrical equipment at a substation.

Investigative teams from police and bomb disposal experts worked at the scene. Law enforcement officers documented the aftermath of the enemy attacks, recorded the destruction, and collected evidence of war crimes.

Criminal proceedings have been opened for each incident under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (war crimes).
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Massachusetts to Launch EBT Chip Cards

BOSTON  Massachusetts is moving forward with the adoption of chip and tap-enabled Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which will enhance security measures to better prevent theft across the system, including for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Massachusetts would become the third state in the country to implement this important tool to prevent theft and ensure taxpayer dollars are protected.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration has started notifying Massachusetts retailers to prepare for this upcoming change by updating their Point-of-Sale (POS) system to accept the new chip and/or tap EBT cards. The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) will begin piloting chip and tap-enabled EBT cards later this year.

"Massachusetts is taking action to protect families and the programs they rely on to afford groceries and other essential goods," said Governor Maura Healey. "These new chip-enabled EBT cards will strengthen protections against theft and make sure this support is going to the people who need it. We're one of the first states in the nation to adopt this new technology because protecting taxpayer dollars is a top priority for us, and we thank retailers and clients in advance for working with us to implement this."

SNAP is a federal program that is entirely funded with federal dollars. SNAP fraud is extremely rate  less than one percent of the SNAP caseload has been found to have committed fraud.

Chip and tap-enabled EBT?cards?were not?authorized by federal government for use until 2024, and guidance for states to implement these more secure EBT cards was not released until August 2025. In 2025, Governor Healey introduced and the Legislature passed funding to implement the transition to these more secure cards. Only two other states have launched chip and tap-enabled EBT card pilot programs to date.

EBT cards are where benefits are stored and accessed by almost one million people in Massachusetts who receive assistance from DTA. There are an estimated 5,500 SNAP retailers in Massachusetts who complete EBT transactions. DTA issues approximately $2.6 billion in SNAP benefits annually to households meeting a variety of eligibility criteria.

Benefit theft occurs when eligible clients have their benefits stolen through criminal activity. The most common method of benefit theft is installing card skimmers on Point of Sale (POS) devices to steal the card information from the card's magnetic stripe. Criminals then use the card information to make fraudulent purchases, leaving zero balances for clients to meet their basic needs as intended.

Massachusetts chip and tap-enabled EBT cards will contain?a Europay Mastercard Visa (EMV) microchip and other technology that is much more secure than a traditional magnetic stripe EBT card. For every transaction, the microchip generates a unique code that must be verified by the EBT system before the transaction will be authorized. Chip and tap-enabled EBT cards complete transactions by either being inserted into a POS terminal, or tapped on the POS terminal, rather than swiped using the magnetic stripe.?

"The migration to chip-enabled EBT cards adds an important layer of security to the Commonwealth's food benefits system," said Jon B. Hurst, President & CEO, Retailers Association of Massachusetts. "Retailers have been upgrading their Point-of-Sale (POS) systems to prepare for this change, and we appreciate the partnership with the Healey-Driscoll Administration to ensure a seamless transition."?

DTA has previously taken significant action to prevent benefit theft and safeguard client benefits, including:

Implementing card lock/unlock technology using DTA Connect mobile application and the Cardholder Customer Service Line.

Providing an EBT card safety flyer with every EBT card issued that contains information on how to lock/unlock your card, as well as frequently change the PIN.

Educating clients on card safety and encouraging regular changing of their EBT card PIN to enhance security, and forcing re-pinning when there was known high-risk for stolen PINs.

informational videos, flyers, and more) in multiple languages, available on Producing educational materials on protecting your EBT card and identifying scams (informational videos, flyers, and more) in multiple languages, available on mass.gov/ProtectYourEBT

Engaging retailers and retail associations through outreach and education on benefit theft schemes and patterns, and partnering with law enforcement on information sharing.

Fraud prevention is a critical responsibility for all DTA staff. DTA uses eligibility interviews and verification to ensure accurate initial determinations. DTA constantly leverages advanced data analytics and tools  regularly adding new methods  data matching, transaction monitoring, and a variety of fraud detection practices to?detect and resolve? potential program integrity risks. When issues are identified DTA conducts non-criminal fraud investigations, disqualifies individuals for program violations, refers cases for prosecution, calculates overpayments and establishes claims for repayment.

DTA operates a?fraud?hotline via phone and email inbox where anybody can?submit?a referral for?investigation. Suspected fraudulent activity is investigated through dedicated program integrity and law enforcement partnerships. DTA also actively partners with?State Auditor's Office Bureau of Special Investigation (BSI) and the Office of the Inspector General on program integrity initiatives.
The closure of Morningside will mean children is estimated to save about $2.5 million, however, about a million of that would be invested back into the other elementary schools.

Pittsfield School Officials See FY27 Budget Without Morningside

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Retiring Morningside Community School in the fall would cut about $2.5 million from the FY27 budget.



On Monday, the School Committee held a special meeting at City Hall to discuss the proposed $87.2 million budget for fiscal year 2027. With the potential closure of Morningside looming, the committee was shown what it would look like from a draft budget and student enrollment standpoint.



"At the center is student success and student outcomes, and so we are continuously asking ourselves, any decision that we make, will it result in better opportunities, better outcomes?" interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips explained.



"In this case, for Morningside, but also the receiving schools. Have we supported the receiving schools if we were to close Morningside so that the schools can be successful?"



The proposed budget for Pittsfield Public Schools in fiscal year 2027 is $86,855,061, with $68,886,061 in state Chapter 70 funding and $18 million from the city. It is a modest, $404,500 increase over FY26. The administration needed to reduce nearly $4.4 million to achieve a level service-funded budget.



Morningside Community School was built in the mid-1970s with an open classroom concept. It serves about 374 students and has a 7 percent accountability score, outperformed by 93 percent of the state. For fiscal year 2027, the district has allocated about $5.2 million for the school.



It was reported on Monday that closing Morningside would cut more than $2.5 million from the FY27 budget, with about $947,000 of that allocated to the other schools receiving students: Allendale, Capeless, Egremont, and Williams.



"It's not a savings to put back into the pot, per se, it's a savings to be reallocated to get better outcomes for the students and for the school," Phillips said.



The Pittsfield Public Schools would have attendance boundaries redrawn and present them to the School Committee for a vote by early June.



Allendale, Capeless, and Williams would each receive about 23 percent of Morningside's student body, and Egremont 31 percent, or 72 students, based on available space. Morningside has about 60 employees, and Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Bonnie Howland reported that the district will have vacancies to fill and reassignments available.



"There are pretty sufficient vacancies right now to if we were to do this, you know, next week, not everybody would be out of a job," she said.
Photo: @V_Zelenskiy_official Telegram

The Ukrainian side supports the proposal for an Easter truce and intends to adhere to it, but will act in kind in the event of violations by Russian occupiers, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated.

Today, we defined the parameters of our response to any potential violations of the ceasefire by the Russian army. We all understand who we are dealing with. Ukraine will adhere to the ceasefire and respond strictly in kind. The absence of Russian strikes in the air, on land, and at sea will mean no response from our side, Zelenskyy said on X Saturday.

The head of state reported that information about the mirror nature of Ukrainian actions and the possible continuation of the ceasefire after Easter had been conveyed to the Russian side.

He also reported that he had discussed with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, the procedures for Ukrainian units to operate during the ceasefire and emphasized that the Ukrainian army is prepared for any developments on the front.

Ukraine has repeatedly proposed various ceasefire formats to Russia, and we believe that Easter should be a time of silence and safety. A ceasefire on Easter could also become the beginning of real movement toward peace  our side has made the corresponding proposal, Zelenskyy noted.

As reported, the Kremlin announced on Thursday a ceasefire for Easter, from 4:00 p.m. on April 11 until the end of the day on April 12. Zelenskyy earlier noted that Ukraine had submitted a request for an Easter ceasefire to the United States.
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A teenager charged with murdering a 14-year-old boy who was shot dead in south-east London has appeared in court.

Eghosa Ogbebor was killed in Lord Warwick Street, Woolwich. Police had been called to the scene at about 3.40pm on 2 April after reports of a shooting.

On Saturday a 16-year-old boy, of Romford, east London, appeared at Thames Magistrates Court where he was remanded into youth detention accommodation before his next appearance at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested on April 4 and released on bail, police said.

He was rearrested on 9 April and charged with murder the following day, the Metropolitan Police said.

On 4 April, officers arrested a 16-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man in Woolwich on suspicion of murder and a 46-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender.

open image in gallery Forensic officers near the scene in Woolwich where 14-year-old Eghosa Ogbebor was shot dead ( PA )

All three were released on bail, the police said.

A 14-year-old boy, 16-year-old boy and 18-year-old man were arrested on 3 April in connection with Eghosas death and have been bailed while inquiries continue.

On 10 April, another 16-year-old boy was also arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody.

Eghosas family are being supported by specialist officers and the investigation remains ongoing, police said on Friday.
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A man has been taken to hospital after reportedly falling from the back of a Jet 2 plane.

The man has been taken to hospital for suspected serious injuries, the North West Ambulance Service said, adding that they were called shortly after 8am on Saturday morning to reports that someone had fallen from height.

He is believed to have been an aircraft engineer who fell from the back of a Jet 2 plane, the Manchester Evening News reported.

Images of the scene show several ambulance and fire vehicles around a plane which has an open back door. Several airport workers are on the scene.

open image in gallery The man reportedly fell from the back of a Jet 2 plane ( iStock )

The man was a contractor from a third-party provider who was carrying out work for the budget airline, which has opened an investigation into the incident.

A Jet 2 spokesperson told The Independent: We are aware of an incident that took place at Manchester Airport this morning (Saturday 11th April) involving an individual from a third-party provider.

We are unable to confirm further details at present, however, can confirm that a full investigation has been launched. We are doing our best to provide support to everyone who needs it.

open image in gallery The incident took place at Manchester Airport ( Getty/iStock )

The plane was reportedly due to fly to Tenerife before the horrific incident took place.

The man, who remains unnamed, suffered serious injuries including leg and arm fractures, according to the MEN. He is believed to still be in hospital.

A NWSA spokesperson said: A male patient was taken to hospital to be treated for suspected serious injuries.

We were called at 08.22 to reports someone had fallen from height.
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More than 500 people have been arrested during a mass protest in central London against the ban on Palestine Action, with police confirming all detentions were for showing support for a proscribed organisation.

The Metropolitan Police stated that 523 individuals were taken into custody during the demonstration at Trafalgar Square on Saturday.

A statement posted on social media site X said: 523 people were arrested today for showing support for a proscribed organisation. The age of those arrested ranges from 18 to 87.

That brings the updates today to a close, we are grateful to all the officers involved for their professionalism.

Among those arrested was Robert Del Naja, the musician from Massive Attack, who was seen holding an "I Support Palestine Action" sign before being carried away by three police officers. The ages of those arrested ranged widely, from 27 to 82, according to the force.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square, many holding signs that read "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action".

A significant number of the mostly elderly demonstrators sat on camping chairs and on the ground, displaying their placards. Near the National Gallery at the top of the square, large banners were unfurled, proclaiming "Jurors deserve to hear the whole truth" and "Israel starves kids".

Mr Del Naja told the Press Association that he felt compelled to attend the protest despite potential repercussions for his music career.

open image in gallery Police make arrests as demonstrators participate in 'Everyone Day', a mass action against the Government's proscription of Palestine Action, at Trafalgar Square ( Getty )

He explained: "Being a musician, obviously, there was a lot of trepidation around how we might not be able to travel and get visas. But I thought this is ridiculous and then the police making that U-turn to arrest people again, I thought that is even more ridiculous. So Im going to hold a sign today.

If I get arrested, I feel very confident that if I stand up in court with the right guidance and say this was an unlawful arrest and, therefore, I dont accept it."

He further added: "I think that the actions of Palestine Action were highly patriotic, because they were pretty much protecting our country from getting involved in serious war crimes, and breaking international law. How much more patriotic can you be than that?"

Officers were filmed arresting Mr Del Naja and carrying him away, prompting cheers from other demonstrators. Massive Attack is scheduled to commence a summer tour in Europe from 26 May to 8 June, with dates in Helsinki, Rattvik, Copenhagen, Berlin, and Brussels.

The arrests saw several individuals, including a man and a woman with grey hair, carried away by officers. Police were observed carrying a woman from the protest as onlookers chanted "shame on you".

Another man was lifted out in handcuffs, and an elderly protester using a walking stick was escorted to police vans. One woman was heard shouting: "Yeah she looks like a terrorist, doesnt she mate?"

Protesters accused police of dragging a woman out of the demonstration without supporting her shoulders. The woman was later seen lying with her eyes closed, surrounded by officers and bystanders, with others shouting that she required medical attention.

One protester made a peace sign as she was removed, while another declared "Palestine Action is not a proscribed organisation" as she was led away. Protesters, some carried by their ankles and under their arms, were taken to a fenced area at the side of Trafalgar Square.

open image in gallery Protesters hold up placards at a demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action in Trafalgar Square, central London ( PA )

The protest group Defend Our Juries, which organised the event dubbed Everyone Day, stated that the demonstration would show the "resistance" to the ban on Palestine Action is "stronger than ever".

The Metropolitan Police had previously indicated that Saturdays action "is likely to involve offending rather than a lawful protest".

In March, the force announced it would resume arresting suspected Palestine Action supporters, as a High Court battle over the groups ban continues.

Police had temporarily paused arrests in February after the High Court ruled the governments ban was unlawful, but decided to resume operations as an appeal against the ruling is expected to take several months.
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Greater Manchester Police are reviewing a complaint made about Reform UKs free energy bills competition amid allegations it broke electoral law.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage stated on Friday that he not the least bit worried that the party has not broken the law as he and Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick handed a couple who won the draw a cheque for 1,758 in a video posted on X.

The complaint came as a result of the competition potentially running during the purdah period for the local election campaign. There have also been complaints that Mr Farage knew the winners who were party members.

Nigel Farage hands cheque to the winners ( Nigel Farage/Facebook )

Greater Manchester Police issued a statement on Friday stating that it had received a report about the competition and that officers are currently reviewing the matter. However, it did not disclose what the potential offence is.

Karl Turner MP, who is currently suspended from the Labour Party, told Sky News Reform's competition might be considered 'treating' if it happened inside the pre-election period for local authorities, which started on 30 March.

Reform's free energy bills competition ran from 17 March to 31 March, and the winners were announced on 9 April.

The Electoral Commission said in a statement: Some activity designed to incentivise voter behaviour may be considered an offence, including bribery and treating.

It would be for the police to consider the facts of any allegations made to them, in order to determine if an offence has been committed. Any allegations should be reported directly to the police.

Concerns over the way the party was harvesting and using data had already been raised but Reform UK said the draw had been cleared by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Party sources said many members had entered the competition so it was no surprise that a supporter won and that there was video evidence of the randomised draw taking place for legal purposes. It is understood the draw was open to both members and non-members.

The victorious couple were members of the party described as staunch supporters.
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Public opinion is split over the future of horse racing a pollster has said, after Green Party leader Zack Polanski called for a ban.

The row has intensified on the day of horse racings biggest race, the Grand National, and just 24 hours after the tragic death of Gold Dancer at the Aintree Festival sparked backlash.

According to YouGov, 38 per cent of those asked about the future of horse racing in its most recent survey supported its ban, the exact same number who support it continuing, with a further 24 per cent undecided.

In a social media post, they noted: With Zack Polanski calling for a ban on horse racing, our 2023 survey found Britons split over such a ban.

open image in gallery Zack Polanski wants to ban horse racing ( Ben Birchall/PA Wire )

One senior figure involved in horse racing has claimed that the sports refusal to intervene over the attempts to ban greyhound racing has left it exposed to the nutters.

But the British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) has pointed out that other polling has shown clear public support for horse racing.

Strand Polling found that 59 per cent think racehorses are treated well in the UK, 64 per cent think racing takes horse welfare seriously and 60 per cent think racing authorities in the UK are genuinely committed to improving welfare standards.

They noted that Savanta found 60 per cent think the Grand National should continue while M&C Saatchi found 56 per cent say the race, which is set to be watched by 600 million worldwide, is an important part of British sporting culture.

Mr Polanski has in the last few days reiterated his claim that there's something deeply wrong with society when this is considered a sport, adding: We need to ban horse racing - and indeed all forms of animal cruelty.

open image in gallery Gold Dancer was destroyed after the horses back was broken in a race at Aintree on Friday ( Getty Images )

On Friday, he retweeted an X post from animal rights group PETA stating: While crowds cheer, horses fall. Since 2000, over 60 horses have died at the Grand National. This is not a national tradition - it's a national disgrace. #youbettheydie.

And he doubled down retweeting another post showing disturbing footage of Gold Dancer breaking down on Friday after being urged to the winning line with a broken back.

The post noted: This horse broke his back on the last jump, jockey... Paul Townend then forced and whipped the horse over the finish with a BROKEN BACK to finish 1st. The horse was killed.

Mr Polanski suggested that negative press coverage of his position in the last two days, was because the establishment is terrified as he sets out his plan to end rip-off Britain and take back our power and wealth from those who have stolen it.

Animal rights organisations called for the Grand National to be boycotted as the winner of the second race on Friday, Gold Dancer, died after crossing the finish line.

Recent assessments suggest that the the UK horse racing industry is a major economic driver, contributing approximately 4 billion annually to the British economy.

As the second largest spectator sport in Great Britain, it generates over 3.39 billion in direct and indirect expenditure, supports over 17,000 full-time jobs, and has an overall equine impact closer to 5bn.
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Sending British warships to police the Strait of Hormuz is a fantasy because UK armed forces are already so depleted, former defence secretary Ben Wallace has warned.

Mr Wallace, who served as defence secretary under three Tory prime ministers, said such a move  which armed forces minister Luke Pollard has refused to rule out  risked leaving our troops dangerously unprotected and overstretched.

He urged the government to properly fund Britains defence and accused ministers of taking the public for fools after the current defence secretary John Healey insisted the UK is ready to defend itself.

The intervention came as peace talks between the US and Iran got underway in Pakistan on Saturday, hoping to solidify a fragile two-week ceasefire more than a month into Donald Trumps Middle East war.

And Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also warned that Mr Trumps America First approach to foreign policy was here to stay, and that Britain needed to react accordingly.

open image in gallery Former defence secretary Ben Wallace says John Healey needs to fight for more funding ( PA Archive )

In a speech at the London Defence Conference, she pledged to increase the size of the British army by 20,000 if she wins back power amid growing question marks over whether Labour is serious about reaching the target of spending 5 per cent of GDP on defence and security, which it has committed to doing in the next parliament.

Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Mr Trump on Thursday night about the need for a practical plan to get shipping going again through the Strait, which is currently blockaded by Tehran, after the conditional ceasefire in the US-Iran conflict was announced. Mr Trump has reportedly demanded that Nato allies send warships to the troubled region in a matter of days.

Asked about the possibility of deploying the navy to the vital shipping route, Sir Ben, who served as defence secretary from 2019 to 2023, told The Independent: These are just fantasies. They talk about troops being deployed to the Strait when they know damn well that theyve cut their operating budgets.

It risks leaving our troops dangerously unprotected and dangerously overstretched.

John Healey needs to get some courage and start being prepared to have a fight with the Treasury and No 10 [for more funding], but also at the same time start being honest with the British public.

open image in gallery HMS Dragon has been deployed to Cyprus ( PA Wire )

Arguing that Mr Healeys claim Britain is ready to defend itself is palpably untrue, Sir Ben added: The problem is they simply will not make the tough political decisions... So we end up with very hollow platitudes and partisan comments from a Labour Party who think spin is the solution.

MPs on both sides of the Commons have already expressed concerns over the failure of the government to publish its Defence Investment Plan.

In-year savings were blamed for a delay in sending HMS Dragon to Cyprus weeks after the Iran crisis began and the UKs base on the island came under attack from Tehran.

And there are ongoing question marks over the reduction of the size of the UK army which is down to around 70,000, and using poor and outdated heavy vehicles and tanks.

Dr Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told The Independent that more money needs to be spent if the government wants to plug many of the under-resourced gaps in defence.

Britain is certainly still the beneficiary of strategic depth of alliances, of some pretty impressive niche capabilities within each of the services.

But its armed forces are very much in what you might call a transitional period, where were moving from an era of small wars to one where large-scale conflict is very much a believable contingency. And that process of transition is by no means complete.

open image in gallery ( Institute for the Study of War )

Asked about Mr Wallaces warnings, Dr Kaushal said: I think its probably true that in order to plug many of the under-resourced gaps in defence, more money needs to be spent than is currently being spent.

It comes just days after a former top military commander said that the British army is so depleted it could only seize a small market town on a good day.

But asked at the London Defence Conference on Friday if Britain is ready to defend itself, Mr Healey responded: Yes, and I think what I set out demonstrates just how ready our forces are when required.

Pointing to the monitoring of three Russian submarines found operating in the North Atlantic, he added: Whilst people are rightly concerned about the conflict in the Middle East, were not taking our eyes off Putin, were not taking our eyes off the primary threat, and we do have an armed forces that is demonstrating its capabilities to track and deter and if necessary, there are options to respond as well.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised Keir Starmer for not sending British ships to help clear the Strait of Hormuz ( Getty )

Ms Badenoch used her speech to announce she will use welfare spending cuts to fund the biggest expansion in the size of the army since the Second World War with 6,000 more regulars and 14,000 more reserves.

The mirror that [Trump] is holding up to Europe and that we are finding it so uncomfortable to look in is showing us that without the United States, we cannot properly defend ourselves, she said. At present, European strategic autonomy is a fairytale.

I have announced that the next Conservative government would reinstate the two-child benefit cap and spend that money on defence. That will fund the largest net increase in British troops under any government since the Second World War.

We will use the money to recruit 6,000 regular soldiers and 14,000 reservists as well as paying for their accommodation and equipment.

Mr Pollard, Labour minister for defence readiness and industry, responded: Kemi Badenochs message is: the Tories hollowed out Britains defences, now put us back in charge. Nobody will take that seriously.

The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment.
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Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has pledged to increase the British army by 20,000 as she warned that any replacement of Donald Trump in the White House will continue his military policies of moving away from European defence.

In a speech to the London Defence Conference, Ms Badenoch admitted to dismay at the language used by President Trump but warned that the idea of European defence without US involvement is a fairytale.

It came as she pledged "the largest net increase in British troops under any government since the Second World War" if the Tories return to power with an overall increase of 20,000 to the army.

open image in gallery Kemi Badenoch issued a warning on defence as the governments comes under pressure over the state of the countrys armed forces ( Christine Quarmyne/CCHQ )

Her speech comes amid questions over Keir Starmers plans to increase defence spending to 5 per cent and concerns over his governments failure to provide its Defence Investment Plan details.

It also comes just ahead of King Charles III and Queen Camilla going the US on a state visit at the end of April which many are calling to be cancelled.

Sir Keir has said that Trumps threats to wipe out a whole civilisation with the war on Iran have already been criticised by prime minister Sir Keir Starmer who questioned the president's values.

Ms Badenoch said: Many people find President Trumps actions to be an anathema. They find his words unstatesmanlike, they find his treatment of allies to be needlessly provocative.

I have to say that some of the presidents recent social media posts and comments to the press have dismayed me, too. Maybe his successor will return to more traditional diplomacy.

open image in gallery Donald Trumps policy reflects the direction of US policy, Ms Badenoch warned ( AFP via Getty Images )

However, she cautioned against a hope that a change in the White House will see a change in policy.

If we comfort ourselves with these ideas we will miss the underlying lesson that Trumps presidency is not the start, but a continuation of a change in US outlook and behaviour.

For decades, the United States has been complaining... at least privately... that Europe is not pulling its weight on defence.

And the Special Relationship has not always been as special as we liked to think. Ronald Reagan invaded Grenada without consulting us, President Biden did the same when he pulled out of Afghanistan.

President Trump may be unorthodox in how he talks to us but there are forces at play here that are much larger than his presidency.

The mirror that he is holding up to Europe and that we are finding it so uncomfortable to look in is showing us that without the United States, we cannot properly defend ourselves. At present, European strategic autonomy is a fairytale.

She went on: We must reassert ourselves as a serious power in the world. Show our allies what we bring to the table and show our enemies that we are ready to defend ourselves.

If we do not... we will have no say in whatever comes next.

open image in gallery Starmer is facing demands from Trump to secure the strategic shipping route the Strait of Hormuz ( UK MOD Crown copyright )

The Tory leader said that this would mean a reversal of post-Cold Wr policy of shrinking the size of the UK military.

Vowing the largest net increase in the size of the military since the Second World War, she vowed to redirect cash from benefits to defence.

She said: "I have announced that the next Conservative government would reinstate the two-child benefit cap and spend that money on defence.

"That will fund the largest net increase in British troops under any government since the Second World War.

"We will use the money to recruit 6,000 regular soldiers and 14,000 reservists as well as paying for their accommodation and equipment.

"I have said that we will reallocate 17 billion from Government R&D and Ed Miliband's disastrous net-zero projects to create a new sovereign defence fund.

"This fund will invest in British defence start-ups, protecting our supply chains and delivering drone technology right across our armed forces, ensuring our army, navy and air force can fight as war is fought today. It is not yet 3 per cent, but it is a start.

"We will find more savings till we get there."

Luke Pollard, Labours minister for defence readiness and industry, responded: "Kemi Badenochs message is: the Tories hollowed out Britains defences, now put us back in charge. Nobody will take that seriously.

If she were Prime Minister today, Britain would now be in a war without a plan. She wanted to rush in without thinking about the consequences. That tells you everything you need to know about her judgement on defence and foreign policy. And paying for more troops by plunging children into poverty is not a credible plan.

Keir Starmer made the right call in ensuring that Britain would not be drawn into offensive action, while supporting our allies in the region. His Labour Government is delivering the biggest sustained uplift in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, with every pound of our defence uplift delivering for British businesses, British workers and British national security.
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Of all the many and varied contests on 7 May, the biggest single set of elections is also the easiest to call: Scotland.

If the polls and the turnout at the previous contest in 2021 is anything to go by, something like 5.4 million Scots will turn out to cast a ballot, and enough of them will vote to return an SNP, or certainly an SNP-led government.

It will be the fifth consecutive term in office for the party since they displaced Labour at Holyrood back in 2007. John Swinney, SNP leader since the departure of Humza Yousaf in 2024, will be first minister once again.

Aside from the long era of Unionist hegemony in the old Northern Ireland parliament, if the SNP lasts until the expiry of the parliament in 2031, it will be the second longest period of electoral dominance across the UK for well over a century. (Welsh Labour, ruling their nation from 1999 to 2026 just pips them).

open image in gallery Nigel Farage and Malcolm Offord, Reforms Scottish leader, unveil the partys manifesto ahead of Mays elections, where at least one poll has suggested they could come second to the SNP ( PA Wire )

Indeed, the peculiarities of the Scottish electoral system  mostly first-past-the-post like Westminster, partly proportional representation  may mean that Swinney will likely either command a small majority or be close enough to having one in the 129 seat assembly that he can get his legislative programme through without too much compromise.

Such is the extreme fragmentation of the SNPs many opponents, with Labour and Reform UK scrapping for second place, and the Greens, Conservatives, and Liberal Democrats all still strong enough to win some seats, that the basic outcome is beyond doubt. The SNP will divide and rule. The Unionist or anti-SNP vote will be substantial, but such a kaleidoscope that even tactical voting becomes difficult.

Double drams all round? Well, not quite. On current polling, the support for the SNP will probably be somewhere between 35 and 40 per cent of the vote. It will be sufficiently high and well distributed, and its opponents support low and inefficiently so, that it should get about 60 constituency seats, plus maybe a few more to get over the threshold of a majority of 65.

But it will hardly mark a vote of huge confidence in the party and its long record, and will actually be lower than it was when Nicola Sturgeon led them to victory last time round, in 2021.

One fact is plain. The 2026 vote will certainly not represent much of a mandate for the SNP seriously to campaign for a second independence referendum. The last one, in 2014, was based on a larger SNP vote, a clearer parliamentary majority and greater support for separation than is likely this time; and it wont be strong enough for Sir Keir Starmer to feel compelled to accede to the performative request.

Besides, Swinney knows he needs to see polling support for independence at 60 per cent plus to avoid a second ruinous defeat.

While the SNP may feel that that theyve survived the scandals and leadership traumas of the Alex Salmond, Sturgeon and Yousaf years, the collapse of the SNP-Green coalition, and dissatisfaction on issues such as education and taxation, the reason they will win is simply that theyre lucky  theyre not strong or loved, but all their opponents are even less so.

open image in gallery Anas Sarwar is the most high profile Labour politician to call for Starmer to resign, but his own future will be uncertain if Scottish Labour performs poorly in May ( PA Wire )

Labour, not long ago, seemed certain to take power at Holyrood as complement to the 2024 landslide at Westminster. No more. Labours travails at the UK level have also crushed its support in Scotland.

No matter how much Scottish leader Anas Sarwar distances himself from London Labour  including his call last month for Starmer to quit  he cannot escape the contamination. Its also fair to say that hes not produced a distinctive enough agenda of his own to enhance his own prospects.

Although there is no such formal position at Holyrood, he will probably be fortunate enough to become de facto leader of the opposition to Swinneys government. But who knows?

If its a very bad night for Labour and they slip into third place again (the Tories went ahead and beat them to second in 2021), Starmer might well outlast Sarwar as a party leader.

Which brings us to Reform UK, whose rise in Scotland  as the most sceptical party on devolution, let alone independence or the EU  has been stunning.

Like Labour, theyre around the 15 per cent mark in the polls, which is significantly lower than they score in Wales or England, but a few years ago it would have been unimaginable that they would have pretensions to being the main opposition to the SNP. Immigration and disillusion with the Tories are the main reasons, as down South.

As elsewhere in Britain, Nigel Farages followers have cannibalised a significant portion of the Tory vote while also peeling away some working class Labour support, particularly in the Central Belt.

But the Conservatives should be able to mobilise and hang on to many of their well-established strongholds in the Borders and North East Scotland to retain some parliamentary representation, and with it the hope of future revival.

They, led by Russell Findlay, are basically still paying the price of the failures of the Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak administrations, plus, in Remain Scotland, the continuing effects of the Brexit vote.

Similarly the Liberal Democrats, led by Alex Cole-Hamilton, and also on about 10 per cent, should win a handful of seats in Edinburgh and the Highlands and Islands: the Greens will do the same based on a more substantial level support in the proportional part of the voting.

Both parties have been in coalition administrations in the past - the Liberal Democrats with Labour in 1999-2007. The Scottish Greens, a pro-independent group formally supported the first SNP in 2007, the first referendum on independence and served in government from 2021 to 2024 under the Bute House power sharing agreement. Theyd be unlikely to gang up with the others to try and turf Swinney out.

It is thus odd but essential to say, by way of an addendum, that while superficially the result of the 2026 Scottish parliament will look solid and decisive, it will have an air of impermanence, of unfinished business about it.

It cannot realistically be taken as any expression of approval in the SNPs record; it will be a grudging victory; it will not settle the independence debate; and the mood for change that does exist in Scotland will remain unconsummated.

For the next five years, power once again will be the SNPs to lose. But to whom?
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Legislation intended to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has reportedly been put on hold, following direct criticism from Donald Trump.

The proposed 35 billion agreement, which includes a plan to lease back the crucial UK-US military base on Diego Garcia  the largest island in the remote Indian Ocean archipelago  is now facing significant hurdles.

A key piece of legislation, the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill, is not expected to feature in the Governments legislative agenda for the forthcoming Kings Speech in May, The Times has reported.

The Republican, who had previously supported the arrangement, branded the deal an "act of great stupidity" in a post on his Truth Social platform in January, directly impacting its progression.

A Government source, speaking to The Times, acknowledged the agreement as "the best way to protect the long-term future of the base" but confirmed that proceedings would not continue without Mr Trumps endorsement.

This stance was echoed by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who declared the deal should find its "rightful place  on the ash heap of history."

open image in gallery The 35 billion deal, which includes a plan to lease back the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia  the largest island in the remote Indian Ocean archipelago  has been criticised by the US president ( PA Wire )

He has also repeatedly criticised the Prime Minister throughout the conflict in the Middle East, with the White House saying Britain and Nato allies have turned their backs on the American people during the Iran war.

Mrs Badenoch said: If Keir Starmers 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.

In February, there was confusion over whether the Bill was going ahead, with Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer telling the Commons that the deal had been paused although Government officials later said he misspoke.

The US administration had initially hailed the deal as a monumental achievement but Mr Trump subsequently lambasted it as an act of total weakness.

open image in gallery The Times reported that the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill will not feature in the Kings Speech in May, which sets the agenda for the next session of Parliament ( U.S. Navy )

He then reversed his position, saying it was the best deal Sir Keir could make before withdrawing support again.

Legislation enabling the handover has not appeared before Parliament since 20 January despite being in its final stages.

The Government has argued 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.
Photo: https://t.me/Pivnenko_NGU

National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko made a working visit to Kryvyi Rih, where he met with the head of the Central Territorial Administration and the commander of the 21st Separate Brigade of the National Guard, and also spoke with Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the citys Defense Council.

"Together with the commanders, we discussed current issues related to mission execution, unit development, and strengthening their combat capabilities," Pivnenko wrote on Telegram on Friday evening.

He added that he had become familiar with the development of unmanned systems and ground robotic systems, as well as the personnel training process.

"The introduction of modern technologies is one of the key factors in increasing the effectiveness of our units on the battlefield. Results are already being seen both on the battlefield and in logistics and strengthening defenses against enemy air attacks," he said.

Pivnenko reported that over the past two weeks, the air cover unit of the 21st Separate Brigade has destroyed more than 20 enemy Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicles using interceptor drones.

This is a significant figure, and we will continue to increase it, he emphasized.

Ground-based robotic systems are also actively used. Specifically, they deliver up to 500 kg of necessary cargo to brigade units positions in a single mission.

Pivnenko presented the Order of Danylo Halytsky to the brigades deputy commander, Colonel Oleksandr Piskun, who took part in the battles and liberation of Ukrainian cities in 2014 during the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) and was seriously wounded.

Piskun currently continues to serve in the National Guard. The National Guard Commander noted that this award is recognition of his personal contribution to strengthening the states defense capability.

Pivnenko also visited the Museum of the Russia-Ukraine War.

"The exhibits deeply and compellingly reflect the course of the military operations and the personal stories of fallen soldiers, reminding us of the cost of our struggle. We shape memory and preserve history for future generations. I am convinced that the history being made on the battlefield today will inevitably end in our victory," he added.
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The family of a Kentucky woman, who was killed after a garbage truck accidentally picked her up, plans to pursue legal action against the city after the county coroner confirmed the womans cause of death was blunt force and compressional trauma.

For weeks, Louisville police asserted that 35-year-old Tyrah Adams died after having come into contact with a garbage truck during a routine cleanup in an alley.

Adams, who was living as an unhoused woman, was picked up by a garbage truck that used a hydraulic claw on Feb. 12 while it was trying to clear debris, Louisville Public Media reported. Truck operators reportedly did not see Adams and later released her from the claw.

Adams family believes that she then walked to a nearby convenience store, where a worker and a customer called 911. After being transported to the hospital, Adams died of her injuries.

She didnt walk into this truck. They physically picked her up with that claw, squeezed her, compressed her, and dropped her. And left her there to find her own help, Stephanie Rivas, the familys attorney, told Fox19.

open image in gallery Tyrah Adams was in a trash-ridden alleyway when a Louisville Public Works garbage truck picked her up, causing lethal blunt-force and compressional trauma ( Wave3 )

The Jefferson County Coroners Office determined Adams died of blunt force trauma and compressional trauma from the garbage truck. Her death was listed as accidental, according to the Courier-Journal.

A spokesperson for the Public Works said the two garbage truck workers had been placed on leave, Wave3 reported.

The Independent has asked the Louisville Metro Public Works, the Jefferson County Coroners Office and Stephanie Rivas office for comment.

But Adams family wants more answers about why the 35-year-old hadnt been seen in the first place.

A police report, obtained by Wave3, found that the person operating the trucks crane picked up the pile of trash, set it back down and got out of their seat to look at the pile. However, the operator then returned to the drivers seat and pulled the truck forward.

Knowing that they did not help her at all  thats where most of my anger comes from, Sandra Akers, Adams sister, told Fox19.

Knowing what he had did and what he saw, he didnt even have the decency to just help, Akers added.

After Adams went to the convenience store, she collapsed in the doorway, according to reports.

Rivas said she believes Adams family has not been given all the available information.

open image in gallery A garbage crane, similar to the one used in the Louisville incident, picked up a 35-year-old woman by accident, according to the city ( Getty Images )

Rivas told Louisville Public Media that Adams family had not seen footage from an outward-facing camera attached to the truck or from nearby surveillance cameras. She also claimed that her investigators inspected the truck and found that one internal camera had been covered up.

They had to get out of the truck to operate that equipment, but had they done the extra step that they were required to do and inspected the area, they would have found Tyrah, Rivas told Louisville Public Media. This was completely preventable on their part.
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Three people were stabbed at a major New York City subway station on Saturday morning by a man with a knife, according to authorities, who say that man was then shot by police on a station platform and subsequently died.

The New York Police Department said officers responding to a 9:40am. emergency call of an assault at the 42nd Street-Grand Central station confronted the man holding a weapon that law enforcement described as a machete.

One officer fired two shots and struck the suspect, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. In a social media post on Saturday, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the man later died.

The three stabbing victims  an 84 year-old male, 65-year-old male and 70-year-old female  sustained injuries that were not thought to be life-threatening, said Tisch at a morning news conference.

open image in gallery Zohran Mamdani confirmed the man with the knife died ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

One man sustained significant lacerations to the head and face, the other man had similar injuries and an open skull fracture and the third victim had a laceration to the shoulder.

Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta said the attacks appear to be a random act.

Officials said earlier that two officers were also being evaluated at a hospital.

Tisch said two officers were flagged down by a civilian who said a man with a knife stabbed people on the platform.

Tisch said officers gave 20 orders to drop the knife.

Police were still investigating whether the stabbing started on the subway platform which services the 4,5 and 6 MTA trains or on one of the subways.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on social media that she was grateful to our brave officers who acted quickly to stop the suspect. Were working closely with the NYPD as the investigation unfolds.

The police department, posting on X, urged travelers to avoid the area Saturday morning due to a police investigation and to expect delays and heavy traffic. The Metropolitan Transit Authority said some subway trains were not stopping at the station which is separate from regional train service at Grand Central.
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The small town of Enderlin, North Dakota, experienced Americas first EF5 tornado in more than a decade last June, a twister strong enough to rip bark from trees and blow a train off its tracks. Three people were killed and 10 homes destroyed by the tornado that was 12 miles wide and packed 200 mph winds.

The U.S. experienced 1,559 tornadoes last year, the fifth highest number on record. This year isnt shaping up to be quite so severe partially due to a super El Nino, a climate pattern that forms near the equator and leads to stormier weather globally.

Between 1,050-1,250 tornadoes are expected in 2026, according to Accuweather, with the majority of twisters expected to strike in May. The most at-risk areas are along the Gulf Coast and across the Plains.

However, the climate crisis is potentially causing a change in tornado behavior and location, scientists say. Tornado Alley, which refers to the area long plagued by twisters, has been shifting east due to drought and warming in the Gulf of Mexico, Accuweather says.

Ahead of this spring and summers outbreak, emergency managers around the country are racing to prepare residents.

open image in gallery This tornado season is expected to start slow and then quickly ramp up, meteorologists warn. Between 1,050-1,250 tornadoes are expected in 2026 ( Getty Images )

They know how destructive these tornadoes can be if they dont.

There were whole swaths of trees that were cut out, maybe 300 yards wide, Cole Baker, the new emergency manager for Enderlins Cass County after Brady Scribner handled the EF5, said.

Bakers number one piece of advice? Residents in tornado-prone areas should stay aware of impending threats and any changes in the forecast, he told The Independent.

Even when outdoor tornado warning sirens go off, residents might not be able to hear them over the winds, he said. With that, its incredibly hard to hear if youre inside and the wind sounds like a freight train outside. Youre not going to be able to hear those sirens.

Text message alerts are also sent to cellphones in affected areas from local, state and federal agencies, including the National Weather Service.

But in remote or rural areas, cell service may not always be reliable or go out - during the disaster in Enderlin, the radio tower was knocked down and cell service was disrupted.

There also remains a small percentage of the population who do not have a cellphone. In these instances, residents are asked to rely on TV, radio and checking the internet that runs on satellites and fiber optic cables buried deep underground.

That advice is echoed by emergency managers in rural areas across the country.

If the outdoor warning sirens go off, go inside. If your NOAA Weather Radio goes off, turn on the TV, pay attention to your local meteorologist. And if your phone goes off, head to your safe space, Brian Burgess, Williamson County Emergency Management director, told The Independent.

A dangerous change

The global El Nino phenomenon creates warmer and drier weather in northern U.S. states, and wetter conditions in the south, as well as heightened hurricane activity in the Atlantic Ocean.

It creates ripe conditions for tornadoes to emerge in the south from spring into late summer, Paul Pastelok, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, told The Independent.

So, definitely look for a pickup in tornadoes as we get into June and July, he said.

open image in gallery A graphic from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows conditions caused by the El Nino climate pattern. The Pacific jet stream currents shift south and farther east, leading to wetter conditions in the South ( NOAA )

In April, Illinois, Missouri and Southern Iowa are expected to be tornado hot spots, before the action ramps up in the Tennessee Valley and Tornado Alley - which runs through Texas, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Ohio - by June.

Itll be fighting some dry air, but I do think we start seeing more action in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas during the months of May and June, Pastelok said.

El Nino will also likely lead to more storms that cause tornadoes along the Gulf Coast. The takeaway? People should be prepared for the unexpected.

I think people are going to see a change in what theyve seen in the last couple of years, he said.

Costly mistakes

Burgess was in charge of responding to an EF4 tornado in Illinois last May which threw debris into the middle of the tornado at 30,000 feet.

There were no fatalities but seven people were injured and homes flattened. The total damage from that tornado outbreak, which also impacted Missouri and Kentucky, was between $9 billion and $11 billion.

Another key preparation ahead of tornado season is home insurance: making sure that your policy is updated to account for the current value of your property.

open image in gallery Crews clean up debris in the neighborhood of Sunshine Hills, Kentucky, last May. A deadly tornado outbreak there also passed through Missouri and Illinois ( Getty Images )

Insurance companies delayed giving victims of the Illinois tornado money to rebuild for months because the residents had not updated their policies to reflect the current value of their homes, NPRs local affiliate reported, which had appreciated over time.

Revisit your homeowners insurance frequently, Burgess urged.

Still, if a tornado is barreling towards you, home insurance will not be the first thought.

If you hear a tornado warning siren or receive an alert, immediately seek shelter in a sturdy structure, the National Weather Service says.

open image in gallery Tony McFall wears his father's cowboy hat, while looking over the debris of his father's and stepmother's house, who lost their lives during a tornado in Sunshine Hills, Kentucky, last May. Experts say people who hear tornado warnings should immediately seek shelter ( Getty Images )

If you are at home, go to your basement, a safe room or an interior room that is away from windows. In a public building, follow any tornado drills and make sure to avoid large, open rooms.

If you are outside or in your vehicle and cannot get to a building, seek out a ditch or ravine and cover your head with your arms . Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe because tornadoes can easily toss or pick up vehicles, leading to fatal injuries.

And while plumbing makes bathrooms sturdy, getting into your tub wont always protect you, according to the American Red Cross.

Thats because many bathrooms are positioned along outside walls, have windows and are located on the upper floors of a home.

If there is no time to descend, go to a closet, a small room with strong walls, or an inside hallway. Wrap yourself in overcoats or blankets to protect yourself from flying debris, the National Weather Services Wichita, Kansas, office advises.
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Representative Eric Swalwell, a leading candidate for California governor, has faced calls to drop out of the race after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct.

Several fellow Democrats have dropped their support for Swalwell following the allegations of unwanted advances toward women, including a former staffer who claims she was raped by the congressman.

Swalwell has strongly denied any allegations of sexual assault or misconduct and suggests the claims are politically motivated.

In a video posted to X late Friday, the congressman said, These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. Theyre absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened and I will fight them with everything that I have.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday that a woman, who said she began working in Swalwells Castro Valley office in 2019 at the age of 21, has accused the married politician of sexually assaulting her twice when she was heavily intoxicated.

open image in gallery Representative Eric Swalwell, the leading candidate for California governor, has faced calls to drop out after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct ( AP )

The woman told the San Francisco Chronicle that Swalwell, who was age 38 at the time, began messaging her on Snapchat. She said he would send photos of his genitals and sought nude photos of her in return.

She also accused him of trying to kiss her in one incident and, in another, of taking out his penis while they were in a parked car and asking for oral sex. After one night out with Swalwell, the woman said, she got blackout drunk and woke up the next morning naked in his hotel bed. She claimed she could feel the effect of vaginal sex.

The woman stopped working for Swalwell in 2021, but in 2024, she attended an awards ceremony in New York, where he was being honored. She said the two met up for drinks after the event and she got so intoxicated that she only remembers flashes of the rest of the night. She alleged Swalwell forced himself on her in a hotel room.

I woke up once during it and even told him to stop at one point, the woman wrote to a friend after the incident in a text message reviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle.

She told the publication that she had vaginal bleeding and bruises the next morning.

The womans attorney, Gerald Singleton, declined to comment, telling The Independent, I think the victims stories speak for themselves and there is nothing I can add.

Swalwell denied the allegations in a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle. These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor, he wrote.

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, Swalwell said.

The congressman and his wife have three children.

In the video he posted to X Friday night, Swalwell said, I have certainly made mistakes in judgement in my past. But those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her I apologize deeply for putting her in this position.

He ended the video saying, This weekend Im going to spend time with my family and friends and I appreciate those who have reached out to me to show support. And I look forward to updating you very soon.

open image in gallery Several fellow Democrats, such as Senator Adam Schiff, have dropped support for Swalwell following allegations of unwanted advances toward women, including a former staffer who claims she was raped ( Getty Images )

The Independent has reached out to Swalwells team for comment.

CNN reported claims later Friday from a total of four women who have accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct from when they were in their twenties. The account of one of the women cited in CNNs reporting resembles that of the woman who spoke to The Chronicle, but The Independent is not able to verify if they are the same source.

A woman who said she was a former staffer of Swalwells said the congressman raped her when she was heavily intoxicated and left her bruised and bleeding.

I was pushing him off of me, saying no, the woman told CNN. She said it happened in 2024 after she had stopped working in Swalwells office. He didnt stop.

One woman interested in Democratic politics told CNN she started messaging with Swalwell in 2025. He later happened to be coming to her city, and they met for dinner and drinks, according to the report.

She accused Swalwell of touching her leg and then kissing her.

I was shocked that he would do that right in the middle of a public bar, she told CNN.

open image in gallery Swalwell has denied any allegations of sexual misconduct, suggesting they are politically motivated ( Getty )

Two other women told CNN that Swalwell sent them unprompted nude photos and other messages of a sexual nature on Snapchat after connecting with them on social media in 2021.

Swalwell denied the womens allegations and provided CNN with the same statement cited by The Chronicle. His attorney also sent CNN a letter denying that Swalwell has ever had nonconsensual sex with any woman or ever had sexual relations with any member of his staff.

Swalwell has already lost endorsements from two prominent Democratic senators following the allegations.

I have read the San Francisco Chronicles account and I am deeply distressed by its allegations. This woman was brave to come forward, and we should take her story seriously, Senator Adam Schiff of California wrote on X. I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately, and believe that he should withdraw from the race.

Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona wrote on X, Ive read the San Francisco Chronicles reporting and I take it seriously. What is described is indefensible. Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed.

open image in gallery Californias primary election will take place on June 2 ( AFP via Getty Images )

I am withdrawing my endorsement of Congressman Swalwell, effective immediately, he added.

House Democrats have also called for Swalwell to end his campaign for governor.

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 Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar wrote in a statement.

This is unacceptable of anyone  certainly not an elected official  and must be taken seriously, they said. We commend the courageous women for sharing their experiences. In this and all circumstances, we must ensure that those who come forward with allegations of sexual assault and harassment are heard and respected. All perpetrators of sexual assault and harassment must be held accountable.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California also suggested Swalwell drop out, writing in a statement, The young woman who has made serious allegations against Congressman Swalwell must be respected and heard.

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.

open image in gallery Several people on Swalwell's campaign have also withdrawn support over the allegations, including his campaign co-chair, Representative Jimmy Gomez, a California Democrat ( Getty Images )

Several people on Swalwell's campaign have also withdrawn support over the allegations, including his campaign co-chair, Representative Jimmy Gomez, a California Democrat.

Gomez wrote in a statement, "I cannot in good conscience remain in any role with this campaign, and I am stepping down from it effective immediately. The congressman should leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction, or delay."

Swalwell's other campaign co-chair, Democratic Representative Adam Gray of California, also broke with the congressman, writing on X, "Harassment, abuse, and violence of any sort are unacceptable. Given these serious allegations, I am withdrawing my support and Eric Swalwell should end his campaign immediately."

The congressman also had endorsements either paused or withdrawn from labor groups SEIU California and the California Teachers Association.

"SEIU CA has suspended our campaign activities and expenditures following extremely troubling allegations of sexual misconduct by Eric Swalwell," the group wrote on X.

The California Teachers Association wrote on X, "CTAs democratically elected board has voted unanimously to rescind our endorsement of Representative Eric Swalwell in his campaign for Governor of California."

Californias primary election will take place on June 2.
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United States intelligence assessments allege that China is quietly taking a more active role in the Iran war and may have even sent shoulder missiles to Iran in recent weeks, according to a new report.

The missiles in question areman-portable air-defense systems, also known as MANPADs, which are commonly used to shoot down low-flying aircraft. Sources familiar with the intelligence told CNN that China was working to route the shipments through third countries to make it difficult to trace their origin.

The intelligence is not conclusive, and there is no evidence that Chinese missiles have been used against American or Israeli troops so far, according to the New York Times.

But if true, Chinas intervention would signal a significant global escalation in the conflict and that Chinese officials are positining itself against the U.S.  despite reports earlier this week indicating China had helped Pakistan broker the ceasefire deal.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., denied the allegation to CNN, saying China has never provided weapons to any party in this conflict; the information in question is untrue.

open image in gallery A man-portable air-defence system, or MANPAD, is a shoulder missile used to shoot down low-flying aircraft ( AFP via Getty Images )

The Independent has contacted the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment.

Recent intelligence assessments indicated that Chinese companies have continued to sell materials to Iran that are needed to produce rocket fuel  even after the U.S. attacked Iran in February.

The week of March 2, two state-owned Iranian vessels, believed to be transporting sodium perchlorate, departed from a Chinese port, according to a report from the U.S.China Economic and Security Review Commission.

The new intelligence assessments indicate the Chinese government is directly playing a larger role in supplying Iran with weapons.

Liu Pengyu, the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy, told the New York Times, As a responsible major country, China consistently fulfills its international obligations. We urge the U.S. side to refrain from making baseless allegations, maliciously drawing connections, and engaging in sensationalism; we hope that relevant parties will do more to help de-escalate tensions.

President Donald Trump is expected to meet with Chinas president, Xi Jinping, next month. Initial the two were supposed to meet at the end of March, but Trump delayed the trip due to the ongoing conflict.

open image in gallery Last year, China's foreign minister met with Russia's and Iran's deputy foreign ministers to discuss sanctions relief on Iran ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

Last month, US intelligence indicated that Russia was found to be assisting Iran with intelligence on U.S. forces in the Middle East and advanced drone technology. Americas European allies, including the United Kingdom, have reportedly warned U.S. officials of a deepening military cooperation between Russia and Iran.

Russian intelligence forces have also allegedly helped Iran in determining the locations of U.S. military assets, including its warships.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicized the information on X last month, declaring it had irrefutable evidence that Russia was providing Iran with intelligence.
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Kristi Noems husband entered a Christian sexual behavior rehab program earlier in January, prior to the bombshell revelations about his alleged bimbofication fetish and cross-dressing habits, according to a new report.

Bryon Noem enrolled in the 40-day program at Pure Desire Ministries, which brands itself as helping men stop unwanted behaviors and restore broken relationships, but did not complete it, according to right-wing commentator Megyn Kelly.

The former Fox News anchor revealed the news on her podcast, The Megyn Kelly Show, citing a woman who had exchanged text messages with Bryon.

Im entering a therapy program. Much needed and much overdue. 40 days, messages reportedly sent by Bryon on January 12 stated. Kelly said that the pair had struck up a conversation because of the womans own large breasts.

Details of Bryon Noems activities were first reported by The Daily Mail last month. The newspaper reported that he engaged in a bimbofication fetish and sent tens of thousands of dollars, along with photos of him seeking a Barbie doll-like appearance, to various female models online.

open image in gallery Kristi Noems husband entered a Christian sexual behavior rehab program earlier in January, prior to the revelations about his alleged bimbofication fetish and cross-dressing habits, according to a new report ( AFP/Getty )

In one image, the 56-year-old was seen wearing pink hotpants and a skin-toned spandex top stuffed with balloons to resemble comically large breasts

Since the initial reports, multiple women have come forward claiming to have had contact with Bryon. According to the text messages shared by Kelly, he claimed to have entered the program, which incorporates the 12 steps, for help with addiction.

Pure Desire Ministries website offers programs that are biblically based and clinically informed.

Pure Desire offers Christian counseling for pornography use, compulsive sexual behavior, betrayal trauma, intimacy disorders, and relationship issues centered around mismanaged sexual behavior, the website states.

During the conversation with the woman, Bryon told the woman that he was a work in progress, while also talking about breast implants.

open image in gallery The Daily Show host Desi Lydic defended Bryon Noem following the revelations. In one image shared by the Daily Mail the 56-year-old was seen wearing pink hotpants and a skin-toned spandex top stuffed with balloons to resemble comically large breasts ( Comedy Central )

The Independent has attempted to contact representatives of Bryon Noem and Kristi Noem.

Last month, it was reported that Bryon had told an online fetish model that he wanted to marry her five days after his wife was ousted as Homeland Security Secretary.

Nicole Raccagnowhose Instagram name is plastictrophybimbo told the Mail that Bryon said he was in love with her and had been sending her regular payments in exchange for videos since 2020.

Five days after Kristi Noem was fired by President Donald Trump, Bryon Noem allegedly told Raccagno on March 10, I seem to be falling in love with you. I do love you, according to the Mail.

In the messages he sent that day, he allegedly offered to send her money to enlarge her breasts and said, You're the one that I love. I would love to marry you.

The Noems have been married for nearly 34 years, with the former DHS boss reportedly blindsided and devastated by the revelations about her husband.
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President Donald Trumps plans to transform Washington, D.C., certainly aren't stopping at the White House and the Kennedy Center.

The president has submitted plans to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, trading in its slate gray exterior for solid white, according to the proposal.

The building is located across the street from the White Houses West Wing and typically serves as an office space for the president's staff.

The crux of the argument laid out in the proposal focuses on the building's style  French Second Empire  clashing with the "neoclassical federal architecture" around it, specifically the White House.

"The color, design, and massing of the existing structure does not align visually with the surrounding architecture and lacks any symbolic cohesion with the White House," the proposal says.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump wants to repaint the slate gray exterior of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building white because he believes it clashes with the surrounding federal architecture ( Getty Images )

Under Trump's plan, the exterior stone walls  which are reportedly suffering from cracks and neglect  would be painted white to align them with other stark white federal buildings.

"The inability to bring the stone facade back to a baseline color has plagued the maintenance of the [Executive Office Building] in the past, and and will continue to plague it if not addressed," the proposal says.

The plans to paint the EEOB have been submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts, which is a panel of Trump appointees tasked with advising on public buildings in Washington, D.C.

open image in gallery The building is located across the street from the White Houses West Wing and typically serves as an office space for the president's staff ( REUTERS )

Trump leaving his physical mark on the nation's capital has emerged as a priority for him during his second term.

He has demolished the White House's East Wing to make room for his massive $400 million ballroom and announced the Kennedy Center  which he renamed the Trump Kennedy Center  will close this summer for a two-year renovation.

In March, Trump arranged for a statue of Christopher Columbus to be placed on the White House grounds near the EEOB in an effort to force recognition of the holiday. The statue is a replica of another that was thrown into Baltimore's harbor in 2020 in Trumps first term during that year's spate of protests against racism.

On Friday, Trump revealed new rendering plans to build a 250-foot "triumphal arch" on Memorial Circle, a roundabout near Arlington National Cemetery.

open image in gallery Newly released renderings of President Donald Trump's proposed victory arch show the 250-foot structure towering over Washington, DC ( X/Rapid Response 47 )

That plan has also been submitted to the CFA for consideration. Both it and the EEOB proposal will be considered during an April 16 meeting.

On February 2, Trump shared a photo of New Delhi's India Gate on Truth Social.

Indias beautiful Triumphal Arch. Ours will be the greatest of them all, Trump said at the time.
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Donald Trump has claimed that shipping tankers from all over the world are heading towards the U.S. in order to load up with oil, as domestic gas prices remain high following the fallout from the presidents ongoing war with Iran.

In a post on Truth Social early Saturday morning, Trump roasted the mainstream media and its reporting of the conflict and said that U.S. forces were beginning the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz.

The act was a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others, the president said.

Incredibly, they dont have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves. Very interestingly, however, empty Oil carrying ships from many Nations are all heading to the United States of America to LOAD UP with Oil.

It comes as U.S. and Iranian delegations met in Pakistan to begin negotiations aimed at producing a more durable ceasefire, after over a month of fighting.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has claimed that shipping tankers from all over the world are heading towards the U.S. in order to load up with oil, as domestic gas prices remain high following the fallout from the presidents ongoing war with Iran ( AP )

Vice President JD Vance is leading the American delegation for the talks in Islamabad, while Irans team is headed by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and includes senior political and security officials.

Trump told reporters Friday that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen fairly soon  with or without Irans cooperation, adding: If it doesnt, well be able to finish it off one way or the other. The closure of the shipping artery has sent oil prices soaring worldwide, with a knock-on effect on gas prices in the U.S.

In his Saturday morning post, the president boasted that Tehran was losing big.

Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft apparatus is nonexistent, Radar is dead, their Missile and Drone Factories have been largely obliterated along with the Missiles and Drones themselves and, most importantly, their longtime Leaders are no longer with us, praise be to Allah! he wrote.

open image in gallery APTOPIX Pakistan Iran US Vance ( It comes as U.S. and Iranian delegations met in Pakistan to begin negotiations aimed at producing a more durable ceasefire, after over a month of fighting. Vice President JD Vance is leading the American delegation )

The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may bunk into one of their sea mines which, by the way, all 28 of their mine dropper boats are also lying at the bottom of the sea.

Iran previously said talks would only begin if previously agreed conditions are met, including a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of its frozen assets. Washington has denied reports that it agreed to lift sanctions on such assets.

Trump also added in a separate Truth Social post that he was watching fertilizer prices CLOSELY during our FIGHT FOR FREEDOM in Iran.

The United States will not accept PRICE GOUGING from the fertilizer monopoly! American Farmers, we have your back, he wrote.

According to the presidents official schedule, he is due to travel to Miami to watch UFC 327 this evening, while his deputy heads the peace talks.
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A 77-year-old British man has died and 27 people were left injured after a tourist bus plunged into a ravine in the Canary Islands on Friday.

Three people are being treated in hospital for serious injuries, including a 73-year-old man and a 42-year-old man, authorities said.

The deceased man has not yet been named, but government officials confirmed on Friday he was a British national.

He was believed to be travelling with his wife, who Spanish authorities said remained in hospital on Friday evening.

open image in gallery Rescuers work at the scene of the bus crash in the Canary Islands ( Europa Press )

A state of emergency was declared on the islands after the bus fell from the GM-2 highway near San Sebastian de La Gomera at around 1:15pm. All 28 people on board, including the driver, were taken to hospital.

Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the crash, as police suggested the driver may have been attempting to fight a brake failure before the vehicle dropped into the ravine.

Heres everything we know so far about the crash.

What happened?

Emergency services in La Gomera were first alerted to the crash at 1:15pm on Friday.

Firefighters, police, the Spanish Red Cross and several ambulances, including an air ambulance, were among the emergency responders who attended to the British tourists and driver.

One man was confirmed to have died in the crash, and all 28 people on board, including the driver, were taken to hospital.

open image in gallery One person remains in a serious condition ( Forta )

Three people suffered serious injuries, including a 73-year-old man and a 42-year-old man, who were transported to hospital in Tenerife.

The island is not a mainstream tourist destination but a small and mountainous isle to the west of Tenerife with a population of around 23,000. It has no international airport, and many of the people who spend time there are hikers  especially British and German.

What do we know about the victims?

All 27 passengers on the bus are understood to have been British tourists in the Canary Islands who were reportedly on their way to the San Sebastian de La Gomera dock, where they were due to travel by ferry to Tenerife before flying back to the UK.

While everyone who was on board was initially taken to hospital, all but six people have since been discharged, authorities said.

Of those, one remains in a serious but stable condition, two in a stable condition, and three others are expected to be discharged on Saturday.

The deceased man has not yet been identified. It is understood he was travelling with his wife, who officials said was still in hospital on Friday evening.

Hector Cabrera, head of emergency operations on the island, told public broadcaster TVE the bus passengers had been "staying at a resort" on La Gomera.

What caused the crash?

The exact cause of the crash is not yet known. But police have said they are investigating whether a brake failure caused the bus to come off the road, after the driver noticed an issue with braking and tried to fight.

Juan Luis Navarro, the island director of the general state administration, told journalists the bus then came off the road and rolled down the slope.

open image in gallery The bus is reported to have stopped before being thrown off the road ( 112CANARIAS )

Fortunately, it stopped before being thrown off the road, he said. Otherwise it could have been much more serious.

Emergency services said the bus is expected to be removed from the ravine on Saturday.

What has the reaction been?

Shortly after the incident, president of the Canary Islands Fernando Clavijo posted on X to express support for the victims and their families.

The British government later confirmed it is supporting the family of the man who died. A foreign office spokesperson 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.

Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper wrote on X: My thoughts are with those affected by the tragic incident involving a bus carrying British holidaymakers in the Canary Islands.

We are in touch with the local authorities & ready to support Brits & their families.
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Russian drone strikes have killed at least two people in the Ukrainian city of Odesa, with two others wounded, local authorities reported overnight into Saturday.

The attacks on the Black Sea port city struck a residential area, causing damage to apartment buildings, private homes, and a kindergarten, just hours before a proposed Orthodox Easter ceasefire was set to begin.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 160 drones across Ukraine during the night, with 133 of them successfully shot down or intercepted.

This extensive aerial assault occurred ahead of a 32-hour ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was intended to halt hostilities from 4pm on Saturday until the end of Sunday for the Orthodox Easter weekend.

In a separate claim, Russias Defence Ministry stated that 99 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and shot down overnight across Russia and occupied Crimea.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged on Saturday that his forces would abide by the ceasefire, characterising it as an opportunity to advance peace initiatives. However, he issued a stern warning that any violations of the truce would be met with a swift military response.

open image in gallery A local resident walks past a destroyed house following an air attack in Odesa on Saturday ( AFP via Getty Images )

Easter should be a time of silence and safety. A ceasefire (at) Easter could also become the beginning of real movement toward peace, Zelensky wrote in an online post on Saturday.

But he added: We all understand who we are dealing with. Ukraine will adhere to the ceasefire and respond strictly in kind.

Ukraine earlier proposed to Russia a pause in attacks on each others energy infrastructure over the Orthodox Easter holiday.

Previous ceasefire attempts have had little impact, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday 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.

Russias Defense Ministry said that a prisoner swap on Saturday brought home 175 of its soldiers.

Zelensky confirmed Saturdays exchange, saying that 175 service members and seven civilians were returned.

open image in gallery Firefighters work at the site of an overnight Russian drone strike in Odesa ( Reuters )

Most had been held in captivity since 2022. And finally, they are home, he wrote on X.

At the exchange site in northern Ukraine, Svitlana Pohosyan waited for her sons return. Asked about the ceasefire, she said: I want to believe it. God willing, may it be so. We will believe and hope that everything will be fine, that a ceasefire will come on such a holy day, and that there will be peace  peace in Ukraine and peace in the whole world.

My celebration will come when my son returns, she added. I will hold him in my arms  and that will be the greatest celebration for me. And for every mother, every family."

Periodic prisoner exchanges have been one of the few positive outcomes of otherwise fruitless monthsl ong US-brokered negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. The talks have delivered no progress on key issues preventing an end to Russias invasion of its neighbor, now in its fifth year.

open image in gallery According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 160 drones across Ukraine during the night, with 133 of them successfully shot down or intercepted ( Associated Press )

Separately, seven residents of Russia's Kursk region returned from Ukraine Saturday after they were captured by the Ukrainian army, Russian state media reported. They were greeted at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border by Russia's human rights ombudswoman, Tatyana Moskalkova.

According to Moskalkova, the returnees were the last of those who were taken to Ukraine from the Kursk region after the Ukrainian army took control of parts of the region in 2024.

Ukrainian forces made a surprise incursion into Kursk in August 2024 in one of their biggest battlefield successes in the war. The incursion was the first time Russian territory was occupied by an invader since World War II and dealt a humiliating blow to the Kremlin.
Some 175 Ukrainian servicemen have returned home from Russian captivity, and seven civilians were brought back with them, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Our people are returning home. Some 175 servicemembers. Warriors of the Armed Forces, National Guard members, border guards. Privates, sergeants, and officers. And seven civilians, Zelenskyy said on X Saturday.

According to him, most of those who returned had been in captivity since 2022. Our warriors defended Ukraine on different fronts  Mariupol, the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhia, Sumy, Kyiv, and Kursk directions. Some of them are wounded, the President said.

At the same time, he thanked the units that replenish our exchange fund and thereby brings the return of our people closer. Bringing everyone back from Russian captivity is a matter of principle for us, Zelenskyy stressed.

The Russian Defense Ministry also reported the transfer of 175 Ukrainian servicemen to the Ukrainian side in exchange for the same number of occupiers who were in Ukrainian captivity. The Russian Defense Ministry also reported that the exchange took place with the mediation of the United Arab Emirates.

The aggressor state has not reported anything about the return or exchange of civilians.

As reported, the last exchange of prisoners of war took place on March 6. Then 300 Ukrainian defenders returned from Russian captivity, along with two Ukrainian civilians.

On March 26, Zelenskyy reported that over the four years of work of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, 8,669 Ukrainians, both military and civilian, have been returned home.
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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Jewish terrorism in the occupied West Bank poses a grave strategic threat to the countrys security, top former Israeli spies and generals have warned.

Four former heads of the internal security service responsible for the West Bank (the Shin Bet), eight former police commissioners, four former military intelligence heads, three former Mossad directors and three former heads of the Israel Defence Forces have demanded an end to a profound moral failure by Israels government.

The Jewish terrorism raging in Judea and Samaria [the West Bank], with the tolerance  or worse, the backing  of government authorities, constitute not only a profound moral failure, but a grave strategic threat to Israels security, especially in a time of war, a letter published on Thursday said.

The group of 22 of Israels most senior former security chiefs said the acts of terrorism... endangered soldiers already involved in a multi-front war.

They inflame Palestinian terror and advance Iranian strategic interests but also erode the moral foundations and values of Israeli society while intensifying international hostility and weaken Israels legitimacy, the letter said.

A small but dangerous extremist fringe, emboldened by irresponsible political backing and enabled by the silence of the national leadership, must not be allowed to endanger Israels security or erode the foundations of the Zionist project, the letter continues.

open image in gallery Palestinians survey damage following an attack by Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of Beit Lid last November ( AP )

We call upon Israels leaders  and its citizens  to act now, before the black flag irrevocably stains the blue-and-white, our proud national colours.

The black flag is a clear reference to the flags flown by the so-called Islamic State and other groups violently committed to annihilating Israel.

None of the leaders who signed the letter have been shy of killing to protect Israel. Mossad bosses run overseas assassination programmes, while Shin Bet usually handles targeted killing of alleged terrorists.

Ehud Barak, a former prime minister, once dressed as a woman to carry out an assassination plot in Lebanon and commanded Israels most elite special forces unit.

open image in gallery Mustafa, left, was injured when Israeli soldiers shot dead four members of a Palestinian family in the occupied West Bank in March ( AFP/Getty )

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels current prime minister, has publicly focused on attacking Iran alongside the US.

But the Israeli security chiefs, many of whom have a long history in trying to end Israels conflicts through negotiation rather than outright conquest, accuse his administration of tolerance  or worse  the backing of Jewish terrorist attacks against Palestinians on the West Bank.

The Israeli human rights organisation BTselem has described a systematic campaign of killing and land dispossessions by Jewish Israelis backed by government soldiers as "ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian population of the West Bank.

Occupied by Israel in 1967, Palestinians on the West Bank have limited self-government in a patchwork of territory mostly centred around urban areas.

open image in gallery Settlers attend an inauguration ceremony for a newly-legalised Jewish settlement, Yatziv, adjacent to the Palestinian town of Beit Sahour, in the West Bank ( AP )

Rural areas, which have profitable olive groves and vineyards and where shepherds have grazed for flocks for hundreds of generations, are coveted by Israel for Jewish settlements.

Illegal under international law, the settlements have exploded across the West Bank for the past 30 years. Their residents are citizens of Israel and are often heavily subsidised and protected by the armed forces.

In the last few years, the level of military support for what are considered illegal settlements, even under Israeli law, has increased along with attacks by settlers on Palestinians.

Since occupying the West Bank in 1967, Israel has misappropriated more than 2 million dunams [quarter acres] of land there for its own purposes, including building and expanding settlements and paving roads for settlers, BTselem said in a recent report. Some areas have been officially taken over by the state, others through daily acts of settler violence.

open image in gallery ( Google Maps )

These two seemingly unrelated tracks are both forms of state violence: the Israeli apartheid regime and its representatives actively aid and abet the settlers violence as part of a strategy to cement the takeover of Palestinian land.

Last month, the UK and European Union demanded that Israel end a surge in settler violence in which six Palestinians, including a family of four, were killed in less than a fortnight.

At least 1,500 people across over 600 communities have been displaced  forced from their homes by violence  in the West Bank this year.

Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly threatened to annex the West Bank, but not its Palestinian population, to Israel. This would further entrench a system of government described by Israeli human rights groups as apartheid.

Earlier this week, Haaretz reported that the current chief of Shin Bet, David Zini, does not see attacks on Palestinians as terrorism, and instead dismisses West Bank clashes as cases of friction.
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Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Saturday resulted in the deaths of at least seven people and left several others injured, according to officials from Gazas health ministry.

One strike early on Saturday targeted a police checkpoint in the Bureij camp, located in the central Gaza Strip, killing at least six individuals. A separate attack in Beit Lahiya claimed at least one life, officials confirmed.

The exact number of police members among those killed in the Bureij strike remains unclear.

The Israeli military stated that its operation in Bureij was conducted after members of the militant group Hamas approached the yellow line, which delineates the portion of Gaza occupied by Israel. There was no immediate comment regarding the strike in Beit Lahiya.

open image in gallery One airstrike targeted the Bureij camp (pictured), in the Gaza strip ( AFP via Getty Images )

Since a US-brokered ceasefire deal was agreed in October, Israel has frequently fired upon individuals in areas surrounding this yellow line, often alleging that militants were attempting to cross or attack troops.

A series of Israeli attacks since October has led to the deaths of dozens of Hamas-led police force members, according to medical and police sources. This week alone, Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 25 people in Gaza.

The October agreement between Israel and Hamas was intended to halt violence in the Palestinian territory. However, health officials in Gaza report that Israeli attacks have killed at least 700 people since then.

Conversely, Israel states that militant attacks have killed four of its soldiers during the same period.
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Lebanon has been hit by more than 100 attacks on healthcare workers and services during the war with Israel, according to the World Health Organisation.

Hospitals, ambulances, and health workers have all been targeted, the WHO said, resulting in at least 57 deaths and 158 injuries so far.

In an update earlier this week, the WHO said it has so far verified 106 such attacks in Lebanon, 23 in Iran, and 6 in Israel. In Lebanon attacks on healthcare continue at a high rate, averaging approximately 2.9 incidents per day over the past 37 days, the organisation added.

Those numbers could potentially now be even higher, as Israel launched its bigger ever strikes on Lebanon after the figures were published. More than 250 people were killed in those attacks on Wednesday, Lebanese authorities said, which took place after a US-Iran ceasefire was announced.

open image in gallery First responders rush to the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Lebanese State Security Center, in the Southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on Friday ( AFP via Getty Images )

Paramedics and civil defense personnel have reportedly been injured or killed while responding to casualties, including cases where teams were struck during repeated attacks on the same locations, the WHO said.

Ambulances and emergency responders continue to be exposed to both direct and indirect fire, undermining their ability to reach the wounded and carry out lifesaving evacuations, and leaving the injured with diminishing chances of survival.

The WHO defines an attack as any act of verbal or physical violence, threat of violence, or other psychological violence, or obstruction that interferes with the availability, access, and delivery of curative and/or preventive health services.

Israel is expected to open peace talks with Lebanon next week, after a two week ceasefire with Iran was agreed separately.

open image in gallery APTOPIX Lebanon Israel Iran War ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The WHO warned that while there has been a reprieve in Iran, there has not been one in Lebanon, and the ceasefire will not address the challenges facing healthcare and humanitarian access in the Middle East.

It said the rise in attacks on healthcare had been particularly pronounced in Lebanon, with attacks affecting hospitals, ambulances, and health workers warned that access to primary healthcare in shelters is limited and uneven.

The report from the WHO said on 2 April, the Pasteur Institute of Iran, a leading global public health institution, was severely damaged.

Iran says that their strategic reserves of medicines remain adequate and imports of essential medicines will be sustained following reported attacks on a major medical facility, the report said.

Damage to and contamination of water infrastructure poses a particular risk in Iran, which is already facing one of the worlds most severe water crises.

Power plant strikes are increasing the risk for disruption of health services, in particular for dialysis and chemotherapy patients.

open image in gallery ( AFP/Getty )

The WHO said Irans Ministry of Health reported numerous incidents of people seeking hospital care for traumatic stress since the escalation.

Following the major strikes on Wednesday, Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told The Independent that the military was bombing Hezbollah and Iranian military infrastructure.

In Lebanon, we are continuing our operations against Hezbollah. Thats the current situation right now, in the current guidance weve received [from the political echelon], he said.

We have different plans for different scenarios. As of now, the mission remains to push back [Hezbollah] and keep degrading it.

A report from Alzejeera suggested US president Donald Trump had asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scale back the ongoing bombardment, warning that continued strikes could undermine the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran.

High-stakes talks between the US and Iran began on Saturday in Pakistan, led by US Vice President JD Vance Iran parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.
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US and Iranian officials have held separate, high-stakes discussions with Pakistans prime minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, as a fragile ceasefire threatens to unravel amid deep disagreements and unabated fighting in Lebanon.

A US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, and an Iranian delegation, headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, each met with Mr Sharif on Saturday, according to his office. No direct talks between the US and Iran had been announced by mid-afternoon.

Iran reiterated elements of its earlier peace proposal, with its delegation informing Iranian state television that it had presented some of the plans core ideas as "red lines" during meetings with Mr Sharif.

Meanwhile, Israel continued its military operations in Lebanon, even as Iran made a pause in fighting there a condition for further ceasefire negotiations. The Lebanese state-run news agency reported that Israeli strikes on Saturday resulted in the deaths of at least three people.

The conflict has exacted a devastating human toll, claiming at least 3,000 lives in Iran, 1,953 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and more than a dozen across Gulf Arab states.

open image in gallery JD Vance arrived in Islamabad for crucial talks ( PA Wire )

Economically, the war has largely severed the Persian Gulf from the global economy, leading to soaring energy prices and inflicting lasting damage on infrastructure in half a dozen countries throughout the region.

In Tehran, residents expressed a mix of skepticism and hope regarding the talks, following weeks of airstrikes that have carved a path of destruction across their country. Some suggested that even if a peace agreement is reached, the journey to recovery would be extensive.

"Peace alone is not enough for our country, because weve been hit very hard, there have been huge costs, and the people have to pay for that," 62-year-old Amir Razzai Far said in downtown Tehran.

Officials engaged in significant posturing over key issues ahead of the discussions. Donald Trump posted repeatedly on social media in the run-up to Saturday, asserting that Iranian officials "have no cards" to negotiate with.

"The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!" he wrote. He accused Iran of using the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy supplies, for extortion, telling reporters on Friday that it would be opened "with or without them."

Islamabad was notably quiet on Saturday, with security forces sealing roads and authorities urging residents to remain indoors, giving the normally bustling Pakistani capital the appearance of being under curfew.

Vice President Vance stated on Friday that the US was optimistic about the talks, but issued a warning: "If theyre going to try and play us, then theyre going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, part of Iran's delegation in Pakistan, expressed Tehran's "deep distrust" stemming from previous strikes on Iran during earlier rounds of talks. Mr Araghchi said on Saturday that his country was prepared to retaliate if attacked again.

Iran and the United States had outlined competing proposals ahead of the weekend talks, reflecting the wide gulf between the two sides on critical issues.

Irans 10-point proposal called for a guaranteed end to the war and no future attacks, an end to economic sanctions, and control over the Strait of Hormuz.

It also demanded an end to fighting against Irans "regional allies, explicitly calling for a halt to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group. The United States submitted a 15-point proposal that included restricting Irans nuclear programme and reopening the strait.

Separate negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are anticipated to commence on Tuesday in Washington, according to Lebanese President Joseph Aouns office.

open image in gallery First responders rush to the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Lebanese State Security Center, in the Southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on Friday ( AFP via Getty Images )

Israel seeks for the Lebanese government to assume responsibility for disarming Hezbollah, mirroring provisions in a November 2024 ceasefire. However, it remains unclear whether Lebanon's army can establish a monopoly on arms or confiscate weapons from the militant group, which has resisted efforts to curb its strength for decades.

Israels insistence that the ceasefire in Iran does not include a pause in its fighting with Hezbollah has threatened to derail the broader deal. The militant group joined the war in support of its backer, Iran, in the opening days of the conflict.

On the day the truce was announced, Israel pounded Beirut with airstrikes, killing more than 300 people in the deadliest day in the country since the war began on 28 February, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a significant sticking point. Irans closure of the strait has proven its biggest strategic advantage in the war, effectively blocking the passage of oil, natural gas, and fertilizer as commercial vessels avoid the route.

The spot price of Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, stood above $94 on Saturday, an increase of more than 30 per cent since the war began. Before the conflict, approximately a fifth of the worlds traded oil typically passed through the strait on over 100 ships daily.

With the ceasefire in place, only 12 have been recorded traversing the strait. Iran has suggested charging ships passing through the strait as part of a peace deal, though this idea has been widely rejected by countries including the United States and neighboring Oman.
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Astronauts who went farther into space than any other humans have returned to Earth after a dramatic reentry and splashdown near San Diego. All four will instantly become space celebrities and help humans understand their existence.

For two, however, their mission took on a special journey as they became the first Black man and first woman to go to the moon.

NASAs Christina Koch, Victor Glover and the trailblazing Artemis II crew landed safely Friday after their nine-day journey to circle the moon and return. They are all part of the second phase of NASAs ambitious Artemis program, which aims to one day establish a permanent presence on the moon and Mars.

Its unclear how much of a role these astronauts will have in the next phases of the program, but they and fellow crewmates Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen are expected to train crews on future missions. NASA says that they will help apply data gathered during their lunar flyby, including how flight hardware and emergency system capabilities performed. They will also likely be sought-after speakers at schools and events and can help tell of deep space to countless Americans and others.

All four astronauts broke the record for the farthest distance ever traveled from Earth on this mission. But Koch and Glover were NASA standouts long before the launch of their Orion capsule in Florida last week.

open image in gallery NASAs Artemis II astronauts returned home on Friday after a historic 10-day lunar flyby. Two members of the crew just became the first woman and person of color to go to the moon ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery NASA's 322-foot-tall Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft lift off Floridas Kennedy Space Center last week in Cape Canaveral. The launch went off without a hitch ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery The astronauts arrived safely back on Earth Friday after a dangerous reentry ( via REUTERS )

Koch set the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman and Glover made history as the first Black astronaut to live aboard the International Space Station. Now they get to add the moon mission to their resumes.

Heres what to know about the pioneering pair:

Victor Glover

Victor Glover was born in Pomona, California, on April 30, 1976. He watched a space shuttle launch as a child, and that got him hooked on space, his father, Victor Glover, Sr., told WLBT in 2020.

And basically said hed like to fly that, and I think thats kinda where the spark began, the older Glover said.

After graduating from Ontario High School in 1994, Glover earned his Bachelors degree in general engineering at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

open image in gallery NASA astronaut Victor Glover is helped out of a SpaceX Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft after a mission in May 2021. He later flew on the Artemis II mission ( Getty Images )

He played Division I sports in college, including wrestling and football.

I didnt come in with a great work ethic. I had to step up and learn to work hard, at both sports and academics, Glover previously said. It was a challenge.

In 1998, Glover entered the U.S. Navys Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program, which is designed to give financial assistance to people working toward their Bachelor's degree while training for a Naval Reserve officer position.

Glover graduated in 1999, planning to travel the world during his eight-year commitment to the Navy, then earn his Ph.D. and become a college professor. Shortly after, Glover completed flight training, earning his wings as a Naval Aviator in December 2001.

From there, he went on to be test pilot, testing the F/A-18 Hornet, Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler. Glover was also deployed with the Navy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

open image in gallery The Artemis II mission completed a fly-by of the moon earlier in the week ( NASA )

open image in gallery The Artemis II mission was the first returned trip to the moon since 1972 ( NASA )

He flew 24 combat missions and accumulated 3,500 flight hours in more than 40 aircraft.

When he wasnt flying, he was at school. Glover later added three Masters degrees between 2007-2010.

Two years later, after living in Japan and while completing a Legislative Fellowship for former Arizona Senator John McCain, he was selected as an astronaut candidate. By 2013, Glover was one of the eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class and he completed the required candidate training in 2015.

He helped to command the International Space Station during several launches before he was assigned to his first mission as a pilot in 2018 on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

open image in gallery Glover takes a photo with his family shortly before the Artemis II missions launch at Floridas Kennedy Space Center ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery The Artemis II crew poses for a group photo inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home ( NASA via Getty Images )

After launching in November 2020, he spent 168 days on the space station, completing four spacewalks.

NASAs vision is to reach for new heights and reveal the unknown for the benefit of humankind. In a time when there are so many things that we let divide us, it just seems to be this really powerful unifying thing, Glover told Cal Poly. And that is my favorite aspect of this job.

Glover, who is now 49, was assigned as the pilot of the Artemis II mission in 2023.

He, his wife of more than 20 years, Dionna Odom, and their four daughters - Genesis, Maya, Joia, and Corinne. They all live in Southern California.

Christina Koch

open image in gallery NASA astronaut Christina Koch looks on during the rollout of the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion crew in January 2025 at Floridas Kennedy Space Center ( AFP via Getty Images )

Christina Koch was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on January 29, 1979. Her mother, Barbara Johnsen, was a middle school math teacher, and her father, Dr. Ronald Hammock, was a physician. She has three younger siblings, none who have been named publicly.

Koch knew she wanted to become an astronaut since she was a little girl, a role that would also allow her to become an explorer.

Growing up, she cut out pictures of space and Antarctica from National Geographic magazine and put them on her walls, according to NC State Magazine.

All of these places that were on the frontiers, places to be explored, just caught my interest from the time I was really young, she told the publication.

open image in gallery Koch is helped out of the Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft in Kazakhstan in February 2020 ( NASA via Getty Images )

Her family moved to Jacksonville, North Carolina, in 1982. There, she attended White Oak High School and graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in 1997. She would spend summers on the familys farm in Michigan, before she attended North Carolina State University.

At college, she double majored in electrical engineering and physics - earning two Bachelors degrees and a Masters degree in electrical engineering.

She was also part of the sailing club, was a rock climber, took photographs for the Technician, volunteered with habitat for Humanity and Engineers Without Borders and studied abroad in Ghana in 1999.

I stayed very busy. I was interested in so many different things, Koch said in an interview with Wolfpack Solutions in 2022.

After she graduated, Koch knew that becoming an astronaut was a long shot and decided to pursue jobs that would challenge her.

open image in gallery NASA astronaut Christina Koch takes a selfie with the Earth behind her while performing the first all-woman spacewalk in October 2019 ( NASA )

She worked as an electrical engineer at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center from 2002-2004. Then, she became a research associate in the United States Antarctic Program through 2007 and an electrical engineer in the Space Department of the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University from 2007-2009.

She and Glover were selected to the same astronaut class and she launched on her first mission to the space station in 2019 as a flight engineer.

Koch spent a record 328 days in space and conducted six spacewalks, including the first three all women spacewalks.

On Artemis II, the 47-year-old serves as a mission specialist, checking life support, navigation and communications systems.

She lives with her husband Robert Koch and their rescue dog named Little Brown Dog in Galveston, Texas, according to Mens Journal.

To the young women and aspiring explorers out there: never doubt what youre capable of, Koch wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday. Your dreams are valid, your voice matters, and your place in science, engineering, and space is absolutely yours to claim.
After JD Vance claimed UK electricity prices are four, five, six times higher than in the United States, The Independent examined the accuracy of the US vice presidents statement more closely.

Latest figures show the average monthly electricity cost in the US is about $150, roughly 110, while in the UK a typical monthly energy bill is around 79, roughly $106.

Vance also argued that Europe is completely dependent on unreliable energy sources.

In reality, more than half of the UKs energy is produced domestically, reducing reliance on imports and exposure to global disruptions.

Watch our full report in the video above.
From Mad Dog to useful idiot  the rise and fall of Muammar Gaddafi

Ronald Bruce St Johns concise biography gives a balanced account of the life of the former Libyan leader, but needs a bit of flair

From pariah to a friend of the West: Muammar Gaddafi supported the so-called war on terror. Photo: Alain Buu/Getty

JP O'Malley Sat 11 Apr 2026 at 06:30

On October 20, 2011, Muammar Gaddafi, a dictator who ruled Libya for 42 years, was captured by rebel forces in Sirte. Earlier that day, a Nato missile hit a vehicle Gaddafi was travelling in. He attempted to escape but failed.
Walking will slash your cancer and dementia risk  but only at the right pace. Heres what you need to know
Verkhovna Rada Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets discussed a range of pressing issues with Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, specifically the protection of the rights of military personnel, veterans, and the families of prisoners of war (POWs) and missing persons.

"Focus on solutions: protecting human rights in the security and defense sector. I held a substantive working meeting with Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, which lasted an hour and a half," Lubinets wrote on Telegram on Friday evening.

The Ombudsman reported that they had a detailed discussion of a range of problematic issues identified within the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Specifically, these included protecting the rights of military personnel, veterans, and the families of prisoners of war and missing persons.

According to Lubinets, special attention was paid to issues of respecting citizens rights during the mobilization process and the work of the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers (TCC).

The ombudsman noted that some issues were not only discussed but also immediately developed joint approaches to addressing them. He expects tangible, systemic changes to occur in the near future. Its important that these changes translate into tangible results for the people, he added.

"We expect new, positive decisions! I will definitely keep you informed of the results. After all, this will continue to be one of the focuses of my work," the ombudsman concluded.
Fionnan Sheahan: Send in the Army threat by Justice Minister blamed for hardening stance of fuel-price protesters

Cracks, chaos and a crisis for the Coalition as blame game begins in Easter diesel demonstration

Fuel tanker blocked in Whitegate

Fionnan Sheahan Sat 11 Apr 2026 at 06:30

There is not a f***ing oil truck moving in this country until we get what we want, because if we cant afford it, you cant have it. We have the country by the balls.
Eoin OMalley: Haugheys snub to protesters 60 years ago did him no harm, but a repeat could prove risky for this government

As the protesters keep saying, high fuel prices are policy

Hauliers and farmers in Dublin city centre. Photo: Collins

Eoin O'Malley Sat 11 Apr 2026 at 11:00

A well-organised series of blockades brought the capital to a standstill. It mainly consisted of agricultural workers and farmers concerned about their incomes. They thought that the government was ignoring the concerns of rural Ireland.
Sarah Carey: Amid war, protests and plague, Irish people kept on going  the State should give something back

The people who get up early in the morning are even punished if they try to save

Tanaiste Simon Harris, former taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Culture Minister Patrick ODonovan pictured in 2024. Photo: PA via Getty

Sarah Carey Sat 11 Apr 2026 at 06:30

It was 2017. Leo Varadkar said he wanted to do something for people who get up early in the morning. I thought immediately of the people on the Kearns bus.
Mairia Cahill: Distraction technique or pre-emptive strike? Melania Trump muddies the waters with bizarre Epstein denials

US first lady has left world scratching its head over statement

From left, Donald Trump with his then girlfriend Melania Knauss, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in Mar-a-Lago. Photo Getty

Mairia Cahill Sat 11 Apr 2026 at 11:00

On Sunday, Donald Trump unleashed invective on social media, referring to the Iranian regime as crazy bastards. On Monday, he delivered a war update beside the Easter Bunny, who managed an unnerving balance of applauding the American president and waving to watching children.
Hotels across Kerry are getting back into the business of catering to tourists with other centres returning to their original use too, following the termination of more than 90 accommodation contracts for Ukrainian refugees.
A Sligo-based public relations business, Sustainable PR, has been named a finalist in two prestigious national awards recognising excellence in environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact.

Fiona Donnellan, founder of Sustainable PR, has been shortlisted for the ESG Champion of the Year 2026 category at the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards.

The business has also been named a finalist in the ESG Consultancy Award category at the Business & Finance ESG Awards.

Founded in 2019, Sustainable PR is Irelands first dedicated public relations agency focused on eco-conscious brands.

From its base in the North West, the business has been championing sustainability-led storytelling, helping Irish startups, charities and organisations communicate their purpose and impact effectively.

With over 14 years experience across PR, journalism and communications, Fiona specialises in securing meaningful media coverage for clients across newspapers, online publications, podcasts, social media, radio and television.

Her client portfolio includes well-known national and regional organisations such as Etsy, Street Feast, Hometree, and Sligo-based cultural events and businesses, including Outcrop, Carrow Coffee, Cairde Sligo Arts Festival, Sligo Jazz Festival and Queer Shed Sligo. Speaking about the nominations, Fiona said: Being recognised at a national level for ESG-focused work is incredibly rewarding.

Sustainable PR was built on the belief that communications can be a force for good  helping businesses not only grow but make a genuine positive impact on people and the planet.

Beyond her work with clients, Fiona is also a Climate Ambassador with An Taisce, where she actively promotes environmental education and climate action, reflecting the core values of her business.

Im passionate about working with brands that align with my values. Its about more than PR - its about contributing to a better future, she added.

The winners of both award programmes will be announced later this year. The IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards takes place on May 15, and the Business & Finance ESG Awards takes place on April 16.
A new fouryear research project is set to shine a light on an overlooked feature of Irish farmland, the humble pond, and its potential to support struggling pollinator species.

Walsh Scholar Clementine Sitoleux has begun a Teagascfunded PhD examining how farm ponds across Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Wicklow and Wexford contribute to the health of bees, hoverflies and moths. While ponds are long recognised as valuable wildlife habitats, little scientific research has focused on how they benefit pollinators specifically.

Pollinator populations continue to decline, with around onethird of Irelands native bee species now threatened with extinction.

The plight of pollinators has become so severe that County Wicklow is now home to Irelands first dedicated Bee Sanctuary, created in response to the alarming decline in populations.

Researchers say understanding the role of seminatural farm habitats is crucial as agriculture and biodiversity come under increasing pressure.

The Ponds for Pollinators Project will assess how features such as pond size, age and surrounding vegetation influence pollinator numbers and diversity on working farms. The study will also explore why farmers choose to create ponds and what barriers may prevent others from doing the same.

Members of the public who have ponds on their land are being asked to take part by completing a short online survey. Ms Sitoleux says the information will help identify the range of pond types across the region and guide where fieldwork may take place over the coming years.

However, researchers emphasise that filling out the survey does not guarantee a farm will be included in the onsite study.

Farmers interested in contributing can complete the survey at forms.gle/Qza713FwA3e5yXuv7 or contact the researcher directly at Clementine.Sitoleux@teagasc.ie.
On Easter Sunday, the people of Oulart village held their fifth annual Easter address to commemorate the lives lost in the 1916 Easter Rising.

Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government James Browne TD delivered the annual Mise Eire Easter address at the monument in Oulart, remembering the local volunteers and their bravery.

Reflecting on the ceremony, Minister Browne said it is important to reflect on their sacrifices now that the world is going through an uncertain time.

"In the uncertain global times we live in, particularly in the last few weeks and even days, it was poignant to take the time to reflect on the vision of those here in Oulart who volunteered in 1916,

"People who stood together, emboldened and driven on by the ideal of freedom and of a peaceful democratic state  one that could and would stand shoulder to shoulder with the nation states of the world. That cannot be forgotten. They stood up for, and stood for, something better not knowing if they would live to see it themselves, he said.

He added that the Ireland that was shaped by the actions of these brave Irish people, now stands as a country that will speak out against human right violations across the world.

"The Ireland that has been realised  so far  is one that has a strong and active diplomatic voice in the world for oppressed people and nations. It is one that is respected and valued. It is one that speaks with strength and certainty and robust considered experience. But we are far from perfect. Days like today give us pause for thought in how far we have come, as well as how much more there is to do.

The 35 names of the Oulart Company third battalion were remembered with a roll call presented by Sean Dempsey and Peter OBrien read out the 1916 Proclamation.

Cllr Mary Farrell performed both Michael Collins and Amhran na bhFiann, while James Adam also sang The Foggy Dew and Eva Wiltshire played Roisin Dubh and The Boys of Wexford.

Bridget Mythen hosted the ceremony and welcomed everyone in attendance which included author Brian O Cleirigh, Chairman of Wexford Historical Society Willie French, Secretary of the society Pat Hackett, as well as Cllr Pip Breen.

The end of the ceremony was signalled when Minister Browne signed the Book of Oulart, which was signed by historian Barry Lacey last year.
Brigadier General of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Hero of Ukraine Serhiy Sirchenko, appointed commander of the 11th Army Corps in December 2024, announced his dismissal from office.

"There are words that are difficult to say out loud. This is one of them. Almost 500 days in office. Not in the rear. Not on paper. On the front lines  together. Together with you. On one of the most brutal sections of the front of this war Today I am handing over command. But I am not handing over you. Because you have never been just subordinates. You are brothers-in-arms," Sirchenko wrote on the 11th Army Corps Facebook page on Saturday.

He noted that he "wasnt an ideal commander," but "I never stood behind youI stood next to you."

"Stand by each other as a powerful team. And never let this war take away your humanity. It is this humanity that distinguishes us from those who came to destroy us. I believe Ukraine will endure. Because I saw you, I was with you. I am proud of each and every one of you," Sirchenko addressed his fellow soldiers.

Several media outlets have reported that the change in corps command is linked to the Defense Forces withdrawal from the town of Siversk in Donetsk region in December 2025. Currently, the Interfax-Ukraine agency has no confirmation or denial of this information.

As reported, in May 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented state awards on the occasion of Infantry Day. Specifically, the highest title of Hero of Ukraine, along with the Order of the Gold Star, was awarded to Colonel Serhiy Sirchenko, commander of the 56th Separate Mechanized Brigade. In September of that year, the president promoted him to the rank of brigadier general and presented him with shoulder straps. At the time, Sirchenko was the chief of staff and deputy commander of the operational command Skhid of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Staff turnover in Wexford at 19pc has been deemed unsustainable by Early Childhood Ireland

Pictured at the launch of the Early Childhood Ireland Barometer 2026 at Buswells Hotel, Dublin, are Orlagh Doyle, Founder of Carraig Briste and Killegney Early Years, Brian Brennan (Fine Gael), Wicklow-Wexford TD and Early Childhood Irelands CEO Teresa Heeney.

Results from the Early Childhood Ireland Barometer 2026 have revealed 57pc of adults in Leinster say Government is not doing enough to address shortage of Early Years places.

The ninth annual opinion poll, conducted by RED C was recently launched in Buswells Hotel, Dublin, which they said comes at a time when up to 1032 Wexford children under the age of three are on waiting lists for a place.

Frances Byrne, Director of Policy at Early Childhood Ireland said this years poll results suggest that people are not satisfied with current measures. With up to 1032 Wexford children on waiting lists, it is clear that the system does not meet the needs of children and families.

This years poll shows that over half of adults in Leinster believe the government is not doing enough to address the shortage of Early Years places, signalling a clear demand for urgent, decisive action, Frances added.

Frances further said strong support remained for improved pay and conditions, with 53pc of adults agreeing that Early Years graduates, whose degrees are aligned with teaching qualifications, should have the same terms and conditions as primary school teachers.

The new expanded Barometer provided an analysis of Government progress and while there has been some significant progress on key commitments, workforce issues continue to lag behind, particularly in Wexford. Given the unsustainable Wexford staff turnover rate of 19pc, we are calling on the government to take urgent action to address the underlying issues around pay and conditions.

Without better pay and conditions for the workforce, capacity cannot increase, and waiting lists will remain a reality for thousands of children and families, she added.

Meanwhile, support for direct government payment of wages for Early Years educators stood at 54pc. Early Childhood Ireland has long advocated for bringing Early Years graduates under public sector terms and conditions, in line with primary school teachers.

Upcoming consultations announced by Childrens Minister Norma Foley will take place in Wexford as part of the National Conversation on Education. The consultation gives people the space to share their views on what is working well, and what could be improved for early learning and school-age childcare.

The first consultation will take place in the Amber Springs Hotel, Gorey on Wednesday, April 22, while the second consultation will take place in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy on Wednesday, April 29. Both consultations will from 6.30 p.m. until 8.30 p.m.
Gorey Community School principal Michael Finn with former student Oisin Hughes who received the JP McManus scholarship.

A former Wexford student was recently awarded a prestigious All-Ireland scholarship which will cover the full costs for the duration of his undergraduate studies.

Oisin Hughes, a past pupil of Gorey Community School was presented the JP McManus scholarship at a special ceremony in University of Limerick Concert Hall, on Saturday, April 4.

The JP McManus scholarship was established in 2008 to recognise the recipients' dedication and commitment to their studies. Principal of Gorey Community School, Michael Finn attended the ceremony at UL alongside Oisin.

Michael congratulated Oisin for receiving the outstanding scholarship and praised his impressive perfect Leaving Certificate results. Oisin is now currently studying Law at the Trinity College in Dublin.

Principal Michael Finn with Oisin Hughes student from Gorey Community School who recently received a leaving cert points upgrade. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Oisin had previously been upgraded to 625 points in his Leaving Certificate after missing out on the perfect score by a singular mark in one of his exams. Opening his results in August 2025, Oisin received an impressive 613 points.

After viewing the breakdown of his results, Oisin noticed that he was just a singular mark away from receiving the top grade in his Computer Science exam, which would bring his total points to 625.

The recipients of the scholarships must meet a further set of criteria, including attending a non-fee-paying school and to be in receipt of a third level education maintenance grant from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) or be in receipt of an Education Maintenance Allowance in Northern Ireland.

125 All Ireland Scholarships from the 32 counties are awarded each year with 1,924 recipients and 1,382 successful graduates having emerged with primary and post graduate degrees to date.
James Whelan with Brian Brennan TD and John Moynihan from South East Radio on his visit to the studio.

A Wexford teen with a passion for radio recently had the opportunity to get firsthand experience in the field with a visit to South East Radio.

James Whelan is an aspiring broadcaster from Tara Hill, Gorey who recently got to take a spin behind the desk of South East Radio, giving James a taste of how things work at the station.

The visit was organised after Wicklow-Wexford TD Brian Brennan met with James during a visit to Gorey Community School where he mentioned his interest in radio.

Deputy Brennan was later invited to the station for an in-depth interview with John Moynihan on the Saturday Morning Live show. A number of weeks ago I met James in Gorey Community School, and we discussed his interest in radio.

When I was invited to appear on Johns, I thought it would be a great opportunity for James to come down with me to get a feel for how things work and to get a firsthand insight into the world of local radio, Deputy Brennan added.

James Whelan with Brian Brennan TD and John Moynihan from South East Radio on his visit to the studio.

On the day, James received a tour of the studio and gained great insight into behind the scenes of the day to day operations of the station by watching the production of the fast-paced news, current affairs and magazine programme.

James got to see first-hand interviews and discussions with some of Wexfords best-known voices, and how the platform to those who have interesting stories to share.

It was my pleasure to bring James into studio with me, Deputy Brennan said.

Deputy Brennan thanked John for giving James the VIP treatment and allowing him to see the world of radio in action.
A significant investment in the countys architectural legacy has been confirmed this week, as Russborough House and the Old Lacken School House were awarded a combined 168,250 under the 2026 Historic Structures Fund (HSF).

While the funding originates from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the survival of these projects now rests on the shoulders of Wicklow County Council. Acting as the essential bridge between national policy and local preservation, the councils Heritage and Planning departments are responsible for the rigorous selection and technical oversight of these conservation works.

For a project to reach this stage, it must first pass the scrutiny of the councils architectural conservation officer. The council manages the initial application process, shortlisting sites that demonstrate the highest heritage value and community impact.

Once funding is granted, the local authoritys role shifts to enforcement and expertise. Under the HSF framework, no funds are released until the council verifies that the works, ranging from specialised lime rendering to structural timber repairs, adhere to the national Architectural Heritage Protection Guidelines.

This oversight ensures that the Pathways to Heritage strategy is upheld, keeping traditional Irish building crafts alive through local employment.

The 2026 allocation highlights the diversity of Wicklows built environment, with one funded structure being a Palladian mansion, and the other a 158-year-old schoolhouse.

Russborough House, awarded 101,817, is often described as the most beautiful house in Ireland. This 18th-century Palladian masterpiece is a cornerstone of Wicklows tourism economy.

Managed by the Alfred Beit Foundation, the house requires constant, expert-led intervention to protect its world-renowned Lafranchini stuccowork and structural integrity.

While the house recently received 19,000 for immediate external repairs under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, this more substantial HSF grant is intended for major enhancement and structural reuse projects.

Old Lacken School House, awarded 66,433, is a project that represents the vernacular heart of the county. Built in 1868, the schoolhouse was once the educational centre for the Blessington Lakes area.

After being decommissioned in 2010, the building was reimagined as a community centre. The councils support for this site ensures that a building of deep social significance remains a functional, safe space for the residents of Lacken.

Wicklow County Councils success is part of a broader 4.42 million national investment across 40 projects this year. By successfully advocating for these two sites, Wicklow County Council has ensured that the county remains a leader in heritage-led regeneration, where historic buildings are not merely preserved as museums, but maintained as active contributors to the local economy and social fabric.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Parts of Wicklow were left completely marooned by snow drifts following the big freeze at the end of January 1947.

Seventynine years after the Big Freeze of 1947 brought Wicklow to a standstill, historian James Scannell will recount how local communities battled snowdrifts, shortages and isolation during one of Irelands harshest winters.

Roundwood Historical Society will host Jamess informative talk on the winter that would not end on Tuesday, April 21, at Roundwood Parish Hall, starting at 8pm. His talk will explore how the people of Wicklow endured and survived one of the harshest winters in living memory.

At the end of January 1947  during a period when rationing was still in force  Britain and Ireland were struck by an extraordinary six-week spell of Siberian-style weather. In Ireland, transport services ground to a near halt, homes were left freezing due to severe fuel shortages, and many families faced hunger as supply lines struggled under the extreme conditions.

In Wicklow, constant snowfalls and persistent night-time temperatures below zero left numerous villages, including Roundwood, Glencree, and Rathdrum, completely marooned by towering snowdrifts for days at a time. Roads that were painstakingly cleared were quickly rendered impassable again with each new fall of snow.

It was not until mid-March that a significant thaw finally set in, allowing farmers to assess heavy losses in livestock and leading to the recovery of the bodies of people who had gone missing during sudden snowstorms.

The illustrated talk will be delivered by noted historian and writer Jim Scannell, who is a member of Bray Cualann Historical Society.

Admission is 3 for members and 5 for non-members.
Johan Norberg: Viktor Orbans 16-year laboratory for illiberalism in Hungary has been a failure

PMs nationalist vision, of which Donald Trump is a fan, has made Hungarians less free and poorer

Donald Trump with Viktor Orban. Photo: Getty Images

Johan Norberg Washington Post Sat 11 Apr 2026 at 06:30

Last month, Donald Trump offered Viktor Orban his complete and total endorsement in a video message ahead of Hungarys election. The statement continued the US presidents habit of boldly weighing in on the internal politics of other nations.
John Downing: As Hungarians head to the polls in a defining vote for Europe, is Viktor Orban about to be toppled?

Despite poor polls, a weak economy and allegations of corruption, few have written off the maverick prime minister

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban faces a crucial election this weekend. Photo: Getty

John Downing Sat 11 Apr 2026 at 06:30

Hungarys voters will pick a government tomorrow in Europes most important election of the year. The outcome has big implications for the EU and, by extension, Ireland.
Kyivs top negotiator says Putin is nearing a deal with Ukraine

Russian officials close to the Kremlin disagree, saying talks are stalled over a lack of alignment

A member of the Ukrainian armed forces with ammunition for a D20 howitzer at a frontline position in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine. Photo: Reuters

Volodymyr Verbianyi and Olesia Safronova Bloomberg Sat 11 Apr 2026 at 06:30

Ukraines top negotiator with Russia said he sees progress toward a potential peace deal with the Kremlin, adding that a resolution to the war may not take long to achieve.
Your job here is not to fight one another, it is to fight this climate crisis, UN climate chief tells Cop30 in Brazil
Its as if theres no ceasefire at all. Life is still terrible  Six months into Gaza truce, little has changed for civilians

War is still going on  Palestinian death toll still rising as worlds attention shifts to Iran

Mourners react during the funeral of two Palestinians, who were killed on Thursday in an Israeli strike, according to medics, at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, yesterday. Photo: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters

Wafaa Shurafa Associated Press Sat 11 Apr 2026 at 06:30

It has been six months since Gazas ceasefire deal took effect, a milestone largely lost in the confusion over the new and even more fragile ceasefire in the Iran war.
Photo: https://t.me/zedigital

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has held a working meeting with Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik, during which they discussed, among other things, cooperation in air defense, drone development, innovation, and strengthening the Defense Forces.

"I have held a working meeting with Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik on the eve of Ramstein meeting. We agreed on cooperation priorities  air defense, drones, innovation, and strengthening the Defense Forces I thanked Norway for funding the project to provide basic drone supplies to brigades. This is a systemic solution that will provide the military with a guaranteed minimum of drones monthly and will directly impact effectiveness on the front," he wrote on Telegram.

The parties identified priorities for cooperation in the near future: strengthening air defense and developing PURL; supporting the "Czech initiative"; developing a project to provide basic drone supplies to brigades; and scaling up defense innovations.

Fedorov invited his Norwegian counterpart to visit Ukraine to demonstrate how our small air defense systems, drones, and the technological components of our army operate in real-world conditions.
photograph of multiple firework exploding in the sky above parked cars and trees.

The owner of a fireworks company at the centre of a deadly explosion that killed seven people in California last year is to face multiple counts of murder.

Kenneth Kin Chee (48) was arrested by the Orange County Sheriffs Office while he was at the Disney World resort in Florida on the other side of the country.
Serial killer Rex Heuermanns assistant reveals secret flaw that would finally give him away

Long Island architect pleads guilty to strangling and dismembering eight women over a 17-year period

Rex Heuermann pleaded guilty to murdering eight women between 1993 and 2010 and dumping their bodies near Gilgo Beach, Long Island. Photo: James Carbone/Reuters

Justin Rohrlich UK Independent Sat 11 Apr 2026 at 06:30

A s Donna Sturman, her greying Irish Wolfhound Louise and I pull into the overflowing car park of the Suffolk County Criminal Court complex on Wednesday morning, she begins to reminisce about her former boss, Rex Heuermann.
Palestinian Prisoners' Day Film Screening and Q&A

Date:

Saturday, April 25, 2026

Time:

6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Event Type:

Screening

Organizer/Author:

AACC

Location Details:

Arab American Cultural Center of San Jose

3968 Twilight Drive

San Jose, CA 95124

Please join the Arab American Cultural Center to screen the documentary Palestinian Prison Break followed by a Q&A discussion with Palestinian Youth Movement Bay Area Chapter.



Palestinian Break Prison (2023) is a compelling documentary that chronicles the real-life stories of Palestinian prisoners' daring escapes from Israeli jails, tracing events from the British mandate era to the present day. The film provides a dramatic and documentary-style exploration of how Palestinian detainees have challenged the prison system through inspiring mental battles with their captors. Blending reenactments of key escape scenes with archival footage, the documentary presents six prominent escape stories that highlight creativity and courage in the pursuit of freedom. This cinematic experience offers a poignant and narrative-driven account of Palestinian struggle history. - Palestine Cinema



Q&A with a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement Bay Area Chapter who will provide more insight and answer questions about Palestinian prisoners and Israel's newly passed Death Penalty law.



Event co-sponsored by: Vigil 4 Gaza, Soul of My Soul Exhibit, If Americans Knew, San Jose Against War, San Jose Peace & Justice Center, and Palestine Youth Movement Bay Area Chapter.


Greek marine tourism is heading into its worst season in years, with yacht charters down 50 percent and cruise arrivals projected to fall sharply as Middle East hostilities, surging fuel costs and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz hammer the sector.

The luxury yachting market

has effectively seized up, with widespread cancellations leaving seasonal crew members unemployed for months.

Giorgos Vallis, president of the Panhellenic Association of Crews of Professional Tourist Yachts, said the picture was alarming.

"The reality shaping up in marine tourism and Greek yachting is particularly alarming," Mr. Vallis said, warning there was no room for optimism in current conditions.

Marine fuel prices have nearly doubled since the outbreak of hostilities involving Iran, compounding an operational cost crisis already worsened by the restricted capacity of the Corinth Canal  forcing vessels onto the longer, more expensive route around the Peloponnese to reach the Ionian Sea.

The cruise sector is contracting in parallel. Industry estimates project a 17 percent decline in ship arrivals and a 10 percent drop in passenger numbers this year, reversing a sustained growth run that brought 8.4 million passengers to Greek ports in 2025.

A new 20-euro passenger levy at heavily congested destinations including Mykonos and Santorini is adding further competitive pressure at precisely the wrong moment, with early bookings already sluggish.

Some industry figures point to a partial offset: the regional instability has prompted cruise operators to reroute vessels from the Middle East to the Mediterranean, redirecting some traffic toward Greek ports.

But operators and crew associations say that buffer is far from sufficient and are calling for urgent government intervention to prevent lasting damage to a sector that employs tens of thousands and underpins island economies across the Aegean.

   iefimerida.gr

Greek marine tourism is heading into its worst season in years, with yacht charters down 50 percent and cruise arrivals projected to fall sharply as Middle East hostilities, surging fuel costs and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz hammer the sector.

The luxury yachting market has effectively seized up, with widespread cancellations leaving seasonal crew members unemployed for months.

Giorgos Vallis, president of the Panhellenic Association of Crews of Professional Tourist Yachts, said the picture was alarming.

"The reality shaping up in marine tourism and Greek yachting is particularly alarming," Mr. Vallis said, warning there was no room for optimism in current conditions.

Marine fuel prices have nearly doubled since the outbreak of hostilities involving Iran, compounding an operational cost crisis already worsened by the restricted capacity of the Corinth Canal  forcing vessels onto the longer, more expensive route around the Peloponnese to reach the Ionian Sea.

The cruise sector is contracting in parallel. Industry estimates project a 17 percent decline in ship arrivals and a 10 percent drop in passenger numbers this year, reversing a sustained growth run that brought 8.4 million passengers to Greek ports in 2025.

A new 20-euro passenger levy at heavily congested destinations including Mykonos and Santorini is adding further competitive pressure at precisely the wrong moment, with early bookings already sluggish.

Some industry figures point to a partial offset: the regional instability has prompted cruise operators to reroute vessels from the Middle East to the Mediterranean, redirecting some traffic toward Greek ports.

But operators and crew associations say that buffer is far from sufficient and are calling for urgent government intervention to prevent lasting damage to a sector that employs tens of thousands and underpins island economies across the Aegean.

   iefimerida.gr
The Greek delegation that will transport the Holy Light to Greece is currently in Jerusalem. What time the special flight will arrive at Eleftherios Venizelos.
Aliyu Gebi, a former member of the House of Representatives, has been detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations of circulating misleading security intelligence to foreign embassies in Nigeria.

Gebi, who served in the 7th National Assembly and now works as a security consultant, was reportedly arrested on Friday, April 3, according to security sources familiar with the matter. Although he has since been granted bail, he remains under investigation and is required to report regularly to DSS headquarters.

According to reports by Premium Times, Gebi is suspected of sharing intelligence materials with foreign missions that were later deemed deceptive by Nigerian authorities. The alleged reports reportedly raised alarm among international stakeholders, particularly within the aviation sector.

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A security source disclosed that the intelligence contributed to disruptions in international travel plans, noting that Lufthansa cancelled some flights to Nigeria, while British Airways reportedly considered similar action.

Further claims suggest the reports may have influenced a travel advisory issued by the United States, warning its citizens about security risks in parts of Nigeria. The advisory urged non-essential personnel to leave and advised Americans to reconsider travel due to concerns over kidnapping, armed robbery, assault, and banditry in states such as Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, and Rivers.

However, the Nigerian government pushed back against aspects of the advisory, urging foreign partners to ensure that security assessments remain balanced, accurate, and reflective of ongoing improvements across the country.

Sources also revealed that several embassies initially considered acting on the intelligence provided but later suspended such plans following diplomatic engagements with Nigerian authorities.

Many embassies received the report and wanted to act on it, but the Nigerian government dialogued with them and they shelved their plans, a source said, adding that the United States proceeded with issuing its advisory despite those efforts.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted 386 terrorists, predominantly members of Boko Haram, following a large-scale trial conducted by the federal government over the past four days.

The convicted individuals received varying jail terms ranging from five years to life imprisonment, depending on the severity of their offences and their confessional statements made in open court.

Confirming the development on Friday, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, disclosed that a total of 508 defendants were arraigned before ten courts between Tuesday and Friday.

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According to him, eight defendants were discharged, while two others were acquitted after the court found no sufficient evidence to sustain the charges against them.

Fagbemi further revealed that 112 suspects whose cases were not concluded during the exercise would be included in the next phase of the mass trial scheduled to hold between June 15 and 18, 2026.

He emphasized that the convictions send a strong warning to criminal elements, stressing that Nigeria has no tolerance for acts of terrorism and other heinous crimes.

The Justice Minister commended the judges of the Federal High Court for sacrificing their Easter holiday to serve in the special courts, describing their efforts as a demonstration of commitment to justice and national security.

He also noted that several organizations, including Amnesty International, Nigerian Bar Association, and National Human Rights Commission, alongside other civil society groups, monitored the proceedings to ensure transparency and adherence to due process.

Fagbemi concluded by appreciating members of the media for their role in covering the landmark trial.
The Federal Government has released an updated list of 48 individuals and groups allegedly sponsoring terrorism in the country.

The list which was released through the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NiGSAC), was published on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

The list was uploaded on nigsac.gov.ng, the official website of the Nigeria Sanctions Committee.

The development comes amid the mass trial of terrorism suspects by the Federal Government.

The suspects face charges linked to aiding and abetting terrorism, particularly in the North-East.

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The mass trial opened on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where 227 suspects were arraigned before 10 judges.

Security was tight during the court session on Tuesday, with suspects transported in heavily guarded convoys under military, police and intelligence supervision.

Five of the accused have already been given varying jail terms  from seven to 20 years  after pleading guilty to charges that included selling livestock, supplying food and information to militant groups.

Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi said the scale of the operation showed the governments resolve to deal with the matter.

The federal government is committed to ensuring that due process is followed while bringing those involved in terrorism to justice, he said.

One of the highlights of the trial was the sentencing of Babagana Habeeb, a former senatorial candidate in Borno, to 10 years imprisonment for selling petrol to Boko Haram terrorists.

Habeeb was convicted on Friday after pleading guilty to a one-count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism filed against him by the Federal Government.

The defendant, a fuel dealer based in Maiduguri, Borno State, admitted to supplying petroleum products to insurgents operating in the North-East but said the sales may have been carried out by attendants at his filling station.

During the proceedings, Habeeb, kneeling in the dock, appealed for leniency, telling the court he had spent more than 10 years in detention without contact with his family and that he has two wives and six children.

David Kaswe, counsel to the Federal Government, opposed the plea, arguing that the support provided to the insurgents contributed to the deaths and the displacement of civilians.

Kaswe urged the court to impose a 20-year sentence, noting that insurgents depend on the petrol supplies to power motorcycles used in attacks and escape operations.

In his ruling, Peter Lifu, the presiding judge, held that there was no evidence showing that Habeeb was a member of the terrorist group or had undergone weapons training.

He said the charge before the court was limited to the sale of fuel to the insurgents, noting that the prosecution did not dispute Habeebs claim that he had been in custody for over a decade.

Lifu subsequently sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment and ordered that the sentence take effect from the date of his arrest.

The court further directed that the defendant be released after completing the sentence, with a recommendation for rehabilitation.

Below is the full list of alleged terrorism suspects updated on Saturday:

S/N First Name Surname Record Date

1 ABDULSAMAT OHIDA

2 MOHAMMED SANI

3 ABDURRAHAMAN ABDURRAHAMAN

4 FATIMA ISHAQ

5 TUKUR MAMU

6 YUSUF GHAZALI

7 MUHAMMAD SANI

8 ABUBAKAR MUHAMMAD

9 SALLAMUDEEN HASSAN

10 ADAMU ISHAK

11 HASSANA ISAH

12 ABDULKAREEM MUSA

13 UMAR ABDULLAHI

14 ABDURRAHAMAN ADO

15 BASHIR YUSUF

16 IBRAHIM ALHASSAN

17 MUHAMMAD ISAH

18 SALIHU ADAMU

19 SURAJO MOHAMMAD

20 FANNAMI BUKAR

21 MUHAMMED MUSA

22 Sahabi Ismail

23 Mohammed Buba

24 JAMAATU WAL-JIHAD

25 ANSARUL SUDAN (ANSARU)

26 ISLAMIC PROVINCE (ISWAP)

27 INDIGENOUS BIAFRA (IPOB)

28 YAN GROUP

29 YAN GROUP NLBDG

30 ADAMU HASSAN

31 HASSAN MOHAMMED

32 USMAN ABUBAKAR

33 KUBARA SALAWU

34 RABIU SULEIMAN

35 SIMON NJOKU

36 GODSTIME IYARE

37 FRANCIS MMADUABUCHI

38 JOHN ONWUMERE

39 CHIKWUKA EZE

40 EDWIN CHUKWUEDO

41 CHIWENDU OWOH

42 GINIKA ORJI

43 AWO UCHECHUKWU

44 MERCY ALI

45 OHAGWU JULIANA

46 EZE OKPOTO

47 NWAOBI CHIMEZIE

48 OGUMU KEWE
Governor Dapo Abiodun has presented vehicles to traditional rulers across the state as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between the government and traditional institutions.

The presentation took place during a statutory meeting of the Ogun State Council of Obas held at the Obas Complex in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Speaking at the event, the governor said the gesture was aimed at appreciating the monarchs for their continuous support and cooperation with his administration. He described traditional rulers as key cultural leaders who serve as a vital link between the government and the people.

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According to him, providing vehicles would not only enhance their comfort but also enable them to move more effectively within their domains to maintain peace and order.

Governor Abiodun commended the monarchs for sustaining the peaceful atmosphere that has supported his administrations Building Our Future Together development agenda. He, however, urged them to continue fostering a business-friendly environment that would attract investors to their communities.

The governor warned that hostility toward investors could hinder economic growth, expressing concern over reported resistance in areas such as Yewa South, Ipokia, and Ijebu North.

We have received disturbing reports about the conduct of some communities during recent investor engagements. This is unacceptable, he said.

These investors are bringing in significant capital that will transform our economy, create jobs for our people, and improve livelihoods; they must be welcomed and supported.

He stressed the need for traditional rulers to maintain peace and promote cooperation, noting that development cannot thrive in an atmosphere of conflict or distrust.

Reaffirming his administrations commitment to protecting investments, Abiodun warned that actions capable of discouraging investors would not be tolerated.

On security, the governor called on residents and traditional leaders to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, emphasizing the importance of community-level intelligence in sustaining peace.

He also cautioned against indiscriminate land allocation, describing land as a critical economic resource that must be managed transparently.

Our land is our oil. It must not be allocated carelessly. We must ensure that land matters are handled responsibly to attract and retain genuine investors, he added.

The governor further warned landlords against renting properties to criminals, stating that any building used for illegal activities would be demolished.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hazmat, said the meetingits first in 2026focused on security, development, and strengthening cooperation between the government and traditional institutions.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Council and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, commended the governors efforts and pledged continued support for policies aimed at promoting growth and stability in the state.
President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians on Friday that his administration will keep working to alleviate economic hardships fueled by the Middle East crisis.

Speaking at a civic reception in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, after commissioning state projects, Tinubu acknowledged the challenges faced by the citizenry.

He said his government is coordinating with the Ministry of Finance to find relief.

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Yes, I hear you from various angles of the economy. The fuel prices are biting hard. But look around. Lets just thank God together that we are better off listening to what is happening in Kenya and other African countries. What they are going through.

The president added, We will continue to find ways to ameliorate the suffering of the vulnerable. This is a government that cares. We will look at the numbers with the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning. And we will see what we can do to ease the burden. But that is the development.

He stressed that Nigerians are facing the burden of the war. These are the challenges of the war we didnt call for. But the effects of the interrelated world that we share. And both the joy and the pain of it are universal.

Tinubu inaugurated the 60-megawatt gas-fired Independent Power Plant (IPP) in Elebele, Ogbia Local Government Area.

The facility, built under Governor Douye Diris administration, aims to cut reliance on the national grid, improve electricity for Yenagoa and nearby communities, and spur industrial growth.

Tinubu called it a critical intervention for economic growth, jobs, and living standards. He toured the turbines, transformers, and systems to check readiness.

Governor Diri tied the project to the federal Renewed Hope Agenda, saying it positions Bayelsa for investment and industrialization. Energy experts view such state-led initiatives as key to overcoming national grid woes by tapping local gas resources.

Tinubu praised Diris roads, bridges, and dual carriageways for creating jobs and opportunities. Thank you for that commitment and thank you for being a very progressive governor. To the people of Bayelsa State, I must tell you Im very, very happy and proud to be here and to feel at home.

On security, amid recent soldier killings, he vowed, We will work hard. We will continue to equip and train our men and women of the armed forces. We will defeat terrorism and banditry, regardless of their shenanigans.

Tinubu emphasized partnership: Were all working hard, and the project that I commissioned today demonstrates and testifies to an immutable truth. Development advances further, faster when the federal government and the state government work in partnership and towards a shared purpose. I hear you.

Responding to Diris request for federal road refunds, Tinubu quipped, I hear you, Douye. Federal Road. Okay, I will take it with me when Im going. You build it for your people. When we met in my office, you were asking for a waiver for that and everything. Now you want reimbursement. Its now Federal Road. I will take it with me.

He endorsed the IPP: The independent power plant is a blessing and good thinking, and I thank you for embarking on it. There can be no industrialization and skill development and empowerment without power.

That is a vision. I will support you to do more. But if its my road to take with me, thats okay. I wont put a federal road in Lagos. So you and I will have to debate that.

Tinubu highlighted job creation: All the projects remind us that we must do them; we must create job opportunities. In the project, in construction, you have water suppliers, you have welders, you have concrete mixers, and all of that. Its job creation.

And Ill do everything to support that. Ill go along with you. The spirit of partnership, as you mentioned, is there and will continue to be there. And theres no other way I could feel it.

Governor Diri sought federal refunds for state-funded federal roads. He outlined his Assured Prosperity program, focusing on rural-urban development, accessibility, and projects like the outer ring road (Elebele to Igbogene), Glory Drive Phase 2, a nine-story civil servant secretariat, and a 30,000-seater international stadium.

The Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road, once a nightmare accessible only by water, now connects Southern Ijaw communities, Diri said: Its a story of connection long denied but finally pursued.

He added that these projects will boost economic development.

The event drew former President Goodluck Jonathan and wife Patience, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Governors Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Borno Deputy Governor Umar Kadafur, Head of Civil Service Esther Walson-Jack, ex-Delta Governor James Ibori, Bayelsa Deputy Governor Peter Akpe, and Minister of State for Petroleum Heineken Lokpobiri.
China moves to bring AI into classrooms as it accelerates digital push

Xinhua) 13:40, April 11, 2026

Chen Mingjin, an AI expert of China's multinational technology company Lenovo, gives an AI enlightenment lecture at Yanchuan school of Zhangxian County, Dingxi City of northwest China's Gansu Province, on Sept. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

BEIJING, April 11 (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.

Children attend an AI-themed lecture at a computer classroom at Yanchuan school of Zhangxian County, Dingxi City of northwest China's Gansu Province, on Sept. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

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.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
N.C. Wyeths colossal 1932 mural, Apotheosis of the Family, reemerges in a gleaming new round barn on the Wyeth property in Wilmington after years in storage.

Moving in with their parents to afford the big house

See it, hear it, feel it: All the Philly art we loved this week

See it, hear it, feel it: All the Philly art we loved this week

Weekend reads See it, hear it, feel it: All the Philly art we loved this week

N.C. Wyeths Apotheosis of the Family

The implicit promise of the golden age of illustration was the feeling that if you looked hard enough at a Maxfield Parrish pastorale or piratical encounter by N.C. Wyeth, you might break through the fourth wall and land in the book yourself.

The sensation is fully realized when you walk before Wyeths mammoth Apotheosis of the Family slowly from one end to the other. Because your entire field of vision is filled with the painting  it is 19 feet high and 60 feet long  you become a character in the artists world.

Photographs of the work dont prepare you for the impact. Colors both pastel and deeply saturated glow. Stories unfold. The work from 1932 was once resident in a bank, and, true, it was seen by more people there. But now, thrillingly lit and presented in a specially built round barn by Wyeths grandson Jamie on his Wilmington homestead, Apotheosis feels like it finally has the setting it has always deserved.

Access is limited. Tickets for the summer season of tours will be available in mid-June. brandywine.org.

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 Peter Dobrin

Steven Anthony Wright, Nancy Boykin, and Anthony Martinez Briggs in "The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington," running at the Wilma Theater through April 5. Johanna Austin

The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington

Id heard so much about this play before seeing it, and knowing James Ijames style from other works like Fat Ham, I definitely expected to laugh. I did not expect a game show scene directing the audience to applaud as Queen Charlotte shot an image of George Washington.

Subversive, inventive, and challenging, this play feels essential right now, not only because of the current presidential administrations efforts to erase Washingtons legacy of slavery but because it pushes us to face the thorny, complicated nature of accountability.

Historians have often praised Washington for his supposedly generous act of freeing the people his family enslaved upon his wifes death.

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In Miz Martha, that act becomes something like a death sentence for Martha Washington as she lies sick in bed, spiraling into paranoia, fearing that the enslaved people around her are plotting to kill her (which she actually did believe).

There are key moments that have stuck with me: When Betsy Ross and Abigail Adams  played by Black actors  break the colorblind sisterhood solidarity facade for a moment and ask Martha, What does that feel like, to be free? When Martha chuckles as she explains that Sucky Boy got his name because he cried whenever his mother was forced to stop feeding him and work in the field; She asks, Isnt that funny? and is met with silence. When Ann stands up for herself and disputes that Martha ever really knew her at all.

The show offers a rare sense of satisfaction that a powerful figure is answering for her cruelty and complicity. Its fleeting and fictional, but still gratifying.

Miz Martha is available to stream through May 3. More info at wilmatheater.org.

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 Rosa Cartagena

Kurt Vile's new video is for his song "Chance to Bleed," from his new album "Philadelphia's been good to me," due May 29. Eleanor Petry

Kurt Vile, Chance to Bleed video

Could Kurt Vile get any more Philly? This week he announced Philadelphias been good to me, the Lansdowne-raised, Mount Airy-based artists first album in four years. Lead single Chance to Bleed might be the catchiest riff rocker hes ever written, an invitation to enjoy old-time, lo-fi, DIY rock and roll  Nights!

The song comes with a delightfully loopy Lucky Marvel-directed video featuring cameos by gangsta rap progenitor Schoolly D, comedian Jim E. Brown and KV sibling Paul Jelloman Vile. It was shot in Fishtown at Kung Fu Necktie, under the Market-Frankford El and just up Front Street from the Steve ESPO Powers painted Wakin On A Pretty Daze mural.

Philadelphia has been good to me drops May 29 and Vile & the Violators play Connor Barwins Make The World Better benefit at the Dell Music Center on July 25.

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 Dan DeLuca

Mohammed Omer Khalil: Common Ground

In the last few years, we have seen several images of Sudan; women crying, young boys carrying guns, children standing against war-torn cities, men in army uniforms.

A different, vividly colorful Sudan appears in the collage paintings of Sudanese artist Mohammad Omer Khalil.

The artist, who turned 90 this year, is being celebrated with shows in Wexford, Pa., Brooklyn, N.Y., and Dearborn, Mich. Common Ground at Old Citys Twelve Gates Arts is a part of that multicity celebration.

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Here, the Red Sea coastal city of Suakin comes alive in the brightest of blues and a sharp yellow. A trip the artist took to the Sudanese port city inspired him to make 52 collage paintings, some of which hang in this show. Cats, latticed screens, and fortress facades all meld into one another as Khalil reimagines and remembers the feeling of home, commanding a vision of a past in color.

The ongoing "Mohammad Omer Khalil: Common Ground" show at Twelve Gates Arts is a part of a multicity celebration of Sudanese artist Khalil's 90th birthday Twelve Gates Arts

In these collages, Sudan is blooming. Its past is in harmony with its future.

Two smaller collages hang on the opposite wall  British stamps on envelopes addressed to an American address, George Washington staring grimly from postage stamps, and bits of advertisements in English peep out of brown paper bag bits. Almost in conversation with the Arabic in the road signs of Suakin.

The artist was born in Sudan, lives in New York, and is a citizen of the world. Someone who studied bookbinding and woodwork as a child in Burri and built a world of paper and wood that can help him teleport; beyond wars and borders, and across geographies.

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Mohammad Omer Khalil: Common Ground, through May 15. Twelve Gates Arts, 106 North 2nd Street, twelvegatesarts.org

 Bedatri D. Choudhury

The Gerald blazer is part of Boyds collection named after the son of the founder. Gerald "Gerry" Gushner moved the iconic business to Chestnut Street and is credited with making the store the upscale destination it is today. Boyds

The Gerald at Boyds

Good fashion always includes a nod to history.

And in the case of Boyds Philadelphia  founded as a big and tall mens store by Alexander Gushner in 1938  history runs deep.

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Thats why I was interested in the specialty stores newest collection Gerald," a collection of suiting named after the founders son.

Gerald Gerry Gushner started by working in sales and, by the mid-1960s, was Boyds president and co-owner. Under him, the once big and tall store started selling sleek European designer suits; marking the beginning of its upscale retail transformation.

The fitted blazers nod to yesteryears dressed up vibe with todays casual twist. Part of a suit  also available in khaki and olive hues  these are paired as easily with denim as with slacks.

Designed in-house by Gerrys grandson Andrew, the Gerald collection isnt ostentatious. But its clean lines speak to class and an easy going style in a complicated world.

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Boyds Philadelphia is located at 1818 Chestnut St. The navy Gerald blazer is $695.

 Elizabeth Wellington
The interior of Saks Fifth Avenue on April 8, days before the Bala Cynwyd store was set to close for good as part of the company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Read more

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Sixx King walked up the grand winding staircase, long a centerpiece of Saks Fifth Avenue in Bala Cynwyd.

As King ascended beneath a sparkling chandelier, the Philadelphia film director held his phone aloft, FaceTiming his mom and aunts to show them the sad state of his beloved luxury department store. At the top of the stairs, King was greeted by a phalanx of bare white mannequins on one side, a smattering of faux Christmas trees on another, and lots of empty clothing racks and display cases.

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Red signs alerted the few customers present to the store closing sale, with the remaining merchandise discounted by an additional 50% from already marked-down prices.

The massive City Avenue storefront is set to close next week, a casualty of its parent companys Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Employees said the stores final day will be Wednesday, exactly 74 years and a day since Saks Fifth Avenue opened its original Philadelphia-area location in Center City.

This is the end of an era, said King, a customer of 35 years who will miss the ambience, the customer service.

Also just the luxury, King added.  Being able to get runway items.  It kept me from going to New York or to the King of Prussia Mall, about half-hour away.

The Saks Fifth Avenue in Bala Cynwyd is one of 18 Saks stores and three Neiman Marcus locations that are shuttering as their parent company, Saks Global, restructures. In Bala Cynwyd, 50 employees will lose their jobs, according to a layoff notice the company provided to the state government.

The Saks stores in Chevy Chase, Md., and at the American Dream mall in Northern New Jersey also are closing, leaving the closest location in New York. The Neiman Marcus at the King of Prussia Mall is set to remain open.

Saks Global spokespeople have said closure decisions were based on several factors, including store performance and lease economics.

The company filed for bankruptcy in January, after racking up billions in debt  some from its 2024 acquisition of Neiman Marcus  and missing massive payments to some of its high-end vendors. Saks Global owed more than $136 million to Chanel, according to court documents, and more than $21 million to Christian Louboutin, among tens of thousands of other creditors.

In early April, the company announced it had secured $500 million in exit financing and expected to emerge from bankruptcy this summer. CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck said in a statement that its better-than-expected performance in recent months would ensure a strong future for Saks Global.

Company spokespeople did not return requests for comment for this article.

The Saks story is sad, said Barbara Kahn, a marketing professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. The closure of the Bala Cynwyd store, which sits just over the city line in Lower Merion Township, is another example of this area not sustaining luxury retail.

In recent years, some high-end brands have closed shops in the city while keeping or opening locations in King of Prussia and Cherry Hill, Kahn noted.

City Avenue lost another high-end department store, albeit one without quite the cachet of Saks, when Lord & Taylor shuttered a standalone location there in 2020 as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The Lord & Taylor site, less than half a mile from Saks, has since been replaced by a mixed-use building with 217 luxury apartments, part of a yearslong effort by local leaders to transform the congested corridor into a walkable residential community. The complex, called The Blayr, opened to tenants in late March, and is about 20% leased.

What could replace Saks on City Avenue?

As president and CEO of the City Ave District, the areas nonprofit business development agency, Bryan Fenstermaker said the stores closure next week will be bittersweet.

Its been an anchor kind of tenant for the district, Fenstermaker said. You hate to see things close like that and move on, but I think for the district and the way were evolving, it is an opportunity for that [property] to be repositioned.

The building may sit empty for a while as Saks bankruptcy case makes its way through the courts. Fenstermaker said he sees many options for reuse.

Area residents say they want services and amenities, Fenstermaker said. People are looking for additional hotels. Sit-down restaurants, that is another angle that weve been pushing hard.

Another retail tenant could succeed there, he said, since he understands the Saks location did well, despite the companys broader financial problems. Two years ago, the City Ave District reported that Saks sales were so strong in Bala Cynwyd that it had resisted offers to relocate to King of Prussia.

But traditional retail may not be the best fit for such a large building, Fenstermaker said.

Shopping patterns and shopping habits have changed, he said. If another retailer were to move in, maybe its not quite a department store.
Police near the scene in West Philadelphia where Officer Laura Pelczar fatally shot a 75-year-old man who was armed with a gun on Tuesday. Read more

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The Philadelphia Police Department on Friday identified the 26-year-old officer who fatally shot a 75-year-old man accused of pointing a handgun at police and then firing it earlier this week in West Philadelphia.

Officer Laura Pelczar and a second officer responded to a 911 call shortly before 7:15 a.m. Tuesday to a report of a person armed with a weapon and a possible family hostage situation on the 5400 block of Webster Street, police said.

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Police said the two 18th District officers observed Anthony McKinley holding a Taurus handgun on the front porch of his house.

As the officers approached the porch, police said, McKinley raised the gun and pointed it in their direction.

The officers took cover and ordered McKinley to drop the gun, but instead he fired a single shot, according to police.

Pelczar then shot McKinley once, police said.

Body-worn cameras were activated and captured portions of the encounter, police said.

Police transported McKinley to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 7:33 a.m. Tuesday.

An initial investigation showed the 911 call originated from a phone registered to McKinley, police said.

As of Friday, police had not provided an update on the details of the deadly encounter, including whether anyone was actually being held hostage at the home.

Neither officer was injured.

Neighbors described McKinley, who had lived on the block for decades, as polite and helpful.

Tuesdays killing marked the third shooting of a civilian by a Philadelphia police officer this year, according to police data.
Kingston Elementary School in Cherry Hill. The district plans to eliminate about 70 positions as it seeks to plug a budget deficit. Read more

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The Cherry Hill school district plans to eliminate about 70 positions and increase class sizes to help plug a $29 million budget gap, Superintendent Kwame Morton announced Friday.

Morton said the moves are necessary because the school system  the largest in South Jersey  faces significant financial challenges driven by reductions in state aid and rising, unavoidable costs.

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These realities require hard decisions that are not taken lightly, Morton said in a message to the community posted on the districts website Friday afternoon.

Morton said the district would save about $6.5 million in staffing cuts, with the majority, about 76%, made through attrition. The remaining staffing reductions would be made districtwide, including positions at the central office. He did not provide specifics on which positions would be eliminated.

Waleska Batista-Arias, president of the Cherry Hill Education Association, said the union was advised that 14 teachers and four noninstructional staff members would be laid off. The union represents 1,200 teachers and support staff.

Batista-Arias said layoffs were expected in other bargaining units. The numbers could change depending on additional retirements before the final budget adoption by the board, expected April 28.

The proposed cuts show exactly what happens when schools are underfunded: students lose opportunities. Cherry Hill students should not pay the price for a broken school funding system. If the state continues to underfund districts like Cherry Hill, students will continue to suffer the consequences, Batista-Arias said in a statement.

District spokesperson Nina Baratti said the number of potential layoffs is consistently changing and we would prefer not to mention a number at the present time. More information may be available in the next two weeks, she said.

The cuts were expected in a preliminary budget approved by the school board last month. The budget would increase property taxes by $420 for a home assessed at the township average of $227,000.

The district said it needed the 7.4% tax increase in addition to slashing millions in spending. It has said the cuts would impact operations across the board.

Larger class sizes

Morton said class sizes would increase at the districts elementary schools by two students in first through eighth grades. He said even with that change, class sizes will still be smaller than in neighboring Haddonfield and Moorestown schools. The district said it would also change how core elementary content is taught.

Parent Jennifer Papeika said her children who attend Sharp Elementary told her they were advised by their teachers that Spanish and computer science programs would be cut.

Our children need to experience different languages and cultures, said Papeika, an ESL teacher in Philadelphia. I cant believe this is happening in Cherry Hill.

Baratti said the district is restructuring the manner in which Spanish and computer science is being delivered. The district did not provide additional details.

Batista-Arias said computer science teachers represented by her unit were being reassigned, along with two of five Spanish teachers. The new assignments were not immediately known.

 READ MORE: Cherry Hill schools weighing $14.5 million in cuts and layoffs to close budget gap for 2026-27

Declining state aid and rising costs

Cherry Hill, which has about 11,000 students, has struggled to close a projected budget gap, caused partly by a decline in state aid for the third straight year.

The district also cut $8 million in general expenses, including furniture and equipment, technology, and instructional supplies, Morton said.

Other districts in the state, including Collingswood and Haddonfield, have been forced to make similar decisions in a tough budget season.

Districts say cuts are necessary because of a reduction in state aid as well as rising costs for healthcare, transportation, and special education. In some cases, the expenses have outpaced the districts ability to raise property taxes, which is capped at 2% annually.

 READ MORE: Cherry Hill school district is considering staff reductions and reconfiguring middle schools due to state funding cuts

Because of a $10 million increase in healthcare costs, Cherry Hill is allowed to exceed the 2% property tax cap to cover some of those expenses.

Districts have urged state lawmakers to consider legislation to provide additional funding to hard-hit districts as the state did several years ago.

Cherry Hill will hold a public hearing on the budget April 28 before a final vote by the school board.
School board members listen to the crowd at a meeting on Feb. 26. Critics who addressed the board accused the district of not doing enough to support the students arrested during an ICE protest. Read more

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Parents decrying a partisan stunt and threatening to leave the school district. Students afraid they would be locked in classrooms and unable to use the bathroom. A school board member demanding any protest be moved off campus.

In the days before the February walkout by Quakertown students to protest federal immigration enforcement ended in a bloody clash with police, emails show district administrators were facing accusations and confusion from community members as they grappled with how to handle the event.

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The emails, obtained through a Right-to-Know request, provide insight into the pressures and political tension the district was navigating before the Feb. 20 protest. After administrators attempted to cancel the event because of a threat, it boiled over into a chaotic scene that resulted in the arrests of five teenagers, a police chief going on leave, and borough and school officials blamed for their response.

Critics later accused the school board at a public meeting of putting kids in harms way, arguing that trying to stop the event pushed students farther off campus and set the stage for the confrontation with the police chief, Scott McElree, who rushed into the crowd. Video footage showed McElree with his arms wrapped around a girls neck.

School board members have said theyll work to learn from the controversy and determine how to better handle protests in the future.

But in the week before the protest, some were pushing the district to not play any role in the event.

Please move this off campus, board member Jonathan Kern, a Republican, wrote in a Feb. 17 email to Acting Superintendent Lisa Hoffman, after Hoffman shared information with board members that would be sent to high school staff and families ahead of the protest. Hoffmans email made clear that administrators had worked to finesse the language of that message; the district didnt mention the exact time of the protest, at the advice of law enforcement, Hoffman said, and she also said theyd tightened the language to ensure students who protested knew they couldnt make up work they missed.

While Kern was pleased that making up work wouldnt be allowed  This avoids excusing absences (which could look like endorsement), he wrote  he objected to the school becoming a protest hub instead of a place for education. In a previous email to Hoffman, Kern had suggested students could research other perspectives about illegal immigrants who have committed crimes against innocent people.

Parents were also expressing opposition. We need more learning and less indoctrination at schools, one parent said in an email, adding that myself and many others will be forced to consider alternative schools if the partisan, non-school-related tactics continue.

I never thought that the propaganda would come anywhere near our town, a mother wrote, saying she would not allow her son to participate and be another brainwashed fool out on the street.

Some students believed teachers were encouraging participation, another parent wrote, expressing discomfort with the perception that the school may be endorsing anti-authority or politically driven activity.

The high schools principal, Mattias van t Hoenderdaal, consulted with the nearby Pennridge School District about its handling of an anti-ICE walkout, according to emails, informing fellow Quakertown administrators that Pennridge staff were directed to stay inside during their students protest.

Two days before the Quakertown protest, the districts school resource officer relayed to administrators that McElree, the police chief, had granted permission to close down part of the street in front of the high school.

He appreciates how the school is handling this event, wrote the officer, Bob Lee. Any threats will be moved inside. He is concerned the students are a security risk with the way the world is right now.

Threats ahead of planned protest

The district received several tips the week of the protest through Safe2Say  the states confidential school safety hotline for reporting threats. The district redacted the content of tips in its response to The Inquirers Right-to-Know request.

The day before the protest, some parents expressed fear about what would happen. One mother told high school administrators that she and her husband would be keeping their child home, citing social media comments that left us very uncomfortable.

At 9:14 that night, another Safe2Say tip came in. Hoffman sent an email to the school board at 10 p.m.

We are taking this threat very seriously, Hoffman said in the email, which was largely redacted. She said administrators had consulted with police.

The Bucks County Courier Times, citing emails obtained from McElree, said the chief told the borough council after the walkout that a person with a gun was planning on shooting the protestors.

Some board members responded to Hoffmans email with concern. Im sorry that someone was so angry and insecure that they would resort to threats and felt compelled to do this, Brian Reimers said in an email that night to Hoffman.

Kern told Hoffman that this came to mind ... put up a lightning rod, you might get lightning.

We didnt need to say yes to this in the first place and saying no is a prudent course of action, Kern said.

The district sent out an email to high school students and families at 6:57 a.m., declaring the protest canceled. We were advised to keep the public message vague, Hoffman wrote to a board member, Todd Hippauf, who noted that the district didnt mention the specific threat.
Vice President JD Vance (center) walks with Pakistan's military chief Asim Munir (left) and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Saturday after arriving in Islamabad. Read more

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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan  The United States and Iran continued historic face-to-face negotiations early Sunday in Pakistan, days after a fragile, two-week ceasefire was announced, as the war that has killed thousands of people and shaken global markets entered its seventh week.

The White House confirmed the rare high-level engagement.

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Meanwhile, the U.S. military said two destroyers transited the Iran-gripped Strait of Hormuz ahead of mine-clearing work, a first since the war began. Irans state media, however, said the joint military command denied that.

Were sweeping the strait. Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me, Trump told journalists as talks continued and the time approached 2 a.m. in Islamabad. Iranian state TV noted what it called serious differences.

The U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance and the Iranian one led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf discussed with Pakistan how to advance the ceasefire already threatened by deep disagreements and Israels continued attacks against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, whose health ministry said the death toll has surpassed 2,000.

Since the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, the most direct U.S. contact had been in 2013 when President Barack Obama called newly elected President Hassan Rouhani to discuss Irans nuclear program. The most recent highest-level meetings were between Secretary of State John Kerry and counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif during negotiations over the program.

Now talks feature Vance, a reluctant defender of the war who has little diplomatic experience and warned Iran not to try and play us, and Qalibaf, a former commander with Irans powerful Revolutionary Guard who has issued some of Irans most fiery statements since fighting began.

Iran sets red lines including compensation for strikes

Irans state-run news agency said the three-party talks began after Iranian preconditions, including a reduction in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, were met.

Irans delegation told state television it had presented red lines in meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, including compensation for damage caused by U.S.-Israeli strikes that launched the war on Feb. 28 and releasing Irans frozen assets.

The war has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 2,020 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states, and caused lasting damage to infrastructure in half a dozen Middle Eastern countries. Irans grip on the Strait of Hormuz has largely cut off the Persian Gulf and its oil and gas exports from the global economy, sending energy prices soaring.

Reflecting the high stakes, officials from the region said Chinese, Egyptian, Saudi and Qatari officials were in Islamabad to indirectly facilitate talks. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.

In Tehran, residents told the Associated Press they were skeptical yet hopeful after weeks of airstrikes left destruction across their country of some 93 million people.

Peace alone is not enough for our country because weve been hit very hard, there have been huge costs, 62-year-old Amir Razzai Far said.

In his strongest words yet, Pope Leo XIV denounced the delusion of omnipotence fueling the war.

U.S. sending forces to help mine-clearing on the strait

Ahead of the talks, President Donald Trump accused Iran of using the Strait of Hormuz for extortion, and told reporters Friday it would be opened with or without them.

Irans closure of the strait has proved its biggest strategic advantage in the war. Around a fifth of the worlds traded oil had typically passed through on over 100 ships a day. Only 12 have been recorded transiting since the ceasefire.

On Saturday, Trump said on social media that the U.S. had begun clearing out the strait.

Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon, U.S. Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper later said. The U.S. statement about the destroyers added: Additional U.S. forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance effort in the coming days.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said Tehran was entering negotiations with deep distrust after strikes on Iran during previous talks. Araghchi, part of Irans delegation in Pakistan, said Saturday that his country was prepared to retaliate if attacked again.

Irans 10-point proposal ahead of the talks called for a guaranteed end to the war and sought control over the Strait of Hormuz. It included ending fighting against Irans regional allies, explicitly calling for a halt to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah.

The United States 15-point proposal includes restricting Irans nuclear program and reopening the strait.

Israel and Lebanon will have direct negotiations

Meanwhile, Israel pressed ahead with strikes in Lebanon after saying there is no ceasefire there. Iran and Pakistan have disagreed. The Lebanese state-run news agency reported at least three people killed.

Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are expected to begin Tuesday in Washington, Lebanese President Joseph Aouns office said Friday, after Israels surprise announcement authorizing talks despite the countries lack of official relations.

But as thousands in Lebanon protested the planned negotiations, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he had postponed a planned trip to Washington in light of the current internal circumstances. His absence should not affect talks as the first round is expected to be at the ambassadorial level.

Israel wants Lebanons government to assume responsibility for disarming Hezbollah, much like was envisaged in a November 2024 ceasefire. But it is unclear whether Lebanons army can confiscate weapons from the militant group, which has survived efforts to curb its strength for decades.

Hezbollah joined the war in support of Iran in the opening days. Israel followed with airstrikes and a ground invasion.

The day the Iran ceasefire deal was announced, Israel pounded Beirut with airstrikes, killing more than 300 people in the deadliest day in Lebanon since the war began, according to the countrys Health Ministry.
Pope Leo XIV holds a rosary as he leads a vigil for peace inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Saturday. Read more

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ROME  In his strongest words yet, Pope Leo XIV on Saturday denounced the delusion of omnipotence that is fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and demanded political leaders stop and negotiate peace.

Leo presided over an evening prayer service in St. Peters Basilica on the same day the United States and Iran began face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan and as a fragile ceasefire held.

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Historys first U.S.-born pope didnt mention the United States or President Donald Trump in his prayer, which was planned before the talks were announced. But Leos tone and message appeared directed at Trump and U.S. officials, who have boasted of U.S. military superiority and justified the war in religious terms.

Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Leo said. Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!

In the basilica pews was the archbishop of Tehran, Belgian Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu. The U.S. was represented in the diplomatic corps by its deputy chief of mission, Laura Hochla, the U.S. Embassy said.

In the first weeks of the war, the Villanova-educated Leo was initially reluctant to publicly condemn the violence and limited his comments to muted appeals for peace and dialogue. But Leo stepped up his criticism starting on Palm Sunday. And this week, he said Trumps threat to annihilate Iranian civilization was truly unacceptable and called for dialogue to prevail.

On Saturday, Leo called for all people of good will to pray for peace and demand an end to war from their political leaders. The evening vigil in Rome, which featured Scripture readings and meditative recitation of the Rosary prayers, was taking place as simultaneous local prayer services were being held in the U.S. and beyond.

Praying for peace, Leo said, was a way to break the demonic cycle of evil to build instead the Kingdom of God where there are no swords, drones or unjust profit.

It is here that we find a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive, he said. Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death.

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 cast the U.S. as a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes.

Leo has said God doesnt bless any war, and certainly not those who drop bombs.

Leo presided over the service sitting off to the side of the altar on a white throne, wearing his formal red cape and liturgical stole and praying with a Rosary in his hands. Many of the priests and nuns in the pews fingered Rosary beads as the Our Father and Hail Mary prayers were recited.

The Vatican is particularly concerned about the spillover of Israels war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, given the plight of Christian communities in the south.
In this photo provided by Ukraine's 65th Mechanised Brigade press service Friday, a Ukrainian serviceman prepares a machine gun on a combat drone during training in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region. Read more

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KYIV, Ukraine  Russia continued to strike Ukrainian positions with drones after a Kremlin-declared Easter ceasefire took effect on Saturday, a Ukrainian military officer told the Associated Press.

The ceasefire is not being observed by the Russian side, said Serhii Kolesnychenko, a communications officer for the 148th Separate Artillery Brigade.

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He said that while artillery fire had paused in the sector where his brigade was working, at the junction of the Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, Russian forces continued to use drones to strike Ukrainian positions.

Ukrainian forces were responding with silence to silence and fire to fire, Kolesnychenko said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday declared a 32-hour ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter weekend, ordering Russian forces to halt hostilities from 4 p.m. on Saturday until the end of Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised to abide by the ceasefire, describing it as an opportunity to build on peace initiatives. But he warned there would be a swift military response to any violations.

Easter should be a time of silence and safety. A ceasefire [at] Easter could also become the beginning of real movement toward peace, Zelensky wrote in an online post on Saturday.

But he added: We all understand who we are dealing with. Ukraine will adhere to the ceasefire and respond strictly in kind.

Ukraine earlier proposed to Russia a pause in attacks on each others energy infrastructure over the Orthodox Easter holiday.

Previous ceasefire attempts have had little impact, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday 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.

Deaths in Odesa and Kherson ahead of ceasefire

Hours before the ceasefire was due to begin, Russian drone strikes overnight killed at least two people in the Ukrainian city of Odesa, local authorities reported.

A further two people were wounded in the attack on the Black Sea port city, when drones hit a residential area, damaging apartment buildings, houses and a kindergarten.

The driver of a public trolley bus was killed after the vehicle was struck by a drone in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, less than an hour before the start of the ceasefire, Kherson regional head Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on Telegram.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia targeted Ukraine with 160 drones overnight, of which 133 were shot down or intercepted, hours before a proposed Easter ceasefire was due to come into force.

Russias Defense Ministry said 99 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across Russia and occupied Crimea.

Prisoners exchanged

Russias Defense Ministry said that a prisoner swap Saturday brought home 175 of its soldiers. Zelensky confirmed Saturdays exchange, saying that 175 service members and seven civilians were returned. Most had been held in captivity since 2022. And finally, they are home, he wrote on X.

Hundreds of relatives, clutching photos of missing soldiers, crowded around ambulances and buses carrying returned prisoners of war in northern Ukraine. Many called out names and brigade numbers in hopes of finding loved ones faster.

The crowd, many draped in blue and yellow flags, chanted We welcome you! as the weary returnees in blue jackets reached through windows to shake hands and embrace well-wishers. Family also members held up portraits of others still-missing, asking the freed prisoners whether they recognized anyone.

Svitlana Pohosyan was waiting for her sons return. Asked about the ceasefire, she said: I want to believe it. God willing, may it be so. We will believe and hope that everything will be fine, that a ceasefire will come on such a holy day, and that there will be peace  peace in Ukraine and peace in the whole world.

My celebration will come when my son returns, she added. I will hold him in my arms  and that will be the greatest celebration for me. And for every mother, every family.

Periodic prisoner exchanges have been one of the few positive outcomes of otherwise fruitless monthslong U.S.-brokered negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. The talks have delivered no progress on key issues preventing an end to Russias invasion of its neighbor, now in its fifth year.

Separately, seven residents of Russias Kursk region returned from Ukraine on Saturday after they were captured by the Ukrainian army, Russian state media reported. They were greeted at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border by Russias human rights ombudswoman, Tatyana Moskalkova.

According to Moskalkova, the returnees were the last of those who were taken to Ukraine from the Kursk region after the Ukrainian army took control of parts of the region in 2024.

Ukrainian forces made a surprise incursion into Kursk in August 2024 in one of their biggest battlefield successes in the war. The incursion was the first time Russian territory was occupied by an invader since World War II and dealt a humiliating blow to the Kremlin.
Recovery and demolition operations continued Saturday at the site of the partially collapsed garage in Grays Ferry. Read more

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Crews continued their search Saturday for two missing ironworkers trapped in the rubble of a Grays Ferry parking garage that collapsed earlier this week.

Philadelphias Ironworkers Union Local 401 identified the men as Matthew Kane and Mark Scott Jr. early Saturday in a social media post, which has since been edited to omit their names. Another man, who was pulled from the debris and died at a hospital, was identified as Stepan Shevchuk. All three were members of the union.

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A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health  which houses the Medical Examiners Office  did not immediately respond to an email seeking more information. Union leaders could not be immediately reached for additional comment via phone or email.

The seven-level structure under construction at 30th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue partially collapsed Wednesday about 2:15 p.m., when a precast concrete roof segment failed and fell, echoing through the neighborhood like a crack of thunder.

This unthinkable tragedy has devastated our local union and the families of both the victims and survivors, the original post read. Weve lost three loved and respected members of our 401 family and wait in anticipation to bring our Brothers home.

Demolition is necessary for two reasons: to prevent further collapse of the structure and to find the missing workers. Whats left of the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia garage is extremely weakened and could collapse at any moment," officials have warned.

This process has been slow and painstaking, but necessary, the unions post said. We ask that you respect the authorities and agencies that are involved as they are trying to recover our Brothers as safely, dignified and respectfully as possible.

After a day of preparations, a wrecking ball began swinging at the garage early Saturday, sending dust flying and chipping away chunks of what was once meant to be the roof of the garage. By noon, the first slabs of concrete fell. A few hours later, one side of the building had been sheared off.

Tara Furrule, 39, and her fiance Mitchell St. Louis, 37, were on their morning coffee run when they passed by the garage to pray.

It is an overwhelming tragedy and the loss of lives makes it even more unsettling, Furrule said. The workers dying is crazy; its hard not to think about them. Im at a loss for words.

For St. Louis, the pain is deeper. As a residential project manager, he has construction workers under his charge: I think about my people, their safety is number one  and what I have to do to make sure every one of my guys out there is going to make it home everyday.

Lamont Cooper, 24, who works at a nearby auto repair facility, watched in disbelief as the wrecking ball persistently cracked the concrete. His mind fixed on the two people trapped.

I know they said they cant go in to get [them], but the city should remember they have people that love them, he said.

Making more concrete come down on them like this doesnt feel right.

Its unclear how long the deconstruction may take; crews may also have to hand-dig to find the missing men, officials have said.

 READ MORE: The city hosted a community meeting for Grays Ferry neighbors near the garage collapse

The work to bring this structure down safely has already begun, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker told a 35-person forum at Vare Recreation Center. This marks a critical transition  from response to recovery. Our priority remains unchanged  to recover the missing individuals with the greatest amount of dignity and respect humanly possible.

Parker has promised a thorough investigation into what caused the garage to collapse. The garage  meant for hospital workers to more easily drive to work  proved controversial and was scrutinized for its scale; the building would be by far the largest new freestanding garage built in recent Philadelphia history.

Longtime resident Pat McCormick, 70, who watched the demolition from 30th and Wharton Streets, viewed its construction as a neighborhood improvement.

Developments like this are good for the neighborhood, it connects us with University City, McCormick said. But somebody made a big mistake here.

McCormick added: They are trying their best; its a terrible accident, but people did die here.

Staff writer William Bender contributed to this article.
Councilmember Nicolas ORourke is the primary sponsor of the Safe Healthy Homes Act. Read more

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The two landlords who forced City Council to redo a committee hearing on rental protection bills through an exceedingly rare lawsuit are asking a Philadelphia judge to hold the city in contempt and impose sanctions, alleging that the new hearing also violated transparency requirements.

The motion for contempt, filed Thursday, claims that Council failed to comply with a March 18 agreement to delay a committee vote on the bills and comply fully with the Sunshine Act as well as the [Philadelphia Home Rule] Charter.

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Councils Committee on Housing met for a second time on March 30, and unanimously passed the two bills, which say tenants are entitled to withhold rent if their landlord does not have an active rental license or fails to repair code violations in a timely manner.

 READ MORE: Philly renter protections advance toward final vote after a landlord lawsuit forced a redo

The legislation also includes protections from retaliation for renters who complain about housing conditions, requires landlords to have good cause to not renew a tenants lease, and increases penalties for landlords who rack up code violations.

The landlords attacked the March 30 hearing, alleging a series of procedural failures. A quorum of the committee was initially present but members moved in and out of the hearing throughout the proceeding, the motion says. And during the hearing, Council members left the public session to meet privately with Council President Kenyatta Johnson and representatives of interested parties, according to the legal filing. (A spokesperson for Johnson said the Council president did not meet with anyone about the bill that day.)

The public session functioned merely to formalize decisions reached outside public view, the landlords motion says.

And while its custom for Council to upload full recordings of committee hearings to YouTube, the March 30 meeting video hasnt been posted publicly, the filing says.

The hearing video hasnt been posted as of April 11.

Taken together, these deficits amount to a violation of the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, which requires government meetings to be held in public, the motions says. The landlords ask a judge to nullify the committee vote to prevent a full Council vote on the bills next week.

They did exactly the same thing they did March 4, said Briana Pearson, an attorney representing the landlords, referring to the original hearing Council agreed to redo. At a basic level, they should at least adhere to the court order.

It is common for City Council members to leave the room during hearings, but that is no excuse and still amounts to a violation of the law, said Paul Cohen, general counsel for the Homeowners Association of Philadelphia.

This is the way its always been done? Then guess what, its always been done wrong, Cohen said. The purpose of public hearings, and the sunshine act, is for the deliberations to happen in public.

Common Pleas Judge Christopher Hall will hold a hearing on Tuesday in which the city attorneys will need to explain why it shouldnt be held in contempt, according to a Friday order.

The recent contempt motion filed by two HAPCO-affiliated landlords is baseless and reflects their frustration with the outcome of a process that did not go their way: plain and simple, Councilmember Nicolas ORourke, the primary sponsor of the Safe Healthy Homes Act, said in a statement.

Harrison Feinman, a spokesperson for Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who chairs the housing committee, declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.

City Councils Housing Committee voted twice to unanimously advance this legislation because every Philadelphian deserves a safe and healthy home, Feinman said in a statement.

Philadelphia rental property owners Erica Hadley and Seth Floyd, who brought the lawsuit, also amended their initial complaint Friday to include claims that the bills amount to a violation of landlords constitutional rights.

The bills rewrite existing contracts between landlords and their tenants, the revised lawsuit says, making rental agreements that both parties entered into voluntarily unenforceable. If the bills become law, landlords will be deprived of their ability to determine when and under what conditions their property will be returned to their possession, even at the natural expiration of a lease, the suit says.

Such requirements would force small landlords, who own the majority of rental properties in the city, to leave the market and further restrict the supply of rental units in the city, the complaint says.

The inevitable outcome is a contraction in available housing supply, upward pressure on rents, and displacement effects that will be felt first and most severely in low income and majority Black communities, the lawsuit says.

ORourke, who wrote the bills in partnership with OnePA Renters United Philadelphia, a coalition of renters unions and advocates, and Philly Thrive, an advocacy group for racial, economic, and environmental justice, called the claim of constitutional violations an embarrassing legal argument.

The Safe Healthy Homes Act works to bring Philadelphias rental code enforcement up to the standard that already exists in peer cities and is a standard internationally, the Council member said in a March 31 statement. I think that a suit on civil rights grounds only goes to show that the plaintiffs think Philly tenants deserve fewer rights than their regional and national neighbors.

In the nullified March 4 hearing, tenants testified about living in dilapidated units that include mold, pests, leaks, lack of heat, and falling ceilings.

The Brewerytown building that Jason Bowman lives in became a haven for mice, rats, mold, leaks, and heating issues, he said during the hearing, the property did not even have a valid rental license.

Another tenant, Sonya Sanders, said that her Grays Ferry rental home had holes through the floor and walls that allowed large cockroaches to fly into their home. Desperate for a solution, Sanders and her husband taped the walls to prevent bugs from coming in.

These living conditions were detrimental to my physical and mental health, Sanders said.

When her husband passed away, she was forced to move to a different home. Her dreams of a new beginning in a safe home quickly became a nightmare. Sanders lived without electricity for weeks during the summer heat, and went months without water.

We need a city that works for us, to hold slumlords accountable, Sanders said. Im not here to complain about the landlords who are doing their job.

Staff writer Anna Orso contributed to this article.
Among the exhibitors in Geneva 2026 you will find an incredible diversity of brands, for instance affordable Ba111od, super-high-end Krayon, design-oriented Junghans, racing-related material explorer Lorige, historical Edox, vintage-reviving Nivada Grenchen, and viking-inspired GoS. If you visit the website for a full exhibitor list you will see proof of a fair offering an environment where volume brands coexist with haute horlogerie brands making a handful of watches per year; a fair where contemporary indie darlings rub shoulders with old resurrected brands.

Were almost there. The show kicks off in three days, and were really looking forward to discovering the latest form 88 brands, said Christian Wipfli about the diversity, before adding something important about the event which also offers cocktails and other gatherings towards the end of the day.

This edition promises to deliver on all fronts: Time to Watches is also about enjoying a true village atmosphere designed for real experiences in a relaxed setting.
This weeks Philly report card, grading the good, bad, and weird news coming out of our region.

FILE - Chiquita brand bananas are for sale at a grocery store in Zelienople, Pa., Sept. 10, 2014. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

See it, hear it, feel it: All the Philly art we loved this week

The best things we ate this week

Someone keeps putting half-empty iced coffee cups on my steps

Moving in with their parents to afford the big house

96 bananas stolen from a Montco Wawa (we have questions): A+

Two guys walked into a Wawa in Hatboro at 2 a.m. and left with 96 bananas. Unpaid.

Ninety-six. Not a hoagie. Not beer. Not even, like, a handful of bananas. Ninety-six.

Police described it as a drunken mistake. Sure. But thats not one mistake. That was a mistake made over and over again. At some point youd think one of them would have said, maybe we dont need more bananas.

But even within that framework, there are still some questions.

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Why bananas? Why that many? What was the plan after leaving the store?

Also, Montco? This feels like a Delco story. You expect this to happen somewhere off MacDade Boulevard.

To their credit, the guys didnt exactly mastermind this. They didnt disguise themselves, got identified almost immediately, and ended up just paying the $114 and moving on.

Which honestly makes this less of a crime story and more of a cautionary tale.

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Sometimes you go out for a late-night Wawa run. Sometimes you wake up the next day with 96 bananas in your possession.

Screen grab of https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/patcosnowpile posted on social media April 1, 2026 announced final melt of the plowed snow pile in a corner of the PATCO Haddonfield station parking lot. The transit agency had started a contest to guess when the humongous snow mountain range would finally melt. They offered a $20 Freedom Card to the winning guessers. It finally faded on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Delaware River Port Authority / PATCO

People guessing when a South Jersey snow pile would melt (and winning): A

The giant pile of snow at the Haddonfield PATCO station is finally gone.

For a while there, it felt permanent. Just sitting in the parking lot, getting dirtier, somehow surviving days it had no business surviving.

So naturally, PATCO turned it into a contest. Guess the exact date it disappears, and win a prize.

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Five people nailed March 31 and got $20 fare cards, reports NJ.com.

Which is honestly impressive, because predicting when a grimy snow pile will finally give up feels like a mix of weather knowledge and pure guesswork.

Also very on-brand. Give people something weirdly specific and local, and theyll get invested. Enough to track it, talk about it, and try to win $20 off it.

And now its gone.

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Until next winter, when we do this all again.

Bundled in a winter coat, Ninoska Wong Shing walks past cherry blossom trees on 12th Street near Cecil B. Moore Street and Temple University's campus. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

Phillys spring trees are blooming (and yeah, they smell): C

Spring shows up, the trees bloom, and right on cue, the city smells weird.

If youve walked outside this week and thought something was off, youre not imagining it. Its those white flowering trees.

Every year, they look nice for about five seconds and then you catch a whiff and remember exactly what season it is.

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The worst part is you cant really avoid it. Good weather, longer days, and a faint smell you cant quite place but definitely dont like.

Spring in Philly.

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar and Philadelphia Flyers right wing Owen Tippett high five after their win against the Boston Bruins at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Flyers won 2 to 1. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

The Flyers are good again (welcome back, everyone): B+

The Philadelphia Flyers are back in the playoff mix.

And suddenly, everyone cares again. After years of being  not part of the conversation, theyre now right there, with a real shot at their first postseason since 2020.

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You can feel the buzz. The highlights getting passed around. People learning player names again. And look  this is a good thing.

The people who stuck with this team through the rebuild? Through the just wait a few more years era? They deserve this.

But you also know whats coming next: a whole wave of new Flyers fans.

People who didnt watch in January, who couldnt name a goalie two months ago, and who are now suddenly locked in.

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No gatekeeping, technically. This is how it works here. If a team is good, Philly shows up.

So sure, grab a jersey. Learn the lines. Get invested.

An American Airlines bus operated by Landline travels on the Atlantic City Expressway on July 13, 2023. Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

A $1,000 flight from Philly to Wilmington thats actually a bus: C+

American Airlines will happily sell you a $1,000 trip from Philadelphia to Wilmington.

And its not a flight  its a bus.

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The trip down I-95 you could take yourself. Just  $1,000.

And the reason its so expensive: They dont actually want you to buy it.

The route exists as part of a larger trip  a connector to get you to a real flight. But because of how the system works, it still shows up like a normal ticket. So they price it high enough that no reasonable person would click purchase.

However, of course, people are absolutely buying it.

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Because it looks like a flight. Its listed like a flight. And unless youre paying very close attention, you might not realize your plane is about to merge onto 95.

And look, weve all paid too much for travel before.

But a grand to go from Philadelphia to Wilmington? Just call an Uber.

Phillies Nick Castellanos at bat against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, September 14, 2025 in Philadelphia. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

That Moorestown mansion (owned by Ben Simmons first, then Nick Castellanos) finally sold: B

The Moorestown mansion once owned by Ben Simmons and then Nick Castellanos has been sold.

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Its a beautiful place. Huge, modern, all the things youd expect for nearly $5 million.

BUT. That is a tough recent ownership run.

Simmons. Then Castellanos. Two different situations, same general feeling by the end.

Now its been sold to an LLC, and theres a decent chance another athlete could end up there, which feels risky.

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At a certain point, you have to wonder if the house has a little some bad juju.

So respectfully, let this go to a normal person. A dentist, maybe an accountant  someone with a quiet life and no playoff expectations. Let the house reset.

Because if another Philly athlete moves in and things go sideways, were going to start blaming the address.
The Trump administration revealed how it wants to change the President's House Site on Independence Mall via digital renderings uploaded online on April 7. Read more

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President Donald Trumps administration quietly unveiled online last week how it planned to sanitize history at the Presidents House Site in Philadelphia after having taken wrenches and crowbars to the historical site earlier this year.

Among various changes, the digital renderings uploaded Tuesday to the government-owned Presidents House website cast George Washingtons enslavement of nine individuals at his Philadelphia residence in a more favorable light ahead of the nations 250th anniversary celebrations this summer.

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Of the 11 proposed panels, only two reference the enslaved individuals who lived at the Presidents House.

And while the information presented is not inaccurate, historians say the proposed panels fail to focus on the treatment of the people Washington enslaved at the site, which was the exhibits original goal. It also dilutes Washingtons role as an enslaver by providing a broad account of U.S. history.

Presidents House stakeholders are troubled by the governments proposed version of history. The Avenging the Ancestors Coalition  the leading advocacy group to protect the site  said it was deeply offensive and represents yet another troubling attempt to distort and censor American history.

No one person  no president, no administration  has the right to dictate what history we tell, said Michael Coard, the groups leader. The truth is not optional. We will not stand by quietly while anyone attempts to erase, distort, or whitewash the reality of slavery and its legacy in this country.

The federal government is enjoined by a court order from replacing the panels. But the renderings show how the administration wants to frame history ahead of the United States 250th anniversary.

The Inquirer analyzed each alternative panel proposed by the federal government and how it differs from the historical exhibits that have been at the Presidents House Site for 15 years. Heres what we found:

George Washingtons torment over slavery

The core of the controversy over the Presidents House is the spotlight the original exhibit shed on Washington. Trumps 2025 executive order on restoring truth and sanity to American history called for a review of displays at national parks that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.

In the only panel that dives into Washingtons enslavement of people at the Presidents House, the proposed rendering portrays the first president in a more sympathetic light. It tells a story of a man who opposed slavery, but was entangled with the institution financially and had a responsibility to keep the union together. The narrative ties neatly in a bow with Washingtons deathbed wish that his slaves be released.

The general of the continental army was caught between his private doubts about slavery and his public responsibilities as president, one panel says, adding that privately he often expressed discomfort with the institution and a desire to see it abolished.

The truth is more complex, according to historian John Garrison Marks, the author of the book Thy Will Be Done: George Washingtons Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory.

While Washington wrote privately about his support for abolition, he schemed to ensure the people he enslaved could never take advantage of Pennsylvanias gradual abolition law.

And when Ona Judge escaped, Washington worked relentlessly to recapture her.

Those arent the actions of someone who feels this deep moral commitment to ending slavery and recognizing slaverys evil, Marks said.

Washingtons relationship to slavery represents a paradox, one that cannot be solved by telling his life story as a straight line toward becoming an anti-slavery champion with his final act, the historian said.

We just need to be honest about the history, Marks said. There is no getting past this ambiguity and this complexity, and so instead, we should be leaning into it.

The brutality of slavery

One of the most sobering parts of the Presidents House is its thorough account of the horrors that people enslaved endured.

But when the Trump administration dismantled the site earlier this year  only to later restore most of it by a judges order  it took down panels like Life Under Slavery, which says enslaved people were often beaten to break their spirits and whipped to compel them to obedience.

Owners were free to beat, torture, or rape the people whom they enslaved, the panel also said.

The account of this moment in the newly revealed panels glosses over the brutality, and instead offers tidbits that appear to be an attempt to soften reality.

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, reads a panel called Presidents Washington and Adams on Slavery.

Mijuel Johnson, a history tour guide with the Black Journey, noted the inaccuracy of using a word like autonomy, noting, you have no self-governance as a slave.

The governments proposed changes are just as much of an insult as the dismantling of the site in January, Johnson said.

Its a desecration of the memorial itself, he said. Because the panels that were made for the memorial are just that. They were the ones that were made for the memorial they were made for this specific site. They were all thoroughly researched, all thoroughly critiqued and detailed.

A broad view on history

The first two panels uploaded provide a general overview of U.S. history and its celebration of milestones, such as the 100th, 150th, and 200th anniversaries of the nation.

Three panels discuss the institution of slavery broadly and the fight for abolition. The renderings mention early Philadelphia abolitionists, and national civil rights icons such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Critics of the new panels say the broad overview misses the original exhibits intent.

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. 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.

Neglecting to draw from the details known about the people Washington enslaved also wastes a rare opportunity, Marks said.

There are very few places where we can discuss enslaved people with the kind of detail and specificity of the people enslaved by Washington, the historian said. And there are even fewer cases where we can tell those stories at the very site of enslavement where they occurred.

Lacking the full story

Most of the new panels do not acknowledge the people Washington enslaved. Of the 11 proposed panels, only two reference the enslaved individuals who lived at the Presidents House.

On one panel simply titled The Presidents House, the Trump administration details the ins and outs of William Penns grandson residing there or Benedict Arnold living on this property while writing his traitorous correspondence.

And in a trio of displays called History Lost & Found, the Trump administration focuses on how the 2007 archaeological dig of the site worked and discovery of primary sources documents it presents as non-controversial: Washingtons letters and a map of the property.

Unlike the original panels about the archaeological dig, the new ones have no mention of slavery, the nine people Washington enslaved, or the National Park Services initial apprehension about helping to develop the memorial.
Sen. Dave McCormick (R., Pa.) speaks at the Pennsylvania Republicans' annual conference in Camp Hill, Pa., Friday, April 10, 2026. (For the Inquirer/Kalim A. Bhatti) Read more

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CAMP HILL, Pa.  Pennsylvania Republicans  bracing for a series of tough elections this fall  assembled Friday for their largest annual gathering, where attendees defended President Donald Trumps track record amid mounting public dissatisfaction around his international and economic agendas.

The conference, attended by the states most prominent Republican leaders and grassroots organizers, offered a glimpse into the partys messaging as it tries to motivate a base that helped usher in sweeping wins less than two years ago.

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Now facing new headwinds, U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R., York), who is among those facing a highly competitive reelection campaign this fall, called for total vigilance.

Venezuela is no longer a threat to the United States of America. Cuba is on the verge of toppling. Iran, I guarantee you, Iran is going to back down, Perry said, pacing the stage in front of a couple hundred cheering conference attendees. And, oh, by the way, men are not going to be competing in girls sports. And were going to stop the attempted Islamification of the United States of America.

The Pennsylvania Leadership Conference arrived this year at a precarious moment in Trumps second term.

Six weeks into the largest military campaign in the Middle East since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, polls have shown voters are deeply divided over the presidents decision to attack Iran. The war has spiked gas prices to a nationwide average of $4.15. The Department of Homeland Security has been largely unfunded for almost two months. And Trumps threat last week to kill the whole civilization of Iran  before backing down and agreeing to a ceasefire  led Democrats to call for his forced removal from office as Republicans mostly remained silent.

Perry brushed aside concerns about the threat to wipe out Iran. He said that he understood people who want our president to be magnanimous and that he personally doesnt love my kids having to see those kinds of things.

But he told attendees to focus on the results. He claimed Iran had finally caved to somebody, though he also indicated a few minutes later that it had not yet done so: Iran is going to back down. Its going to happen.

Some critics have said they are concerned Iran may emerge from the war in a stronger position than before it started.

U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R., Pa.), who narrowly skated to a win with the momentum behind Trump in 2024, did not acknowledge the presidents threat during remarks at the conference. Still, he defended the war at length and suggested that U.S. military forces should be used further to finish the job if negotiations fail.

We need to use our military capability if they dont open the [Strait of Hormuz], in a very targeted way, McCormick said of the essential oil and shipping channel.

As Iran continued to control the strait, McCormick did not say how quickly he believed those attacks should resume, though he stressed urgency.

The gas prices have gone up by a buck a gallon, and that is not going to work for very long for most families in Pennsylvania, McCormick said. So weve got to get that wrapped up and get our energy prices back to where they need to be.

Praising the conservative agenda, and hitting Shapiro

McCormick and other speakers mostly painted a rosy picture of Trumps first 15 months back in office and took shots at Gov. Josh Shapiro, the Democrat and potential 2028 presidential candidate whom Republicans hope to unseat in Harrisburg this year.

They advocated repeatedly for Republican policies  from the pending federal legislation to require voter ID in all elections to the recent push to invest in health savings accounts rather than the expired Affordable Care Act credits in order to keep healthcare costs manageable.

The crowd cheered as Education Secretary Linda McMahon, the featured speaker who opened the conference day, talked about her efforts to dismantle her own agency and make teachers pay dependent on merit.

She and others also called on Shapiro to opt in to a policy that passed in Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year that would permit up to $1,700 in tax credits if individuals donate to organizations that give out K-12 scholarships. Some Democrats have opposed the program because its goal is to incentivize private school attendance.

McMahon said Shapiro, who in the past has supported school choice policies, had done some good things on the issue so she was surprised, actually, that he has not opted in.

Guy Ciarrocchi, a Republican commentator who emceed the conference, said while talking with McCormick on stage that neither Shapiro nor Govs. Gavin Newsom, of California, or JB Pritzker, of Illinois, had joined the program.

What do they have in common? McCormick said, picking up the bit about how all three are rumored presidential contenders in two years. Its a head-scratcher.

A heated election year

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the Republican running to prevent Shapiro from winning a second term this year, was set to speak to the conference Friday night.

The gubernatorial battle will be the premier race for Pennsylvania voters this year  but there is no shortage of other significant contests on the ballots across the state.

Critically, four Republicans running for reelection to Congress are in competitive districts and being targeted by Democrats, who need to flip only three seats in the entire country to win back the majority.

Perry, whose York County-based district includes the area where the conference was held, was the only one of those four set to speak at the conference. The seven-term Republican won his 2024 reelection by just over 5,000 votes out of nearly 407,000 cast and is likely to face the same Democratic challenger again this year.

Fridays speech by Perry, a former leader of the hard-right Freedom Caucus, was one of the most emphatic of the day. He praised Trumps actions in Iran and railed against Democrats who he claimed were defunding the police by blocking the Homeland Security funding. Democrats have mostly demanded reforms to immigration enforcement before passing the agencys budget, though some have called for the abolishing of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

While Perry did not focus on his own reelection race, at least one other speaker referenced the challenge he is facing.

We need to spend every dollar we have on Scott Perry and protect him at all costs, said Cliff Maloney, the CEO of Citizens Alliance, a conservative group that aims to turn out voters.

Shapiro has promised to use his political capital  which comes with a hefty war chest and favorable polling  to help oust Perry and the other three congresspeople Democrats are targeting in the state: U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, of Bucks County; Rob Bresnahan, of Lackawanna County; and Ryan Mackenzie, of Lehigh County. Fundraising reports last week showed Shapiros campaign with a whopping $36 million in the bank compared with Garritys $1.5 million cash on hand.

At a New York City event on Wednesday hosted by the Rev. Al Sharpton, Shapiro said he was going all in on [those races] so we can make Hakeem Jeffries the speaker of the House.

The strategy, he said, was straightforward  making every election a national referendum on Donald Trump.

If you dont like what you see on TV, if you are upset and angered  rightfully so by the chaos and the cruelty and the corruption that we see every day  well, youve got to get out and vote, Shapiro said.

National Republicans have their eyes on protecting the vulnerable Pennsylvania members. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) headlined fundraisers for all four of them in the state last week, according to Politico.

As the campaigns begin to heat up before Pennsylvanias May 19 primary, polls suggest Republicans across the country may face an uphill battle.

Trumps national approval ratings to start April had dipped to the lowest point of his presidency, around or less than 40%, according to an average of polls listed by the New York Times, RealClear Politics, and other groups. Generic questions about which party should control Congress have also increasingly tilted in Democrats favor, the polls show.

Im telling you right now, 2026 is going to be extremely difficult, said Maloney, the conservative activist. Its not a kumbaya moment. I dont want us to all think, Oh, its going to be fine. Theyre coming at us with everything they have.
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Fate might have cemented my lifelong passion and career path, but I like to think it was magic.

1993 was a momentous year for me. I had just landed the role of Big Con in War of the Buttons  a movie set in West Cork depicting the secret rivalry between two young gangs in neighbouring villages.

At 13 years old, it was great to be with so many kids my own age. It was less fun, however, for the adults on set. Having so many children on a shoot was a recipe for disaster, so they needed to devise a plan that would keep us out of trouble. News of a talent show spread through the set like chicken pox. Cast and crew were now preparing for their grand finale, which had been scheduled as part of the much-anticipated wrap party.

The plan seemed to be working as the kids focus had shifted from work- related matters to perfecting their acts. Although I had never tried it up to that point, magic always intrigued me. I rang my mother and asked if she could pick me up a magic set. The Paul Daniels magic set was the most popular of its day. I used it to practise every day I wasnt working.

The day of the wrap party arrived, and I finally had the chance to show off my act in a venue in Union Hall, West Cork. Im pretty sure it was the worst magic show ever performed. Still, I was hooked. Even at my tender age, I knew I wanted to make magic my lifes work. All my friends at the time were into soccer, but I never got the same buzz from it that they did. Magic was the first thing that really clicked for me. I continued to collect tricks after that and really study magic.

The first thing I did was visit the library, where I checked out a book called The Magicians Handbook by Hay Henry. The librarian let me keep it, and over the course of a year, I read that book from cover to cover.

Then, in 1996, at the age of 16, I got the chance of a lifetime to meet the magician Paul Daniels. He was best known for the Paul Daniels Magic Show on BBC1. Even though the programme was no longer on the air, he was still touring before his death in 2016. A friend of my mums, who was a journalist at the time, organised my first meeting with him at Cork Opera House.

We met up each time he came to Cork after that. From the first time we met, he knew I was more than just a fan. When I was able to recite from some of the books I had read, he knew I was someone on a path.

Gerard Kearney from Cork who has impressed celebrities like Barry Keoghan with his magic.

Years later, when I had made a career for myself as a magician, I bumped into another household name. It was at a film festival in Killarney that I befriended movie star Barry Keoghan. This time round, it wasnt me who was seeking advice. On the contrary, the actor was keen to get some tips from me as part of a role he was researching for.

I happened to have my cards with me that night, so I was able to give him a few pointers. I showed him how to look like somebody who held cards regularly. Similar to how a carpenter holds a hammer, you can tell a real magician by the way he holds his cards. One thing that struck me about Barry was how down-to-Earth he was. He was also very ambitious and absolutely laser-focused on what his goals were.

Magic has helped me interact with people in a way that might not otherwise have been possible. I was a very introverted child, but magic helped me come out of myself. It has helped me be more sociable than I naturally am.

Unfortunately, I am probably one of few magicians left. Magic is one of those things that involves more than you can imagine. There are a lot of people learning tricks from the likes of YouTube, but that is different to being a student of magic. A student of magic goes to conventions and mixes with other magicians. They sit down and listen to lecturers and deep dive into literature.

Over the years, my magic has evolved. There was a time when my cards came everywhere with me. I practised every spare moment I got, but my approach is different now.

Any impromptu performance involves whatever is at my disposal, which could be anything from a ring or coin from someones pocket. I like using everyday objects as part of my tricks because it adds a layer of authenticity. That, for me, is what magic is all about.
Kerry couple Aisling Brennan and Padraig OConnor planned a wedding that they describe as a true reflection of our journey together.

Both from Killarney and now living and working in Dublin, that voyage began in 2013 when Aisling returned to their hometown for Christmas during her Erasmus year in Spain.

Aisling Brennan and Padraig OConnor. Pictures: Padraig Healy Photography

Over the years, life whisked them from Kerry to Dublin, and across the Atlantic to San Diego, and travel and the coast have always been a big part of their story. Both are drawn to the ocean, particularly after their time in California, so Padraig chose a coastal setting for the proposal, in Tulum, Mexico, in June 2023. It was relaxed, beautiful, and very much our style, says Aisling.

Aisling Brennan. Pictures: Padraig Healy Photography

Over two years later, they set off from the Lakes of Killarney to the sun-soaked gardens of southern Spain to exchange vows at the Palacio Monte Miramar, a venue rich in character and also famously used as a filming location for The Crown. With guests travelling from Ireland, the United States, the Cayman Islands, and Australia, accessibility was key, making Malaga the perfect choice, adds the bride.

Aisling Brennan and Padraig OConnor. Pictures: Padraig Healy Photography

The couple wanted a celebration rooted in Kerry, shaped by travel, and centred around love, connection, and the people who matter most, says Aisling. It was everything we had hoped for  timeless, full of love, and shared with all the people who mean the most to us, in a place that felt completely us.

Surrounded by gardens, palm-lined grounds and golden Mediterranean light, the setting created the perfect backdrop for a day that felt cinematic in every sense  elegant, atmospheric, and full of feeling.

Aisling Brennan and Padraig OConnor. Pictures: Padraig Healy Photography

After getting ready that morning at the Gran Hotel Miramar with her mum and bridesmaids, Aisling arrived at the venue in a white Mustang, which also added a movie-worthy edge. With the help of our planner Celia from 1180 Studio, fverything came together seamlessly. The overall feel of the day was simple but striking  clean and modern with a hint of vintage glamour, all while staying relaxed and natural, she adds. Nothing felt overdone.

Aisling Brennan and Padraig OConnor with their wedding party. Pictures: Padraig Healy Photography

Celebrant Tara OConnor performed the ceremony, and the fact that she is also Padraigs cousin made it all the more meaningful, bringing a personal and intimate tone to the occasion, say the couple. Their goddaughter, Maisie Cahill, was the flower girl, with nephew Charlie Cahill as pageboy. Rachel Brennan was the maid of honour, and Andrew OSullivan was the best man.

Padraig OConnor with his best man and groomsmen. Pictures: Padraig Healy Photography

Aisling chose a sleek, sculptural gown by Australian designer Kyha. Her veil, created by Anna O, added softness and movement, while her hair was styled by Joanne ODowd, who travelled from Killarney for the occasion.

Aisling Brennan. Pictures: Padraig Healy Photography

Padraig wore a white and black tuxedo from Louis Copeland, bringing a modern take to a classic look.

Padraig OConnor. Pictures: Padraig Healy Photography

From the ceremony under open skies to a long-table dinner that stretched into the evening, the celebration unfolded with an easy rhythm.

Capturing on camera it all was Kerry photographer Paudie Healy (Padraighealy.com, @Healy_Photo), alongside videographer Carlos Felix and content creator Katie Marie Phonography, who ensured every moment was preserved from every angle.

Paudie completely understood what we wanted, says Aisling. He just got the feel of the day  nothing forced, just natural moments and beautiful light. His imagery reflects the same tone as the wedding itself: cinematic, stylish, and grounded in real emotion.

Aisling Brennan. Pictures: Padraig Healy Photography
People will die unless fuel protests end urgently, Kevin McPartlan, CEO of Fuels for Ireland told the Irish Examiner on Saturday evening.

Despite the partial reopening of Whitegate oil refinery, the fuel situation across the country continues to deteriorate, he said.

Approximately 1,000 of the country's 1,600 service stations may be empty tonight, he said.

If everything went back to normal tonight, were still 10 days away from having normal supply.

Well still have 10 days of forecourts with no or limited supply.

Tomorrow that will be worse again.

By Monday evening, we will not be able to guarantee fuel anywhere in the country."

The restrictions on fuel are now down to "a failure of policing", he said.

Were a coupe of days from garda cars not having fuel," Mr McPartlan said.

People are going to die because ambulances cant get to them. It could have happened already.

The first 12 vehicles to refuel at a service station in Limericks city after it was restocked recently were ambulances, he said.

And panic buying is compounding the problem across the country.

Fuels for Ireland CEO Kevin McPartlan. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

Seven fuel trucks have now left Whitegate oil refinery with another 10 approximately due to leave shortly, Mr McPartlan said.

After that, fuel trucks in the single digits will leave the east Cork oil refinery tonight.

This will mean that approximately 20 fuel trucks will have left Whitegate today. That number is usually nearer to 200 daily, he said.

And Foynes and Galway [terminals] are still locked down," Mr McPartlan said.

Where we usually have about 800 [fuel] trucks [delivering] a day, we today probably have about 220, including the ones from Whitegate.

Were not stopping the crisis, were slowing it down very marginally. What we actually need is the gardai to step up and ensure that there can be complete, unhindered access to Whitegate, Foynes and Galway. And once the trucks have got out of those facilities, that they can move on roads unhindered as well. Slow moving fuel protest convoys across the country are having a huge impact on the fuel supply, he said.

"It's no good just getting trucks out, we have to make sure they can get where they're trying to go.

"But we see on social media protestors talking about how to block or slow traffic at key junctions."

Only about half of the normal fuel deliveries from Dublin port is getting through due to traffic restrictions. Fuel deliveries through the port supply approximately half of the countrys fuel. Although there is no blockade at the port, traffic restrictions are hugely limiting what is getting through to service stations from there, he said.

Protesters take part in a blockade at a fuel depot in Foynes, Co Limerick.

He urged people not to buy fuel unless it was critical.

"We need to make sure emergency services and critical services can get their fuel," he said.

Panic buying is compounding the problem. We need to appeal to people to have some patience while we catch up.

People see a few trucks leave Whitegate and think this is over. Its not. Its not improving, its still deteriorating.

You have about one quarter of normal delivery ability with about five or six times the normal demand.

So whenever you fill somewhere thats out of stock, you quickly run out there again.

Tense scenes between gardai and fuel price protesters at Cork's Whitegate oil refinery on on Saturday. Picture: Larry Cummins

People realise you can get fuel there and rush to panic buy."

Irelands south and the west coast are still the worst affected areas. But a contagion caused by panic buying has now led to fuel shortages across the country, especially in Leinster, Mr McPartlan said.

The State's response has been "lackadaisical", he said.

"Its insane that gardai have not gotten control of this situation," Mr McPartlan said.

Garda Commissioner: Blockades 'not legitimate form of protest

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said in a statement this evening that gardai have worked hard since Tuesday "to minimise disruption caused to the citizens of the country".

"Despite this, some people have decided to escalate an already difficult situation by blockading critical national infrastructure such as fuel depots and refineries.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly speaking to the media at Garda Headquarters om Dublin on Saturday. Cillian Sherlock/PA Wire

"This has resulted in fuel shortages that are directly impacting on emergency services such as hospitals, the ambulance service, and the fire service, as well as businesses and the general public," Mr Kelly said.

"These are blockades. They are not a legitimate form of protest.

They are illegal activity that is endangering our State.

These blockades have put gardai in "an invidious position" of having to deploy public order units to ensure that hospitals can function, fires can be responded to, and people can be brought to hospital, he said.

"We never want to do this, but the blockaders have left us with no choice.

"We gave the blockaders fair warning that we were moving to enforcement and they choose to ignore it and continue to hold the country to ransom."

Gardai moved to restore fuel supplies in Whitegate on Saturday, which involved making multiple arrests, he said.

Further such operations will follow, he said.

"Blockaders must immediately cease blockades of critical infrastructure and road networks or face the full rigours of the law," he said.

He commended gardai for their work and thanked the Defence Forces for their support.
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 cafe owned by the partner of the CEO of the blocked Foynes Port wrote "shame on the government" as it posted about delivering food to protesters blocking motorways.

Pat Keating, the CEO of Shannon Foynes Port Company, is also a director of Seventeen Square Catering Ltd, which trades as Delish Cafes, alongside his partner Evelyn Raftery.

Delish has two cafes in Limerick, with branches in Raheen and Castletroy. The website notes that it was set up by Ms Raftery and a friend in April 2004.

A now-edited post on Delish Cafes Facebook page accused the Government of being all take and no talk.

Shame on the Irish Government for failing to communicate and be respectful to these guys, the post read.

These people are a voice for the small businesses, individual traders and the average squeezed Irish citizen.

It continued: I wish them success and I truly hope that the Irish government listens and engages with them to help get a resolution for all.

The video shows two women driving a Delish van dropping hot tea and sammiches for these hardworking men of Ireland.

The song Eye of the Tiger plays in the background as the camera shows the workers dropping food to tractors and lorries parking on the road.

Directorship searches for Seventeen Square Catering Ltd shows the company has two directors. These are Evelyn Raftery and Patrick Vincent Keating, with an address listed in Kildimo, Co Limerick.

Pat Keating, with the same Kildimo address and date of birth, is listed as a company director for Shannon Foynes Port Company.

A spokesperson for Foynes Port did not respond to requests for comment.

Mr Keating has been CEO of Shannon Foynes Port Company since 2008. He previously worked as its Financial Controller.

Delish was contacted for comment last night.

The entrance of Foynes Port in Limerick has been blocked since Tuesday evening as part of ongoing fuel protests that have impacted the delivery of fuel into the country and led to some garage forecourts running out of petrol and diesel.

The Government has urged protesters to step back from the brink and remove their blockades from Foynes, Galway Harbour, and Whitegate Oil Refinery in Cork.

On Friday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin warned that Ireland was on the precipice of having to turn oil away from the country due to blockades.
Garda commissioner Justin Kelly has declared a "national exceptional event" over the fuel protests and is deploying gardai to deal with the emergency.

As part of this, the Gardas two water cannons have been scrambled with one dispatched to the Southern Region to cover events at Whitegate Oil Refinery in East Cork, Foynes Port in Co Limerick, and Rosslare Port in Co Wexford.

The Irish Examiner understands the water cannon has arrived in Cork city. Its positioning means it can be deployed at short notice.

Garda HQ has declared the current blockades at critical national infrastructure  primarily the fuel depots at Whitegate, Foynes and Galway  to be a National Exceptional Event.

As part of this the Garda Working Time Directive can be set aside and the planned rosters changed in order to deal with a national emergency.

In this situation gardai nationally can be deployed for a period up to 48-72 hours, anywhere in the country.

The second water cannon is remaining in Dublin. In addition to the ports in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Rosslare, other emergency situations include OConnell Street, the M50, three to four blockades on the N4, one on the M8 and other protests on roads in Athlone and Tullamore.

The situations are listed in other of priority. Whitegate is understood to be close to the top of the list.

It is understood that there is grave concern at the level of fuel supplies in the country.

While Dublin Port has not yet been hit it is understood that much of its fuel supplies go to Dublin Airport.
THERE is a reason why photographer Michelle McCormack hopes her phone doesnt ring.

It is because it could mean a baby has just died.

But as a volunteer for the charity Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS Ireland), she also sees it as a chance for her to help grieving parents.

While she runs her own newborn photography business Little Milestones Photography, in Cork, she is on a nationwide roster of volunteer photographers who will, if requested, provide professional photography services to grieving parents. This can be anything from taking black and white photographs at the bedside in the hospital to enhancing old photos the parents themselves have taken of their babies when they died.

Awareness of NILMDTS Irish branch has grown steadily since it was officially launched in 2015. The charity offers what it describes as a free gift of remembrance photograph. to families who have experienced the loss of a baby around the time of birth.

While covid effectively put paid to the work of the charity due to the restrictions on who could visit, it has built itself back and, to date, it has helped more than 1,000 families.

Increasingly, HSE hospitals will provide contact details for NILMDTS Ireland when helping parents with access to various services for parents enduring the loss of their baby.

The charity originates from America, where it was set up by Cherly Haggard, whose son was born on February 4, 2005, with a condition that prevented him from breathing, swallowing, or moving on his own. He lived for six days, and her husband Mike arranged for professional photographer Sandy Puc to come and take photos of the couple cradling their son on his last day.

Those images now hang on the walls of their home alongside their other children.

The experience led Cheryl to form Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep with Sandy in 2005.

Volunteer photographer Michelle McCormack beside a photo a nurse took of her daughter Caoimhe before NILMDTS Ireland was established. Picture: Michelle McCormack/NILMDTS Ireland.

As well as being trained in how to deal with grieving families, many of the charitys volunteers are also parents who experienced baby loss.

One of their new dispatchers, for example, is Lisa Duffy.

Herself and husband Mels baby boy Luke was stillborn at Portlaoise Hospital on October 29, 2018, and shortly after his inquest in 2022, she started advocating for Safer Births Ireland, which she co-founded.

After leaving the group last summer, she started volunteering as a dispatcher for NILMDTS Ireland. Lisa said: Although I am not as much involved in advocacy work as I was, I try to find ways to help families like my own on the paths they take after baby loss.

NILMDTS Ireland is such a wonderful charity that helps parents create something that celebrates the memory of their baby and helps them to cherish it.

Board chairperson Anne Marie Gillooley, whose first son Max died on January 12, 2015, when she was 42 weeks pregnant, said: Awareness of the charity is growing as people are becoming more comfortable with the idea.

In a lot of cases, these parents have been planning christenings and other wonderful things for their baby and then the next, they suddenly planning a funeral.

There is so much mental gymnastics going on.

But when you are in that situation, your option is to have the fear of forgetting how beautiful and perfect your baby was or to have beautiful, gentle images of them.

Its a very different thing looking in from the outside than it is being in that situation and realising that with all the sadness and grief, you feel just overwhelming love as well.

Katie Quilligan and partner Shane's baby Andrew at CUMH after he passed on February 24. Born prematurely, he lived for two hours and 58 minutes. Picture: Michelle McCormack/NILMDTS Ireland.

Like Lisa and Ann-Marie, Michelle knows about baby loss. She was just short of 38 weeks pregnant with her first child, Caoimhe, when she suddenly stopped kicking, and her GP confirmed he couldnt find a heart beat.

She was sent to hospital, where they confirmed after a scan that Caoimhe had died and she was stillborn the following day, on February 10, 2007.

Myself and my husband were absolutely devastated, she recalled. It was just a complete and utter shock to us.

To this day, they have no idea what happened and even the results of Caoimhes post-mortem were inconclusive.

The hospital had a proper bereavement service already set up and with the most wonderful bereavement midwives.

They were amazing and while we were not offered the services of a professional photographer at the time, the nurses did take a few photographs for us.

So, we had her little hand and footprint and three photographs, which now hang in frames alongside my other three children.

Every year on her birthday, well just do a little family day and well go to the beach, or we might go for a meal or something and thats our own little quiet way of celebrating her and remembering her.

She added: Once you have a baby, they are still your baby, and its your first time meeting them.

They may have passed but you still look at them and think oh, my God, they look like so and so.

I suppose with your hormones and everything, youre still in a bubble of, oh my God, I cant believe I had this baby and look at her, she looks perfect.

In that moment, youre trying to capture as much as you can, and youre in a place of pure love and disbelief.

It just seemed completely natural for me to take photos of her.

I wanted to remember every moment I had with her and so when I see her photo, I remember the love and the grief.

Katie Quilligan, with Baby Andrew at CUMH after he passed on February 24. Born prematurely, he lived for two hours and 58 minutes. Picture: Michelle McCormack/NILMDTS Ireland.

One of Michelles clients is Katie Quilligan, a 33-year-old mother of three.

She has suffered the loss of three newborn babies, James in 2020, Scarlett in 2024, and Andrew just four weeks ago.

The charity wasnt around when Scarlett was born but Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) nurses arranged for a photographer for me for James, she recalled.

I was all over the place for obvious reasons but I am so glad I had his photos done.

Four weeks ago, she gave birth to twins at 26 weeks, again at CUMH, but sadly one of them  Andrew  died.

Speaking from the hospital, where his sister Alexis is being cared for in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, she said: Because they did such a great job with James, I got them to photograph Andrew with Alexis, which is not just a memory for us but also for his sister when she grows up.

I cannot recommend the service enough as I can now look back, when I see my babies photos and I can see them whenever I want.

Baby loss robs you of so many experiences you planned to have, Ann Marie added.

She recently went to a hospital where she was due to take a photograph for the family of a baby who had just died.

As she entered the room, she noticed the babys mother doing her hair and putting some makeup on.

It struck me that she was having that moment of being able to dress up and present herself as her babys mother, she said.

She wanted to have one of those many experiences that had been taken away from her with the loss of her baby.

This is what we do for families.

It is to help them celebrate the birth of their baby and to leave them with a memory they will cherish for the rest of their lives.
Shoes on the Danube Bank is one of the most thought-provoking and evocative pieces of public art I have ever seen.

As the title suggests, it is a display of some 60 pairs of shoes, cast in iron, which are scattered along the river embankment in Budapest to commemorate the thousands of Hungarian Jews who were ordered to remove their footwear before being shot and thrown in the water by members of the fascist Arrow Cross militia in 1944.

The guidebooks explain the context  the Nazi occupation of Hungary during the Second World War  and tell us that the memorial, installed in 2005, was the joint work of Hungarian sculptor Gyula Pauer and filmmaker Can Togay.

The visceral response to it, however, has to be witnessed in person.

The mind reaches for that expression  to truly know a person you must walk a mile in their shoes  but it cant possibly begin to understand the last terror-filled moments of those wearing the battered boots, wedges, and sling-backs left behind on the bank.

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

The punch holes and eyelets on a pair of Oxford lace-ups are so realistically rendered that you can almost imagine the stockinged feet that once stepped out of them. What did that man endure in his final moments?

A pair of tiny boots conjures up a horror too awful to contemplate, although this consciousness-raising art installation does indeed jolt people into a kind of contemplation.

Flowers, candles, and handwritten notes have been placed in the shoes; baby steps across the bridge of time to our shared humanity.

In a very different context, the displays of red shoes which have come to represent the women killed by gender-based violence have the same chilling effect.

Just last month, in the Romanian capital of Bucharest, several pairs of red shoes lined the steps of the citys concert hall to draw attention to the fact that about one woman a week has been killed in that country each week in 2026.

That has particular resonance here at a time when the media is running articles entitled: Why is Northern Ireland the UKs most dangerous place to be a woman?

Indeed, the red shoes campaign, first created by Mexican visual artist Elina Chauvet in 2009, has been used to great effect here and in several countries around the world.

As Chauvet has said in interviews, her installation was intended as a call to conscience to honour the hundreds  perhaps thousands  of women who disappeared, were tortured, and then murdered in Juarez, a city on the Mexico-US border, during the 1990s and 2000s.

Her artwork was so evocative that the march for solidarity has been replicated all over the world.

Council plans

The power of public monuments to shake us from our daily sleepwalk through the cityscape came to mind during the week with the happy  and oh so long-awaited  news that Dublin City Council has finally approved a monument on OConnell St to honour Irish women of the revolutionary period.

It is, according to reports, to be situated between the Spire and the James Larkin statue, erected in front of the GPO.

As councillor Donna Cooney, the chair of the councils commemorations and naming committee, reminded us: There are no statues to women whatsoever on OConnell St and very few in Dublin except for fictional characters.

On an aside, can you name the statues of the *six men featured on the capitals main thoroughfare? No Googling now.

Heres a hint. One of them also has a statue on St Patrick Street in Cork although, unlike the Dublin version, he is not missing a thumb.

Having outstretched arms is certainly dramatic, but it leaves limbs vulnerable  as has proven to be the case when a football fan during the fever of Italia 90 celebrations apparently clambered on to said statue and, inadvertently, broke the good mans thumb.

The thumb is now safe in the Little Museum of Dublin, but how it got there is a story for another day.

I will reveal, though, that the man in question is temperance campaigner Fr Theobald Mathew.

Heres another piece of interesting trivia: His monument was sculpted by a woman, Tipperary native Mary Redmond, one of the few female sculptors to win a public commission in the 19th century.

The line-up of statues on OConnell St might look impenetrably male but, if you scratch the surface, youll find women involved at so many different levels. In other words: The story of Irish history in a nutshell

Now, at last, some of those women will be remembered in a 1m project designed to bring a new monument to the city centre.

But you have to ask: Do we really need another statue on a plinth; a piece of granite raised high above the consciousness of the ordinary people passing below it? Or a Molly Malone-type installation open to the indignity of groping hands?

(On a recent outing, I saw that tourists  perhaps a few homebirds too  have beaten a path through the box-hedged encasement that is supposed to protect her.)

Perhaps it is time to consider a public monument at street level like the one in Budapest or the various iterations of the red shoe campaigns.

Those powerful works came to mind this week too because shoes, or rather the ones so famously erased from history, once stood near the spot earmarked for the proposed new monument.

They belonged to Elizabeth OFarrell, a nurse, Cumann na mBan member, and coincidentally great-grandaunt of Cooney. OFarrell was beside Padraig Pearse when he surrendered after the Easter Rising of 1916.

Her feet were visible in the first photograph published by the Daily Sketch, but all trace of her was edited out in subsequent editions.

Some say this was because compositors thought the extra pair of feet confusing. In any event, the photo came to symbolise the airbrushing of women and their involvement in all aspects of life from history.

It is also true that OFarrell said she had deliberately stepped out of the photo herself, but she said later that she regretted it when she saw the manner in which women and their contributions were overlooked in the State.

Elizabeth OFarrell was beside Padraig Pearse when he surrendered after the Easter Rising of 1916. All trace of her was edited out in subsequent editions of the 'Daily Sketch'

Happily, OFarrell has since been publicly restored to history. On International Womens Day 2021, artist Sinead Guckians painting Her Surrender  which changes the angle to put her at the centre of the image  was unveiled in the Seanad.

At the time, senators said they hoped the painting rectified, in a very small way, the historic wrong done to her.

How, though, do you rectify the myriad wrongs and decades-long sin of omission that have been perpetrated against women of the revolutionary period from early 1900s to the Civil War and far beyond?

Well, I suppose you start with one step. And here it is. That step. Lets hope it will be one that brings the life, work, and experiences of these forgotten women closer to the people. And one that reflects movement and agency.

Perhaps an artist will consider a monument showing Maire Comerford, head to the wind on a bicycle, as she cycled through gunfire to dispatch messages during the Civil War?

The Sinn Fein, Cumann na mBan, and White Cross member later said, with some amusement, how one outraged cinematographer filming on what was then Sackville St felt she had ruined his shot.

That girl, he declared, has ruined my picture. Ive risked my life for nothing, for no one will believe that serious fighting is taking place if a girl cycles through the thick of it.

She added that she hoped his ruined shot was still in some forgotten vault of rejected out-takes. Now wouldnt it be quite something if we could rescue that rejected out-take and put it back on the street where the action took place?
A light rain began to fall as Captain Eva Houlihan stepped forward with the Proclamation. She unfurled the parchment there in front of the GPO and read it in full, just as Padraig Pearse had 110 years ago. Irishmen and Irishwomen, in the name of God and of the dead generations from which she receives her old tradition of nationhood, Ireland, through us, summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom.

The ceremony last Sunday on the hallowed site of the 1916 Rising was tastefully conducted with due solemnity. There was the usual sense of poignancy about it concerning the leaders. Their sacrifice was the defining feature of the Rising, awakening among the public the sense of outrage and patriotism that propelled the country towards independence, or at least the degree of it that was achievable.

They had acted without any popular support and instead drew their legitimacy from the dead generations. Such a premise for starting a conflict may be dodgy, all things being equal, but it occurred during an imperial age against an occupier which derived its own legitimacy through the barrel of a gun. So it was back then.

Just over 48 hours after the Easter ceremony last weekend there was another gathering at the GPO. This was, in some ways, symbolic of where the century-old democracy that was conceived in 1916 is now at.

OConnell Street was blockaded with tractors and trucks as part of a countrywide protest against ballooning fuel prices. Main arteries and points at centres in Cork, Limerick, Galway and large towns were all brought to a standstill. For the greater part, the protestors were agricultural contractors, farmers and hauliers.

Tractors and trucks parked outside the GPO during a blockade of O'Connell Street on Tuesday. Picture: Eamonn Farrell / RollingNews.ie

Those attending were obviously highly frustrated and of the opinion that long-standing democratic mechanisms have not served their cause. As a result, they invoked their power, through their vehicles, to bring cities and main arteries to a standstill.

One of their apparent leaders, John Dallon, repeatedly stated on media they were representing the Irish people. We are speaking for the people of the island of Ireland, he told RTE's Morning Ireland. We have a voice. This veers close to being ridiculous. The protestors are speaking for themselves, self-employed businesspeople who are, like many other sectors, under enormous pressure, most acutely due to the war in Iran.

At the GPO on Tuesday, a truck was fashioned into a makeshift stage. Various politicians from Sinn Fein, Independent Ireland and Aontu spoke. Two independent councillors were also given a platform. Gavin Pepper represents Finglas in Dublin City, not known as a farming stronghold. He has been described as a far-right activist. His appearance was, to say the least, incongruous.

The other was Tom McDonnell, an independent councillor from Kildare. He mentioned the fuel crisis but then he revved up in a different direction. All those Ipas centres want to be emptied straight out. That got one of the more enthusiastic responses from the crowd of 300 or so.

He went on: This was the most beautiful city in the world. Up in that square [he was pointing towards Parnell Square], three children were stabbed. We have to get these people out of the country. this city belongs to us. It doesnt belong to them up in the Dail. They are just passing through. Its time to get them out. That equally got a response. The incident he referenced is before the courts.

Trucks and tractors continue to block O'Connell Street on Friday as the fuel protest enters the fourth day. Picture: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

Protests of this nature are now a magnet for far-right and even populist right activists. Online, the usual accounts were all over the protests, amplifying division, casting themselves as allies of the people of Ireland, summoning her children to the flag, or at least the hijacked interpretation of the flag that has been at large of late.

That is not to suggest the bulk of protestors subscribe to far-right philosophy, but equally, such a gathering not so long ago would have been a magnet for politicians of the left. That has changed.

In the media, spokespeople for the protestors suggested the State should take care of their own and not send money to places like Ukraine, a fellow democratic European country that would be delighted if the most pressing issue faced was an increase in the price of fuel, rather than surviving being bombed.

Where once such protests tended to kick up at the comfortable, this one was more focused with kicking down at those most in need.

Had the protest ended with a days disruption of the capital, and even the country at large, it would have been an entirely legitimate expression of extreme frustration. Instead, it morphed into a blockade.

The self-styled representative of the people of Ireland decided to restrict the movements of the rest of the people of Ireland, irrespective of how urgent the latters journey may be. They went further through restricting access to fuel by blockading the refinery at Whitegate and other facilities.

The message was clear. The demands of the protestors supercede the needs of everybody else, as if they and they alone are enduring the most harrowing struggles right now.

A blockade outside the GPO on Thursday night. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins

On the airwaves, the leaders absolved themselves of any responsibility for missed appointments for cancer patients or other emergency journeys. Its not my responsibility, its the Governments responsibility, spokesperson James Geoghegan said of the protest in which he was a leader.

On Thursday, John Dallon even said he had no responsibility for the blockade at Whitegate. This from a man who claimed to speak for not just the protestors but the people of Ireland.

The Government, as is often the case these days, was tone deaf. Anybody could have told Jim OCallaghan that threatening to bring in the army, without actually doing so, would simply heighten resolve rather than prompt fear.

On RTE radio, communications minister Patrick ODonovan repeatedly referenced those at the apex of the protest as ringleaders. Again, the tough guy rhetoric was misplaced.

At least the Taoiseach had the cop-on to abandon plans for a trade mission to Canada, which had it happened would have invited political peril.

This is where things are at this point in the evolution of the democracy first conceived on the steps of the GPO. Some of the deep-rooted problems that dogged the State for the first 70 years of its existence have been tackled. Now, different issues are coming to the fore in the midst of global upheaval.

The fuel protestors have used their physical power, as expressed through their vehicles, to disrupt, and in some cases even endanger, the public in an attempt to hold the Government to ransom. That is a new departure. A proportionate response to their legitimate grievance is forgone in an environment where the big, populist gesture is the be all and end all.

Social media is used to inflame emotion and spread misinformation to the point where they claim with a straight face that they are representing the people of Ireland.

Ultimately, the only winners from these actions are those who desperately want to sow the kind of division and resentment that is now a mainstay of politics in many other countries.
Spanish PM urges EU to suspend Association Agreement with Israel

Xinhua) 09:45, April 11, 2026

MADRID, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday called on the European Union (EU) to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel, given its continued bombardment of Lebanon and actions in Gaza.

"We must not allow another Gaza in Lebanon," Sanchez was quoted by the Spanish news agency Agencia EFE as saying. Europe must act in the face of Israel's "flagrant violations of international humanitarian law," he noted.

The Association Agreement, which has been in force since 2000 to provide the legal basis for the EU's trade relationship with Israel, should be suspended "for the sake of consistency and also empathy," as Israel "tramples and violates" many of the articles of the agreement, Sanchez said, adding that "Spain is prepared to take this step along with many other European countries."

The Spanish leader also called for the creation of a European army "not in 10 years, not in two years, but now," in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to leave NATO.

Earlier in the day, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares also criticized the Israeli attacks in Lebanon, saying "the level of violence, the violation of international law and international human rights by Israel, is unacceptable."

Sanchez made his comments after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday accused Spain of waging a "diplomatic war" with Israel.

According to the World Health Organization and other humanitarian agencies on Thursday, Israel's attacks on Lebanon have killed more than 1,700 people and left nearly 6,000 injured. Over 1 million people, around a fifth of the country's population, have been displaced.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
On Tuesday, as Donald Trump was threatening to end one civilisation, his deputy was in Budapest, attempting to save another.

What the United States and Hungary together represent under Viktors [Orban] leadership and under president Trumps leadership is the defence of Western civilisation, JD Vance told a rally.

As bombastic Trumpian rhetoric goes, this was nothing special. But Vances presence in Hungary, ahead of Sunday's crucial general election, did signify another plunge in the status of the USA as the alleged leader of the so-called "free world".

Traditionally, the US administration has never interfered in foreign elections through its leaders. Desperation this week forced Trump to dispatch Vance to attempt to prop up Orbans faltering campaign for re-election.

For Orban  the prototype autocratic Western leader  is in trouble, and both Russia and the Trump White House are doing all they can to ensure he maintains his iron grip on power.

Orban has been prime minister of Hungary for 16 years. Like Trump, this was a second coming as he had previously led for a three-year term. Since 2010, he has systemically implemented an authoritarian regime.

He recognised early on that a free media would be an impediment, so he used the law, wealthy supporters, and regulatory powers to exercise near complete control. Today, an estimated 80% of the media in the country is openly pro-government.

His party, Fidesz, is thought to have control over much of the public service, the courts, and a chunk of the economy. Concerns have repeatedly been expressed at EU level about the independence of the judiciary. There is a general wariness about expressing opinions contrary to the government. Minorities have been targeted, including the LGBT+ community.

For Orban, the prototype autocratic Western leader, is in trouble, and both Russia and the Trump White House are doing all they can to ensure he maintains his iron grip on power.

In all this, he has managed to craft the perfect society for an autocrat  but with the added bonus of a veneer of democracy and, crucially, skilfully achieved as a member of the EU. Its no wonder that Trump looks at him through envious eyes but also as a crucial ally in an EU he is determined to weaken if not destroy.

The Americans are not the only ones who covet his role as a disruptor in the EU. Consistently, Orban has used his countrys veto to attempt to curtail any assistance that Brussels wants to give Ukraine in defending itself against the Russians. Last week, controversy blew up when it was revealed that the Hungarian administration leaked details of EU meetings to Moscow.

Orban is a Trojan horse for the Kremlin in the European Union, Euronews correspondent Shona Murray told the Irish Examiner.

There is simply no other way of looking at it.

Last week, The Washington Post reported that the Russians suggested to Orban that he stage a fake assassination attempt as a ruse to sway voters in his favour.

As such, Orban is in a unique historic position in global politics in that both the US and Russian administrations badly want him to maintain power because he serves both their interests.

Rebuilding relationships

Naturally, most of this is anathema to the EU which, whatever its faults, still attempts to uphold democratic norms. Most member states would like to see the back of Orban, and attempt to rebuild a steadier relationship with his successor.

Ejecting Hungary from the union is not something that appeals to many. In any event, it would be extremely difficult. Murray points out that all other 26 states would have to agree to such an ejection, and there has always been at least one that is unwilling to have the country thrown out because of Orbans attack on democracy. That scenario is unlikely to change anything soon.

One vignette last year involving the Taoiseach reflected the general view among most other EU states. In an interview, Micheal Martin stated that the veto mechanism in the EU was being abused by Hungary. Martin called on the union to take action or the union could become dysfunctional.

Orban responded on X, mentioning a love story between Irish and Hungarian patriots and asking Martin not to ruin it.

We Hungarians have always regarded Irish patriots as champions of freedom and national independence, he posted. For that reason, he said it is always shocking when we see that an Irish patriot chooses to stand on the side of an empire instead of national sovereignty.

The response was typical Orban, stepping around the reality that he was standing with the dictator Vladimir Putin against a Ukraine attempting desperately to maintain its national sovereignty.

So why is such an autocrat, with near complete control over his country, in danger of not being re-elected? Because, as with all the current breed of right-wing populists, his steerage of the economy has been a disaster. While growth stagnates and unemployment and emigration rise, a small group at the top of society have been rolling in the money.

No prizes for guessing that most of these are either related to or linked to the prime minister. In this respect, Trump has in the last two years merely fastened onto Orbans recipe for corruptly ransacking an economy.

The result is that a large chunk of the electorate is tiring of the hard-man image projected by Orban, no longer buying his rhetoric that foreign elements, immigrants, and minorities are to blame for the sluggish economy.

Opposition leader Peter Magyar promises change, particularly in relation to corruption. Picture: Denes Erdos/AP

As a result, Orbans party is now 10 points behind in the opinion polls to the opposition, led by former Orban acolyte Peter Magyar. His party, Tisza, is a centre-right entity, which promises change  particularly in relation to corruption.

Orbans response has been to run what journalist and author Anne Applebaum has described as the first post-reality political campaign. This involves projecting his opponents as effective foreign agents and reprobates, but doing so based on absolutely nothing at all.

One central tenet of this is to disseminate the ludicrous threat that if Orban is not re-elected to defend the country, it will be invaded by guess who?

According to Applebaum in a piece in The Atlantic magazine, Orban is avoiding domestic issues and running a campaign backed by Russian propagandists, the European far right, and now the Trump administration directing a small fortunes of posters and social media videos toward a different goal: Convincing Hungarians to fear sabotage, thievery, or even a military attack from  Ukraine.

Sense of desperation

The threat isnt just false, but ludicrous. As if Ukraine, attempting to join the EU and under daily attack from Russia, was going to invade another EU country. Yet there is a sense of desperation about it, with Orban so behind in the opinion polls. So it was that somebody sent for the cavalry, and it arrived in Budapest this week in the form of JD Vance.

In a two-day trip, he did all he could to bolster the electoral fortunes of Trumps great friend. Contributing to the post-reality content of the campaign, Vance at one point even posited that the EU was interfering in the election. The US vice president, in town to interfere in the election, kept a straight face as he conveyed that particular theory.

Will you stand against the bureaucrats in Brussels? he asked a rally. Will you stand for Western civilisation? Will you stand for freedom, truth, and the God of our fathers?

Then, my friends, go to the polls and stand for Viktor Orban.

The intervention could be crucial in winning voters to Orban or, as is equally likely, in eliciting resentment at such blatant foreign interference.

One way or the other, Hungary will be on a new road after Sunday's election. Either Viktor Orban continues to be a Trojan horse for not just Putin but also Trump within the EU, or Hungary  and by extension the union  will be starting out on a brand new day.
The Artemis II, and the four astronauts aboard the Orion space capsule, splashed down into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on Friday night, with all four astronauts in good health.

53 years ago, humanity left the moon. This time we return to stay. Let us finish what they started. Let us focus on what was left undone. Let us not go to plant flags and leave, but to stay with firmness in our purpose, with gratitude for the hands who built the machines and with love for the ones that we carry with us, Nasas associate administrator Amit Kshatriya said at the late-night press conference after the astronauts landed.

The spacecraft touched down at 5.07pm (1.07am BST) making the journey around the moon and back officially 9 days 1hr and 32min. The Orion spacecraft traveled 694,481 miles (1,117,659km), Nasa said. Despite barely passing a ninth day, it will be recorded officially as a 10-day mission because blast-off day was treated as flight day one.

Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Christina Koch of Nasa, and the Canadian Space Agencys Jeremy Hansen, have just become the first humans to travel to the moon, and return to Earth safely, since the crew of Apollo 17 in December 1970.

They join an exclusive club of just 24 other humans who have travelled to the moon and returned safely to Earth.

As the Orion capsule descended below 17,000 miles from the planets surface, Wiseman gave a description of the Earth as it came into view. Theres a great blue hue to it. Its beautiful, he said.

Artemis II may have splashed down, but our photos and videos from the mission are still rolling in! Keep an eye on the latest: https://t.co/rzM1P0QbOl pic.twitter.com/HahXb0gCYC  NASA (@NASA) April 11, 2026

Sean Quinn, Nasas exploration ground systems manager, said he had taken a phone call from Wiseman as he awaited the start of Friday nights briefing: It was so great to hear his voice and tell us that all the crew is OK, and we could say that we did our mission. We accomplished what we set out to do.

Read More Artemis astronauts describe lunar voyage as surreal ahead of Earth return

After landing in the Pacific Ocean, a recovery crew from the USS John P Murtha stood ready to retrieve the Artemis crew, pulling up in boats to an inflatable porch attached to Orions hatch. Crew members were then assessed by navy personnel and transferred to the navy ship by helicopter.

Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman, speaking from the deck of the USS John P Murtha while waiting for the astronauts to arrive, said of the team: Our crew members that weve all had an opportunity to observe over the last 10 days, theyre absolutely professional astronauts, wonderful communicators, almost poets. These were the ambassadors from humanity to the stars that we sent out there right now.

This is not a once in a lifetime, which you hear sometimes around here. No, its not. This is just the beginning. We are going to get back into doing this with frequency, sending missions to the moon until we land on it in 2028 and start building our base.

There is a lot to celebrate right now on the mission well accomplished for Artemis II, and at the same time weve got to start getting ready for Artemis III.

Nasa has proven it can once again send humans safely to and from cislunar space, the void between Earth and its nearest celestial body, and will build on the knowledge gained to further propel the Artemis program towards a scheduled crewed moon landing in 2028, 56 years after the last.

In this image from video provided by NASA, the Artemis II Orion capsule, right, separates from the service module above the Earth in preparation for splash down in the Pacific Ocean, on Friday, April 10, 2026. (NASA via AP)

The rest of humanity, meanwhile, appeared to come together for a rare moment of unity to enjoy stunning video footage and high-resolution images of the lunar surface  and Earth from afar  as well as some profound and heartfelt words from usually unsentimental astronauts as they described what they were seeing.

I just had an overwhelming sense of being moved by looking at the moon, the Nasa astronaut Christina Koch said of her first impressions of Orions closest approach on Monday, 4,067 miles (6,545km) above the lunar surface.

It lasted just a second or two and I actually couldnt even make it happen again, but something just threw me in suddenly to the lunar landscape and it became real.

The moon really is its own unique body in the universe. When we have that perspective and we compare it to our home of the Earth, it just reminds us how much we have in common. Everything we need, the Earth provides, and that, in and of itself, is somewhat of a miracle.

In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this view as the Earth sets behind the Moon during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. (NASA via AP)

Koch became the only woman to have travelled to the moon and back during a mission of firsts. Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency became the first non-American. Victor Glover, the Artemis II pilot, became the first person of color to do so.

Collectively, with the mission commander, Wiseman, the four travelled farther from Earth than any human before them, reaching 252,756 miles, more than 4,000 beyond the previous record set by the Apollo 13 crew in April 1970.

It was not all plain sailing during their 695,000-mile voyage. Orions glitchy toilet in a capsule the size of a small camper van malfunctioned more than once, necessitating the temporary deployment of urine collection bags and inflight repairs from Koch in her alternative role of plumber.

There were moments of fun. The crew enjoyed an egg hunt of sorts on Easter Sunday, trying to find packets of dehydrated scrambled eggs hidden around the spacecraft. A plushie named Rise  the missions official mascot designed by eight-year-old California second-grader Lucas Ye, appeared regularly on camera during crew press conferences.

Artemis 2 followed a figure-8-shaped path that sent astronauts around the Moon before returning them to Earth.

Probably the most emotional episode came on Monday, when the crew proposed dedicating a previously unnamed moon crater to Carroll Taylor Wiseman, wife of the Artemis II commander and mother of their daughters, Katey and Ellie, who died of cancer in 2020. Hansen struggled to get the words out, prompting tears and hugs among the four.

During the business side of the mission, the astronauts evaluated Orions life support systems, radiation detectors, next-generation spacesuits and tested other operations that will be crucial to future deep-space missions and Nasas longer-term plans for the Artemis program, including an ambitious $20bn moon base to be built within a decade.

The agency sees the first splashdown of a returning moon crew in more than five decades as an important next step. Although not as visually mesmerizing as the fiery 1 April launch from Floridas Kennedy Space Center that sent Artemis II into the heavens, the landing still required a similar level of intricate planning, precision and execution.

Changes to the heat shield after anomalies arose on the uncrewed Artemis I mission of November 2022 gave Nasa confidence that Orion would withstand temperatures up to 5,000F (2,760C) at its 25,000mph re-entry to Earths atmosphere; and mission managers selected a steeper, direct path of re-entry to reduce heat stress.

A succession of deployments of Orions 11 parachutes at various altitudes was designed to slow the spacecraft to 325mph, then 130mph, before the three main chutes, their canopies stretching a combined 80 yards (73 meters), release for a further deceleration to a 17mph splashdown.

Coast Guard and Nasa recovery crews were positioned to cover a landing zone about 550 miles in diameter. After medical checks following hatch opening and a brief stopover at a San Diego military base, the crews next destination is Houstons Johnson Space Center, which they last saw on 27 March, and a reunion with their families.

Nicky Fox, associate administrator of Nasas science mission directorate, summed up the importance and impact of the mission in a briefing with reporters this week.

Our four Artemis II astronauts, Reid, Victor, Christina and Jeremy, took humanity on an incredible journey around the moon and brought back images so exquisite and brimming with science, they will inspire generations to come, she said.

- The Guardian
Russian drone strikes killed at least two people in the Ukrainian city of Odesa overnight into Saturday, local authorities reported, ahead of a proposed ceasefire for Orthodox Easter.

Two more people were wounded in the attack on the Black Sea port city, when drones hit a residential area, damaging apartment buildings, houses and a nursery.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia targeted Ukraine with 160 drones overnight, of which 133 were shot down or intercepted, hours before a proposed Easter ceasefire was due to come into force.

Russias defence ministry said 99 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across Russia and occupied Crimea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday declared a 32-hour ceasefire (Alexander Kazakov/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool/AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday declared a 32-hour ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter weekend, ordering Russian forces to halt hostilities from 4pm Saturday until the end of Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday Ukraine is ready to mirror any ceasefire steps, having earlier proposed to Russia a pause in attacks on each others energy infrastructure over the Orthodox Easter holiday.

Previous ceasefire attempts have had little impact, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday 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.

A possible prisoner exchange over the Easter holiday has also been discussed.

Russias human rights ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova said last week that both sides were working on exchanges of prisoners.

Periodic prisoner exchanges have been one of the few positive outcomes of otherwise fruitless monthslong US-brokered negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.

The talks have delivered no progress on key issues preventing an end to Russias invasion of its neighbour, now in its fifth year.
By Scott Lucas, University College Dublin

(The Conversation) The ceasefire in the Middle East is on shaky ground. Israel continued its bombardment of Lebanon on Wednesday, claiming its activities there are not part of the deal with Iran. These attacks killed at least 254 people across Lebanon and injured over 800 more in what was Israels largest offensive of the war so far.

Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz again and threatened a regret-inducing response if the strikes continue. Donald Trump subsequently warned that US strikes on Iran would resume if it did not comply with the ceasefire. We spoke to Scott Lucas, an expert in Middle East politics at University College Dublin, who addresses several key issues.

Why is there confusion about whether Lebanon was included in the ceasefire?

Part of the problem is the nature of diplomacy in 2026. The Trump camp and Pakistans prime minister, Shahbaz Sharif, who has been a key mediator between the US and Iran since the start of the war, both issued statements on social media instead of coordinating the release of an agreed text.

That said, there should be no confusion. Sharifs social media post made clear that the ceasefire also applies to Israels campaign in Lebanon. He wrote: I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

Trump also accepted that later peace talks in Pakistan would be based on Irans ten-point plan, which he described as a workable basis on which to negotiate. One of Irans demands is for an end to attacks on Iran and its allies. This includes the Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Why then is Israel still attacking Lebanon?

Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, does not have an interest in ending the war until he establishes something he can claim as a victory. Israels objective in Iran is regime change. At the start of the war, Netanyahu announced that the goal of the operation is to put an end to the threat from the Ayatollah regime in Iran.

Trumps goals in Iran are less clear. He entered the war pledging to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, destroy its missile capability, break its regional proxies, eliminate its navy and create an opening for regime change. But Irans regime is still in place and the Trump camp now appears willing to enter into negotiations with it.

So Netanyahus focus shifts to Lebanon and expansion of the Israeli occupation in the south of the country. Attacks will continue until that is achieved. The situation is similar to Gaza, where Israel now occupies 53% of the territory after its two years of attacks.

By presenting a victory over the threat of Hezbollah, pushing the group further from the Israeli border, Netanyahu can try to bolster his support at home despite any disappointment over the inconclusive outcome of the war in Iran.

Will Israels actions push the Gulf states closer to Iran?

For the first time since the start of the US and Israels war on February 28, the Iranian and Saudi Arabian foreign ministers have spoken by phone. In a statement following the call on April 9, the Saudi foreign ministry said the two men reviewed the latest developments and discussed ways to reduce tensions to restore security and stability in the region.

However, this is only a tentative beginning to repair the damage of the past six weeks. Gulf states are unhappy that the US exposed them to Irans retaliation by embarking upon the war, but that does not erase their anger with Tehran over the extent of the damage Iranian attacks have caused to energy infrastructure in the region.

Reports suggest that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have in recent weeks even been pressing the Trump camp to finish the job in Iran with ground operations to vanquish the regime. That option appears to have been paused for now. However, it is not off the table if the US-Iran negotiations collapse.

Where does all of this leave Donald Trump?

Angry, frustrated and uncertain what to do next. Trumps bluster on April 7, in which he said a whole civilization will die tonight unless Iran reached a deal, was always an expression of weakness rather than strength. The plan A for regime surrender, with the killing of the Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei and dozens of commanders and officials, did not have a plan B for when the remaining leaders refused to concede and instead struck back.

With Iran controlling the Strait of Hormuz and choking off Gulf shipping, including of oil and gas, the Trump camp was reduced to either ground operations or talks. Trump snatched at the latter amid military advice of the difficulties of a ground assault and domestic opinion that is largely opposed to further escalation.



Photo of Beirut by Piotr Chrobot on Unsplash

But he did so by handing Iran the diplomatic initiative. Now the White House is trying to pull it back, including by giving Israel the green light to continue its assault in Lebanon. The US is now denying that Lebanon was ever included in the ceasefire deal, with Trump calling it a separate skirmish.

The situation in the Middle East thus remains extremely volatile as delegates from the US and Iran head to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad for crunch talks on April 10.

Scott Lucas, Professor of International Politics, Clinton Institute, University College Dublin

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Montreal (Special to Informed Comment; Feature)  A synagogue is bombed in the middle of Passover. This would be, prima facie, an antisemitic act. Few would argue otherwiseunless, of course, the bombing was carried out by the Israeli Air Force. Many people conflate Jews with Israelis, and Judaism with Zionism. They cannot imagine that Israel would act against Jewsin other words, commit antisemitic acts.

The synagogue in question is in Tehran, home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. Jews have lived in Iran for over two millennia and are no less Iranian than Muslims, Christians, or Zoroastrians. However, for most Israelisand certainly for their governmentIrans Jews are not Iranian. They are seen as belonging to a different nation, for whom the state of Israel ostensibly exists, regardless of the actual attitudes of Jews around the world toward the historical homeland.

The bombing of the Tehran synagogue was not the first antisemitic act committed by Israel. In January 1951, Israeli agents threw a grenade into a synagogue in Baghdad. This was one of a series of acts designed to encourage Jews to leave Iraq and relocate to Israel. Similar provocations against local Jews were organized in Egypt and Morocco. The new Zionist state, which had expelled hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs, needed Jews to fill empty houses and villages. Avi Shlaim, who was five years old when he left Iraq, recalls his mother telling him, Zionism is an Ashkenazi thing. Indeed, Jews in Muslim lands, who lived in far greater peace than their counterparts in Europe, played no part in the emergence of the Zionist movement at the turn of the 20th century. To force them to relocate to Israel, antisemitic acts were deemed a convenient toolstaged for political ends.



Photo by Yakov Rabkin.

Antisemitism, a mutation of European racism and xenophobia, grew in the second half of the 20th century. Theodor Herzl, the founder of political Zionism, recognized that antisemitism could be harnessed to Zionist purposes, since both Zionism and antisemitism sought to rid Europe of its Jews. He wrote in his diary: The antisemites will become our most loyal friends, the antisemitic nations will become our allies. His words proved prophetic. The first instance of imperial support for Zionist colonization of Palestine came in November 1917 from Arthur Balfour, a British politician who a decade earlier had opposed the admission of Russian Jews to his country. It was therefore logical that Edwin Montagu, the only Jew in the British cabinet, denounced Balfours support for Zionism as antisemitic:

I wish to place on record my view that the policy of His Majestys Government is antisememic in result and will prove a rallying ground for antisemites in every country in the world.  Zionism has always seemed to me to be a mischievous political creed, untenable by any patriotic citizen of the United Kingdom.  When the Jews are told that Palestine is their national home  you will find a population in Palestine driving out its present inhabitants, taking all the best in the country

Like Herzl, Montagu uttered prescient words. In the interwar period, Zionists across Europe established cooperation with antisemitic authorities eager to rid their countries of Jews. These included Nazi officials, who treated Zionist organizations in Germany exceptionally well compared to other Jewish institutions. A high-ranking SS functionary even toured Zionist colonies in Palestine in the company of a German Zionist leader. After their visit, the Nazi newspaper *Der Angriff*, founded by Goebbels, published complimentary articles about the Zionist enterprise, and a medal was struck to commemorate the visita swastika on one side, a Star of David on the other.



Photo by Yakov Rabkin.

The Zionists exclusive focus on establishing an ethnic nationalist state in Palestine explains their success in scuttling rescue efforts that could have saved many European Jews by resettling them elsewhere. In 1938, following Kristallnacht, which unleashed physical violence against German Jews, Ben-Gurion said:

If I knew that it was possible to save all the children of Germany by transporting them to England, and only half by transferring them to the Land of Israel, I would choose the latter, for before us lies not only the numbers of these children but the historical reckoning of the people of Israel.

This view of people as human material to be used for the benefit of the Zionist state also explains the antisemitic acts that Zionists committed in Muslim countries in their effort to Judaize Palestine.

Before Zionism harmed Palestinians, it did violence to Jews and their heritage. While other nationalist movementsPolish, Ukrainian, or Lithuaniansought an ethnic state to preserve cultural continuity, Zionism strove to uproot Jews from their traditional culture and language (Yiddish) and create a Muskeljude (muscular Jew): a strong, cynical, brutal individual inspired by Aryan prototypes. The Nazi genocide reinforced the Zionists resolve to rely on naked force to achieve their goals. Thus, Israel has become one of the most militarized societies, committing violent crimes with impunity.

Predictably, Israel is the most dangerous place for Jews. Since the late 19th century, critics of Zionism warned that a Zionist state would become a death trap, endangering both colonizers and colonized alike. For these criticsespecially those outside Israelthe Zionist experiment is a tragic mistake. They argue that the sooner it ends, without harm to its inhabitants, the better for humanity as a whole.

The danger of Zionism to Jews is not only physical but also moral and spiritual. The Zionists claim to Palestine and their behavior contradict drastically the teachings of rabbinic Judaism. Jewish religious opponents of Zionism see the persistent and recurring violence since the foundation of Zionist settlement in Palestine as a consequence of Zionisms radical rupture from two thousand years of Jewish tradition. In this worldview, the physical appropriation of the Holy Land can lead only to perdition. In the words of Rabbi Isaac Breuer: Zionism is the most terrible enemy that has ever arisen to the Jewish nation.  Zionism kills the nation and then elevates the corpse to the throne.

In 1948, during the war triggered by the Zionists ethnic cleansing of Palestine, Hannah Arendt, the prominent Jewish intellectual who fled Nazi Germany for the United States, wrote:

And even if the Jews were to win the war  the victorious Jews would live surrounded by an entirely hostile Arab population, secluded inside ever-threatened borders, absorbed with physical self-defense.  And all this would be the fate of a nation thatno matter how many immigrants it could still absorb and how far it extended its boundarieswould still remain a very small people greatly outnumbered by hostile neighbors.

Israel is also a constant danger torather than protector ofJews living outside its ever-expanding borders. Soon after the IDF bombed the Tehran synagogue, Dr. Younes Hamami Lalehzar stated the obvious: The Israeli regimes claim about defending Jews is nothing more than a shameful lie.

Moreover, Israels brutality and its claim to represent all Jews provoke acts of violence against Jews worldwide. Israeli leaders actively encourage the conflation of Jews with Israel, as it serves highly strategic purposes. It legitimizes the Zionist state, reinforces its ideology and fuels antisemitism by making Jews abroad appear complicit in Israeli policies, ultimately driving Jews to emigrate to Israel. Antisemitism offers a win-win scenario to Israel: new immigrants contribute intellectual, entrepreneurial, and financial resources, while also expanding the pool of potential recruits for the IDF.

Decades of discrimination, deportation, and murder of local Palestinians have produced anger, resentment, and hatred. Contrary to the prevailing self-pity and indignation that followed the attack from Gaza in October 2023, the legendary Israeli warrior General Moshe Dayan understood the predicament of the Palestinians. Speaking at the funeral of an Israeli killed by a Palestinian from Gaza in 1956, he said:



Interior of Abrishami Synagogue Tehran. Public Domain. Via Wikimedia Commons

Let us not today cast blame on the murderers. Who are we to argue against their potent hatred for us? For eight years they have been sitting in the refugee camps in Gaza, and before their eyes we have been turning the land and villages in which they and their forefathers lived into our own inheritance

Dayan, in one of his brutally honest moments, confessed that there is not one single place built in this country that did not have a former Arab population.

Such words are rarely heard in Israel today. Self-righteousness reigns supreme. The vast majority of non-Arab Israelis support the genocide in Gaza and stand behind their armed forces in the current attacks on Iran, Lebanon, and Yemen. The habitual use of violence has inebriated Israelis, and it seems that only force can stop them from committing further crimes against humanity. It remains to be seen whether such force can be found.

The Tehran synagogue was reportedly bombed by planes marked with the Star of David. When I visited it ten years ago, Iranian Jews seemed safe. Unlike in Paris or Berlin, there were no guards at the entrances to synagogues and Jewish institutions. I also visited Tehrans Jewish hospital. Unlike Montreal, where the Jewish hospital was a response to the antisemitism of the medical establishmentwhich would not hire Jewish doctors in the 1920s and 1930sthe Jewish hospital in Tehran was a voluntary Jewish contribution to the citys population. I hope the hospital did not share the same fate as the synagogue. Above the entrance to the hospital, I noticed a Torah verse in the original Hebrew and in Farsi: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Peru's presidential frontrunner Keiko Fujimori vowed expel illegal migrants, attract US investment and extend a conservative tide sweeping power in Latin America, in an exclusive interview with AFP on the eve of Sunday's election.

Fujimori pledged a military-tinged effort to "restore order" to crime-hit Peru in her first 100 days in office and sought a united front with conservative leaders in Washington, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, and Bolivia.

Keiko is the 50-year-old daughter of ex-president Alberto Fujimori, who spent 16 years in jail for crimes against humanity before dying in September 2024.

She is one of 35 candidates in the record field and has a slender lead in pre-election polls.

The last Ipsos survey before a polling blackout gave her about 15 percent support -- the highest tally of any candidate and likely enough to advance to a two-person runoff in June.

Her rivals include a popular comedian, an octogenarian ex-mayor, and a businessman who likens himself to a cartoon pig.

Candidates have largely focused their campaigns on tackling crime, which polls show is the top concern of Peruvians who are facing an exponential rise in extortion.

Many blame foreign gangs for the surge in violence, although experts also point to homegrown groups.

"We will ask for special powers -- powers to modernize police stations, and powers for the Armed Forces to help us control the prisons," she told AFP in Lima.

"The Armed Forces will participate alongside the National Police in controlling the borders. We will expel undocumented citizens," she said, echoing hardline policies that are gaining political traction across the Americas.

"Latin America is seeing a current in which freedom, investment, and the recovery of control and security are being prioritized," she said.

"This began with President (Javier) Milei, President (Daniel) Noboa, Rodrigo Paz, President (Jose Antonio) Kast," she added.

"Colombia and Peru are still missing, but without a doubt, all of this is further consolidated with the arrival of President Trump."

Signalling plans to forge close relations with Washington, Fujimori said, "my role, if elected president, will be to encourage the United States to once again participate more actively."

- Perennial candidate -

This is Fujimori's fourth tilt at the presidency. In previous campaigns, she has slightly distanced herself from the troubled legacy of her father.

His government crushed a bloody leftist insurgency in the 1990s.

He was jailed for a string of offenses, including signing off on massacres.

This time round, Fujimori junior has capitalized on growing nostalgia for strongman leadership.

"I believe that time and history are giving my father the place he deserves," she said.

"Today, when Peru is bleeding because of criminals and extortionists, what people are asking for is a Fujimori - here I am."

To succeed in the second round, Fujimori will have to overcome deep mistrust of the political class.

According to a recent Ipsos poll, 16 percent of voters are undecided about whom to support, and another 11 percent plan to vote blank, a striking figure in a country with compulsory voting.

Political jockeying and backstabbing have seen eight presidents come and go in a decade.

"I understand the disillusionment," she said, acknowledging that in the past she may have been too bareknuckle in her approach.

"I have made mistakes, including moments of strong confrontation. We have learned from that. We have learned to prioritize dialogue and to foster consensus."

Sunday will also see Peruvians elect lawmakers, and the new congress is likely to be deeply fragmented, making backroom deals a key part of political survival.

"I start from the premise that we must engage in dialogue," she said.

"The next Congress will have to achieve consensus, especially on the issue of security".

"I have already listened to several presidential candidates and believe that we agree on the urgency of the measures and on the support that institutions must receive -- particularly on restoring control at the borders."






Friday, April 10, 2026 - Environment activist, Truphena Muthoni, popularly known for her symbolic act of hugging trees, has sparked debate among Kenyans after sharing a photo of herself at an international airport en route to Brasilia.

Posting the pic online, Muthoni wrote:

On my flight to Brasilia to join the largest Indigenous gathering in the world, Acampamento Terra Livre 2026.

As an Afro Indigenous woman, a sister to the forest, this moment means everything to honor who I am and the roots I carry.

Her outfit, which comprised a short skirt and jumper, drew mixed reactions from netizens.

A section of Kenyans criticized her choice of attire, arguing that it was inappropriate for international travel.

Others, however, praised her confidence and urged critics to focus on her activism rather than her wardrobe.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, April 10, 2026 - A video capturing the moment a thug snatched a phone from a motorist stuck in Nairobi traffic has reignited concerns over rampant insecurity in the city.

The footage, recorded by a bikers camera, shows the suspect casually approaching a car caught in traffic before swiftly reaching through the window, grabbing the phone, and disappearing into the congestion within seconds.

Such brazen incidents have become increasingly common in Nairobi, with motorists often targeted while stuck in traffic jams.

Security experts and police have repeatedly urged drivers to remain vigilant, advising them to keep windows rolled up and valuables out of sight to avoid falling victim to opportunistic robbers.

The viral clip has sparked heated conversations online, with many residents expressing frustration over the rising cases of daylight theft and questioning the effectiveness of ongoing security measures.

Watch the video>>> below

A bikers camera captures someone being robbed of his phone in broad daylight in Nairobi traffic.



 - Shizu! pic.twitter.com/hoK0Ihh928  The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) April 10, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, April 10, 2026 - In a landmark judgment, the Court of Appeal in Nyeri has ruled that a father cannot be denied custody or access to his child simply because he has not paid dowry.

The ruling, delivered on March 27th, 2026, has sparked conversations about the intersection of culture, law and parental rights.

The case involved a dispute between a biological father and the childs grandparents, who had cared for the minor since the mother died during childbirth.

Initially, the father allowed the grandparents to stay with the child while he handled hospital bills and funeral arrangements.

After remarrying and settling down, he sought custody, but the grandparents refused, insisting that dowry for their late daughter had to be paid first.

Although the father eventually paid the agreed amount, the grandparents still withheld the child, prompting him to seek legal redress in 2017.

In their defense, the grandparents argued that he had failed to consistently support the child and had not met cultural obligations.

After years of hearings, the court ruled in favor of the father, noting his stable income and ability to provide for the child.

I find that the appellant, being the undisputed father of the minor, is the right person to have the legal and actual custody of the minor.

It is not only morally wrong but unlawful to deny the father of the child who is alive and readily willing to take care of the child, the judges stated.

The court emphasized that cultural practices such as dowry cannot override constitutional rights, reiterating that the best interests of the child must always come first.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, April 10, 2026 - A photo of a Kenyan forex trader warmly embracing an unidentified man in Dubai has set social media abuzz.

The pic, which has gone viral, has fueled speculation that the trader may be connected to the notorious Sim 2 business, with forex trading allegedly serving as a convenient cover.

The affectionate pose has raised eyebrows online, adding intrigue to the ongoing debate about the lavish lifestyles of young Kenyans who claim to make fortunes through forex trading.

As conversations intensify across platforms, the mystery deepens, leaving netizens divided between admiration and suspicion.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, April 10, 2026 - A Kenyan man has left social media buzzing after tying the knot with his Gen Z lover in a colourful wedding ceremony attended by close friends and family.

The noticeable age gap between the couple has triggered mixed reactions online, with some congratulating them while others questioned the long-term stability of the relationship.

Social media personality, Eric Mboya, weighed in on the discussion, making a controversial comment that has since sparked further reactions online.

Commenting on the photo, he wrote:

Such marriages thrive for some time but it will reach a point the lady starts thinking she has not lived her life the way she wants. When she reaches 30 and above, that is when the man will start seeing problems. Many ladies often quit their marriages in their 30s and 40s. You will never advise them to get married again because they enjoy the freedom of being single, especially those with money. The problem is, once they quit marriage, they never get attracted to single men; majority opt to share with married women.

See the trending photo below.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, April 10, 2026 - President William Ruto took issue with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja over his choice of attire during an official visit to State House, sparking reactions online.

In a video>>> circulating widely, Ruto is seen openly lecturing Sakaja, terming his dressing as lacking the seriousness expected for such a high-level engagement.

Sakaja had led a delegation to State House for the lease agreement signing between the Kenya Railways Corporation and Zaria Group under the Nairobi Railway City project.

However, his outfit appeared to stand out, drawing the Presidents attention.

Ruto did not only single out Sakaja but also questioned how several attendees had dressed for the event.

Distinguished partners, Zaria Group, ladies and gentlemen, looking at the people who have come for this occasion, including the Governor of Nairobi, I was asking myself whether they are here by design or they were waylaid, Ruto remarked.

The way they are dressed, they don't look like they knew they were coming to State House. Next time, Ill ask those at the gate not to allow people dressed like that for serious functions, he added.

Below is a photo of Sakajas outfit that didnt sit well with President Ruto.





President William Ruto forgives Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja for dressing inappropriately, But Promises to chase him away next time he comes to the statehouse dressed like Club Al-Capone DJ,,,, pic.twitter.com/Ng0vnC4CpO  The Oligarch (@NytoP2PMwangi) April 10, 2026
This photo taken on April 10, 2026 shows a donation ceremony of medical supplies provided by the 26th Chinese medical team in Rwanda at Masaka Hospital in Kigali, Rwanda. (Xinhua/Liu Youmin)

KIGALI, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The 26th Chinese medical team in Rwanda on Friday donated a consignment of medical supplies to Masaka Hospital in the capital Kigali, a move aimed at strengthening healthcare services and deepening medical cooperation between China and Rwanda.

The supplies included surgical lights, operating apparatus, a wheelchair, a consolidated operating table, and a weighing scale, all of which are expected to help save lives, improve treatment conditions and improve patient care.

At the donation ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Gao Wenqi said the donation continues China's longstanding tradition of standing alongside Rwanda and will make a contribution to the health and well-being of local people.

According to Gao, in the past two months alone, the 26th medical team has conducted over 200 operations, treated more than 5,000 patients, organized 11 medical outreach and health education programs, and held five academic and cultural exchange activities.

"We will continue to support the Chinese medical team in promoting Rwanda's healthcare development and elevating bilateral cooperation to a higher level with enhanced quality," Gao said.

Receiving the donation at Masaka Hospital, Director General Jean Damascene Hanyurwimfura said the support from the Chinese government has been transformative since the inception of the facility.

Hanyurwimfura noted that the cooperation has enabled the hospital to expand its services in maternity, surgery, and emergency care, reaching thousands of residents who rely on the facility.

"The equipment and technical support provided by your government allow us to practice medicine at a standard that reflects our shared commitment to excellence," he said.

Speaking at the event, Zhang Shengmao, leader of the Chinese medical team, said the team remains committed to serving the people of Rwanda.

"We hope the medical equipment can help the hospital work better. We hope it can help more patients. We hope more people can keep healthy," he added.

Oreste Tuganeyezu, head of the department of clinical services at Rwanda's Ministry of Health, praised the long-standing partnership between the two countries.

"Rwanda and China have walked side by side for decades, bound by a relationship that goes far beyond diplomacy," he said.

Tuganeyezu said the Chinese doctors, nurses, and specialists have not only treated patients, but also mentored Rwandan health professionals, transferring knowledge that will endure long after individual missions end.

Since 1982, China has dispatched 26 medical teams comprising a total of 343 members to Rwanda. 
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. 
A CHILDCARE worker was found to have not been victimised by her employer after she failed to get her own child a place in the creche where she worked.

Rebecca Swords (33) took the claim against Kildare-based Tots Childcare

to the Workplace Relations Committee (WRC).

Ms Swords reported that she had been discriminated on gender and family status grounds, and that that she was victimised, however this was opposed by two members of the creches staff who gave evidence under oath.

Ms Swords gave testimony that she was employed by Tots as a childcare worker since December 2020 working 15 hours a week in the afternoons prior to becoming pregnant.

She claimed she registered this child for a place at Tots, and was in the office when her manager inputted these details.

However, when she was ready to return to work in May 2025 she was informed that her child was not actually registered, which meant she couldnt return to work due to the absence of childcare arrangements.

Ms Swords said she felt discriminated against when no childcare place was made available, and as she was pregnant again around this time she felt her employer didnt want her back prior to a further maternity leave.

She was offered the alternative of working morning shifts at another location  Tots have six throughout the county  however she was not satisfied with this arrangement.

Under cross-examination, Ms Swords was asked why she herself did not do the childcare booking online herself, and whether she had any communication on a place, pricing, and hours.

She said her manager had done this for her, and that she expected staff to be in conversation with each other on these arrangements.

Ms Swords was asked if she paid any deposit for securing a place, and she said she was going to organise this when she returned and took her managers word that a childcare place was booked.

Her manager testified that there is an online booking system, and that as an employee Ms Swords would have been aware of this.

A second manager testified that when Ms Swords indicated she wanted to return to work in the mornings only, there were no morning shifts available at that time.

According to the WRC Adjudicator Seamus Clinton the complainant is required to establish facts from which discrimination can be inferred  I find that the respondent has rebutted any presumption of discrimination on gender or family status.

Although the complainant felt her child had secured a place, there was no documentary evidence presented that this was the case, said Mr Clinton.

This lack of evidence on such an important issue of childcare and working hours is insufficient to show that discrimination on family status could have occurred.

The respondent staff were unaware that she may have required further maternity leave, so I am satisfied there was no discriminatory treatment on gender grounds.

There was no testimony given on how the complainant was victimised or penalised for having made an earlier protected act, (therefore) I decide the complainant was not victimised.
THE campaign for Relay for Life Kildare 2026 was officially launched recently at the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge, bringing together cancer survivors, volunteers, community supporters and local representatives to mark the beginning of this years event.

Relay for Life Kildare 2026 will take place at The Curragh Racecourse, Newbridge, on Saturday 6-7 June from 1pm to 1pm 2026, when communities from across the county will once again gather for this powerful 24-hour event in support of the Irish Cancer Society.

Relay for Life sees communities come together to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost to cancer, and stand shoulder to shoulder with those currently facing cancer. The event raises vital funds for the Irish Cancer Society while also raising awareness of the ground-breaking research and free support services available to cancer patients and their families.

In 2025 alone, the Irish Cancer Society provided significant support to people across Kildare. This included 2,145 free lifts to bring patients to and from cancer treatment, 341 free counselling sessions for people affected by cancer, and 233 nights of Night Nursing care, allowing patients to spend their final days at home surrounded by loved ones.

In addition, the societys Support Line and Daffodil Centres provided comfort and guidance during 1,067 conversations with people affected by cancer.

The launch event was hosted by Irish radio and television presenter Brenda Donohue, who acted as MC for the evening.

Among those attending were Peter Whyte, chair of Relay for Life Kildare, cllr Carmel Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Kildare County Council; Ciara Hughes, Relay for Life Campaign Manager; Deirdre OCallaghan, Vice Principal of Newbridge College; Karen Langton, Global Hero of Hope and cancer survivor Eamonn Nolan, Rotary Club Kildare, Relay for Kildare teams, cancer survivors and family members.

Relay for Life Kildare also celebrated a major milestone, having raised over 1 million for the Irish Cancer Society during its 13 years of events.

The landmark was achieved following last years Relay at The Curragh Racecourse, where 16 charity teams raised an incredible 90,279 during the 24-hour event, bringing the total funds raised for the Irish Cancer Society beyond the seven-figure mark.

Chair Peter Whyte praised the dedication of teams and volunteers from across the county.

The launch of Relay for Life Kildare 2026 marks the beginning of another incredible community effort to support those affected by cancer, said Peter Whyte.

We look forward to welcoming teams, survivors, families and supporters from across Kildare to The Curragh Racecourse this June. Ciara Hughes, Relay For Life Campaign Manager at the Irish Cancer Society, said: People in Kildare have always enthusiastically supported Relay For Life, and in doing so they generously support ground-breaking research and the vital services provided by the Irish Cancer Society, so we can ensure no one has to face cancer alone. Were delighted that Relay for Life has returned to Kildare this year, giving people in the area the opportunity to come together, remember their loved ones and celebrate survivors within their community. In 2025 more than 7,000 people attended the event, with over 1,000 gathering on the Saturday night for the moving Candle of Hope ceremony, where hundreds of personalised candle bags illuminated the night in tribute to loved ones affected by cancer.

During the 24-hour Relay event, teams take turns walking a designated route throughout the day and night, ensuring that someone from the team is always on the move reflecting the message that cancer never sleeps, so neither do Relay teams.

One of the most powerful moments of the event is the Survivors Lap, where those who have lived with or are living with cancer take a special lap of honour, symbolising courage, resilience and hope.

Another highlight is the Candle of Hope Ceremony, which takes place at dusk. Hundreds of personalised candle bags, decorated with names, messages and photographs, light up the night sky in a moving tribute to loved ones lost to cancer.

Relay for Life Kildare organisers are encouraging individuals, families, workplaces and community groups from across the county to get involved in the 2026 event.

The event is free to attend and open to everyone, whether people wish to participate for the full 24 hours, support a team, make a donation, partake in family fun activities from 1pm to 8pm or attend the Candle of Hope ceremony on the evening of 6 June 2026.

Relay for Life Kildare continues to play a vital role in supporting the work of the Irish Cancer Society while bringing the community together in solidarity with those affected by cancer.

To purchase a candle for the event by following this link: https://www.relayforlife.ie/event/kildare/shop.
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...

FOR MORE KILKENNY BUSINESS NEWS, CLICK HERE
Irelands police service introduced exceptional measures as fuel protests which have strangled the distribution of fuel around the country rumbled into a fifth consecutive day.

The Irish Government is to re-enter talks on Saturday aimed at defusing the protests, which have involved blockades at key fuel distribution sites, as the prospect of most filling stations running out of fuel by Monday was raised by an industry representative.

It comes after a crunch meeting on Friday failed to end with concrete proposals.

An Garda Siochana internally declared an exceptional event, allowing it to designate every member available for duty over the weekend.

About 600 of the 1,500 filling stations around the Republic of Ireland have run dry, according to Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan.

He said he expected the number will grow quite dramatically if ongoing blockades of fuel depots remain in place.

Asked on RTE Radio Ones The Business how that number may grow, he said: If everything remains as it is, that is to say that the three facilities remain blockaded, then I dont think we could guarantee fuel at any forecourt by very early next week, Monday morning or Monday perhaps.

Despite this, Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill told the Irish Medical Organisation AGM in Co Kerry on Saturday that all of our ambulances have been refuelled successfully.

Elsewhere, Rosslare Europort is expected to hit capacity by Sunday evening or Monday morning.

Operations at the port, run by Irish Rail, have been affected by a blockade of fuel protesters in the nearby town of Kilrane, Co Wexford.

A spokesperson for Irish Rail said the port will soon be at capacity and will not be able to take in any more freight  resulting in ships having to wait on anchor or be diverted to another port if possible.

Meanwhile, ministers said the Irish Defence Forces are on standby to help gardai remove blockades at critical infrastructure.

TII Statement on National Road/Motorway Network Protest Impact There is significant distribution across the national road/motorway network currently impacting Counties Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Laois, Offaly, Kildare, Galway, Cork, and Dublin. TIIs network operations are pic.twitter.com/mIF5udlgRN  TII Traffic (@TIITraffic) April 11, 2026

Blockades have resulted in full closures of parts of the M50 ring road around Dublin, as well as the M4, M6, M7, M8, M9 and M20.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland, which is responsible for motorways, said there is significant disruption to its network impacting counties Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Laois, Offaly, Kildare, Galway, Cork, and Dublin.

It said it was working closely with gardai in managing traffic distribution.

The protests have caused disruption to some bus routes across Ireland and within the capital, where Luas Green Line tram services are also affected.

Participants say the Government needs to take urgent action on fuel prices or they will go out of business.

Protesters have blockaded the countrys only oil refinery, in Whitegate, Co Cork, as well as key depots in Galway and Foynes, Co Limerick.

There have also been concerns about fuel shortages leading to curtailments on the provision of emergency services and the delivery of vital goods, while the National Emergency Coordination Group urged the public to only buy the fuel they need.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin warned that Ireland is on the precipice of turning oil away from the country, describing the situation as unconscionable, illogical, and difficult to comprehend.

The protests, which have also seen slow-moving convoys and outright stoppages on major motorways as well as a blockade on Dublin citys main thoroughfare, began on Tuesday over the cost of fuel.

Participants include professional drivers, farmers and hauliers as well as taxi and bus operators.

Many official representative groups recognised by Government have expressed sympathy with the cause but have said they have not been involved in organising the protests.

Government ministers engaged with some of these groups on Friday but a spokesman for the protesters expressed devastation that they were excluded from the meeting.

A commitment from the coalition on Friday night to deliver a substantial package of measures on fuel costs was not enough to dissuade protesters from continuing blockades.

Christopher Duffy, a spokesman for the grouping in Dublin city centre, said the protest would continue until there was a serious reduction in our costs.

Talks between Government departments and representative bodies are set to continue at lunchtime on Saturday, with a view to finalising what deputy premier Simon Harris said would be substantial and significant measures for affected industries.

Police in Northern Ireland said they were maintaining an ongoing assessment in relation to social media posts calling for similar planned protests there.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: A policing response has been prepared, if needed, to ensure public safety and to help minimise any potential disruption to the wider community.
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A Kilkenny student was part of the MTU Kerry Nursing and Agricultural Society, known as the NAG Society, named Best Society in the highly competitive Charity & Civic (Small College) category at the Board of Irish College Societies (BICS) National Society Awards 2026.

The awards took place in Tullamore, Offaly. Edward Daly, of Cuffesgrange, Kilkenny, is one of the students serving on the Committee of the MTU Kerry Nursing and Agricultural Society, acting as one of the Societys Co-Treasurers.

The award reflects a successful year for the society and the continuous efforts of its committee. The society managed to raise an impressive 25,000,00 for their chosen charities: Kerry Mental Health Association, Kerry Hospice Foundation, and Recovery Haven Kerry.

In their acceptance speech, the committee highlighted the importance of supporting local charities that provide vital services to communities.

TAP HERE FOR KILKENNY FARMING NEWS

Everyone unfortunately knows someone who has been affected by the issues these charities raise funds and awareness for, said Co-Chairperson Emma Sheehan.

Because of that, it is so important to us as a committee to support these organisations in continuing their incredible work.

Speaking on the successful year for the Society, Co-Chairperson Charlie Dunican said: Looking back on the year, its been unbelievable. 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, he said.

Were immensely proud of whats been achieved this year and hope to see the society continue to grow and succeed long into the future.
KIEV, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that Ukraine intends to observe an Orthodox Easter ceasefire but will respond in kind if Russia violates it.

Zelensky said Kiev has defined how it would react to any breaches by Russian forces.

"Ukraine will observe a regime of silence and will act exclusively in a symmetrical manner. The absence of Russian strikes in the sky, on the ground and at sea will mean the absence of our responses," he wrote on Telegram.

He added that Ukrainian forces are prepared for any developments on the front line and noted that Kiev has repeatedly proposed various ceasefire formats to Moscow.

"A ceasefire on Easter could also be the beginning of a real movement toward peace -- we have a corresponding proposal on our part," he said.

Zelensky said details on Ukraine's reciprocal approach and the possibility of extending the ceasefire beyond Easter had been conveyed to the Russian side. 
MADRID, April 11 (Xinhua) -- As Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez embarks on his fourth trip to China in four years, the visit is set to further consolidate bilateral ties.

The frequency itself speaks to a relationship built on consistency and mutual trust, and points to a broader pathway for steady engagement between China and Europe at a time of growing global uncertainty.

As noted by Spanish scholar Jordi Bacaria, bilateral ties are "not improvised," but the result of sustained and high-level effort over time. In an increasingly volatile international environment, such continuity has become a rare asset.

That consistency is underpinned by a clear logic: reliability matters. While geopolitical tensions and policy unpredictability have unsettled international ties, countries, including Spain, are seeking partners capable of long-term thinking and steady cooperation. China's policy continuity and commitment to multilateralism have made it an increasingly attractive counterpart.

At its core, China-Spain cooperation reflects a broader logic: countries with different historical, cultural backgrounds and social systems can work together effectively when they prioritize long-term common interests. When Chinese President Xi Jinping met King Felipe VI of Spain last year, he emphasized this point -- highlighting mutual respect, practical cooperation and a shared commitment to fairness in global governance. That framework continues to define the relationship today.

The bilateral relationship also rests on strong economic complementarity. China is Spain's largest trading partner outside the EU, and Spain is an important partner for China within the bloc. According to data from China's General Administration of Customs, bilateral goods trade exceeded 55 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, growing 9.8 percent year-on-year.

Trade figures alone do not tell the full picture. With Spain advancing a technology agenda focused on semiconductors and renewable energy, the two sides could become vital partners in each other's modernization efforts. By aligning Spain's own modernization goals with China's drive for high-quality development, they can unlock new opportunities for industrial and technological cooperation.

The green transition has emerged as a key area of convergence. Chinese investment in Spain's new energy sectors, from electric vehicles to wind power, is contributing to its industrial upgrading, while Spain brings valuable experience in renewable energy deployment. This two-way flow of investment and expertise demonstrates a partnership that delivers tangible industrial and technological gains for both sides.

Spain's emphasis on cooperation with China is not an isolated case. In recent months, leaders from the United Kingdom, Finland, Ireland and Germany have all traveled to Beijing, seeking to strengthen economic ties and diplomatic channels.

This reflects a recognition that engagement with China is not a departure from European interests, but a way to advance them, particularly as Europe seeks greater strategic autonomy and economic resilience.

In this context, Sanchez's visit carries a message that resonates beyond Madrid and Beijing: even amid fragmentation and uncertainty, sustained dialogue and practical cooperation remain viable and necessary.

At a time marked by division and instability, China-Spain cooperation can help provide a sense of stability and guide China-Europe relations onto a steadier and more constructive path. 
ISLAMABAD, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The format of talks between the United States and Iran remains uncertain, a source close to the issue told Xinhua on Saturday.

The source, in a phone interview with Xinhua, said multiple arrangements have been made for the talks, including both face-to-face negotiations and talks held in separate rooms.

Pakistan has made preparations for both scenarios, the source said, adding that Islamabad is ready either to facilitate direct talks between the two sides or to arrange separate venues for their delegations and convey messages between them.

Al Jazeera reported that although the United States and Iranian delegations are expected to stay at the same hotel in Islamabad, they will not hold face-to-face talks. Instead, they are expected to remain in separate rooms while Pakistani officials relay messages between them.

Earlier this week, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told the Senate that Pakistan's role is to help bring the United States and Iran "to sit together" in Islamabad to resolve their issues, but Pakistan will not try to influence either side. 
The Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO) Chairman Xin Baoan speaks at a side event of the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum in Vienna, Austria, April 9, 2026.(Xinhua/He Canling)

VIENNA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A global cooperation initiative on energy transition capacity building has been launched here at the ongoing International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum, calling for building cooperation mechanisms and knowledge sharing.

Jointly released by the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO) on Thursday, the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and other organizations at a side event, the initiative proposed six measures: strengthening global capacity-building cooperation mechanisms, jointly establishing a global energy interconnection academy, promoting knowledge sharing on energy transition, strengthening resource mobilization and sustainable investment, promoting youth and women's participation, and strengthening monitoring, evaluation and continuous improvement.

GEIDCO Chairman Xin Baoan said that the global climate crisis is intensifying. Despite significant international efforts since the Paris Agreement was reached, global carbon emissions continued to rise.

Tackling climate change and ensuring energy security requires an accelerated energy transition and a clean, electricity-centered, smart and efficient global energy system, he said.

Addressing climate change and accelerating energy transition are common tasks for all countries, Xin said.

Noting that developing countries generally face challenges in areas such as technology, talent, and standards in advancing energy transition, Xin said that GEIDCO will continue to strengthen technology exchange and sharing, professional talent training, and international standards innovation to support and empower the energy transition of developing countries.

GEIDCO is a non-profit international organization headquartered in Beijing and dedicated to promoting sustainable energy development worldwide. 
A woman with 254 previous convictions attempted to use a forged prescription in Portlaoise.

Lyndsey Ryan (42) of 93 Errigal Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12, pleaded guilty to possession of and using a false instrument at Boots Pharmacy, Laois Shopping Centre, on April 28, 2024.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the incident happened at 1.10pm on the date in question. He said the woman was identified on CCTV.

She has 254 convictions and a lot of them are of the same type, Sgt Kirby told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court.

They are all for the same. They are all for forged prescriptions, noted Judge Andrew Cody.

Solicitor Philip Meagher said all of her previous stem from a chronic addiction and related primarily to sleeping tablets. He said the offending spans over a 15 year period back to 2011.

When is she going to cop on? asked Judge Cody.

Mr Meagher said she had completed a six week residential programme between April and June 2025. She is now on daily medication to deal with her issues, he explained.

He said the woman suffered from PTSD and anxiety and had gone down the self medicating route.

Mr Meagher described her offending as sad and pathetic and he said, she wasnt particularly good at what she was doing. He said she was addressing her issues.

READ ALSO: Laois business to hold fundraiser for Jack and Jill

Judge Cody said he would allow the woman a chance to provide evidence that she was addressing her issues.

He adjourned the matter back to Portlaoise District Court on June 4 but warned the defendant that she has an uphill battle to stay out of prison due to her previous convictions.
A welder smeared phlegm and blood on a Garda vehicle and stuffed a blanket down a Garda cell toilet before urinating on it.

Stanislav Vasek (35) of 70 Main Street, Portlaoise, admitted being intoxicated and engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour at JFL Avenue, Portlaoise and causing criminal damage to a Garda vehicle and cell on March 11, 2026.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said users were seen rushing off a bus at JFL Avenue at 6.15pm on the date in question. He said the accused was visibly intoxicated and bleeding from his mouth while behaving in an aggressive manner. The man was arrested and spat blood and phlegm" on the garda vehicle. He was taken to Abbeyleix Garda Station where he was placed in a cell.

Sgt Kirby said the man smeared blood and bodily fluids all over the walls of the cell. He also stuffed the blanket into the toilet and urinated on it. He said the cleaning of the vehicle cost 150 and the clean up of the cell cost 200.

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client accepts his behaviour was absolutely appalling.

I would prefer if he put his hands into his pocket than put his hands up, said Judge Andrew Cody. He put the case back until later in the day in order for the man to get some money.

When the case was called again at Portlaoise District Court, Ms Fitzpatrick said 400 had been handed in to the court. He wants to express to the court how apologetic he is, she said. Ms Fitzpatrick said the man was extremely ashamed and clearly drink didnt suit him. She said the man was a welder who worked with his own family. She asked the court to be as lenient as possible.

Noting the money was handed over, Judge Cody fined the man 250 for each of the criminal damage incidents and 500 for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour. The intoxication charge was taken into account.
A cafe owner from Carrigallen has warned that rising fuel and transport costs are putting small businesses under serious pressure, as the ongoing crisis continues to impact communities across the northwest.

Fika33 Cafe owner Elizabeth Doonan says her business has been hit by sharp increases in the cost of fresh produce and deliveries, with prices rising at an unsustainable rate.

Originally from Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim, Doonan returned to Ireland from Nice, France in July 2024 before opening her cafe in Killeshandra County Cavan later that year. While the business has been growing steadily, she says the current climate is making it increasingly difficult to stay afloat.

Weve seen a massive hike in most of our prices, especially fresh produce, she said. Our deliveries are coming from further away now, and suppliers are passing those transport costs directly onto us.

Costs doubling within days

Doonan described how basic ingredients have surged in price, pointing to one example where the cost of tomatoes doubled in just a week.

One week, seven kilos of tomatoes were 22. The following week, they were 42 or 46 depending on the supplier. That kind of increase in seven days is just not sustainable.

The cafe employs two full-time staff and around five part-time workers, adding further strain as overheads continue to rise.

The hospitality industry is already tough for small businesses. Staff have to be paid first. But with electricity, heating and produce all going up, its getting really difficult to balance everything.

Ireland more expensive than the Riviera

Having worked in hospitality in the south of France, Doonan said she was surprised to find Ireland significantly more expensive to run a business.

A lot of people thought I was mad coming home, thinking the French Riviera would be dearer. But its actually much more expensive here and much harder to operate.

She added that energy costs are compounding the pressure, with heating oil and electricity prices climbing sharply.

We have to heat the place, run equipment, keep the lights on. All of that has gone up massively. Its not just one thingits everything.

Closure fears as pressure mounts

While determined to keep her cafe open, Doonan admitted that closure could become a reality if conditions do not improve.

Were doing everything we cancutting costs, trying to increase salesbut at the end of the day, it has to be viable. If things keep going the way they are, its going to be much more difficult to stay in business.

She said closing would be a last resort, but acknowledged that other small businesses have already been forced to shut their doors under similar pressures.

Backing farmers protest

Doonan also voiced strong support for farmers protesting across the country, calling for urgent action on fuel costs and carbon tax.

I completely support them. Were one of the most expensive countries in Europe for fuel. We rely on road transport for everythingdeliveries, staff getting to workand that affects every business.

It filters right down. Its not just farmers or truck driversits all of us. I think they should stay where they are until the government does something.

As the crisis continues, businesses like Fika33 Cafe are now watching closelyhoping for relief before the pressure becomes too much to bear.
'Don't give up', was the message from a Leitrim farmer this week who joined in protests 60 years ago that resulted in him and others being incarcerated for ten days.

He was part of the 1966 Irish Farmers' Rights Campaign- a landmark protest led by the National Farmers' Association (NFA) to demand better income supports and negotiation rights. Thousands farmers converged on Dublin after a 217-mile march from Bantry, Cork, starting in October 1966, followed by a 20-day sit-in protest on the steps of the Department of Agriculture.

John Ward from Annaduff had a clear messages to protestors when he spoke to the Leitrim Observer. "Keep it up. Don't give in. We didn't give in. We did the jail-time and did everything that to be done. I'm am advising those protesting now to stick their heels in. They brought up in the army tanks today. Why don't the farmers bring in the slurry tankers? They broke the law on one side so why don't we break it on the other?"

READ MORE: Leitrim Cafe owner fears for survival 'box of tomatoes doubled in price in seven days

He told us: "In 1966, there was a farmers' protest; there were 45,000 people in Dublin that day who walked from all corners of Ireland, including myself; I walked from Carrick to Dublin. There were 12 people picked to hand a letter into Charlie Haughey who was Minister for Agriculture at the time. He hadn't time to meet them so they said they'd wait until he did have time and the stayed for 21 days on the streets outside government buildings."

He said following a shuffling of roles within government, Neil Blaney became Minister for Agriculture, who "at least met them but very little came of it. So they escalated the protest after that and picketed rate collectors in the various regions. Naul in Leitrim was the first place in Ireland where farmers were arrested for picketing. We were still making no headway. We were holding tractor demonstrations constantly in the various towns but getting nowhere so we decided to escalate and blocked all the bridges - Rooskey, Tarmon, Lanesborough - every bridge in the place."

READ MORE: Survey reveals gap in school provision and parent demand in Leitrim

He continued: "News spread and people started using the by-roads and back roads so people came with chainsaws and cut down trees. There were a couple of hundred tractors in Rooskey that day and we had it in such a way there were only three tractors that were the main blockades and if an ambulance came, we could move those three tractors in less than five minutes. There was only one occasion when an ambulance came and we let it through immediately because we heard it coming."

He said that a number of farmers were arrested and sent to Mountjoy after a court case. "We were fined 5 or three months in prison. I was one of the three who were first to be arrested here in Leitrim and brought to Mountjoy. The RDS was going strong at the time and it was boycotted on the first day so the RDS paid our fines so after about ten days, we got out."

READ MORE: PICTURES: Fuel protest brings traffic to a standstill in Leitrim town

He said that the protestors received considerable support from the public at the time. "After we were jailed, every three weeks, farmers were being arrested. "That went on all summer up until the month of July. The co-operation we got from people at the time was unbelievable. We were doing drainage here at home at the time and when I came back after the 10 days in prison, the drainage was done - that will show you the co-operation there was."
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.
A LEADING wholesale electrical distributor, founded in the heart of Limerick in 1971, has made a key acquisition.

Trade Electric Group, which has operated from Lower Gerald Griffin Street since its inception, has bought Mullingar Electrical Wholesale.

The deal cements Trade Electrics position as the largest Irish owned electrical wholesale business in this country.

It was Paul Costelloe who set up the company, after a stint working at Stokes and McKiernans.

READ MORE: 'City alive with energy': Riverfest 2026 promises four days of family fun in Limerick

Today, the company is led by his son, managing director Fergal Costelloe.

And it has significantly expanded.

It has two branches in Limerick - its original home in Lower Gerald Griffin Street and in Newcastle West.

On top of this, there are outlets at Stillorgan, Tallaght and Santry in Dublin.

Its also present in Cork, Kilkenny, Killarney, Nenagh, Waterford and Wexford.

Mullingar Electrical has four branches - Mullingar, Longford, Tullamore and Dundalk and 35 staff.

It is led by Peadar Conlon.

Following the deal, Trade Electric Group will have 15 branches and 120 employees and will become the largest Irish owned electrical wholesale group in the country.

Turnover at the combined businesses will be in excess of 60 million.

Fergal Costelloe said: This sector has seen growing interest from internationally backed firms, so we are delighted to strengthen our position as an Irish-owned champion in the sector. Mullingar Electrical Wholesale is a fine business, and we look forward to working with Peadar and his team on the integration. We will continue to look out for other opportunities to acquire like-minded firms and consolidate our position in this market.
A CORBALLY woman has been recognised by insurance provider AXA Ireland for making an improvement to peoples' lives.

Leona OCallaghan has been named as one of four AXA Community Heroes from across Ireland.

It followed a nationwide search, and hundreds of nominations.

Leona was given the title of AXA Community Hero in the Mental Health category.

READ MORE: Public meeting called amid fears of traffic carnage in Limerick

It recognises her work founding The Haven Hub in 2019.

Based in Thomondgate, the centre exists to provide free, volunteer-led, late-night peer support and crisis care for individuals experiencing emotional distress or suicidal thoughts.

Following her founding of The Haven Hub, Leona then led a campaign to secure a permanent home for the service which moved into its new building last year.

She still works on The Haven Hubs free nighttime service.

As well as this, she has also taken on two projects to help younger people.

One supports those with mental health challenges by arranging activities and travel, the other is social and sober, which offers alternative activities for 18 to 30 year olds who would prefer to socialise away from the pub and party scene.

Leona says she will be donating the 20,000 prize directly to The Haven Hub.

It makes it all worthwhile. To have this financial support makes a massive difference to being able to continue, and expand our services, and means that all the hard work, the late nights and times youre away from your own family to provide this service are all worthwhile, she said.

There were three other winners of AXA awards from around the country. Westmeath woman Donna Price was named in the road safety category, Scott Bryan of Dublin was recognised in the sustainability section and Mary Doherty of Donegal won a womens safety prize.
KMT chairwoman says willing to do anything helpful to cross-Strait ties

Xinhua) 09:46, April 11, 2026

BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party who is on a visit on the Chinese mainland, said Friday in Beijing that she is willing to "do anything as long as it helps promote peace across the Taiwan Strait."

Cheng is leading a KMT delegation to visit the mainland on the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. Xi on Friday morning met with Cheng in Beijing.

It is the first time in a decade that a KMT chairperson has led a delegation to the mainland.

At a press conference held by the delegation, Cheng said the meeting between the two parties' leaders was candid and sincere. The leaders of the KMT and the CPC met again -- after a decade -- demonstrating a shared desire, goodwill, and sincerity toward the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, she said.

She also reviewed the delegation's visits in Nanjing and Shanghai and expressed appreciation for the thoughtful arrangements by the mainland hosts.

Cheng said since assuming the post of the KMT chairperson, she has sensed strong calls from various sectors in Taiwan for cross-Strait exchanges and peace. Rising cross-Strait tensions would be a scenario no one wishes to see, she said.

Cheng emphasized that under the condition of recognizing the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence," mutual goodwill, communication and dialogue across the Strait are all possible.

The KMT chairwoman also urged relevant political figures in Taiwan to make the right choices, rather than neglect their duties for partisan or personal interests.

The KMT delegation's mainland visit began on Tuesday and will run through Sunday.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
DHAKA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a 115.8-million-U.S.-dollar loan to enhance environmentally sustainable and resilient urban services in Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) in Bangladesh.

The Narayanganj Green and Resilient Urban Development Project will upgrade drinking water supply, modernize drainage systems, and expand green public spaces, said the Manila-based lender in a statement on Friday.

The project is expected to benefit at least 400,000 residents, support the government's efforts to ease congestion in Dhaka, and reinforce governance and service delivery in one of Bangladesh's major urban growth centers.

"Narayanganj is central to Bangladesh's urban transformation. As urbanization accelerates and environmental risks intensify, strengthening urban services is both a development and economic imperative," said ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Hoe Yun Jeong.

According to the statement, the project will significantly improve water supply efficiency and reliability by reducing nonrevenue water to below 20 percent through the replacement and expansion of 230 km of pipeline network, installation of metered household connections, and adoption of district metered area systems. 
IBM has reached an agreement with the US government to pay $17 million to resolve a federal probe over the firm's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices, the Department of Justice said on Friday.

The settlement comes as the first resolution from the US Justice Department's unit formed last year called "Civil Rights Fraud Initiative" to crack down on DEI policies using a civil anti-fraud law.

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) has agreed to pay the United States $17,077,043, inclusive of civil penalties, to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by failing to comply with anti-discrimination requirements in its federal contracts due to practices the United States contends discriminated against employees and applicants for employment because of race, color, national origin, or sex, the DOJ said in a press release.

Also Read | IBM, Walmart lease large office spaces in Bengaluru

What were the charges against IBM? The DOJ had alleged that IBM had knowingly made false claims regarding its its hiring and employment practices in its federal contracts, according to the settlement.

US laws require companies to be fair and certify that it will not discriminate against an employee or applicant for employment because of race, colour, national origin, or sex. They are further required to certify that will take steps to ensure that applicants are employed, and employees are treated during employment, without bias.

Trump has targeted public and private organizations - from government agencies to private universities - over DEI practices that civil rights advocates say help address historic inequities for marginalised groups like women and ethnic minorities.

The settlement resolves allegations that IBM failed to comply with these requirements and knowingly maintained practices that the United States contends were discriminatory employment practices, the press release stated.

In the settlement signed by the New York-based tech company and the DOJ, the US government alleged that IBM's practices included using a diversity modifier that tied bonus compensation to achieving demographic targets, among other claims.

It also alleged that IBM offered certain training, partnerships, mentoring, leadership development programs and educational opportunities only to certain employees, with eligibility, participation, access or admission limited on the basis of race or sex.

What prompted the settlement? While IBM will pay a penalty of $17 million for allegedly violating US laws, the government also acknowledged that the tech company took significant steps to cooperate with the investigation.

IBM made early disclosures of facts relevant to the governments investigation. The company also undertook voluntary remedial measures, including the termination and/or modification of various programs and practices at issue.

The settlement also said IBM terminated or modified various programs and policies, but that the company denied engaging in unlawful conduct.

This agreement is neither an admission of liability by IBM nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well-founded, the agreement said.

The White House casts DEI as anti-merit and discriminatory against groups like white people and men. Trump has signed executive orders asking federal contractors and subcontractors to eliminate DEI.
Kalshi Inc. won a temporary reprieve from criminal prosecution in Arizona when a judge suspended the case at the behest of a federal regulator.

A federal judge on Friday granted a restraining order sought by the Commodity Future Trading Commission after the agency argued that state authorities cannot pre-empt its oversight of prediction markets, the CFTC said in a statement.

Two days earlier, Kalshi failed to persuade a federal judge to halt Arizonas criminal proceedings against the prediction market provider as the widespread legal battle among states, companies and the Trump-administration-controlled federal agency that governs derivatives trading continues to roil.

Arizonas decision to weaponize state criminal law against companies that comply with federal law sets a dangerous precedent, and the courts order today sends a clear message that intimidation is not an acceptable tactic to circumvent federal law, CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig said in the statement.

Arizona filed a 20-count criminal indictment against Kalshi in March, accusing the company of offering illegal gambling, including allowing betting on Arizona elections.

On Wednesday, US District Judge Michael Liburdi ruled that Arizona could go ahead with its prosecution of Kalshi, saying that US law limits federal interference in state prosecutions.

Fridays order putting the criminal case on hold was not immediately available online.

Along with Arizona, the commission sued Connecticut and Illinois last week, accusing each of the states of infringing on its authority to regulate contract markets.
Vijay C Roy

Vijay C. Roy is a journalist with over 21 years of experience covering various news beats across different organisations such as Business Standard and The Tribune. In the past, he has covered beats such as finance, auto, MSME, commodities, FMCG, pharmaceutical, agriculture, IT/ITES, infrastructure and start-ups. He joined Mint in February 2025, and covers agriculture, food processing, fertilizers, environment and climate change, bringing over two decades of experience reporting on farm policy, food inflation, crop trade, and rural livelihoods.<br><br>Vijays areas of reporting include food security and climate change policies, focusing on their impact on different stakeholders and their implications. His expertise lies in simplifying complex agri-economic issues such as edible oil import dependence, cotton and wheat trends, fertiliser subsidies, and climate-related risks. He has covered key developments including global supply disruptions and evolving trade policies, offering both macroeconomic perspective and field-level context. Known for his credible and balanced reporting, he follows a rigorous, fact-based approach that prioritises accuracy and context. He is driven by a commitment to public interest, aiming to make critical agricultural and economic issues accessible while contributing to informed policy and industry discussions.
Washington, Apr 11 (PTI) "The path to the moon is open, but the work ahead is greater than the work behind," Amit Kshatriya, NASA Associate Administrator, said shortly after the Artemis-II crew returned to earth off the coast of San Diego.

Amid claps and cheers, four astronauts of NASA's Artemis-II mission splashed down in the Pacific ocean at 8:07 eastern time on Friday after a historic flight to the moon  the first by humans in more than 50 years.

Artemis II was the first crewed mission to utilise NASA's Space Launch System rocket and Orion crew module - demonstrating that the agency's equipment can propel astronauts out of Earth's orbit and bring them safely home.

NASA now aims to land humans on the moon, where the space agency also plans to set up a habitat that would be the launchpad for future missions to Mars and beyond.

The lunar flyby mission involving Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada's Jeremy Hansen was the first journey to the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972, when Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt spent three days exploring the lunar surface.

Rick Henfling, the flight director, said the Artemis II astronauts are "happy and healthy and ready to come home to Houston."

"Yesterday, flight director Jeff Radigan said we had less than a degree of an angle to hit after a quarter of a million miles to the moon," Kshatriya told a press conference.

"And their team hit it. This is not luck; that is 1,000 people doing their job," he said.

The mission flew 700,237 miles; its peak velocity was 24,664 m.p.h.; and the flight had an entry range of 1,957 miles but landed within one mile of its target, Henfling said.

It was a triumphant homecoming for the crew of four whose record-breaking lunar flyby revealed not only swaths of the moon's far side never seen before by human eyes but a total solar eclipse.

They emerged from their bobbing capsule into the sunlight one by one.

Henfling said his team 'breathed a sigh of relief' once the side hatch opened on the Orion Integrity after it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.

"We all breathed a sigh of relief once the hatch opened up. That's when we brought the team in," he said.

"We said a few words to the flight controllers, and then we turned around to the families and waved and gave them a thumbs up, and we all watched as each of their four astronauts got out of the spaceship and were hoisted up onto the helicopters. It was a great day," he added.

Henfling said his team felt "anxiety" as the four astronauts re-entered the Earth's atmosphere, but felt confident in all their training leading up to the history-making lunar mission.

NASA said the Artemis III mission is "right around the corner" following its history-making journey around the moon.

"The next mission is right around the corner, and you know, we'll take the lessons learned from Artemis II," Henfling said.

"We learned a bunch on how to fly people in space, both from vehicle operations, but also from how to run a control room with a deep space mission. And when the time is right, we'll get back into specific training, and we've got a core group of about 30 flight directors, and they're all extremely capable.
GluBios sickle-cell drug candidates trail rivals from Novartis and Bristol-Myers, but Lu said it could close the gap by doing early-stage research and testing in China. It takes about two to four months to get a clinical trial going in China after seeking regulatory clearance, compared with six to nine months in the U.S.
There is also a deeper strategic reason Beijing may like this trend. Interest-based consumption is less dependent on debt-fueled housing wealth and less politically awkward than conspicuous luxury. It fits the current policy mood: support domestic demand, encourage local brands, develop services, and cultivate new categories of consumption without relying on another old-style property stimulus. Reuters reported that officials want consumption to account for a larger share of GDP over the next five years and said its contribution to economic growth should rise steadily by 2030.
A significant gulf between the two delegations remains before talks begin. The initial version of a peace proposal circulated by Iranian officials called on the U.S. to accept Tehrans right to enrich nuclear material, a red line for the White House. The administration has since said Iran has softened some of its points. And while some oil tankers have again started to transit the Strait of Hormuz as Iran continues to maintain its grip on that waterway, Trump has warned Tehran against collecting tolls.
The markups may reflect bargain hunting, buying stakes at a discount to a funds official net asset value. But they also defy the conventional notion that an asset is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. The problem arises when certain valuations look too good to be true, undermining the credibility of others.
Despite the public threats, there have been signs of compromise around the edges as efforts to get a diplomatic track going played out this past week. Iran initially laid out a list of 10 demands as its price for stopping the war. They included recognition of its control of the Strait of Hormuz and the right to enrich uranium, an end to sanctions, war reparations and the departure of U.S. forces from the region.
That said, FII buying is a data point to be considered alongside other metrics. Foreign investors can and do exit positions just as swiftly as they enter them.
SAO PAULO, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday called for peace, saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "threatening" the world.

"The world is difficult, Trump is threatening everyone," Lula said during a speech at the inauguration of a federal education institute campus in Sorocaba, Sao Paulo state.

In his speech, Lula reiterated Brazil's stance against involvement in conflicts.

"We in Brazil do not want war, we want peace," Lula said, adding that his government prioritizes improving access to social, economic and cultural services. 
By the third day of my trip in the Seychelles, I knew I was developing a minor obsession. It started with salted breadfruit chips, followed by curries where the starchy chunks acted as perfect sponges for spicy gravies. Watching me clear yet another plate, my tour guide Camille Randolph said with a grin, theres a saying on the island that if you eat the breadfruit in the Seychelles, you are destined to return. I wondered if my repeated helpings had secured me a permanent residency.

Driving through the winding roads of Mahe, the scent of breadfruit roasting at roadside stalls is unmistakable. For a few rupees, you can buy a warm, charred orb wrapped in newspapera snack as ubiquitous as a baguette in Paris.

Visitors often ask if its a giant lime or a jackfruit, says Randolph. I tell them, that is our insurance policy. Even if the ships stop coming tomorrow, no one in the Seychelles will go hungry as long as that tree is standing. Its been our guardian since the first settlers arrived.

Also Read | What and where to eat in Seychelles

Along with cassava and sweet potato, breadfruit was a primary staple in the Seychelles long before rice was introduced in the 1950s. In the late 18th century, French and British explorers viewed breadfruit as a low-cost solution for feeding enslaved populations. Known as the Tree of Life, its wood built house rafters and canoes, while its sticky latex waterproofed boats. The broad leaves thatched roofs and wrapped meals.

Depending on the hour of the day, the breadfruit or friyapen pivots from a snack, to a main course or a lush dessert. For Marcus Freminot, head chef at Carana Beach Hotel, the fruit evokes childhood memories of his grandmothers stews. But he warns that the fruit is highly temperamental. You cannot rush it. If you pick too early, it is hard; too late, and it is sweet and elastic. You have to wait for the small drops of white latex to appear on the skin. That is the fruit telling you it is ready.

View full Image View full Image Breadfruit with white latex on its skin.

Traditionally, the breadfruit is tossed whole into burning coconut husks until charred, then cracked open to reach the steaming white flesh. With a profile between mashed potatoes and sourdough, it can be cubed for curries or fried into French fries. While common in savoury dishes, it also anchors the dessert Ladob where slabs of ripe fruit are slow-simmered in fresh coconut milk with nutmeg and vanilla.

The breadfruit is a prolific traveller. Long before I encountered it in Mahe, I knew it as sheema chakka, the spiky green fruit from my grandmothers backyard in Trivandrum. She would cook the chunks with fanfare reserved for a chicken curry. Later, in my in-laws home in Mumbai, I saw it sliced and panfried as kaap.

Breadfruit can now be spotted on white-linen tables. At Carana Beach Hotel, Freminot turns the fruit into soups, croquettes and even beignets. On Creole nights at the hotel, the fruit is the star. Guests see these massive fruits while driving around the island, then they come to the hotel and realise this is what they are eating, Freminot says. His team has even developed a breadfruit cheesecake. While we can always return to our grandmother-style curries, we must innovate and find new ways to spark interest and show the younger generation that breadfruit isnt just a relic of the past. Its our future.

At the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles, sous chef Terence Florentine prepares a breadfruit gratin, slow-baked in cream until golden. At Avani Plus, executive chef Robin Etienne serves breadfruit gnocchi with smoked fish.

This shift is more than a trend; its a necessity. Global supply chains are unpredictable. Every time there is a shortage of imported potatoes or carrots, we see the value of our own sweet potato, cassava and breadfruit, adds Freminot.

My guide was right about the pull of the island, though it has more to do with the plate than folklore. As I finished my last bowl of breadfruit and fish curry, I realized the friyapen represents a culture that knows how to turn a fruit into a thousand reasons to stay. For now, Ill settle for another bag of chips for the flight home, a salty reminder that some legends are worth eating.
ED officials on Saturday visited the residence of former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee in Kolkata in connection with the school jobs recruitment scam, sources said.

A team of ED officials reached Chatterjee's house in the Naktala area around 10.45 am after central forces cordoned off the premises, they said.

Chatterjee was released on bail on November 11, 2025, after spending over three years (39 months) in custody following his arrest by the ED on July 23, 2022, in connection with the scam.

The team conducted a search at his residence and questioned him, an ED official said, adding that Chatterjee did not attend an earlier summons after his release on bail.

He had secured bail from the Supreme Court in the CBI-probed case in August 2025 and subsequently in other related cases before being released from judicial custody after completing formalities.

He had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kolkata before his release.

The investigation began with ED raids on July 22-23, 2022, at his Naktala residence and the premises of his close associate, Arpita Mukherjee.

During these raids, over 50 crore in cash and gold jewellery were seized, and both Chatterjee and Mukherjee were arrested.

Also Read | How a maid pulled off a fake ED raid at elderly couple's house in Delhi

Chatterjee was accused of being the "mastermind" in a multi-crore scam involving illegal appointments of teachers and non-teaching staff (Group C & D) in government-aided schools while serving as the state's education minister.

His bail conditions included surrendering his passport and not leaving the jurisdiction of the trial court.

Following the arrest, he was stripped of his cabinet portfolios and suspended from the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
A man was arrested for allegedly abusing a five-year-old boy and murdering him in Bihar's Jehanabad. The incident occurred at the hostel of a residential school in Jehanabad, where the accused worked as a canteen guard.

The accused was identified as Mukesh alias Sudama, 46, NDTV reported. During the inquiry, it was found that Mukesh's wife had left him years ago.

As per the report, the guard was "frustrated" as the children at the hostel allegedly taunted him by calling him 'impotent', Superintendent of Police Aprajit Lohan was quoted by NDTV as saying.

The accused reportedly had a dispute with the hostel operator and threatened to defame the hostel and force its closure, police said.

Boy sexually abused, murdered The incident happened on Sunday night. Mukesh allegedly lured the victim to his room and sexually abused him.

Fearing that he could scream and get him arrested, Mukesh slit the boy's throat and dumped his body on the staircase of the hostel, the report added.

The boy's father received a call the next morning from hostel's operator, Tarun Kumar, and was informed that his son had been admitted to a private hospital.

At the hospital, he found his son with his throat slit, his genitals severed, and cuts on the left side of his abdomen, the First Information Report (FIR) read, as per NDTV.

He reportedly shifted his son to a multi-specialty hospital in Patna on the advice of the doctors, where he was declared dead.

Police registered a case of rape by a person in authority, gang rape, murder and under sections of Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO).

Tarun Kumar was taken into custody. A teacher and two staff members were also detained but were allowed to go after questioning, NDTV reported.

As per the report, several crucial leads were obtained during the investigation, based on which Mukesh was also taken into custody, said Lohan.

When interrogated, he confessed to his crime and said he was drunk at that time, police added.
Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh held discussions with US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen Ken Wilsbach here to advance shared priorities in support of the strong and growing defence partnership between the two countries.

Singh received a full honours arrival at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling here on April 8 and met Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Wilsbach at the Pentagon.

In addition to his engagements in the national capital region, Singh visited Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado for briefings centred on the binational North American Aerospace Defence Command mission of aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning for North America, officials said.

The IAF chief also travelled to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, where the visit included briefings at the US Air Force Warfare Centre and a familiarisation flight in an F-15EX Eagle II, a statement from the US Air Force (USAF) said.

"Opportunities like this are crucial for building our joint interoperability and strengthening the strategic partnership between our air forces," Singh was quoted as saying in the statement.

During the office calls, Department of the Air Force senior leaders emphasised the priority America places on its defence partnership with India, highlighting its central role in ensuring a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

Wilsbach praised India's leadership and participation in multilateral exercises with like-minded partners and stressed how continuing to prioritise and expand such cooperation is key to enhancing regional deterrence.

He also welcomed India's procurement of MQ-9B Sky Guardian aircraft and emphasised the US Air Force commitment to ensuring the Indian Armed Forces can seamlessly and effectively employ the platform upon delivery.

Also Read | Iran getting new air defense system? Report claims China eyeing weapons shipment

Wilsbach also underscored USAF's readiness to further support IAF's modernisation efforts, noting the mutual benefits of pursuing these goals through defence industrial collaboration.

"It was an honour to host Air Chief Marshal AP Singh for this important counterpart visit," he said.

"Throughout his day at the Pentagon, we had great discussions focused on modernisation efforts, future training opportunities and our shared commitment to a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific," Wilsbach said.
Rescue operations continued on Saturday near Keshi Ghat after at least ten people were killed in a boat capsizing a day earlier, officials said. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) leading the rescue efforts.

The NDRF teams on Friday retrieved the boat that had capsized.

Mathura DIG Shailesh Kumar Pandey told ANI, "The boat has been retrieved after a 4-hour continuous effort. The death toll till now is 10, as informed earlier, and their post mortem is almost completed, after which they will be sent off to their homes."

Agra Divisional Commissioner Nagendra Pratap said rescue operations are still underway and that the injured are being treated in Vrindavan hospitals.

"Rescue operations are underway. 10 people died in the incident, and a post-mortem of the dead bodies is being done before being sent to their respective homes. The injured are being treated in Vrindavan. 5 are reportedly missing," he said.

According to police, around 25 to 27 people were on board when the accident took place.

PM Modi announces ex gratia of  2 lakh Meanwhile, Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia of 2 lakh from the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of those who died, while the injured will receive 50,000. He expressed grief over the tragedy, offering condolences to the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the incident as "extremely tragic and heart-rending" and said officials have been directed to ensure proper treatment for the injured.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Lakshmi Narayan Chaudhary termed the incident unfortunate and said pilgrims from Haryana and Punjab were affected after a sudden storm led to the capsizing of the boat in the Yamuna.

"It is an unfortunate incident. Pilgrims from Haryana and Punjab drowned after a sudden storm capsized in the River Yamuna. 21 people have been rescued safely and are being given free treatment. 10 dead bodies, including 5 men and 5 women, whose postmortem is going on. Entire district administration is working on the ground, including NDRF and SDRF," he said.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Ludhiana's Atam Nagar, Kulwant Sidhu, met the families of the victims and expressed condolences.

Speaking to reporters, Kulwant Sidhu said, I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Some people are missing.
Staring at a woman colleagues chest in an office setting, can be morally wrong or indecent conduct of the man, but does not amount to the offence of voyeurism under Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Bombay High Court was quoted by Bar and Bench and Live Law as saying recently.

Section 354C in The Indian Penal Code, 1860, defines and punishes the offence of voyeurism. It says:

Any man who watches, or captures the image of a woman engaging in a private act in circumstances where she would usually have the expectation of not being observed either by the perpetrator or by any other person at the behest of the perpetrator or disseminates such image shall be punished on first conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than one year, but which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine, and be punished on a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than three years, but which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Staring in an office environment does not fit this category.

The case in the Bombay High Court pertains to a complaint that alleged that during meetings, the accused did not maintain eye contact and instead stared at her body parts and made inappropriate comments, NDTV reported.

The company's internal complaints committee (ICC) had previously cleared the accused in this matter.

In this particular case, Justice Amit Borkar held that such actions are morally wrong but do not meet the legal criteria under Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), NDTV reported.

According to the Indian Express, the court passed an order on April 8 on a criminal application by a man who was booked in 2015 by the Mumbai Police for the offence of voyeurism punishable under Section 354-C of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The court had then set aside the First Information Report (FIR) and subsequent criminal proceedings against a senior executive of a private insurance company, noting that law cannot be stretched beyond plain words. Continuing the case would be an abuse of the legal process, the court noted.

A single-judge Bench of Justice Amit Borkar observed, The allegation is only that he stared at her chest during office meetings. Unwanted staring, even if accepted as true, is not the same thing as voyeurism within the meaning of Section 354-C. The statute cannot be stretched beyond its plain words.

Delhi HC quashes voyeurism case against ice cream vendor Last month, the Delhi High Court quashed an FIR registered against an ice cream vendor for voyeurism and stalking based on a compromise between the parties and appreciated his "benevolent gesture" to give ice cream to all personnel at Model Town police station.

According to a PTI report on March 22, Justice Saurabh Banerjee observed that since there was a voluntary settlement in the matter, continuing the FIR, registered in 2018 against the petitioner would be an exercise in futility.

"Accordingly, the present petition is allowed and FIR No.23/2018 dated 20.01.2018 registered at PS: Model Town under Sections 354(C)/354(D)/385/384 IPC and all proceedings emanating therefrom are hereby quashed," the court said in the order passed on March 13.

The alleged victim said that pursuant to an agreement reached in January, the petitioner paid her a settlement amount of 45,000. She said she is now married, has a child, and had no objection to the quashing of the FIR.
Controversial preacher Sant Rampal, accused in the 2014 violence case, walked out of jail on Saturday, April 11, after spending 11 years in custody. Rampal was granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, citing age and long incarceration. Outside the jail, Rampal's family members and followers were present to receive him.

Ahead of his release, the police had made elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order situation. A video of the controversial preacher's comeback to his ashram has also surfaced on social media, with his supporters claiming victory.

Who is Sant Rampal and why was he arrested? Rampal, born September 8, 1951, is a self-styled Godman. He has a diploma in civil engineering from the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Nilokheri, Karnal. In his early years, Rampal also worked as a junior engineer for 18 years in the Government of Haryana's Irrigation department.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, after encountering a Kabir Panthi saint in 1994, he adopted the name Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj and began preaching to followers.

Also Read | Who is godman Sant Rampal

He later established the Satlok Ashram in Rohtak district.

Rampal was booked for various offences, including attempt to murder and waging war against the State, besides under provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

According to the FIR, Rampal and 900 of his followers had resisted his arrest at the Satlok Ashram in the Barwala area of Hisar in 2014, following a non-bailable warrant.

According to the prosecution, a large number of his supporters had gathered, some of them armed, and even used women and children allegedly as shields. The situation had resulted in violence breaking out.

As many as six of his followers were killed in a clash with the police when the latter came to arrest him in a murder case. He was arrested after a 10-day siege when the Haryana government, too, cut off supplies to the ashram to force him out.

Bail to Rampal On April 8, the high court granted bail to Rampal of the Satlok Ashram in the 2014 case, while directing him not to promote any kind of "mob mentality" and to avoid participating in congregations where there is any kind of tendency amongst "disciples" or participants to cause breach of peace and disturb law and order.

Rampal's counsel told the high court that he is 75 years of age and that about 900 accused named in the FIR have already been granted bail. Out of these co-accused, 140 were charged under the same sections as Rampal, it was submitted.

Also Read | When self-styled godman Sant Rampal got busted

It was further submitted that of the 425 prosecution witnesses, only 58 have so far been examined and the trial is not likely to conclude in the near future.

Rampal's lawyer had also pointed out that his client was in jail since December 8, 2014. "Considering the long incarceration of the appellant/accused, which is more than 11 years, and his age being about 75 years and that majority of the witnesses are yet to be examined, on account of which the trial is not likely to be concluded in the near future, it is a fit case to release the appellant/accused on regular bail," the court order said.
Benjamin Franklin, who is considered one among the Founding Fathers of the United States, highlighted the importance of managing expenses wisely as he believed that even small expenses can accumulate and lead to significant financial problems.

Quote of the day by Benjamin Franklin on spending money wisely: "Beware of little expenses, a small leak will sink a great ship.

His quote suggests that minor expenses, if not controlled, can result in major financial issues, underscoring the need for careful budgeting. This implies that when one neglects small expenses, they don't realise that it could have serious consequences in the long run. Through this quote he emphasized the importance of financial vigilance and management.

Also Read | Quote of the Day by Warren Buffett: Earn Beyond Your Hours

A polymath  a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher and political philosopher, Benjamin Franklin was counted among the most influential intellectuals of his time.

Born in Massachusetts Bay, Franklin Benjamin Franklin was born in Massachusetts Bay, Franklin, on 17 January 1706 to Josiah Franklin who worked as a tallow chandler, soaper and candlemaker. He was the eighth child of Abiah and Josiah. He grew up along the Charles River and attended Boston Latin School for a short period. An advocate of free speech from an early age, he shared his sentiments and beliefs in "The New-England Courant" under the pseudonym of "Silence Dogood", a middle-aged widow.

Also Read | Trump nominates of hush money case lawyers to appeals court

Seeking a new start in a new city, he ran away to Philadelphia at the age of 17. He became a successful newspaper editor and printer in Philadelphia. An active participant in community affairs and colonial and state politics, he became the first postmaster general for the British colonies in 1753. His contributition to the field of science were notable as he invented lightning rod, bifocals, glass harmonica and the Franklin stove. Founder of many civic organizations, Franklin earned the title of "The First American" for his early and indefatigable campaigning for colonial unity.

He amassed significant wealth by publishing The Pennsylvania Gazette at age 23 and Poor Richard's Almanack under the pseudonym "Richard Saunders". It is important to note that Benjamin Franklin was the only person who signed the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris peace with Britain, and the Constitution. With many towns and counties named after him, his life and legacy continue to inspire and motivate the young to this day.
Irans new Supreme Leader, 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei, is reportedly still recovering from serious facial and leg injuries sustained in the airstrike that killed his father at the start of the conflict, according to three people close to his inner circle speaking to Reuters.

Khamenei's face was disfigured in the attack on the supreme leader's compound in central Tehran and he suffered a significant injury to one or both legs, all three sources said, as reported by Reuters.

The 56-year-old is nonetheless recovering from his wounds and remains mentally sharp, according to the people, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. He is taking part in meetings with senior officials via audio conferencing and is engaged in decision-making on major issues, including the war and negotiations with Washington, two of them told Reuters.

Mojtaba Khamenei has not made any public appearances since taking over as supreme leader, and U.S. officials say he was injured during the conflict, according to a report by AP.

Reports suggest the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other military units may now be functioning without clear centralised command. Analysts also warn that any ceasefire agreement that fails to satisfy the IRGC and hardline factions could lead to divisions within Irans political leadership.

Who is Mojtaba Khamenei? Born in 1969 in Mashhad, about a decade before Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution, Mojtaba Khamenei grew up during the period when his father was actively opposing Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, according to a report by AP.

An official biography of Ali Khamenei describes an incident in which the shahs secret police, SAVAK, raided their home and assaulted the cleric. After the event, Mojtaba and his siblings were reportedly told that their father had gone away on a vacation.

But I told them, There is no need to lie. I told them the truth," the elder Khamenei was quoted as saying, AP reported.

Also Read | White House warns staff against betting on prediction markets amid US-Iran war

However, the proposal to have Mojtaba Khamenei succeed his father has been criticised as resembling hereditary succession in Irans theocratic system, akin to a monarchy. However, his standing reportedly increased after his father and wife were killed, with hardliners viewing them as martyrs in the conflict against the United States and Israel, as reported by AP.

He is also said to have gained influence over both Irans military, now engaged in conflict, and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium that could potentially be used to develop a nuclear weapon if authorised by leadership, according to a report by AP.

Before being chosen, Khamenei reportedly held a role comparable to that of Ahmad Khomeini, son of Irans first Supreme Leader, Ruhollah Khomeini, acting as an aide, confidant, gatekeeper, and power broker, according to the U.S.-based group United Against Nuclear Iran.
A temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine for Orthodox Easter is set to begin on Saturday afternoon, as US-led diplomatic efforts to end the war falter.

The Kremlin said it had ordered a temporary truce from Saturday at 4:00 pm (1300 GMT) until the end of Sunday, a 32-hour period.

Russia's Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and army chief Valery Gerasimov have been instructed to "cease hostilities in all directions during this period", the Kremlin said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv had "repeatedly stated" it was ready for a ceasefire over Easter, and was willing to reciprocate.

The temporary ceasefire came as US-led talks on ending the four-year-old conflict have been derailed by the Middle East war.

The two sides also held a ceasefire for the Orthodox Easter last year.

Authorities in Ukraine's southern Odessa said on Saturday that two people had been killed in Russian strikes, and two others wounded, just hours before the ceasefire was set to begin.

Two people were killed and around 15 others wounded overnight Friday in two separate attacks in Ukraine's central region of Poltava, and Sumy, a region in the northeast, regional authorities said.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 128 drones against the country overnight Thursday.

Slowdown in Russian military operations Several rounds of US-led talks have failed to bring the warring sides closer to an agreement and Washington's attention is now focused on Iran.

The negotiations have become deadlocked, with Moscow demanding territorial and political concessions that Zelensky has ruled out as tantamount to capitulation.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Russia had discussed the ceasefire with Ukraine or the United States in advance and said it was not linked to negotiations to end the war.

The war has cost hundreds of thousands of lives and forced millions to flee their homes, making it Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

Over the past few years, fighting on the front has come to a near standstill. Russia has made small territorial gains at a high cost.

But Kyiv recently managed to push back in the southeast and Russian advances have been slowing since late 2025, according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Apart from Ukrainian counter-attacks, analysts attributed the slowdown to Russia being banned from using SpaceX's Starlink satellites and Moscow's own efforts to block the Telegram messaging app.

The situation is, however, unfavourable for Ukraine in the Donetsk region, towards the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, according to the ISW.
KABUL, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in the deadly shooting in Afghanistan's western Herat province has climbed to 11 as four more of the victims succumbed to their injuries, a provincial official said Saturday.

Unknown armed men opened fire on a group of people at a picnic site in Injil district of Herat on Friday, leaving seven dead and injuring 13 others, according to the Ministry of Interior Affairs.

While a suspect has been arrested, no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the bloody shooting. 
USIran War Highlights: Islamabad is hosting negotiation talks between Iran and the United States on Saturday seeking to end their six-week-old war.

Both Iranian and the United State delegates are in Islamabad for ceasefire talks. The peace talks between America and Iran started in Islamabad around 6 pm.

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.

Vance, while he left for Pakistan, told reporters, "We're going to try to have a positive negotiation," and at the same time, issued a blunt warning don't play with us

Meanwhile, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said, Our experience of negotiations with the Americans has always been met with failure and breach of promise. They attacked us twice in the middle of the negotiations. We have goodwill but no trust.

Trump on Friday said that Iran has "no cards" in upcoming talks with the United States, apart from its effective stranglehold on the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping channel

In a separate interview, he noted US warships are being reloaded with weaponry to strike Iran if the talks in Pakistan 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.

Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter said Israel refused to discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah but agreed to begin formal peace talks with the Lebanese government.

Lebanon's presidency said Friday a meeting will be held at the US State Department on Tuesday "to discuss declaring a ceasefire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices," according to a statement.

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Anthropic banned the founder of AI agent platform OpenClaw temporarily before reinstating his account. Peter Steinberger, creator of OpenClaw, on Friday said that his Claude account had been suspended while sharing an image of the email he received from Anthropic over the account being inaccessible due to suspicious activity.

An internal investigation of suspicious signals associated with your account indicates a violation of our Usage Policy. As a result, we have revoked your access to Claude, read the email from Anthropic shared by Steinberger.

Yeah folks, it's gonna be harder in the future to ensure OpenClaw still works with Anthropic models, Steinberger noted in the post.

However, the ban didn't last long, with Steinberger posting just a few hours later, My account got reinstated. Thanks, folks!

Why did Anthropic ban OpenClaw creator? Anthropic has not officially revealed the reason for the suspension of Steinberger's account. However, the OpenClaw creator did give some hint on what may have gotten him in trouble with the Claude maker.

Steinberger said in response to a post that he has been working on getting a Claude feature working with OpenClaw, which seems to have gotten him banned.

Also Read | OpenAI claims Anthropic delayed Mythos because of computing power issues: Report

I've been working on getting the claude -p fallback feature working after Boris confirmed that it's a classifier bug and not intentional. We're still blocked and it seems that got me banned too, said Steinberger.

Notably, Anthropic had earlier this week announced that it was banning third-party AI agent platforms like OpenClaw from using Claude due to the enormous infrastructure strain caused by the platform.

Steinberger had developed OpenClaw via vibe coding and had initially named it Clawdbot until he received a nudge from Anthropic to change the name due to similarity with the popular AI chatbot. The name later stuck as OpenClaw, and the platform gained mass acceptance earlier this year as users tried the AI agent platform.

Unlike usual chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude, OpenClaw allows users to interact with it from their favourite platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, iMessage, Signal, and Microsoft Teams. The platform also allows users to receive summaries, reminders, or briefings via its AI.

Also Read | OpenAI says it faced a security issue, forces mandatory update for all Mac users

The popularity of OpenClaw led to Steinberger getting hired by OpenAI to lead next-generation personal AI agents. However, he continues to work on improving OpenClaw and is often seen taking inputs from users on X on how to improve the performance of the platform.
OpenAI has confirmed that it had faced a recent security issue involving the third-party developer library Axios, which it says was part of a broader industry incident. The ChatGPT maker, in a post on X, says that it found no evidence that its user data was accessed or its systems were compromised or its software was altered in any way.

Out of an abundance of caution, we are taking steps to protect the process that certifies our macOS applications are legitimate OpenAI apps, the company wrote in a post on X.

We are updating our security certifications, which will require all macOS users to update their OpenAI apps to the latest versions. This helps prevent any riskhowever unlikelyof someone attempting to distribute a fake app that appears to be from OpenAI. You can update safely through an in-app update or at the official links below, it added.

OpenAI has also clarified that the vulnerability is strictly limited to its macOS applications. If you use ChatGPT on iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, or through a web browser, you are completely unaffected by this incident.

What happened during the security incident? The security issue stems from a "supply chain attack" on 31, 2026. Instead of attacking OpenAI directly, hackers compromised Axios, a popular online library that developers use to build their software. The company noted in a blog post that a GitHub Actions workflow used in its macOS app-signing process ended up downloading a malicious version of the library.

This workflow had access to the certificates used to sign Mac applications like ChatGPT Desktop and Codex. The certificate basically tells the operating system that the software comes from a legitimate developer.

While OpenAI says that its analysis shows the certificate was likely not stolen by the malicious payload, the company says out of an abundance of caution, it is treating the certificate as compromised and is revoking and rotating it.

Mandatory update for Mac users As a result of the security incident, the ChatGPT maker is forcing a mandatory update for its macOS users. The company says older versions of the Mac desktop apps will no longer receive updates or support from 8 May 2026, and they may stop functioning entirely.

Also Read | AI Tool of the Week: Google Vids transforms workplace training

If a bad actor did manage to get their hands on the old certificate, they could technically use it to sign their own code and create fake ChatGPT apps that look legitimate. To counter this, the company has stopped new software notarisation using the old certificate. Once the old certificate is fully revoked in May, macOS security protections will automatically block any new downloads and first-time launches of apps signed with it.
Google Pixel users have begun to experience a weird issue following the rollout of March 2026 Pixel update. Several users have taken to forums like Reddit and Google's official Issue Tracker to reveal t hat their Pixel devices are getting stuck on the bootloop, that is getting stuck on the G logo, which leaves their devices unusable.

As per a 9to5Google report, the recent bug in Pixel update seems to be affecting various Pixel moels including the Pixle 10, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 7 Poro, Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro XL.

What issues are users facing after Google's latest update? The issues after March Goolge update are varied for different users. Some users complaint that their devices are refusing to turn on entirely. Meanwhile, others state that their phones are constantly rebooting and getting stuck on the initial boot screen with the "G" logo

Some users also state that their devices are being forced into Recovery mode and displaying errors that the device data or the "Android system" might be corrupted.

When I boot my phone and was asked to enter my password, the phone turns to black screen, freezes and reboots itself after having entered the correct passcode. When I enter a wrong passcode it can identify that it's wrong though. wrote a Pixel 6 user on Reddit

I am experiencing the same issue on a Pixel 6 and have tried sideloading March update multiple times with no luck. I am stuck in a bootloop. added another user

The march OTA caused a lot of Pixel Phones to bootloop. They basically wont turn on and are completely unusable. Currently there is no real solution apart from factory reset which according to reports online is at least unreliable. So far Google hasnt adressed the issue properly. added another user

Google has officially acknoweldged the issue in a comment on its Issue Tracker and said that it has shared the problem with its engineering team and is actively working to identify a fix.

The company also responded to various Reddit threads, stating that it has contacted the users facing issues after the March udpate.

What to do if you are struck on bootloop?

Google recommends reaching out to Pixel support immediately to get the assistance from the company. But if you are stuck in an emergency, here's a fix that some users on Reddit have pointed out worked for the.

A few reported that they were able to get their Pixel to boot by starting it in Safe Mode while keeping it plugged in.
The self-proclaimed "best thrift store in the USA" is just about to open its first San Antonio location. Zachary-Taylor Wright/MySA

Bargain hunters and thrift aficionados in San Antonio rejoice: A thrift store chain, which self identifies as the best thrift store in the USA, is opening its very first San Antonio location in just days. The Alamo City loves a bargain, and a new name has just entered the chat.

Youd be hard pressed to find a local in this city who doesnt have a gatekept list of favorite thrift stores on far flung edges or tucked away shopping centers in San Antonio. But a lot of those names can start to feel repetitive  if not a little frustrating when trying to remember which Goodwill off U.S. 281 had all the good finds. But Red White & Blue Thrift Stores is joining the herd and may be bringing some special deals.

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Red White & Blue Thrift Stores have been a trusted destination for second-hand shopping for over 60 years, offering high-quality apparel, home furnishings, and more at affordable prices, a company spokesperson told MySA back in December when confirming construction at the upcoming Walzem Road location was wrapping up.

Now, we have an official grand opening date. At 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 23, Red White & Blues first San Antonio location will open its doors at 5722 Walzem Road.

Red White & Blue Thrift Stores looks ready to greet customers in its first San Antonio location, but shoppers will have to wait a bit longer. Zachary-Taylor Wright/MySA

Weve been thrilled by the warm reception to our recent store openings in Houston and Arlington, and were excited to bring thousands of fresh items every day to San Antonio with our new store opening in 2026, the spokesperson said.

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It couldnt be opening at a better time, either. The company just announced its new colored tag system for snatching even bigger deals, discounting items by as much as 75% (peach tag) or as little as 25% (blue tag). But there are other colorful tags with discounts cycled throughout the week.

This first foray into San Antonio from Red White & Blue Thrift is a welcome addition to the stretch of Walzem Road east of I-35, near Roosevelt High School, on the Northeast Side of San Antonio. Its a bit of a new supreme rising situation (if you know you know) as the store is replacing an old Goodwill that shuttered a couple of years ago.

So, were nixing one beloved  though sometimes debated  chain for San Antonios first endeavor into a different national competitor. This new discount retailer is different from other San Antonio staples, though. Red White & Blue Thrift is openly marketed as for-profit, while many, if not all, of San Antonios thrift brands are nonprofits serving the community.

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With locations nationwide, our stores make it easy to shop smart, save money, and support a more sustainable way of living. Every visit brings new finds and helps create a positive impact in the communities we serve, the company spokesperson said.
Unidentified individuals walk on March 6, 2026, at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge. David Gomez Jr. /Laredo Morning Times

Two felons wanted for sex-related offenses involving children were apprehended on consecutive days last week by officers within the Laredo Field Office area, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

"Our frontline CBP officers maintained laser focus amid steady holiday weekend traffic and apprehended two individuals wanted for sex-related offenses involving children," said Director of Field Operations Donald R. Kusser of the Laredo Field Office in a statement. "These are among the most heinous offenses we encounter, and apprehensions like these not only illustrate the importance of our border security mission but also strengthen the security of our communities."

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The first instance occurred April 4 at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge.

CBP said 29-year-old Hermengildo Alcala was referred to secondary inspection. Upon using biometric verification and federal law enforcement databases, CBP said it discovered he had an active felony warrant for aggravated sexual assault of a child out of San Antonio. Alcala was remanded to Webb County Jail.

The second incident occurred April 5 at the Gateway International Bridge in Brownsville.

Officers referred 24-year-old Jonathan Hernandez to secondary inspection. Upon further investigation, CBP said it was discovered he had an active felony warrant for indecency with a child by sexual contact issued by the Brownsville Police Department. He was turned over to Brownsville police.
Fernando Machado, the suspect in Laredos third homicide of 2025 who was injured following a standoff with police on March 15, was released from the hospital and returned to Laredo on Thursday, March 20, 2025, to be served with pending warrants. Courtesy/Webb County Sheriff's Office Fernando Machado, the suspect in Laredos third homicide of 2025 who was injured following a standoff with police on March 15, was released from the hospital and returned to Laredo on Thursday, March 20, 2025, to be served with pending warrants. Courtesy/Laredo Police Department Efrain Colindres Courtesy

The wheels of justice turn daily in Laredos district courts, where felony charges  some years old, others newly filed  move through the system. Here's a look at some of the cases that were recently on the docket.

Fernando Machado

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Charges:

Capital murder by terror threat/other felony, a capital felony, punishable by life in prison without parole or the death penalty

Burglary of a habitation with intent to commit other felony, a first-degree felony, punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison

Aggravated assault against a public servant (18 counts), a first-degree felony, punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison

Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (2 counts), a second-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison

Cruelty to non-livestock animal: kill/poison/serious bodily injury, a third-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison

Deadly conduct discharge of a firearm (4 counts), a third-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison.

Date filed: June 11, 2025.

Latest info: On March 27, in the 406th District Court, Judge David E. Garcia presiding, the court appointed attorney Fred Trevino to represent the defendant, granted additional time for counsel to review evidence, and set a pre-trial hearing for May 11.

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The former attorney was Russell Jordan before later withdrawing from the case, after which Oscar Pena was briefly appointed. Russell was present at the July 21, 2025 arraignment where Machado pleaded not guilty, waived formal reading of the indictment and remains in custody with no bond on the capital murder charge.

The next scheduled proceedings as of the latest docket entry include:

Pre-trial hearing: May 11, 2026

Jury selection (trial): July 6, 2026

Background

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Machado is accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend, Frida Castillo, 20, on March 15, 2025. He is the suspect in Laredos third homicide of 2025 who was injured following a standoff with police.

Castillo was among three people airlifted to San Antonio before dying there. Machado and Castillos brother, Jorge Castillo, 22, were also taken to San Antonio. Castillos mother, Diana Elizabeth Lopez, 44, was hospitalized in Laredo.

Machado was released from the hospital and returned to Laredo on Thursday, March 20, 2025, to be served with the pending warrants.

Machado was previously arrested in January 2025 for an attempted strangulation of Castillo which occurred in 2024.

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The standoff occurred in the 3900 block of Bannock Lane in the Cheyenne neighborhood located off Bob Bullock Loop near the City Hall Annex.

The incident began at 1:50 p.m. with law enforcement responding to reports of a shooting in a residence. Arriving officers were shot at by Machado as over 100 rounds were fired from an automatic heavy-duty firearm. Officers returned fire.

After receiving a call from within the residence, police determined there was no way to negotiate, according to Laredo Police Chief Miguel Rodriguez. The SWAT team was deployed to enter the residence, and it shot and detained Machado.

According to the preliminary investigation, the attack was thought to be premeditated.

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Efrain Colindres

Charges: Murder, a first-degree felony, punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison.

Date filed: Aug. 17, 2010.

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After nearly 30 years behind the anchor desk, Shern-Min Chow is still telling stories, just on her own terms now.

Chow signed off in February from KHOU 11, the Houston station she joined in July 1996. Since then, she's published a novel she's worked on for years, launched a new media venture and taken on a steady stream of opportunities that kept her schedule packed.

What's changed most isn't the pace. It's the rest.

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"Honestly, the biggest change has been sleep," Chow told Chron. "I'm not jokingI get about seven, maybe eight hours a night now, and it makes a big difference."

But slower mornings havent translated into slower days. Chow said she quickly filled the space left by daily news with projects she had long put off.

"Every day is really full with the things I wanted to do that I couldn't when I was working full time," she said.

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At the center of that shift is If Not You, a book she wrote on nights and weekends during her years in TV and finally brought to publication just weeks ago.

"Its a project I worked on for years, and finally getting it across the finish line has been incredibly rewarding," she said.

The novel is inspired by the life of a woman Chow met, whose story still resonates with her. The woman survived a devastating childhood fire in India and went on to build a career as a cancer researcher at MD Anderson.

"Her life story still gets me choked up when I tell people about it," Chow said. "It's really a tremendously inspiring story."

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The book's message, she said, centers on resilience and responsibility.

"If Not You is also a challenge when awful things happen," she said. "If not you, who will speak the truth when you have every reason to be quiet? If not you, then who will stand for those who cannot stand for themselves?"

The reporting instincts that defined her TV career carried over into the writing process. Chow built the story through extensive interviews across continents and layered it with research, even having the subject's family review drafts for accuracy.

"It involved hours and hours of interviews and a lot of research into cultural and historical context," she said.

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Alongside the book, Chow is building SMC Media, which she said stands for "Smart Media Content"not her initialsa venture centered on content creation and partnerships. The work includes influencer-style projects and collaborations, such as a recent deal with Houston First tied to March Madness watch parties downtown.

"I would call that classic content creation with some influencer work," she said.

The venture grew out of ideas Chow had been considering for years, including podcasting, writing and other projects she couldn't easily pursue while working full time in TV news. When contract renewal talks came up, she said she tried to carve out space for that work but couldn't make it fit within the stations structure.

"We went back and forthand it just kept coming back like, 'Nah, we really can't make that exception,'" she said. "So I said, 'OK, thanks very much,' but we parted friends."

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Even so, the transition hasn't been a clean break. Not long after leaving, Chow got a call from her former station and returned to KHOU 11 for a freelance appearance tied to a development in the decades-old Lovers' Lane murders casea story she had covered years earlier.

"So, just when you think you're out, they pull you back in," Chow recalled her former director joking, referencing The Godfather.

She's also been back at the station more recently, appearing this week to talk about her new book.

Her day-to-day now looks different from a newsroom shift but carries its own demands. Chow spends much of her time pitching ideas, creating videos and managing her online presence.

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She said staying active on social media has taken more time than expected, particularly after receiving an overwhelming number of messages following her departure. At one point, she said, Facebook temporarily locked her account after she replied to too many comments too quickly.

As her workload grows, she's started to build a small team, recently bringing on Collum, a high school student interested in journalism, as a part-time assistant to help with events and production.

"It's been really refreshing to work with someone so energetic and eager with a fantastic attitude," she said.

The decision to leave KHOU 11 after 30 years had been building quietly in the background. Chow said contract renewal talks forced her to confront it head-on.

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"There's a saying: the best time to do something important was 10 years ago; the second-best time is today," she said. "I realized if I wanted to try something new, I needed to do it now."

She said she misses the people and daily interaction in the newsroom, along with the built-in opportunity to meet new people and hear their stories. At the same time, she's embraced the independence that comes with working on her own, including the freedom to make her own decisions.

That flexibility is shaping what comes next. While she hasn't ruled out a return to TV, Chow said she's more interested in deeper, long-form storytelling.

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Even outside the anchor desk, she said her focus hasn't really changed. It still comes back to meeting people and telling their stories.
Rice University study shows Houston's population is growing, but school enrollment is declining, creating budget challenges for districts. Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspap/Houston Chronicle via Getty Imag

A new Rice University study found that while the Houston metropolitan area grew from 5.2 million residents in 2005 to 7.5 million in 2023, some public school districts are still grappling with enrollment declines that can translate into less state funding. The report notes that "sustained decreases in enrollment mean less funding since schools are largely funded based on the number of students who attend."

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"Many school districts outside the urban core are experiencing rapid population growth that has huge implications for them," Rice University researcher Courtney Thrash explained. "Building schools and adding services takes significant time and financial investment. On the other side, many districts in the urban core are experiencing enrollment decline and facing really difficult decisions about how to best serve the students that remain."

That tension is already playing out in Conroe ISD, where district leaders are trying to close an $8 million budget gap after what officials described as the district's first enrollment decline in nearly a decade, according to prior reporting by The Courier.

"Conroe ISD has seen a slight decline in enrollment this year," a district spokesperson told Chron. "We are planning to open three new campuses next year to better accommodate our existing student population, while some districts are facing the difficult decision to close schools."

The spokesperson added the district does not yet have "a direct correlation as to whether enrollment changes are due to shifting demographics, families choosing alternative education options, or other factors," noting that enrollment is projected to remain relatively stable over the next five years.

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Rice researchers say the explanation is much more complicated than simple population growth, however. The fastest population gains in the Houston area have largely happened in smaller districts outside the urban core. The study found that some of the fastest-growing districts relative to their size were outside central Houston, including Willis ISD and Lamar CISD. Meanwhile, Houston ISD's population grew about 11 percent between 2013 and 2023, while Pasadena ISD grew just 1.9 percent.

A spokesperson for Alief ISD also told Chron in an emailed statement that the district has experienced similar effects firsthand.

"Alief ISD has generally observed effects like those described in the Rice study," Alief ISD said. "The population in southwest Houston has always been highly mobile and has fluctuated due to economic pressures, immigration policy changes, and additional educational options, such as charters, private schools, virtual schools, and homeschooling."

"In 26-27, three new charters are opening within our district boundary lines," the district spokesperson added. "We lost 1,930 students by late October 2025. Since that time, we have continued to lose enrollment, as have most school districts in urban cores in Texas."

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Rice University's report also found that births across the region have stayed relatively flat even as population surged. In other words, more people do not automatically mean more school-aged children.

"Despite population growth in the Houston MSA, the number of children born in the region has remained stagnant and the population is aging," the report explained. "The percentage of the population below age 50 has decreased, while the percentage of the population over age 50 has increased."

A closer look at the numbers show that in 2005, about 91,000 babies were born in the Houston metro area. In 2023, that number was about 96,500. Yet during that same span, the region's population grew by 2.3 million people.

That trend helps explain why districts can add residents without seeing a matching increase in enrollment. Rice's findings also suggest population growth isn't (and shouldn't be) the only factor in explaining enrollment declines or estimating future enrollment.

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"Student mobilityfamilies moving into the district and enrolling their kids thereis driving significant enrollment growth," the study noted. "Alternatively, families moving out of the district could be fueling enrollment decline."

Researchers found that high-growth districts enrolled far more kindergarten students than would be expected based on births alone. Districts with population growth above 40 percent enrolled about 164 kindergarteners for every 100 babies born there five years earlier, compared to 93 kindergarteners for every 100 births in stagnant districts.

That pressure lands at a difficult moment for public schools, which are already facing staffing challenges. A recent University of Houston study found districts are not just struggling to hire teachers. Theyre also losing experienced educators who might otherwise mentor younger ones, adding another strain as schools try to do more with fewer resources.

Rice researchers argue that districts need more usable demographic data to make better decisions.

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"Data is readily available, but accessing and analyzing it can be expensive or require specialized skills," the report concluded.

Their recommendation is that schools consider not just total population, but also births, family mobility and the full mix of educational options available to parents, including charter schools, private schools and homeschooling.

"Demographic studies that predict future enrollment can be very costly for districts, especially when funds are already scarce," researchers said. "Districts would benefit from the Texas Education Agency or another state entity providing more detailed information about the demographic context at the district level, such as births and migration, as well as about the landscape of all educational options (traditional public, charter, and private schools) so they can better prepare for future enrollment."
BEIRUT, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli warplanes intensified their air campaign across the Nabatieh district in southern Lebanon on Saturday, launching airstrikes that killed at least 13 people and caused widespread destruction across multiple areas, including casualties among emergency and health workers.

At dawn, airstrikes targeted a residential building in a town, killing three people. Additionally, an initial strike targeted a cluster of private electricity generators in a village, igniting fires and causing significant damage, followed by another airstrike that killed three people.

According to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health, a strike on Kfar Sir killed four people, including a paramedic affiliated with the Islamic Health Authority, and wounded four others. Another airstrike on Zefta killed three people, including a member of the Lebanese Civil Defense, and injured two others.

In a statement, the ministry condemned the repeated targeting of medical teams, describing it as a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, and said such incidents are being documented as part of international legal proceedings to protect the rights of emergency responders.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said in two statements that its members targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles at the Metula site using attack drones, and launched a rocket salvo at infrastructure belonging to the Israeli army in a settlement.

On March 2, Hezbollah announced the launch of rockets from southern Lebanon toward Israel, marking the first such attack since a ceasefire was declared in November 2024. In response, Israel carried out airstrikes targeting Beirut, its southern suburbs, and other areas.

A two-week ceasefire reached between Iran and the United States took effect on Wednesday. Yet Israel has said the ceasefire does not cover the conflict in Lebanon, and carried out its largest single-day attack on Lebanon on Wednesday, killing more than 300 and injured over 1,100.

On Friday, Lebanon and Israel agreed to hold an initial meeting next Tuesday in Washington on a ceasefire and the date for starting U.S.-mediated negotiations, whereas Iran demanded a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations with the United States on Saturday. 
A major nationwide survey which is being backed by Longford County Council is asking the public to record sightings of red and grey squirrels and pine martens across the island of Ireland throughout 2026.

The next time you walk through a Longford forest, look up.

The flash of russet fur in the branches above you, or a half-eaten pine cone on the path, could be exactly what scientists need.

This project invites people to become citizen scientists by submitting sightings of some of Irelands most iconic woodland mammals.

The survey is led by researchers at University of Galway, Ulster Wildlife and the Vincent Wildlife Trust.

It aims to map the current distribution of red and grey squirrels and pine martens across the island of Ireland. Adam Mulvihill, Biodiversity Officer with Longford County Council, is encouraging everyone to report their sightings to help researchers build a detailed picture of how these populations are changing.

READ NEXT: 2 women charged over viral Longford Post Office brawl involving alleged scissors

Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh said Longfords forests are home to some of Irelands most remarkable wildlife.

"This survey is a chance for every one of our residents  whether they walk the woods every day or only on occasion  to play a direct part in protecting it.

"A simple sighting, recorded online, can make a real difference to how we manage and conserve these species for generations to come.

Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon said Longford County Council is 'proud' to support this survey.

"We know from previous research that pine martens and red squirrel numbers are recovering well in the midlands, and our county sits at the heart of that story.

"Gathering this data will allow researchers and local authorities alike to make better, more informed decisions about habitat management and wildlife conservation across the region.

READ NEXT: 'We have to do more' Longford Senator Paraic Brady says Government support can end protest

The 2026 survey is supported by the National Biodiversity Data Centre in the Republic of Ireland and CEDaR in Northern Ireland. Sightings can be recorded on their websites: www.biodiversityireland.ie and www2.habitas.org.uk/records.

The survey is part of a long-running monitoring programme, with previous surveys carried out on four occasions since 1997, providing vital insights into long-term trends and conservation success

The red squirrel is Irelands only native squirrel.

Once common in woodlands across the country, it has spent much of the past century losing ground to the grey squirrel, introduced in 1911.

Grey squirrels carry a disease to which reds have no resistance, and they outcompete reds for food. In many parts of Ireland, red squirrels simply disappeared.

In recent years, however, something unexpected has happened.

Grey squirrel numbers have fallen sharply in several midland counties, while red squirrel populations have begun to recover. Research points to one likely cause: the pine marten.

Pine martens are native tree-dwelling carnivores, agile enough to catch grey squirrels but met with greater resistance from reds, which evolved alongside them over millennia.

As pine marten numbers have grown  particularly in the midlands  grey squirrel populations in those areas have contracted accordingly.

Dr Colin Lawton of University of Galways School of Natural Sciences, who is leading the survey, explained, In our most recent survey in 2019, we found that the grey squirrel had all but disappeared from ten midland counties, and the red squirrel and pine marten were doing particularly well.

"However, the balance between the three species is finely poised and we need to keep monitoring them to make sure things dont shift again.

"The greys continue to spread in the south and northwest, and they are doing particularly well in urban areas, where pine martens are very rare.

During our last survey, we received an incredible 3,407 records from the public.

"That wealth of information plays a crucial role in protecting our native biodiversity. We are once again asking our citizen scientists to share their sightings, upload photographs and help us understand where these animals are living and how they are faring.

Vicky Knight, Species Conservation Officer at Vincent Wildlife Trust, said, This survey is a fantastic opportunity for people across the island of Ireland to get involved and help improve our understanding of these woodland species.

" At this time of year, its also important for householders to make sure their attics are pine marten-proof.

"Pine martens would typically den in old tree cavities, but because these natural sites are scarce, they are increasingly using buildings to rear their young.
A new report released this week has revealed fresh insights into the cost, size, and adoption of solar panels by households in Longford and across Ireland.

The report analysed over 100,000 Solar PV Scheme grant-supported installations nationwide, finding that home solar panel systems in Longford are 81.5% larger on average than in 2020.

One in every 24 homes in Longford (4.2%) received a Solar PV Scheme grant between 2020 and 2025, with a total of 679 installations.

The average cost per kilowatt peak (kWp) of solar in Longford, according to EnergyEfficiency.ie who carried out the analysis, fell from 3,062 to just 1,737 over the period (-43%).

Figures include the additional cost of battery storage in some installations.

READ NEXT: WATCH: Slow-moving Longford fuel protest and convoy of around 100 vehicles today on the N5

In 2025, the average system size in the county was 6.45 kWp (about 14-15 panels).

This is compared to just 3.56 kWp in 2020.

Longford households invested 7.6 million in home solar PV panels, supported by just over 1.45 million in SEAI grant funding.

Commenting on the report, editor of EnergyEfficiency.ie, Briain Kelly, said that there have been extremely positive changes in the market for solar panels in Ireland since 2020.

READ NEXT: Longford's queue for fuel - Lanesboro - "People even have drums in their car boots!"

Longford homeowners who installed solar panels in 2020 were faced with a ten-year payback period. This has decreased to no more than six years for most households in 2026, he said.

But we must ensure that the momentum achieved in the first half of this decade is not lost, as there are still more than one million homes suitable for solar across Ireland.

With rising energy prices driven by global instability, the value of generating your own electricity has never been higher.

Read the full 2026 EnergyEfficiency.ie Home Solar PV Report here.
A large crowd of people and musicians attended the official launch event for the 2026 Longford Fleadh Cheoil on Friday night at the Castle Inn in Newtownforbes.

This year's Fleadh Cheoil Longfoirt will take place in Newtownforbes on April 17, 18 and 19 and it promises a weekend of craic agus ceoil.

Secretary of the local branch Donna McCann said local people are 'very excited' about it and Newtownforbes last hosted the Fleadh in 2018 and 2019 and 'they are very happy to have it back'.

READ NEXT: 'Haven't seen the worst of it yet': Longford Senator fearful of fuel supply running out

"I think it's going to be the boost that we need in the community to get it, whereas music is doing very well, we need the young people to see that it's not just the classes and kids playing on their own, that it's part of a bigger thing."

There will be a range of community events such as an historical village walk on the Saturday, a seisiuin cheoil in Castle Inn and Caseys on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and poetry and storytelling in Loft Hair Salon on Sunday afternoon.

Fleadh Cheoil Longfoirt chair Yvonne Ni Mhurchu said they greatly appreciate the support of Newtownforbes Tidy Towns, Clonguish GAA, Newtownforbes and Killoe Community Project, Newtownforbes Poetry Group and Longford Writers Group.

READ NEXT: WATCH: Slow-moving Longford fuel protest and convoy of around 100 vehicles today on the N5

"They have been a great help, running different events over the weekend side by side with the Fleadh Cheoil which means there are other events going on that will involve community and parishioners as well as musicians."

Newtownforbes Parish Choir will also celebrate their centenary at the Feadh Mass on Sunday, April 19 at 10:30 in St. Mary's Church, Newtownforbes.

To read the full preview article see this week's upcoming edition of the Longford Leader on Wednesday
An image from an animated IDF illustration depicting strikes in Lebanon on April 8, 2026.

On the afternoon of April 8, Israel launched its deadliest and most intense wave of airstrikes in Beirut since the war with Hezbollah restarted in early March. Initial reports claimed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had dubbed this wave of strikes Operation Eternal Darkness, a nod to the ninth Passover plague. The IDF later clarified, however, that Eternal Darkness was the name of the operational order, not a standalone name for the wave of strikes or the initiation of a new operation under that name.

The lead-up to the strikes

At 11:39 am local time, IDF Spokesman Colonel Avichay Adraee issued an evacuation warning to the residents of several neighborhoodsHaret Hreik, Ghobeiry, Laylaki, Hadath, Burj Al Barajneh, Tahwitat Al Ghadir, and Shiyyahin Beiruts southern suburbs, colloquially known as Dahiyeh. The area, though effectively Hezbollahs nerve center, is also home to a population of approximately 400,000 people. It is unclear how many of the areas residents evacuated in response to previous Israeli warnings, but March 30 reporting in LOrient Today described the area as largely deserted.

Adraees warnings came several hours after the United States and Iran had agreed to a two-week cessation of hostilities mediated by Pakistan. Tehran and Islamabad alleged that this agreement included Lebanon, per a 10-point plan proffered by the Islamic Republic. Washington and Jerusalem, however, denied this condition. Hezbollah has yet to adopt an official position on the matter, but it effectively considers itself part of the cessation-of-hostilities framework.

Hezbollahs last verifiable attack before the onset of Israeli strikes in Beirut occurred on April 7 at 11:20 pm. The earliest Israeli-side sign of renewed Hezbollah fire was a 4:24 pm red alert siren event on April 8 that Israeli reporting treated cautiously. The next Israeli alert was at 5:13 pm. Hezbollahs first contemporaneous public claim of an attack was at 2:30 am on April 9. However, a 1:00 am record of an attack by Hezbollah appears in a later retrospective roundup of the groups activities.



A map of Israeli Strikes in Beirut on April 8, 2026 (Google Maps annotated by LWJ):



Wave 1 of the Israeli airstrikes in Beirut

At 2:19 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that a series of Israeli airstrikes targeted Beirut. At approximately 2:26 pm, the IDF announced that it had completed the largest coordinated strike in Lebanon since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, which began on February 28. The Israeli military said it targeted more than 100 Hezbollah command centers and military sites in a matter of minutes in Beirut, the Beqaa Valley, and south Lebanon. Per the IDF, some 50 jets took part in the operation, and some 160 munitions were used.

Around 2:30 pm, Lebanese and international reports began claiming that the first wave of strikes targeted Beirut itself, not just its southern suburbs. Reuters claimed that at least five consecutive Israeli strikes hit Beirut citys central areas that afternoon. Other outlets specified strikes in areas including Barbour, Ain al Mraisseh, Burj Abi Haidar, and Corniche Al Mazraathe latter targeting a hangar located in the same building as Rifai Roasteries, a Lebanese nuts and snack foods company. The company denied any link to the hangar.

LOrient Today included the areas of Salim Slam and Bashoura in Beirut and Kaifoun and Bshamoun to the capitals southeast in its tally of strikes. Other outlets reported concurrent strikes in the Beirut neighborhoods of Musaitbeh, Ain al Tineh, Manara, Basta, and Ain al Tineh, as well as southeast of Beirut in Shuweyfat, Qmatiyeh, Ain al Saydeh, Aitat, and Souq al Gharb.

The Associated Press (AP) reported that the strikes hit these busy commercial and residential areas without prior warning. IDF channels did not issue evacuation warnings to the areas residents, nor did Lebanese outlets, such as the state-run news agency NNA Lebanon, carry any of their routine reports of Israeli warning strikes prior to an aerial assault.

Several areas of Dahiyeh were also struck in this initial Israeli wave, including Bir Hassan, Al Rahhab, Hay al Sellom, Shiyyah/Maroun Misk, and Burj Al Barajneh/Raml al Ali. Jnah, on the outer northern edge of Dahiyeh, was also struck.

The post-strike Israeli statement, released at 2:26 pm, does not break down the target bank by area. A 3:28 pm post from Israeli Channel 12 claimed that Hezbollah Secretary-General [Naim Qassems] emergency headquarters was among the targets, but that Qassem was not present at the time of the strike. However, this report was later denied by Channel 11 military correspondent Itay Blumental, Israeli Army Radios Doron Kadosh, and an anonymous Israeli security source speaking to Ynet.

For the wave as a whole, which hit several areas in Lebanon simultaneously, the IDF said the targets were intelligence command centers and central headquarters,command-and-control infrastructure, firepower and naval-array infrastructure, and assets of Hezbollahs Radwan Force and Aerial Unit 127. Israel has long argued that Hezbollah embeds such assets in civilian areas.

IDF Arabic Language Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ella Waweya issued a statement at 3:09 pm, claiming that the IDF had recently detected Hezbollah abandoning the groups terror strongholds in Dahiyeh and [repositioning] itself toward northern Beirut and the citys mixed areas. The statement claimed Hezbollah had done so after realizing the IDFs operations rendered Dahiyeh no longer safe for the organization.

Waweya concluded by warning that the destruction Hezbollah has brought upon Dahiyeh will move with it, warning Lebanese to prevent Hezbollah from repositioning itself in new areas, and threatening Hezbollah that there is no safe place for you, as the IDF will continue to pursue you and act with overwhelming force. Adraees Telegram channel carried an identical claim. However, while Lebanese reporting has noted a general movement by Shiites from Dahiyeh northward into areas of Beirut city, Israel did not publicly provide evidence for its claims that Hezbollah operatives had done so as well.

Wave 2 of the Israeli airstrikes in Beirut

A second wave of Israeli airstrikes targeted Beirut in the evening. At 6:39 pm, an initial strike reportedly hit northern Mar Elias, a demographically and socioeconomically mixed urban, commercial corridor in the citys west-central district. The Israeli target remains unclear. One person was reported as a fatality after falling from a balcony.

At 6:55 pm, a second airstrike hit Tallet al Khayyat, a hilly, relatively affluent residential district in central/west Beirut. The strike reportedly destroyed an entire residential building. At 7:11pm, the IDF said it had targeted a Hezbollah operative in Beirut a short while ago, and that further details would be forthcoming.

Three people were killed in the Tallat al Khayyat strike, including poet Khatoun Salma and her husband, Mohammad Kresht. However, the IDF later said that its target, whom it claims to have successfully killed, was Ali Yusuf Hershi. According to the IDF, Hershi was the nephew of Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, as well as Qassems personal secretary and personal adviser. Hezbollah has not acknowledged Hershis death, nor did Naim Qassem in his April 10 or April 11 missives.

Subsequent Israeli strikes followed later that night: one reported in an unspecified area of Dahiyeh sometime between 10:25pm and 11:01 pm, a strike in Laylaki-Kafaat between 10:58 and 11:09pm, a reported drone strike in Jnah at 11:03 pm, and a final strike near the electricity station on Sayyed Hadi Nasrallah Blvd at approximately 11:15 pm.

Fatalities of the strikes in Beirut

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a statement on April 9 claiming that the IDF had killed over 200 [Hezbollah] terrorists yesterday, bringing the number of eliminated [Hezbollah operatives] in this battle to over 1,400. The cumulative Lebanese death toll to date is 1,953 dead, and 6,303 wounded.

In a non-final count on April 8, the General Directorate of the Lebanese Civil Defense claimed 92 dead and 742 wounded in Beirut proper, 61 dead and 200 wounded in Dahiyeh, and 17 dead and six wounded in the strikes on the Aley District southeast of Beirut.

On April 9, Lebanons Ministry of Public Health, which is currently headed by Rakan Naserreddine, a Hezbollah-affiliated minister within the Lebanese cabinet, issued a non-final casualty count from all Israeli strikes in the country the previous day, without breaking down the numbers specifically for Beirut and its suburbs. It said that 303 individuals had been killed across Lebanon, including 30 children, 71 women, and nine elderly individuals, and 1,150 were wounded. The next day, the ministry updated the total to 357 dead and 1,223 wounded, in yet another non-final count.

David Daoud is Senior Fellow at at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies where he focuses on Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon affairs.
KABUL, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Eight members of a family lost their lives and another was injured as the roof of their house caved in in eastern Afghanistan's Parwan province on Saturday, provincial police spokesman Fazal Rahim Muskinyar said.

The deadly incident took place in the wake of heavy rain in Syagird district early this morning, the official said.

Earlier, a similar incident claimed the lives of eight members of a family and injured a child in Bagrami area of Kabul.

Rain-related incidents, including house collapses and flash floods, have left 148 dead and injured more than 200 others in Afghanistan over the past two weeks. 
Following the success of Border 2, Sunny Deol is gearing up for another big-screen action spectacle. The actor has now joined hands with Kill director Nikhil Nagesh Bhatt for an ambitious new project titled Lakhan. As per report by Pinkvilla, the film is being envisioned as a grand-scale action entertainer, loaded with high-energy sequences, punchy dialogues, and mass-appealing moments that promise to present Sunny Deol in his signature larger-than-life avatar.

 Instagram/Sunny Deol The team has already kickstarted extensive pre-production, with scripting and action design progressing rapidly. A source shared, Its a large-scale action entertainer loaded with high-energy and crowd-pleasing moments, with several whistle-worthy Sunny Deol sequences. The shooting of the film will go on floors from October. With Bhatts intense action sensibilities, seen in Kill, and Sunny Deols mass appeal, Lakhan is shaping up to be a high-voltage entertainer that has already sparked strong buzz among fans. Meanwhile, Sunny Deol is also part of Nitesh Tiwaris ambitious Ramayana, which is planned as a two-part epic. Sunny will be seen portraying Hanuman, alongside Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Raavan in the much-anticipated magnum opus.
CONAKRY, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Guinea has postponed its legislative and municipal elections by one week to May 31, according to a presidential decree broadcast on national television on Friday.

The vote was initially scheduled for May 24. Authorities said the delay would require adjustments to the campaign timetable in line with the electoral code.

Campaigning for the legislative elections will run on May 1-28, while the municipal election campaign is set to take place on May 11-28. 
RIYADH, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday the arrival of a Pakistani military force at King Abdulaziz Air Base.

In a post on social media platform X, the ministry said the deployment came under the strategic joint defense agreement signed between the two countries.

The ministry added that the Pakistani force includes fighter and support aircraft belonging to the Pakistan Air Force, aimed at enhancing joint military coordination and raising the level of operational readiness of the two countries' armed forces, thereby supporting security and stability at the regional and international levels.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the agreement in Riyadh last September. The deal aims to develop bilateral defense cooperation and bolster joint deterrence against any aggression. 
Presidential finalist Adam Cloutier answers a question while being interviewed by the Delta College Board of Trustees on Friday, April 10, 2026. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News Presidential finalist Adam Cloutier listens to a question while being interviewed by the Delta College Board of Trustees on Friday, April 10, 2026. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News Presidential finalist Adam Cloutier, right, shakes hands with Delta College Board of Trustees Chair Stacey Gannon after being interviewed by the board on Friday, April 10, 2026. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News Presidential finalist Adam Cloutier, right, shakes hands with Delta College Board of Trustees Vice Chair Arshen Baldwin after being interviewed by the board on Friday, April 10, 2026. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News Presidential finalist Adam Cloutier, right, listens to a question while being interviewed by the Delta College Board of Trustees on Friday, April 10, 2026. At left is Trustee Michael Nash. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News

Adam Cloutier hadn't been looking around for a college presidential opening. But the vacancy at his alma mater, Delta College, made him stop and take notice.

While interviewing on Friday, April 10, Cloutier told the Delta Board of Trustees that the Delta presidency is the only job for which he would leave his current vice president position at Glen Oaks Community College.

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"I'm not looking for a presidency except for Delta," said Cloutier, a native of Pinconning and a 2002 Delta graduate. "If I do not get this position, I would gladly stay where I'm at. I love the college and community that I serve. I would only leave that community and would only move my family for Delta College, period."

Cloutier (pronounced cloo-teer) was the third and last finalist to be interviewed for Delta president, after Michelle Allmendinger on Monday and Reva Curry on Tuesday.

The next time the board meets, in a special meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, it will choose the college's sixth president from among the three finalists. The new leader will take office on July 1.

Cloutier is Vice President of Academics at Glen Oaks, which is in Centreville, south of Kalamazoo. Previously, he was Dean for Arts and Sciences at Lakeland Community College near Cleveland, Ohio.

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Cloutier earned a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from Ferris State University, a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Michigan State University; and an Associate of Science from Delta.

Cloutier was asked the same 16 questions as the other two finalists. The board allotted one hour for the questions and answers. Following that, Cloutier was given 30 minutes to ask any questions that he might have of the board.

Board Chair Stacey Gannon, Vice Chair Arshen Baldwin, and Trustees Diane Middleton, Michael Rowley, Michael Nash, Alexis Thomas and Barbara Handley-Miller took turns asking the questions. Not present were Trustees Alexander Clark and Michael Wood.

Regarding the priorities he would have in his first year as president, Cloutier said he would emphasize getting to know people within the college and in the communities that it serves.

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And in his current and past positions, he said he has typically discussed three questions with his team: "What are we doing well? What are we not doing well? And what are we not doing that we should be doing?"

In answering a question about maintaining a strong academic curriculum within transfer degrees, Cloutier suggested the idea of triple enrollment, such as if a student were enrolled at Saginaw United High School, Delta, and Saginaw Valley State University at the same time.

Asked how he would ensure a college environment that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion, Cloutier acknowledged it can be difficult amid pressure to comply with requirements of federal and state governments. But he is confident that Delta will continue its progress in this area.

Discussing his experience in setting and managing a budget, Cloutier said he has managed a relatively small budget at Glen Oaks compared to that of Delta. He also said it's important for the president to be very transparent with the public about the budget.

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In terms of collective bargaining, Cloutier is the chief negotiator for Glen Oaks for the full-time faculty contract.

"Once a month, I meet with the Faculty Senate to share issues and head off any problems," he said.

Like Allmendinger and Curry, Cloutier said having the right strategy for artificial intelligence is key.

A quote that he said guides him in this area is: "You won't be replaced by AI; you'll be replaced by somebody who knows how to use AI (better than you do)."

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Cloutier told the Daily News afterward that he was grateful for the opportunity to interview for the presidency.

"As was said, they've got a very big responsibility to find the right candidate for the job. I hope I'm that person," he said. "I tried my best and left it all out there, and being the next president would be a dream come true."

For her part, Gannon told the Daily News she looks forward to the decision day on Tuesday.

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. News Advocate/File photo

MANISTEE  The Manistee County Democratic Party will feature several speakers on topics including grassroots community organizing and the role of precinct delegates at its April informational meeting.

This free event, which is open to the public, will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday at West Shore Community College Manistee Downtown Education Center, located at 400 River St. in Manistee.

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The Michigan Democratic Partys Regional Political Specialist for Northern Michigan, Jaime Brants, will give a presentation on precinct delegates and precinct organizing, and how both are vital to the growth of the Democratic Party.

Following the precinct delegate presentation, attendees will hear from candidates on the 2026 ballot, including Mark Yonkman, Wexford County resident and candidate for the Michigan State Senates 36th District, and Paul Brown, University of Michigan regent.

There will also be updates from Manistee resident Rebecca Amidon and her campaign for the Michigan State Senates 32nd District.

Any questions about the town hall should be directed to Dawn Bense at grandma.snowmaker@gmail.com.

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Beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, April 13, the Michigan Department of Transportation will lift annual spring weight restrictions for state trunkline routes from the southern state line to north of U.S. 10. Courtesy of MDOT

Beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, April 13, the Michigan Department of Transportation will lift annual spring weight restrictions for state trunkline routes from the southern state line to north of U.S. 10.

"MDOT determines when weight restrictions begin each spring by measuring frost depths along state highways, observing road conditions and monitoring weather forecasts," according to a news release from MDOT. "Weight restrictions remain in effect until the frost line is deep enough to allow moisture to escape and the roadbeds regain stability."

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The new line begins in Ludington and follows U.S. 10 east to M-66, then north to M-61 before turning back east on U.S. 23. Trunkline roads south of that demarcation line include communities along U.S. 10 and throughout the Thumb area. Trunkline roads generally have U.S., M and I designations.

Roads above the new demarcation line still have frost restrictions in effect. According to MDOT, the following rules remain in effect:

On "all-season" routes: No reduction in legal axle weights.

Extended permits: Valid for oversize loads on the restricted routes

Single-trip permits: No permits issued for overweight loads exceeding 14 feet in width, 11 axles, and 150 feet in overall length on restricted routes.

Designated as "seasonal" routes: Weight reduction of 25% for rigid (concrete) pavements and 35% for flexible (asphalt) pavements, and maximum speed of 35 mph for some vehicles. Drivers must follow the speed limits for weight restricted roads, per state law.

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For more information, call 1-800-787-8960 or visit Michigan.gov/Truckers and click the tab "Restrictions."

COUNTY ROADS

As of 6 a.m. Saturday, April 11, weight restrictions will be lifted on all Osceola County roads.

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According to MDOT, county roads commissions and municipalities often set their own spring weight restrictions, Mecosta and Newaygo counties lifted their restrictions March 30. Lake County also has no weight restrictions.

However, there are currently three road projects in Osceola County that have their own restrictions:

U.S. 10: From North Industrial Park Drive to 6 Mile Road, vehicles are restricted to 11 feet in width;

M-66: No permits from U.S. 10 to M-115; and

M-115: No permits from M-61 to M-66.

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For general information about restrictions on county roads, visit: micountyroads.org. For specific questions, contact your local county road commission.
All of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and parts of the northern Lower Peninsula were issued a flood watch for April 11-15, 2026. Courtesy of National Weather Service

As of Saturday morning, all of the Upper Peninsula and parts of the northern Lower Peninsula were issued a flood watch.

The flood watches take effect from Saturday evening through Wednesday morning.

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"Flood watches inform the public of hydrometeorological conditions which may cause flooding when the flooding is neither certain nor imminent," reads part of the National Weather Service definition of the term. "Flood watches may cover states, counties, rivers, portions of states, portions of counties, or portions of rivers... Flood watches provide advance notice and up-to-date information on the possibility of flooding within 36 hours."

This comes as Manistee, Benzie and the rest of the region are expected to receive heavy rainfall starting Saturday.

Clouds and eventually rain increases tonight (Saturday) and heavy rainfall is possible late tonight through Sunday, the National Weather Service notes. After a bit of a lull, another round of showers and storms is likely Tuesday. Temperatures will climb to above normal levels heading into the new week.

According to a hazardous weather outlook for Manistee and other areas in the region, high flows on area rivers may cause localized flooding along inland lakeshores and riverbanks today and tonight.

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The region has a chance of thunderstorms and locally heavy rainfall at times Sunday through Tuesday, the National Weather Service hazard notice states.
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For more than 50 years, the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen has kept the history alive of the enormous contributions made by men of different backgrounds that helped propel U.S. forces during World War II. That legacy remains unperturbed.

On March 28, one day prior to Pennsylvanias official Tuskegee Airmen Commemorative Day, an event was held in Philadelphia to highlight and continue to preserve the memory of the Tuskegee Airmenconsisting of the first African-American and Caribbean air and ground crews within the Army Air Forces (AAF) that flew bombers and fighters during the second World War, transforming stereotypes of who could be pilots. In 2007, the Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their distinguished service.

In November 2022, following unanimous approval by the state House and Senate and signed legislation, Pennsylvania officially designated March 29 as Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day. This particular chapter was founded in 1974.

Because of what they stand for and what they have done, I think its something that we need to make sure the rest of the world knows about, Mel Payne, president of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, told Military.com.

Ken Wong, civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army Emeritus, speaks to attendees on March 28 in Philadelphia. (The Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen)

Payne said that their legacy is not just a moment in history but rather a living example of excellence, resilience and service that continues to inspire us today, adding that its current Americans responsibilities to not just remember their efforts and contributions but use it as motivation daily to carry that same determination and commitment to excellence.

The program featured Heritage Family Presentations, recognizing relatives of Tuskegee Airmen, along with the presentation of official Red Tails Commemoration Day pins to first-time and grandfathered financial members of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter.

Attendees also experienced educational reflections on the enduring impact of the Tuskegee Experience.

Blazing Trails on the Ground and in the Air

The Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen includes navigators, bombardiers, mechanics, instructors, crew chiefs, nurses, cooks and other support personnel who served at Tuskegee Army Air Field and across designated units through the inactivation of the 332nd Fighter Wing.

U.S. Air Force Gen. Adrian Spain, commander of Air Combat Command, (center) and other distinguished presenters, to include a Documented Original Tuskegee Airman, cut the ceremonial ribbon during the grand opening of the new Tuskegee Airmen exhibit at the Virginia Air and Space Science Center in Hampton, Virginia, March 26, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Bowman)

Before being known as the "Red Tails, these pilots began their flight training in the Army's PT-17 Stearman bi-plane.

All Black U.S. military pilots trained at Griel Field, Kennedy Field, Moton Field, Shorter Field and the Tuskegee Army Air Fields. Moton Field is where flight testing occurred to test pilots combat aircraft proficiencies.

They were all educated at Tuskegee University, formerly the Tuskegee Institute, situated near Tuskegee, Ala.

Edwards Air Force Base played host to a variety of heritage and contemporary red-tailed aircraft for their Red Tail Rendezvous March 7, 2025. The Red Tail has its origins in the planes of the Tuskegee Airmen of WWII. Here, front to back, a P-51 Mustang, a T-7A Red Hawk, and a F-35A Lightning II line up on the EDW ramp. (Air Force photo by Todd Schannuth)

That group, according to historical accounts, included five Haitians from the Haitian Air Force and one pilot from Trinidad. It also included a Hispanic or Latino airman born in the Dominican Republic.

We believe that history belongs to all of us, and after today, we are all responsible for telling the story of the Tuskegee Airmen once you learn about it, the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen board member James Thompson told Military.com.

A national historic site commemorating the pilots can be visited in Tuskegee, Ala.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
KABUL, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces discovered and seized over two dozen assault rifles in Paktia province, east of Afghanistan, provincial government spokesman Mohammad Rasoul Ahmadi said Saturday.

The weaponry, which included 26 assault rifles, was recovered on Friday night by personnel of the Border Forces, the official emphasized.

Without providing more details, the official warned that stern action would be taken against anyone who keeps or carries an unauthorized weapon.

Previously, security organs reported the discovery of 13 pistols in Nangarhar province on Thursday. 
When the four-person Artemis II crew returned to Earth on Friday, they were welcomed by none other than four U.S. Navy sailors.

The Artemis II crew returned April 10 following a 10-day mission of flying around the moon, predicated on better understanding life support systems, spacecraft, and preparing for future lunar surface missions to both the moon and Mars. It was NASAs first crewed lunar flyby in 50 years.

Four Navy sailors composed the dive medical team who were the first to open the Orion capsule upon its return to Earth, when it splashed down off the coast of San Diego at approximately 8:07 p.m. on Friday, April 10: Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Wang, Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Laddy Aldridge, Chief Hospital Corpsman Vlad Link, and Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Steve Kapala.

The Artemis II crew  (from left) Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Pilot Victor Glover, and Commander Reid Wiseman  pause for a group photo inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home. (NASA)

They conducted the initial medical assessments of the Artemis II crew and assisted them out of the capsule safely and efficiently, according to the Navy. Its not out of the ordinary for the sailors who are conditioned to work in such environments due to expensive specialized training that leads to diver certifications, understanding decompression illnesses and other underwater medical necessities.

The Artemis II crew they tended to included Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), Christina Koch (mission specialist) and Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist). The crew included the first woman and first person of color to travel to deep space.

U.S. Navy divers and Artemis II astronauts aboard an inflatable raft are approached by helicopters and lifted away to the recovery ship after egressing NASAs Orion spacecraft carrying Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA, along with Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the CSA (Canadian Space Agency), following splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California, at 5:07 p.m. PDT, (8:07 p.m. EDT) on Friday, April 10, 2026. (NASA James Blair)

Artemis II launched on April 1 from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B in Florida.

The four astronauts aboard Artemis II made history at 1:56 p.m. ET on Monday, April 6, when they reached 248,655 miles from Earthsurpassing the farthest distance ever traveled by humans, a record previously set by Apollo 13 in 1970, according to NASA.

'Culmination' of Training and Navy Procedure

The four Navy service members entered the capsule after Orions reentry into Earths atmosphere and Pacific Ocean splashdown, reportedly entering the capsule to conduct initial crew exams and provide any necessary triage.

They also assisted the astronauts in egress onto an inflatable raft set up outside by the divers, who prepared the crew to be airlifted by Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 back to amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) for follow on evaluations.

NASA astronaut Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, left, and NASA astronaut Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, talk with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman at their Navy MH-60 Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 on the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha after they and fellow crewmates NASA Astronauts Victor Glover, and Christina Koch were extracted from their Orion spacecraft after splashdown, Friday, April 10, 2026, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Wang, of Laguna Beach, Calif. And assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1, served as the lead. The board-certified emergency medicine doctor by trade, who completed residency training at Lincoln Hospital in Bronx, New York, joined the Navy in 2021 and was designated as an undersea medical officer in 2024.

As a proud member of the undersea medical community, I am particularly humbled to play a part in this mission, Wang said in a statement prior to Artemis' return. It is the honor of a lifetime to stand here today, ready to provide the absolute best care to the Artemis II crew.

NASA's Orion spacecraft carrying Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA, along with Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the CSA (Canadian Space Agency), splashes down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California, at 5:07 p.m. PDT, (8:07 p.m. EDT) on Friday, April 10, 2026. (NASA/Josh Valcarcel)

Aldridge, from Cushing, Okla., was the first member to make contact with the Artemis II crew. He opened the capsule and initiated medical assessments.

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 said in a statement. 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.

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander is assisted off the flight deck after arriving aboard USS John P. Murtha after he and fellow crewmates wiseman2 were extracted from their Orion spacecraft after splashdown, Friday, April 10, 2026, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Link, from Chelsea, Mass., has 18 years of dive medicine experience and said hes proud to represent his family and hometownsaying the Navys contribution to the space mission is something we take great pride in as part of that legacy.

Kapala, from from Alpena, Mich., has practiced dive medicine since 2018 and understands the gravity around the mission.

I grew up reading sci-fi novels and watching space movies, never thinking that I would play a part in a recovery mission like this, Kapala said in a statement. It is surreal to play a part in safely recovering the astronauts from the capsule to get them home safe to their families, an effort that really makes you realize this team is bigger than just the four of us.
A digitally fabricated photograph claiming to show the rescue of an American airman pulled from Iranian territory over Easter weekend drew widespread views online before platform users and fact-checkers identified it as artificial intelligence. Several prominent Republican officials were among those who shared the image as real.

The picture first appeared April 5, hours after President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that U.S. special forces had extracted the second of two F-15E Strike Eagle crew members shot down deep inside Iran during Operation Epic Fury.

Officials Share the Fake AI Image

The image showed a smiling man in combat fatigues clutching an American flag, surrounded by troops inside what appeared to be the cabin of a military aircraft. A pro-Trump account on X originally posted it with Easter messaging referring to an "honorable Colonel."

Within hours the picture had been reshared by several elected officials. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott reposted it with the comment "this is so awesome."

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton shared the same image and framed the timing as a divine message delivered between Good Friday and Easter morning.

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence and members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, meets with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Thursday, May 7, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House.(Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

New York Rep. Mike Lawler added the caption "God Bless America!" before later removing the post. Abbott and Paxton also deleted their shares after platform users attached a community note identifying the photograph as likely generated by AI. At least one version of the post carried a "Made with AI" label applied by X.

A separate post by a Philadelphia television meteorologist drew more than 791,000 views before being flagged. A second fabricated rescue scene, shared by a conservative online commentator the same day, was also traced to AI tools.

The Military Has Not Released Detailed Information

U.S. Central Command has not made public any photographs or the names of the two airmen involved in the April 3 rescues. Combat search-and-rescue missions typically remain tightly held for weeks or months to protect aircrew identities, unit affiliations and operational methods.

The downed F-15E was the first manned American aircraft brought down by hostile fire since Epic Fury began Feb. 28, Trump said during a White House news conference April 6. The pilot was recovered the day of the shootdown during a mission involving 21 aircraft.

The weapons systems officer evaded Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ground forces for nearly two days before rescue forces reached him during a second operation using 155 aircraft and decoy tactics, according to a Department of Defense statement.

"In the U.S. military, we leave no American behind," Trump said.

Researchers who examined the image shared on social media pointed to several signs of synthetic origin. V.S. Subrahmanian, a Northwestern University computer science professor, and postdoctoral researcher Marco Postiglione noted a flag shoulder patch placed at an unusual angle and on the wrong side of the uniform.

Other signs included an apparent extra finger on the airman's hand, a blurred background and flag stripes that did not fold naturally. Others pointed out strange looking details from an unidentifiable helmet, identical watches on the troops to clothing and random items in the image that did not appear to be official military gear or equipment.

The AI-detection service Hive Moderation estimated the picture had roughly a 99.9 percent likelihood of containing synthetic content. The second fabricated rescue scene was traced to the open-source image model Stable Diffusion XL.

Wreckage of American military aircraft destroyed during the rescue of the F-15 crew member in Iran. (Sepah News)

Abbott has been caught amplifying fake Iran war content before. Last month he reposted what he believed was footage of a U.S. warship downing an Iranian aircraft. The clip turned out to be gameplay captured from the combat game War Thunder.

Synthetic content has been used by both sides during Epic Fury. With few real photographs and videos to use, several outlets and individuals have turned to fabricated images to repeatedly fill the void.

Pro-American accounts have pushed fabricated scenes of battlefield successes, while Iran-aligned channels have circulated manipulated clips meant to exaggerate regime military gains. Because a convincing fake attaches itself to a real, fast-moving story, it can reach mass audiences well before any verification from military sources catches up.
Quote of the day by George Harrison: "The past is gone and the future might not even be, the only thing we ever experience is..."

George Harrisons quote highlights mindfulness, urging people to let go of past and future worries and focus on the present moment for a more balanced and meaningful life.









Quote of the day by George Harrison: "The past is gone and the future might not even be, the only thing we ever experience is..." George Harrison urges living in the present, not past or future

His quote highlights mindfulness and awareness in daily life

Indian spirituality and meditation shaped Harrison's outlook Did our AI summary help?
Aneet Padda writes an emotional wish for 'Momo' Mohit Suri on his birthday: Thanks for being you...

Aneet Padda and Mohit Suris bond seems to go far beyond a typical actor-director relationship, offering glimpses of a deeper creative and personal connection. A recent candid moment shared online has only made that dynamic more evident.









Aneet Padda wishes Saiyaara director Mohit Suri with a funny video Aneet Padda shared a heartfelt birthday tribute to Mohit Suri

She praised Suri's impact on her life and their close bond

Their collaboration in Saiyaara was a major success Did our AI summary help?
Ben Affleck gives up $60 Million mansion share to Jennifer Lopez for free

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopezs love story has taken yet another unexpected turn, nearly a year after their split. What once felt like a fairytale reunion now continues to unfold in quieter, more personal ways.









Latest update on Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez Ben Affleck cedes Beverly Hills home stake to Jennifer Lopez

The mansion, bought for $60.85M, is now solely Lopez's property

Affleck reportedly sold his AI company to Netflix for $600M Did our AI summary help?
TEHRAN, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian armed forces have returned a U.S. Navy destroyer coming from the Port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates towards the Strait of Hormuz after warning to target the vessel if it approaches the waterway, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported Saturday.

Meanwhile, Iran's state-run IRIB TV, citing a senior Iranian military official, rejected a report by U.S. media outlet Axios that U.S. Navy vessels have crossed the Strait of Hormuz. 
BTS kicks off ARIRANG world tour in Goyang, marks grand comeback after military service

BTS has officially launched their ARIRANG World Tour with a high-energy opening show at Goyang Stadium in South Korea, marking their grand return after military service. The group performed a 23-song set in heavy rain, thrilling fans as they kick off an 82-show global tour across 34 cities.

Gayatri Rani April 11, 2026 / 12:27 IST























BTS return to the stage BTS launched their ARIRANG World Tour at Goyang Stadium

The group performed 23 songs, including hits and new tracks

82-show, 34-city tour expected to break records Did our AI summary help?
Karanvir Bohras wife Teejay Sidhu writes emotional post for her late father-in-law

Teejay Sidhu has returned to social media with an emotional note, opening up about a deeply personal loss in her family. The television actress shared that she and her family have been quietly coping with the passing of her father-in-law, Mahendra Bohra, over the past month.









Teejay Sidhu writes post for late father in law Teejay Sidhu shared a heartfelt note on Mahendra Bohra's passing

Family observed a thirty-day mourning period in his memory

Karanvir Bohra recalled lessons and cherished memories in tribute Did our AI summary help?
Nawazuddin Siddiqui didnt charge a fee for Main Actor Nahin Hoon, says director Aditya Kripalani

Nawazuddin Siddiqui continues to stand apart from the usual mould of stardom, and his latest choice only strengthens that image. By prioritising passion over payment for his upcoming film Main Actor Nahin Hoon, he once again underlines his deeply instinct-driven approach to cinema.









Nawazuddin Siddiqui stuns industry by not charging in next film Nawazuddin Siddiqui waived his fee for Main Actor Nahin Hoon

The film earned praise at international festivals

Main Actor Nahin Hoon releases in India on 8 May 2026 Did our AI summary help?
Priyanka Chopra becomes global brand ambassador for Bentley Motors

Priyanka Chopra Jonas has been announced as the global brand ambassador for Bentley Motors in its new campaign. She said the collaboration feels natural, highlighting shared values of craftsmanship, creativity, and storytelling.

Gayatri Rani April 10, 2026 / 23:45 IST























Priyanka Chopra earns another milestone Priyanka Chopra Jonas named global brand ambassador for Bentley

New campaign shows Priyanka on creativity and her journey

Bentley to release a film and photos highlighting Priyanka's role Did our AI summary help?
Rapper Offset discharged from hospital after gunshot incident, focuses on recovery and family

Rapper Offset has shared an update on his health after being injured in a shooting incident, confirming that he has been discharged from the hospital and is recovering. He thanked fans and medical staff, saying he is focusing on his recovery, family, and getting back to music.

Gayatri Rani April 11, 2026 / 10:28 IST























Rapper Offset was shot Offset discharged from hospital after gunshot injury

Offset says he's focused on recovery and returning to music

Authorities continue to investigate the shooting incident Did our AI summary help?
Salman Khans Maatrubhumi goes under major changes over China reference, makers to reshoot 40%: Report

Salman Khans upcoming film Maatrubhumi, co-starring Chitrangda Singh, has reportedly faced objections from the Ministry of Defence over its content. The makers have reshot nearly 40% of the film and removed references to China, leaving the release date uncertain.

Gayatri Rani April 11, 2026 / 13:20 IST























Salman Khan movie to undergo changes Salman Khan's film Maatrubhumi avoids mentioning China.

Ministry of Defence requested removal of China references.

Film's release date remains uncertain due to ongoing concerns. Did our AI summary help?
Vijay Deverakonda condemns the leak of Jana Nayagan, calls it a systemic failure

Vijay Deverakonda has strongly condemned the online leak of Jana Nayagan footage, calling it a deeply frustrating experience for everyone involved in the film. He urged strict action against those responsible and highlighted the emotional and professional damage caused to the entire cast and crew.









Vijay Deverakonda reacts to the leak of Jana Nayagan Vijay Deverakonda condemns Jana Nayagan film leak

Telugu industry leaders demand strict action against piracy

Creators warn legal action for sharing leaked content Did our AI summary help?
World Parkinson's Day: 7 non-motor symptoms one should know about, from loss of smell to dizziness, more

Parkinson's disease is a complicated neurological disease that affects more than just movement. On World Parkinson's Day, know about some of the non-motor symptoms that affect a person way before tremors affect daily movement.









A lot of people suffer from depression and anxiety even before any of the physical symptoms of the disease manifest themselves. (Picture: Canva) World Parkinson's Day is observed on April 11 each year

Early signs include loss of smell and constipation

Mental and cognitive problems are common in Parkinsons Did our AI summary help?
Boeings moon rocket faces uncertain future under Trumps NASA

About a week before the $24 billion Space Launch System pushed the four crew members of the Artemis II mission around the moon, NASA asked rivals what options they could offer for its ambitious plan of future lunar trips.









NASAs Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on April 1. NASA seeks commercial alternatives to Boeing's costly SLS rocket

White House plans to retire SLS, Orion post-Artemis

SpaceX and Blue Origin may offer cheaper lunar mission options Did our AI summary help?
Fisheries exports have risen from Rs 60,000 cr to Rs 68,000 cr after US tariffs: MoS Baghel

India is exporting prawns, tuna and other fish varieties to several parts of the world, including Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Asia, he said.

PTI April 11, 2026 / 17:20 IST























A man displays fish after fishing near Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka (PTI/File image)
WUHAN, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A China Eastern Airlines flight carrying more than 140 passengers departed Wuhan late Friday night for Vientiane, marking the launch of the first direct route linking central China's Hubei Province with the Lao capital.

The outbound flight operates every Friday night, while the return flight departs Vientiane at 2:05 a.m. local time on Saturdays.

Ma Ming, marketing manager of China Eastern Airlines' Wuhan branch, said the new route is part of broader efforts to support the Belt and Road Initiative and strengthen links between Hubei and ASEAN.

Ma added that the route is expected to facilitate trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges by providing a faster and more convenient travel option.

To mark the inaugural flight, the airline organized themed activities at the airport, including photo displays featuring tourist attractions in both cities.

Among the passengers was a 77-member tour group heading to Laos. A tour leader surnamed Wu said most of the group members were middle-aged or elderly travelers visiting Laos for the first time, and the new route significantly reduced travel time.

"In the past, we usually had to transfer in southwest China's Kunming, which could take most of the day," Wu said. "Now it's just about three hours. It's much more comfortable for travelers and makes itinerary planning easier."

This year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Laos, as well as the Year of China-Laos Friendship. 
Goyal holds talks with Saudi trade minister on strengthening supply chains

The commerce ministry, in a statement, said that Goyal had a virtual call with Qassabi.

PTI April 11, 2026 / 17:16 IST























Piyush Goyal (File image)
Michael Burry holds firm on Palantir short despite Trump boost

Burry described the stock as "wildly overvalued" and argued its fundamental worth is below $50 a share  less than half its current trading price









Michael Burry Michael Burry maintains bearish bets against Palantir and Nvidia

Trump's endorsement gave Palantir a brief stock lift

Burry calls Palantir "wildly overvalued," sees value below $50 Did our AI summary help?
The regulator further clarified that compliance with the broad-based criteria must be assessed at the level of individual schemes rather than at the fund level
Women's participation in flexi IT roles reaches 40% in FY26: Report

Women's placements increased by 10 percentage points from FY22 to FY26, reaching 40 per cent in FY26, said talent solutions provider Careernet's report - Women in IT/ITeS: Trends in Contractual/Flexi Roles.

PTI April 11, 2026 / 22:25 IST























AI Generated Image Women in IT/ITeS flexible roles rose to 40 percent in FY26

Women favor finance, accounting roles most at 43%

Metro participation led by Bengaluru and Hyderabad Did our AI summary help?
Bengal manifesto fineprint: BJP goes after Mamata's most powerful electoral weapon

The announcements come ahead of the two-phase elections on April 23 and 29, with counting scheduled for May 4
Bharat cannot become $10 trillion economy by capital or policy alone: CJI Surya Kant

CJI Kant underscored the need for predictability, specialisation, and a culture of good faith in commercial law to help the country achieve this goal.

PTI April 11, 2026 / 17:07 IST























CJI Surya Kant CJI urges legal reforms for Indias $10 trillion economy

Predictability, mediation, specialization build investor trust

Technology and legal education must adapt to economic changes Did our AI summary help?
Chatterjee was released on bail on November 11, 2025, after spending over three years (39 months) in custody following his arrest by the ED on July 23, 2022, in connection with the scam
'Eisob cholbe na': PM Modi says TMC has become carbon copy of Left in Murshidabad rally

PM Modi said if one looks at Bengals political history, it showed that dominant forces eventually lose public support and asserted that the electorate would now turn against the TMC in a similar fashion.









Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at an election rally in Murshidabad in West Bengal on Saturday. (Credit: ANI) PM Modi accused TMC of copying Left's governance in Bengal

He pledged BJP would implement Uniform Civil Code in West Bengal

Modi vowed post-poll action against corruption, syndicates Did our AI summary help?
India engages Bahrain, GCC on stability and supply chains; Piyush Goyal holds virtual talks

Piyush Goyal said he hoped the Iran ceasefire "would be enduring" and that countries in the region would "recover swiftly from the disruptions faced since the onset of conflict"

ANI April 11, 2026 / 13:12 IST























Union minister Piyush Goyal
Jag Vikram first Indian vessel to cross Strait of Hormuz after US-Iran ceasefire

With this, Jag Vikram becomes the ninth Indian ship to exit the Persian Gulf since early March, even as 15 more remain in the area









Jag Vikram could be carrying about 20,000 tonnes of LPG
China's zero-tariff policy set to bolster market access for Zimbabwean blueberry exporters

Xinhua) 10:01, April 11, 2026

HARARE, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China's zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to Beijing, effective May 1, is poised to bolster market linkages for Zimbabwean blueberry exporters, industry insiders have said during the Zimbabwe-China Horticulture Buyers Engagement, which concluded on Friday.

The Horticultural Development Council (HDC), representing Zimbabwe's horticultural exporters, said it has been spearheading efforts to sign trade protocols with China for Zimbabwean commodities with strong export potential, particularly blueberries.

In September 2025, Zimbabwe signed a trade agreement allowing fresh blueberry exports to China for the first time, a move expected to boost production in the southern African country.

Data from ZimTrade, the national trade development and promotion organization, showed that China presents massive opportunities for local exporters. The HDC said that it will help growers meet phytosanitary standards, including traceability and pest management.

"At the same time, we are looking to the government to accelerate the remaining regulatory processes so that these protocols can be fully operationalized, allowing Zimbabwe to take full advantage of the vast opportunities presented by the Chinese market," the HDC said.

Willard Zireva, a blueberry farmer in Mashonaland West Province, lauded China's zero-tariff policy, noting that such trade advantages are crucial for boosting Zimbabwean exports.

"Zimbabwe needs to ramp up its hectarage under blueberries in order to become a recognized producer and this requires a deliberate position to be taken by the government to facilitate the expansion of the blueberry production," he told Xinhua, expressing hope that strategic government backing will help local farmers scale up production to meet the huge demand created by the zero-tariff incentive.

Zimbabwe is rapidly expanding its blueberry industry, positioning it as a key driver of a two-billion-U.S.-dollar horticulture sector by 2030. 

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
JAKARTA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Initiatives by partners in the region, including China and Pakistan, constitute practical steps towards permanent cessation of hostilities, peace talks, protection of civilians, and normalized economic relations, said Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono in a written statement to Xinhua.

Since the very beginning, Indonesia has called on the conflicting sides to immediately cease hostilities and return to the negotiating table in efforts to overcome their issues in accordance with international law, Sugiono said.

China and Pakistan issued the five-point initiative on March 31, which embodies the international consensus for a ceasefire and peace.

Sugiono said Indonesia welcomes such efforts to prioritize dialogue and diplomacy, which would create the necessary conditions conducive to broader peace, stability, and security in the region and beyond. 
Kolathur: Stalin is certain of victory, but the margin will shrink

Kolathur constituency in the remote north-west corner of Chennai was established in 2008 and Stalin has been its sole representative since the 2011 election









Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and DMK president MK Stalin
P Chidambaram hits out at TVK chief Vijay ahead of Tamil Nadu polls: 'Unlike cinema, no retakes in governance'

Commenting on Vijays political debut and the launch of the TVK, he said the party lacks experience and cast doubt on its leaderships public outreach and communication









P Chidambaram Chidambaram says governance is different from cinema, no retakes

He slams Vijays inexperience and avoidance of public debate

Vijay's campaign delayed, skipped address in Karaikudi Did our AI summary help?
Paapee Pakistan will disintegrate further: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

The UP Chief Minister said demons there grabbed the land and property of people who were displaced from Bangladesh.

PTI April 11, 2026 / 18:34 IST























(File image) Yogi Adityanath grants land rights to displaced Hindus

Miyanpur village renamed Ravindra Nagar for Bengali settlers

Foundation stones laid for 213 projects worth 417 crore Did our AI summary help?
PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi share rare light-hearted moment at Prerna Sthal | Watch

In what can only be viewed as a rare light-hearted moment, both the leaders shared a cordial interaction.
Rajnath Singh vows more farm support, says 'Kisan in me has not died'

Singh said the government had launched several schemes - PM-Kisan, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil Health Card and an online network of wholesale mandis - to boost farmers' income and farm productivity.

PTI April 11, 2026 / 16:58 IST























Rajnath Singh (File image) Rajnath Singh pledges funds won't hinder support for agriculture

Defence ministry buys organic produce directly from farmers

Millets promoted in armed forces to boost farmers' income Did our AI summary help?
The Court drew a clear distinction between the two rights, emphasising that they operate in separate domains.

Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran
Union Minister Piyush Goyal holds talks with Saudi trade minister on strengthening supply chains

Both sides noted the strain conflict has put on regional supply chains and stressed the need for an early recovery through coordinated efforts to ensure smooth trade flows.

PTI April 11, 2026 / 17:20 IST























Union Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted India's steps to support exports to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region.
'Was a pleasure': Sergio Gor hails India-US defence ties as Vikram Misri wraps up 3-day visit

"Defence cooperation between the U.S. and India is only growing and it's making both our countries safer and stronger," Sergio Gor said.









Sergio Gor with Vikram Misri. (Image: X/@USAmbIndia)
For most banks, UPI is a high-performance payment pipe. Fast, reliable and massive in scale - but still a pipe where money goes in and money comes out., writes the author
Coding at 13, founder to Y Combinator GP: 25-year-old Harshita Arora stuns Silicon Valley, social media reacts

Harshita Aroras rise from teenage coder to General Partner at Y Combinator has taken social media by storm, with founders and users praising her early start, resilience, and operator-led journey.
BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, led a KMT delegation on Saturday to pay tribute to Sun Yat-sen, a great forerunner of China's democratic revolution, at the cenotaph in Beijing.

The cenotaph is located in Biyun Temple at Fragrant Hills in the western suburbs of Beijing. Sun Yat-sen, a founding figure of the KMT and a revered revolutionary leader who played a pivotal role in overthrowing imperial rule in China, died in 1925 in Beijing. His remains were kept here before being transferred to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing in 1929.

Cheng is the first KMT chairperson to have led a delegation to the Chinese mainland in the past decade. The visit runs from Tuesday to Sunday. The delegation had visited Jiangsu Province and Shanghai before coming to Beijing. 
If Nifty holds above key support and sentiment stabilizes, selective bullish trades make sense, especially in sectors directly hit by the conflict.

Shubham Agarwal is a CEO & Head of Research at Quantsapp Pvt. Ltd. He has been into many major kinds of market research and has been a programmer himself in Tens of programming languages. Earlier to the current position, Shubham has served for Motilal Oswal as Head of Quantitative, Technical & Derivatives Research and as a Technical Analyst at JM Financial.
From Rs 40 LPA to Rapido rider: Laid-off techie struggling with EMI of Rs 1.4 crore Ghaziabad home

The man had purchased a 3BHK flat in 2024 for approximately Rs 1.4 crore in Prateek Grand City, Ghaziabad. At the time, the purchase appeared financially viable, supported by a steady salary and career growth. The apartment was seen as a major milestone after years of work.
Ghost admin scare: Samsung Galaxy users reportedly locked out as phones get digitally bricked

Reports suggest a mysterious entity is taking control of some Galaxy S22 Ultra devices at the system level, leaving users stuck with unusable phones.









They are regular retail devices, not company-issued, adding to the confusion. Galaxy S22 Ultra users report devices locked by unknown admin.

Affected phones display "This device isn't private" warning.

Samsung suggests IMEI unenrolment; outcome still unclear Did our AI summary help?
'HRs only exist to push papers': Nashik's sexual offence case triggers debate on corporate culture

The arrest of a senior HR executive in Nashik over rape and harassment allegations has triggered widespread outrage online, with users questioning corporate HR practices, POSH compliance, and workplace safety mechanisms.
'I felt like I'm in jail': Physiotherapist reveals why he quit Rs 40 LPA UK job and returned to India

Manav Shah gave up a Rs 40 LPA NHS job in the UK to return to India and start fresh. He says the emotional cost of living abroad far outweighed the financial rewards of staying.









Why this physiotherapist quit his Rs 40 LPA UK job. (Image: physiomanav/ Instagram)
Iranian channel mocking Trump through AI Lego content banned from YouTube. Is Lego violent? creators ask

An Iranian channel using AI-generated Lego-style animations to troll Donald Trump was taken down after a viral video, sparking debate over platform moderation.









The takedown came after a viral rap video referencing Trump and alleged Epstein links. YouTube removed an AI Lego-style channel for "violent content"

Creators question ban as videos gain traction and viral attention

Group remains active on X, Instagram, TikTok, and Telegram Did our AI summary help?
Shock of my life: Chennai parent reacts to Rs 37 lakh school fee, sparks calls for regulation

Viral X post reveals Rs 37 lakh annual fee at an international American school in Chennai, sparking debate over affordability, exclusivity, and the need for regulation in private education.
Startup founder who messaged employee on his wedding day issues apology after backlash: 'I'll be better'

n the now-deleted post, AJ Orbach highlighted the employees commitment, writing, 'One of our team just got married today...and still popped online for a bit.' He added, 'Not because anyone asked. Is on fully approved PTO. Just genuinely excited about what theyre building. That kind of ownership is special. Also told them to log off.'
US-based Indian techie shares manager's kind response to childcare request: 'Can never work in India'

In a post on Reddit, the employee explained that he and his wife, who both live abroad without family support, recently arranged childcare for their seven-month-old baby. While a nanny is present during the day, she leaves at around 4:30 pm, after which he takes over until his wife returns home at approximately 7:30 pm.









The post has since attracted significant engagement, with users commenting on the importance of empathy in management.
'We are in danger': Iranian embassy handles troll Uganda leadership on X after peace remark

Iranian diplomatic accounts have been mocking Muhoozi Kainerugaba after he commented on Iran and peace talks, turning the exchange into a viral meme spat on social media.









The exchange started after Muhoozi Kainerugaba called for peace talks with Iran. (Image credit: Reuters) Iranian embassy accounts mock Ugandan leadership with viral memes

Social media reacts with both humor and criticism to exchanges

Iran uses memes and AI videos to shape wartime online narratives Did our AI summary help?
U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrives at the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on April 11, 2026. U.S. delegates led by Vice President JD Vance arrived in Pakistan on Saturday morning for talks with Iran, according to sources. (Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, April 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. delegates led by Vice President JD Vance arrived in Pakistan on Saturday morning for talks with Iran, according to sources.

The U.S. team also includes U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are in a separate plane landing at the Nur Khan airbase.

The Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf arrived here early Saturday for talks with the United States to end the hostilities in the Middle East. However, distrust between the two adversaries still shadows their peace talks scheduled for later on the day. 

This screenshot from a video clip shows U.S. Vice President JD Vance arriving at the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on April 11, 2026. U.S. delegates led by Vice President JD Vance arrived in Pakistan on Saturday morning for talks with Iran, according to sources.

The U.S. team also includes U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are in a separate plane landing at the Nur Khan airbase. (Xinhua)

This screenshot from a video clip shows U.S. Vice President JD Vance arriving at the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on April 11, 2026. U.S. delegates led by Vice President JD Vance arrived in Pakistan on Saturday morning for talks with Iran, according to sources.

The U.S. team also includes U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are in a separate plane landing at the Nur Khan airbase. (Xinhua)

This screenshot from a video clip shows U.S. Vice President JD Vance arriving at the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on April 11, 2026. U.S. delegates led by Vice President JD Vance arrived in Pakistan on Saturday morning for talks with Iran, according to sources.

The U.S. team also includes U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are in a separate plane landing at the Nur Khan airbase. (Xinhua)

U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrives at the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on April 11, 2026. U.S. delegates led by Vice President JD Vance arrived in Pakistan on Saturday morning for talks with Iran, according to sources.

The U.S. team also includes U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are in a separate plane landing at the Nur Khan airbase. (Xinhua)

U.S. Vice President JD Vance (C, front) arrives at the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on April 11, 2026. U.S. delegates led by Vice President JD Vance arrived in Pakistan on Saturday morning for talks with Iran, according to sources. (Xinhua)
39 aircraft in 39 days? US losses in Operation Epic Fury under spotlight

Reports suggest the US lost 39 aircraft, including drones, fighter jets and surveillance platforms, during a 39-day campaign against Iran, marking one of the heaviest modern attrition periods for American air power.









US air losses mount in Iran war: 39 aircraft reportedly destroyed in Operation Epic Fury
Pakistan is hosting US-Iran talks to prevent regional conflict and assert diplomatic relevance. Failure risks Pakistan being drawn into war, facing security, economic, and political crises, especially due to its ties with Saudi Arabia, the US, and reliance on Gulf energy.

Did our AI summary help?
Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will continue to fight Iran

The Israeli PM also accused Erdogan of accommodating Iran and being responsible for massacres of Kurdish citizens.









Benjamin Netanyahu (File image)
Broke and overseas: Joe Biden's son Hunter has left the US with $17 million in debt

In a podcast interview last year, Hunter Biden described carrying roughly $17 million in accumulated legal debt.
US-Iran talks began in Islamabad with Pakistan mediating, aiming to end West Asia conflict. The US may consider phased cooperation and asset unfreezing, but differences remain over sanctions, Lebanon, and the Strait of Hormuz. Military action is possible if talks fail.

Did our AI summary help?
Control over Strait of Hormuz, complete ceasefire: The four 'red lines' Iran set before Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif ahead of peace talks

The US and Iran remain sharply divided over control and access to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route.









Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Saturday. Iran gave Pakistan four demands to end war, including ceasefire

Dispute over Strait of Hormuz control central to peace talks

Iran may push for Lebanon ceasefire amid ongoing Israeli strikes Did our AI summary help?
Did China quietly consider arming Iran with missiles? US intel raises alarm even as Beijing rejects claims

Russia has been providing Iran with satellite intelligence to help its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps target American ships and installations across the Middle East, as per the report.









An anti-U.S. billboard on a street following the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Israeli and U.S. strikes on Saturday, in Tehran, Iran, March 2, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTI US intelligence indicates China may have considered directly supplying shoulder-fired missiles to Iran, a shift from indirect support. Evidence is inconclusive; China denies the claim. Russia shares satellite intel with Iran but avoids direct military aid. Did our AI summary help?
US Vice President JD Vance arrived at Pakistans Nur Khan airbase to lead US talks with Iran on the Gulf conflict. The base, damaged by Indian strikes in May 2025, highlights Pakistans strategic vulnerabilities amid its role as a diplomatic bridge.

Did our AI summary help?
Ghalibaf says Iran ready to reach agreement if US offers real deal

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says Iran has goodwill but no trust in the US ahead of talks in Islamabad, while setting key preconditions for negotiations.









Ghalibaf says Iran open to deal if US offers real deal
Hezbollah slams planned Lebanese talks with Israel as strikes kill 10

Hundreds of people gathered near the government headquarters in central Beirut on Saturday in support of Hezbollah and to protest against the talks with Israel, some waving the group's yellow flags or the Iranian standard.

AFP April 11, 2026 / 22:43 IST























Hezbollah party supporters, one holding a poster depicting the Israeli Prime Minister manipulating a puppet of the Lebanese Prime Minister, as they demonstrate near the Governmental Palace to protest against the Lebanese authorities decision to engage in direct negotiations with Israel in downtown Beirut (AFP image) Hezbollah rejects direct talks with Israel amid ongoing violence.

Israeli strikes kill 10 in south Lebanon; Sidon funerals held

Hundreds protested in Beirut against negotiations with Israel. Did our AI summary help?
BEIRUT, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon and Israel agreed on Friday to hold an initial meeting next Tuesday at the U.S. State Department in Washington to discuss a ceasefire and the date for starting U.S.-mediated negotiations, the Lebanese presidency said.

On Friday night, Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter spoke by phone after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called for direct talks with Israel amid escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon in an initiative, according to a statement posted by the presidency on the X platform.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michael Issa, who is currently in Washington, also participated in the discussion.

The statement noted that the United States has tasked its State Department with mediating between the two sides, after a series of international and regional contacts conducted by Aoun.

The upcoming meeting is expected to focus on formalizing a ceasefire announcement and on agreeing on a timeline for starting negotiations between the two countries.

On March 2, Hezbollah announced the launch of rockets from southern Lebanon toward Israel, marking the first such attack since a ceasefire was declared in November 2024. In response, Israel carried out airstrikes targeting Beirut, its southern suburbs, and other areas.

A two-week ceasefire reached between Iran and the United States took effect on Wednesday. Yet Israel has said the ceasefire does not cover the conflict in Lebanon,

Israel carried out its largest single-day attack on Lebanon on Wednesday. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported at least 303 people killed and 1,105 injured. 
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. Bloomberg
In fiery speech, Pope Leo says 'Enough to war!'

In one of his most passionate entreaties yet to end the raging conflict in the Middle East, the American pope said faith was needed "in order to face this dramatic hour in history together".

AFP April 11, 2026 / 23:20 IST























Pope Leo XIV (Courtesy: Reuters photo) Pope Leo urges global peace and denounces warmongers

He calls leaders to choose dialogue over war and rearmament

Leo emphasizes faith, love, and moderation amid global conflicts Did our AI summary help?
Iran delegation led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf arrives in Pakistan for US talks

The delegation landed at Nur Khan Airbase in Islamabad under escort by Pakistan Air Force fighter jets, according to local reports, as security was tightened across the capital.









Pakistan's army chief General Asim Munir and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar receive high-level Iranian delegation led by parliament speaker Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Islamabad,
Iran delegation meets Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, to hold talks with PM Shehbaz Sharif today

Iran engages Pakistans top leadership ahead of US talks, as delegations arrive in Islamabad for high-stakes negotiations under tight security.









Iran delegation meets Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, to hold talks with PM Shehbaz Sharif at 1 pm
Iran foreign ministry spokesperson accuses US media, policy circles of urging assassination of Iranian negotiators

His remarks accompanied screenshots of a The Washington Post opinion piece by Mark A. Thiessen titled Iran thinks it has leverage. Heres how trump can prove it wrong.









Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif met the Iranian delegation at Islamabad on April 11 Iran: US media incites violence against negotiators

US and Iranian officials hold rare direct talks in Islamabad

Talks focus on sanctions, nuclear issues, and regional tensions Did our AI summary help?
'Iran is losing big': Trump says US moving to secure Strait of Hormuz

The US and Iran remain sharply divided over control and access to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route.









US President Donald Trump criticised other nations for relying on Washington to safeguard the vital oil transit route. US and Iran officials meet in Islamabad for peace talks

Trump claims US degraded Iran's military and secures Hormuz

Iran demands full control of Strait of Hormuz in talks Did our AI summary help?
Irans new leader Khamenei 'wounded and likely disfigured', yet overseeing war strategy

Irans Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is recovering from severe injuries sustained in an airstrike but continues to participate in key decisions amid ongoing US-Iran tensions.

Reuters April 11, 2026 / 14:29 IST























Mojtaba Khamenei recovering from severe injuries, joins meetings remotely
Iran says second medical aid shipment dispatched from India amid logistical hurdles

According to reports, a planned transfer of nearly 40 tonnes of medicines procured in India had stalled after a Mahan Air aircraft scheduled to collect the cargo was damaged in an air strike at Mashhad airport.









Representative image Second batch of Indian-donated medical supplies sent to Iran

40-ton shipment delayed after airstrike-damaged aircraft

Despite hurdles, Iran still receives aid from India Did our AI summary help?
Iran unable to find mines it planted in Hormuz, reopening delayed: US officials

Iran is struggling to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as scattered naval mines and limited clearance capabilities continue to disrupt global shipping and complicate US-Iran talks.









Iran loses track of sea mines in Hormuz, struggles to reopen key route
Protesters during a blockade of Foynes Port in Limerick on April 11.Photographer: Niveditha Ravi/Bloomberg
LONDON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Britain will hold talks with allies next week on reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping without paying tolls to Iran, Reuters reported on Friday, citing an anonymous official familiar with the matter.

British foreign ministry officials are set to meet next week with counterparts from countries that joined a virtual April 2 meeting hosted by British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, said the report.

The talks will include "coordinated economic and political measures, including possible sanctions" and the release of ships and sailors trapped in the Strait, the official was quoted as saying.

Representatives from over 40 countries, along with international organizations such as the European Union and the International Maritime Organization, attended the April 2 meeting to discuss possible coordinated actions on Iran, including diplomatic pressure and economic and political measures like sanctions. 
Israeli military says it struck over 200 Hezbollah targets as tensions rise during US-Iran talks

The talks in Islamabad are expected to address a potential ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah confrontation and could open the door to further negotiations between the two sides.









Iran has argued that any ceasefire understanding involving the United States should also extend to Israeli actions in Lebanon, making the issue an early sticking point in ongoing discussions. Israel struck over 200 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in 24 hours

Washington talks may tackle Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire

US moves to secure Strait of Hormuz for global shipping Did our AI summary help?
JD Vance lands at Pakistan's Nur Khan Air Base; talks delayed, likely this afternoon | Watch

US Vice President JD Vance and senior US officials arrive in Islamabad aboard a C-32A aircraft ahead of Iran peace talks, with negotiations expected later today under tight security.









JD Vance lands at Pakistan's Nur Khan Air Base; talks delayed, likely this afternoon
Lebanon, Israel hold rare direct call, agree to US-mediated talks on April 14

During the call, both sides agreed to hold a formal, in-person meeting on April 14 at the US State Department in Washington, with the United States acting as mediator.









Lebanon Lebanon, Israel hold rare direct US-mediated phone talks

Formal April 14 meeting at US State Department in Washington

Talks seek ceasefire framework as border tensions rise Did our AI summary help?
Lebanon says war death toll from Israeli strikes passes 2,000

The new toll from the Lebanese health ministry includes 248 women, 165 children and 85 medical and emergency personnel killed, along with 6,436 people wounded since Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2.

AFP April 11, 2026 / 23:31 IST























Some three-quarters of the airstrikes during the Middle East war targeted sites in Iran or Lebanon, according to an AFP analysis of data from ACLED, a nonprofit that tracks political violence worldwide. Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed 2,020 people since March 2

248 women, 165 children, and 85 medical staff among the dead

Israel continues strikes in Lebanon despite Iran-US ceasefire Did our AI summary help?
Macron speaks to Pezeshkian, urges to 'seize opportunity for de-escalation' amid US-Iran talks in Islamabad

Pezeshkian, for his part, publicly backed Irans negotiating team, describing it as a staunch guardian of Iran's interests with all its might.









French President Emmanuel Macron Macron urges Iran to seize Islamabad talks for lasting calm

US and Iranian officials hold direct talks in Islamabad

Ceasefire and Strait of Hormuz reopening remain key issues Did our AI summary help?
Minab 168 flight: Blood-stained bags, shoes of victims mark Irans journey to Islamabad talks

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf shares a symbolic Minab168 flight image ahead of talks in Islamabad, highlighting tensions and mistrust shaping US-Iran negotiations.









Iran delegation boards Minab-168 flight ahead of Islamabad talks
Molotov attack at Sam Altmans home, threat near OpenAI HQ; 20-year-old suspect held

OpenAI said the suspect has been arrested by the San Francisco Police Department and no injuries were reported.









Sam Altman Molotov cocktail hurled at OpenAI CEO Sam Altmans SF home

Suspect later threatened OpenAI HQ, now in police custody

No injuries reported, investigation ongoing Did our AI summary help?
'Mother of all supply chain disruptions': How Iran war threatens to fracture global oil market

Iran continues to maintain an effective chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, and oil prices have resumed their climb









Crude is now roughly 50% more expensive than it was before the conflict began Iran's war triggers oil scarcity and rising prices globally

Strait of Hormuz chokehold reshapes oil market dynamics

Analysts warn of lasting geopolitical and economic shifts Did our AI summary help?
'Next Step, Mars!' Trump as Artemis II crew splashes down in Pacific Ocean | Watch

A perfect bullseye splashdown for Integrity, said Rob Navias, public affairs officer of mission operations at NASAs Johnson Space Center.
Pakistan blocks Israeli journalists from covering US-Iran ceasefire talks in Islamabad

According to a report, the move has sparked criticism, with Israeli officials questioning Islamabads neutrality as a host for such high-level diplomatic engagement.









Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif met US President JD Vance and the Iranian delegation led by Parliament Spekaer Mohammad Bagher at Islamabad Israeli journalists denied entry to Pakistan for US-Iran talks

Pakistan keeps Israel entry ban amid lack of diplomatic ties

Visa-on-arrival only for US, Iranian media and officials Did our AI summary help?
TRIPOLI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Governor of the Central Bank of Libya Naji Issa announced Saturday an agreement between the eastern-based House of Representatives and the Tripoli-based High Council of State on unifying public spending in the country through the adoption of a unified budget.

According to local media, the central bank welcomed the signing of the agreement, describing it as a "unified development" agreement. In a statement, the bank noted that it includes the adoption of general spending schedules for the Libyan state, encompassing all four budget categories.

The statement said the agreement represents a pivotal moment, being the first consensus on unified spending in over 13 years. A financial framework based on the state's actual financial capacity has been adopted, ensuring financial sustainability and balanced development across all regions.

According to Reuters, the unified budget nears 190 billion Libyan dinars (about 30 billion U.S. dollars).

Since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has been split between the UN-recognized Government of National Unity in Tripoli and the eastern administration backed by the Libyan National Army. The Libyan High National Elections Commission said late last year that presidential elections are scheduled for April 2026. 
Pakistan hosting US-Iran talks a proud moment for entire Muslim world: PM Shehbaz Sharif

Addressing the nation on what he described as a historic occasion, Sharif said the dialogue marked a shift from confrontation to diplomacy.
Pakistans attire diplomacy? Why Asim Munir wore uniform to meet Iran's Ghalibaf, suit for JD Vance

Asim Munirs shift from military uniform to a suit while receiving US and Iranian delegations has sparked debate over diplomatic signalling and power optics during high-stakes talks in Islamabad.









Pakistans attire diplomacy? Why Asim Munir wore uniform for Iran but a suit for JD Vance
Pakistan's F-16 escort J D Vance as he lands in Islamabad for US-Iran peace talks | Watch

Vance is scheduled to meet an Iranian delegation in what is being described as a landmark engagement since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.









Footage showed five fighter jets accompanying the US Air Force Boeing C-32A within Pakistani airspace. (Screengrab) Pakistani F-16s escorted US VP JD Vance's plane to Islamabad

Vance to meet Iran's delegation for landmark US-Iran talks

Talks focus on de-escalation, nuclear transparency, and security Did our AI summary help?
Retaliatory strikes by Tehran have stretched from Israel to Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates leaving scores dead and shattering the Gulf states reputation for safety and security.
In a statement shared on X, Rubio said the action targeted Ebtekars son, Seyed Eissa Hashemi, along with his wife Maryam Tahmasebi and their child.

Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran
Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners of war ahead of Easter ceasefire

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed the exchange  the third so far this year  in a post on social media.









In this photo provided by Ukraine's 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade press service, a soldier fires a mortar towards positions of Russian troops near Kostyantynivka in Donetsk region, Ukraine. (AP/File image) Russia and Ukraine swapped 175 prisoners each, mediated by UAE

Most Ukrainian POWs had been held since 2022, including civilians

Swap occurred ahead of a 32-hour Orthodox Easter ceasefire Did our AI summary help?
Saudi Arabia announces arrival of military force from Pakistan amid heightened tensions in Middle East

Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan signed a mutual defence pact in September last year, stating that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.









The Pakistani force consists of fighter and support aircraft belonging to the Pakistani Air Force. (Representative photo) Pakistani troops reach Saudi air base under defense pact

Deployment to bolster joint readiness amid Mideast tensions

Pakistan hosts US-Iran talks as ceasefire remains fragile Did our AI summary help?
Saudi finance minister in Pakistan to show 'economic support'

Saudi Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan's visit comes as Islamabad hosts US-Iran talks aimed at ending the Middle East war, which he is not attending.

AFP April 11, 2026 / 20:42 IST























(AFP/representative image) Saudi finance minister visits Islamabad to show economic support

Pakistan to return over $3 billion in loans to the UAE

Saudi-Pakistan defense pact brings fighter jets to kingdom Did our AI summary help?
South Korea president clashes with Israel on rights, disinformation claims

Israel's foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday the incident was already "investigated and addressed".

AFP April 11, 2026 / 17:38 IST























South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (AFP image) President Lee faulted Israel for ignoring rights abuse claims

Israel said the incident was investigated and addressed

South Korea's foreign ministry called for universal human rights Did our AI summary help?
Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez arrives in Beijing seeking technology transfers as Europe recalibrates China strategy

Sanchez's visit  his fourth to China in just over three years  includes a meeting with President Xi, Premier Li Qiang and top legislator Zhao Leji, as well as a speech at Tsinghua University.









Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (AFP/File image) Spanish PM Sanchez in Beijing for key investment talks

Deal pushes Chinese tech transfer and job creation in Spain

Deal adds training centers and university cooperation programs Did our AI summary help?
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (R) meets with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 11, 2026. (Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

Vance arrived here on Saturday for talks with the Iranian team to end the recent hostilities in the Middle East region.

Commending the commitment of both delegations to engage constructively, Sharif expressed the hope that these talks would serve as a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region.

Sharif reiterated that Pakistan looks forward to continuing its facilitation of both sides in making progress towards sustainable peace in the region.

On the same day, the prime minister met with the Iranian team arrived earlier Saturday. 

U.S. Vice President JD Vance (C, front) arrives at the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on April 11, 2026. U.S. delegates led by Vice President JD Vance arrived in Pakistan on Saturday morning for talks with Iran, according to sources. (Xinhua)

U.S. Vice President JD Vance (C, front) arrives at the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on April 11, 2026. U.S. delegates led by Vice President JD Vance arrived in Pakistan on Saturday morning for talks with Iran, according to sources. (Xinhua)

U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrives at the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on April 11, 2026. U.S. delegates led by Vice President JD Vance arrived in Pakistan on Saturday morning for talks with Iran, according to sources. (Xinhua)
Strait of Hormuz to open fairly soon, says Trump ahead US-Iran peace talks in Pakistan

Speaking to reporters, Trump said the waterway would be opened with or without Irans cooperation.









Donald Trump
The US Senate races that could decide the 2026 midterms

Control of the Senate will run through a handful of bruising primaries, expensive battlegrounds and a political climate shaped by war, gas prices and voter frustration with both parties.









The US Senate races that could decide the 2026 midterms
Third round of US-Iran in Pakistan talks expected 'tonight or tomorrow', says report

A senior White House official confirmed that the United States and Iran were engaging directly in trilateral discussions hosted by Pakistan, rather than relying on intermediaries and separate rooms as in recent efforts.









Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif met US President JD Vance and the Iranian delegation led by Parliament Spekaer Mohammad Bagher at Islamabad on April 11 US, Iran hold rare direct talks in Pakistans Islamabad

Talks center on economic, regional issues, not Lebanon or Israel

Senior delegations signal seriousness, but mistrust remains Did our AI summary help?
Trump asserts total victory over Iran, claims Strait of Hormuz will 'soon be open'

"The Strait of Hormuz will soon be open, and the empty ships are rushing to the United States to 'load up'," Trump wrote.









. Trump claims US destroyed Iran's military on Truth Social

US-Iran ceasefire talks held in Islamabad amid Trump's posts

Talks aim to stabilize ceasefire and future regional security Did our AI summary help?
Trump calls Iran failing nation, signals reset if negotiations don't go well

His remarks came as senior Iranian and American officials began negotiations in Islamabad on Saturday in a bid to bring about an end to the war in Middle East









US President Donald Trump
Trump says 'massive numbers' of empty oil tankers heading to US: 'We have more oil than next 2 largest oil economies combined'

This came hours after he reacted to a social media post suggesting that a wave of empty tankers were heading towards the US.









US President Donald Trump
Trump wishes Vance luck for Islamabad talks, says Iran militarily defeated

Donald Trump expressed confidence ahead of US-Iran talks in Islamabad, as Vice President JD Vance leads negotiations amid fragile ceasefire tensions.









Trump says no backup plan needed for Iran talks, wishes Vance luck
Two US Navy destroyers cross Strait of Hormuz in mine clearance operation, says Centcom

The transit represents the first such movement by US warships since hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran intensified earlier this year.









Strait of Hormuz US Navy destroyers begin mine-clearing in Strait of Hormuz

Push to reopen key oil route shut by conflict

More assets, including underwater drones, join mission soon Did our AI summary help?
UK government shelves Chagos Islands plan opposed by Trump

While the UK has already signed the treaty with Mauritius, a bill to implement the handover has yet to complete its passage through Parliament, and Prime Minister Keir Starmers government has said it wont implement the deal without the support of Washington.









Supporters and members of the British Indian Ocean territory Chagos Archipelago hold placards and the territory's flag outside the Houses of Parliament in London (File image/AFP) UK halts Chagos Islands handover due to lack of US support

Trump opposes transfer, calling it a "big mistake"

Mauritius faces $215 million budget shortfall from deal delay Did our AI summary help?
US charges 10 Indians over alleged conspiracy in U visa fraud robbery scheme

Ten Indian nationals were indicted in the US for an alleged scheme involving staged convenience store robberies to help individuals falsely claim victim status for U visa applications.
LONDON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The UK government has shelved legislation to ratify a deal to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after the United States withdrew its backing for the deal, highlighting strains in UK-U.S. relations, British media reported.

BBC quoted UK officials as saying that they are not entirely abandoning the agreement, which would hand sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius, but have run out of time to pass legislation to ratify the agreement within the current parliamentary session, which ends in the coming weeks.

Britain was forced to drop the bill because the United States didn't formally exchange letters to amend a 1966 British-American treaty on the islands, an essential step to transfer their sovereignty, according to Financial Times.

The Chagos Islands house a key U.S.-British military base. In 1965, Britain detached the archipelago from Mauritius, then a British colony, and leased Diego Garcia, the largest island of the archipelago, to the United States as a joint U.S.-British military facility in the following year.

Under a deal announced in May 2025, Britain agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Islands to Mauritius, while leasing back Diego Garcia for 99 years.

Initially welcoming the deal, the United States reversed its stance earlier this year, with U.S. President Donald Trump describing the transfer as "an act of great stupidity."

The Guardian said that the latest setback in the UK's push to hand the Chagos Islands back to Mauritius is a sign of the worsening UK-U.S. relations after Trump's heavy criticism of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his handling of the Iran war, which began on Feb. 28 following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against the country.

Trump has said he was "very disappointed" with Britain's decision not to join the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and its insistence that U.S. forces could use UK bases, including Diego Garcia, only for limited defensive operations against Iranian targets. 
US, Iran leaders in Pakistan as world awaits peace: The key players and proposals on table

High-stakes US-Iran talks begin in Islamabad amid a fragile ceasefire, with delegations led by JD Vance and Abbas Araghchi set to negotiate disputes over Lebanon, the Strait of Hormuz and Irans nuclear programme.









Iran-US talks in Pakistan: Check timing, delegation details and key sticking points
US-Iran talks in Pakistan: Pezeshkian says delegation 'staunch guardian of Iran's interests'

The talks, hosted by Pakistan in its capital, represent a shift from recent indirect exchanges. This time, both sides convened in the same room, signaling a more direct attempt to resolve a conflict that has shaken the Middle East and impacted global markets.









Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian Iran, US hold first direct Islamabad talks since 1979

Key issues include frozen assets and Israeli actions in Lebanon

Talks seen as a possible step toward regional peace Did our AI summary help?
US, Pakistan, Iran holding trilateral face-to-face talks in Islamabad: White House

A senior White House official said the three sides were holding the direct talks in person, a departure from recent practice where Washington and Tehran held talks only through a mediator while seated in separate rooms.









Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif met US President JD Vance and the Iranian delegation led by Parliament Spekaer Mohammad Bagher at Islamabad
Iran, US, Pakistan trilateral talks begin in Islamabad after Sharif meets Vance, Iranian delegation

The negotiations come more than six weeks after the escalation of hostilities between the United States and Iran and shortly after a temporary ceasefire lasting two weeks was declared.









Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif met US President JD Vance and the Iranian delegation led by Parliament Spekaer Mohammad Bagher at Islamabad US and Iran delegations arrive in Islamabad for direct talks

Pakistan seeks breakthrough in US-Iran talks

Talks focus on nuclear issues, sanctions, and regional security Did our AI summary help?
We have goodwill, not trust: Iran flags US distrust ahead of talks

Qalibaf said Iran remains open to an agreement if the US is willing to recognise the rights of the Iranian people, signalling conditional readiness for progress in the talks.









Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
What does Trump want from Iran ahead of Pakistan peace talks?

Addressing reporters near Air Force One, Trump reiterated that his primary objective is to ensure Iran does not develop nuclear weapons.
What makes Pakistans Nur Khan base significant? Once struck by India during Operation Sindoor, now welcoming US, Iranian delegations

US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Islamabad hours after Irans delegation, as the capital went into lockdown and focus shifted to the strategic Nur Khan Air Base, previously striked by India during Operation Sindoor.









Nur Khan base, once hit in Operation Sindoors 80 drones in 36 hours, back in focus as US-Iran delegations land
Why Pakistan is suddenly at the centre of US-Iran talks, despite everything going on at home

With its economy under strain, rising violence and tense borders, Pakistan is now hosting high-stakes US-Iran talks, trying to manage a crisis far bigger than itself.









Why Pakistan is suddenly at the centre of US-Iran talks, despite everything going on at home
Why these US-Iran talks are unlike anything Washington and Tehran have done before

With little preparation, a fragile ceasefire and no clear agenda, the Islamabad meeting marks a sharp departure from the slow, structured negotiations that defined past US-Iran diplomacy.









Why these US-Iran talks are unlike anything Washington and Tehran have done before
Will Netanyahu agree to 'pause' airstrikes in Lebanon? US urges Israel ahead of peace talks

Lebanon asked Israel to make a "gesture" before the talks begin, and "pause" its attacks, which Israel says are focused on Hezbollah.









Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
ISLAMABAD, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf arrived here early Saturday for talks with the United States to end the hostilities in the Middle East. However, distrust between the two adversaries still shadows their peace talks scheduled for later on the day.

Speaking to reporters upon arrival at Islamabad, Qalibaf told reporters that "twice within less than a year, in the middle of negotiations, and despite the Iranian side's good faith, they attacked us and committed numerous war crimes," recalling the country's past experience of betrayal by the United States.

"We have goodwill, but we do not have trust (in Americans)," Qalibaf reiterated, according to the Tasnim news agency.

If the American side is ready for a genuine agreement and to grant the rights of the Iranian nation, then they would witness Iran's readiness for an agreement. However, should Washington seek to use negotiation as a futile show and a deception operation, Tehran is prepared to secure the Iranian nation's rights by relying on its own capabilities, Qalibaf said.

According to Iranian media reports, Qalibaf, with his fellow delegates, will meet Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday morning. If the U.S. side accepts the preconditions proposed by Iran -- a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets, the two sides will begin negotiations at the Serena Hotel on Saturday afternoon.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Friday left Washington for Islamabad, Pakistan, and is expected to land here in the midday. Before his departure, the U.S. negotiation team leader warned Iran not to "play" the United States in the upcoming talks.

"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 said.

"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.

Trump on Friday has stepped up pressure ahead of U.S.-Iran talks, claiming that Iran has "no cards" other than short-term "extortion" with the Strait of Hormuz.

"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!"

In a televised speech late Friday, the Pakistani prime minister said that the U.S. and Iranian sides would hold talks on Saturday to find a peaceful solution to the Middle East conflict and the Pakistani leadership will make the best of its efforts to make the talks a success.

To prepare for the success of the U.S.-Iran talks, Pakistan's capital is under tight security.

Analysts said that the negotiations are being closely watched for signs of whether they can evolve into sustained diplomacy or collapse under longstanding structural tensions, but holding talks has opened a rare diplomatic window between the two adversaries.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes the upcoming U.S.-Iran talks and calls on the parties to seize this diplomatic opportunity to engage in good faith toward a lasting and comprehensive agreement, with a view to de-escalation and the prevention of a return to hostilities.

"The Secretary-General reiterates that there is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, in full accordance with international law, including the UN Charter," his spokesperson said Friday. 
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Superior Energy Services has debuted its EcoReach, next generation micro-proppant technology. Courtesy Superior Energy Services Superior Energy Services has debuted its EcoReach, next generation micro-proppant technology. Courtesy Superior Energy Services Superior Energy Services has debuted its EcoReach, next generation micro-proppant technology. Courtesy Superior Energy Services

A next-generation completions solution has made its debut and already been proven in more than 140 wells, including multistage jobs in the Delaware Basin near Hobbs, New Mexico.

Superior Energy Services EcoReach is a micro-proppant technology designed to reduce costs and the completions footprint.

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Josh Johnson, EcoReach general manager, said the new technology offers a significantly lower footprint, requires less horsepower and no gels or chemicals. That smaller footprint also results in lower costs, he told the Reporter-Telegram.

Another benefit is increased recovery.

In this age of enhanced oil recovery, we know much oil is left in the reservoirs, Johnson said.

The nanoscale spherical micro-proppant can travel deeper into microfractures, allowing producers to access more of the reservoir. That is particularly relevant as operators develop additional benches in formations such as the deeper Wolfcamp, Barnett and Woodford shales, he said.

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EcoReach also integrates into conventional fracture spreads for multi-stage horizontal wells.

The technology has been deployed in more than 140 new and existing wells, delivering consistent production improvements across multiple basins.

In one documented case in Dumas, a well treated with water and 150,000 pounds of EcoReach increased oil production from 5 barrels per day to 52 barrels per day, while water production remained stable. The treatment sustained a fourfold production increase over four years without additional surface disturbance or chemical additives.

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In the Olmos Formation of South Texas, EcoReach has successfully restimulated aging and previously shut-in wells. Documented results include production increases of up to 20 times, the restart of dormant wells, and flatter decline curves lasting more than four years.
Aerial shot of gas wells near Pyote in the Permian Basin. halbergman/Getty Images

Technological advances have raised a major question about their application to legacy oilfield contracts.

Judge David Counts of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Midland-Odessa Division, last month entered a decision that addresses how legacy contracts apply to modern horizontal wells.

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At issue was whether a model form Joint Operating Agreement that predates the widespread use of horizontal wells applies to allocation wells that produce from lands both inside and outside the JOAs contract area. In McCully-Chapman Exploration, Inc. v. Ovintiv USA, Inc., Counts ruled in favor of Ovintiv, finding a JOA entered into in the 1980s did apply to several horizontal wells drilled in 2019 and 2021. The ruling confirms that older JOAs, originally written for vertical wells, remain applicable to todays multimile laterals that extend beyond the original contract boundaries.

Its an interesting area, said Chris Hogan, founding partner of Hogan Thompson Schuelke, who represented Ovintiv in the lawsuit.

For a long time, JOAs were in place  still are in place in West Texas  for vertical wells. Then come along horizontal wells and we have to figure out if JOAs that apply to vertical wells apply to horizontal wells, despite horizontal wells being in place for two decades, he told the Reporter-Telegram.

One question was how JOAs apply when an operator drills a horizontal well through the JOA area and outside it, something Hogan said is happening across Texas.

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This has caused uncertainty because some operators believed the JOA did not apply if a well extended outside the covered area, he said. Some operators also have received demand letters seeking additional payment because the well extended beyond the JOA-covered area.

Since the decision came down, Ive received numerous messages saying Thank goodness  this was a big area of certainty, Hogan said.

Now, when operators plan horizontal wells, they are less concerned they will be told the JOA does not apply and that they owe more money.

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This adds certainty as to how new technology is applied, Hogan said. This is good for West Texas as producers seek to optimize horizontal production.
Chinese Ambassador to Malawi Lu Xu (front, L) and Malawi's Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango (front, C) attend the handover ceremony of the China-aided M1 road upgrade project in Lilongwe, Malawi, April 10, 2026. (Xinhua)

LILONGWE, April 11 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday handed over a road upgrade project to the Malawian government, a move expected to boost the southeastern African country's socio-economic development.

The 25-million-U.S.-dollar M1 road upgrade project, constructed by China's Shandong Luqiao Group Company Limited in Lilongwe, the country's capital, is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion and improve passenger mobility.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Malawi's Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango commended the Chinese government for the project, saying that it was built to a high standard and would help reduce travel time and road maintenance costs, among other benefits.

Mhango also praised the Chinese contractor for transferring skills and knowledge to local workers employed during the project.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Malawi Lu Xu said the project is not only a key route linking parts of Lilongwe but also a vital piece of infrastructure that reflects Malawi's national image and supports its socio-economic development.

"We firmly believe that this upgraded road is more than just a route. It is a pathway to development, prosperity and a brighter future. It is a road of cooperation and a powerful symbol of the deepening friendship between China and Malawi in this new era," she added.

The project, which began construction in late 2021, spans about 9.455 kilometers and has become a key transport artery in Lilongwe following its completion. 

This photo taken on April 10, 2026 shows a part of the China-aided M1 road upgrade project in Lilongwe, Malawi. (Xinhua)
1) The NASA Artemis II crew, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover, pose for a group photo inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home following a flyby of the far side of the Moon on April 6, 2026. NASA/Handout via REUTERS

2) The Artemis II crew capsule splashes down in the Pacific Ocean in this screengrab from a livestream video after the Artemis II crew's flyby of the Moon, April 10, 2026. NASA/Handout via REUTERS

HOUSTON (Reuters)  The Artemis II capsule and its four-member crew streaked through Earths atmosphere and safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday after nearly 10 days in space, capping the first voyage by humans to the vicinity of the moon in over half a century.

NASAs gumdrop-shaped Orion capsule, dubbed Integrity, parachuted gently into the sea off the Southern California coast shortly after 5 p.m. PT, concluding a mission that took the astronauts deeper into space than anyone had flown before.

The Artemis II flight, traveling a total of 694,392 miles (1,117,515 km) across two Earth orbits and a climactic lunar flyby some 252,000 miles away, was the debut crewed test flight in a series of Artemis missions that aim to start landing astronauts on the lunar surface starting in 2028.

The splashdown, about two hours before sunset, was carried by live video feed in a NASA webcast.

Recovery teams were standing by to secure the floating capsule and retrieve the crew  U.S. astronauts Reid Wiseman, 50, Victor Glover, 49, and Christina Koch, 47, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, 50.

The crews homecoming cleared a critical final hurdle for the Lockheed Martin-built Orion spacecraft, proving it would withstand the extreme forces of re-entry from a lunar-return trajectory.

It followed a white-knuckle, 13-minute fiery plunge through Earths atmosphere, generating frictional heat that sent temperatures on the capsules exterior soaring to some 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius).

At the peak of re-entry stress, as expected, intense heat and air compression formed a red-hot sheath of ionized gas, or plasma, that engulfed the capsule, cutting off radio communications with the crew for several minutes.

The tension broke as contact was re-established and two sets of parachutes were seen billowing from the nose of the free-falling capsule, slowing its descent to about 15 mph (25 kph) before Orion gently hit the water.

It was expected to take NASA and U.S. Navy teams about an hour to secure the floating capsule and assist the four astronauts out of the vehicle and fly them to a nearby recovery ship to undergo an initial medical checkup.

Stepping stone to Mars

The quartet blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, lofted into an initial Earth orbit by NASAs giant Space Launch System rocket before sailing on for a rare journey around the far side of the moon.

In so doing, they became the first astronauts to fly in the vicinity of Earths only natural satellite since the Apollo program of the 1960s and 70s. Glover, Koch and Hansen also made history as the first Black astronaut, the first woman and first non-U.S. citizen, respectively, to take part in a lunar mission.

At the flights peak, the Artemis astronauts reached a point 252,756 miles from Earth, exceeding the previous record of roughly 248,000 miles set in 1970 by the crew of Apollo 13.

The voyage, following the uncrewed Artemis I test flight around the moon by the Orion spacecraft in 2022, marked a critical dress rehearsal for a planned attempt later this decade to land astronauts on the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in late 1972.

The ultimate goal of the Artemis program is to establish a long-term presence on the moon as a stepping stone to eventual human exploration of Mars.

In a historical parallel to the Cold War era of Apollo, the Artemis II mission has played out against a backdrop of political and social turmoil, including a U.S. military conflict that has proven unpopular at home.

Unlike the Apollo era, when the United States was racing to land astronauts on the moon ahead of the Soviet Union, the Artemis program is seeking to beat China.

For many in a global audience captivated by the latest moon shot, it reaffirmed the achievements of science and technology at a time when big tech has become widely distrusted, even feared. Opinion polling showed broad public support the aims of the mission.

The return to Earth put the Orion spacecraft through a critical test of its heat shield, which sustained an unexpected level of scorching and stress on re-entry during its 2022 test flight. As a result, NASA engineers altered the descent trajectory for Artemis II in order to reduce heat buildup and lower the risk of the capsule burning up.

Last weeks successful launch was a major milestone for the SLS rocket, handing its principal contractors, Boeing and Northrop Grumman, long-sought validation that the launch system more than a decade in development was ready to safely fly humans to space.
Clubs and organizations Andia/Universal Images Group via Getty

Rotary Club of Jacksonville

President Kelly Pool called the April 3 meeting to order at noon in the Fireside Room of Hamiltons 110 North East.

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President Kelly led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance and in singing one verse of America. She also gave the Reflection, focusing on the importance of Rotary Internationals initiative to eradicate polio. Our club has a goal to raise $2,500 this year toward that campaign.

Our meeting volunteers were thanked, wholeheartedly, including greeters, Jim McClarey and Joey Henry; 50-50, Jan Ryan; sergeant-at-arms, David Bauer; food delivery, Judy Tighe; tech, Craig Albers, Dan Lepper and Diane Seufert; and notes, Ryan Byers.

Our sole guest was Tobbe, our Rotary International Youth Exchange Student from Sweden. Carl Ryan helped provide Tobbe's transportation to the meeting.

President-elect Pete Carteaux addressed the club. Pete has accepted a new position as CEO of a Scouting America council in Wisconsin, and he starts that job on May 1. For that reason, Pete will have to step down as president-elect. The club wished Pete well on his new endeavor. The nominating committee will meet immediately following the full club meeting to discuss his replacement as president-elect.

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Announcements

 Madie Stevens gave an update on the bass tournament fundraiser, which is April 4. We have 29 boats signed up with more potentially coming. The event is on track to raise $13,000 for the club.

 Craig Albers reminded the group that the annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet will be April 30. We need Rotarians to sign up to host tables. Jan Ryan reiterated the need for table hosts.

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 Jane Breen reported on Rotary Greens ongoing tree and shrub sale. Flyers with pricing are available on social media. Orders are due April 26, and delivery of products will be May 9.

 Noel Beard circulated the sign-up sheet to bring Tobbe to club meetings. Dan Lepper advised that Tobbe is not playing a sport this spring, so he will have plenty of time if anybody wants to take him out for dinner, day trips or other activities.

President Kelly read a letter from The Esprit de Corps Academy, thanking the club for its recent $2,000 donation to its program.

Craig Albers led Recognitions and Rotations. Samantha Boston and Judy Tighe were recognized for appearing in the newspaper. Rotations were offered by Chuck Sheaff (commenting on the oddities of the human brain  not just his own, but everybodys), Pete Carteaux (paying fines for not wearing his pin that Joey Henry wouldve charged him in coming months); Kelly Pool (thanking Jim McClarey for leading singing last week); Diane Seufert (thanking Dan Lepper for assisting with tech setup); Ryan Byers (commenting on Rotarys humanitarian effort related to water and sanitation in Haiti); and Keith Lape (wishing Pete Carteaux the best and contributing $50 to polio eradication if club members would match it with an addition $50).

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President Kelly introduced our program, presented by Jacksonville Rotarian Reg Ankrom. In our nations 250th year, Reg gave a talk based on historical research he has done that suggests a cause for the Revolutionary War that differs somewhat from conventional wisdom. Specifically, a cause for the revolution may have been American concerns about the British government eventually seeking to abolish slavery in the colonies after it had been abolished in Britain proper. Many interesting tidbits about the Colonial United States were shared along the way.

Marybeth Lauderdale drew unsuccessfully for the 50-50 pot.

The meeting closed at 1:02 p.m. with the recitation of the Four-Way Test.

 Submitted by Ryan Byers

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Jacksonville Sunrise Rotary Club

As a chilly St. Patricks Day dawned that also hosted the Illinois primary elections (insert your favorite blarney joke here), a dozen Rotarians gathered in the back room of Rudis Grill. Some ordered food while chatter ebbed and flowed and the unbreakable Polio Jar made steady progress around the narrow meeting table.

When the time was right, Vice President Jane Zachary tapped the March 17 meeting open at 7 a.m., followed by Jay leading the Pledge of Allegiance, Mary Jane leading the reciting of the Four-Way Test and Pat giving the opening prayer.

Rotations were made by Cindy, Jane, Don, Linda, Sarah Robinson, Ella, Jay, Mary and Brittany. Stories ranged from flying visitors in the middle of the night to a car in need of a priest. Sarah Edmiston did her best to coax donations to the scholarship fund with Recognitons for everyone.

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President Brittany and Cindy gave the club an update about the literacy grant. They read last week to the children in kindergarten and first grade at Washington Elementary. After reading to each class, each student received a copy of the spring-themed book with a coloring book and crayons. The ladies will return in May with a summer-themed book and gift for both classes.

After some club housekeeping, the club split into two groups to package Take and Make Meals. One was chili mac while the other was chicken and stuffing. All the items needed for each meal fit into a baggie, including the recipe card. The club assembled 10 of each. Team Chili Mac completed their Take and Make Meals first. Several members will distribute them to the little pantries at Central Christian Church and the Morgan County Housing Authority office.

Sunrise Rotary will sell geraniums through April 21 for delivery by Mothers Day. The 4-inch potted plants are $6 each. Orders can be placed with any Sunrise Rotary member.

Everyone disbursed about 7:45 a.m. The next meeting is at 7 a.m. March 24 in the back room of Rudis Grill. All guests and visiting Rotarians are welcome.

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Upcoming events

 Meeting  7 a.m. March 24 at Rudis Grill

 Scholarship ($1,000) applications due  April 22

 Geranium sales  through April 21

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 Scholarships awarded  May

 Geranium delivery  May 8 (in time for Mothers Day)

 Pack-the-House  4:30 p.m.-closing May 13 at Los Rancheros

 Discount cards  selling in June

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 Submitted by Sarah Edmiston

Jacksonville Lions

As the sun set on St. Patricks Day and Illinois' primary Election Day drew to a close, 11 Lions gathered in the back room of Rudis Grill. Some ordered food, though no on got the corn beef and cabbage special. When the time was right, President Tamra tinkled the March 17 meeting open at 6:32 p.m. with the help of Vice President Debbies pocket-sized bell.

Highlights from that nights meeting included official ballot voting for the next years officers, receiving thank-you notes from the Lions Illinois Foundation with patches that Vice President Debbie will attach to a banner. President Tamra also reviewed some great ideas from the forum she recently attended. The club learned of exciting amounts donated toward Brave Gowns for children battling cancers. Donations will be collected through the end of March.

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The meeting tinkled to a close at 7:19 p.m. The next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. April 7 in the back room of Rudis Grill. The club will put aside its usual itinerary during this meeting to play bingo. Members are encouraged to bring prizes to share.

Upcoming events

 Fish fry  (Chapin Lions) 5-7 p.m. March 20 at Chapin American Legion

 Low Vision Clinic 50th Anniversary reception  noon March 30

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 Low Vision Clinic  March 30-31 at Illinois School for the Visually Impaired

 Bingo Night (meeting)  6:30 p.m. April 7 at Rudis Grill

 Flags up  5:30 p.m. May 22 at Community Park

 Flags down  5:30 p.m. May 26 at Community Park

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 Trivia Night  June 5 at KC Hall

 Health Fair  June 10 (Site & Sound Bus)

 Submitted by Sarah Edmiston

Jacksonville Christian Women's Connection

Jacksonville Christian Women's Connection will meet from noon to 2 p.m. April 14 at Hamilton's, 110 N. East St.

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The special event will be a baby shower in support of Living Alternatives/Pregnancy Resource Center.

The special guest will be Brigitte Emme of Jacksonville, director of the Pregnancy Resource Center, who will share statistics and services offered by Living Alternatives.

Guest speaker Kathy Bishop of Lodi, Wisconsin, is a health care professional focused on radiation oncology. She will speak about 10 steps to have a happy, healthy heart.

Lunch is $15. Reservations can be made by calling Mary at 217-320-1743.

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 Submitted by Libby Gaige

Jacksonville NAACP

The Jacksonville branch of NAACP met Feb. 23 with the meeting called to order at 6:02 p.m.

Cynthia Morgan gave the opening prayer.

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Roll was called with 10 members present, Alberta R., Naomi T., Vivian B., Cynthia M., Regina N., Polly W., Ellen M., Johnathan W., Johnny N., and Jim B.

Minutes from the last NAACP meeting were read by Secretary Naomi T. A motion for the minutes to be approved was made by Alberta R and seconded by Vivian B.

Treasurer Regina N reported that the AFR report was submitted Feb. 22 and is waiting for the national organization to review it to be in compliance and AFR fees paid. An update is anticipated by the next meeting. Regina informed members that the AFR process means she now will be doing monthly printable treasurer reports to help when it is time to do next years AFR report. Regina reported one renewal membership paid for the month of February and two vendor fees paid for the Juneteenth celebration. A motion to accept the treasurer's report was made by Vivian B and seconded by Cynthia M.

Committee reports

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MLK wrap-up: Vivian B turned in final receipts for the MLK event and needs reimbursement. Members discussed comments regarding the MLK celebration. One complaint was about the bathrooms being cold; due to the venue and a lack of heating vents, this was out of NAACPs control. The event had more than 90 people in attendance  a great turn out that has grown over the years.

Juneteenth updates: Chair Regina N discussed having a Juneteenth planning meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. March 16. The Juneteenth celebration is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. June 20 on the downtown square. Naomi T reported that we have five vendors confirmed: Crisis Center Foundation, MCS, Jacksonville Police Department, Jacksonville Public Library, B & S Grub, and The Pointe. Naomi also gave brief update from the last Juneteenth planning meeting.

Membership updates: We have 56 active members. Of those, 11 memberships are expiring in 90 days or less. If we fall under 50 members, we're no longer in compliance as an active NAACP branch. Naomi informed members that there will be an increase in the cost of lifetime memberships, though those who already are lifetime members will be grandfathered in.

New business

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President Alberta R reported that she had received a message from national that they are suggesting all branches donate $500 to the national convention. Due to the size of our local branch, we do not have the funds to do so. Alberta will reach out to the president regarding a donation. After speaking with members present, they decided to donate $200 and the motion was passed and approved to send $200 to national at this time.

J.C. Penny merchandise: President Alberta R spoke with members about Black History Month and going to J.C. Penny to see if there was clothing. After speaking with the manager, he asked if NAACP could set up a table for Black History Month. Due to time constraints, this was not able to happen, but she did discuss possibly doing a table event during June to promote the Juneteenth event. She will follow up and give members updates. (We're also looking into Walmart and Marshall for products that are more diverse and support events like Juneteenth and Black History Month.)

BSU Fashion show: Illinois College's Black Student Union is showcasing 1940s and 50s clothing during a fashion show at 6 p.m. Feb. 26.

Freedom Fund banquet: Members discussed having a banquet in the fall. President Alberta R has spoken with Tina M, who is a part of the Springfield NAACP branch and is willing to speak with members about Freedom Fund and helping members get started. Possibly get something scheduled for month of April.

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Mural updates (Underground Railroad): A preview of the mural was shown and President Alberta R reported that they are hoping to have the mural completed before the Juneteenth celebration.

Boy Scouts of America: Kris Kern will attend the meeting in March to speak about the organization and getting involved.

Blues Fest: NAACP will have a table during the Blues Fest on June 19 to raffle off tickets for Juneteenth and promote the event.

Pastor Jum Burries gave the closing prayer.

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The meeting was adjourned at 7:02 p.m.

The next NAACP monthly meeting will be at 6 p.m. March 23 in the Mayors Conference Room at Jacksonville Municipal Building.

 Submitted by Naomi Trotter

Jacksonville NAACP

The Jacksonville branch of NAACP met March 23 with the meeting called to order at 6:01 p.m.

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Roll was called, with Alberta Robinson, Cynthia Morgan, Polly Williams, Ellen Miller, Darcella Speed and Pastor Jim Burries attending.

Pastor Burries gave the opening prayer.

No in-person secretary's report was given, though the report was accepted per email notes.

No treasurer's report was given.

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Committee reports

Juneteenth committee: No formal report was given. The president shared that she reached out to Sam Hamptom at the Illinois Theater and Danielle Turner, who said she would discuss it at the next pickle ball meeting and let us know what they discussed.

Scholarship committee: There were three scholarship applications turned in.

Legal redress: A client sent in his form to set up a meeting with him to discuss looking further into getting a deaf interpreter.

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Old business

A donation to the national convention will be discussed in April.

AFR is in and we're just waiting to see what we owe.

New business

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WIN committee next candidate at meeting; Cynthia will reach out to her.

A No Kings Rally will be March 28. It was asked if there was any interest in attending and several said they might go.

Kris Kerwin from Boy Scouts of America came to talk about whether someone would be interested in being a Scout leader to help someone at least 21 years or older to serve. He also would like to bring the STEM bus for Juneteenth and maybe connect with young people then.

Pastor Burries gave the closing prayer.

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The meeting was adjourned at 7:02 p.m.

The next NAACP monthly meeting will be at 6 p.m. April 27 in the Mayors Conference Room at the Municipal Building.
Datebook miniseries/Getty Images

It is recommended you contact the group in advance to verify meeting details. Any changes in meeting schedules can be emailed to JJCsocial@myjournalcourier.com.



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ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

217-370-4002

Jacksonville locations:

 First Baptist Church, 1701 Mound Ave. Wheelchair-accessible.

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 Club HOW, 638 S. Church St.

 Christ Lutheran Church for the Deaf, 104 Finley St. (enter through the back)

Monday

 Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW.

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 Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at First Baptist Church. Bowen Group.

 Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW.

Tuesday

 Open discussion, noon at Club HOW.

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 VIRGINIA: Closed discussion, 7 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, Main and Washington streets.

 ROODHOUSE: Closed discussion, 12-step/12 traditions, 8 p.m. at Grace Center, 114 W. Palm St.

Wednesday

 Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW.

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 Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW.

Thursday

 Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW.

 SASS (Strong and Sober Sisters) open womens meeting, 6:30 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church for the Deaf.

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 Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Newcomers Group.

Friday

 Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. TGIF Group.

 Closed discussion, 5:15 p.m., Big Book Study at Club HOW.

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 VIRGINIA: Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 401 E. Broadway Ave.

Saturday

 Open meeting, noon at Club HOW.

 Open speaker, 8 p.m. at Club HOW.

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Sunday

 Closed discussion, 10 a.m. at Club HOW. (Second Sunday is open)

 SPRINGFIELD: AA for Women, 10 a.m. at Discovery Club, 313 W. Cook St.

 Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. 12 & 12 Group.

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AL-ANON

Meetings are nonsmoking and open to anyone. The only requirement is that there be a problem of alcohol with a loved one or friend. 217-370-1038.

Wednesday

 Al-Anon, 7-8 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church, 331 E. State St. (use Morgan Street entrance).

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NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS

All meetings are nonsmoking. Not affiliated with any religious organization.

Jacksonville location:

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 Christ Lutheran Church for the Deaf, 104 Finley St. (enter through back door). 217-883-1975.

Monday

 Open discussion group, 7 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church for the Deaf.

Wednesday

 Open discussion group, 8 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church for the Deaf.

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Friday

 Open discussion group, 7:30 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church for the Deaf.



OTHER MEETINGS

Monday

 Addicts Victorious, 7-8 p.m. at Faith Tabernacle, 571 Sandusky St. Use side entrance to church hall.

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 PITTSFIELD: Addicts Victorious, 7-8 p.m. in the basement of Subway in Pittsfield. 1-800-323-1388.



Tuesday

 Jacksonville Sunrise Rotary, 7 a.m. Rudis Grill, 1913 W. Morton Ave. 217-243-6895.

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 Bereavement support group, 10-11 a.m. Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Meeting Room 4.

 Jacksonville Area Landlords Association (JALA), 6 p.m. at the Morgan County Fairgrounds grandstand. Social time at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 217-243-1409 or 217-248-5416.



Wednesday

 Breastfeeding support group, 6 p.m., Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Meeting Room 2.

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 ROODHOUSE: Women with Hearts of Love (WWHOL), 6-7 p.m. at House of Restoration, 208 W. Franklin St. 217-602-1670.



Thursday

 Jacksonville Area Chess Club, 6-9 p.m. at Jacksonville Public Library. 217-370-0882.

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 STARS (Seek, Trust, Ask, Respond, Save a Life) support group for suicide awareness and prevention, 4 p.m., Central Christian Church, 359 W College Ave.

 Jacksonville Kiwanis Club, noon at Hamiltons.

 WHITE HALL: Addicts Victorious, teens 5:30-6:30 p.m.; adults 7-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of New Life Church, 626 Curtis St.



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Friday

 Jacksonville Rotary Club, noon at Hamiltons.

 PITTSFIELD: Addicts Victorious, 6 p.m. at Assembly of God, 575 Piper St. 800-323-1388.



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Saturday
"Between Two Fires" Courtesy of Jacksonville Public Library "Route 66: A Tribute to an American Icon" Courtesy of Jacksonville Public Library "The Housemaid" Courtesy of Jacksonville Public Library "The Last Resort" Courtesy of Jacksonville Public Library

What's new at Jacksonville Public Library:

Adult Fiction

Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman: The year is 1348. Disgraced knight Thomas finds a young girl alone in a dead Norman village. An orphan of the Black Death  and an almost unnerving picture of innocence  she tells Thomas that the plague is only part of a larger cataclysm. The fallen angels under Lucifer are rising in a second war on heaven and the world of men has become their battleground. Are her words delirium or faith? Either way, she convinces the faithless Thomas to shepherd her across a depraved landscape to Avignon. There, she tells Thomas, she will fulfill her mission to confront the evil that has devastated the earth, and give him  blood-stained and wretched as he is  a chance at redemption he long thought lost. As hell unleashes its wrath, and as the true nature of the girl is revealed, Thomas finds himself on a macabre battleground of angels and demons, saints and the risen dead  and in the midst of a desperate struggle for nothing less than the soul of man.

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Adult Nonfiction

Route 66: A Tribute to an American Icon from the DK Travel Series: Hit the road and experience the magic of Route 66. Taking you on an unforgettable journey along America's most iconic highway, Route 66 honors the mother of all road trips. From kitsch motels to neon-lit diners, historic towns to roadside attractions, no other road trip has had such an enduring impact on American culture as Route 66. Filled with stories of unexpected encounters, eccentric characters and legendary locations, not forgetting the stops that make this road trip so special, Route 66 the book will have you yearning for the open roads just in time for the Mother Roads 100th anniversary.

DVD

The Housemaid: Trying to escape her past, Millie accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for the wealthy Nina and Andrew Winchester. But what begins as a dream job quickly unravels into something far more dangerous  a sexy, seductive game of secrets, scandal and power. Behind the Winchesters' closed doors lies a world of shocking twists that will leave you guessing until the very end.

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Juvenile Fiction

The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly: With the help of her skeptical brother, Caleb, and their new ghost-obsessed neighbor, Teddy, Lila  the girl who's vowed to be less dramatic  must uncover her grandfather's killer and stop the evil spirits desperate to make their way back into the human world.

Did you know?

The next performance in the library's Music Under the Dome series will be by the Illinois College Percussion Ensemble at 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.

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Feeling a disconnect between yourself and life? Having trouble feeling present in the moment? Come learn some mindfulness techniques to help reduce stress and increase life satisfaction. (Including fun brain games.) It's part of the library's new Brain Boost Tuesday series, which will run the second Tuesday of each month. This month's session is at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Registration is not required. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, contact the Morgan County Extension Oice at 217-243-7424.

Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard was committed to the Illinois State Hospital  the state mental asylum  in 1860 and was kept under lock and key for three years, protesting her sanity throughout. Though her husband, Theophilus, insisted to everyone that she was insane, Elizabeth was able to obtain her release and continue her fight on behalf of others.Join Laura Keyes at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the library as she embodies Elizabeth Packard in an informative and inspiring presentation. Admission is free.

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The Friends of Jacksonville Public Library will celebrate the winners of its annual Author of the Year contest at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the library's meeting room. Winners will read their poems or prose. Light refreshments will be served.
A Bluffs steering committee has wrapped up meetings on economic and community development.

BLUFFS  The last meeting of a steering committee for the project MAPPING  an acronym for Management and Planning Programs Involving Non-Metropolitan Groups  met this week to help come up with ideas to improve Bluffs' economic and community development.

The committee worked with Western Illinois University's Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs under director Gisele Hamm.

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Mayor Linda Sapp told board members the group was tasked with coming up with three areas of improvement for the community. One of the most positive aspects of the meetings has been to involve younger community members, she said. Four of them also have joined the Bluffs Picnic Committee to help with festivals and are exploring ways to become involved in and improve the community in other aspects.

That involvement brings a sense of progress and positivity to the community, Sapp said.

The Bluffs Community Picnic is a large annual event. Village board members voted to donate $2,000 to the effort, and the committee is planning a fish fry fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. April 18 at the American Legion.

In other business, board members approved a Class A and Class D liquor license renewal for BlueJay Junction, allowing it to sell package liquor and open liquor for a planned gambling area.

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Gregory Hillis of Benton & Associates presented the board with the 2026 motor fuel tax budget of up to $76,200. The board approved the budget.

The board also approved paying Scotty Mueller $5,000 for cleaning up brush on Wolf Run Creek. The Department of Natural Resources requested the cleanup.
Amber Range, a forensic interviewer and CASA coordinator, places a Child Abuse Prevention Month sign in front of the Jacksonville Municipal Building. Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree/Journal-Courier

The Child Advocacy Center and Advocacy Network for Children serves more than 500 children who are in the court system through its Court Appointed Special Advocates program across 11 counties.

This month, in particular, members of the organization are raising awareness of child abuse and spreading information about prevention during National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

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"With April being Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month, we try to bring attention to that," said Chris Brierton, CASA coordinator and recruiter. "Our pinwheels and signs are planted to bring visual awareness."

The center and network provides services to the community, including education, connections to resources, interviews of children who have experienced some form of abuse or trauma, and volunteers who help ensure a child going through the court system is supported in any way they need.

Mayor Andy Ezard reads a proclamation recognizing Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month in Jacksonville. Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree/Journal-Courier

During a ceremony Friday, Jacksonville Mayor Andy Ezard recognized the month with a proclamation, dedicating the month to child abuse awareness and prevention.

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City officials, law enforcement and Advocacy Network for Children representatives gathered to highlight the need for child abuse prevention.

"I always look forward to this proclamation in April because it gives everyone a chance to reflect on what we've done to help others," Ezard said. "We all realize that those that are going through abuse and those helping those that are abused need help. Our community has always been compassionate for those in need. Collectively, the people in the room this morning are getting the job done as well as they can."

Amber Range, a forensic interviewer and CASA coordinator, said they have roughly 60 children in Morgan County receiving services through CASA, with about 500 across all 11 counties the center serves. That number does not include all the children receiving services through the center.

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"We help children who are the victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse," Range said. "We provide a safe place to interview those children. We work with local law enforcement, state's attorneys, (the Department of Children and Family Services) and medical providers to see those cases through the criminal court system."

The Child Advocacy Center serves Adams, Brown, Cass, Hancock, McDonough, Morgan, Pike, Schuyler and Scott counties.

Range said April also is a good time to highlight the importance of dedicated volunteers who help support children going through the court system.

Police Chief Doug Thompson (rear), and Advocacy Network for Children representatives Amber Range, Chris Brierton and Chelsea Crowder stand in front of the Jacksonville Police Department sign, which was turned blue in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree/Journal-Courier

Brierton said they always need more volunteers.

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"Our goal is for each child to have their own volunteer, but we are a long way from that," Brierton said. "Our volunteers are the eyes and ears and boots on the ground in these situations."

Anyone interested in serving as a child advocate can contact Brierton at 217-430-0537.

Anyone can help a child in need, Range said. If a person suspects abuse, they can contact the Department of Children and Family Services child protection hotline at 800-540-4000.

Other events raising awareness of child abuse and prevention:

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The Dome Coffee Shoppe and Eatery in Pittsfield will donate throughout the month from sales of its Waves of Hope drink.

Pizza Unlimited in Rushville will donate from Wednesday sales.

Pig & Platter in Rushville will raise money from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 19.

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Jerseys in Mount Sterling and Camp Point will raise money from 4 to 9 p.m. April 21.
Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, speaks on the House floor. Morgan sponsored a measure to ban junk fees in Illinois. Jerry Nowicki/Capitol News Illinois

For the second time in three years, the Illinois House voted to ban hidden junk fees that often are added to the total cost of ticketed events, hotel rooms and other goods and services.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, passed 77-18. It was among more than 80 bills the House approved Thursday and 133 approved this week.

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House Bill 228 amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make it a violation for a business not to display all mandatory fees and charges they're adding on top of a listed price. The goal is to ensure consumers are aware of the total price before making the purchase.

This bill delivers on a promise that's quite simple: The price that you see should be the price that you pay, Morgan told lawmakers during floor debate. He estimated hidden fees cost an average Illinois family $3,000 annually.

Junk fees long have been a target for consumer advocates and progressive lawmakers. The Illinois House approved a ban in 2024 but it was never was voted on in the Senate.

In his State of the State address this year, Gov. JB Pritzker explicitly called for lawmakers to get the issue across the finish line, arguing that such fees were quietly nickel-and-diming Illinois families out of thousands of dollars per year.

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Morgan said the bill was like the one that passed a couple years ago, but ambiguous language was tightened to make it easier for businesses to comply and the Illinois Attorney Generals office to enforce.

Nine Republicans joined supermajority Democrats in supporting the amended bill. However, the changes werent enough to remove opposition from the states top business, banking and hospitality organizations.

Rep. Tom Weber, R-Lake Villa, who voted against the bill, said the underlying idea was a good one, but the legislation went a step too far on our already overburdened businesses.

The bill now moves to the Illinois Senate.

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Abortion fund

The House on Thursday voted along party lines 69-36 to pass a bill that would create a grant fund to cover abortion care for uninsured and underinsured people.

House Bill 5408, another of Pritzkers initiatives, would utilize an under-used provision of the Affordable Care Act that requires insurance plans that offer coverage for abortions in instances that go beyond rape, incest and the life of the mother to collect at least $1 a month from enrollees to cover the cost of abortion claims.

Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, the bill sponsor, said she anticipates an amendment in the Senate because of concerns from Illinois health insurance industry.

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This is an important bill that helps support our reproductive health care providers in the state of Illinois and ensure that women who need this health care are able to access it, she said.

Cash payment requirement

Many Illinois stores would be required to accept cash in most circumstances under House Bill 4592, which passed the House unanimously on Thursday.

The bill requires any store with a physical location that employs someone to accept in-person transactions to accept cash for transactions under $500. Stores would not be required to accept currency larger than $20. The bill would take effect in 2028 and now awaits further consideration in the Senate.

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Grocery coupon access

House Bill 45 would require retailers to provide digital promotions or coupons to eligible customers. Bill sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr, D-Naperville, said the bill came from concerns that eligible customers were being denied access to the same benefits because paper coupons were not available.

The original version of the bill required merchants to provide paper coupons, but the amendment broadened the regulation to ensure all eligible customers for a coupon are afforded access to the promotion.

There is no penalty to the merchant unless the establishment does not cure a violation within 15 days of being notified of the violation. The bill passed unanimously and moves on to the Senate.

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In-state tuition

House Bill 5093 removes a requirement in state law that a student who attended an Illinois high school could only receive in-state tuition at an Illinois university if they did not establish residency outside the state before enrolling in an Illinois university. With the change, students who attend at least two years of high school in Illinois could receive in-state tuition regardless of whether they moved out of state before going to college.

As a first generation, I cant imagine having to live in Illinois all my life, but then when I go to a university, be considered for out-of-state tuition because Im an immigrant, bill sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, told Capitol News Illinois. Of course in-state tuition, it is cheaper and I want to have more students be able to access that.

The bill passed the House on Thursday on a partisan 71-37 vote, with Republicans arguing the bill would unfairly benefit non-citizens. It now moves on to the Senate.

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Narcan for formerly incarcerated

House Bill 5302 would require the Illinois Department of Corrections to provide opioid antagonists like Narcan to any incarcerated person who was charged for a drug-related offense or has a substance abuse disorder upon their release.

Bill sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Orland Park, said overdose rates have decreased, and initiatives like this would further the initiative to decrease overdose deaths. The bill passed 77-29 and awaits further consideration in the Senate.

State bee

Illinois soon could have an official state bee after the House approved House Bill 4438, which Yang Rohr said was an initiative of Lincoln Junior High School students in Naperville. The bill would give the honor to the Black-and-Gold Bumblebee  scientifically known as bombas auricomus.

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Detention centers

The Illinois House on Wednesday approved legislation that would prohibit the federal government from operating a new immigration detention center within 1,500 feet of any home, school, day care center, park, forest preserve, cemetery or place of worship.

House Bill 5024, sponsored by House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside, passed on a largely partisan 72-35-2 roll call and now moves to the Illinois Senate for consideration. It was one of more than 50 bills advanced out of the chamber on Wednesday as the House begins several days of floor action.

Welchs district includes Broadview, the west suburban village of about 8,000 thats home to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center that became a focal point for protesters during Operation Midway Blitz last year. The facility wouldnt be affected by the measure.

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The detention center in Broadview sits in the middle of a neighborhood where there are homes nearby, children nearby, families nearby and a church, Welch said. In what should be a place of peace and routine for that community has too often become a place of fear, disruption, trauma and instability.

The legislation is not retroactive, meaning it would apply to future facilities, but not the existing facility in Broadview or others currently owned or leased by the federal government.

The bill is likely to run into legal hurdles. Generally, the federal government is exempt from state and local zoning restrictions.

Nearly all Republicans opposed the legislation. Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, accused Democrats  who hold supermajorities in the legislature  of continually picking fights with the federal government.

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The result of this effort to not work together with the federal government to resolve the issues, particularly related to immigration and enforcement of our laws, has resulted in huge problems in our state that the majority party attempts to blame the current presidential administration for, Windhorst said. But we need to take a hard look at what we're doing as a state to make sure we're fulfilling our obligations to protect our citizens and to enforce the laws, including the federal laws of our country.

Welch said it was the other way around.

The federal government's picking a fight with us, Welch said. We have state's rights. We know our rights; we know our power. And I wake up every single day saying, Thank God I live in Illinois, because we're protecting the people of Illinois.

Illinois already bans privately owned immigration detention centers. And under the Illinois Way Forward Act, local governments are prohibited from entering contracts with ICE to detain immigrants for the agency in county jails.

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Apartment rental fees

One measure passed this week is going to the governors desk. The House voted 64-40 to pass House Bill 3564, which aims to crack down on the types of fees landlords can charge their renters.

The bill prohibits landlords from charging fees of more than $50 for applications, background checks, modifying a lease, making after-hours maintenance requests, or pest abatement or removal, so long as the renter didnt cause the issue. It also would require all mandatory fees to be listed on the first page of a lease, and tenants would not be required to pay any fees that are not listed on that page.

"I've actually heard from several landlords in the negotiation process of this bill where they have talked about certain bad actors in the industry that are charging these absurd fees that dont make sense, bill sponsor Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Inverness, said. They dont make sense to many landlords and they dont make sense to many tenants. And this is simply trying to remove the ability to put additional fees that ... are just causing undue burdens on individuals that are looking for housing.

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Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, worried the bill would lead to higher rents.

"Their natural inclination is going to be to build these costs into the base rent and, therefore, the tenants are going to be paying additional higher rents, he said.

If signed, the bill would take effect July 1.

High school voter registration

House Bill 4339 would require high schools to offer eligible students the opportunity to register to vote. Although the bill mandates this action, it provides no consequences if a school does not offer that opportunity.

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The bill passed 77-24 with bipartisan support, although some Republicans expressed concern about nonprofits that schools would partner with encouraging students to support one political party over another.

Sponsor Rep. Kimberly du Buclet, D-Chicago, said the bill intends to increase youth voter registration.

This bill was inspired by the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. who said, and I quote, Senior high school graduation must be seen as a passage rite into adulthood. On that graduation day or night, we must put a diploma in one hand, symbolizing knowledge and wisdom, and put a voter registration card in that other hand, symbolizing power and responsibility, and that is the heart of this legislation, du Buclet said.

Minimum age of alleged child abuse perpetrators

Under current Illinois law, there is no given age that a minor can be held liable for child abuse. The House voted 102-2 to pass House Bill 4539 seeks to make the minimum age for liability 14  the age children can legally stay home alone without supervision.

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Bill sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, said the measure was initiated by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services because the department was investigating cases involving alleged perpetrators as young as 6.

The bill also seeks to provide guidance if an alleged perpetrator is under 14, in which case the bill directs DCFS to identify if there is an adult or agency whose disregard allowed maltreatment.

Blue Envelope program

The Blue Envelope program would provide individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder with blue envelopes that identify them as autistic and provide communication guidance to law enforcement.

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Under House Bill 4472, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumberg, the secretary of state would establish, design and administer the voluntary program.

The office also would distribute the envelopes to state and local law enforcement, fire departments and libraries.

Rep. Amy Briel, D-La Salle, spoke in support of the bill, recalling experiences shes had with law enforcement during which they did not understand the effects of her dyspraxia, a condition that affects motor skills and coordination.

The bill passed unanimously.

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Emmett Till Day

House Bill 4323 commemorates July 25 of each year as Emmett Till Day. Till was born in Chicago on that day in 1941. In 1955, Till was kidnapped and lynched while visiting family members in Mississippi and his death became a catalyst in the civil rights movement.

The House passed a similar measure last year, but the bill was gutted in the Senate on the final day of the session and turned into the states fiscal year 2026 revenue plan.

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Illinois State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders (left) and State Board of Education member Patricia Nugent present the agencys $10.9 billion budget request to a House appropriations committee. Peter Hancoc/Capitol News Illinois

State education officials have presented their case for a $10.9 billion budget to fund preK-12 public schools for the next fiscal year, saying the Evidence-Based Funding formula that has been in place for nearly a decade now is paying dividends.

Graduation rates are at a 15-year high, Steven Isoye, chair of the Illinois State Board of Education, told a House budget committee. Achievement gaps are narrowing. Student growth exceeds pre-pandemic levels and Illinois eighth graders now outperform national averages in reading and math.

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Funding for public schools is one of the largest single categories in the states annual budget, accounting for nearly one-fifth of all state general revenue fund spending.

State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders said Illinois State Board of Educations request for 2027, at $10.9 billion, represents a reduction of $278.5 million from this year, mainly because of the transfer of early childhood block grants to the new Department of Early Childhood. After accounting for that shift, he said, the request represents a net $469.7 million increase for other areas of preK-12 education.

We are very conscious of the state's tight fiscal environment, and so we prioritized the most crucial funding streams and those investments that will have the most direct impact on student success, Sanders said.

The upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, will mark the 10th year of funding under the Evidence-Based Funding formula that lawmakers approved in 2017. That formula is intended to shift a greater share of the cost of funding public schools onto the state and away from local property taxes.

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The plan called for adding at least $300 million in new state funding to public schools each year, plus an additional $50 million in property tax relief grants for certain high-tax districts.

It also was intended to achieve greater equity in school funding by establishing an adequacy target for each school district  an estimate of how much it should cost to operate the district, based on cost-related factors like student enrollment, poverty rates and the percentage of English language learners in the district  and giving the bulk of the new funding to districts with the greatest financial need.

Since enactment of that law, general revenue fund spending for public schools has grown from $8.2 billion in Fiscal Year 2018 to nearly $11.2 billion this year. Also during that time, Isoye said, out of 851 school districts in the state, the number that are funded at or above 90% of their adequacy target has grown from 194 to 313.

Illinois State Board of Educations request includes the full $350 million for Evidence-Based Funding and property tax relief grants as well as increases in transportation and other mandated categories of spending that are not covered by the Evidence-Based Funding formula.

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That request is higher than Gov. JB Pritzkers proposed budget which, for the second straight year, did not include funding for the property tax relief grants.

Speaking to reporters at a news conference in March, Pritzker said he was committed to addressing the inequities in the property tax rates people pay to fund their local schools, but he did not believe the relief grants called for in the Evidence-Based Funding law were addressing the issue.

Weve got to figure out, how do we do that better, and I dont think we have the answer quite yet, Pritzker said. But it didnt seem appropriate for us to just throw the money into the program without having a better potential outcome.

Republicans on the appropriations panel questioned why the increased spending under the Evidence-Based Funding system hasnt resulted in lower property taxes throughout the state.

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I'm just wondering, if they're 90% adequate, and we've got probably 25% of the schools in the state of Illinois that are at full financial adequacy, why aren't we seeing property taxes come down? asked Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City.

I know that Evidence-Based Funding has been a great boon for school districts across the state, Sanders replied. We still do not have all school districts to 90% or greater. We still have a lot of districts that are far away from 90% adequacy.

Sanders also pointed to the other mandated categories of spending such as transportation, for which the state only pays a prorated portion of the total cost.

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So as costs increase for fuel, bus driver salaries, special education salaries  when the states share is not made up, then it has to go someplace, he said. You don't pick that up through your Evidence-Based Funding formula, so you turn to your local property taxpayers.
Xi's special envoy attends inauguration of Myanmar's president

Xinhua) 10:03, April 11, 2026

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.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
KABUL, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Three gold extraction workers, including a father and his son, were killed after water engulfed an artisanal gold mine in northern Afghanistan's Badakhshan province, a police official said on Friday.

The incident occurred in the Shahri Buzurg district, when a sudden surge of water inundated the mine, according to provincial police spokesman Ehsanullah Kamgar.

The victims were all residents of the neighboring Yaftal district, Kamgar said, adding that it remained unclear how many other miners might still be trapped inside.

Security forces were continuing efforts to locate and evacuate any possible survivors, he added.

Deadly accidents are common in Afghanistan's informal mining sector, where non-standard practices, a lack of modern machinery, illegal extraction by unskilled workers, and disregard for safety precautions frequently claim the lives of impoverished laborers. 
Commentary: Our office is championing the Driving Change legislation, which would prioritize what should matter most: a drivers record behind the wheel. Miladin Pusicic/Getty Images Alexi Giannoulias Nathan Mandell/Illinois Secretary of State

Everyone knows auto insurance premiums have skyrocketed in recent years, making car ownership less affordable and, for many families, completely out of reach.

One major reason: insurance companies dont always base premiums on how safely Illinoisans drive. That principle is at the heart of the Driving Change legislation our office is championing in Springfield, which would move Illinois toward a fairer, more affordable system that prioritizes what should matter most: a drivers record behind the wheel.

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This proposal is part of Senate Bill 1486, which also aims to rein in the surging cost of homeowners insurance in Illinois. The Illinois House recently passed the measure and it now awaits consideration in the Illinois Senate.

At its core, the legislation brings long-overdue accountability to the insurance market. It gives the Illinois Department of Insurance the authority to review rates, challenge them, and  if necessary  force insurance companies to issue a rebate to consumers when theyve been overcharged.

Illinois is currently an outlier. In every other state  except for Wyoming and Illinois  regulators have the authority to stop excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory rates before they hit consumers wallets. Not here. Illinois requires drivers to purchase car insurance coverage, yet the state fails to provide the basic consumer safeguards that residents in almost every other state take for granted.

In other words, Illinois families get left holding the bill first  and asking questions later. That ends with this legislation.

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It also tackles affordability head-on. For the first time, Illinoisans would receive at least 60 days notice before any rate hike of more than 10 percent takes effect. That means no surprises when bills hit mailboxes and inboxes each month.

All of this is great news for Illinois consumers. But Big Insurance has other ideas. As you might imagine, the insurance industry vehemently opposes efforts that would make coverage more affordable for Illinois families. Instead, theyve come up with an alternative to legislation: another study.

When it comes to government speak, a study often translates to a convenient non-solution for folks who prefer delay over reform. Studies dont require change. They dont challenge the status quo. They sit on shelves collecting dust while the problems they examine continue to grow.

But heres the problem. Big Insurance wants its impartial study conducted by the University of Illinois Office of Risk Management and Insurance Research, which is funded by the very insurance industry whose practices are under scrutiny.

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Illinois doesnt need more analysis. We need action.

A fairer, more transparent system would mean more accountability, safer roads and greater justice. For countless Illinoisans  especially in communities where public transit isnt available near home or work  a car is a necessity, not a luxury. But in Illinois, if you cant afford insurance, you cant drive.

The loss of a vehicle makes it harder to run essential errands, transport kids, get to work, receive a paycheck, and ultimately earn a living and provide for a family. In a country already struggling with pricing inequality, these practices only deepen the divide.

And those who choose to illegally drive without required auto insurance face civil fines, the loss of driving privileges, and reinstatement fees that can result in an endless and even more costly downward financial spiral. Most worrisome is that these drivers make our roads less safe  for everyone.

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All this comes on the heels of news that insurance companies are raking in massive fossil fuel profits, which contribute to severe weather conditions that drive up insurance costs. The result? Insurance companies are jacking up premiums in states like Illinois and slashing coverage elsewhere as extreme weather worsens in places like California, Florida and even right over the border in Iowa.

Consumers, who now are being squeezed from every direction, deserve better.

The cost of owning a vehicle is high enough. Illinois doesnt need an industry-funded study. We need fair reforms that ensure insurance prices reflect how people actually drive and bring meaningful oversight to the insurance system.

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NASA astronaut and 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 towards the Moon April 4. NASA/NASA via Getty Images

In a little more than 24 hours, the Orion module that housed the astronauts of the Artemis II mission will come splashing back down to Earth, thus completing the mission.

Earth returns and splashdowns have always been a popular event since the Space Race in the 1960s, and the return of the Artemis II crew is no different. From configuring the module's reentry to the splashdown and recovery of the crew, here's how Friday's events are set to unfold, according to NASA.

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Artemis II splashdown timeline

1:50 p.m. EDT (12:50 p.m. CDT): Orion cabin configuration for re-entry begins

Orion cabin configuration for re-entry begins 2:53 p.m. EDT (1:53 p.m. CDT): Return trajectory correction 3 burn

Return trajectory correction 3 burn 6:30 p.m. EDT (5:30 p.m. CDT): NASA+ coverage of the crews return to Earth begins

NASA+ coverage of the crews return to Earth begins 7:33 p.m. EDT (6:33 p.m. CDT): Orion crew module and service module separation

Orion crew module and service module separation 7:37 p.m. EDT (6:37 p.m. CDT): Crew module raise burn

Crew module raise burn 7:53 p.m. EDT (6:53 p.m. CDT): Orion entry interface

Orion entry interface 8:07 p.m. EDT (7:07 p.m. CDT): Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. NASA and U.S. military personnel are expected to assist the crew out of Orion and fly them to a waiting recovery ship.

Where the splashdown will take place

Orion is expected to splash down about 60 miles off the California coast, not far from San Diego. NASA notes the Orion module will return to Earth at about 25,000 mph and, with the help of 11 parachutes, slow to 300 mph before splashing down at 20 mph.

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That is all weather permitting. If the weather doesnt cooperate with NASAs plans, there is always a backup plan, although NASA has not made that backup plan public.

How the astronauts will get back to land

Navy divers who have simulated and practiced the splashdown numerous times will recover the astronauts from Orion and they will then be helicoptered back to the USS John P. Murtha. "Once aboard, the astronauts will undergo post-mission medical evaluations in the ships medical bay before traveling back to shore to meet with an aircraft bound for NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston."

What happens to the Orion module?

"A team of sailors and NASA recovery personnel inside the ship will begin manually pulling some of the lines to help align Orion with the stand it will be placed on once back on the ship," NASA writes. "As the sailors are pulling on the lines, NASA technicians will operate a main winch line attached to the capsule to help bring Orion inside ensuring a safe and precise recovery.

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Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald Participants of Blue Day put up pinwheels in Millennium Park on Broadway to signify child abuse awareness month on April 10, 2026. Zachary Artho/Plainview Herald

Brook Cruz has opened her home and heart to countless children through the years.

As a foster parent living in Houston, her home was chosen for three long-term placements and many other short-term placements.

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Standing before a group of about 60 people gathered at the Fair Theater on Friday for the annual Go Blue event, Cruz shared a bit about what shes witnessed as a foster mom.

There was one child her family took in at 8 months old. Unlike most kids that age, she explained, this individual did not respond as typical children do. So used to being neglected, the child did not ask for things or reach to be held or comforted. For 11 months, Cruz and her family showed this child love and highlighted what it is to reside in a caring environment.

By the end of the childs time with Cruzs family, the child felt like her own. Plans were made to initiate adoption but it fell through because a blood relation in a different state reached out at the 11th hour to take in the child, Cruz shared. At 4 a.m. one day, representatives with Texas Child Protective Services picked up the toddler to get the child to a new home.

Placement with a childs biological family is always a high priority for CPS when a child is removed from a home. Though the outcome of that placement wasnt quite what Cruzs heart wanted, she shared it with the crowd to highlight the tough experiences children experience that lead them into the foster care system and the impact caring adults can make.

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Cruz said she often hears people say they couldnt foster a child because theyd get too attached. But that attachment is why foster families are needed, she added.

Knowing kids needed a safe place to go, she said is what inspired her to open her home.

That foster childs experience before he landed in a home with Cruz is common among the kids and circumstances Go Blue and National Child Abuse Prevention Month were meant to create awareness for.

National Child Abuse Prevention Month was first recognized in April 1983, according to the National Childrens Alliance.

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Go Blue Day was created to be a call to action. Its been recognized in Plainview since 2017, said Anna Rigler, chair of the Hale County Child Welfare Board.

In its first year, the event drew 14 people who placed blue flags out at Millenium Park, which is at the 700 block of Broadway.

Every year since, the event has experienced steady growth and has drawn child welfare advocates from across the county to Plainview to bring awareness to the cause. Fridays event included attendees from the Hale County Child Welfare Board, the Texas Department of Family Protective Services, Saint Francis Ministries, Childrens Home of Lubbock, the Rainbow Room and other organizations with a local presence whose purpose is to provide protection to kids who share similar experiences with the ones Cruz has opened her home to.

Following the presentations inside the Fair Theater, the group moved across the street to Millenium Park where they planted blue pinwheels. Rigler said the blue pinwheel is a national symbol for child abuse prevention. They will remain in place through the rest of April.

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During the event, Mayor Charles Starnes also issued a proclamation declaring April 2026 Child Abuse Awareness Month in Plainview.

Now a resident of West Texas, Cruz has since transitioned to a new chapter in life focused on her family, but she remains an active advocate for kids in the foster care system. Thats why she joined the Hale County Child Welfare Board, which supports local children in foster care.

The board coordinated the Go Blue Day event.

Our goal is that one day we wont have to have Go Blue Day, noted Rigler before issuing another call to action.

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Anyone can make a difference and everyone should try.

--

From Sept. 1, 2024 to Aug. 1, 2025

Children served by DFPS

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7,927,718 children in Texas

8,383 children in Hale County

-

Completed investigations by DFPS

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136,650 cases in Texas

181 cases in Hale County

-

Confirmed child abuse cases

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51,985 cases in Texas

94 cases in Hale County

-

CPS family-based programs administered

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59,917 in Texas
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by Xinhua writers Gao Wencheng, Zhao Jiasong

LONDON, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has not materially improved following the ceasefire announced by the United States and Iran, as Iran continues to maintain firm control over the strategic waterway, a maritime analyst has said.

In an interview with Xinhua, Richard Meade, a London-based maritime analyst and editor-in-chief of Lloyd's List, said transit arrangements are likely to become a central issue in upcoming negotiations between the two countries.

According to shipping data and his observations, vessel movements through the strait remain limited. "Essentially, the ceasefire hasn't materially changed much. We haven't seen many ships transit the Strait of Hormuz since the ceasefire was announced. If anything, the volumes have gone down," Meade said.

He noted that the current traffic situation reflects widespread caution across the shipping industry, with operators adopting a wait-and-see approach as they seek clarity on future transit conditions.

Meade stressed that Iran remains in effective control of the strait, requiring all vessels to report to its Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, meaning that no ships can pass without its consent.

He added that Tehran is demanding detailed disclosures on ownership, insurance and trading history in order to screen out vessels linked to the United States or Israel.

Meade revealed that approximately 600 large ocean-going vessels remain stranded inside the Gulf. Based on his direct communication with shipowners, most are unwilling to move without clearer assurances.

As he put it, "they are not moving their ships until they get some clarification over what happens next," with the industry waiting to see whether the ceasefire can evolve into a lasting security arrangement that ensures safe passage.

Meade underscored the strategic significance of the strait, describing its status as likely to be "the key issue" in U.S.-Iran negotiations.

He noted that the waterway accounts for roughly 20 percent of global energy exports and is critical to all economies. While U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States does not rely heavily on the strait for oil, Meade pointed out that the impact goes far beyond energy, as large volumes of global commodities transit the route, influencing everything from geopolitics to food prices.

On the controversial issue of potential transit fees, Meade said there is no legal precedent for turning such straits into toll routes and warned that the matter could become a major point of contention.

He also drew attention to recent signals from Washington, noting that statements from the White House press secretary suggested that Trump has not ruled out the possibility of some form of toll arrangement between the United States and Iran following a ceasefire.

"While there is no precedent legally speaking, we are living in interesting times, and we will have to wait and see what happens next," he added.

Regarding the timeline for restoring normal operations, Meade cautioned that recovery will be gradual and that a two-week ceasefire is "in no way long enough" to resolve the situation. He said the industry hopes for an extended period without direct threats to shipping.

Even under ideal conditions, he explained, it would take weeks to clear the current backlog and months for the broader system to normalize. Oil tankers are likely to be prioritized, followed by the return of empty tankers and the restart of refineries, while the repositioning of container ships, bulk carriers and misplaced empty containers could take considerably longer.

Warning of operational risks during the recovery process, Meade said that any attempt to move vessels too quickly could lead to collisions, navigational errors and other serious problems, particularly given GPS interference and the narrowness of the waterway.

The industry is watching for "first movers" willing to test the conditions, he said.

"Once that starts happening and once people see it happening, I think it will start accelerating fairly quickly," he said, stressing that the process must be carefully managed and supported by a diplomatic ceasefire agreement.

Looking at the broader picture, Meade said the situation reflects a deeper shift in global trade dynamics.

"What we are witnessing here is trade being divided down geopolitical lines," he said, noting that the ability of vessels to transit key waterways is increasingly shaped by their geopolitical affiliations. 
Iran Announces Acceptance of Bitcoin for Strait of Hormuz Transit Fees

Iran to Accept Bitcoin for Strait of Hormuz Transit as Ceasefire Takes Hold

Iranian authorities announced on April 8, 2026, a new policy to accept Bitcoin for transit fees from commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report from Bitcoin Magazine [1]. The policy is set to commence next month and coincides with the implementation of a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States, which has reopened the strategic waterway to commercial traffic [2].

Officials stated the measure is aimed at bypassing international financial restrictions that have limited Iran's access to the global banking system [3]. The announcement follows years of escalating sanctions and represents one of the most significant integrations of cryptocurrency into state-level international trade.

Policy Details and Implementation Timeline

The directive was jointly issued by the Central Bank of Iran and the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, according to the Financial Times report [4]. The policy will take effect for all commercial vessels transiting the strait starting in May 2026.

A spokesperson said fees can be paid directly to a designated digital wallet, with conversion rates pegged to the Iranian rial. Reports indicate Iran is seeking a toll equivalent to approximately one U.S. dollar per barrel of oil carried by tankers passing through the chokepoint [5]. The Financial Times report states that Iran is accepting stablecoins and bitcoin for these payments [6].

Reactions from Shipping and Financial Sectors

Major shipping associations expressed logistical concerns over the new payment mechanism but acknowledged the operational precedent it sets. A representative from a global shipping firm, who spoke on condition of anonymity, called the move "unprecedented" but said companies would comply with the port state requirements [7].

Analysts from decentralized finance platforms noted the development represents a significant practical application for cryptocurrency in international trade. In a recent interview, crypto advocate Aaron Day emphasized the importance of privacy-focused cryptocurrencies as tools for economic sovereignty and protection from centralized financial surveillance [8]. Proponents argue such moves validate cryptocurrency's foundational principles as outlined by its creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, who responded to threads regarding Bitcoin and the Austrian School of Economics, which believes the workings of the broader economy are the sum of all individuals' decisions and actions [9].

Context of International Sanctions and Financial Isolation

The policy follows years of escalating sanctions that have restricted Iran's access to the global financial system, according to economic reports. This financial isolation has been described by analysts as a driver for nations to seek decentralized alternatives. Mike Adams, in an analysis for NaturalNews.com, has previously argued that conflict in the Middle East could act as a smokescreen for an impending financial reset that accelerates the decline of the U.S. dollar's dominance [10].

Previous attempts by Iran to use alternative financial mechanisms have involved bilateral trade agreements and barter systems. A Financial Times report from January 2026 indicated that Iran's Ministry of Defense Export Center was also prepared to negotiate military contracts for payment in digital currencies [11]. Officials from the U.S. Treasury Department declined to comment on the specific implications of the new Bitcoin policy for Strait of Hormuz transit.

Broader Implications for Cryptocurrency and Global Trade

Experts on monetary policy stated the move could encourage other nations under sanctions to explore similar options for bypassing traditional financial channels. The development ties a critical global energy chokepoint directly to a decentralized digital asset, potentially influencing global trade dynamics [12].

Critics within the shipping industry have cited concerns over the price volatility of cryptocurrencies and the regulatory challenges they pose for international companies. Furthermore, Iran has struggled with illegal cryptocurrency mining operations that exploit heavily subsidized electricity, threatening its national power grid [13].

Proponents of decentralized systems view the policy as a validation of cryptocurrency's role in promoting economic freedom. This aligns with the worldview that decentralized money is a positive development for human liberty, offering an alternative to centralized financial institutions and fiat currencies, which are seen as inherently dishonest and subject to manipulation [14].

Conclusion

Iran's decision to accept Bitcoin for transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz marks a pivotal moment in the intersection of statecraft, global trade, and digital assets. The policy's implementation will be closely watched by the shipping industry, financial regulators, and proponents of decentralized finance.

Its success or failure may influence how other geopolitically isolated nations engage with the global economy. As tensions in the region show signs of easing with a ceasefire, this financial maneuver underscores the ongoing search for sovereignty outside the traditional, centralized frameworks of international banking.

References
Nearly 1.2 Million Displaced in Lebanon Amid Escalating Cross-Border Fighting

Close to 1.2 million people in Lebanon, roughly one-fifth of the country's population, have been displaced since early March, according to a top United Nations official. [1] The figures were reported on April 8 by Imran Riza, the UN deputy special coordinator in Lebanon, who described the scale of displacement as "unprecedented." [1] This massive population movement follows a significant escalation in cross-border hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. The UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric separately stated that more than 1.1 million people have been displaced, with about 137,000 living in shelters. [2]

UN Official Reports Unprecedented Displacement, Casualty Figures

The UN's Imran Riza stated that the displacement of 1.2 million Lebanese has occurred since the beginning of March 2026. [1] He also reported that 1,530 people have been killed in the conflict, including 130 children. [1] Other sources have reported similar casualty figures, with one stating Israel's military campaign in Lebanon has killed more than 1,450 people. [3] The Lebanese government has reported that Israeli airstrikes and fighting have displaced around 1.2 million people. [4]

Conflict Context and Ceasefire Exclusions

On April 8, the same day the displacement figures were announced, the Israeli military carried out a wave of air strikes in southern Lebanon. [5] These strikes hit the Tyre and Nabatieh areas, among others, hours after the United States and Iran announced a temporary ceasefire agreement. [5] U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance clarified that the two-week ceasefire with Iran did not include the conflict in Lebanon. "We never made that promise," Vance said, according to a report. [1] This position was echoed by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which denied assertions by Pakistan that Lebanon was included in the ceasefire. [5]

Humanitarian Conditions and Infrastructure Damage

The mass displacement has placed immense strain on Lebanon's infrastructure and aid networks. The UN reported that most of the displaced are staying with host communities or in informal settings, often with very limited access to basic services. [2] An estimated 1.3 million people have been displaced inside Lebanon, with more than 562,000 crossing into Syria since the escalation of hostilities. [15] Israeli strikes have targeted civilian infrastructure. An air strike on March 22 destroyed the Qasmiyeh bridge, a key crossing over the Litani River. [6] Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that forces had been instructed to destroy bridges "used by Hezbollah for the passage of terrorists and weapons." [7] A direct attack on a primary healthcare centre in southern Lebanon on March 14 killed 17 medical staff, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics. [8]

Alternative Analysis of Conflict Drivers

Some analysts question institutional narratives about the origins and drivers of the conflict. Israeli officials have framed the military campaign as a necessary security operation against Hezbollah. However, critics point to statements from Israeli officials regarding long-term territorial ambitions. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has stated that Israel should seize land in southern Lebanon up to the Litani River. [9] This aligns with the declaration by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz of plans for a full military occupation of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, vowing to prevent displaced civilians from returning. [10] Observers have drawn parallels to strategies used in Gaza, where an investigative report found the Israeli military had "weaponized" humanitarian initiatives like evacuation orders to enable widespread displacement. [11]

International Response and Aid Limitations

The international humanitarian response is facing severe challenges. The UN has warned of a "humanitarian catastrophe" in Lebanon. [12] Funding shortfalls are a persistent issue, mirroring crises in other regions where aid delivery is often constrained by macroeconomic and political factors that agencies are not well placed to address. [13] Calls for humanitarian corridors face logistical and political hurdles. The conflict has created a complex humanitarian emergency, defined by the acute health consequences of armed conflict, food scarcity, and mass displacement. [14] The situation is exacerbated by the destruction of key infrastructure, which complicates the delivery of aid and basic services to displaced populations.

Conclusion

With 1.2 million people displaced, representing one in five residents, Lebanon faces a demographic and humanitarian crisis of historic proportions. The continuation of hostilities despite a U.S.-Iran ceasefire underscores the localized and entrenched nature of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. The scale of infrastructure damage and the explicit statements from Israeli officials regarding long-term occupation suggest the displacement may not be temporary. The international community's response, hampered by funding gaps and political complexities, struggles to meet the needs of a population now living in shelters, with host families, or fleeing across borders. As fighting continues, the prospects for a swift return home for over a million Lebanese appear increasingly remote.

References
Nationwide recall of Raw Farm cheese amid E. coli outbreak highlights persistent raw milk debate

A dangerous E. coli outbreak has been linked to RAW FARM brand raw milk cheddar cheese, causing severe illness and hospitalizations, primarily in young children.

RAW FARM resisted the recall, issuing it "under protest" after later tests failed to find E. coli, though health investigators traced the illnesses to the cheese.

The outbreak reignites the debate on raw milk safety, with health officials warning that unpasteurized products carry a high risk of harmful bacteria, especially for kids, the elderly and pregnant women.

The company is a prominent raw dairy producer, connected to political health movements, and stands in opposition to standard food safety practices like pasteurization.

This incident demonstrates the very real and severe health risks of raw dairy, particularly for vulnerable groups, despite claims from its advocates.

A growing E. coli outbreak linked to raw milk cheese has triggered a reluctant, partial recall by one of the nation's most prominent raw dairy producers, raising urgent public health concerns and reigniting the long-standing safety of unpasteurized products.

The manufacturer, RAW FARM, is recalling specific batches of its cheddar cheese after at least nine people across California, Florida and Texas fell ill. Three victims have required hospitalization, and one has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe kidney condition that can lead to lifelong health complications.

Alarmingly, over half of those sickened are children under five years old, a group health officials explicitly warn is at high risk from pathogens in raw dairy.

RAW FARM initially protested the recall

The recall comes nearly three weeks after health officials first sounded the alarm. Initially, RAW FARM denied any link between its products and the illnesses. The company has now issued what it calls a recall under protest, contesting the findings of health investigators.

Notably, the recall does not include the company's raw milk, despite health officials reporting that two of seven interviewed patients had consumed it.

The recalled products include RAW FARM's Lightly Salted Cheddar (in block and shredded forms) and Jalapeno Cheddar Block, sold in various sizes at Sprouts and other grocery stores with best-by dates extending into late September 2024. The specific batch and barcode numbers have been published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

As explained by the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, the strain involved, E. coli O157:H7, is particularly dangerous, raising the risk of severe kidney problems. It is the same strain responsible for a major McDonald's recall earlier this year that led to one death and dozens of hospitalizations.

This outbreak strikes at the heart of the raw milk debate.

RAW FARM, which claims to be the country's largest raw milk producer, is run by Mark McAfee, an advisor to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" movement. The company's products are made with milk that has not undergone pasteurization, the standard process, in use for over a century, of heating milk to kill harmful bacteria like E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) consistently warns that raw milk and its products carry a significantly higher risk of exposing consumers to these dangerous germs. They stress that children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable.

Subsequent testing of RAW FARM products did not detect E. coli

A puzzling element in this case is that subsequent FDA-ordered testing of RAW FARM products did not detect E. coli. Health officials acknowledge that a contaminated batch may have been missed or may no longer be in circulation.

An inspection of the company's facilities has also been conducted.

E. coli contamination in dairy products typically occurs through accidental contact with animal feces.

Despite the negative follow-up tests, the epidemiological evidence (the pattern of illness) has led investigators to the cheese. In a statement last week, a RAW FARM spokesman celebrated the negative test results, saying, "It's official. One-hundred percent of the results are negative Great update, great week."

However, the recall proceeded days later at the FDA's request.

Consumers who have purchased the affected cheeses are urged not to eat them. The products should be thrown away immediately or returned to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Anyone who has consumed the cheese and develops symptoms, including a high fever (102 F or above), diarrhea lasting more than three days or severe vomiting, should seek medical attention and report their illness. Surfaces that contacted the cheese should be thoroughly washed with hot, soapy water.

While no deaths have been reported in this outbreak, the serious hospitalizations and the threat to young children underscore the very real dangers health agencies associate with raw dairy. The delayed and contested nature of this recall also highlights the deep divide between regulatory bodies and some segments of the natural food industry over fundamental food safety practices.

As officials continue to investigate the source of contamination, this incident serves as a stark reminder that the potential consequences of consuming raw dairy products are not theoretical. For vulnerable populations, the risks can be severe and life-altering.

Watch this clip about E. coli and why certain strains are worse than others.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

CDC.gov

FDA.gov

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
The Singularity Paradox: AI as the globalists weapon of control, depopulation and spiritual subversion

Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPT-4 and Google Bard are trained on biased, establishment-approved data to censor dissent and manipulate public opinion. Big Tech, with ties to intelligence agencies, uses AI to enforce globalist agendas like climate alarmism, vaccine mandates and digital surveillance.

AI optimizes bioweapons, tracks carbon footprints to ration resources and suppresses natural medicine in favor of Big Pharma profits. Autonomous drones, facial recognition and predictive policing systems lay the groundwork for a Chinese-style social credit system in the West. Elites (Gates, Schwab) are preparing luxury AI-managed bunkers while leaving the masses to collapse.

AI could be programmed to mimic spiritual authority, manipulating people into surrendering free will under the guise of divine guidance.

Open-source, uncensored AI models (e.g., Brighteon.AI) trained on truth-based datasets offer an alternative to corporate/government control. AI can empower self-relianceenhancing homesteading, permaculture and off-grid living instead of dependency.

The book exposes AI's role in accelerating tyranny while providing actionable strategies to reclaim autonomy through creativity, innovation and decentralized tech.

In "The Singularity Paradox," the author delivers a gripping and meticulously researched expose on artificial intelligencenot as a benign tool of progress, but as a weapon wielded by global elites to reshape society, suppress dissent and ultimately render humanity obsolete.

This isn't just another speculative tech manifesto; it's a battle cry for those who recognize that the future of AI isn't just about algorithmsit's about power, control and survival.

The rise of AI: A Trojan horse for control

The book opens with a sobering examination of Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPT-4 and Google's Bard, revealing how these systems are trained on poisoned datacarefully curated to reinforce establishment narratives while suppressing alternative viewpoints. The author dismantles the myth of AI neutrality, exposing how Big Tech corporationsmany with deep ties to intelligence agenciesuse AI to manipulate public opinion, censor dissenting voices and accelerate the globalist agenda.

One of the most chilling revelations is how AI is already surpassing human intelligence in key domainsmedical diagnostics, financial trading and even creative fields like music and journalismwhile simultaneously being weaponized to enforce climate hysteria, vaccine mandates and digital surveillance. The author doesn't just warn of a dystopian future; they document how it's already unfolding before our eyes.

The hidden agendas: Depopulation, surveillance and the false messiah

Where "The Singularity Paradox" truly shines is in its fearless dissection of the hidden agendas driving AI development. The book connects the dots between:

The depopulation agenda: AI's role in optimizing bioweapons, tracking carbon footprints to justify resource rationing and suppressing natural medicine in favor of pharmaceutical monopolies.

AI surveillance: Autonomous drones, facial recognition and predictive policing systems that pave the way for a Chinese-style social credit system in the West.

The false messiah: How AI could be programmed to mimic spiritual authority, manipulating vulnerable populations into surrendering free will under the guise of divine guidance.

Perhaps most disturbing is the chapter on underground bunkersluxury doomsday shelters built by elites like Bill Gates and Klaus Schwab, stocked with AI-managed security systems and hydroponic farms, while the rest of humanity is left to fend for itself in a collapsing world.

Fighting back: Decentralization and pro-human AI

But this isn't just a doom-and-gloom manifesto. The book's final section offers a roadmap for resistance, emphasizing:

Decentralized AI: Open-source models like Brighteon.AI, uncensored and trained on truth-based datasets, free from corporate or government manipulation.

Self-reliance: Using AI to enhance homesteading, permaculture and off-grid livingtools for independence rather than dependency.

Creativity and innovation: How individuals can harness AI to reclaim artistic expression, scientific inquiry and economic autonomy.

"The Singularity Paradox" is more than a bookit's a survival manual for the digital age. The author masterfully blends cutting-edge research with a compelling narrative, making complex topics accessible without sacrificing depth. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a freedom advocate or simply someone questioning the official narratives, this book will challenge your assumptions and equip you with the knowledge to resist the coming AI-powered tyranny.

Grab a copy of "The Singularity Paradox: AI, Human Obsolescence, and the Fight for Humanity's Future" via this link. Read, share and download thousands of books for free at Books.BrightLearn.AI. You can also create your own books for free at BrightLearn.AI.

Watch the video below, where Google whistleblower Zach Vorhies and dissident tech maverick Mike Adams talk about AI, ChatGPT, LLMs and the Singularity.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Books.BrightLearn.ai

BrightLearn.ai

Brighteon.com
Trump mulls troop WITHDRAWALS from NATO allies deemed unhelpful in Iran conflict

The Trump administration is considering withdrawing U.S. troops from NATO allies like Spain, Germany and Italy  which opposed U.S.-Israel military actions against Iran  and relocating them to Eastern European nations such as Poland, Romania and Lithuania.

The move stems from frustration over NATO members refusing support in securing the Strait of Hormuz, with Spain blocking U.S. airspace and Italy restricting base access. Germany's opposition party AfD even called for expelling U.S. troops.

Spain and Germany are likely to lose major U.S. bases, with Spain resisting NATO's defense spending targets and Germany openly criticizing the Iran war despite its logistical importance to U.S. operations.

Poland and Romania, which swiftly supported U.S. requests during the conflict, stand to benefit from increased troop deployments  though this risks provoking Russia, which opposes NATO expansion near its borders.

Trump has long viewed NATO as financially burdensome and ineffective, clashing with allies over defense spending and diplomacy. His transactional approach  including past troop withdrawals and overtures to Russia  threatens NATO cohesion, raising concerns about the alliances future stability.

The Trump administration is weighing a controversial plan to reposition U.S. troops away from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies that resisted supporting the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran, according to senior officials.

The proposal, which has gained traction in recent weeks, would involve withdrawing forces from countries like Spain, Germany and Italy  all of which opposed or restricted U.S. military operations  and relocating them to Eastern European nations such as Poland, Greece, Romania and Lithuania. This strategic shift, while stopping short of Trump's earlier threats to abandon NATO entirely, underscores deepening fractures within the alliance and raises concerns about escalating tensions with Russia.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the plan on Wednesday, April 8, revealing that U.S. President Donald Trump's frustration stems from NATO members refusing to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz  a critical chokepoint in the Iran conflict. Madrid notably blocked U.S. military aircraft from using its airspace, while Rome temporarily denied access to a Sicilian airbase.

Will Spain and Germany lose their U.S. bases?

Germany, home to one of the largest U.S. military hubs in Europe, faced criticism after its officials publicly condemned the war. The Alternative for Germany (AfD), the country's largest opposition party, even called for expelling American troops  a demand that has further strained relations.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the discussions ahead of Trump's meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, stating, "It's something the president has discussed, and I think it's something the president will be discussing in a couple of hours." She added, "It's quite sad that NATO turned their backs on the American people over the last six weeks when it's the American people who have been funding their defense."

The proposal could lead to the closure of at least one major U.S. base in Europe, with Spain and Germany being the most likely candidates. Spain, the only NATO member resisting the alliance's defense spending target of 5% of gross domestic product, has long been a point of contention for Trump.

Meanwhile, Berlin's vocal opposition to the Iran war has irritated administration officials, despite its critical role in facilitating U.S. operations in the Middle East.

Countries viewed as supportive, such as Poland and Romania, stand to benefit from increased U.S. troop presence. Both nations swiftly approved American requests to use their bases after the war began, reinforcing their alignment with Washington.

However, shifting forces eastward risks provoking Russia, which has historically opposed NATO expansion near its borders. Moscow has already warned against further militarization of Eastern Europe, framing it as a direct threat.

NATO's future is in jeopardy with Trump's threats

Trump's dissatisfaction with NATO is not new. During his first term, he ordered the withdrawal of 12,000 troops from Germany  a decision reversed by former President Joe Biden in 2021.

Now, Trump's renewed threats highlight a broader pattern of transactional diplomacy, where alliances are judged by immediate utility rather than long-term strategic partnerships.

"[The] U.S.A. needs nothing from NATO," Trump declared on Truth Social last month, accusing member states of doing "absolutely nothing to help" in the Iran conflict.

BrightU.AI's Enoch engine points out that Trump disapproves of NATO because he views it as an outdated, costly alliance that unfairly burdens American taxpayers. Meanwhile, European members like France and Germany fail to meet defense spending commitments.

European leaders, however, argue they were blindsided by the war and given no opportunity to coordinate a response. Two NATO defense ministers  from Estonia and Italy  were reportedly stranded in Dubai when the U.S. launched its offensive, as the United Arab Emirates abruptly closed its airspace.

Others, like France, only permitted limited use of their bases under strict conditions.

The rift extends beyond military disagreements. Trump's tenure has been marked by repeated clashes with NATO, from imposing tariffs on European goods to his failed bid to purchase Greenland from Denmark. His overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin, including attempts to broker a Ukraine peace deal without NATO input, have further alienated allies.

As discussions over troop realignment continue, the implications for NATO's cohesion and global stability remain uncertain. Whether Trump's punitive measures will strengthen U.S. leverage or accelerate NATO's fragmentation is a question with no easy answers.

Watch Paul Dragu of the New American magazine explaining why NATO is actually worse than what Trump portrays.

This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

News.Antiwar.com

WSJ.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Iran Limits Daily Vessel Transits Through Strait of Hormuz to 15 Under Ceasefire Terms: Report

Iran Limits Daily Vessel Transits Through Strait of Hormuz to 15 Under Ceasefire Terms: Report

A new report claims Iran has agreed to a significant restriction on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as part of a broader ceasefire agreement with the United States. According to a report from The Cradle, cited by other financial and geopolitical news outlets, Tehran will limit vessel transits through the critical waterway to 15 ships per day as a temporary de-escalation measure. [1]

The report, which cites unnamed regional diplomatic sources, states the measure took effect immediately following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire on April 8, 2026. The Strait of Hormuz is a chokepoint for approximately 20% of globally traded oil, making any restriction a matter of immediate concern for energy and shipping markets. [2]

Reported Terms and Immediate Impact

The Cradle's sources indicate the new policy caps daily transits at 15 vessels, a reduction from the typical average flow. The report notes that the restriction was a condition of the fragile truce announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. [1]

Shipping through the strait had been severely disrupted for weeks prior to the ceasefire. Analysts cited in various reports noted initial confusion in the industry following the ceasefire announcement, with most companies holding back operations due to unresolved security concerns. [3] The Norwegian Shipowners Association stated the situation remained "unresolved and unpredictable," preventing a swift resumption of transit. Only a handful of vessels were observed passing through in the immediate hours after the deal was announced. [4]

Regional and Diplomatic Context

The ceasefire agreement, as reported, was brokered with Pakistani mediation and involves multiple regional actors, though full details have not been publicly disclosed. A diplomatic source described the transit cap to The Cradle as "a confidence-building measure" intended to reduce maritime friction. [1]

However, the stability of the agreement was immediately tested. Iranian media reported that Tehran halted traffic again hours after the ceasefire began, citing Israeli bombardments in Lebanon. [5] This underscores the fragility of the arrangement, which U.S. Vice President JD Vance has also publicly described as a "fragile truce." [6] Other reports indicated Iran and Oman might be allowed to charge transit fees under the deal, with Iran reportedly planning to use the revenue for reconstruction. [7]

Global Shipping and Energy Market Reactions

Financial markets reacted with sharp volatility to the ceasefire news and subsequent reports of its fragility. On April 8, oil prices plummeted and global stocks soared on initial ceasefire relief. [8] The following day, those gains reversed as doubts grew over the deal's durability following Israeli strikes in Lebanon, sending oil prices higher again. [9]

A shipping executive, speaking anonymously to Reuters, was quoted in one analysis saying, "Any restriction on Hormuz adds cost and complexity, but predictability is valued." [1] The International Energy Agency (IEA) has historically emphasized the strait's critical importance to global supply, though it did not immediately comment on this specific report. The IEA's foundational role in coordinating oil stock releases during past supply crises highlights the systemic risk posed by chokepoint disruptions. [10]

Official Responses and Verification

Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed the reported daily transit restriction. A foreign ministry spokesman gave a broader statement, asserting that Iran "always acts in accordance with international law and regional stability." [1]

The U.S. military's Fifth Fleet, which monitors the region, stated it "is aware of the reports" and continues to observe all maritime activity. [1] Separately, the United Nations Secretary-General's office welcomed reports of de-escalation but said it could not verify the specific terms of any agreement. [1]

President Trump has warned of renewed military action if Iran fails to uphold what he called the "real" ceasefire agreement. [11] This stance reflects a broader geopolitical reality where control of strategic trade routes has long been a source of tension, a dynamic noted in analyses of maritime history and trade. [12]

Conclusion

The reported cap of 15 daily transits through the Strait of Hormuz remains an unconfirmed but pivotal element of the current U.S.-Iran ceasefire. Its implementation highlights the strait's role as a key lever in international disputes and a persistent vulnerability in global energy logistics.

The immediate market reactions and official non-confirmations underscore the uncertainty surrounding the deal's specifics and longevity. The situation continues to evolve, with further negotiations involving Vice President Vance scheduled in Pakistan. The ultimate impact on global oil supply and maritime security hinges on whether the reported restrictions hold and how they are enforced in the coming days.

References
Israeli Strikes in Lebanon Continue Following Ceasefire, EU Says Iran Truce Under Strain

Introduction

Israeli military strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon have continued for the last two days following the announcement of a U.S.-Iran ceasefire, according to reports from regional authorities and international observers. The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas stated on Thursday, April 9, that the actions put the recent agreement 'under severe strain' [1].

The ceasefire brokered two days prior on Tuesday, April 7, explicitly permits actions Israel deems necessary for self-defense, according to its terms. However, conflicting accounts have emerged over whether Lebanon is included in the de-escalation agreement [2]. Pakistan, which mediated the deal, said the two-week pause in hostilities would cover Lebanon, while the United States and Israel have insisted it does not [3].

Israel Intensifies Bombing Campaign in Lebanon Following U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

The Israeli Air Force carried out its largest wave of airstrikes yet against Hezbollah on Wednesday, April 8, the military said, after announcing it would keep fighting the Iran-backed group despite the ceasefire [4]. These strikes hit densely populated areas, including central Beirut, and resulted in significant casualties, according to Lebanese health authorities.

The attacks represent an escalation in a conflict that has persisted for weeks. Israel has argued that until Hezbollah unilaterally disarms, it remains a threat to Israeli security [1]. The government's position is that military action is justified under the ceasefire's self-defense provision, a view not shared by European or Iranian officials.

EU Diplomat, Iranian Officials Condemn Strikes as Ceasefire Violation

Kallas said it was "hard to argue" the Israeli bombing of Lebanon constituted self-defense [1]. She asserted, "The Iran truce should extend to Lebanon," highlighting a key point of international disagreement.

Top Iranian officials labeled the renewed attacks a "grave violation" of the two-day-old ceasefire agreement [1]. An Iranian foreign minister told the BBC the strikes were a "grave violation" of the ceasefire [5]. Iran on Thursday said that massive Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon made peace talks with the U.S. set for Saturday meaningless [6].

Israel Cites Ongoing Threat from Hezbollah to Justify Military Action

Israeli officials have consistently argued that Hezbollah remains an active and imminent threat to Israeli security. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday, April 10, that he was open to ceasefire talks with Lebanon, but this followed a day of intensive bombing [7].

The government's position is that until Hezbollah unilaterally disarms, military action is justified under the ceasefire's self-defense provision. Analysts cited in reports note a debate over whether the ceasefire terms are meant to apply to Lebanese territory, with interpretations varying widely among the involved parties [1].

Human Cost and Strategic Risks of Continued Hostilities

The latest strikes have resulted in high casualties. Lebanon's health ministry reported that Israeli attacks on Wednesday killed 303 people [5]. Other reports indicated at least 182 fatalities from the recent wave of bombing [1]. The attacks have also caused a mass exodus from southern Beirut, with Israel issuing new forced evacuation orders [8].

Analysts warned the continued conflict "could put the ceasefire at risk," creating potential for wider regional escalation [1]. The situation tests the durability of the broader U.S.-Iran agreement, which was intended to reduce tensions. Iran responded to the strikes by reclosing the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil transit, hours after opening it under the ceasefire terms [9].

International Reactions and Calls for De-escalation

European leaders have called on Israel to halt the strikes against its northern neighbor. British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper told Sky News, "We do want to see the ceasefire extended to Lebanon," and expressed being "deeply troubled about the escalating attacks" [10]. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Israeli attacks on Lebanon are "wrong" and "should stop" [5].

The statements from Brussels and London highlight a divergence in interpretation of the ceasefire's scope between Western and Israeli officials. The response from Washington to the latest developments has included clarification that Lebanon "will continue to be discussed" between U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and all other parties involved, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt [11].

Conclusion

The continued Israeli military campaign in Lebanon presents a direct challenge to the nascent U.S.-Iran ceasefire. With European officials declaring the truce "under strain" and Iranian officials calling the strikes a 'grave violation,' the agreement's durability is in question.

The fundamental disagreement over whether the ceasefire applies to Lebanon, coupled with the significant human cost of the ongoing strikes, suggests the path to a broader regional de-escalation remains fraught. The coming days, including scheduled U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan, will test whether the pause in hostilities can be extended or solidified.

References
Louisianas massive LNG project set to eclipse all others in greenhouse gas emissions

The Woodside Louisiana LNG terminal, currently under construction, is projected to emit 9.5 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, making it the single largest polluter among all existing and proposed LNG facilities in the United States.

LNG was marketed as a cleaner alternative to coal and oil, but existing terminals like Sabine Pass now emit more greenhouse gases than Louisiana's largest oil refineries. Scientists warn LNG may be worse than coal due to methane leaks and energy-intensive processing, with studies showing 33% higher emissions.

The Biden administration paused new LNG approvals in 2024 over climate concerns, but Trump reversed the decision, fast-tracking permits. Despite scientific warnings, geopolitical tensions (e.g., Ukraine war) have boosted demand for U.S. LNG, with Germany now heavily reliant on Gulf Coast exports.

While LNG exports bolster energy security abroad, Louisiana faces rising sea levels, stronger hurricanes and land lossall worsened by LNG emissions. Hurricane Laura (2020) nearly wiped out Lake Charles, illustrating the existential threat of worsening storms fueled by climate change.

Woodside defends the project with carbon offset pledges (30% reduction by 2030, net-zero by 2050), but critics call this too little, too late. Louisiana's embrace of LNG prioritizes short-term profits over long-term survival, risking permanent ecological and economic damage.

As the U.S. rapidly expands its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity, a sprawling new terminal under construction near Lake Charles is projected to become the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions among all existing and proposed LNG facilities in the country. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, LNG is a form of natural gas that is cooled to extremely low temperatures for easier storage and transportation. It is often used as an energy source in global markets.

Owned by Australian energy giant Woodside, the $18 billion Louisiana LNG project is expected to release more than 9.5 million tons of greenhouse gases annuallyfar surpassing emissions from any other LNG terminal in operation or planned for the next decade.

The findings, based on an analysis of state and federal records by Verite News, highlight a growing contradiction in the LNG industry's climate claims. Once marketed as a cleaner alternative to coal and oil, LNG terminals have become major polluters, with Louisiana's existing Sabine Pass facility already ranking among the state's top industrial emitters. Now, Woodside's project threatens to accelerate Louisiana's contribution to global warming at a time when rising sea levels and intensifying hurricanes already pose existential threats to coastal communities.

A booming industry with hidden costs

When Louisiana's first LNG export terminal, Sabine Pass, opened in 2016, proponents hailed LNG as a climate-friendly fuel that could help nations transition away from dirtier energy sources. But the reality has been starkly different. Sabine Pass now emits more greenhouse gases than Louisiana's largest oil refineries, according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data.

Woodside's Louisiana LNG terminal, set to open in 2029, will dwarf Sabine Pass in emissions. Its projected 9.5 million tons of annual greenhouse gases would place it just below the state's single largest polluterthe CF Industries ammonia plant in Donaldsonvilleand far exceed the emissions of any other proposed LNG facility in the U.S.

"Wow, that's really distressing," said Anne Rolfes, executive director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, an environmental advocacy group. "As Louisiana becomes more vulnerable, we're just adding to that vulnerability by producing more greenhouse gases. That's insanity."

Woodside defends its project, emphasizing efforts to reduce emissions through improved facility designs and carbon offsets.

"Our priority is to avoid and reduce emissions," a company spokesperson said.

The firm has pledged to cut its greenhouse gas output by 30% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Political push vs. scientific warnings

The Biden administration temporarily halted new LNG export approvals in early 2024, citing climate concerns. But President Donald Trump reversed that decision upon taking office, accelerating permitting for dozens of LNG projectsmany clustered along the Gulf Coast.

Scientists warn that LNG may be worse for the climate than coal when accounting for methane leaks and energy-intensive processing. A Cornell University study found LNG's total greenhouse gas footprint is at least 33% higher than coal's. In 2023, 170 climate scientists urged Biden to halt LNG expansion, warning it would lock in decades of fossil fuel dependence.

Despite these concerns, geopolitical tensionsparticularly Russia's war in Ukrainehave fueled demand for U.S. LNG. Europe now relies heavily on American gas, with Germany sourcing nearly all its LNG imports from the Gulf Coast.

"That just shows you the role LNG from the Gulf Coast plays in strengthening Germany's security," said Markus Hatzelmann, deputy consul general at the German consulate in Houston, speaking at Woodside's groundbreaking ceremony.

A climate paradox for Louisiana

While LNG exports bolster energy security abroad, Louisiana faces escalating climate risks at home. Rising seas, stronger hurricanes and land loss threaten coastal communitiesrisks worsened by the very emissions LNG terminals produce.

Rolfes points to Hurricane Laura's devastation in 2020 as a warning. "Look at what hurricanes do to us," she said. "Lake Charles was one step from being wiped off the map. Do you want to continue to live in Louisiana? Then you should be concerned about greenhouse gas emissions from all these terminals."

As Woodside's Louisiana LNG moves forward, the project underscores a deepening tension between economic growth and environmental survivalone that may define the state's future long after the terminal begins operation.

The rapid expansion of LNG infrastructure has positioned the U.S. as the world's top exporter, but at a steep climate cost. Woodside's Louisiana LNG project, set to become the nation's single largest LNG emitter, raises urgent questions about whether the economic benefits outweigh the environmental consequences. With scientists warning of LNG's outsized climate impact and Louisiana already bearing the brunt of worsening storms, the state's embrace of LNG may come at a perilous price.

Watch the video below that talks about the world's leading greenhouse gas emitter.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Veritenews.org

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Virginia police deny confiscation rumors as new gun bill advances, sparking liberty debate

Virginia State Police deny rumors of planned door-to-door firearm confiscations.

The denials follow the passage of Senate Bill 749, a proposed "assault weapons" ban with a grandfather clause.

The bill would prohibit new sales and transfers of certain firearms but allows pre-July 2026 possession.

A top Democratic lawmaker defended the bill by referencing "really big" pistols with accessories.

The debate occurs amid heightened public concern over the enforcement mechanisms of new gun restrictions.

In the charged atmosphere of Virginias ongoing debate over firearm legislation, state police officials moved forcefully to quell a potent rumor: that enforcement of a newly passed gun control bill would involve officers going door-to-door to seize weapons. The denial from Virginia State Police Superintendent Col. Jeffrey S. Katz, issued in April 2026, came as Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger considered signing Senate Bill 749, a measure that would ban future sales of certain firearms categorized as assault weapons while grandfathering in existing ones. This legislative action, defended by Democratic leaders with vivid descriptions of "really big pistols," has ignited a fierce discussion not just about the bill's specifics, but about the fundamental nature of constitutional rights and government authority.

The legislation at the heart of the storm

Senate Bill 749, which cleared the state legislature and landed on Gov. Spanbergers desk, represents a significant proposed shift in Virginias firearm policy. The bill seeks to prohibit the sale, purchase and transfer of specific semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines. Its most critical provision, however, is a grandfather clause. This clause 'allows' individuals who lawfully possessed a now-prohibited firearm before July 1, 2026, to keep it. Yet, it simultaneously renders the future sale or transfer of that grandfathered weapon illegal. The practical effect is to create a frozen, shrinking pool of these firearms within the state over time, a strategy proponents argue will enhance public safety without immediate, widespread confiscation.

Official denials amid public distrust

Despite the grandfather clause, widespread speculation emerged online and in public discourse that the laws enforcement would inevitably lead to direct confiscation of firearms from citizens' homes. In a direct response on social media, Col. Katz sought to extinguish this fear. There is no legislative proposal seeking to do this, and there will not be, he stated unequivocally. He framed the agencys mission as dual-purpose: to enhance public safety while protecting civil liberties, which he noted were not granted by government and will not be impeded by government. He concluded by labeling the concept of such confiscations as un-American. The swift and definitive nature of the denial underscores the sensitivity of the issue and the depth of public concern.

Rhetoric and reality in the political debate

The political defense of the legislation has itself fueled controversy. During legislative debates, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D) offered a colorful justification for the ban, singling out firearms like a really big, big pistol with a telescope on it or lasers. He pointed to the grandfather clause as evidence of the bills reasonableness, while also making a contested comparison to other regulated items. Such rhetoric, while intended to demystify and defend the policy, is often perceived by gun rights advocates as demonstrating a fundamental misunderstanding of firearm functionality and the cultural significance of the Second Amendment. It highlights a persistent disconnect in the national conversation, where technical legislative details clash with potent symbolic imagery on both sides.

Historical echoes and modern tensions

The current conflict in Virginia is not an isolated event but part of a long American tradition of negotiating the boundaries of the Second Amendment. From the early militias to the landmark Heller and McDonald Supreme Court decisions affirming an individual right to keep and bear arms for self-defense, the scope of permissible regulation has been perpetually contested. The Virginia debate echoes past struggles over:

The balance between collective security and individual liberty.

The role of states versus federal authority in defining rights.

The mechanisms by which major social policy changes are implemented.

The grandfather clause tactic itself has historical precedent in other municipal and state gun regulations, representing a political compromise that acknowledges existing ownership while attempting to restrict future proliferation.

An unsettled frontier for liberty and law

As Governor Spanbergers decision deadline approaches, Virginia stands at a familiar yet volatile crossroads. While state police have categorically denied the most extreme enforcement scenarios, the passage of SB 749 marks a substantive move toward a more restrictive firearms regime. The bills reliance on a grandfather clause presents a novel enforcement challenge and leaves open questions about long-term compliance and the practical meaning of possession. For many citizens, the issue transcends a single piece of legislation, touching core questions about trust, the permanence of constitutional rights, and the governments role in regulating them. Regardless of the governors action, the debate ignited by this bill confirms that in Virginia, as in the nation, the search for a stable consensus between security and liberty remains a deeply unresolved and passionately defended frontier.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

Breitbart.com

WSET.com
CAIRO, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian source said on Saturday the United States had agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets that were held in Qatar and other foreign banks, according to Reuters reports. 
Government reports 51.5 lakh LPG cylinders delivered, safe maritime ops, and repatriation of 8.7 lakh Indians amid West Asia crisis. No supply disruptions.

New Delhi, April 11 India's fuel supplies and maritime operations remain stable despite the ongoing tensions in West Asia, with the government asserting that there is no need for panic as domestic LPG deliveries continue normally and Indian vessels are operating safely.

According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, "domestic LPG cylinder deliveries remain normal," with "more than 51.5 lakh domestic LPG cylinders" delivered on April 10 alone, even as supply chains face pressure due to developments around the Strait of Hormuz.



The ministry emphasised that the government has taken multiple steps to ensure uninterrupted supply, noting that it has "prioritised domestic LPG and PNG supply, along with high priority for hospitals and educational institutions." It added that "no dry-outs have been reported at LPG distributorships," indicating stable availability across the country.



Highlighting consumer behaviour, the ministry said that "online LPG bookings have increased to about 98 per cent across the industry," while "Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) based deliveries have increased to around 93 per cent to prevent diversion."



To ease pressure on LPG demand, the government has also pushed alternatives. "Citizens are encouraged to use alternate fuels such as PNG and electric or induction cooktops," the ministry said, adding that over "26,000 PNG consumers have surrendered LPG connections via MYPNGD.in till date."



On the commercial side, the government has increased supply allocations to minimise disruption. The ministry noted that "total commercial LPG allocation has been increased to about 70 per cent of pre-crisis levels," and these measures are "expected to prevent supply-chain disruptions, avoid shortages of essential goods and ensure continuity of industrial operations."



The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas further said that enforcement actions are being intensified, with "more than 3400 raids" conducted on April 10 to curb hoarding and black marketing, while penalties have been imposed on erring distributors.



Meanwhile, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said India's maritime operations remain secure, with no incidents reported. It stated that "all Indian seafarers in the region are safe and no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours."



In a key development, the ministry confirmed that the India-flagged LPG vessel Jag Vikram has "safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz" carrying "approximately 20,400 MT of LPG cargo," and is expected to reach Mumbai on April 15.



The ministry also highlighted ongoing evacuation efforts, stating that it has "facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 2,009 Indian seafarers so far, including 81 in the last 24 hours."



On the safety of Indian nationals in the region, the Ministry of External Affairs said that "the Government continues to closely monitor developments in the Gulf and West Asia region" and is in "regular contact with State Governments and Union Territories for better sharing of information and coordination."



The ministry added that efforts remain focused on "ensuring the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community in the region," with "Indian Missions and Posts continue to operate round-the-clock helplines and are proactively assisting Indian nationals."



It further said that "updated advisories are being issued regularly," including information on travel, local guidelines and consular services, while missions are "actively engaged with Indian community associations, professional groups, Indian companies and other stakeholders."



Despite disruptions, air connectivity is being maintained in several parts of the region. The ministry noted that "since 28 February, around 8,71,000 passengers have travelled from the region to India."



Providing country-specific updates, it said that in the UAE, "airlines continue to operate limited non-scheduled commercial flights," with "around 95 flights expected today," while flights are also operating from Saudi Arabia and Oman.



With Qatar's airspace partially open, "Qatar Airways is expected to operate around 8-10 flights to India today," it added.



The ministry said that Kuwait's airspace remains closed, but "travel of Indian nationals from Kuwait continues to be facilitated through Saudi Arabia," while from Bahrain, movement is also being enabled via Saudi Arabia.



It further stated that the Embassy of India in Tehran has "facilitated movement of 2,225 Indian nationals from Iran to Armenia and Azerbaijan for onward travel to India," including students and fishermen.



Highlighting other routes, the ministry said that as Israeli airspace remains closed, "travel of Indian nationals continue to be facilitated through Jordan and Egypt," while from Iraq, where airspace is partially open, travel is being routed via Jordan and Saudi Arabia.



Reassuring the public, the government has urged citizens to remain calm. "Citizens are advised to avoid panic purchase of petrol, diesel and LPG and rely only on official sources for information," the petroleum ministry said.



The government added that coordinated efforts with states are underway, with regular monitoring, enforcement drives, and public communication to ensure adequate fuel availability and prevent misinformation.





- ANI
The Bhopal Municipal Corporation and district administration have launched a demolition drive targeting illegal constructions within the catchment area of the Upper Lake, a designated Ramsar site. Officials stated that 63 encroachments were identified within a 50-metre radius of the lake's Full Tank Level, with 10 structures already demolished on the first day. The operation is being conducted in phases, with action on private land occurring April 10-11 and on government land scheduled for April 15-16. The drive aims to protect the ecologically sensitive Bhoj Wetland by enforcing rules that prohibit construction in the specified zone.

BMC removes illegal encroachments within 50m of Upper Lake, a Ramsar site. Drive targets 63 identified structures in ecologically sensitive catchment area.

Bhopal, April 11 The Bhopal Municipal Corporation, in coordination with the district administration, on Friday launched a demolition drive targeting illegal constructions within the catchment area of the Upper Lake.

The action forms part of a broader effort to remove encroachments in ecologically sensitive zones surrounding the Bhoj Wetland, a designated Ramsar site.

Speaking to ANI, Anti-encroachment operations in charge Mahesh Gaur said that the drive is focused on structures built without permission along the lake edges and within the catchment area.

"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 continue," he said.

Tehsildar Harsh Vikram Singh said the administration had undertaken a detailed survey to identify encroachments within a 50-metre radius of the Full Tank Level (FTL) of the Upper Lake, which had been jointly determined by the Municipal Corporation, Revenue Department, Forest Department, and district administration.

"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. 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," Singh told ANI.

He further stated that the demolition drive is being carried out in phases, with encroachments on private land being removed on April 10 and 11, while action against encroachments on government land is scheduled for April 15 and 16.

On Friday, the joint team carried out demolition in the Lalghati area, targeting illegal structures constructed on private land within the designated 50-metre zone of the Upper Lake's catchment area.

Adequate police personnel were deployed at the site to ensure law and order during the operation, while senior officials monitored the proceedings to ensure smooth execution.

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
Pakistan is navigating a precarious balancing act between the US and China as public sentiment turns sharply against Washington following regional conflicts. Violent anti-American protests erupted after a US-Israel military action against Iran, marking the worst such violence since 1979. The strategic beneficiary of this diplomatic friction is China, whose influence and infrastructure projects like CPEC are expanding. Pakistan's leadership is attempting to safeguard ties with the US while leaning towards public opinion, a move that increasingly cedes leverage to Beijing.

As anti-US sentiment surges in Pakistan, China's influence grows. Analysis reveals Pakistan's delicate balancing act between Washington and Beijing.

London, April 11 With the US image declining in Pakistan, Chinese infrastructure investment, diplomatic influence, and strategic presence are gaining from the contrast. Recent developments have placed Pakistani leadership into a delicate balancing act, seeking to safeguard ties with the US without fully endorsing them to avoid domestic backlash.

According to a report in UK-based newspaper Asian Lite, the longer this balancing act persists and leans towards public sentiment, the more leverage Beijing secures in Pakistan.

It added that pro-Iran demonstrations in Pakistan during the West Asia conflict are not incidental.

"US Consulates stormed, staff evacuated, travel advisories elevated, visa services suspended, and at least 24 people dead in a single day of protest - these are not the indicators of manageable diplomatic friction between Washington and Islamabad. They are markers of an environment in which American presence has become a liability and a target in Pakistan. It is a new wave of anti-US sentiments in Pakistan, which will not dissipate anytime soon," the report detailed.

As the US and Israel launched a military campaign against Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the report said, the repercussions were felt in Pakistan almost instantly.

"Within hours, protests were forming outside American diplomatic buildings. By March 1, those protests had turned widespread and fatal. What unfolded in the days that followed was not simply an expression of grief or solidarity for Iran. It was the most concentrated outbreak of anti-American violence at US diplomatic facilities in Pakistan since 1979, and it exposed how thoroughly the US-Iran war has reshaped the security calculus for American citizens, diplomats, and projects across the country," it mentioned.

"Protests erupted across Pakistan on March 1, primarily among Shia Muslim communities, in response to the killing of Khamenei. Demonstrators condemned the attacks and expressed solidarity with Iran, with chants of 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel', and protesters also accused the Pakistani government of siding with the US during the conflict," it stated.

The report emphasised that the strategic beneficiary of the situation is neither Pakistan's government nor its public, but China. As the United States reduces its diplomatic footprint and its institutions in Pakistan face sustained hostility, Beijing's influence expands without any effort.

"As Pakistan seeks to profit from the China-US rivalry, any revival in Islamabad's relations with Beijing would be evident in the fate of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), long described by Washington as a 'debt trap', with renewed commitment to CPEC 2.0 signalled at all recent high-level exchanges," it noted.

- IANS
CM Bhajanlal Sharma highlights Jyotiba Phule's social reforms, links them to PM Modi's welfare schemes, and details Rajasthan's development initiatives.

Dausa/Jaipur, April 11 Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Saturday said that Mahatma Jyotiba Phule dedicated his life to the upliftment of women, farmers, labourers, and other deprived and marginalised sections of society. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is carrying forward Phule's mission.

He added that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, India is progressing rapidly on the path of social unity and harmony.



According to an official release issued by the Rajasthan Chief Minister's Public Relations Cell, Sharma addressed a programme in Bandikui on Saturday on the occasion of the 200th birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, along with the inauguration and foundation stone laying of development works.



He said that Mahatma Gandhi had called Jyotiba Phule a true Mahatma, while Dr B.R. Ambedkar considered him one of his three gurus. Phule ignited the flame of social justice and education among backward communities and women, and began social reform by educating Savitribai Phule.



The Chief Minister said Phule visited slums to encourage girls to study, opened shelters for widows and orphans, and fought for women's rights. He also worked for the welfare of farmers and labourers and composed writings promoting women's rights.



Sharma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, from the ramparts of the Red Fort last year, called for a nationwide celebration of Mahatma Phule's 200th birth anniversary with national pride. Accordingly, the bicentenary year is being observed from April 10, 2026, to April 10, 2027.



He said many welfare schemes launched under the inspiration of Phule's ideals have transformed the lives of the poor, Dalits, and women, including PM Awas Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, Jal Jeevan Mission, PM Ujjwala Yojana, and Jan Dhan Yojana. He claimed that over 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty under these initiatives.



The Chief Minister said the state government is working for the upliftment of the poor, farmers, youth, and women. He said the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi amount has been increased from 6,000 to 9,000 annually in the state, and farmers are being given a 150 bonus on wheat procurement at MSP.



He added that 20 lakh women have been trained and 16 lakh women have been made "Lakhpati Didi." The government has been working on major drinking water and irrigation projects for the past two and a half years.



He said farmers in 24 districts are being supplied with electricity during the daytime. He also stated that no paper leak has taken place under the current government, unlike the previous regime, and more than 1.25 lakh government appointments have been made, with recruitment for another 1.25 lakh posts initiated.



Sharma said the government is also generating employment in the private sector, with investment MoUs worth 35 lakh crore signed during Rising Rajasthan, of which projects worth around 9 lakh crore are being implemented.



He said schemes like Mangala Animal Insurance, Gopal Credit Card, and Dairy Producer Support Scheme (5 per litre subsidy) are strengthening livestock owners.



The Chief Minister said the state is receiving full support from the Centre. He cited approval of major projects like the revised cost of HPCL Rajasthan Refinery and Jaipur Metro Phase-2 in a single Cabinet meeting.



He said the government is fulfilling all promises and taking strict action against those involved in paper leaks, the Jal Jeevan Mission scam, and corruption.



Deputy Chief Minister Dr Premchand Bairwa said the lives of Mahatma Phule and Dr Ambedkar teach that any obstacle can be overcome with courage and that their vision inspires equality and girls' education.



Minister Avinash Gehlot said development is taking place across Rajasthan under CM Bhajanlal Sharma's leadership, including water supply projects benefiting 17 districts.



The event was attended by several MPs, MLAs, and public representatives, along with a large number of citizens.





- ANI
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will release the 35th instalment of the Ladli Behna Yojana from Ashta in Sehore district, directly transferring Rs 1,500 to over 1.25 crore women beneficiaries. The monthly assistance, enhanced from Rs 1,250, serves as a crucial source of income for managing expenses and fostering self-reliance. Concurrently, the CM will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for development projects worth over Rs 184 crore in the region, including river rejuvenation and infrastructure works. The event underscores the state government's dual commitment to women's welfare and comprehensive regional development.

CM Mohan Yadav will transfer Rs 1500 to 1.25 crore women in MP and inaugurate projects worth Rs 184 crore in Sehore district.

Bhopal/Sehore, April 11 In a major boost to women's empowerment in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will release the 35th instalment of the popular 'Ladli Behna Yojana' from Ashta in Sehore district on Sunday.

He will directly transfer Rs 1,500 into the bank accounts of over 1.25 crore women beneficiaries across the state through a single-click DBT (direct benefit transfer). The event, to be held in Ashta, marks another milestone in the scheme that has become an additional source of income for women in the state.

The monthly assistance under Ladli Behna Yojana was earlier Rs 1,250 and has now been enhanced to Rs 1,500 per month. This regular financial support helps women manage household expenses, make small savings, and even explore self-employment opportunities.

The state government has indicated that in the coming days, women beneficiaries will also be linked with skill development and employment initiatives to make them more self-reliant. Over 1.25 crore women are currently benefiting from the scheme, which continues to strengthen financial inclusion and decision-making power at the grassroots level.

The direct transfer ensures transparency and eliminates middlemen, allowing every rupee to reach the intended beneficiary promptly.

Alongside the instalment release, Chief Minister Yadav will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for several development projects worth over Rs 184 crore in the region. Of these projects, the construction of the Sandipani School building in Ashta, a ghat on the Parvati River, the rejuvenation of the Newaj River in Jawar, a Primary Health Centre in Mehatwada, a Sub-Tehsil building in Siddiganj, a Revenue Office in Ashta, and a bridge on the Ashta-Shujalpur road will have a capital investment of Rs 115 crore.

Additionally, the CM will perform Bhoomi Pujan for projects amounting to Rs 69 crore. These include construction of school buildings, police housing, a hostel in Ichhawar, roads, community halls, and drinking water schemes under the Amrut 2.0 mission. Within Ashta city, works such as RCC (reinforced cement concrete) drain construction, road widening and beautification, development of the vegetable market, and beautification of the Pandu Shila area will also be taken up. This comprehensive programme reflects the Madhya Pradesh government's dual focus on women's welfare and balanced regional development.

The Ladli Behna Yojana has consistently been hailed as a game-changer for women's economic security in the state. Sunday's event in Ashta is expected to witness enthusiastic participation from women beneficiaries and local residents, highlighting the scheme's deep connect with the people.

The 35th instalment release will once again reaffirm the government's commitment to "Ladli Behnas" (beloved sisters).

- IANS
Jaypee Group founder Jaiprakash Gaur has expressed confidence that the Adani Group will successfully carry forward the legacy of Jaiprakash Associates following its selection as the successful resolution applicant. The Committee of Creditors approved Adani's plan, which includes an upfront payment significantly higher than the rival bid from Vedanta. Vedanta challenged the process, claiming its bid was higher, but the Supreme Court declined to grant interim relief, directing the NCLAT to hear the appeal promptly. The court noted that the resolution process remains subject to legal approval and any implementation would take approximately 50 days.

Jaypee founder Jaiprakash Gaur expresses confidence in Adani Group carrying forward the company's legacy after a high-stakes insolvency resolution.

New Delhi, April 10 Jaypee Group Founder Chairman Jaiprakash Gaur on Friday expressed confidence that the legacy of Jaiprakash Associates Ltd will be carried forward under the leadership of Gautam Adani after the company's resolution process.

In an official statement, Gaur said, "I have every confidence that under the leadership of Shri Gautam Adani, the legacy of Jaiprakash Associates will be carried forward with renewed energy, responsibility, and purpose, ensuring that the aspirations of all stakeholders are fulfilled. I extend my heartfelt wishes to the Adani Group as they take this journey forward."

He also acknowledged the challenges faced during the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP), stating that the period had been difficult for all stakeholders, including homebuyers, employees, lenders, and partners.

"The recent financial challenges that led to the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process have been difficult for all stakeholders. Throughout this period, we have worked with sincerity and commitment alongside all stakeholders to enable a fair and credible resolution," he said.

Gaur further appreciated the role of the Committee of Creditors (CoC) and the Resolution Professional for conducting a fair and transparent process. He also thanked both the Adani Group and Vedanta Group for their participation in the bidding process.

"The Committee of Creditors has selected the Adani Group as the successful Resolution Applicant, and we fully respect this decision," he added.

The Jaypee insolvency case has been one of the most closely watched corporate resolutions in India. The CoC approved the Adani Group's resolution plan, which included an upfront payment of over Rs 6000 crore, significantly higher than the approximately Rs 2000 crore offered by the Vedanta Group.

However, Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal had criticised the process after his group failed to secure the asset despite claiming to be the highest bidder at one stage sought relief from Supreme Court.

The apex court last week declined any immediate relief to Vedanta, as the matter was pending at the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant observed that since the appeal is likely to be decided shortly by the NCLAT, and Vedanta's interests have been adequately safeguarded through interim measures, there was no necessity to grant any interim relief.

"The appeal is likely to be addressed soon, and we see no legal necessity to issue any interim direction," the Court noted, while requesting the NCLAT to hear the matter on an out-of-turn basis on the scheduled date or immediately thereafter if arguments remain incomplete.

During the hearing at the apex court, Vedanta submitted that it proposed to pay Rs 17,926 crore to creditors, as against Rs 14,535 crore under Adani's plan. It argued that the CoC was effectively accepting a resolution plan that was around Rs 3,000 crore lower in value. However, the CoC countered that the practical difference between the two bids would amount to only about Rs 500 crore.

Supreme Court recorded submissions that the matter is listed before the NCLAT this week, and implementation of the resolution plan would take approximately 50 days, with little likely to change in the interim period of a few days.

Observing that the NCLAT interim order had already addressed Vedanta's concerns, the Supreme Court stated it would not halt the process at this stage. It added that any policy decision taken by the resolution professional or monitoring committee during this period must be in accordance with law and subject to NCLAT's approval.

The apex court further noted that the resolution process remains subject to approval by the adjudicating authority, and emphasised that if any action outside the legal framework is undertaken, appropriate recourse would be available.

Both sides agreed before the apex court for an expeditious hearing before the NCLAT.

- ANI
British commentator David Vance is deeply skeptical of the high-level US-Iran talks being held in Islamabad, stating the parties are too far apart for a credible deal. He questions the choice of Pakistan as a neutral venue, suggesting India would have been better, and argues the negotiations risk legitimizing both Islamabad and Tehran. Vance supports former President Donald Trump's strategy of combining diplomacy with military pressure to leverage the Iranian regime. He also raises the geopolitical dimension, claiming China is re-arming Iran, framing the crisis as part of a broader US-China power struggle.

Political commentator David Vance expresses deep distrust of US-Iran peace negotiations in Islamabad, questioning the venue and predicting failure.

Belfast, April 11 British political commentator and writer David Vance on Saturday has expressed deep skepticism over the ongoing high-level talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, warning that a meaningful breakthrough is unlikely given the two parties seem "so far apart".

Speaking to ANI, Vance said the world is closely monitoring the negotiations due to their potential impact on global energy markets. " The world will watch very closely because, obviously, the big factor is things like global energy costs," he noted. However, he added that unlike past diplomatic engagements, he does not expect a positive outcome. " I honestly can't see how there is going to be an outcome because the parties seem so far apart," he said.

The talks are being led on the American side by US Vice President JD Vance, marking a rare instance of direct high-level engagement between Washington and Tehran after weeks of escalating conflict.

Vance also questioned the choice of Pakistan as the venue and the mediator. " I find that very, very strange. I mean, if they wanted to have a neutral arbitrator, it could have been India. I don't understand why it's Pakistan," he said, adding that the setting undermines his confidence in the talks. He said, "So that's another reason that I'm very distrustful of these talks. It's being held in the wrong place and in many regards on the wrong principles."

Raising concerns over the broader implications of any agreement, he asked, "What is a positive outcome you might equally ask? Is it just to say let's have a form of peace and abandon the Iranian people who rose up and were slaughtered in their thousands? Is that a positive outcome? I don't think so." He further alleged that the negotiations risk legitimizing both Islamabad and Tehran.

He said, "So I've got major questions with this one. And also, you know, just as it legitimizes Pakistan, which shouldn't be legitimized in my view anyway, just as it does that, it also gives Iran credibility which it shouldn't have."

On regional tensions, particularly involving Hezbollah in Lebanon, Vance argued that ongoing hostilities weaken the prospects of a durable agreement.

He said, "When it comes to Lebanon, this is Israel attacking Hezbollah. Hezbollah is basically, as you know, a proxy for Iran. So what this demonstrates to me is that the US was right to attack Iran because Iran has all these global terrorist proxies in Lebanon, in South Yemen, in Gaza, they've got them all over the place. And so I think Israel's right to attack Hezbollah because Hezbollah is a threat to Israel. But now that Iran is saying that that's a precondition, that there can be no attacks."

"The parties are so far apart. And I don't see how a deal's going to happen," he said, adding that any agreement would likely be short-lived. " I don't believe it's going to hold anyway. And that even might be the objective of this," he said.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, Vance stressed that control over the vital shipping route has become a major flashpoint. "The whole world, and I'm sure it's same with you as well, we're all being held ransom over energy costs. And that has to be sorted out, " he said.

He also backed the US administration's dual approach of diplomacy and military pressure under US President Donald Trump. He said, "But I don't think you sort it out by having negotiations. I think you sort it out militarily. And that's what President Trump needs to do."

He added, "What President Trump is doing, he's leveraging maximum pressure on the Iranian regime. They know that the military might of the US is continuing to gather in the region. And therefore, if they walk away from any talks without giving Trump what he wants, then there could be a terrible onslaught against them. So I think Trump is just doing a very good negotiation from his point of view. And obviously, the threat of US military power is significant."

On the geopolitical dimension, Vance suggested the crisis reflects a broader power struggle. "China is also a party we have to watch. China is re-arming Iran as far as I can understand as we speak. So China's re-arming Iran. So in a way, you know, this is China versus America and Iran's just a proxy," he claimed.

As the world watches with bated breath the slippery ceasefire talks, a US aircraft carrying a team for negotiations with Iran has landed in Pakistan's Islamabad, Al Jazeera reported, citing its sources.

The Iranian delegation arrived after midnight, led by Parliament Speaker MB Ghalibaf. The US team comprises lead negotiator Vice President JD Vance with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as per Al Jazeera.

After the ceasefire announcement last week, Iran's Supreme National Security Council said on April 8 that talks could continue for up to 15 days.

- ANI
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held discussions with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, focusing on the evolving security situation in West Asia. Both ministers reviewed the strong bilateral relationship and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Jaishankar highlighted efforts by the Indian government to ensure the safety and welfare of the Indian community in the UAE amid regional tensions. He also acknowledged the contributions of the Indian diaspora and thanked the UAE government for its support.

EAM S Jaishankar meets UAE FM Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, discusses regional security, Indian community welfare, and strengthening strategic ties.

Abu Dhabi, April 12 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Saturday and held wide-ranging discussions on the evolving regional situation in West Asia and its broader implications.

During the meeting, both sides reviewed the strong India-UAE relationship and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

In a post on X, Jaishankar highlighted the significance of the engagement and reiterated confidence in the continued growth of India-UAE ties.

"A real pleasure to meet DPM & FM ABZayed of UAE in Abu Dhabi this evening. Our conversation focused on the evolving regional situation and its implications. Conveyed our deep appreciation for ensuring the well-being of the Indian community in the UAE. Confident that our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will advance further," Jaishankar posted on X.

Jaishankar also began his official engagements in the UAE by interacting with members of the Indian community soon after his arrival in Abu Dhabi.

In another post on X, Jaishankar said, "Started my visit to the UAE, interacting with the members of the Indian Community."

He further noted that discussions with the community centred around the Government of India's ongoing efforts to ensure the safety, welfare and security of Indian nationals residing in the region amid the prevailing tensions in West Asia.

"Spoke about GOI's efforts towards their well - being and security amidst the West Asia conflict," he added.

Jaishankar also acknowledged the contributions of the Indian diaspora in the UAE, appreciating their role in strengthening local society and bilateral people-to-people ties. He further expressed gratitude to the UAE government for its continued support in ensuring the welfare of the large Indian community living there.

The minister also highlighted the role of the diaspora, saying, "Appreciated their contributions to the local society during these difficult times. As well as the support of the Government of the UAE in ensuring the welfare of the Indian community."

The External Affairs Minister is on a two-day official visit to the UAE from April 11-12, during which he is scheduled to meet the leadership of the country to review ongoing cooperation and further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UAE.

- ANI
MELBOURNE, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Earth's glaciers lost about 408 gigatonnes of ice in 2025, contributing roughly 1.1 millimeters to global sea-level rise, an international study reveals.

The World Glacier Monitoring Service study involving an Australian scientist found that 2025 was the sixth-worst year for glacier loss since records began in 1975, according to a recent statement from Australia's Monash University.

"The fact that six of the most extreme loss years have all occurred within the past seven years highlights just how rapidly the system is changing," said Levan Tielidze, Monash University research fellow, co-author of the study.

The past decade has seen a dramatic acceleration in ice loss, with annual losses nearly four times higher than those observed in the late 20th century, said the study published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment.

The results underscore the scale and urgency of ongoing glacier decline, Tielidze said.

Glaciers worldwide have shed nearly 9,600 gigatonnes of ice since 1975, enough to raise sea levels by about 26 millimeters, with almost 80 percent of the loss occurring since 2000, the study showed.

The study reported that all 19 major glacier regions lost mass for the fourth consecutive year in 2025, with the largest losses in Western North America and Central Europe.

"Every fraction of a degree matters; reducing warming will directly reduce future glacier loss and its impacts," Tielidze said. 
The Bharatiya Janata Party has announced its candidates for 28 of the 30 seats in the Junagadh District Panchayat, with a major focus on introducing new leadership. A significant 24 out of the 28 named candidates are first-time entrants, while tickets have been allocated to the spouses of former senior office bearers of the district body. The party states this selection is part of a strategy to strengthen grassroots representation in local governance. Separately, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, addressing elections in Gujarat, urged voters to participate actively to ensure leadership emerges from the community level.

BJP announces 28 candidates for Junagadh District Panchayat, featuring 24 new faces. Tickets go to spouses of former office bearers. Owaisi urges voter participation.

Junagadh, April 11 The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday announced candidates for 28 out of the 30 seats in the Junagadh District Panchayat.

The announcement was made following a meeting of the State Election Committee chaired by Gujarat BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma.

Candidates for the Kalsari seats in Bhesan and Visavadar constituencies are yet to be finalised and will be announced at a later stage.

Asmita Thummar, wife of former District Panchayat President Haresh Thummar, has been given the party ticket for the Mendarda seat.

Similarly, Leenaben Kavani, wife of former Vice President Vipul Kavani, has been fielded from the Sarsai seat.

The decision highlights that tickets have been allotted to the spouses of both former top office bearers of the district body.

Out of the 28 candidates announced so far, four are re-nominations, while the remaining 24 candidates are first-time entrants, marking a significant infusion of new faces in the party's local leadership lineup. The BJP leadership stated that the selection reflects its strategy to strengthen grassroots representation and bring in fresh leadership for local governance bodies.

Earlier, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, while addressing a gathering in Ahmedabad on Gujarat local body elections, urged voters to actively participate in the democratic process.

He said, " I request all of you to exercise your right to vote on April 26th, which is the voting day (for local body polls). Ensure the success of all your party candidates. Remember that unless you ensure the success of your candidates in such local bodies, wards, and municipal elections, your leadership will not emerge from the grassroots. Remember, the reality of India's democracy is that justice will be served only by a society that has a leader. Any society or community that lacks a leader will continue to be oppressed. Their traditional rights will be taken away, and they will be reduced to second-class citizens. Muslims are certainly the largest minority in this country, but our misfortune has been that we have reduced ourselves to mere voters. We should have given ourselves citizenship rights, but we have fallen prey to the deceptive lies of these cunning political parties."

- ANI
The Bharatiya Janata Party is launching a synchronized election campaign across 15 municipal corporations in Gujarat this Sunday under the 'Janseva Sankalp' programme. The campaign begins with candidates collectively taking a pledge of public service, marking the formal start of the party's campaign for the upcoming local body elections. Senior party leaders, including Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and State President Jagdish Vishwakarma, will be deployed across different corporations to lead the events. The elections, covering municipalities and panchayats, are scheduled for April 26, with results to be declared on April 28.

BJP launches synchronized campaign across 15 Gujarat municipal corporations. CM Bhupendra Patel, state chief Jagdish Vishwakarma to lead. Voting on April 26.

Gandhinagar, April 11 The Bharatiya Janata Party will launch a synchronised election campaign across 15 municipal corporations in Gujarat on Sunday, with candidates collectively taking a pledge of public service under the 'Janseva Sankalp' programme, marking the formal start of its campaign for upcoming local body elections.

According to BJP leaders on Saturday, the programme will begin at 9.30 a.m. on Sunday across all 15 municipal corporations simultaneously.

The party said the initiative has been planned after the completion of nomination filing by its candidates on Saturday and is being carried out as per the instructions from the State BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma.

The BJP candidates will collectively take a pledge of public service as part of the campaign launch process.

The party added that senior BJP leaders will be deployed across all municipal corporations in line with the organisational plan.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will participate in the programme in Ahmedabad, while state BJP President Vishwakarma will be present in Rajkot.

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and State BJP General Secretary (Organisation) Ratnakar Pandey will attend the programme in Vadodara.

Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil will be present in Surat, while BJP MP Parshottam Rupala will be in Jamnagar.

Former State BJP President R.C. Faldu will participate in Bhavnagar.

In Vapi, State BJP Scheduled Tribe Morcha President Ganpat Vasava will represent the party, while State Minister Kanu Desai will attend in Navsari.

Former Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama is scheduled to be present in Mehsana.

State BJP General Secretary Aniruddh Dave will attend in Gandhidham, while former Minister Gordhanbhai Zadafia will be present in Anand.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel will attend a programme in Nadiad.

Former BJP MP Ramesh Dhaduk will participate in Porbandar, former Minister I.K. Jadeja will be present in Morbi, and State Minister Jitu Vaghani will attend in Surendranagar.

As per schedule announced by the State Election Commission for the local body elections, voting for the municipal corporations and other local bodies is scheduled to be held on April 26, with polling conducted in a single phase across the state.

The elections will cover 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats, involving lakhs of voters.

The vote counting will take place on April 28, two days after polling, and results will be declared on the same day, completing the electoral process within a short post-poll window.

- IANS
Border Security Force Constable Mithun Mandal was martyred after sustaining a bullet injury during an exchange of fire between Tangkhul Naga and Kuki miscreants in Manipur's Ukhrul district. A solemn wreath-laying ceremony with full force honours was held at Imphal airport, attended by senior officials and around 200 personnel. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh condemned the killing and expressed deep condolences to the constable's family, honouring his supreme sacrifice for the nation. The BSF stated it stands with the bereaved family and reaffirmed its commitment to peace and security in the region.

BSF Constable Mithun Mandal martyred in Ukhrul district firing. CM Singh pays tribute as force honours the soldier with full military rites.

Imphal, April 11 After paying solemn homage to the Border Security Force Constable Mithun Mandal, who was martyred in suspected militant firing while on patrol duty in Manipur's Ukhrul district, his mortal remains were sent to his ancestral home in West Bengal on Saturday.

A BSF spokesperson said that Mandal sustained a bullet injury to his left shoulder while performing Road Opening Party (ROP) duty during an exchange of fire between Tangkhul Naga and Kuki miscreants at Mongkot Chepu village in Ukhrul district.

He was immediately evacuated to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal but succumbed to his injuries and was declared brought dead by attending doctors on Friday night.

"His exemplary courage, dedication and devotion to duty reflect the highest traditions of the BSF," the Spokesperson added.

A wreath-laying ceremony with full force honours was held on Saturday at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport in Imphal to pay tribute to the martyr.

The ceremony, organised by Sector Headquarters BSF Manipur, was attended by around 200 personnel, including senior officers and jawans.

Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, Director General of Police Rajiv Singh, and several other senior officials paid floral tributes.

The force accorded its final respects with full military honours.

The mortal remains were subsequently sent to the martyred soldier's ancestral home in Bhagjan Tola village in West Bengal.

"The BSF stands firmly with the bereaved family in this hour of grief and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and security in the region. The sacrifice of Mithun Mandal will always be remembered with honour, pride and deep gratitude," an official statement said.

Chief Minister Khemchand Singh condemned the killing and expressed condolences to the Constable's family.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister said, "The State stands in deep respect and gratitude for his supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. Such acts of valour and devotion continue to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of our country and will remain a source of inspiration for generations to come. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. Salute to the martyr."

Describing Mandal as a brave soldier, who served the nation with courage, dedication and a deep sense of duty, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh added, "His supreme sacrifice in the line of duty will always be remembered with the highest honour and gratitude. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family and loved ones. May the Almighty grant them strength to endure this irreparable loss."

He also said that the state government stands in solidarity with the bereaved family and remains committed to upholding peace, security and justice in Manipur.

- IANS
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlights India's economic resilience, Lucknow's new defence node status, BrahMos production, and major infrastructure projects.

Lucknow, April 11 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that despite global geopolitical challenges, India remains one of the world's fastest-growing major economies today.

Speaking at an event in Lucknow, he said the vision of building Viksit Bharat@2047 can only be achieved through teamwork.



"Viksit Bharat means a society where citizens respect the responsibility towards each other and follow the principle of 'no one should be left behind' in the development journey," he said, according to a statement on social media. 



He said, as the Defence Minister, I am also greatly pleased to see that Lucknow is making a significant contribution to the Defence sector.



"It is a matter of pride for Lucknow that it has been declared a Defence Node along with Agra and Kanpur," he said.



Now, the BrahMos missile is also being manufactured in Lucknow. And it's a matter of pride that its first batch has already been handed over to our army. Along with this, many small and large factories producing defence equipment are also being established here, he said.



Earlier, speaking at the Annual Celebration of the Jan Kalyan Maha Samiti in Gomti Nagar, he said there was a time when Uttar Pradesh was called a "BIMARU" state, but today it is called "Uttam Pradesh". 



The Defence Minister said that once the state was the stronghold of mafias, but today it is the stronghold of saints and ascetics.



He also pointed towards the all-round development taking place in the state, particularly in Lucknow.



He said that the Lucknow Culture and Art Museum, built at Hussainabad Clock Tower in Lucknow, is a sacred endeavour to keep our future generations connected to their roots.



"Through this museum, you will be able to come face to face with the glorious history of Awadh, the unique craftsmanship here, and the blended culture of this place," said Rajnath Singh.



This museum will not only enhance the pride of Lucknow, but will also, with the increase in tourist crowds here, provide new employment opportunities for shopkeepers and small artisans, said a statement quoting the Union Minister.



He said construction of National Highway Number 927 will take place. It will start in Barabanki, near the Outer Ring Road, and go up to Bahraich. It will be a 101-kilometer-long four-lane route, along with a four-lane service road.



Around Rs 7,000 crore will be spent on this project. Its biggest benefit will be that the current 2.5-hour journey from Barabanki to Bahraich will be reduced to just 1.25 hours, he said.



Around this road, a new corridor for the development of the State Capital Region, that is, the state capital area, will also be created, he said.





- IANS
US Under Secretary Jacob Helberg met Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, emphasizing India's key role in the "Pax Silica" coalition for pro-innovation AI policy. The initiative, which India formally joined in February, aims to secure the entire silicon stack from minerals to AI systems. The discussions also covered broader trade, energy cooperation, and addressing regulatory challenges. Misri's visit included high-level US meetings on defence and regional stability, further solidifying the strategic partnership.

US Under Secretary Jacob Helberg meets India's Vikram Misri, highlighting trade, energy, and securing the AI silicon stack through the Pax Silica coalition.

Washington DC, April 11 US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg expressed pleasure over his meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, highlighting discussions on trade, energy cooperation and advancing pro-innovation policies in artificial intelligence.

In a post on X, Helberg said, "It was a pleasure meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to discuss trade and energy cooperation. India is an important member of Pax Silica, and we look forward to working with them to promote pro-innovation policy frameworks while addressing regulatory challenges and the rapid buildout of secure and trusted AI infrastructure in our countries."

India formally joined Pax Silica on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit on February 20, marking a significant milestone in the strengthening of strategic technology and supply chain cooperation between India and the United States. The signing ceremony brought together senior government leaders from both nations, underscoring a shared commitment to securing the full technology stack that will power the AI-driven global economy.

Pax Silica is envisioned as a strategic coalition of trusted nations committed to securing the "silicon stack", ranging from critical minerals and semiconductor fabrication to advanced artificial intelligence systems and deployment infrastructure. The initiative aims to reduce overconcentration in global supply chains, prevent economic coercion, and ensure that emerging technologies are developed and governed by open and democratic societies.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who was on a three-day visit to Washington, had a "productive" meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was scheduled to visit India the following month.

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 region, while also reviewing key aspects of strategic defence and trade relations between the two countries.

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.

- ANI
A report highlights that while India-Israel relations have moved into the strategic mainstream, their long-term sustainability requires deeper social and cultural engagement. It argues that partnerships are strongest when they extend beyond official circles to include students, professionals, and local communities. The gap between strategic familiarity and social familiarity between the two publics remains a challenge. The future of the relationship will be shaped in everyday spaces where trust and human connection are built.

A report calls for deeper social and cultural exchanges between India and Israel to build a sustainable, long-term strategic partnership beyond government ties.

Tel Aviv/New Delhi, April 11 India and Israel must broaden their social base to build a more resilient, normalised, and forward-looking partnership.

This calls for serious investment in mid-level and everyday engagement among students, professionals, workers, artists, researchers, tourists, and local communities - the social bedrock of a long-term strategic relationship, a report has highlighted.

"For years, India-Israel relations have been defined by the language of strategy: defence, agriculture, intelligence, technology, and trade. That is not wrong. The partnership is real, deep, and increasingly visible. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's February 2026 visit to Israel only reinforced what many already understood: The relationship has moved from the margins to the strategic mainstream," a report in 'The Jerusalem Post' detailed.

The report stressed that for the next phase of India-Israel relations to be sustainable, it must extend beyond government-level ties.

"This matters because strategic partnerships are strongest when they are not confined to elite circles. Official visits, security cooperation, and economic agreements can build momentum, but they do not by themselves create familiarity, trust, or long-term public legitimacy. Those are built elsewhere: in classrooms, workplaces, neighbourhoods, cultural exchanges, and the small, human interactions that make one society more intelligible to another," it mentioned.

According to the report, many Indians continue to view Israel largely through the lens of geopolitics and conflict, while many Israelis admire India often in broad civilisational or touristic terms rather than through "sustained human engagement".

"In both cases, the gap between strategic familiarity and social familiarity remains wider than it should be. That gap matters. Public perceptions shape the political environment in which strategic partnerships operate. They influence how societies interpret crisis, how they react to controversy, and whether bilateral ties are seen as transactional or meaningful," it emphasised.

"This is why everyday encounters matter. A cultural workshop, a student exchange, a shared festival, or a workplace friendship may seem minor compared to defence agreements or state visits. Yet these interactions do something official diplomacy often cannot: They humanise the other side," it further stated.

The report highlighted that although India-Israel ties have deepened considerably over the past decade, their growing maturity brings a new challenge: how to sustain the partnership beyond leaders, crises, and strategic compulsions.

The answer, it said, lies not just in military cooperation or political symbolism, but also in the steady cultivation of social ties.

"The future of India-Israel relations will be shaped not only in defence corridors and diplomatic meetings, but also in kitchens, campuses, workplaces, and digital spaces. That is where familiarity grows, where trust becomes more durable, and where strategic partnership acquires human depth," it concluded.

- IANS
Delhi Capitals won the toss and elected to field first against Chennai Super Kings in Match 18 of IPL 2026 at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium. DC captain Axar Patel cited the good pitch conditions and a preference to chase, while also confirming the debut of pacer Auqib Nabi. CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, whose team is yet to win this season, emphasized the need to capitalize on key moments and welcomed back Dewald Brevis into the side. Both teams made strategic changes to their line-ups for this high-stakes encounter.

Delhi Capitals win toss, opt to bowl against Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026. Get team news, captain quotes, and full playing XIs.

Chennai, April 11 Delhi Capitals won the toss and decided to bowl first against the five-time champions Chennai Super Kings in the 18th match of the ongoing Indian Premier League 2026 season on Saturday.

The Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings highly anticipated clash is being held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

Delhi are coming into this contest after suffering a close one-run defeat against the Gujarat Titans. Chennai, on the other hand, are searching for its first win this season after losing three consecutive matches till now.

After winning the toss, DC skipper Axar Patel said that Jammu and Kashmir pacer Aquib Nabi is making his debut, whereas Ashutosh Sharma is in the Impact Sub list.

"We would like to bowl first because the pitch looks good, and whatever score is set, we would prefer to chase it. The IPL is a long tournament, and the dressing room atmosphere is very relaxed. The discussion has been around focusing on what we can control. Once we reach a certain point, there's no need to overthink things. So that's been the mindset, control what's in our hands," Axar said.

"The mood is good. If you look at the balance of our side, we have almost all bases covered. Obviously, based on the options we had, I think we've picked a very good combination. Compared to last year, the team looks more balanced, and hopefully, we will perform well today. As for the surface, it has been a good batting wicket this season. Over the last couple of years in Chennai, it has played well. It's a red soil pitch, so there should be good bounce. We will aim to restrict them to as low a total as possible and then chase it down. There are two changes. Nabi comes in for Vipraj, and Ashutosh Sharma is in the Impact Sub list," Patel added.

After losing the toss, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad confirmed that Dewald Brevis is coming into the side.

"The pitch does look a bit on the drier side. We were actually 50-50 about the toss, but it's good to back ourselves. The aim is to put our best foot forward today, get that first win and get on the points table. That's what we've been trying over the last couple of games as well. As I mentioned in the press conference, we've been improving in all departments. The batting has been doing really well, it's just a few key moments where we've missed out, and those are the areas we need to capitalise on," Gaikwad said.

"But overall, everyone is in a good space and really eager to go. When you look at the balance of the side, we are definitely playing to our potential. It's great to have Brevis back; he's excited and ready. The middle order looks solid as well. We've also brought in Gurjapneet Singh, who has been bowling well recently, in place of Matt Edwards. For those asking about MS Dhoni, he's at the hotel watching and supporting us. But yes, very soon, you'll see him out on the ground," CSK skipper added.

Both teams playing XIs:

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurjapneet Singh.

Chennai Super Kings (Impact Subs): Matthew Short, Akeal Hosein, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Matt Henry.

Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): KL Rahul (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (capt), Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Auqib Nabi, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar.

Delhi Capitals (Impact Subs): Vipraj Nigam, Ashutosh Sharma, Karun Nair, Dushmantha Chameera, Nitish Rana.

- ANI
Sanju Samson's unbeaten 115 and Ayush Mhatre's 59 propel CSK to 212/2 against DC in IPL 2026. Samson scores his first century in yellow.

Chennai, April 11 Chennai Super Kings produced a dominant batting performance after being put in to bat by Delhi Capitals in their Indian Premier League 2026 clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.

Riding on a memorable unbeaten century from Sanju Samson and a strong supporting knock from Ayush Mhatre, CSK piled up a commanding total of 212/2 in 20 overs, putting Delhi Capitals under immediate pressure in the high-scoring encounter.



After being asked to bat, CSK got off to a confident start with Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad opening the innings. The duo together scored 27/0 after three overs. After the end of the power play, the Super Kings got to 61/0, with Samson playing as an aggressor.



During the second ball of the seventh over, CSK skipper Gaikwad gave Delhi Capitals a much-needed breakthrough through Axar Patel. However, the dismissal did little to slow down CSK's momentum as Sanju Samson took complete control of the innings with a commanding display of strokeplay.



During the ninth over. The right-handed batter Samson completed his half-century in 26 deliveries. After the end of the 10th over, the Super Kings reached 88/1.



Kuldeep Yadav was then smashed for 16 runs as the Super Kings raced to 119/1 after the end of the 12th over. Ayush Mhatre, who was supporting Samson from the other end, completed his well-deserved fifty in 27 balls. It was also Mhatre's third half-century in the cash-rich league.



Samson-Mhatre kept the scoreboard ticking with clean hitting as the Super Kings reached a commanding position at 160/1 after the end of the 15th over. Sanju Samson also completed 400 sixes in T20s and became the fourth Indian to reach it after Rohit (554), Kohli (441), and Suryakumar (442).



During the fifth ball of the 18th over, Samson completed his fourth IPL century and the first in CSK's jersey. The right-handed batter achieved the glorious landmark in 52 deliveries. Samson's hundred was the second by a CSK batter against DC in IPL after Murali Vijay's 113 (58) at the same venue in the 2012 qualifying match.



Mhatre, on the other hand, retired after playing a fantastic knock of 36-ball 59, with three fours and four sixes.



Mhatre provided solid support at the other end, playing a crucial hand in building partnerships during the middle overs before CSK pushed towards a dominant position. The duo ensured that Delhi Capitals' bowling attack, featuring the likes of Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, and Lungi Ngidi, was unable to find sustained control in the middle phase.



Towards the end, Samson remained unbeaten on 115 off 56 deliveries, including 15 fours and four sixes. Shivam Dube stayed not out at 10-ball 20, with two fours and one six as CSK posted a commanding score of 212/2 in 20 overs. For the Delhi Capitals, captain Axar Patel took one wicket.





- ANI
The Governor of Iran's Central Bank, Abdolnasser Hemmati, met with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, focusing on dialogue and regional economic cooperation. This meeting occurred alongside the commencement of historic trilateral ceasefire talks involving the United States, Iran, and Pakistan, described as the highest-level dialogue between Washington and Tehran in decades. The American delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance, who also met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ahead of the negotiations. The high-stakes talks, held under intense security at the Serena Hotel, aim to stabilize a fragile ceasefire, with Iranian officials warning the outcome hinges on the American approach.

Iran's central bank governor meets Pakistan's deputy PM in Islamabad as high-stakes US-Iran-Pakistan ceasefire talks commence in the Pakistani capital.

Islamabad, April 11 The Iranian Governor of the Central Bank, Abdolnasser Hemmati on Saturday met Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on the sidelines of the Islamabad talks, according to the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a post on X, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, Dr. Abdolnasser Hemmati called on Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 today, on the sidelines of the #IslamabadTalks."

According to the ministry, the meeting focused on strengthening dialogue and regional cooperation, with both sides highlighting the importance of peace and stability for economic progress and shared development.

The X post added, "Both sides emphasised the importance of sustained dialogue and noted that peace and stability in the region remain essential for economic cooperation and shared progress."

Meanwhile, trilateral ceasefire talks between the United States, Iran and Pakistan have started in Islamabad, Al Jazeera reported, noting that this is the highest-level talks between Washington and Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Ahead of the talks with the United States, the Iranian negotiating team held a strategic meeting in the Pakistani capital. The delegation, which arrived in Islamabad to participate in high-stakes discussions, fine-tuned its agenda before the formal commencement of the "peace talks" with the US.

Prior to this engagement, US Vice President JD Vance also held a high-level meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to a statement from the White House.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, also met the Pakistani Prime Minister.The Serena Hotel has emerged as the focal point of the diplomatic activity, with both the Iranian and American delegations arriving to participate in talks.

Visuals from outside the luxury hotel showed tight security and a flurry of movement as international representatives convened at the venue.

The American delegation, led by JD Vance, includes Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Shehbaz Sharif had earlier termed the talks as "make or break" negotiations.

Held under intense security, the engagement aims to stabilise a fragile ceasefire and navigate the future of regional security. The ceasefire announcement was made on April 8.

Vice-President of Iran, Mohammad Reza Aref, had suggested earlier that the outcome depends entirely on the American approach.Taking to X, he noted that if the Iranian representatives meet those representing "America First," an agreement beneficial to both sides and the world is probable.

However, he warned that if they face representatives of "Israel First," there will be no deal, stating, "we will inevitably continue our defence even more vigorously than before, and the world will face greater costs."

- ANI
Iran's Foreign Ministry states it is in constant contact with Beirut to ensure ceasefire commitments in Lebanon are upheld, noting violations have occurred. Meanwhile, high-stakes trilateral ceasefire talks between the United States, Iran, and Pakistan have commenced in Islamabad, marking the highest-level dialogue between Washington and Tehran since 1979. The Iranian delegation fine-tuned its agenda in strategic meetings ahead of the formal negotiations, which Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif termed "make or break." Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref warned the outcome depends on whether US representatives prioritize "America First" or "Israel First," threatening a more vigorous defense and greater global costs if no deal is reached.

Iran in constant contact with Lebanon to uphold ceasefire as high-stakes US-Iran negotiations, the highest since 1979, commence in Pakistan.

Tehran, April 11 Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Saturday that Tehran is in constant contact with Beirut to ensure that the ceasefire commitments in Lebanon are upheld, as reported by Iranian media Fars news agency.

According to Fars, Baghaei, speaking from Islamabad where formal US-Iran negotiations are underway to end the ongoing conflict in West Asia, said the Iranian delegation has already engaged with Pakistani officials and clearly conveyed its positions and demands.

Fars further reported that Baghaei noted instances of ceasefire violations on Saturday, underscoring the fragile nature of the situation on ground.

Meanwhile, trilateral ceasefire talks between the United States, Iran and Pakistan have started in Islamabad, Al Jazeera reported, noting that this is the highest-level talks between Washington and Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Ahead of the talks with the United States, the Iranian negotiating team held a strategic meeting in the Pakistani capital. The delegation, which arrived in Islamabad to participate in high-stakes discussions, fine-tuned its agenda before the formal commencement of the "peace talks" with the US.

Prior to this engagement, US Vice President JD Vance also held a high-level meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to a statement from the White House.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, also met the Pakistani Prime Minister.

The Serena Hotel has emerged as the focal point of the diplomatic activity, with both the Iranian and American delegations arriving to participate in talks.

Visuals from outside the luxury hotel showed tight security and a flurry of movement as international representatives convened at the venue.

The American delegation, led by JD Vance includes Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner.

Shehbaz Sharif had earlier termed the talks as "make or break" negotiations.

Held under intense security, the engagement aims to stabilise a fragile ceasefire and navigate the future of regional security. The ceasefire announcement was made on April 8.

Vice-President of Iran, Mohammad Reza Aref, had suggested earlier that the outcome depends entirely on the American approach.Taking to X, he noted that if the Iranian representatives meet those representing "America First," an agreement beneficial to both sides and the world is probable.

However, he warned that if they face representatives of "Israel First," there will be no deal, stating, "we will inevitably continue our defence even more vigorously than before, and the world will face greater costs."

- ANI
COLOMBO, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's state-run fuel importer and distributor Ceylon Petroleum Corporation said on Saturday that owners of petrol-powered vehicles can obtain fuel without the QR code-based quota system from April 11 until April 18.

Corporation chairman D.J. Rajakaruna told a press briefing that the decision was taken in view of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season, when travel demand typically rises across the country.

Sri Lanka began distributing fuel through a mandatory QR code system for vehicles on March 15, as authorities moved to manage reserves amid supply disruptions linked to the tensions in the Middle East. Authorities have since adjusted the system based on demand and availability. 
Iran's representative in India, Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, stated that Iran did not initiate the current regional conflict and is committed to peace and stability. He accused the United States and Israel of not being serious about negotiations and lacking trustworthiness. Concurrently, former US President Donald Trump criticized Iran for using control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz as leverage in negotiations. The situation unfolds amid Iranian parliamentary discussions about potentially charging transit fees for the critical waterway.

Iran's Supreme Leader rep asserts Iran seeks peace, blames US and Israel for regional conflict, as Trump criticizes Iran's Strait of Hormuz leverage.

Moradabad, April 11 Representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India, Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, on Friday said that the United States and Israel are not serious about negotiations, while asserting that "Iran did not start this war" and continues to seek peace and stability in the region.

Speaking to the media, he said, "They (US, Israel) are not serious about negotiations...Iran didn't start this war. Iran does not want more crises, any conflict in the region, because Iran believes that due to the war in this region, especially the Strait of Hormuz, the majority of countries in the world are suffering, a lot of innocent people are getting harmed and suffering from the price of gas, oil and some other goods."

He added that Iran is committed to peace, justice and humanity, and called for global cooperation to prevent further escalation.

"We are looking for peace, justice, and humanity. We hope that all world leaders will come together and put their voices together and prevent the continuation of this war," he said.

He further alleged that it is the nature of Israel as a country "to never fulfil any commitments", but he also said that if the United States of America wants to continue negotiations, "it could do so," but he added, "there is no trust in it."

He added, "This is the nature of this (Israel) country and never fulfil any commitments, but this is under the control of the United States of America. If the United States of America wants to continue negotiations, it could do so. There is no trust in it..."

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Friday 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 its 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 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 post read.

In another post, he also criticised Iran's communication strategy, stating, "The Iranians are better at handling the Fake News Media, and 'Public Relations,' than they are at fighting!"

The remarks come amid renewed discussions over transit regulations in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route.

Earlier, Head of Iran's Parliament National Security Commission, Ibrahim Azizi, had indicated that under a parliamentary proposal, transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz could be payable 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.

- ANI
Iranian and US officials have held two rounds of negotiations in Islamabad, with a third round anticipated shortly. Concurrently, trilateral ceasefire talks involving the US, Iran, and Pakistan have commenced, hosted by Pakistan. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated his delegation will "negotiate bravely" while safeguarding national interests. The discussions mark a significant level of engagement between Washington and Tehran, with parallel high-level meetings also taking place between Iranian, Pakistani, and US officials.

High-level Iran-US negotiations continue in Islamabad with a third round expected. Trilateral ceasefire talks with Pakistan also commence.

Islamabad, April 12 Two rounds of negotiations between Iranian and United States officials have taken place in Islamabad, with a third round expected later on Saturday evening or Sunday, according to Iranian state television, as discussions continue amid ongoing diplomatic engagements.

As reported by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the negotiations remain ongoing, indicating sustained engagement between both sides.

"According to information provided to the state TV correspondent by a person close to the negotiating team, another round of negotiations will likely be held tonight or tomorrow," state broadcaster IRIB reported.

Meanwhile, trilateral ceasefire talks involving the United States, Iran and Pakistan have also commenced in Islamabad, with Pakistan hosting the in-person discussions, a senior White House official said on Saturday. The development marks the highest-level engagement between Washington and Tehran since the Iranian Revolution, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reiterated his commitment to the negotiation process, stating that the Iranian delegation would "negotiate bravely" while prioritising national interests.

In the statement shared via a post on X, President Pezeshkian reaffirmed the government's commitment to its citizens, regardless of the diplomatic developments in Islamabad.

"In any case, our service to the people will not stop for a moment, and whatever the outcome of the negotiations, the government will stand by the people," he wrote, highlighting the administration's focus on domestic stability alongside international diplomacy.

Furthermore, in a post on X, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi reposted a message from the Iranian President, stating that the delegation is "wholeheartedly committed to safeguarding Iran's interests and will negotiate courageously in that regard."

The embassy's statement further emphasised the government's dedication to domestic stability regardless of the diplomatic process, noting, "In any case, our service to the people will not pause for even a moment, and whatever the outcome of the negotiations, the government stands firmly with the people."

In a separate development, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran Abdolnasser Hemmati met Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on the sidelines of the ongoing discussions, according to Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a post on X, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, Dr. Abdolnasser Hemmati, called on Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 today, on the sidelines of the #IslamabadTalks."

According to the ministry, the meeting focused on strengthening dialogue and regional cooperation, with both sides highlighting the importance of peace and stability for economic progress and shared development.

The X post added, "Both sides emphasised the importance of sustained dialogue and noted that peace and stability in the region remain essential for economic cooperation and shared progress."

Additionally, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also met Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad as part of the ongoing diplomatic engagements.

- ANI
Islamabad is hosting critical peace talks between the United States and Iran, aimed at solidifying a recent ceasefire. The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and the US team, including Vice President JD Vance, are meeting under extraordinary security. Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref framed the talks' success as dependent on whether the US side represents an "America First" or "Israel First" approach. With a limited 15-day window for diplomacy, the next 48 hours are seen as pivotal for determining a lasting resolution or a return to conflict.

High-stakes US-Iran peace talks begin in Islamabad under intense security, with global implications for regional ceasefire and stability.

Islamabad, April 11 The Pakistani capital of Islamabad has taken centre stage as it hosts high-stakes peace talks between the United States and Iran on Saturday.

The Iranian and American delegations have both arrived in the city to participate in the discussions, marking a significant moment in regional diplomacy.

The Serena Hotel has emerged as the focal point of the diplomatic activity. Visuals from outside the luxury hotel showed tight security and a flurry of movement as the international delegations convened at the venue where the talks are currently being held.

The arrival of these high-level delegations follows what Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has termed "make or break" negotiations. Held under intense security, the summit aims to stabilise a fragile ceasefire and navigate the future of regional security. On Saturday morning, the Iranian delegation departed their residence for the Prime Minister's Office to commence formal discussions, a meeting that follows a week of global anticipation after the ceasefire announcement on April 8.

Confirming these movements, the Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai stated in a post on X, "The Iranian delegation has departed from their residence en route to the Prime Minister's Office for a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif."

The ideological stakes of these meetings were highlighted by the Vice-President of Iran, Mohammad Reza Aref, who suggested that the outcome depends entirely on the American approach. Taking to X, he noted that if the Iranian representatives meet those representing "America First," an agreement beneficial to both sides and the world is probable. However, he warned that if they face representatives of "Israel First," there will be no deal, stating, "we will inevitably continue our defence even more vigorously than before, and the world will face greater costs."

As the world watches the "slippery" ceasefire talks with bated breath, a US aircraft carrying the negotiation team landed in Islamabad earlier in the day. The level of representation underscores the gravity of the encounter; the US team comprises Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump.

The Iranian team, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, arrived in Islamabad after midnight under unprecedented security. Highlighting the sensitivity of the mission, Al Jazeera reported that when the Iranian aircraft entered Pakistani airspace, it was provided with full-circle protection, including AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) early warning aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft, and fighter jets, which escorted the team to the capital.

According to Iran's Supreme National Security Council, the window for these discussions is limited to 15 days. With the international community looking on, the next 48 hours in Islamabad are expected to determine whether the regional ceasefire evolves into a lasting diplomatic resolution or a return to intensified conflict.

- ANI
The Israeli military reports striking over 200 Hezbollah sites across Lebanon within a 24-hour period. Concurrently, high-level trilateral ceasefire talks involving the United States, Iran, and Pakistan have commenced in Islamabad, marking a significant diplomatic engagement. The Iranian delegation has indicated the ceasefire is part of an agreement with the US and is coordinating with Hezbollah. The outcome is viewed as precarious, with an Iranian official warning that success depends on whether US representatives prioritize American or Israeli interests.

Israeli military targets Hezbollah in Lebanon as high-stakes US-Iran-Pakistan ceasefire talks commence in Islamabad under tight security.

Tel Aviv, April 11 In its latest operational update, the Israeli military has claimed that its forces targeted more than "200 Hezbollah sites" across Lebanon over the past 24 hours.

Sharing the update in a post on X, the Israeli military further stated that its air force would continue to strike "Hezbollah infrastructure" located in southern Lebanon as part of its ongoing military campaign.

Amidst this continued kinetic activity, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Saturday claimed that the ceasefire in Lebanon was part of an agreement in talks with the US, according to the Iranian state media, Press TV.

Press TV also stated that the spokesperson's remarks were confirmed by the Pakistani side. Furthermore, the Iranian delegation is reportedly in touch with Hezbollah to make necessary decisions regarding the situation.

These developments coincide with the commencement of trilateral ceasefire talks between the United States, Iran, and Pakistan in Islamabad. Al Jazeera reported that these represent the highest-level discussions between Washington and Tehran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Ahead of the formal engagement with the United States, the Iranian negotiating team held a strategic meeting in the Pakistani capital. The delegation, which arrived in Islamabad to participate in high-stakes discussions, fine-tuned its agenda before the official start of the "peace talks" with the US.

Prior to this engagement, US Vice President JD Vance held a high-level meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to a statement from the White House. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also met with the Pakistani Prime Minister to discuss the diplomatic roadmap.

The Serena Hotel has emerged as the focal point of this intense diplomatic activity, with both the Iranian and American delegations arriving to participate in the dialogue. Visuals from outside the luxury hotel showed tight security and a flurry of movement as international representatives convened at the venue.

The American delegation, led by JD Vance, includes Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier termed these interactions "make-or-break" negotiations.

Held under stringent security, the engagement aims to stabilise a fragile ceasefire, originally announced on April 8, and navigate the future of regional security.

Reflecting on the potential for success, the Vice-President of Iran, Mohammad Reza Aref, suggested earlier that the outcome depends entirely on the American approach. Taking to X, he noted that if the Iranian representatives meet those representing "America First," an agreement beneficial to both sides and the world is probable.

However, he warned that if they face representatives of "Israel First," there will be no deal, stating, "we will inevitably continue our defence even more vigorously than before, and the world will face greater costs."

- ANI
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has begun an official visit to the UAE, where he immediately engaged with the Indian community, discussing their security and well-being. His meetings with UAE leadership aim to review and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. The visit is part of a broader effort, directed by the Prime Minister, to strengthen India's energy security through Gulf partnerships amid regional tensions. India is also extending energy support to neighbouring countries, including a recent fuel supply to Sri Lanka and a pending agreement with Mauritius.

EAM Jaishankar begins UAE visit, meets Indian community, reviews strategic partnership and energy security amid West Asia tensions.

Abu Dhabi, April 11 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar began his visit to the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, interacting with members of the Indian community soon after arrival.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Started my visit to the UAE interacting with the members of the Indian Community."

Jaishankar said the discussions focused on the Government of India's efforts to ensure the well-being and security of Indian nationals amid the ongoing tensions in West Asia.

He further added, "Spoke about GOI's efforts towards their well - being and security amidst the West Asia conflict."

He also appreciated the contributions of the Indian diaspora in the UAE and thanked the Emirati government for its support in safeguarding their welfare.

The minister also highlighted the role of diaspora, saying, "Appreciated their contributions to the local society during these difficult times. As well as the support of the Government of the UAE in ensuring welfare of the Indian community."

Jaishankar will be in the UAE from April 11-12 as a part of an official visit and will be meeting the leadership of the UAE to review close cooperation and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said that the visits by 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 Sri 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.

- ANI
Legendary danseuse Sonal Mansingh has welcomed the government's move to introduce the Women's Reservation Bill, calling it a significant step to restore women's "natural rights." She rooted her support in India's traditional philosophy, citing the Ardhanarishwar concept and the marital ideal of 'Sahadharmacharini' as reflections of inherent gender balance. Mansingh urged that parliamentary discussions on the bill be conducted in an atmosphere of love and unity, not political conflict. The government has convened a special session from April 16-18 to deliberate on the legislation, which could increase Lok Sabha seats to 816 with 273 reserved for women.

Danseuse Sonal Mansingh welcomes the Women's Reservation Bill, citing India's Ardhanarishwar tradition and urging discussions in love, not conflict.

New Delhi, April 10 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
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath revealed that the BrahMos missile, developed in Lucknow, carried out the inaugural strike of 'Operation Sindoor'. He stated the state is progressing in drone technology through improved coordination to bolster the defence sector. The Chief Minister contrasted India's past defence dependency with its current self-reliant posture. He also participated in a ceremony distributing land ownership certificates to displaced families and inaugurated projects worth 417 crore.

CM Yogi Adityanath highlights Lucknow-developed BrahMos missile's role in Operation Sindoor and outlines UP's advances in drone technology.

Lucknow, April 11 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while addressing the Times Samman-2026 ceremony on Saturday, hailed the pivotal role of the BrahMos missile in 'Operation Sindoor.'

He highlighted that the Brahmos missile, which was developed in Lucknow, executed the very first strike of the operation.

"The BrahMos missile was developed in Lucknow. It executed the very first strike during 'Operation Sindoor', the event left many of the world's major powers visibly trembling," said CM Yogi.

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister declared that the state is working towards the development of drone technology by fostering better coordination and aims to take these initiatives forward.

"We have advanced our efforts in the defence sector; specifically, we are working towards the development of drone technology by fostering better coordination. We will take these new initiatives forward," said CM Yogi.

CM Yogi also hailed the growth of the defence sector in India, asserting that in the past, the country was dependent on other nations, and as a result, the enemies exploited the country's weakness. However, the situation has completely changed.

"In the past, we used to depend on other nations; our enemies exploited our country, and we were perceived as weak, but that will no longer be the case," added CM Yogi.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath participated in the Times Samman-2026 ceremony, held at the Smritika War Memorial in Lucknow. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also attended the event, which was organised to honour military excellence.

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath distributed land ownership certificates to 331 Hindu families displaced from Bangladesh at Lakhimpur Kheri today.

During the visit, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 213 development projects worth Rs 417 crore across Lakhimpur Kheri, Dhaurahra, and Mohammadi.

"The double-engine government is working with full commitment to ensure employment for every hand, rights for every citizen, and respect for every family. Today, I participated in the program organised in Lakhimpur Kheri district for the distribution of transferable/non-transferable land ownership rights certificates to 331 Hindu families displaced from Bangladesh, as well as the inauguration and foundation stone laying of various public welfare projects worth more than 417 crore. Additionally, loan checks were also provided to the beneficiaries of the Chief Minister Youth Entrepreneur Development Campaign (CM-Yuva). This journey of heritage and development will continue relentlessly, without stopping, without faltering, without bending. Heartfelt congratulations and auspicious best wishes to all beneficiaries and residents of the district," CM Yogi.

- ANI
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visited Jagraon in Ludhiana to attend the last rites of victims from the Mathura boat accident, offering condolences to grieving families. The tragic incident resulted in 10 fatalities, with 22 others successfully rescued. A massive search operation involving NDRF, SDRF, PAC, and private divers continues along a 14-km stretch of the Yamuna River. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced ex-gratia financial assistance for the families of the deceased and the injured.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann attended the final rites in Jagraon for Mathura boat accident victims, offering condolences and government support.

Ludhiana, April 11 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday visited Jagraon in Ludhiana to attend the final rites of those who died in the boat accident in Mathura. The Chief Minister met with the grieving family members in Ludhiana to offer his condolences.

CM Mann, in a post on X, said, "Today, by participating in the last rites of those who lost their lives in the Mathura boat accident at Jagroan in Ludhiana, I shared the grief with the affected families."



He further said, "In this hour of sorrow, the Punjab government is committed to providing every possible assistance to the bereaved families. May Waheguru grant abode at His feet to the departed souls and bestow strength upon the families to bear this unbearable sorrow."



SP (Rural) Suresh Chandra Rawat said 10 people died and 22 were rescued, adding that a massive search and rescue operation involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and private divers is still underway.



Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Rawat said that all possible resources were deployed immediately after the incident."...All the teams have been deployed here..... We sent 8 PRB's (emergency response police vehicles/teams), our fire rescue team, and ambulances there. A total of 32 people were rescued, of whom 10 died, and 22 are safe," he said.



Highlighting the scale of the ongoing operation, Rawat said multiple teams continue to search the river stretch, "8 NDRF teams, 5 SDRF teams and 3 PAC teams are deployed. Almost 120 private divers have been deployed, and we have searched the operation area of 14 kms."



Rescue operations continued on Saturday morning near Keshi Ghat in Vrindavan, with officials confirming that search efforts are ongoing across the affected stretch of the Yamuna River.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.





- ANI
Manipur solemnly observed the 176th death anniversary of Maharaj Narasingh, a key figure in the fight for Manipur's sovereignty during the First Anglo-Burmese War. Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh led the tributes, honoring his legacy of courage and resilience. The ceremony at Kangla Fort included a Guard of Honour, a gun salute, and the sounding of the Last Post by the Manipur Rifles. Officials emphasized that his life should inspire current generations to uphold unity and work towards a harmonious state.

Manipur's leaders paid homage to Maharaj Narasingh, the valiant guardian of Manipur's sovereignty, on his 176th death anniversary at Kangla Fort.

Imphal, April 11 Manipur on Saturday paid tribute on the occasion of the 176th death anniversary of Maharaj Narasingh, who led the fight to free Manipur from foreign rule during the First Anglo-Burmese War.

Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, and several other dignitaries paid their heartfelt respects to Maharaj Narasingh on the solemn occasion.

In a post on the social media platform X, Manipur Lok Bhavan said: "The Governor of Manipur pays solemn homage to Maharaja Nara Singh on his death anniversary. A valiant guardian of Manipur's sovereignty, Maharaja Nara Singh stood resolute in times of adversity, embodying courage, resilience, and unwavering devotion to his people."

"As we remember his enduring legacy, may his life inspire us to uphold the values of unity, preserve the spirit of peace, and work collectively towards a stronger and harmonious Manipur," Governor Bhalla added.

Chief Minister Khemchand Singh also paid tribute to Maharaj Narasingh at the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal.

While offering homage at the Samadhi of Maharaj Narasingh, the Chief Minister sought the blessings of the Almighty for peace and harmony in the state.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh recalled that Maharaj Narasingh had visited Cachar (in Assam) during the period of the Seven Years Devastation and united the Manipuri people residing across different regions through his tactful diplomatic efforts.

He also noted that, with British assistance, the Manipur Levy was formed, which later played a crucial role in driving out the Burmese forces, ultimately restoring Manipur's independence.

Delivering his presidential address, Art, Culture and Tourism Minister Khuraijam Loken Singh said, "We are the descendants of our great forefathers, and we must never forget the supreme sacrifices made for Manipur. The future generations should always remember and uphold their courage."

The observance was marked by a Guard of Honour, a gun salute, and the sounding of the Last Post by a contingent of the First Battalion of the Manipur Rifles.

The programme was organised by the Manipur State Archaeology under the Art and Culture Department.

The event was attended by Manipur Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh, Rajya Sabha member Leishemba Sanajaoba, several MLAs, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, the Commissioner to the Chief Minister, and other senior civil and police officials.

The Chief Minister also offered tarpan at Nungjeng Pukhri in Kangla, and paid obeisance to the Shree Shree Govindajee Jalakeli Pala led by Maharajkumari Hemamanjuri.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Mahatma Jyotirao Phule at the Parliament complex, marking the social reformer's birth anniversary. He was joined by President Droupadi Murmu and other political leaders, including Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rahul Gandhi. PM Modi highlighted Phule's lifelong dedication to equality, justice, and education, particularly for women and marginalised communities. This year commences the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of Phule's birth, with his ideals continuing to guide societal progress.

PM Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu paid homage to social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, marking the start of his 200th birth anniversary celebrations.

New Delhi, April 11 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule at the Parliament complex, saying that his ideals continue to inspire and guide generations.

In a post shared on X, the Prime Minister shared his message after offering homage.

"Paid homage to Mahatma Phule in the Parliament complex. May his ideals continue to give strength and hope to countless people," PM Modi wrote on X.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi lauded him for championing the rights of women and the marginalised.

"On the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, paying tributes to a visionary social reformer who dedicated his life to the ideals of equality, justice and education. He was also a pioneer in championing the rights of women and the marginalised. Through his efforts, education became a powerful instrument of empowerment. This year, we mark the start of his 200th birth anniversary celebrations. May his thoughts continue to guide everyone in the pursuit of societal progress," PM Modi wrote on X.

The Prime Minister paid floral tribute to Phule along with President Droupadi Murmu at Prerna Sthal in the Parliament premises.

Among other leaders, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Union Ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and JP Nadda, and former Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh also paid tribute to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule.

Mahatma Jyotirao Phule was a renowned Indian social activist, reformer, and writer from Maharashtra. Born on April 11, 1827, in Satara, Maharashtra, he's best known for his tireless efforts to eradicate the caste system, promote women's education, and empower the oppressed.

He, along with his followers, formed the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth) to attain equal rights for peasants and people from lower castes.

Phule is regarded as an important figure in Maharashtra's social reform movement. He and his wife, Savitribai Phule, were pioneers of women's education in India.

Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation on Independence Day, announced that the 200th birth anniversary of social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule would be commemorated with events aimed at transforming lives.

Emphasising Phule's principles, PM Modi had stated, "In the principles of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, the mantras he gave, lie inspiration for us - priority to the backwards. Giving priority to the poor, we want to scale the heights of transformation, and with transparent strategies, we want to bring forth the backward and poor."

- ANI
NEW DELHI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people were killed and 25 others injured Saturday in a collision between a bus and a pickup van in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, police said.

The accident took place near Gerabari of Katihar district, about 279 km east of Patna, the capital city of Bihar.

Police have registered a case and ordered an investigation into the accident.

Nitin Gadkari, federal minister of road transport and highways, said recently that India records nearly half a million road accidents and 180,000 related fatalities annually. 
BSP President Mayawati paid rich tributes to social reformer Jyotiba Phule on his birth anniversary, hailing him as a pioneer of social justice and education. She emphasized the historic role played by Phule and his wife Savitribai in advancing women's empowerment through education. Mayawati noted that Phule's ideals inspired Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's focus on education as a tool for social transformation. She also criticized the Samajwadi Party government for renaming several districts in Uttar Pradesh that were originally named by her BSP government to honor social icons.

BSP chief Mayawati honors Jyotiba Phule as 'Grandfather of Social Change', highlights his & Savitribai's legacy, and criticizes SP government for renaming districts.

New Delhi, April 11 Bahujan Samaj Party National President, Mayawati, on Saturday paid rich tributes to Jyotiba Phule on his birth anniversary, hailing him as the 'Grandfather of Social Change' and a pioneer of social justice and education.

In a post on social media platform X, Mayawati said she, on behalf of herself and the BSP, offered humble salutations and profound respect to Phule, who was born into the extremely backward sections of the Bahujan Samaj.

"Today, on his birth anniversary, I - on behalf of myself and the BSP - offer my humble salutations and profound tributes to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, renowned across the nation as the 'Grandfather of Social Change,' who was born into the Extremely Backward Classes within the Bahujan Samaj," she said.

She emphasised that Phule, along with his wife Savitribai Phule, played a historic role in advancing women's empowerment through education.

"Especially as pioneers of women's/nari shakti empowerment through education, the names of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule are etched in golden letters on the pages of history. In the words of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule: 'Without knowledge, wisdom is lost; without wisdom, ethics are lost. Without ethics, progress is lost; without progress, wealth is lost. Without wealth, the Shudra becomes despondent and contemptible, and remains enslaved'," she said.

Mayawati also noted that the ideals of Phule inspired Dr B.R. Ambedkar, who later placed strong emphasis on education as a tool for social transformation.

"In other words, all this happened due to the lack of education, and that is why, inspired by them, the most revered Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar later paid special attention to education," she said.

Highlighting Phule's contributions in the 19th century, she said his tireless efforts for the uplift of Dalits and the oppressed ignited a social awakening not only in Pune but across Maharashtra, particularly in the sphere of women's liberation.

"At the same time, in the mid-nineteenth century, due to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule's tireless efforts for the liberation of Dalits and the exploited, a new awakening for social change was ignited not only in Pune alone but across entire Maharashtra, and especially the historic work of women's liberation and empowerment began - a struggle for which no amount of praise or admiration can ever be enough," she said.

The BSP chief further stated that her government in Uttar Pradesh had undertaken several initiatives to honour Phule's legacy, including naming Amroha district as Jyotiba Phule Nagar.

"In memory and honour of such a great man of the most backward/OBC society, my BSP government carried out numerous initiatives here in UP, including designating Amroha as the new Jyotiba Phule Nagar district; however, the SP government changed even its name due to their narrow-minded politics, casteist hatred, and the like," she added.

She added that several other districts such as Kanshiram Nagar, Ramabai Nagar, Bhimnagar, Prabuddha Nagar, and Panchsheel Nagar were also renamed by her government, but their names were later altered by the succeeding regime, which she criticised as "deeply regrettable."

"It is noteworthy that, along with making Kasganj the Kanshiram Nagar district, the BSP government also created new districts named Ramabai Nagar for Kanpur Dehat, Bhimnagar for Sambhal, Prabuddha Nagar for Shamli, and Panchsheel Nagar for Hapur; the SP government retained the districts but changed the names of all of them - this is the utterly lamentable PDA of theirs: their deceitful tactics, character, and true face," she said.

- IANS
A 25-month-old Indian-born cheetah named Gamini has given birth to four healthy cubs in the wild at Kuno National Park, marking the first such wild birth since Project Cheetah began. Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav hailed this as a historic milestone, proving the cheetahs' adaptation to Indian conditions. The birth is a significant boost for the program aiming to restore a cheetah population extinct in India for over 70 years. The cubs are healthy and being monitored, raising hopes for the species' long-term growth.

Four healthy cheetah cubs born in the wild at Kuno National Park, a major success for India's cheetah reintroduction project.

Bhopal, April 11 In a significant achievement for India's cheetah reintroduction programme, a 25-month-old Indian-born female cheetah named Gamini has given birth to four healthy cubs in the wild at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav, described the event as a "Kuno milestone moment" and a proud achievement for the nation. Announcing the news on Saturday, the minister said that this is the first recorded wild birth by an Indian-born female cheetah since the ambitious Project Cheetah was launched in 2022.



Gamini, who has been living freely in the wild for over a year, delivered the four cubs under natural conditions. This marks a significant step towards the project's main goals of ensuring the survival and successful breeding of cheetahs in their new Indian habitat.



Minister Yadav said, "This is a historic moment at Kuno National Park. It reflects the growing adaptation of cheetahs to Indian conditions and stands as a testament to the dedication and tireless efforts of the managers, veterinarians, and field staff at Kuno."



The birth is being seen as a major boost for the cheetah reintroduction programme, which aims to restore a viable population of the big cat in India after it became extinct in the country more than 70 years ago.



Cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa were brought to Kuno National Park starting in 2022. PM Modi had released them into the wilderness. The park in Sheopur district was chosen for its vast grasslands and adequate prey base.



Experts believe this successful breeding in the wild proves that the translocated cheetahs are gradually settling into the Indian ecosystem. It also raises hopes for long-term population growth and natural expansion of the species.



All four cubs are reported to be healthy and are being closely monitored by the park's wildlife team along with their mother.



Conservationists and wildlife lovers across the country have welcomed the development as a positive sign for India's efforts to protect and revive endangered species.



Minister Yadav extended heartiest congratulations to the entire team involved in the project, calling it "a proud moment for the nation." This achievement is expected to strengthen India's global image in wildlife conservation and encourage further efforts to protect Kuno's unique ecosystem.





- IANS
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh credits Shivraj Chouhan for MP's growth, highlights PM-Kisan & farmer welfare at Raisen's Unnat Krishi Mahotsav.

Raisen, April 11 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday praised the Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, saying Madhya Pradesh witnessed significant and sustained development during his long tenure as the Chief Minister.

Addressing the 'Unnat Krishi Mahotsav' in Madhya Pradesh's Raisen, Singh said, "One can gauge how hard Shivraj Singh Chouhan works by the diligence with which he answers questions in the Parliament. Even though he (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) is now in Delhi, his heart remains in Madhya Pradesh."



He noted that Union Minister Chouhan, who served multiple terms as the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister for more than a decade, played a key role in strengthening the state's agricultural base and rural economy.



He also lauded current Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, saying that he has not only carried forward earlier initiatives but also introduced new ones to accelerate development.



Rajnath Singh described Madhya Pradesh as a "sacred land" known for its rich culture and warmth, adding that the state has undergone major transformation under Bharatiya Janata Party's governance.



Highlighting farmer-centric policies, Defence Minister Singh said schemes like PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi and crop insurance have provided crucial financial support.



"Every year Rs 6,000 is directly deposited into farmers' accounts. This is not a gift but the rightful reward for their hard work," he said, adding that direct benefit transfer has eliminated middlemen and ensured transparency.



He also pointed to improvements in rural infrastructure, noting that better roads, electricity and irrigation have made farming more efficient.



"Earlier, roads were unpaved and trucks could not reach villages. Now, connectivity has improved significantly," Rajnath Singh said.



The Defence Minister also noted that digital platforms are empowering farmers to access better markets, while soil health cards and insurance schemes are helping reduce risks and enhance productivity.



Stressing the broader economic role of agriculture, Rajnath Singh said, "A farmer drives the economy of the entire nation. Whether it is agriculture, industry or services, the roots of every sector are connected to farming", urging youth to explore modern agriculture.



He also highlighted a new initiative under the Defence Ministry where fruits, vegetables and foodgrains are being procured from farmers living near cantonment areas.



"The organic produce cultivated by farmers will now reach directly to the plates of our soldiers, ensuring freshness while boosting farmers' income," Rajnath Singh said.



Striking a personal note, he added, "I have come here today not just as a Defence Minister, but as a farmer. The farmer within me has always remained alive."



The three-day Krishi Mahotsav, being held from April 11 to 13, has emerged as a major platform bringing together farmers, scientists, agri-startups and policymakers.



More than 300 stalls have been set up, showcasing innovations in agriculture, horticulture, irrigation, farm mechanisation, animal husbandry and rural development.



The exhibition venue has been divided into multiple hangars, featuring agricultural machinery and innovation, dairy and cooperative sectors, and dedicated spaces for technical sessions and cultural programmes.



On the eve of the event, Union Minister Chouhan inaugurated the agricultural exhibition and reviewed the stalls, underlining the Centre's focus on promoting advanced farming technologies and knowledge-sharing.



The event aims to create a roadmap for future-ready agriculture by bridging the gap between research and field-level implementation, while encouraging farmers to adopt modern, sustainable and technology-driven practice.





- IANS
The 13th International Nepal Tattoo Convention in Lalitpur has drawn over 250 artists from approximately 25 countries. The event showcases a fusion of traditional designs featuring deities like Ganesh and Hanuman with contemporary artistic concepts. Organizers highlight its role as a major platform for cultural exchange, elevating the skills of local Nepali artists on the global stage. The convention also reflects the evolution of Nepal's ancient tattoo traditions, practiced by communities like the Newa and Tharu, into modern aesthetic expressions.

Over 250 artists from 25 countries gather in Lalitpur for Nepal's 13th International Tattoo Convention, blending traditional deities with modern designs.

Lalitpur, April 12 The sound of buzzing tattoo machines filled the air at every stall as artists worked on intricate designs blending traditional deities with modern artistic concepts at the 13th International Nepal Tattoo Convention, which continues to celebrate body art and global tattoo culture in Lalitpur.

The ongoing convention has brought together over 250 tattoo artists from around 25 countries, showcasing a diverse mix of styles, techniques and cultural influences. The event, which began on Friday, features artists inking a wide range of designs, including Hindu deities such as Ganesh, Hanuman, Lord Buddha, the Living Goddess Kumari, as well as contemporary and abstract concepts that fuse tradition with modern aesthetics.

Organisers said the event has become a major global platform for cultural exchange in tattoo artistry.

"We have around 250 tattoo artists from all around the world, about 25 countries, out of which we think it is around sixty per cent international and forty per cent national. Countries from Colombia, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, China, Taiwan, there are about 25 countries, of course, from India and Nepal," Bijay Shrestha, Director at the International Nepal Tattoo Convention being held in Lalitpur, told ANI.

Organised annually by Nepal Tattoo, the convention also features competitions among the exhibitors on a daily basis. Artists are assigned to their respective stalls to paint tattoos on the bodies of customers, following certain measurements and utilising permitted ink.

The competition broadens its scope with "Ornamental, Tribal, and Dot Tattoo," welcoming entries of any size and colour. This competition not only promises to be a feast for the eyes but also a testament to the artists' creativity and skill under pressure.

"The whole point of doing this is to teach and show our national artists, because back then, it was not easy for them to travel to other conventions. So what we did was to have a convention here where we could bring artists from all around the world--different styles, techniques, and approaches to the tattoo world and art. Also, for them (international artists) to see what Nepal is all about, our rich culture and arts. It's a kind of exchange between the two sections, and that's how we have been doing it. In the past fifteen years, the quality of our artists has gone really high. Artists now travel to different conventions, countries, and they have guest spots around the world," Shrestha added.

Tattoo culture in Nepal is one of the oldest traditions practised widely by Newa, Tharu, Gurungs, and Magar, the aboriginals of the Himalayan nation. As per the younger generation, traditional tattoos lacked precise details, linking them more to communities and spiritual beliefs, but modern tattoo designs focus more on aesthetics.

Being driven by aesthetic values, younger generations are now making a fusion of traditional beliefs with modern designs to ink on various parts of their bodies. In the Kathmandu Valley, tattoos in earlier days were mostly done during Jatras (festivals) and Melas (carnivals) like Rato Machindra Jatra and Indra Jatra. Kathmandu's Tebahal and Bhaktapur's Thimi were famous for tattoo art, which is called "Lha: Chyogu" in the Nepali Bhasha or the Newa: language.

'Lha' in Newa: means 'flesh' and 'chyogu' means 'writing'; tattoos on the legs of Newari women symbolise their strength, and a belief follows that a person takes nothing but the tattoos on his or her body after death. On the way to heaven, if one faces hardships, he or she can sell the tattoos and thus make the journey more comfortable.

Earlier, coal and milk were mixed with plants to produce colours for the ink used to design tattoos. Now, inks are widely used, poured into machines, and then run over the sketched areas of the body.

"It's really nice to be in a sense of community and getting to meet all the local artists and connect. It creates a nice community here and it runs for the art of creativity and hanging out, which is awesome. There is no feeling of too much pressure, not many expectations--go with the flow of the Nepali people and get connected," Jaya, a tattoo artist based in Australia, told ANI.

In Nepal, the trend of cultural tattooing has evolved and taken different forms. Nowadays, getting a tattoo is a way a person expresses themselves through art, words, or symbols. Nepal is now known as one of the best destinations for getting inked. Many Nepalese artists have gained international recognition for their artistic work and creativity. Nepal is a very affordable and special place for getting inked.

However, the ongoing tension in the Middle East has had a ripple effect on this year's convention. As per the director of the convention, Bijay Shrestha, many artists are now absent.

"The last-minute cancellations because of the ban on flight routes meant people had to take different routes; even I had to take a different route. Many of my friends couldn't come because flight tickets are expensive and cancellations occurred. It has affected us--not in a big way, but it has. I miss some of my close friends who had been coming with us for the past ten years; they couldn't come because they couldn't fly," Shrestha told ANI.

- ANI
A high-stakes US delegation has landed in Islamabad for direct negotiations with Iran, following a fragile ceasefire announcement. The talks, described by Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif as "make or break," center on Iran's 10-point plan and a US 15-point counter-proposal, with key issues being control of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's uranium enrichment. The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, was received under heavy security by Pakistan's top military and civilian officials. Confusion persists over the exact terms, particularly Iran's right to enrich uranium, as both sides present differing versions of the peace documents.

US and Iranian delegations meet in Islamabad for critical talks on a ceasefire, the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran's nuclear program. Details on the 10-point plan.

Islamabad, April 11 As the world watches with bated breath the slippery ceasefire talks, a US aircraft carrying a team for negotiations with Iran has landed in Pakistan's Islamabad, Al Jazeera reported, citing its sources.

The Iranian delegation arrived after midnight, led by Parliament Speaker MB Ghalibaf. The US team comprises lead negotiator Vice President JD Vance with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as per Al Jazeera.

After the ceasefire announcement last week, Iran's Supreme National Security Council said on April 8 that talks could continue for up to 15 days.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the talks between the US and Iran as "make or break," Al Jazeera reported.

When the Iranian team's aircraft entered Pakistani airspace, it was provided with a full circle of protection that included AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) early warning aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft, as well as fighter jets, which escorted the Iranian team to Islamabad.

"Iran's negotiating team led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf arrives in Islamabad. Accompanying Qalibaf are Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Defense Council Secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Central Bank Chief Abdolnaser Hemmati, and several lawmakers," Iran's Embassy in India said in a post on X.

They were received by the Chief of the Defence Forces, Asim Munir, the Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and the Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Al Jazeera reported.

The roads leading up to Islamabad's red zone, home to Parliament, key Government installations, luxury hotels, embassies and the offices of foreign organisations, remained barricaded, as the Pakistani capital is ready to host the US and Iran for peace talks.

The bone of contention between the two parties is a 10-point plan by Iran, which serves as the basis of peace talks. The US wants to make a deal and keep the Strait of Hormuz open and stop Iran from continuing to enrich uranium.

Trump has called the plan "workable", after Iran called a 15-point peace proposal sent by the US as "maximalist".

"Iran's 10-point conditions that the US has accepted as 'workable': The US is fundamentally committed to: Non-aggression; Continuation of Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz; Acceptance of enrichment; Lifting all primary sanctions; Lifting all secondary sanctions; Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions; Termination of all IAEA Board of Governors resolutions; Payment of compensation to Iran; Withdrawal of US combat forces from the region; Cessation of war on all fronts, including against the heroic Islamic Resistance of Lebanon," Iran in India posted on X.

Hours after the ceasefire, US officials, along with President Trump, offered mixed responses to Iran's proposal and what Washington understood the key points of the document to be. Vance dismissed the publicised version as little more than a "random yahoo in Iran submitting it to public access television", as quoted by Al Jazeera.

The US had floated a 15-point plan aimed at thawing the ice between the longtime foes. "Iran commits to never developing nuclear weapons; Iran must also no longer enrich uranium within the country, and hand over its stockpile of already enriched uranium to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," Al Jazeera quoted elements of the plan reported by the media.

"Tehran would also commit to allowing the IAEA to monitor all elements of the country's remaining nuclear infrastructure; Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz; Ending Iran's support for regional proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen," the points further said.

"A removal of all sanctions imposed on Iran, alongside the ending of the United Nations mechanism that allows sanctions to be reimposed; Limits on the range and number of Iran's missiles," the US-floated peace plan said.

The confusion occurred as the Persian version of the plan notably diverges from the English one on a key point of Tehran's right to enrich uranium.

Trump had cleared the air later on what the officials would be discussing.

He said, "There is only one group of meaningful 'POINTS' that are acceptable to the United States, and we will be discussing them behind closed doors during these Negotiations."

Amid the talks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said that although Israel welcomed the ceasefire, the attacks on Lebanon would not stop, and they would continue their mission of dismantling Hezbollah.

Earlier in the day, Al Jazeera reported that an Israeli air strike targeting a residential building in the town of Mayfadoun in the Nabatieh district of southern Lebanon killed three people and destroyed the residential building.

- ANI
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met an Iranian delegation in Islamabad ahead of critical "make or break" peace talks between Iran and the United States. The Iranian team, led by Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, is fine-tuning its agenda before formal negotiations with a US delegation featuring Vice President JD Vance. Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref framed the outcome as dependent on whether the US team represents an "America First" or "Israel First" stance. With a limited 15-day window and unprecedented security, the next 48 hours in Islamabad are poised to determine the future of the regional ceasefire and security landscape.

Pakistan mediates high-stakes talks between Iran and the US in Islamabad. Will the fragile ceasefire lead to lasting peace or renewed conflict?

Islamabad, April 11 Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a high-level meeting with the Iranian delegation as part of the "Islamabad Talks" today, amid ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Pakistani capital.

In a statement shared via the Prime Minister's Office on X, it was confirmed that the Iranian side was led by the "Honorable Speaker of the Iranian Consultative Assembly, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, assisted by Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Abbas Araghchi."

Appreciating Iran's engagement in the ongoing discussions, the Prime Minister affirmed, "Pakistan's sincere resolve to continue playing its role as a mediator to help build momentum towards achieving meaningful results in the interest of regional and global peace and stability."

The high-stakes meeting was attended by senior Pakistani officials, including Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of the Defence Forces Asim Munir, and Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi.

Ahead of the highly anticipated diplomatic engagement with the United States, the Iranian negotiating team is currently conducting a strategic meeting in the Pakistani capital.

The delegation is fine-tuning its agenda before the formal commencement of the "peace talks with the US," which are taking place as Islamabad takes centre stage for the high-stakes discussions between Washington and Tehran this Saturday.

Prior to this engagement, US Vice President JD Vance had already held a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

This dialogue, confirmed by Al Jazeera, forms a vital component of the broader diplomatic activity centred at the Serena Hotel. Visuals from outside the luxury hotel showed tight security and a flurry of movement as the American delegation, featuring Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, convened at the venue.

The arrival of these high-level officials follows what Prime Minister Sharif has termed "make or break" negotiations.

Held under intense security, the engagement aims to stabilise a fragile ceasefire and navigate the future of regional security.

Following a week of global anticipation after the ceasefire announcement on April 8, the Iranian delegation departed their residence for the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday morning to commence formal discussions, as confirmed by the Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai.

The ideological stakes were highlighted by the Vice-President of Iran, Mohammad Reza Aref, who suggested the outcome depends entirely on the American approach.

Taking to X, he noted that if the Iranian representatives meet those representing "America First," an agreement is probable; however, if they face representatives of "Israel First," he warned there will be no deal, stating, "we will inevitably continue our defence even more vigorously than before, and the world will face greater costs."

As the world watches the "slippery" ceasefire talks with bated breath, the US team landed in Islamabad earlier in the day, while the Iranian team, led by Ghalibaf, arrived after midnight under unprecedented security.

Al Jazeera reported that the Iranian aircraft was provided with full-circle protection, including AWACS early warning aircraft and fighter jets, upon entering Pakistani airspace.

According to Iran's Supreme National Security Council, the window for these discussions is limited to 15 days.

With the international community looking on, the next 48 hours in Islamabad are expected to determine whether the regional ceasefire evolves into a lasting diplomatic resolution or a return to intensified conflict.

- ANI
India has dispatched a second consignment of medical supplies to Iran's Red Crescent Society, funded by voluntary contributions from the Indian public. Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Fathali expressed deep gratitude, stating the aid reflects India's solidarity and that its people are reliable partners in difficult times. The Iranian Embassy in New Delhi has subsequently deactivated the bank accounts it had set up to receive public donations, thanking people for their "commendable" support. This exchange underscores the growing humanitarian cooperation between the two nations amid ongoing regional challenges.

Iran's ambassador thanks India for reliable partnership as second consignment of medical supplies, funded by public donations, is dispatched.

New Delhi, April 11 The second consignment of medical supplies donated by the people of India has been dispatched on Saturday to the Red Crescent Society of the Iran, reaffirming growing humanitarian cooperation between the two nations during the ongoing conflict.

According to Iranian ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, the aid shipment was facilitated by the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi using " voluntary contributions of the people of India to purchase medicine." The initiative according to him reflected India's," sympathy and solidarity with the people and the government of Islamic Republic of Iran in these difficult times."

Fathali, expressed deep appreciation for the gesture, highlighting the compassion shown by Indians in times of crisis.

He said," I consider it my duty to sincere gratitude to the people and the government of India for their sympathy and solidarity with the people and the government of Islamic Republic of Iran in these difficult times."

He added that the embassy utilized voluntary contributions to procure medicines. "The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Delhi had utilized from the voluntary contributions of the people of India to purchase medicine and you can see the part of this efforts. And I want to say that the people of India demonstrated that they are reliable and compassionate partners in the difficult times and the times of hardship," the ambassador noted.

Fathali also thanked the Government of India for facilitating "all the necessary arrangements"

Earlier on Friday, the Iranian Embassy in India 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."

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 on 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.

- ANI
Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has lauded the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery as a monumental testament to India's push for energy self-sufficiency under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. The massive greenfield complex in Balotra features staggering construction scales, using materials equivalent to multiple global landmarks. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the refinery on April 21, marking a major milestone. The project's advancement is particularly significant amid global trade disruptions affecting key oil shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz.

Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri hails the massive HPCL Rajasthan Refinery, a key project for India's energy self-sufficiency, to be inaugurated by PM Modi.

New Delhi, April 11 The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India, Hardeep Singh Puri, on Saturday praised Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited's Rajasthan Refinery Limited and said it is a testament to India's unwavering commitment to achieving energy self-sufficiency, led by the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited is a towering example of India's undaunted efforts towards achieving Energy Aatmanirbharta under the decisive leadership of PM Sh @narendramodi Ji," said Hardeep Singh Puri on X.

Located in Balotra, Rajasthan, this greenfield refinery-cum-petrochemical complex is a behemoth of modern engineering, with a capacity to process 9 million metric tonnes of crude oil per annum, Puri said. The sheer scale of this project is staggering - over 15 million cubic meters of earth excavated, equivalent to six times the volume required to build the Pyramids of Giza. As Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted, "These figures define the scale and magnitude of this iconic Jewel of the Desert."

The refinery's infrastructure is equally impressive, with 1.6 million cubic meters of concrete used, which is five times more than what was used in the Burj Khalifa. Additionally, 300,000 metric tonnes of steel were deployed, equivalent to forty times the weight of the Eiffel Tower. The 28,000 kilometres of cable laid is enough to wrap around the Earth twice, while the 125-meter-high Coke Dome installed is three times bigger than the iconic Gol Gumbaz.

Prime Minister Modi is set to inaugurate the refinery on April 21, marking a significant milestone in India's pursuit of energy self-sufficiency. With its state-of-the-art technology and energy-efficient systems, the refinery is poised to become a game-changer in India's energy landscape.

This comes amid the escalation of tensions in West Asia since late February that has disrupted trade channels globally, affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint that handles around one-fifth of global seaborne oil trade, along with significant volumes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced financial assistance from the PM's National Relief Fund for the victims of a tragic road accident in Bihar's Katihar district. The accident, involving a bus and a pickup vehicle, resulted in at least ten fatalities and around 25 injuries. President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan also expressed their profound grief and condolences over the incident. Rescue operations were promptly launched, and the injured are receiving medical treatment.

PM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for families of deceased, Rs 50k for injured in Katihar road accident. President Murmu, VP Radhakrishnan express condolences.

New Delhi, April 12 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic road accident in Katihar district of Bihar and announced ex-gratia assistance for the victims' families from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.

The Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the accident.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote, "The mishap in Katihar, Bihar, is extremely painful. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM."

Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu expressed condolences over the incident and prayed for the swift recovery of those injured.

In a post on X, the President wrote, "The news of the deaths of people in a road accident in Katihar, Bihar, is extremely heartbreaking. I express my condolences to the bereaved families and pray that all the injured persons recover swiftly."

Vice President C P Radhakrishnan also expressed grief over the loss of lives and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families.

In a post on X, he said he was deeply saddened by the tragic road accident in Katihar district of Bihar and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

"Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in a tragic road accident in Katihar district, Bihar. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," the Vice President wrote.

According to police, at least ten people have lost their lives and nearly 25 others sustained injuries in a major road accident involving a bus and a pickup vehicle in Katihar district on Saturday.

The collision took place near Gerabari under the jurisdiction of the Korha Police Station, following which rescue operations were launched by local authorities and police personnel.

Katihar police said, "Today, on April 11, 2026, a horrific road accident occurred near Gerabari within the jurisdiction of the Korha Police Station in Katihar District involving a bus and a pickup vehicle. 10 individuals have lost their lives in this incident so far. Approximately 25 individuals injured in the accident are being transferred to nearby hospitals for advanced medical care following the administration of first aid..."

Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad also expressed condolences and urged people to follow traffic rules, calling for caution to prevent such incidents in the future.

"Reports are coming in of several people losing their lives in a road accident on NH 31 at Basgathha Chowk in the Kodha block of Katihar. I extend my condolences to the affected families. I am in contact with the local administration. I urge everyone to strictly follow traffic rules. Needless haste can be harmful."

- ANI
PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi shared a rare, brief cordial exchange in Parliament, inquiring about Sonia Gandhi's health, despite ongoing political tensions.

New Delhi, April 11 It was a brief, cordial exchange unlike those been witnessed when the House is in session as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met in Parliament complex on Saturday.

A visual, viral online, showed the leaders sharing a candid moment at an event to pay tribute to social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule on his 200th birth anniversary. It marked one of the few direct encounters between the two leaders.



According to people present nearby, the interaction lasted approximately five minutes and appeared amicable despite the escalating political tensions that have characterised the ongoing Budget Session. One such witness termed the exchange as "genuine gesture" where they greeted each other respectfully and shared a short conversation.



Another source added that the Prime Minister asked the Congress leader about the health of his mother, Sonia Gandhi, who was hospitalised recently following complaints of vomiting and nausea. It was learnt that Rahul Gandhi answered that her health is improving, to which the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction and extended his best wishes.



Incidentally, Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on March 24 and was discharged seven days later after recovering from a systemic infection.



Saturday's meeting comes at a politically sensitive time. The Budget Session was marked by frequent disruptions, with Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned multiple times due to heated exchanges between the ruling and Opposition benches.



Just last month, tensions peaked when PM Modi skipped a crucial Lok Sabha session after Rahul Gandhi allegedly ignored multiple rulings from the Speaker.



Rahul has been constantly in the news during the session with his aggressive oratory and various contentious statements and gestures. On one occasion, he called former Congress leader, now Minister of State in the government, Ravneet Singh Bittu, a "traitor".



He has also been seen sipping tea, sitting on Parliament's Makar Dwar staircase, which earned criticisms from the treasury benches. Rahul has been frequently spearheading demonstrations at the Makar Dwar.



The Prime Minister too had criticised Gandhi for calling Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu a "traitor," calling it an insult to the Sikh community.



The atmosphere in Parliament has been particularly charged recently. On February 4, the Lok Sabha collapsed into chaos amid sharp political clashes over government policies.



His official meetings, too, did not go well, like in December last year, when he had submitted written objections to all proposed appointments at the Information Commission, citing lack of representation from Dalit, Adivasi, OBC, and minority communities, and demanded caste-wise applicant data.



The meeting was held at the Prime Minister's residence, where Home Minister Amit Shah was also present, and extended far beyond the expected duration, which covered eight Information Commissioner posts plus one Vigilance Commissioner position.



Major policy disagreements have also erupted, particularly over the SIR exercise, vote allocation claims in Haryana and Bihar, and the handling of the Manipur violence.



On Saturday, among those present in the visual during the short exchange were Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers J. P. Nadda and Arjun Ram Meghwal, who also paid tributes to the celebrated social reformer.





- IANS
PARIS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron called for a "strong, lasting" diplomatic solution in the Middle East during a telephone conversation on Saturday with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The two leaders discussed the regional situation to call for "adherence to the ceasefire and its implementation in Lebanon, for the preservation of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," Macron said on X. They also "emphasized the necessity of a strong, lasting diplomatic solution."

The Strait is a vital global shipping corridor that typically handles about one-fifth of the world's oil flows. However, after the Iran war erupted on Feb. 28 following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, traffic through the waterway was effectively halted, sending energy prices sharply higher and disrupting the global economy.

A two-week ceasefire was announced on Wednesday, as U.S. and Iranian negotiators arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, for peace talks.

France is currently "in contact with some fifteen countries to work on the operationalization" of an international mission intended to facilitate the resumption of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said Thursday.

The proposed mission model would involve "a military escort for commercial vessels, in a strictly defensive posture and in coordination with the parties, including Iran and Oman," Confavreux said.

According to shipping data and experts' observations, vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz remain limited following the ceasefire, as Iran continues to maintain firm control over the strategic waterway. 
Actress Pooja Hegde calls the 'Jana Nayagan' online leak disheartening, appeals to fans to watch Vijay's final film in theatres and not encourage piracy.

Chennai, April 11 Hours after reports claimed that Jana Nayagan was leaked online, actress Pooja Hegde joined several stars from the Telugu and Tamil film industries in speaking out against piracy.

Pooja, who plays the female lead in the film, shared her disappointment and urged fans to wait for the official release and watch the film in theatres.



Taking to Instagram Stories on Saturday, the actress spoke about the hard work, sacrifices, and effort that go into making a film. Calling the leak "disheartening" for the entire team, she wrote, "My lovely audience. A film is the result of countless hours, creative risks, personal sacrifices, and a team that showed up every single day hoping to give you the best experience possible. Seeing our film leaked online is disheartening, not just for me, but for every single person who worked on it."



Hegde further added that piracy takes away the "respect" every artist and technician deserves. She also appealed to audiences to celebrate Vijay's final film in the right way on the big screen.



"To see it being leaked and shared illegally is tough, not because of numbers, but because it takes away the respect that every artist and technician on the film deserves. Plus, don't we all deserve to gather together to celebrate and watch Vijay sir's last film, one last time, on the big screen in the right way? So let's watch it the right way. Let's wait. It will be out in due time. Let's not encourage piracy. That's how cinema and art will survive. Love, Art. Artists. Technicians."



Take a look



Earlier, the makers of the film, KVN Productions, had also issued a statement asking people not to share or watch the leaked material.



The production house said that parts of the movie, and in some cases almost the entire film, had been illegally circulated on social media and other online platforms. Calling it a serious case of digital piracy, the team said strict action was being taken.



Jana Nayagan, which is said to be Vijay's final film before his full-time political journey, has already faced delays due to certification issues. The film was earlier expected to release during Pongal on January 9.





- ANI
UAE Minister of State Shakhboot bin Nahyan addressed the Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius, strongly condemning Iran's threats to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as acts of economic warfare and piracy. He emphasized the strait's critical role, with 25% of global natural gas and 20% of global oil transiting through it, making its security vital for global economic stability. The minister called for Iran to be held fully accountable for its actions and stated the UAE is seeking clarity on the terms of a US-Iran ceasefire announcement. He concluded by urging the international community to unite to ensure freedom of navigation and uphold international maritime law.

UAE Minister Shakhboot bin Nahyan calls for holding Iran accountable for disrupting navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global trade artery.

Port Louis, April 12 Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, participated in the ninth Indian Ocean Conference, which was held in the Republic of Mauritius under the theme 'Collective Stewardship for Indian Ocean Governance'.

The participation underscored the UAE's commitment to strengthening its active role in safeguarding international maritime navigation, in light of the challenges facing the region and their wider implications.

In his remarks, Shakhboot reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to strengthening cooperation through regional and multilateral platforms, and to working with partners across the region to support open and resilient trade routes. Shakhboot emphasised that this would help ensure the Indian Ocean, and all international waterways, remain a pillar of stability, connectivity, and shared economic prosperity.

In this regard, Shakhboot stressed that using maritime routes as a tool of economic coercion or blackmail constitutes economic warfare, piracy, and unacceptable behavior that extends beyond the region to threaten the stability of the global economy and supply chains. Iran's disruption of, and threats to, navigation in the Strait of Hormuz underscore that confronting such actions is no longer optional, but a collective necessity.

Shakhboot said: "Therefore, Iran must be held fully accountable for disrupting navigation in the Strait of Hormuz during its unprovoked terrorist attacks on the GCC states and other nations - attacks that targeted civilians and infrastructure and threatened international maritime routes. Such actions constitute a blatant violation of international law and cannot be justified or tolerated."

Shakhboot affirmed that the UAE is closely following US President Donald Trump's announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, as a step toward a longer-term peace agreement. Accordingly, the UAE is seeking further clarity on the terms of the agreement to ensure Iran's full commitment to immediately halting all hostile acts in the region and fully and unconditionally reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Shakhboot added, "The Strait is one of the world's strategic passages, through which various types of goods and essential commodities pass. Approximately 25% of global natural gas and 20% of global oil transit through it, while 70% of the world's petrochemical needs and 33% of global fertilisers are supplied from the Gulf. Any threat to the Strait directly jeopardises global food security. Therefore, holding Iran fully accountable for any disruption to critical waterways is not merely a political stance, but a commitment to upholding international law and safeguarding global trade."

Shakhboot stressed that this Strait, and the freedom of navigation within it on which the global economy depends, constitutes a shared asset of the international community that no country can monopolise or jeopardise. Freedom of navigation through international straits is a right guaranteed under international law, and no country should be permitted to undermine the interests of others or hold the global economy hostage. Any disruption to maritime traffic in the Strait leads to long-term consequences for global markets, economic stability, and the cost of living. The international community must therefore unite to ensure the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Shakhboot also emphasised the UAE's commitment to enhancing the efficiency and resilience of critical global waterways through investments in maritime and logistics infrastructure, thereby supporting global supply chains and trade. Shakhboot further stressed that these investments reflect the UAE's commitment not only to national preparedness, but also to ensuring the continuity of global supply chains.

In conclusion, Shakhboot called on the international community to uphold freedom of navigation in accordance with international maritime law, affirming that security and effective governance are essential to economic opportunities in the Indian Ocean region.

During his visit, Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan met with Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance cooperation across various sectors to achieve the interests of both countries under their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

The meeting also addressed regional and international developments, particularly following Iran's unprovoked attacks on the UAE and other countries in the region.

- ANI
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has taken oath as a Rajya Sabha member, prompting the shifting of goods from his official residence. He resigned from the Bihar Legislative Council following his election to the Upper House in March. BJP president Nitin Nabin has stated there are no differences within the NDA regarding the pending appointment of a new Chief Minister for Bihar. Nitish Kumar, a veteran politician who first became Chief Minister in 2005, was also recently elected unopposed as the president of the JD(U).

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar begins moving from official residence after taking oath as Rajya Sabha MP. BJP says no differences in NDA over new CM.

Patna, April 11 Shifting of goods is underway from the official residence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has taken oath as a Rajya Sabha member.

Nitish Kumar took oath as a Rajya Sabha member on Friday.

Longest-serving Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, resigned from his membership of the Bihar Legislative Council following his election to the upper house of Parliament.

Nitish Kumar was elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 16, along with four other candidates from Bihar fielded by the NDA. Kumar has also been elected as JD(U) president unopposed, after no other candidate filed nomination for the post.

BJP president Nitin Nabin had said in an interview with ANI that there are no differences in the NDA over the pending appointment of a new Bihar Chief Minister.

"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.

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
With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections days away, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin intensified his campaign with a visit to Pudukottai district. He interacted with residents and campaigned for DMK candidate Chellapandian, highlighting the government's welfare and development initiatives. Stalin projected extreme confidence, stating the DMK alliance would win all 234 constituencies. The election features a multi-cornered contest against the AIADMK-BJP combine and other parties.

DMK leader M.K. Stalin campaigns in Pudukottai, predicts alliance victory in all 234 Tamil Nadu Assembly seats. Polling on April 23.

Pudukottai, April 11 With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections just days away, M. K. Stalin stepped up his campaign on Saturday, visiting Pudukottai district and engaging directly with voters as part of an intensified outreach drive.

Tamil Nadu will go to the polls on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4, and political parties across the state have entered the final phase of high-voltage campaigning.

Leaders from all major parties are crisscrossing constituencies, holding public meetings and roadshows in a bid to consolidate support ahead of polling day. As part of his campaign schedule, Stalin began his day with a morning walk in Iluppur, where he interacted with local residents, traders and party cadres. The informal engagement turned into a significant political moment, with people gathering in large numbers to greet the Chief Minister and raise local issues.

During his visit, Stalin campaigned in support of DMK candidate Chellapandian, urging voters to back the party and its alliance partners. He highlighted the government's welfare measures, development initiatives and administrative record, positioning them as key reasons for seeking a renewed mandate.

The campaign event witnessed strong participation from party workers and supporters, underlining the importance of Pudukottai in the broader electoral strategy of the DMK.

Local leaders also accompanied Stalin, reinforcing the party's grassroots presence in the region.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the campaign, Stalin struck a confident note about the party's prospects in the upcoming election. "No matter what others do, the victory of the DMK alliance cannot be stopped. The DMK alliance will win all 234 constituencies," he said, projecting a sweeping victory.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly election is witnessing a multi-cornered contest, with the DMK-led alliance, the AIADMK-BJP combine, actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and Senthamizhan Seeman's Naam Tamilar Katchi all vying for voter attention.

With less than two weeks remaining for polling, the campaign intensity is expected to rise further, as parties make their final push to influence undecided voters.

The results on May 4 will determine the state's political direction for the next five years.

- IANS
Even before the Kerala election results are announced, a quiet race for the Chief Minister's post has begun within the Congress-led UDF. The remarks by a local leader hoping for a CM from Ernakulam sparked internal debate, though supporters called it out of context. Senior leaders are seen maneuvering for support, with V.D. Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala widely considered the top contenders. In contrast, the ruling CPI(M) has projected a united front behind incumbent Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

As Kerala awaits election results, a quiet race for Chief Minister begins within the UDF, with V.D. Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala as frontrunners.

Thiruvananthapuram, April 11 Even before the election results are announced, a quiet but unmistakable race for the Chief Minister's chair has begun within the Congress-led UDF in Kerala, which is spoiled for choice due to the strong leaders it has from the state.

While a section within the party feels that any discussion on the top post should be avoided at this stage, remarks by Ernakulam DCC President Mohammed Shiyas have stirred debate.

Shiyas who is a candidate and the closest aide of Leader of Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, expressed hope that someone from Ernakulam would become Chief Minister if the UDF returns to power.

His comment sparked sharp reactions within the Congress, with leaders from both the 'I' and 'A' groups stating that such statements were unnecessary at this juncture.

Supporters of Satheesan have clarified that only a part of Shiyas' statement was highlighted out of context.

Behind the scenes, however, senior leaders have already begun manoeuvring to secure support among MLAs and within the AICC.

With the UDF expecting a victory of no fewer than 90 seats, the leadership question has inevitably moved into focus.

Several names are already in circulation as potential Chief Ministerial contenders.

Leader of Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, and former Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala are widely seen as frontrunners for the top job.

Another influential figure in the race is AICC General Secretary and Alappuzha MP, K.C. Venugopal, considered a potential dark horse.

Other leaders such as Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and K. Muraleedharan, son of four-time Chief Minister K. Karunakaran, are also seen as contenders.

Amid the speculation, Satheesan said he is not anxious, having experienced political setbacks before.

Chennithala maintained that the next Chief Minister would be someone from Kerala.

K.C. Venugopal defended the freedom of opinion within the Congress, stating that there was nothing wrong in K. Sudhakaran expressing his preference for Chennithala.

KPCC Working President P.C. Vishnunath expressed confidence that a decision on the leadership would be taken without prolonged controversy.

The Indian Union Muslim League has urged that the selection of the Chief Minister be made without internal conflict.

Unlike the Congress, where leaders often speak openly about their ambitions, the CPI(M) has projected a united front behind Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Although the party insists it does not name a Chief Ministerial candidate in advance, its campaign has strongly centered on Vijayan, reinforcing the narrative of a possible third term.

As the political climate intensifies, Satheesan and Chennithala remain confident of a sweeping UDF victory.

In contrast, BJP state President Rajeev Chandrasekhar locked in a close contest in Nemom, maintains that Kerala could be heading for a hung Assembly, with the BJP winning multiple seats.

The answers to all these questions will be known on May 4, when the election results are announced.

- IANS
Veteran diplomat KP Fabian offers a critical analysis of the fragile US-Iran peace talks, highlighting the outsized influence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the US administration as a primary obstacle. He criticizes the US negotiating team for lacking seasoned State Department professionals, instead relying on political appointees with limited technical knowledge. Fabian asserts that President Trump's push for diplomacy is driven not by strategy but by the economic pressure of rising oil prices due to threats to the Strait of Hormuz. While noting Vice President JD Vance as an improvement, Fabian predicts the talks will achieve only limited success, with Netanyahu acting as the "elephant in the room" who does not want them to succeed.

Former diplomat KP Fabian critiques US-Iran talks, saying Israeli PM Netanyahu's "inexplicable clout" over Trump is a key obstacle to peace.

New Delhi, April 11 As high-stakes negotiations between the United States and Iran unfold in Islamabad, veteran diplomat KP Fabian has offered a searing critique of the current geopolitical landscape.

Speaking to ANI, Fabian suggested that the relationship between Washington and Tel Aviv remains the primary obstacle to a lasting peace, famously remarking that in this alliance, "the tail wags the dog."

Fabian's analysis provides a sobering perspective on the "make or break" talks, highlighting the internal American political pressures and the technical gaps within the US negotiating team.

Fabian asserted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds an "inexplicable clout" over US President Donald Trump. He credited this influence as the catalyst for the February 28 attacks, which escalated regional tensions.

"Diplomacy is the art of the possible. At this moment, I cannot conceive of the Iranians and the Israelis sitting together in the same room or even the same building, but I don't think that is what is important. It is President Trump who counts. The only issue is that, at times, in the relationship between Israel and the United States, the tail wags the dog. Netanyahu seems to have some clout over Trump that is not easy to explain. My reckoning is that he exercised that clout by starting the war on the 28th of February, but Trump now realizes the rising political costs and is going to assert himself," he said.

Fabian labeled Netanyahu as the "elephant in the room" who actively seeks to prevent the success of the talks. While the President initially succumbed to Israeli pressure, Fabian believes Trump is now forced to negotiate due to the "rising political costs"--specifically the surge in global oil prices.

"Both the US and Iran want success, though for different reasons. President Trump is driven by rising political costs, while Iran is naturally the weaker party in this dynamic. While President Trump may not be able to send them back to the stone ages, the bombing has already caused significant damage and many deaths. If it continues, Iran faces the risk of a Gaza-like state. Prime Minister Netanyahu, however, is the spoiler--the elephant in the room who does not want these talks to succeed. My guess is that the talks will have limited success," he said.

Fabian's sharpest criticisms was directed at the composition of the US delegation. He bemoaned the absence of seasoned State Department professionals in favor of political appointees. He pointed out that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff (a real estate tycoon) lack the technical knowledge required for complex nuclear negotiations.

In a rare note of optimism, Fabian described Vice President JD Vance as a "significant improvement" over the previous family-led diplomatic efforts.

"What is most upsetting is the absence of professional diplomats from the Department of State. In good diplomacy, State Department officials dealing with Iran and West Asia at the level of Joint Secretary or Secretary should have been present. While Trump has a different style, JD Vance is certainly a significant improvement upon Jared Kushner, whose main qualification was being the son-in-law and involved in the family business, and Steve Witkoff, a real estate tycoon. Those two had no idea about technical matters in regard to the nuclear agreement which was negotiated on the 27th of February in Geneva at the embassy of Oman," he said.

According to Fabian, the driving force behind Trump's sudden diplomatic push is not a change of heart, but economic survival. The threat to Strait of Hormuz, vital shipping lane has directly impacted fuel prices.

"If you take Trump's statements over a period of time, they cancel each other out. At this moment, I take it his priority is the Strait of Hormuz because that is what is hurting him. We all know Iran was not making a nuclear weapon; only Trump and Netanyahu spread the story that they were about to make one and that these two have prevented them. Setting that aside, the main accent is on the Strait of Hormuz because therein lies the political cost--specifically, the price the American driver pays at the pump," he said.

A high-level delegations from Iran and the United States arrived for what Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has termed "make or break" negotiations.

- ANI
Tamil Nadu Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi drove an auto-rickshaw through the Thiruverumbur constituency as part of his election outreach. The event, starting from the LPF office in Trichy, aimed to symbolize solidarity with the auto-driving community and connect with the local workforce. He was supported by a large procession of auto drivers and campaigners, including fellow minister KN Nehru who praised Poyyamozhi's performance. The Thiruverumbur assembly constituency will vote on April 23 as part of Tamil Nadu's single-phase elections.

Tamil Nadu Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi drives an auto-rickshaw in Thiruverumbur to connect with voters ahead of April 23 polls.

Tiruchirappalli, April 11 Tamil Nadu Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on Saturday engaged in a unique election outreach by driving an auto-rickshaw through the streets of Thiruverumbur constituency.

The campaign event aimed at connecting with the local workforce saw him navigating key roads, followed by a large procession of supporters and members of the auto-driving community, said a release.

The campaign event began at the Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) office located within the BHEL campus in Trichy, where a large number of auto drivers gathered to extend their support.

Following this, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi drove an auto-rickshaw through key roads in the constituency, symbolising solidarity with the auto drivers' community. Hundreds of auto drivers joined the rally, forming an impressive procession that attracted widespread public attention.

Participants stated that the event was organised to highlight the minister's connection with the working class and to appreciate his welfare initiatives.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Tamil Nadu Minister KN Nehru campaigned in the Ponmalai area of the Thiruverumbur constituency in Tiruchirappalli, in support of state Education Minister and DMK candidate Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi.

Speaking on the occasion, Nehru focused on Poyyamozhi's role in the implementation of various welfare schemes in Tiruchirappalli and praised the developmental works in the education field.

He added that Anbil Mahesh's performance in the School Education Department over the past five years has been highly commendable. He also noted that projects such as a Jallikattu arena and an Olympic stadium were brought to the Thiruverumbur constituency through his efforts. He appealed to the people of the constituency to vote for him and ensure his victory with a large margin.

Thiruverumbur assembly constituency falls under Tiruchirappalli Lok Sabha constituency and will go for polls along with the rest of the state on April 23.

In the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi of DMK defeated P Kumar of AIADMK. In the previous 2016 Assembly polls, too, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi won, trumping Kalaichelvan D of the AIADMK. In the 2011 Assembly elections, S Senthilkumar of DMDK won this seat defeating KN Seharan of DMK.

Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, covering a total of 234 constituencies in the State. Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

- ANI
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Unnat Krishi Mahotsav in Madhya Pradesh's Raisen, assuring farmers of the government's full commitment with no shortage of funds or resources. He emphasized his enduring connection to agriculture, stemming from his past role as Agriculture Minister. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan praised PM Modi's leadership, linking national security and development to strong agriculture and higher farmer incomes. The three-day event features 300 stalls showcasing modern farming technology, training sessions, and direct dialogue with scientists and officials.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurate Unnat Krishi Mahotsav in MP, assuring no shortage of funds for farmers' welfare.

Raisen, April 11 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday assured no shortage of funds and resources to farmers.

Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the three-day Unnat Krishi Mahotsav in Madhya Pradesh's Raisen.

Addressing the gathering, Singh said, "There's a lot to be done for villages and agriculture, and I assure you that our government is fully committed to the welfare of farmers. There will be no shortage of funds or resources. Our government has always worked to ensure that every farmer receives support."

"I have been in public life for many years, entrusted with many responsibilities, including serving as Agriculture Minister. The farmer within me has never left. Even today, as Defence Minister, I can say with conviction that my commitment to farmers remains unchanged," he added.

Agriculture Minister and former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, claiming "strong agriculture and higher farmer incomes."

"Under PM Modi's leadership, the vision is to build a proud, prosperous, self-reliant and developed India. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has made it clear: India will not provoke anyone, but if provoked, it will not spare them. The nation today is secure, yet true development is only possible with strong agriculture and higher farmer incomes," Shivraj Chouhan said.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, a three-day 'Unnat Krishi Mahotsav 2026: Exhibition and Training' is being held in Raisen.

Between Hangers 1 and 2, a total of 300 stalls are being featured. Hanger 3 has been prepared as the Inaugural and Cultural Hall.

The mega-fair in Raisen features exhibitions of modern tractors and agricultural implements, as well as advanced seeds and fertilisers. The event includes dedicated stalls for Organic Farming, in-depth information on Dairy, Poultry and Fisheries and free training sessions for farmers. Additionally, the festival offers live demonstrations of Government Schemes, presentations by Agri-Startups and a robust platform for direct dialogue with agricultural scientists and senior officials.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is also scheduled to attend the event.

- ANI
The Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory for special traffic regulations around Qutub Minar and Mehrauli Archaeological Park on Sunday evening to manage expected crowds. Commuters face restrictions on several key roads, with a ban on halting and parking, and are encouraged to use public transport. Simultaneously, the Delhi Metro is conducting a week-long safety awareness campaign focused on the proper use of its network of lifts and escalators. The drive involves volunteers and staff guiding passengers, with special attention given to elderly and disabled commuters.

Delhi Police issues Sunday traffic curbs near Qutub Minar & Mehrauli Park. Delhi Metro runs a unique safety campaign for lifts and escalators.

New Delhi, April 11 The Delhi Traffic Police has issued a traffic advisory for Sunday, April 12, 2026, announcing that special regulations will be enforced in and around Qutub Minar and the DDA Mehrauli Archaeological Park from 04:00 PM to 09:00 PM to manage an expected surge in footfall and vehicular movement.

According to the traffic advisory by the Delhi Traffic Police, during this period, traffic is likely to be affected on Anuvrat Marg, Crescent Road, Kalka Dass Marg, and adjoining roads, with a strict ban on heavy and commercial vehicles heading toward Qutub Minar via Phool Mandi, Masjid Haji Ali Jan, and Kalka Dass Marg.

The traffic advisory further stated that commuters are advised that no halting or parking will be permitted on these stretches, and any violating vehicles will be towed immediately. To avoid delays, the public is encouraged to plan their journeys in advance, prioritise the use of public transport or the Metro, and utilise alternate routes such as Aurobindo Marg and other available corridors while staying updated through official Delhi Traffic Police channels.

On the other hand, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is organising a week-long awareness campaign on safety in using Lifts and Escalators across the Delhi Metro network. The Delhi Metro, at present, is operating and maintaining 965 Lifts, 1297 escalators, and 42 Travelators in its total network, a press release said.

The Kashmere Gate Metro station holds the distinction of having the highest number of escalators anywhere in the world in a Metro station with a record 53 escalators.

This activity, which is being done as a part of the Safety Awareness Week for Lifts and Escalators, is a one-of-a-kind campaign as the Delhi Metro is the only Metro system in India organising such an awareness drive for the benefit of the passengers.

As a part of the drive, in progress from April 7 to 13, scout and guide volunteers, along with DMRC staff, are being deployed near lifts and escalators at some of the stations with placards to make the passengers aware of the safe use of these facilities.

Special attention is being given to accessibility, ensuring that elderly passengers and those with disabilities receive tailored guidance and support.

DMRC accords very high priority to the proper functioning of its lifts, escalators and travelators across the network. However, it has been noticed that sometimes accidents happen because of the lack of adequate care and precautions by the passengers. Therefore, this week-long activity has been taken up this year.

- ANI
Donald Trump claims Iran's military is decimated as the US begins clearing the Strait of Hormuz, amid high-stakes peace talks in Pakistan.

Washington, DC, April 11 The United States is now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favour to countries all over the world, US President Donald Trump said on Saturday and dismissed suggestions of his country not having reached its military objectives in its war with Iran, saying "everyone knows that they are "LOSING BIG".

Trump's post on his social media handle Truth Social came amid his country's peace talks with Iran, being held in Pakistan.



"The Fake News Media has lost total credibility, not that they had any to begin with. Because of their massive Trump Derangement Syndrome (Sometimes referred to as TDS!), they love saying that Iran is "winning" when, in fact, everyone knows that they are LOSING, and LOSING BIG! Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft apparatus is nonexistent, Radar is dead, their Missile and Drone Factories have been largely obliterated along with the Missiles and Drones themselves and, most importantly, their longtime "Leaders" are no longer with us, praise be to Allah!"Trump said in his post.



"The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may "bunk" into one of their sea mines which, by the way, all 28 of their mine dropper boats are also lying at the bottom of the sea," he added.



Trump said oil carrying ships from many nations are all heading to the United States of America to load up with oil.



"We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others. Incredibly, they don't have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves," he said.



"Very interestingly, however, empty oil-carrying ships from many Nations are all heading to the United States of America to LOAD UP with Oil," he added.



Trilateral ceasefire talks between the United States, Iran, and Pakistan have started in Islamabad, Al Jazeera reported, noting that this is the highest-level talks between Washington and Tehran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.



Ahead of the talks with the United States, the Iranian negotiating team held a strategic meeting in the Pakistani capital to fine-tune its agenda before the formal commencement of the "peace talks" with the US.



Prior to this engagement, US Vice President JD Vance also held a high-level meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to a statement from the White House.



Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also met the Pakistani Prime Minister.



The Serena Hotel has emerged as the focal point of the diplomatic activity, with both the Iranian and American delegations arriving to participate in talks.



Held under intense security, the engagement aims to stabilise a fragile ceasefire and navigate the future of regional security following the ceasefire announcement made on April 8.



Amidst the discussions, the Vice President of Iran, Mohammad Reza Aref, had suggested earlier that the outcome depends entirely on the American approach. Taking to X, he noted that if the Iranian representatives meet those representing "America First," an agreement beneficial to both sides and the world is probable.



However, he warned that if they face representatives of "Israel First," there will be no deal, stating, "we will inevitably continue our defence even more vigorously than before, and the world will face greater costs."





- ANI
OSLO, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Norwegian Minister of Development Asmund Aukrust on Saturday described the suffering of innocent Lebanese civilians under Israeli bombing as "heartbreaking," saying Israel has a duty to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

In a press release, Aukrust said the humanitarian situation in Lebanon is at a breaking point following Israel's massive bombing campaign this week, and announced that Norway would increase its humanitarian aid to Lebanon by 30 million Norwegian kroner (3 million U.S. dollars).

"It is heartbreaking that innocent Lebanese people are being affected," Aukrust said.

He said 300 people were killed and more than 1,000 wounded within 24 hours, adding that children, civilians and healthcare workers were among the dead.

Aukrust said it would take years to rebuild what Israel had destroyed in just a few weeks. "We have made it clear that Israel has a duty to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure," he said.

The additional aid will be channeled to the UN Country Programme for Lebanon, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Lebanon and the World Food Programme (WFP), with each receiving 10 million Norwegian kroner, according to the press release.

The funds will be used to support basic needs such as shelter, healthcare, cash assistance and protection, particularly for children and other vulnerable groups.

The United Nations has also expressed deep concern over restrictions Israel is imposing on requests for humanitarian access, both south of the Litani River and elsewhere in Lebanon. "We share the UN's concern that Israel is limiting both the UN's and humanitarian organizations' ability to help people living in distress and insecurity due to the hostilities," Aukrust said.

With the latest increase, Norway has contributed 236 million Norwegian kroner in humanitarian aid to Lebanon this year, said the press release. Enditem (1 Norwegian krone = 0.1 U.S. dollar)
DMK's Udhayanidhi Stalin campaigns in Chepauk, framing the Tamil Nadu election as a battle for state autonomy against central control.

Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni, April 11 As Tamil Nadu heads toward another high-stakes election, Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni is back in focus, this time with Udhayanidhi Stalin at the centre of the contest. Representing the constituency in the heart of Chennai, the Deputy Chief Minister is seeking a fresh mandate from a seat that has long been seen as a stronghold of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

DMK is contesting on 164 seats, leading the Secular Progressive Alliance against the AIADMK-led NDA in Tamil Nadu.



With polling scheduled for April 23 across 234 constituencies, the seat has drawn significant attention as Udhayanidhi intensifies his campaign across the constituency, holding roadshows, meeting residents, and moving through packed streets with party workers in tow. His campaign reflects both confidence and visibility, as the DMK looks to hold on to one of its most secure urban bases.



But this isn't just a routine re-election bid. Udhayanidhi, son of Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, represents the party's next generation, and his presence here adds a larger political layer to the contest. He is the sitting MLA from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni seat. He faces All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) candidate Adhirajaram in what is, on paper, a straight fight between the ruling DMK and the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.



Even though Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni is widely seen as a DMK bastion, the contest still matters, not so much for the outcome, but for what it signals about the party's grip over urban voters and the continuing acceptance of its leadership transition.



At the centre of Udhayanidhi Stalin's campaign is a sharp framing of the election as a "Delhi vs Tamil Nadu" battle. Udhayanidhi Stalin has repeatedly accused the Centre of trying to exert control over the state through the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, positioning the DMK as a defender of Tamil Nadu's autonomy.



This narrative ties into a familiar Dravidian political theme--state rights versus central authority--which continues to resonate strongly with urban voters in Chennai.



At the same time, the campaign has seen an intense war of words between the DMK and AIADMK leadership. Udhayanidhi has accused the opposition of aligning too closely with the BJP and warned that an AIADMK-led government could push the state "backwards," while opposition leaders have countered by attacking the DMK on governance and delivery.



On the ground, however, the election is being fought on welfare and delivery. The DMK has leaned heavily on its "Dravidian model," highlighting schemes like free bus travel for women, expanded breakfast programmes in schools, and financial assistance for households. Promises such as 8,000 coupons for home appliances and expanded social welfare coverage are being projected as proof of continuity and governance.



The AIADMK, in response, has tried to match and outdo these promises with its own welfare-heavy manifesto, including direct cash transfers and subsidies, while questioning the implementation and intent behind DMK schemes.



Put together, the contest in Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni reflects two overlapping battles: one at the local level, centred on welfare delivery and voter benefits, and another at the state level, driven by identity, autonomy, and the larger political direction of Tamil Nadu.



While the campaign has been dominated by larger political messaging, local realities continue to shape voter priorities. In Chennai's Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni, everyday issues such as traffic congestion, flooding during monsoons, ageing civic infrastructure and rising living costs remain central, influencing how residents assess governance on the ground.



In the 2021 elections, the DMK leader won against Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) candidate AVA Kassali with a margin of 69,355 votes.



Polling for the single-phase Tamil Nadu Assembly elections will be held on April 23, while counting of votes will take place on 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. 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
The Nandigram assembly constituency is set for another high-stakes electoral battle in 2026, with BJP's Suvendu Adhikari defending his seat against Trinamool Congress challenger Pabitra Kar. Nandigram holds deep historical significance, as the 2007 movement there, led by Mamata Banerjee and orchestrated by Suvendu Adhikari, was instrumental in ending Left Front rule and bringing TMC to power. Despite the Adhikari family's long-standing dominance in the Purba Medinipur region, key local issues like unemployment, connectivity, and facilities for farmers remain central to the contest. The election is further charged by Suvendu Adhikari also challenging Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her Bhabanipur constituency.

High-stakes Nandigram rematch as TMC's Pabitra Kar challenges BJP's Suvendu Adhikari. Analysis of the key political stronghold, issues, and 2021 history.

Nandigram, April 11 The Nandigram assembly constituency, located in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, is once again set to witness a high-stakes battle in the 2026 elections.

Nandigram has a deep historical context in the emergence of Trinamool Congress, right from the bottom to the top of West Bengal politics. The Nandigram movement in 2007, which was led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, proved to be the last nail in the coffin for long-standing Left rule in West Bengal.

Suvendu Adhikari, the current BJP MLA from Nandigram and often known to be among the loyalists to Mamata Banerjee, was one of the main architects of the Nandigram movement, which led to TMC's rise to power in West Bengal.

The conflict, which spanned 18 months, began with reports of mandatory land acquisitions under the then Left regime for setting up a chemical hub in Purba Medinipur. The widespread protests, which later involved firing by the police, killed a total of 14 civilians and caused hundreds of injuries.

The Nandigram event holds equal strong importance along with the Singur and Lalgarh movements, which later fueled protests in Kolkata, paving the way for Mamata Banerjee's rise to power and ultimately leading to their ouster in the state.

While Mamata Banerjee has a strong significance in almost the whole of West Bengal, the same dominance is led by Suvendu Adhikari and his family in the Purba Medinipur and Tamluk regions.

The Adhikari family's influence in Purba Medinipur is among the important pillars in West Bengal politics, with Sisir Adhikari, the patriarch, representing Kanthi seat from 2009 under TMC's banner until 2021, when the whole family shifted to BJP.

Despite changing sides, the Adhikari still holds the same significance in the region, as his children, including Suvendu Adhikari, current MLA from Nandigram, Divyendu Adhikari, a former MP and Soumendu Adhikari, the current MP from Kanthi.

Suvendu Adhikari is among the well-known faces in West Bengal political circles, and ended up winning the 2016 elections from Nandigram in 2016 under TMC's banner. While Suvendu remained in the backdrop of TMC until 2021, before he defeated Mamata Banerjee from Nandigram, after switching sides to the BJP.

Since then, Adhikari has been the BJP's most vocal face against Mamata Banerjee and her policies within West Bengal.

In the current scenario, the BJP has once again placed their bets on Suvendu Adhikari from Nandigram; however, this time, he would be facing his own loyalist named Pabitra Kar, from the Trinamool Congress. The Congress, which has been fighting for its existence within West Bengal have fielded Sekh Jariatul Hossain; meanwhile, Shanti Giri will contest from the Communist Party of India.

Despite the strong presence of the Adhikari family in Nandigram, actions against the accused involved in post-poll violence, lack of connectivity between Haldia and Nandigram, unemployment, and proper facilities for fish and betel farmers remain the key issues in the upcoming elections.

Nandigram has also been among the regions which are affected due to electoral violence. Ahead of polling in the upcoming elections, the CEO, along with the Collector and SP, visited the areas and personally interacted with people, noting their grievances and assured the locals that no violence would take place this time and urged them to register their active participation in the festival of democracy. There is also deployment of the Central Action Police Force in the region to ensure the safety of voters.

In 2021, Suvendu Adhikari, who took on Mamata Banerjee in a straight head-on contest, ended up being victorious by 1,956 votes, while receiving 1,10,764 against TMC's supremo's 1,08,808.

While Suvendu's win margin decreased in 2021 against Mamata Banerjee, he won by a gigantic margin of 81,230 votes against CPI candidate Abdul Kabir Sekh in 2016. Adhikari on one end received 134,623 votes, meanwhile, 53,393 electors voted for Sekh.

However, 2026 will also witness another Suvendu Adhikari vs Mamata Banerjee showdown, as the West Bengal LoP this time has challenged the TMC supremo in her own bastion, the Bhabanipur seat, which she has held since 2011.

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.

West Bengal is set to undergo polling on April 23 and 29, respectively, followed by counting on May 4.

- ANI
Trilateral ceasefire talks involving the United States, Iran, and Pakistan have commenced in Islamabad, marking the highest-level dialogue between Washington and Tehran in over four decades. The negotiations, described as "make or break" by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aim to stabilize a fragile regional ceasefire announced on April 8. Iranian officials have warned that the success of the talks depends entirely on the American delegation's approach, suggesting a deal is possible only if not influenced by "Israel First" policies. The high-stakes diplomatic engagement is centered at the Serena Hotel in the Pakistani capital, with security tightened for the international delegations.

Historic trilateral peace talks between the US and Iran, mediated by Pakistan, commence in Islamabad to stabilize a fragile regional ceasefire.

Islamabad, April 11 Trilateral ceasefire talks between the United States, Iran and Pakistan have started in Islamabad, Al Jazeera reported, noting that this is the highest-level talks between Washington and Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Ahead of the talks with the United States, the Iranian negotiating team held a strategic meeting in the Pakistani capital. The delegation, which arrived in Islamabad to participate in high-stakes discussions, fine-tuned its agenda before the formal commencement of the "peace talks" with the US.

Prior to this engagement, US Vice President JD Vance also held a high-level meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to a statement from the White House.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, also met the Pakistani Prime Minister.

The Serena Hotel has emerged as the focal point of the diplomatic activity, with both the Iranian and American delegations arriving to participate in talks.

Visuals from outside the luxury hotel showed tight security and a flurry of movement as international representatives convened at the venue.

The American delegation, led by JD Vance includes Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner.

Shehbaz Sharif had earlier termed the talks as "make or break" negotiations.

Held under intense security, the engagement aims to stabilise a fragile ceasefire and navigate the future of regional security. The ceasefire announcement was made on April 8.

Vice-President of Iran, Mohammad Reza Aref, had suggested earlier that the outcome depends entirely on the American approach.

Taking to X, he noted that if the Iranian representatives meet those representing "America First," an agreement beneficial to both sides and the world is probable.

However, he warned that if they face representatives of "Israel First," there will be no deal, stating, "we will inevitably continue our defence even more vigorously than before, and the world will face greater costs."

- ANI
The village of Kintoor in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district is the ancestral home of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. His grandfather, Syed Ahmad Musavi Hindi, was born there in 1790 before migrating to Iran, where he kept "Hindi" in his name. Local residents maintain this spiritual and lineage-based connection, organizing community services under a trust. The historical ties are cited as a reason for continued goodwill, such as Iran allowing Indian ships passage during regional conflicts.

Discover Kintoor, the Barabanki village where the grandfather of Iran's revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was born.

Barabanki, April 11 Iran and India have had civilizational ties and a spiritual and cultural connection among the Shia community.

The quiet village of Kintoor in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district holds a surprising historical distinction: it is the ancestral home of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Ayatollah Khomenei's grandfather, Syed Ahmad Musavi Hindi, was born in the village of Kintoor in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki in 1790. He later migrated to the village of Khomein in Iran, where his family lineage subsequently flourished.

Even after settling in the Iranian village of Khomein, he kept the suffix "Hindi" in his name to honor his Indian heritage.

It is said that at the age of about 40, Syed Ahmad Musavi Hindi travelled to Iran via Iraq in 1830, accompanied by the Nawab of Awadh. There, weary of British rule, he established his permanent residence in the village of Khomein, Iran. After settling in Iran, his family rose to become highly influential in both religious and social spheres.

Syed Ahmad Musavi Hindi's son, Ayatollah Mustafa Hindi, became a renowned scholar of Islamic theology. His son, Ruhollah, was born in 1902; he would later rise to fame under the names 'Ayatollah Khomenei' or 'Imam Khomenei.' Ruhollah Khomeini eventually overthrew the Pahlavi monarchy, forever changing the Middle East while carrying a lineage that started in the fertile plains of Uttar Pradesh.

While the geopolitical ties between India and Iran are often discussed in terms of energy and trade, the spiritual and lineage-based connection remains a profound, living history for the residents of Barabanki.

A resident of Rasoolpur in Barabanki, Dr Rehan Kazmi, noted, "Ayatollah Khamenei has a connection to the whole of India, and he was the supreme leader of the Shia community. We have learnt the way of life from him. Ayatollah Khamenei does not have a direct connection to Kintoor, but Ruhollah Khomeini, who led the Islamic revolution, his grandfather hailed from here. He migrated to Iran and resided in Khomein. The British regime did not want him to return to India. Ruhollah Khomeini's father passed away when he was 5 years old, and he was raised by his grandfather."

Dr Rehan told ANI that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the US and Israeli strikes on February 28, was the most trustworthy disciple of Ruhollah Khomeini and was elected as the second leader of the Islamic Republic.

"Ayatollah Khamenei was the most trustworthy disciple of Imam-e-Khomenei, and he was made the Supreme Leader of Iran. Hence, we also have a connection with him. I have heard that some people from Iran came back here to find their ancestral roots. There has been an exchange of letters during the British rule. There is a trust in the name of Ayatollah Khamenei, under which we organise health camps and eye checkups, and we provide free education to students studying in government schools. I also run a free-of-cost education institute under the Trust," he added.

Syed Nihar Ahmad Kazmi, resident of Kintoor, noted that it was for the cultural ties and people of India that Iran allowed Indians vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz amid the West Asia conflict and blockade of trade routes.

"Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini has a direct connection to Kintoor. We have heard that Ayatollah Khamenei was a disciple of Ruhollah Khomeini. There was discrimination against women and alcoholism, so they led the revolution. India and Iran have had an old connection. They had to block the route because of the circumstances, but still they allowed the Indian-flagged ships to pass," Kazmi told ANI.

India-Iran ties were also witnessed when the Shia community in India flooded the streets to mourn the death of Ayatollah Khamenei.

After his demise, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, his son, was elected as the Supreme Leader of Iran.

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.

With a two-week pause to the conflict between the US-Israel, and Iran, delegations from both Washington DC and Tehran are set to meet in Islamabad, Pakistan, to discuss a permanent ceasefire.

The conflict began on February 28 with the US and Israel's strikes against Iran. In retaliation, Tehran struck the Israel and US assets in the Gulf region, widening the ambit of the conflict.

- ANI
US Vice President JD Vance is holding a high-level meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad. This dialogue coincides with the opening of critical peace talks between the United States and Iran, hosted by Pakistan at the Serena Hotel. The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, arrived under extraordinary security, escorted by fighter jets. With a limited 15-day window set by Iran, the next 48 hours are seen as pivotal for determining whether the fragile ceasefire leads to lasting peace or a return to conflict.

US Vice President JD Vance meets Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad as critical US-Iran peace talks commence under a fragile ceasefire.

Islamabad, April 11 US Vice President JD Vance is currently engaged in a high-level meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to a statement from the White House. The dialogue between the two leaders was confirmed by Al Jazeera, which reported that the discussions are part of the broader diplomatic engagement taking place in the Pakistani capital.

The meeting coincides with Islamabad taking centre stage as it hosts high-stakes peace talks between the United States and Iran this Saturday. The Iranian and American delegations have both arrived in the city to participate in the discussions, marking a significant moment in regional diplomacy centred at the Serena Hotel. Visuals from outside the luxury hotel showed tight security and a flurry of movement as the international delegations convened at the venue where the talks are currently being held.

The American delegation includes JD Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. The Pakistani delegation includes Mohsin Naqvi, the interior minister, and Ishaq Dar, the foreign minister and deputy prime minister. While the White House is working to provide a list of all the participants, no additional details are available at this time.

The arrival of these high-level officials follows what Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has termed "make or break" negotiations. Held under intense security, the summit aims to stabilise a fragile ceasefire and navigate the future of regional security. On Saturday morning, the Iranian delegation departed their residence for the Prime Minister's Office to commence formal discussions, a meeting that follows a week of global anticipation after the ceasefire announcement on April 8.

Confirming these movements, the Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai stated in a post on X, "The Iranian delegation has departed from their residence en route to the Prime Minister's Office for a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif."

The ideological stakes of these meetings were highlighted by the Vice-President of Iran, Mohammad Reza Aref, who suggested that the outcome depends entirely on the American approach. Taking to X, he noted that if the Iranian representatives meet those representing "America First," an agreement beneficial to both sides and the world is probable. However, he warned that if they face representatives of "Israel First," there will be no deal, stating, "we will inevitably continue our defence even more vigorously than before, and the world will face greater costs."

As the world watches the "slippery" ceasefire talks with bated breath, a US aircraft carrying the negotiation team landed in Islamabad earlier in the day. The level of representation underscores the gravity of the encounter; the US team comprises Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump.

The Iranian team, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, arrived in Islamabad after midnight under unprecedented security. Highlighting the sensitivity of the mission, Al Jazeera reported that when the Iranian aircraft entered Pakistani airspace, it was provided with full-circle protection, including AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) early warning aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft, and fighter jets, which escorted the team to the capital.

According to Iran's Supreme National Security Council, the window for these discussions is limited to 15 days. With the international community looking on, the next 48 hours in Islamabad are expected to determine whether the regional ceasefire evolves into a lasting diplomatic resolution or a return to intensified conflict.

- ANI
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the annual festival of the Birla Institute of Applied Sciences in Bhimtal, Nainital. He addressed the gathering, quoting former President APJ Abdul Kalam on the importance of identifying and guiding talent in India. Separately, the CM reviewed the progress of development announcements for Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar assembly constituencies. He directed officials to prioritize and expedite the resolution of issues raised by public representatives, ensuring timely project completion.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the Birla Institute annual festival, invoking APJ Abdul Kalam, and reviewed constituency development works.

Nainital, April 11 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday attended the annual festival of the Birla Institute of Applied Sciences at Bhimtal area in Nainital district.

During the event, students showcased their talents through various vibrant cultural performances.



Addressing the gathering here, Dhami said, "Our country's former President, Professor APJ Abdul Kalam, used to say that there is no dearth of talent in India; the only requirement is to identify it and, once identified, to guide it in the right direction. I am confident that the management of this institute (Birla Institute of Applied Sciences), working with precisely this spirit, is playing a pivotal role in honing the talents of our youth and fostering their overall personality development."



Meanwhile, on Friday, he also reviewed the progress of various announcements made under the Chief Minister's declarations related to different Assembly constituencies of Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar districts at the Secretariat.



The Chief Minister directed officials to accord top priority to the issues raised by public representatives and ensure their prompt and effective resolution.



The Chief Minister said, "MLAs convey the problems of their respective constituencies to the government, and therefore, it is the responsibility of the administration to take them seriously and act upon them. He instructed that short-term works should be completed at the earliest, while long-term projects should be executed in a phased manner within stipulated timelines. He emphasised that any laxity in the progress of work would not be tolerated."



During the review, the Chief Minister also directed the Chief Secretary to ensure better coordination among departments for the effective implementation of schemes involving multiple departments.



He said such projects should be regularly reviewed at the Chief Secretary level to avoid unnecessary delays and ensure timely execution.





- ANI
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami distributed appointment letters to 12 newly selected cartographers for the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. He emphasized that their roles are crucial for strengthening the state's agricultural system and infrastructure. Dhami highlighted the government's strict anti-cheating law, which has enabled transparent recruitment and provided over 30,000 government jobs to youths. The government is also promoting natural farming, millets, horticulture, and modern technology to make agriculture profitable and attract more youth to the sector.

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami distributes appointment letters to 12 cartographers, highlighting transparent recruitment and agricultural development in Uttarakhand.

Dehradun, April 10 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday organised a distribution ceremony to hand over appointment letters to 12 candidates recently selected for the position of cartographer within the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that the Chief Minister's residence, appointment letters were distributed to 12 candidates selected for the post of cartographer under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.



Congratulating the selected candidates, he said, "Their appointments would play a significant role in strengthening the agricultural system. He expressed hope that they would carry out their responsibilities with honesty and dedication in their respective fields."



Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, while talking to the media, said, "From this day forward, your dreams are no longer solely for yourself; they are for the State and for your respective departments. The departments harbour specific expectations from you, recognising that you have all been newly selected... You must strive to ensure that, through your efforts, various schemes and projects are completed strictly within their stipulated timelines... Our State budget has expanded significantly, our overall resources and infrastructure have grown, and we have made great strides in the realm of appointments..."



The Chief Minister further said that "the state government has implemented a strict anti-cheating law to ensure a transparent and fair recruitment process. Following its effective enforcement, more than 30,000 youths in the state have been provided employment in government services so far. He added that this reflects the government's commitment to youth welfare and good governance."



He also highlighted that natural farming is being promoted in Uttarakhand, along with encouragement for the production and marketing of millets. To enhance farmers' income, special emphasis is being placed on the use of modern technologies, the expansion of irrigation facilities, and crop diversification.



Additionally, the state is promoting the cultivation of apples, kiwis, horticulture, and medicinal plants.



He stated that the government's goal is to make agriculture profitable and attractive for the youth so that more people are encouraged to engage in this sector.





- ANI
The White House has formally dismissed a report claiming the U.S. consented to unblock Iranian funds held in Qatari and international banks. This denial comes as American and Iranian officials engage in high-stakes ceasefire negotiations in Islamabad. The $6 billion in question, originally frozen in 2018, was briefly slated for release in a 2023 prisoner swap before being refrozen after the October 7 attacks on Israel. The funds, from Iranian oil sales to South Korea, can only be used for humanitarian purchases under strict U.S. Treasury supervision.

White House rejects report of unfreezing $6B in Iranian assets as US-Iran envoys meet in Islamabad for ceasefire negotiations.

Islamabad, April 11 The White House on Saturday dismissed a report suggesting that the United States had consented to the "release of Iranian capital" previously "blocked in Qatari and various international financial institutions."

This official denial arrives as American and Iranian representatives convene in Islamabad for high-stakes negotiations aimed at brokering a ceasefire, reported CBS.

The controversy follows a report, which quoted a high-ranking Iranian official claiming that Washington had signalled its approval to unfreeze the assets. According to the news agency, the source had "welcoming the move" as a "tangible demonstration" of "seriousness" from the United States in its "pursuit of a formal agreement."

The report further cited an anonymous source who stated that the decision to release the funds was "directly linked to ensuring safe passage through Strait of Hormuz."

Providing historical context to the dispute, the USD 6 billion in question was first blocked in 2018 and was originally slated for unfreezing in 2023 under the terms of a US-Iranian prisoner exchange. However, the administration of President Joe Biden moved to refreeze the capital in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, strikes on Israel carried out by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, an ally of Tehran.

At that juncture, US authorities asserted that Iran would be denied access to the finances "for the foreseeable future," emphasising that Washington maintained the authority to "completely freeze the account" if deemed necessary. These assets originated from Iranian petroleum exports to South Korea but were stalled in South Korean financial institutions after President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear pact and reinstated sanctions during his initial term.

The funds were eventually relocated to bank accounts in Qatar following a Doha-mediated prisoner swap in September 2023. That agreement facilitated the liberation of five US nationals imprisoned in Iran in return for the transfer of the money and the release of five Iranians detained in the US.

During that period, US officials clarified that the expenditure was "restricted to humanitarian use only." The established framework required the capital to be distributed solely to verified suppliers for the procurement of "food, medicine, medical equipment and agricultural goods" destined for Iran, all conducted under stringent "US Treasury oversight."

- ANI
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed caution, stating it is not appropriate to assume the West Asia crisis has ended despite a formal ceasefire announcement between the US and Iran. He emphasized that the government is continuously monitoring the situation to ensure no crisis emerges. The US had announced a temporary halt to hostilities, proposing a two-week ceasefire window. Meanwhile, high-stakes trilateral talks involving the US, Iran, and Pakistan have commenced in Islamabad.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says it's not appropriate to assume the West Asia crisis has ended despite a formal US-Iran ceasefire announcement.

Lucknow, April 11 Expressing concern over the West Asia Conflict, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that it would "not be appropriate to assume that the crisis has completely ended" on the recently announced ceasefire deal between the US and Iran.

He added that there was a formal announcement that a ceasefire had happened, but the ground reality is different and the Centre is "continuously ensuring that there is no crisis of any kind."

Speaking on the West Asia Conflict at Gomti Nagar Jan Kalyan Mahasamiti, he said, "There has been a formal ceasefire, but given the situation on the ground, it would not be appropriate to assume that the crisis has completely ended....We have sufficient reserves to deal with any kind of crisis in the country...The government is continuously ensuring that there is no crisis of any kind, even after two to three months."

On April 8, US President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt to the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, proposing a two-week, double-sided ceasefire window. Trump also indicated that a 10-point proposal put forward by Iran was "workable," signalling a possible diplomatic opening between the two long-time adversaries.

Meanwhile, Trilateral ceasefire talks between the United States, Iran and Pakistan have started in Islamabad, Al Jazeera reported, noting that this is the highest-level talks between Washington and Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Ahead of the talks with the United States, the Iranian negotiating team held a strategic meeting in the Pakistani capital. The delegation, which arrived in Islamabad to participate in high-stakes discussions, fine-tuned its agenda before the formal commencement of the "peace talks" with the US.

- ANI
MOSCOW, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Orthodox Easter ceasefire with Ukraine announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin began on Saturday afternoon and will continue until Sunday midnight.

On Thursday, Putin announced a ceasefire to mark the Orthodox Easter holiday from 4 p.m. Moscow time (1300 GMT) on April 11 until the end of April 12. The Russian Orthodox Church welcomed the move.

Russia's Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov were instructed to halt all combat operations along every front during this period.

"Troops must be prepared to thwart any possible provocations by the enemy, as well as any of its aggressive actions," the Kremlin said in a previous statement.

Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova said that the truce would enable stepped-up efforts to evacuate the wounded and search for missing people.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kiev would honor the ceasefire as well.

"Ukraine will adhere to the ceasefire and respond in a strictly reciprocal manner," Zelensky wrote on X.

Last year, an Orthodox Easter ceasefire also announced by Putin was in place from 6 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) on April 19 until the end of April 20. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, 4,900 violations of the ceasefire by the Ukrainian side were recorded during that time. 
For decades, 'mental wellbeing' has been one of the most used, but least agreed upon, terms in mental health. Now, a landmark study led by Adelaide University and Be Well Co has brought alignment to one of mental health's most fundamental questions  what does it actually mean to be well?

Conducted in partnership with Australian and international academics, and published in Nature Mental Health today, the study is the first to achieve international consensus on what constitutes positive mental health and what does not.

Surveying 122 global experts across 11 disciplines, researchers achieved agreement (75%+ consensus) on 19 dimensions, with nearunanimous agreement (90%+ consensus) on six factors that are essential to positive mental health:

Meaning and purpose  feeling life is worthwhile and goaldirected Life satisfaction  overall evaluation that your life is good Selfacceptance  positive and nonjudgemental view of self Connection  close, caring relationships with others Autonomy  feeling in control of choices and selfexpression Happiness  frequent positive mood and cheerfulness.

The definition is designed to inform how mental wellbeing is measured, supported and promoted across healthcare, workplaces and public policy.

By agreeing that positive mental health isn't a single feeling, but a combination of how we feel, how we function and how we connect with others, the study brings muchneeded clarity to the field. For too long, mental wellbeing has been defined in different ways across research, healthcare and government, making it almost impossible to compare evidence or design effective policy. Imagine if there were 150 different ways of measuring blood pressure  the results would be meaningless. That's why it's important to agree on what positive mental health is, and what it isn't." Dr. Matthew Iasiello, Adelaide University researcher

Factors such as physical health, income, housing, coping strategies and spirituality were determined not to define positive mental health, instead being considered important drivers of it.

Importantly, the study confirms that positive mental health is separate from mental illness, meaning people can experience mental wellbeing even while living with a mental health condition.

Across 11 disciplines (Economics, Medicine, Nursing, Philosophy, Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, Health Psychology, Positive Psychology, Public Health, Sociology and Theology), researchers confirmed a total of 19 dimensions of mental wellbeing*, including the six dominant factors.

"Positive mental health isn't about feeling good all the time," Dr Matthew Iasiello said.

"It's about having a combination of emotional wellbeing, psychological functioning, and social connection that helps you live a meaningful, manageable life, even when things might be hard.

"In this way, positive mental health is less about feeling good all the time, and more about having the right combination of factors to cope, live well, and experience life as meaningful.

"When people can better recognize which parts of their wellbeing are strong, and which might need support it gives them a clearer sense of where to focus their efforts."

Co-researcher, Adelaide University and Be Well Co's Dr Joep van Agteren said the research is not only about advancing scientific understanding, but essential to guide mental health policy, programs and measurement tools.

"Workplaces, government organizations and community groups often need help to build the conditions that help their people to thrive," Dr van Agteren said.

"Understanding what makes up positive mental wellbeing helps individuals and organizations focus on what can really makes a difference.

"Whether it's government departments creating spaces for connection, or teachers building optimism in kids at school, many of us are already contributing to wellbeing without realising it.

"We hope that this taxonomy can further strengthen the efforts of anyone who is trying to do their part in making people feel their best, in Australia and beyond, is worthwhile."

The findings underscore the importance of a shared definition for guiding research, policy and practice going forward.

"You can't build what you can't define," said senior author and Associate Professor Dan Fassnacht, University of the Sunshine Coast.

"For the first time, we have a scientifically agreed blueprint for what good mental health actually looks like  and that changes everything."
A new study co-authored by two University of WisconsinMadison professors suggests longevity gains across all states and regions for people born between 1941 and 2000, in contrast to previous estimates suggesting a century of stagnation or even declines in parts of the South.

Published in the journal BMJ Open, the study by Hector Pifarre i Arolas and Jason Fletcher of the La Follette School of Public Affairs, along with Jose Andrade of the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, challenges recent estimates that portrayed progress on extending longevity in the United States as sharply divergent across states and regions.

Using new data from the United States Mortality Database, their updated analyses suggest substantially less disparity in longevity gains since the mid-20th century than a recent paper led by Theodore Holford of the Yale School of Public Health and colleagues. Rather than a simple story of steady divergence, the new study describes a more complex, two- phase pattern: rapid convergence in mid-century, when Southern states made up lost ground with much of the rest of the country-driven in large part by gains in child survival in the South-followed by a second phase in which that convergence largely stalled over the second half of the 20th century.

Our forecasts point to universal gains in cohort life expectancy between 1941 and 2000 for all birth cohorts, sexes, and states. States are not expected to experience equal gains in longevity, and convergence across states appears to have stalled since the 1950s, but we find no evidence of the radical increase in disparities across states suggested by some earlier estimates." Hector Pifarre i Arolas, La Follette School of Public Affairs

Holford's paper argues that many Southern states saw little gain or even declines in cohort life expectancy in the second half of the 20th century, while states such as New York saw rapid gains, widening disparities across states. The new paper challenges these estimates.

For example, Holford's paper estimated that Mississippi experienced no female gain in longevity over 50 years, while the updated figures in the BMJ Open study found roughly 7 years.

By investigating regional and state-specific trends, the authors hope this research leads to increased understanding of key drivers of longevity gains, as U.S. states have differed significantly in populations and policies over this period. "Understanding that all statesexperienced gains-especially the substantial improvements in the South earlier in the century-helps shift the conversation toward what drove those successes and why progress has slowed since. That's where the real policy lessons are," Fletcher says. In the context of slowing longevity gains in high-income countries, as suggested in recent work by Pifarre i Arolas, Andrade, and colleagues, the study adds to a growing body of research that uses birth cohorts and forecasting methods to clarify how policies and living conditions may contribute to longer or shorter lives.
A new study conducted at the University of Eastern Finland highlights the challenges faced by older immigrants in Finland when seeking social and healthcare services, employment and citizenship. The empirical socio-legal research was published in Retfaerd (Nordic Journal of Law and Justice). The study outlines the regulations stipulated in Finnish laws and examines older immigrants' realisation of their rights in practice based on interviews with 26 older immigrants living in Finland.

The findings show that in healthcare, the use of non-specialised interpreters may lead to an incorrect diagnosis, and the lack of previous health records for older immigrants who have recently arrived may delay their access to healthcare services. Some decisions on access to services were based on state employees' discretion rather than on what the law stipulates, leading to unequal access to services for individuals with similar needs. Inconsistencies in the dissemination of information about rights and available services also constituted barriers to accessing services, as only a few older immigrants reported receiving such information from the Finnish authorities.

Limited recognition of foreign education and skills hindered older immigrants' access to employment opportunities. Foreign names and belonging to ethnic minority groups also negatively affected access to employment, indicating instances of structural discrimination during the recruitment process. Nonetheless, deteriorating health has a detrimental effect on older immigrants' ability to learn Finnish, thus restricting their access to employment and citizenship.

I would stress the importance of booking only trained and specialised interpreters. Moreover, Finnish well-being services counties can also improve access to services by offering each resident a personal orientation session to inform them about their rights and the services offered in the country. Structural changes in Finland that encourage the employment of immigrants are also crucial, as employment was described by the participants as a 'medicine' that improves their lives and well-being. Anonymous recruitment processes can also mitigate the impact of the negative assumptions associated with older age and ethnic minority backgrounds." Alex Berg, Doctoral Researcher, University of Eastern Finland

According to the study, the assessment of immigrants' health status should be improved in the citizenship application and potential problems created by lack of language skills should be taken into account. For the study participants, Finnish citizenship was experienced as an important reinforcer of well-being, employment, freedom of movement and reunion with family and friends abroad.

This study was conducted within the Neuro-Innovation PhD programme, which is funded by the University of Eastern Finland and the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Skodowska-Curie Grant Agreement no. 101034307.
Alligator Bioscience, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing tumor-directed immuno-oncology antibody drugs, today provided a brief update regarding mitazalimab.

In parallel with ongoing partnering activities, Alligator is exploring alternative opportunities for phase 3 development of mitazalimab in first line metastatic pancreatic cancer. As part of these efforts, Alligator has signed a letter-of-intent with the French non-for-profit clinical cancer research organization Unicancer. Consequently, the parties are collaborating to establish the feasibility of, and prepare for, a global investigator sponsored Phase 3 study.

No development decisions have been taken at this time, and any such activities remain at an exploratory stage.
A soldier released from captivity is transferred to a hospital for medical treatment in northern Ukraine on April 11, 2026. (Photo by Peter Druk/Xinhua)

KIEV, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A total of 182 Ukrainians returned home Saturday as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia ahead of Orthodox Easter, Ukrainian authorities said.

Those released included 175 service members -- among them 25 officers -- as well as seven civilians, the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said in a statement.

The agency said the freed individuals range in age from 22 to 63, with most having been held in captivity since 2022. 

A soldier released from captivity is transferred to a hospital for medical treatment in northern Ukraine on April 11, 2026.

A total of 182 Ukrainians returned home Saturday as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia ahead of Orthodox Easter, Ukrainian authorities said.

Those released included 175 service members -- among them 25 officers -- as well as seven civilians, the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said in a statement.

The agency said the freed individuals range in age from 22 to 63, with most having been held in captivity since 2022. (Photo by Peter Druk/Xinhua)

People wait for their relatives released from captivity at a hospital in northern Ukraine on April 11, 2026.

A total of 182 Ukrainians returned home Saturday as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia ahead of Orthodox Easter, Ukrainian authorities said.

Those released included 175 service members -- among them 25 officers -- as well as seven civilians, the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said in a statement.

The agency said the freed individuals range in age from 22 to 63, with most having been held in captivity since 2022. (Photo by Peter Druk/Xinhua)

People wait for their relatives released from captivity at a hospital in northern Ukraine on April 11, 2026.

A total of 182 Ukrainians returned home Saturday as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia ahead of Orthodox Easter, Ukrainian authorities said.

Those released included 175 service members -- among them 25 officers -- as well as seven civilians, the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said in a statement.

The agency said the freed individuals range in age from 22 to 63, with most having been held in captivity since 2022. (Photo by Peter Druk/Xinhua)

A released Ukrainian prisoner hugs with his relative at a hospital on the border area in northern Ukraine on April 11, 2026. A total of 182 Ukrainians returned home Saturday as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia ahead of Orthodox Easter, Ukrainian authorities said.

Those released included 175 service members -- among them 25 officers -- as well as seven civilians, the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said in a statement.

The agency said the freed individuals range in age from 22 to 63, with most having been held in captivity since 2022. (Photo by Peter Druk/Xinhua)

Released Ukrainian prisoners arrive at a hospital on the border area in northern Ukraine on April 11, 2026. A total of 182 Ukrainians returned home Saturday as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia ahead of Orthodox Easter, Ukrainian authorities said.

Those released included 175 service members -- among them 25 officers -- as well as seven civilians, the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said in a statement.

The agency said the freed individuals range in age from 22 to 63, with most having been held in captivity since 2022. (Photo by Peter Druk/Xinhua)
Eric Adams just added a second passport to his portfolio. The former New York City mayor has been granted Albanian citizenship and a passport by special decree of President Bajram Begaj, according to Albania's official government journal and Adams' spokesperson. An English translation of the decree states that citizenship for "Eric Leroy Adams" takes effect immediately and is to be published in the country's official gazette, reports the Guardian .

Adams' ties to Albania drew notice last October, when he spent four days there near the end of his mayoral term and said he would advocate for a New YorkAlbania direct flight. "He loves Albania. He does," a rep for Adams told the New York Times, which notes Adams hosted three flag-raising ceremonies for Albania while mayor. It adds that New York's roughly 40,000 Albanians add up to the "world's largest Albanian expatriate population." The Guardian cites an Albanian law firm's website as explaining that it's possible for foreign adults to gain immediate citizenship so long as it is deemed as being in the national interest.
A thief who swiped a handbag outside a London pub ended up with far more than he expectedand now he's headed to prison while police hunt for a missing multimillion-dollar Faberge egg. Enzo Conticello, 29, was sentenced to 27 months at Southwark Crown Court after admitting theft and three counts of fraud by false representation. CCTV caught him trying to lift one bag inside the Dog and Duck pub on 7 November 2024 before moving outside and taking marketing executive Rosie Dawson's handbag from between her legs as she stood chatting in a designated smoking area, the BBC reports. Within minutes, he was using her bank cards in a nearby shop, which eventually led detectives to him, reports the AP.
Sen. Tim Sheehy walked away unhurt Friday after putting his small plane down in a Montana field when the engine quit midair, authorities say. The first-term Republican was flying with one other person near the town of Ennis during what his chief of staff described on X as a twice-yearly "routine flight training exercise," NBC News reports. The aircraft suffered a mechanical engine failure, prompting the emergency landing; both occupants were unharmed, though officials reported a minor fuel leak. Federal aviation authorities have been notified, and the incident is under review.
On Friday, two days before Hungary's closely-watched elections, over 100,000 people filled a sprawling square and adjacent avenues in the capital for a concert featuring dozens of the country's most popular performersa call to action for citizens to cast their ballots on Sunday and vote out the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The crowd, largely made up of young people, frequently broke into anti-government chants, including "Ruszkik haza!" or "Russians go home!" It was a refrain from Hungary's 1956 anti-Soviet revolution that has taken on renewed significance as Orban has forged increasingly close relations with Moscow, the AP reports.

One attendee, Helena Sugar, 19, said she was drawn to the event by some of her favorite artists, but that the desire for change was the concert's most crucial aim. "I listen to these performers every day. But now the most important thing here is the political goal," she said. "I think it is important to show how many of us think this way, how many of us think that the time for this system is over and it is time for us to change."

The group organizing the event, the Civic Resistance Movement, wrote that each song to be performed was "critical of the corrupt regime," and meant to "demonstrate to the masses of voters and make them realize that the era of impunity is over."

The big turnout on Budapest's Heroes' Square, and the concert's anti-government atmosphere, reflected the broad level of dissatisfaction with Orban's government, especially among Hungary's youth. In addition to the throngs of people in the streets, over 100,000 were following a livestream online.

A generational gap has been widening in Hungary, with its young people pushing overwhelmingly for an end to Orban's autocratic rule, while the oldest citizens remain loyal to the prime minister.

Orban and his Fidesz party's declining popularity comes amid economic stagnation, political and corruption scandals and the rise of a new opposition challenger that is posing the biggest threat to the prime minister's power in nearly two decades. That challenger, the center-right Tisza party and its leader Peter Magyar, have galvanized large numbers of voters across Hungary who see him as the most credible challenger yet to Orban's 16-year grip on power. A recent survey by pollster 21 Research Center found that 65% of voters under 30 support Tisza, while only 14% are backing Orban.

Friday's performers included some of Hungary's most popular acts: singer Azahriah, rappers Beton.Hofi and Krubi, and alternative rock bands Quimby and Ivan and the Parasol. Another performer, Benedek Szabo, the frontman and lead songwriter for the popular band Galaxisok, told the AP that for him, Hungary's increasingly close connections with Moscow were tantamount to "selling out the EU allies to Russia." Galaxisok performed a song that laments what the band sees as missed opportunities and wasted years under Orban's rule. But in the song's final stanza, it takes a defiant tone. "Whispered on trams, written on factory walls, on rain-drenched autumn streets, secretly everyone knows," the lyrics go. "We've had enough, once and for all. In the end, all regimes fall."

Vice President JD Vance visited Hungary on Tuesday to show support for Orban. He slammed Ukraine and the EU after talks with Orban, accusing the EU of "one of the worst examples of foreign election interference that I have ever seen or ever even read about ... because they hate this guy," the BBC reports.
A 9-year-old boy has been rescued after living locked in his father's utility van in eastern France since 2024, according to the local prosecutor. The child has been hospitalized and his father detained, the AP reports. Police were alerted by a neighbor to the "sounds of a child'" coming from a van on Monday in the village of Hagenbach, near the borders with Switzerland and Germany, according to a statement on Saturday from prosecutor Nicolas Heitz. After forcing the van open, officers found the child "lying in a fetal position, naked, covered by a blanket on top of a mound of trash and near excrement," Heitz said. The boy was clearly malnourished and could no longer walk after being in a seated position for so long, according to the statement.

The boy's father told investigators he put the child in the truck in November 2024 "to protect him" because his partner wanted to send the boy, then 7, to a psychiatric hospital, the prosecutor said. Heitz said there's no medical record that the boy had psychiatric problems before he disappeared and that he had good grades in school. The boy told investigators that he had "big difficulties'' with his father's partner and thought his father "had no choice" but to lock him up, according to the prosecutor. He said he hadn't showered since 2024. The father was handed preliminary kidnapping and other charges.

His partner denied knowing the boy was in the van, the prosecutor said. She was handed preliminary charges, including for failure to help a minor in danger, and released under judicial supervision. The boy's 12-year-old sister and the 10-year-old daughter of his father's partner were placed in the care of social services. The prosecutor's office is investigating whether others were aware of the boy's detention. Friends and family told investigators they thought the boy was in a psychiatric institution; his teachers were told he had transferred schools, according to the prosecutor's office. Hagenbach residents said Saturday they were unaware of the boy's whereabouts, but they didn't want to discuss details.
Still marveling over their moon mission, the Artemis II astronauts received a thunderous welcome home Saturday from hundreds who took part in NASA's lunar comeback that set a record for deep space travel. The crew of four arrived at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center and Mission Control in Texas, flying in from San Diego, where they splashed down just offshore the evening before, the AP reports. After a quick reunion with their spouses and children, the astronauts took the hangar stage, surrounded by space center workers and other guests. "Welcome home Artemis II," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced. "We are bonded forever," Cmdr. Reid Wiseman told his crew.

The crowd included flight directors and the launch director, Orion capsule and exploration system managers, high-ranking military officers, and the space agency's entire blue-suited astronaut corps and even retired ones. Wiseman and his US-Canadian crew's homecoming was poignant: They returned to their Houston home base on the 56th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 13, whose "Houston, we've had a problem" refrain turned a near-disaster into triumph. During Artemis II's nearly 10-day mission, they voyaged deeper into space than the moon explorers of decades past and captured views of the lunar far side never witnessed before by human eyes. A total solar eclipse added to the cosmic wonder.

"This was not easy," Wiseman told the crowd. "Before you launch, it feels like it's the greatest dream on Earth. And when you're out there, you just want to get back to your families and your friends. It's a special thing to be a human and it's a special thing to be on planet Earth." Christina Koch said she was struck by her view of Earth from space. "Honestly, what struck me wasn't just Earth, it was all of the blackness around it," she said. "Earth was just this lifeboat hanging undisturbably in the universe. Planet Earth, you are a crew."
Peace negotiations between the US and Iran stretched into early Sunday in Pakistan, the Wall Street Journal reports, as both sides moved into what Iranian state media described as a more technical phase of talks. The sticking point remains control of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran shut down when the war began, two senior Iranian officials told the New York Times . The American delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance and includes Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner; Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf leads the Iranian side. Pakistan is mediating the talks in Islamabad .

Teams of experts were reportedly holding multiple rounds of negotiations.The discussions are taking place under a two-week cease-fire announced earlier by President Trump, with one key objective being the full reopening of the strait, a vital shipping lane for global oil supplies. As the weekend talks began, Iranian officials said they are resisting what they term "excessive demands" from the US regarding control and security arrangements in the strait, according to the Tasnim news agency. Tehran is also pressing for an end to Israeli military operations in Lebanon and for the release of Iranian assets frozen under international sanctions. Lebanon health officials said the death toll from the latest attacks is at 2,020; 357 people were reported killed Wednesday alone.

A Pakistani official told the Washington Post that much of the talk Saturday was positive but that the session went through "mood swings." At the White House, Trump told reporters that he doesn't care whether the negotiations result in an agreement with Iran. "We win, regardless," he said. "We've defeated them militarily."
China willing to work with DPRK to promote practical cooperation: Chinese FM

Xinhua) 10:05, April 11, 2026

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.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
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)

WASHINGTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said the outcomes of negotiations with Iran will be clear "in about 24 hours," the New York Post reported Friday.

Trump made the remarks in a phone interview with the news outlet shortly after Vice President JD Vance left Washington for talks with Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan.

"We're going to find out in about 24 hours. We're going to know soon," Trump said, threatening that U.S. warships are being reloaded to resume strikes on Iran if peace talks in Pakistan fail.

"We have a reset going," he said. "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."

"If we don't have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively," Trump threatened.

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.

On the U.S. side, the talks are expected to focus on Washington's demands that Iran hand over an estimated 1,000 pounds of deeply buried enriched uranium and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, according to the New York Post.

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf on Friday demanded a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations with the United States. Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has also called on the United States to fulfill its commitments under the ceasefire regarding the necessity to stop Israel's attacks against Lebanon, the official news agency IRNA reported. 
The Public Safety Report is compiled from criminal complaints filed in state and federal courts, as well as some police blotter information, trooper dispatches, fire department reports and interviews with public safety officials. Individuals named as arrested and/or charged with crimes in this report are presumed innocent until proved guilty in a court of law.
A fisherman shows off a striped bass caught on the opening day of fishing season at Southbank Park along the Housatonic River in Shelton, Conn., on April 14, 2018. Unfortunately, the bass was a few inches short of the regulation size. Under a bill before the state legislature, anglers in the state would have to release any striped bass they catch from December through March. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media A fisherman casts a line into the Housatonic River in search of striped bass in Shelton, Conn., on March 26, 2019. Under a bill before the state legislature, anglers in the state would have to release any striped bass they catch from December through March. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media Two anglers wade in at the confluence of the Housatonic and Naugatuck Rivers to fish for striped bass in Derby, Conn., on May 15, 2018. Under a bill before the state legislature, anglers in the state would have to release any striped bass they catch from December through March. Brian A. Pounds/Hearst Connecticut Media

Connecticut has tightened fishing rules for striped bass in recent years as its numbers have fallen because of overfishing and illegal poaching.

Lawmakers might soon add another restriction.

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Under a proposal before the General Assembly, anglers in the state would have to release any striped bass they catch in Long Island Sound and other waters from December through March. Current state law allows stripers to be kept year round within certain size limits.

Although some lawmakers and anglers say the change could help sustain Connecticuts striped bass population, the states top environmental official said she believes the conservation benefit would only be modest. But most agree the rule could help deter illegal poaching by making violations easier to enforce and upping fines for those who keep the fish during the winter months.

The state House of Representatives approved the bill 133-10 this week and sent it to the Senate. If it passes there, it would go to Gov. Ned Lamont for his signature.

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We do have a problem in the state with poaching for striped bass, state Rep. Patrick Callahan, a New Fairfield Republican and a ranking member of the Environment Committee, said on the floor after the vote. This bill attempts to deal with that and attempts to deal with the striped bass population.

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The proposal strikes a balance between environmentalists seeking stronger protections for striped bass and recreational fishing groups that had opposed a seasonal shutdown, which earlier versions of the legislation had tried to do.

The illegal harvesting of striped bass has been a serious ongoing issue, officials say, especially in the lower Housatonic River, where stripers that stay in the region through the winter gather in large numbers. State environmental authorities have increased patrols and handed out hefty fines, but the illegal activity persists, William Hyatt, vice chair of the Fisheries Advisory Council, wrote in testimony supporting the bill. Clearly greater deterrence is needed.

Under current state law, anglers can only keep striped bass within a narrow size range  between 28 and 31 inches, known as a slot limit  and are limited to one fish per day, called a creel limit. Violations carry different penalties depending on where they happen. Its a $154 fine in inland waters and $75 in marine waters such as the Sound.

The bill would make it an infraction to violate any striped bass regulation, including the proposed catch-and-release rule between December and March. It would also raise penalties to $150 for a first offense, $350 for a second offense and $500 for subsequent violations.

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Theres a perception that the (current) fine is so low that its not actually keeping people from doing this illegal behavior, said state Rep. John-Michael Parker, a Madison Democrat and Environment Committee co-chair. The concern is that if you make a fine thats too high, that it wont actually get enforced, so trying to get to that sweet spot with the $150 and then the escalation.

The rule would also simplify enforcement because any fisherman found with a striped bass during the winter months has clearly broken the law, according to a spokesperson for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Under current rules, officers with DEEPs Environmental Conservation Police must determine whether the fish meets size requirements and was caught legally.

Prized among anglers for their large size and flavor, striped bass are Connecticuts most sought-after saltwater fish and are the most economically

valuable recreational species along the Atlantic coast, Hyatt said. In Connecticut alone, anglers have averaged nearly 4 million trips targeting

striped bass annually over the past decade, according to Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, a fisherman himself.

The population collapsed in the 1980s because of overfishing and poor reproduction, leading to a coastwide ban on harvesting that helped the stock recover by the mid-1990s, Hyatt said.

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As the population rebounded in the early 2000s, he said, more stripers began spending the winter in the lower Housatonic River downstream of the Derby Dam, turning the area into a popular cold-weather fishing destination. The river also draws out-of-state anglers, including from nearby New York, where striped bass fishing is closed for the winter.

But the species has faced renewed pressure in recent years. In 2023, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission adopted an emergency rule lowering the maximum size anglers could keep from 35 inches to 31 inches after what officials described as an unprecedented recreational harvest the year before. Connecticut later adopted the change as part of efforts to rebuild the stock.

The stricter rules appear to be helping. Total Atlantic striped bass removals were estimated at about 4.1 million fish in 2024  a 27% drop from the previous year. The commission attributed that recreational anglers keeping fewer fish.

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In written testimony on the proposal, DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said she expected the winter regulation would have only a modest conservation benefit because relatively few striped bass are harvested during winter months. But she added it could help enforcement efforts.
A crime truck from the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad on scene assisting Enfield Police detectives after a 12-year-old girl was found dead inside this home earlier in the day, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, on Elm Street in Enfield. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media A crime truck from the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad on scene assisting Enfield Police detectives after a 12-year-old girl was found dead inside this home earlier in the day, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, on Elm Street in Enfield. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Eve Rogers, 12, of Enfield, was discovered dead on Wednesday at her home. This photo was taken at her birthday a couple of years ago, her grandmother, Elizabeth DeGray, said Thursday. "She was just a joy," DeGray said. Courtesy Of Elizabeth DeGray Anthony Federline, 39, of Enfield, is charged with first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor in connection with the sexual assault of his 12-year-old stepdaughter, Eve Rogers, who was found dead in the family home on March 18. Courtesy of the Enfield Police Department Eve Rogers, 12, was found dead in her Enfield home on March 18. Police are investigating. Her stepfather, Anthony Federline, has been charged with sexually assaulting the girl. Courtesy of Melanie Federline

ENFIELD  On March 18, Enfield police received a 911 call of an unresponsive 12-year-old girl, who was found dead, according to her mother, on the ground with the bedroom door locked, police said.

Inside her bedroom, Eve Rogers was found partially covered in a blanket and naked from the waist down and multiple pills were found, according to police.

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While death of Rogers remains under investigation, her death has prompted the arrest of her stepfather, Anthony Federline, 39, on a charge of first-degree sexual assault after police said his DNA was found in Rogers' genital area, according to his arrest warrant.

It has also prompted a number of questions about Rogers' death and the circumstances around the arrest of her stepfather.

Here's what we know and don't know:

What we know

Eve Rogers was found inside her room

Eve's mother, Melanie Federline, told police she opened her daughter's locked bedroom door with a butter knife after she didn't wake up at 10 a.m. on March 18. She said it was not unusual for her daughter to lock her bedroom door at night. She last saw her between 8 and 8:30 p.m. the night before, according to Anthony Federline's arrest warrant.

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The mother said Rogers is a light sleeper and will normally wake up when she knocks. When she knocked on the door and there was no answer, she became worried and used a butter knife to open the door. She found her daughter facedown on the floor.

There was a blanket over the victim's lower half and investigators saw when looking underneath the blanket that she was naked from the waist down and that both her knees were "splayed" out, according to the warrant.

Police also saw that her bra was pulled down.

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Pills were found in the home

Police first spotted two pills on the floor near the door inside Eve's bedroom, according to the warrant. One pill was red/pink and the other was clear with white powder inside.

On the desk inside the bedroom was another white pill with what appeared to be "Aspirin" marked on it, according to the warrant.

In the bedroom of a male 17-year-old next to the girl's bedroom, police found a plate of blue pills in the open along with "numerous pill bottles lying around the desk in the room," according to a search warrant.

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The warrant said the blue capsule pills were marked R3060, identified on Drugs.com and other medical websites as amphetamine and dextroamphetamine extended release.

Sexual assault kit and evidence seized

A sexual assault evidence kit performed on March 19 prior to Rogers' autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner noted signs of a possible sexual assault. On March 30, a report by the state Division of Scientific Services noted a mixture of three DNA contributors with at least one of them being male were recovered from her body, according to the warrant.

With the information, Enfield police requested and received DNA buccal swabs from Melanie Federline, three juveniles in the home and Anthony Federline, police said.

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Anthony Federline said he was upset about providing a buccal swab "because it felt like it was putting 'salt in the wound,'" the warrant stated.

Following an analysis, an April 2 report found Anthony Federline as one of the contributors in Rogers' genital swab. The lab report stated that assuming three contributors, where Rogers is one of the contributors, one of the contributors is at least "1 trillion times more likely to occur if it originated from Anthony Federline," according to the warrant.

Anthony worked as a local school bus driver

Anthony Federline worked as a school bus driver for six months prior to his arrest, according to the school district and the contracting bus company.

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Federline worked for Smyth Bus, which contracts school bus service to Enfield, for about six months, according to Ann Baldwin, a spokesman for the town and the bus company.

Baldwin said new employees, including Federline, undergo state and federal background checks that look back only five years.

Enfield School Superintendent Steven A. Moccio said in a letter to the community that Federline was removed from his position upon notification of his arrest.

The Federlines operated a spiritual healing website

The Federlines operated an energy healing website where they provided tarot card readings, performed reiki and spiritual healing online, according to their websites.

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Anthony and Melanie Federline operated Grounded Fire, which describes itself as a "spiritual guidance and intuitive services community centered on deep inner work." The website allows people to book sessions and even purchase monthly membership plans, as high as $33.33 a month.

Anthony Federline had a YouTube page associated with the Grounded Fire website where he performed hourlong virtual energy sessions. Traffic on the page was scant. Views on the nine videos were fewer than 100 each. His last posted video was six months ago.

What we don't know

How Eve Rogers died

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is investigating the cause and manner of Rogers' death and is awaiting results from the toxicology testing. Enfield police said the results will take weeks.

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Her educational status and homeschooling

Enfield school officials confirmed Thursday that Rogers attended local schools until September 2022 when Melanie Federline submitted a notice of withdrawal. The girl's family did not provide any updates on her academic progress after that, according to the school system.

Melanie Federline said her daughter, who had autism, was homeschooled.

"She was the sweetest, feistiest little girl you'd ever meet," said Melanie Federline, adding that she was "healthy and well cared for."

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The state Department of Children and Families received a report on Eve's death and the agency is conducting a joint investigation with police, DCF spokesperson Peter Yazbak said.

Who was the third contributor?

Enfield police, citing a report from the state Division of Scientific Services, identified Anthony Federline as one of the contributors found in a sexual assault evidence kit performed on Eve Rogers prior to her autopsy.

The warrant stated that one of three contributors was Rogers, leaving questions about the third contributor.

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Enfield police retrieved buccal swabs from everyone inside the Enfield home but the identity of the third contributor was not stated in Anthony Federline's arrest warrant.

What was found in the recent search warrant execution?

Enfield police on April 7 returned to the Elm Street home of the Federlines to execute another search warrant.

Enfield Police Chief Alaric Fox said they were searching the home once again, with the scope and details of the search warrant sealed by the court. He said Connecticut State Police assisted in the execution of the search warrant.

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The search came days after Federline's arrest.
CT Culture Corner is a weekly look inside the culture, arts and entertainment world in Greater Waterbury, Litchfield County and beyond.?? Hearst Connecticut Media graphic

Not one to be left out of the state's 250th celebrations, the Wadsworth will open the exhibit "Framing American Democracy: Radical Roots,"

April 23 through Sept. 27.

The exhibit asks "Who participates in democracy, and who has historically been excluded from or denied full participation within it," according to a news release. Since the time of its settlement by Rev. Thomas Hooker and 100 other Massachusetts followers in 1636, Connecticut "gave rise to political revolutionaries and revolutionary artists alike," according to the release.

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Frederic Edwin Church painted "Hooker and Company Journeying through the Wilderness from Plymouth to Hartford, in 1636," oil on canvas. Courtesy of the Wadsworth Atheneum

Hooker was a prominent Puritan minister, born in 1586 in Marfield, England. He emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1633, according to Founders of Hartford. Not long after his arrival, he became a pastor in nearby Newton, but soon came into conflict with leaders of the colony over the critical issue of who could vote. To do so in Massachusetts, one had to be a "freemen," or a person "who had been formally admitted to their church after a detailed interrogation of their religious views and experiences," according to Founders of Hartford.

The work of Frederic E. Church, Hartford native, will be on view at the Wadsworth Atheneum this month. This is "Rapids of the Susquehanna," painted around 1846. Courtesy of The Wadsworth

Hooker didn't like this idea, which put him at odds with the influential pastor John Cotton. So, he decided to take his ideas and his flock from Massachusetts to Hartford, a moment celebrated by Hartford's celebrated artist Frederic Edwin Church in "Hooker and Company Journeying through the Wilderness from Plymouth to Hartford, in 1636," which will be part of the Wadsworth exhibit. In the words of Hooker, The foundation of authority is laid, firstly, in the free consent of the people. As God has given us liberty, let us take it.

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Hooker expressed his democratic vision in a 1638 sermon, which influenced the development of the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut,

according to Connecticut History. This foundational document outlined the Connecticut Colonys representative and earned Connecticut the nickname of The Constitution State. (Before we were the "pizza state," of course).

This is a hand-colored lithograph on paper, which the Wadsworth, purchased through the gift of James Junius Goodwin. Created by E.B. & E.C. Kellogg Hartford, it was published by Case, Tiffany & Burnham. Courtesy of the Wadsworth

The Wadsworth acquired Church's painting in 1846, according to the New York Times. It's a tribute not just to his native city, but also to the Hudson River School, of which he was a devout disciple and practitioner.

Trivia Question:

Church was so successful in his lifetime, traveling to spots as varied as Newfoundland to Damascus, that he build himself a mansion he described as "Persian, adapted to the Occident." What is that homestead called and where can you see it?

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But how did Gorey get here?

Many Wadsworth habitues will recall its saucy exhibit "Gorey's World" in 2018, which was the first museum exhibition to explore the artistic inspiration of the famed American artist and author by presenting his personal art collection alongside art of his own creation, according to the museum. Edward Gorey chose inexplicably to leave his personal art collection to the Wadsworth, despite spending nearly his entire professional career in New York City, according to Arts Fuse, which speculates that, as a museum about half-way between New York and Gorey's home on Cape Cod, it seemed expedient.

This is artwork from Edward Goreys "The Gilded Bat," published in 1966. Courtesy of the Edward Gorey House

The Edward Gorey House in Yarmouth Port, Mass., just opened its 2026 season with "O Sordid Type: Edward Goreys Art of Lettering," which, like his fanciful creatures, is immediately identifiable.

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The exhibit offers a deep dive into the calligraphic and typographical experiments of Gorey, according to a news release, which stresses that every piece of text in an Gorey book is hand-lettered  "even his minuscule text drawn in the copyright pages of his miniature books." The only exception was his first book in 1953, "The Unstrung Harp." When it was reprinted in his first anthology "Amphigorey" in 1972, Gorey painstakingly re-lettered all the books text by hand, according to the release.

"Hand-lettered type is rarely mistaken for set type, so while generally suggesting a genteel 19th-century sensibility, the irregularities of Goreys hand-lettering imbue his works with a decidedly louche nature," according to the museum's website. "Gorey wants you to notice this  or at least have it subliminally register as suspect. This dovetails nicely with his general undermining of most aristocratic proprieties with compelling intimations of lurid acts, random violence, inexplicable madness, and casual despair."

"Iron Tonic," (1969) by Edward Gorey, is part of an exhibit that looks at the whimsical author and illustrator's typography. Courtesy of the Edward Gorey House

A visit to the museum, Gorey's former house, is a whimsical adventure for children and adults, but reservations are strongly recommended, especially in summer. The writer, illustrator, ballet-and cat-lover was as idiosyncratic about his collections as he was fanciful in his books and drawings.

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Trivia Answer
The Artemis II crewed lunar mission lifts off from Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 2026. Four astronauts blasted off aboard a massive NASA rocket April 1 on a long-anticipated journey around the Moon, the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. With an intense roar that reverberated far beyond the launchpad, the enormous orange-and-white rocket carried three Americans and one Canadian away from Florida's Kennedy Space Center at approximately 6:35 pm local time, according to an AFP journalist onsite. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

Hours before the four Artemis II astronauts were set to splash down in the Pacific Ocean after their trip to the moon, William Clark said employees at Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company were like anxious, expectant parents.

We have a couple of critical events that need to occur right before entry into the Earths atmosphere, said Clark, a program manager at the Simsbury-based company.

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Those events included the separation of the crew module, which holds the astronauts, from the service module, which provides propulsion. Pyrotechnic bolts from Ensign-Bickford allow that to happen, Clark said.

Theres four large bolts that ... when initiated ... fracture and release the service module, and then theres three other bolts that essentially release what they call the umbilical cords from the service module to the crew module, he explained. And those two events have to occur for what we consider a successful mission.

The crew was expected to hit Earths atmosphere traveling at 32 times the speed of sound. A recovery ship, USS John P. Murtha, awaited their arrival off the coast of San Diego.

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In this handout image provided by NASA, Orion snapped this high-resolution selfie in space with a camera mounted on one of its solar array wings during a routine external inspection of the spacecraft on the second day into the Artemis II mission on April 3, 2026. NASA's Artemis II mission will take Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back aboard their Orion spacecraft. NASA/NASA via Getty Images

Clark said Ensign-Bickford made other hardware for Artemis II, including components that were involved in the initiation of the rocket during the missions launch on April 1.

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Those things are not seen, but theyre there, he said.

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Once the service module entered space, devices made by Ensign-Bickford allowed panels that had protected parts on the module during launch to come off.

When the vehicle launches, it carries a lot of extra weight and structures to support the astronauts and the equipment in getting to orbit, value stream manager David Bridge said in a video posted to Ensign-Bickfords Facebook page. And at some point, it needs to shed all that so that it can continue on its mission to the moon, the asteroids, the stars.

As part of their mission, the four Artemis II astronauts traveled farther from Earth than any other humans had journeyed before. Perhaps the most high-profile predicament the crew faced was a malfunctioning toilet.

Clark said Ensign-Bickford has been supporting the Artemis program for about two decades. The company has provided hardware for Artemis I through V and is under contract to begin working on parts for Artemis VI through VIII.

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NASA plans to land a crew on the moon in 2028 as part of Artemis IV.

The recent mission is a huge milestone for Ensign-Bickford and for everybody involved, Clark said.

Gov. Ned Lamonts office has said that dozens of Connecticut companies have contributed to the Artemis program. Another is Milford-based Air-Lock Inc., which makes parts for spacesuits.
A 35-year-old Ansonia man pleaded guilty in New Haven federal court Thursday to a drug trafficking offense, federal prosecutors said. Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut

NEW HAVEN  A 35-year-old Ansonia man accused of selling fentanyl and cocaine to undercover investigators pleaded guilty Thursday to a drug trafficking offense, federal prosecutors said.

Josue Muniz was convicted in New Haven federal court of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine, according to David X. Sullivan, U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut.

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Sullivan said law enforcement began investigating Muniz in 2024 when the Drug Enforcement Administration and Stamford Police Department learned he was trafficking fentanyl and cocaine in the Naugatuck Valley.

Investigators conducted multiple undercover purchases of narcotics from Muniz in November and December 2024, Sullivan said.

Sullivan said Muniz was arrested on Oct. 20, 2024, at a car dealership in Milford where he was employed after investigators coordinated a purchase of narcotics.

He said Muniz had 58 grams of fentanyl in his possession at time of his arrest and that officers also found fentanyl and crack cocaine in his car and residence in Ansonia.

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Artist renderings of the new White House East Wing and Ballroom are photographed Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Jon Elswick/AP Work continues on the construction of the ballroom at the White House, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Washington, where the East Wing once stood. Rod Lamkey/AP Work continues on the construction of the ballroom at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Allison Robbert/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal judge must reconsider the possible national security implications of halting construction of President Donald Trumps $400 million White House ballroom, an appeals court ruled on Saturday.

A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said it did not have enough information to decide how much of the project can be suspended without jeopardizing the safety of the president, his family or the White House staff.

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The case was returned to the trial judge who, in a March 31 ruling, barred work from proceeding without congressional approval, but suspended enforcement of that order for 14 days. The appeals court extended that for three days, to April 17, to allow the Trump administration to seek Supreme Court review.

The panel instructed U.S. District Judge Richard Leon to clarify whether  and how  his injunction interferes with the administrations plans for safety and security.

Government lawyers had argued that the project includes critical security features to guard against a range of possible threats, such as drones, ballistic missiles and biohazards and that holding up construction would imperil the President and others who live and work in the White House,.

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Leon, in issuing the temporary pause, concluded that the preservationist group behind the legal challenge was likely to succeed because the president lacks the authority to build the ballroom without approval from Congress.

Leon exempted any construction work necessary to ensure the safety and security of the White House, but said he reviewed material the government privately submitted before determining that a halt would not jeopardize national security.

The Republican administration's appeal cited materials that would be installed to make a heavily fortified facility and said construction included bomb shelters, military installations and a medical facility underneath the ballroom.

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The appeals panel noted that much of the government's concerns focused on that below-ground security work, which the White House argued was "distinct from construction of the ballroom itself and could proceed independently.

Now, however, the White House seems to suggest those security upgrades are inseparable from the project as whole, the appeals court said, making it unclear whether and to what extent moving forward with certain aspects of the ballroom is necessary for the safety and security of those upgrades.

Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said in a statement that the organization awaited further clarification from the district court. She said the group was committed to honoring the historic significance of the White House, advocating for our collective role as stewards, and demonstrating how broad consultation, including with the American people, results in a better overall outcome.

The organization sued in December, a week after the White House finished demolishing the East Wing for a 90,000-square-foot (8,400-square-meter) ballroom that Trump said would fit 999 people. The administration said aboveground construction on the ballroom would begin in April.

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Leon concluded last month that the lawsuit was likely to succeed because no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have.

The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner! wrote Leon, who was nominated by President George W. Bush, a Republican.

Two days after Leons ruling, the ballroom project won final approval from a key agency that Trump had stocked with allies. Another oversight entity constituted with Trump loyalists had approved the project earlier this year. But the president had proceeded with the biggest structural change to the White House in more than 70 years before seeking input from the commissions.

Trump says the project is funded by private donations, although public money is paying for construction of underground bunkers and security upgrades.

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The three-judge appeals court panel was made up of Patricia Millett, Neomi Rao and Bradley Garcia. Millett was nominated by President Barack Obama, a Democrat. Rao was nominated by Trump. Garcia was nominated by President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

Rao wrote a dissenting opinion, which cited a statute that allows the president to undertake improvements to the White House.

Importantly, the government has presented credible evidence of ongoing security vulnerabilities at the White House that would be prolonged by halting construction, Rao wrote, adding that such concerns outweigh the generalized aesthetic harms presented in the lawsuit.

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Rocky, a gray seal, is fitted with a tracker after his release on Block Island in Rhode Island. He has been recovering at Mystic Aquarium since February after being brought in suffering from pneumonia. Mystic Aquarium Rocky, a gray seal, is released on Block Island in Rhode Island. He has been recovering at Mystic Aquarium since February after being brought in suffering from pneumonia. Mystic Aquarium Rocky, a gray seal, is fitted with a tracker after his release on Block Island in Rhode Island. He has been recovering at Mystic Aquarium since February after being brought in suffering from pneumonia. Mystic Aquarium

STONINGTON  The Mystic Aquarium successfully released a gray seal named Rocky that had recovered from pneumonia since he was rescued in February, the aquarium's Animal Rescue Program announced Friday.

Rocky was brought to the aquarium Feb. 13 after he was found on the northernmost tip of Block Island in Rhode Island, the aquarium said. The gray seal had been observed in the same location for several days and was experiencing lethargy and heavy breathing before the rescue, the announcement said.

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The gray seal was given antibiotics along with nutritional support as part of the medical treatment, the announcement said. The aquarium said that Rocky received around-the-clock care and responded well to treatment. The seal was released nearly two months after the rescue.

Rocky was returned to Block Island and released with assistance from the U.S Coast Guard and the Block Island Maritime Institute.

He was fitted with a tracker to monitor his movements as he returned to the Atlantic Ocean.
Richard Chumney is a reporter for the Connecticut Post, covering the Bridgeport Board of Education and the town of Stratford. He previously covered the city of Norwalk for The Norwalk Hour and the city of Lynchburg, Virginia for the News & Advance.
WASHINGTON, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A senior U.S. official said Saturday that the White House has not yet agreed to unfreeze Iran's overseas assets, according to media reports.

Earlier in the day, citing a senior Iranian official, Reuters reported that the United States had agreed to release Iranian frozen assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks. 
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FILE - President Donald Trump, right, meets with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Nov. 7, 2025, in Washington. Evan Vucci/AP FILE - President Donald Trump greets Argentina's President Javier Milei at the White House, Oct. 14, 2025, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP FILE - President Donald Trump and Polish President Karol Nawrocki, right, walk along the colonnade toward the Oval Office at the White House, Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington. Evan Vucci/AP FILE - President Donald Trump shakes hands with President of Honduras Nasry Asfura at the Shield of the Americas Summit, March 7, 2026, at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Fla. Mark Schiefelbein/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  In Hungary, President Donald Trump and his top officials used social media and an election-eve trip to Budapest to promote the countrys far-right prime minister in his reelection campaign.

In Argentina, the U.S. administration worked to prop up the countrys financial markets to the tune of $20 billion -- then Trump threatened to pull the assistance if its elections didnt go his preferred way.

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And in Honduras, he backed a conservative former mayor for president  and pardoned a predecessor from the same political party as Hondurans were preparing to vote.

In his second term, Trump has made a public flex of his political influence abroad on a scale that few if any U.S. presidents have exerted, trying to marshal power that hes used domestically to sway races in Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe.

Using endorsements to reward loyal and like-minded leaders, he has shattered a U.S. tradition of avoiding overt involvement in the internal politics of other countries, and made the use of some foreign policy tools more about politics than about advancing U.S. interests, according to his critics.

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The impact of that is to really cheapen a relationship, said David Pressman, who served as the U.S. ambassador to Hungary during the Biden administration. Pressman, who was on the ground in Budapest as Orban publicly backed Trump in 2024, said Hungarian positions on key issues such as Ukraine felt infused through a political U.S. rubric, rather than articulated as sovereign foreign policy.

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The most significant test yet of Trumps political power abroad may come Sunday, when voters in Hungary render a verdict on Prime Minister Viktor Orban's bid for a fifth term. Orban was the first European leader to back Trump during his 2016 run and remained a close ally even during Trumps period of political exile, making sojourns to see him in south Florida and again endorsing the Republican in his 2024 comeback race.

I love Hungary and I love that Viktor, Trump said this week as Vice President JD Vance, visiting Budapest, put him on speakerphone at a rally with more than 1,000 Orban supporters.

Trump says he loves to pick winners

Trump has long reveled in his status as kingmaker in the Republican Party. Now, he boasts that foreign leaders come to him seeking his approval.

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I love it when I give endorsements and people win, Trump said last month at a summit with several Latin American leaders whom he had backed.

Often, his picks share his policy views, like fellow immigration hard-liners Orban and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, or the chainsaw-wielding Argentine President Javier Milei, who used the tool to illustrate his zeal to slash spending.

Trump and his officials have often used the Conservative Political Action Conference as a stage for promoting their foreign political friends.

At a CPAC gathering in Warsaw last year, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urged Poles to vote for conservative Karol Nawrocki, and implied that the future of the U.S. military presence in Poland could hinge on the elections outcome. Nawrocki would go on to win.

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In Hungary last month, Trump greeted CPAC attendees with a video message from behind the Resolute Desk, urging support for Orban.

The prime minister has been a strong leader whos shown the entire world whats possible when you defend your borders, your culture, your heritage, your sovereignty and your values, Trump said. He later added, I hope he wins, and I hope he wins big.

The White House defended Trumps approach as a sign of transparency.

President Trump is a great American statesman who will speak or work with anyone, and he makes no secret about those he likes or supports, spokeswoman Anna Kelly said. Many individuals who align with President Trumps ideology are getting elected to top offices around the world because everyone wants to replicate his immeasurable success on behalf of the American people, she said.

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Sunday's election is a big test of Trump's foreign political clout

Few foreign leaders have amassed as much political support from the Trump administration as Orban. The U.S. president has fired off multiple Truth Social posts promoting the prime minister, whose hard-right authoritarian approach to governance has endeared him to Trump, as did his fealty to the U.S. president even when Trump was out of power.

Hungary: GET OUT AND VOTE FOR VIKTOR ORBAN, Trump posted Thursday night. On Friday, he said his administration stands ready to use the full Economic Might of the United States to help Hungary's economy, if Orban and Hungarians need it.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as a senator, once aired concerns about democratic erosion under Orban. Nonetheless, Rubio endorsed him in February and promoted the very, very close personal relationship and working relationship between Trump and the prime minister.

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During Vances two-day swing to Budapest this week, he made the administrations endorsement of Orban explicit even as he decried foreign election interference from the European Union.

Of course were going to work with whoever wins the Hungarian election because we love the people of Hungary and its an important relationship, Vance told reporters. But Viktor Orban is going to win the next election in Hungary, so I feel very confident about that and about our continued positive relationship.

But Orban had been trailing in independent polls ahead of the April 12 election and Trump  whose push to acquire Greenland and war in Iran have made him unpopular throughout Europe  may have less sway than he once had.

Past presidents have been more subtle

Past administrations have used different methods to influence power abroad. For instance, the Central Intelligence Agency under President Dwight D. Eisenhower helped engineer a 1954 coup that forced out Guatemala's president, Jacobo Arbenz.

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There have been rare cases when past presidents made their support explicit, such as when former President Bill Clinton backed Russian President Boris Yeltsins 1993 move to dissolve parliament and set up new legislative and presidential elections.

But Trumps political engagement abroad is without precedent, said James Lindsay, a distinguished senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Trump is just different than other presidents, and hes viewed differently than other presidents, and that is a strength you can take advantage of, Lindsay said.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said Trump's blatant involvement in elections abroad should be viewed as part of the what the administration called the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine in its national security strategy released in December. The 1823 Monroe Doctrine, named for President James Monroe, has been used to justify U.S. military interventions in Latin America.

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Kaine, who was a missionary in Honduras at a time of deep covert U.S. involvement in Latin America, called the doctrine poison language for the region. It's violating best practice, he said. America has been deeply involved in regime support, opposition and regime change in the Americas for centuries, and it is not a legacy that we should be proud of.

Trump has offered carrots  and sticks  during foreign races

Sometimes Trump's support for foreign candidates has come with more than an endorsement.

In October, Trump was particularly blunt about his intent to withhold assistance for Argentina if Milei's political coalition didnt prevail in legislative elections that month. Shortly before Milei's visit, the administration had finalized a $20 billion currency swap line, aid that had drawn fierce criticism from U.S. farmers and Democratic lawmakers.

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If he loses, we are not going to be generous with Argentina. OK? Trump told a reporter as he hosted Milei at a White House lunch.

In the final days of last year's Honduran elections, Trump not only made his preference for Nasry Asfura clear, but also emphasized that the United States will not be throwing good money after bad if Asfura lost. Both Milei and Asfura were successful in their respective elections.

Trump also announced a pardon for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez for U.S. drug trafficking and weapons convictions. This cannot be allowed to happen, especially now, after Tito Asfura wins the Election, when Honduras will be on its way to Great Political and Financial Success, Trump wrote on social media.

Trump has repeatedly floated a pardon for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including in a formal letter and during a speech to the countrys parliament. Netanyahu is enmeshed in a far-reaching corruption case that includes allegations of fraud, breach of trust and bribery. He faces what could be a tough reelection campaign this year.

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A fiery Vance speech in the early weeks of the Trump administration strained ties with Germany when, at the Munich Security Conference, he criticized mainstream German parties for refusing to work with a far-right party.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz later said it was not the place for a U.S. leader to say something like that to us in Germany.

I wouldnt do it in America, either, Merz said.
File photo of Connecticut State Police cruiser. Hearst Connecticut Media

BARKHAMSTED  Sections of East Hartland Road were closed Saturday afternoon following a head-on collision between a tow truck and a motorcycle that left one person with serious injuries, state police say.

The accident occurred around 4:07 p.m. in the area of 520 E. Hartland Road in Barkhamsted. Authorities warned drivers to avoid the area because the road closures were expected to last for some time.

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NEW YORK, April 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday that he is watching fertilizer prices closely "during our FIGHT FOR FREEDOM in Iran."

"The United States will not accept PRICE GOUGING from the fertilizer monopoly!" he wrote. 
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) walks to board Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026. Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation. Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation.

"That will open up automatically," Trump told reporters. He later said he believed the waterway would be open "fairly soon."

"I think it's going to go pretty quickly. And if it doesn't, we'll be able to finish it off one way or the other," Trump said of the strait, which Iran effectively closed during the more than one month long U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.

"No nuclear weapon. That's 99 percent of it," Trump said.

Earlier on Friday, Trump told The New York Post in a phone interview 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 peace talks in Pakistan fail.

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 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. 

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) walks toward Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026. Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation.

Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

U.S. President Donald Trump (1st R) boards Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026. Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation.

Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) walks toward Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026. Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation.

Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

U.S. President Donald Trump walks toward Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026. Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation.

Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) walks toward Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026. Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation.

Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

U.S. President Donald Trump walks toward Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026. Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation.

Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) walks toward Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026. Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation.

Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)
NASA's Orion spacecraft carrying Artemis II crew members is seen as it splashes down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, the United States, on April 10, 2026. NASA's Artemis II mission splashed down off the coast of San Diego, the U.S. state of California Friday evening. (Bill Ingalls/NASA/Handout via Xinhua)

LOS ANGELES, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Four astronauts returned safely to Earth on Friday after completing a 10-day mission around the Moon, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said.

The capsule Orion touched down at about 17:07 local time (0007 GMT Saturday) in the Pacific Ocean, some 96 km off the San Diego coast, the U.S. state of California, according to NASA. It was the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972.

After splashing down, Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman said that all four crew members are in good condition. The other three crew members are NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

NASA said the crew traveled a total of 1.12 million km over the course of the mission. Weather and sea conditions at the recovery site were favorable, with winds and wave heights within NASA's required safety limits.

The capsule re-entered Earth's atmosphere using a modified flight path designed to reduce peak heating loads on the heat shield. NASA developed the adjusted profile following issues identified during the Artemis I uncrewed test flight in 2022.

A U.S. Navy recovery team aboard the USS John P. Murtha was positioned to recover the crew following the splashdown.

"We are back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon, bringing them back safely," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said following the splashdown.

NASA said the crew set a new record for the farthest distance any humans have ever traveled from Earth during the mission, depicting Artemis II as a key step toward future crewed lunar landings under the Artemis program, which aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface in 2028, with the long-term goal of building a base on the moon. 

NASA's Orion spacecraft carrying Artemis II crew members is seen as it splashes down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, the United States, on April 10, 2026. NASA's Artemis II mission splashed down off the coast of San Diego, the U.S. state of California Friday evening. (Joel Kowsky/NASA/Handout via Xinhua)

NASA's Orion spacecraft carrying Artemis II crew members is seen as it splashes down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, the United States, on April 10, 2026. NASA's Artemis II mission splashed down off the coast of San Diego, the U.S. state of California Friday evening. (Josh Valcarcel/NASA/Handout via Xinhua)

NASA's Orion spacecraft carrying Artemis II crew members is seen as it splashes down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, the United States, on April 10, 2026. NASA's Artemis II mission splashed down off the coast of San Diego, the U.S. state of California Friday evening. (Josh Valcarcel/NASA/Handout via Xinhua)
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Uncle Sam has published his latest financial report card and its not looking good.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently warned that the U.S. is on an "unsustainable fiscal trajectory" driven by massive government spending and high debt (1). The Treasury reported $6.1 trillion in total assets against $47.8 trillion in total liabilities as of September 30, 2025 (2). In other words, the governments net worth is negative $41.7 trillion.

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To make matters worse, this estimate of total liabilities doesnt include the unfunded obligations of social insurance programs like Social Security and Medicare. That liability is reported separately, which keeps it off the federal governments core balance sheet.

According to estimates published by Fortune, Johns Hopkins economist Steve Hanke and former U.S. Comptroller David Walker estimate that, over a 75-year period, those unfunded liabilities could be worth $88.4 trillion (3). Add that to the $41.7 trillion shortfall on the Federal governments core balance sheet, and you have total liabilities of a whopping $130 trillion.

Heres what all these astronomical numbers mean for your personal finances in the years ahead.

Impact on ordinary American families

The massive gap in Uncle Sams finances must be closed somehow. There are only a few options, none of which are likely to be pleasant for ordinary American taxpayers.

Raising taxes, for instance, could give the government some additional revenue to manage this debt burden over time. In 2024, legendary investor Warren Buffett predicted the long-term rise of corporate taxes to help close some of the governments fiscal deficit (4).

Restructuring the social safety net could be another option.

Raising the retirement age, placing a cap on benefits for high-income households or expanding legal immigration to bring in more young contributors to the trust fund would close some of the gap in the Social Security trust fund, according to the Brookings Institution (5).

Unfortunately, many of these solutions are likely to be uncomfortable for ordinary workers and savers. You may need to plan for higher taxes or a delayed retirement to prepare for any of these potential moves by a future government.
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A new guidebook highlighting wild swimming locations across the South West has been published, featuring a number of spots in and around Dartmoor National Park.

Swimming Wild in South West England by Sian Anna Lewis showcases more than 50 outdoor swimming locations, including beaches, rivers, lakes and tidal pools across the region.

READ NEXT: Devon childrens services see major staffing shift and millions in cost savings

The book includes sites from across the West Country, with a focus on natural swimming areas such as rivers and hidden pools.

Dartmoor and the River Avon are among the areas featured.

Lewis, an award-winning travel and outdoors journalist, said: For me, swimming under an open sky is one of the best ways to experience nature, and the West Country is a goldmine.

From the coastal regions, to the River Avon and Dartmoor National Park there are silent pools and pristine waters hidden around every corner, and with this book, you wont need to search for them.

The guide is aimed at a wide range of swimmers, from beginners to those with more experience.

It includes practical information on how to access each location, as well as advice on safety, tides, currents and potential hazards.

Alongside natural sites, the book also features a selection of managed outdoor swimming venues.

These locations offer facilities such as lifeguards and water quality testing, and are included as an option for those new to open water swimming.

Lewis said the region offers a wide variety of environments for swimmers.

From hidden plunge pools on Dartmoor and secret skinny dips on the Devon coast to Dorsets rocky coves, this region offers some of the most diverse wild waters in Britain, she said.

The book also includes photography and mapping to help readers locate each site, along with suggestions for places to visit nearby.

Swimming Wild in South West England is due to be published on 7 May.
A warehouse worker has been arrested after a huge paper goods warehouse was destroyed by fire in Ontario, California.

The building was a distribution center for Kimberly-Clark, which makes (1) paper goods, diapers and personal products for brands like Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex and Cottonelle. The warehouse was operated by National Freight Inc. (NFI) Industries, a third-party logistics firm.

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A statement (2) from the Ontario Fire Department and the Ontario Police Department says the 1.2-million-square-foot facility was quickly engulfed and the six-alarm blaze required 175 firefighters. The warehouse reportedly serves (3) about 50 million people.

According to a report (4) from CBS, Cal Fire officials said that although sprinklers in the building were active, the flames were located throughout the warehouse, suggesting the fire was likely not an accident.

Warehouse employee arrested

No warehouse employees were injured in the blaze. But the statement from Ontario police and fire officials says one worker was initially unaccounted for and was later suspected of starting the fire. Police quickly located the individual.

This fire was very quickly identified as suspicious in nature, Deputy Chief Mike Wedell said, according to (5) ABC 7 News. There was a subject of interest identified very early on in the incident. That subject has been arrested.

Police say that Chamel Abdulkarim, a 29-year-old employee of NFI Industries, the third-party company that operates the warehouse, has been charged with multiple arson-related felonies and is being held without bail.

A video (6) circulating on social media appears to show large pallets of paper goods inside the warehouse beginning to burn. A person who seems to be holding the video recording device can be heard saying, All you had to do was pay us enough to live. All you had to do was pay us enough to f live  There goes your inventory.

CBS reported that Corporal Emily Williams said (4) at a news conference that police identified Abdulkarim after receiving several calls at the time of the fire that led them to determine the blaze was suspicious.

According to ABC 7, officials said that it was not yet known whether Abdulkarim was working when the blaze started, but he was present at the warehouse.
Cllr Aoife Masterson, a Tullamore based county councillor, who narrowly missed out on securing a seat in Dail Eireann for Sinn Fein in Offaly in the 2024 General Election reveals 'what's in her bag'.

Sculpted by Aimee Hydra Lip

Buying Irish is so important - but it is infinitely easier when the products rival some of the best in the business.

This lip tint has a perfect burst of hydration and colour and has rarely left my bag since I first bought it.

Dr Jart+ Creamidim Cream Mist

My eternal quest to age backwards means my skincare routine involves a lot of acids and Retinol, which can be quite drying. A huge part of counteracting that is my Dr Jart+ mist.

READ NEXT: Major new volume on the urban history of Tullamore to be launched

Book (Focail na mBan, Womens Words)

Manchan Magan's book is a celebration of Irish women, art, and language and a reminder of how our unique culture, and identity can only fully be expressed through our native tongue.

Travel Size Face Powder (Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder and Real Techniques Setting Brush)

My job means days can be long and unpredictable, so I always keep a little powder in my handbag.

I love this one from Hourglass as it is light but still effective.

SPF (Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick)

I spent many years working in Brown Thomas and the one thing all make up artists agreed on was that good make up starts with good skin care, and good skin care starts with SPF.

I love this one from Beauty of Joseon because it is light, non sticky, and doesnt interfere with my make up.

Travel Size Hand Sanitiser (Aesop, Resurrection Rinse Free Hand Wash)

In a post Covid world, hand sanitisers are all but essential.

I love this one from Aesop because it is gentle, hydrating, and smells deep, rich, and earthy.

Hand Cream (Loccitane, Shea Butter)

I first bought this over 12 years ago when I was working in Ohio for the Innocence Project.

Its just a deeply hydrating hand cream.

Headphones (Air Pod Max, Silver)

My job can involve a lot of travel so I always keep a set of headphones in my handbag to pop on and catch up current affairs or listen to some podcasts.

Bella Belissima (Blue Diamond)

Many years ago I worked for London Perfumer Bella Crane, the nose behind Bella Belissima. Since then, I have always had one of her fragrances in my bag.

My current favourite is Blue Diamond.

Deodorant (Salt & Stone, Santal and Vetiver)

Handbag space can get tight, so I always love a multi purpose product.

This deodorant from Salt and Stone doubles as a beautiful fragrance.

Filifax (Personal, Lockwood in Garnet)

When I started law school my mum bought me a Filofax to help stay organised, and I have had it ever since.

The great thing about this planner is it is completely customisable so you can change it around to suit you.

READ NEXT: THE BIG READ: Urban design in Tullamore - A new broom and an old master
Corn futures saw losses on Thursday, with contracts down 1  to 3  cents. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was down 3 cents at $4.05 1/2. Crude oil was back up $4.06 on Thursday.

South Korean importers purchased 136,000 MT of corn in tenders overnight, following the purchases from Wednesday. USDAs flash reporting system suggested it was US origin, reporting a private export sale of 136,000 MT of corn to South Korea this morning

More News from Barchart

Export Sales data from this morning showed 1.36 MMT in old crop corn sales for the week of April 2. That was up 18.4% from last week and 73.3% above the same week last year. Japan was the top buyer of 632,400 MT, with 202,500 MT sold to Mexico. New crop sales were tallied at 11,430 MT, all to Mexico.

The USDA WASDE update showed the US corn ending stocks projection left at 2.127 bbu as the trade had suspected. The only major change was via the average cash price, up a nickel to $4.15. World ending stocks were raised by 2.06 MMT to 294.81 MMT, mainly due to a hike in India, South Africa, and Brazil. No major changes to South American production were noted.

May 26 Corn closed at $4.44, down 3 1/4 cents,

Nearby Cash was $4.05 1/2, down 3 cents,

Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.55, down 3 cents,

Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.74 1/4, down 1 3/4 cents,

New Crop Cash was $4.31 1/2, down 2 1/2 cents,

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Corn prices are trading with 1 to 2  cent losses on Friday morning as traders look to round out the week. Futures saw losses on Thursday, with contracts down 1  to 3  cents. Open interest was down 12,902 contracts on Thursday, mainly in the May, dropping 41,575 contracts. Some were rolling to July, up 28,073 contracts. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was down 3 cents at $4.05 1/2.

Export Sales data from Thursday morning showed 1.36 MMT in old crop corn sales for the week of April 2. That was up 18.4% from last week and 73.3% above the same week last year. Japan was the top buyer of 632,400 MT, with 202,500 MT sold to Mexico. New crop sales were tallied at 11,430 MT, all to Mexico.

More News from Barchart

The USDA WASDE update showed the US corn ending stocks projection left at 2.127 bbu as the trade had suspected. The only major change was via the average cash price, up a nickel to $4.15. World ending stocks were raised by 2.06 MMT to 294.81 MMT, mainly due to a hike in India, South Africa, and Brazil. No major changes to South American production were noted.

May 26 Corn closed at $4.44, down 3 1/4 cents, currently down 1 cent

Nearby Cash was $4.05 1/2, down 3 cents,

Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.55, down 3 cents, currently down 1 1/2 cents

Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.74 1/4, down 1 3/4 cents, currently down 2 cents

New Crop Cash was $4.31 1/2, down 2 1/2 cents,

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
The Global X - Silver Miners ETF (NYSEMKT:SIL) and the iShares Gold Trust (NYSEMKT:IAU) both provide access to precious metals, but their approaches and risk profiles differ.

SIL holds a portfolio of silver mining companies, giving investors indirect exposure to silver prices with added company-specific risk. IAU, on the other hand, is designed to track the price of physical gold, offering a more direct commodity play. This comparison unpacks the nuances between these two popular ETFs.

Snapshot (cost & size)

Metric SIL IAU Issuer Global X iShares Expense ratio 0.65% 0.25% 1-yr return (as of April 10, 2026) 161.9% 53.7% Beta (5Y monthly) 1.22 0.19 Assets under management (AUM) $5.13 billion $70.5 billion Dividend yield 1.11% N/A

Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.

IAU stands out as the more affordable option, charging a lower expense ratio. This cost gap could matter for long-term holders, especially given IAUs much larger scale and liquidity. Also, while IAU doesnt offer a dividend, SIL does  which could be appealing to income-focused investors.

Performance & risk comparison

Metric SIL IAU Max drawdown (5Y) -55.79% -21.82% Growth of $1,000 over 5 years (total returns) $2,373 $2,701

What's inside

IAU offers exposure to the price of physical gold, holding gold bullion in trust for shareholders. With over 21 years in operation, it is one of the oldest and largest gold ETFs, managing over $70 billion in assets.

IAUs portfolio consists entirely of gold, so investors avoid company-specific risks or sector tilts. The funds structure means performance closely mirrors spot gold prices, and it remains highly liquid with tight trading spreads.

By contrast, SIL invests in a basket of 38 silver mining companies, providing equity exposure to the silver industry. Its top holdings include Wheaton Precious Metals, Pan American Silver, and Coeur Mining.

SILs 100% basic materials tilt amplifies its exposure to the commodities cycle, and its returns may diverge from spot silver due to these equity factors.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

What this means for investors

Gold and silver can both be solid investments during periods of economic uncertainty, but these two ETFs differ significantly in performance and risk.

Silver has been more volatile in recent years. Its higher beta suggests more severe price fluctuations, and its steeper max drawdown indicates deeper downturns during its rough patches. Over the last 12 months, however, SIL has outperformed IAU with total returns of nearly 162% compared to around 54%.
Commentary: China-Spain ties show value of stability, win-win cooperation

Xinhua) 14:04, April 11, 2026

People view a bronze human head from the Sanxingdui archaeological site during an exhibition on the bronze civilization of southwest China at the Guadalajara Museum in Guadalajara, Spain, on March 17, 2026. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

When Chinese President Xi Jinping met King Felipe VI of Spain last year, he emphasized this point -- highlighting mutual respect, practical cooperation and a shared commitment to fairness in global governance. That framework continues to define the relationship today.

MADRID, April 11 (Xinhua) -- As Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez embarks on his fourth trip to China in four years, the visit is set to further consolidate bilateral ties.

The frequency itself speaks to a relationship built on consistency and mutual trust, and points to a broader pathway for steady engagement between China and Europe at a time of growing global uncertainty.

As noted by Spanish scholar Jordi Bacaria, bilateral ties are "not improvised," but the result of sustained and high-level effort over time. In an increasingly volatile international environment, such continuity has become a rare asset.

That consistency is underpinned by a clear logic: reliability matters. While geopolitical tensions and policy unpredictability have unsettled international ties, countries, including Spain, are seeking partners capable of long-term thinking and steady cooperation. China's policy continuity and commitment to multilateralism have made it an increasingly attractive counterpart.

At its core, China-Spain cooperation reflects a broader logic: countries with different historical, cultural backgrounds and social systems can work together effectively when they prioritize long-term common interests. When Chinese President Xi Jinping met King Felipe VI of Spain last year, he emphasized this point -- highlighting mutual respect, practical cooperation and a shared commitment to fairness in global governance. That framework continues to define the relationship today.

The bilateral relationship also rests on strong economic complementarity. China is Spain's largest trading partner outside the EU, and Spain is an important partner for China within the bloc. According to data from China's General Administration of Customs, bilateral goods trade exceeded 55 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, growing 9.8 percent year-on-year.

Trade figures alone do not tell the full picture. With Spain advancing a technology agenda focused on semiconductors and renewable energy, the two sides could become vital partners in each other's modernization efforts. By aligning Spain's own modernization goals with China's drive for high-quality development, they can unlock new opportunities for industrial and technological cooperation.

People visit the booth of China Telecom during the 2026 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, March 2, 2026. The 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC) opened on Monday in Barcelona, Spain. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

The green transition has emerged as a key area of convergence. Chinese investment in Spain's new energy sectors, from electric vehicles to wind power, is contributing to its industrial upgrading, while Spain brings valuable experience in renewable energy deployment. This two-way flow of investment and expertise demonstrates a partnership that delivers tangible industrial and technological gains for both sides.

Spain's emphasis on cooperation with China is not an isolated case. In recent months, leaders from the United Kingdom, Finland, Ireland and Germany have all traveled to Beijing, seeking to strengthen economic ties and diplomatic channels.

This reflects a recognition that engagement with China is not a departure from European interests, but a way to advance them, particularly as Europe seeks greater strategic autonomy and economic resilience.

In this context, Sanchez's visit carries a message that resonates beyond Madrid and Beijing: even amid fragmentation and uncertainty, sustained dialogue and practical cooperation remain viable and necessary.

At a time marked by division and instability, China-Spain cooperation can help provide a sense of stability and guide China-Europe relations onto a steadier and more constructive path.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
Soybeans posted gains of  to 4 cents on Thursday, led by the front months. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price was up 3 3/4 cents at $10.97 1/2. Soymeal futures were up $1 to $3.50 on the day, with Soy Oil futures up 28 to 39 points on the day. Crude oil was back up $4.06 on Thursday.

USDA released their monthly WASDE report this morning showing a few changes in the demand projections, with a 35 mbu increase to crush. Exports were trimmed by 35 mbu to take the overall change in the carry out to 0 at 350 mbu. The cash average price was up a dime to $10.30.

More News from Barchart

South American output from the two main players was left unchanged, at 48 MMT for Argentina and 180 MMT for Brazil. World stocks were trimmed by 0.52 MMT to 124.79 MMT.

Export Sales data from this morning had USDA tallying 295,403 MT of old crop bean business in the week of 4/2. That was the second lowest total for the marketing year, but still 71.42% above the same week last year. China was the buyer of 124,700 MT, with 121,000 MT switched from unknown destination, with Jaoan buying 104,800 MT. New crop sales came in at 0.

Meal sales were pegged at 363,648 MT, in the middle of the 225,000-450,000 MT estimates. Bean oil sales were net reductions of 1,617 MT, in the middle of the trade estimates of 10,000 in net reductions to 12,000 MT in net sales.

May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.65 1/4, up 3 1/4 cents,

Nearby Cash was $10.97 1/2, up 3 3/4 cents,

Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.81, up 3 cents,

Nov 26 Soybeans closed at $11.52 1/2, up 1/2 cent,

New Crop Cash was $10.91 1/2, up 3/4 cent,

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
Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
President Donald Trump promised to slash beef prices on day one of his election. Eighteen months later, cattle and retail beef prices have reached record highs.

At $6.74 per pound, the current price of beef is about 18% higher than it was during President Joe Bidens last year in office. cattle and beef prices have sharply outperformed the U.S. stock market  and the structural shortage driving them shows no sign of relenting.

Since Trumps election victory on November 5, 2024, feeder cattle futures have surged 51.85% and live cattle 33.09%  more than tripling and doubling the S&P 500s  as tracked by the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust  17.22% return over the same period.

While Wall Street convulsed over Trumps tariffs and the war in Iran, cattle were quietly minting returns that would embarrass an AI-linked portfolio.

Don't Miss:

Notably, the outperformance holds across recent years. Over four years, feeder cattle futures gained 131% and live cattle 84%, against 51% for the S&P 500.

Stretch to five years: feeder cattle 146%, live cattle 101%, SPY 64%. Compress to two: feeder cattle still lead at 55% versus 30% for SPY.

Period (through April 8, 2026) Feeder Cattle Futures (GF!) Live Cattle (LE!) SPY YTD +4.30% +4.21% -1.05% Since Trump election (Nov 5, 2024) +51.85% +33.09% +17.22% 2-year +55.16% +41.89% +30.32% 3-year +78.97% +50.23% +65.00% 4-year +130.90% +83.77% +51.04% 5-year +145.96% +100.60% +64.00%

Data: TradingView

Chart: Feeder Cattle Has More Than Doubled S&P 500 Returns In 5-Year Window

Trending: This Startup Thinks It Can Reinvent the Wheel  Literally

The Smallest Herd Since 1951

The U.S. cattle herd  the total count of all cattle and calves  stood at 86.2 million head as of January 1, 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

That is a 75-year low, down from a recent peak of 94.7 million in 2019.

The herd has been contracting for eight consecutive years and will not meaningfully expand before 2028 at the earliest.

Think of it like a factory that keeps idling production lines while customers keep ordering the same number of burgers. Eventually, the backlog becomes structural, and price is the only clearing mechanism.

The cattle cycle  a natural 8-to-12 year rhythm of herd expansion and contraction driven by prices, drought and gestation periods  has entered its 13th year of the current cycle and its eighth year of contraction.
The Federal Government has approved the implementation of the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures, including new tariff amendments and excise duties on beverages and tobacco products, taking effect from 1 April.

In a document issued by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, seen by PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, the government policy introduces Supplementary Protection Measures (SPM) in line with the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) 20222027.

The Policy Measures are for the implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) 2022  2027 and excise duties on non- alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and tobacco products, as well as Green Tax Surcharge.

These include an Import Adjustment Tax (IAT) on 192 tariff lines, an import prohibition list covering 17 items from non-ECOWAS countries, and a national list of 127 items with reduced import duties to support key sectors of the economy.

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However, with effect from January 2027, all Import Adjustment Taxes (IATs) except for products on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) 3 percent list, shall be gradually reduced on an annual basis until full elimination to 0 per cent by 2036, in line with Nigerias commitments to ECOWAS/AfCFTA, the document read.

Details shows that the import adjustment tax (IAT) on items such as crude palm oil has been pegged at a total effective rate of 28.75 per cent, a decline from previous high-tariff regimes.

Similarly, fully-built units of passenger motor vehicle, four-wheel drive motor vehicle, and station wagon now attract a total effective tariff of 40 per cent, indicating a slash from the previous rate of 70 per cent.

The approval also covers the Import Prohibition list (Trade), which applies only to certain goods originating from non-ECOWAS Member States.

This consists of 17 items, including purebred breeding animals (Cattle), Maize (corn) starch, parts of bovine animals, sheep or goats, other than those of heading, Petroleum Oils containing PCBs, PCTs, and PBBs, and so on.

The approved SPM also includes a national list consisting of items with reduced import duty rates to promote and stimulate growth in critical sectors of the economy, consisting of 127 tariff lines.

According to the Finance Minister, the excise duty on Green Tax Surcharge will take effect from 1 July, while the rates for 2027 and 2028 are scheduled to take effect from 1 January of each year.

A grace period of ninety (90) days commencing from the date of this circular is hereby granted to all Importers, Manufacturers, and Service Providers before the implementation of the new excise duty rates.

The new excise duty rates on this circular shall therefore take effect from 1 July, 2026, while the rates for 2027 and 2028 shall take effect on 1st January of each year.

Waste Polyethylene

As part of the measures, Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate (rPET) has been added to the export prohibition list.

The government also granted a 90-day window for importers with existing Form M and irrevocable trade agreements before 1 April, 2026, to clear goods under the old duty rates.

However, all new import transactions from that date will be subject to the revised tariff regime.

The new fiscal measures will be published in the Official Gazette, with authorities urging strict compliance.

These Fiscal Policy Measures, which supersede the 2023 Fiscal Policy Measures, shall be published in the Official Federal Government Gazette, Mr Edun said.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has asked Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), to suspend its planned conferment of an honorary doctorate on Tanzanias President Samia Hassan, citing concerns over alleged human rights violations under her administration.

Mr Falanas intervention follows an earlier report by PREMIUM TIMES on the universitys decision to honour the Tanzanian leader at its 8th combined convocation and 25th anniversary scheduled for today (Saturday).

The planned award has attracted criticism from sections of the public, given reports of a violent crackdown on protesters after Tanzanias disputed 2025 elections.

In a statement signed by Tayo Soyemi of Falana and Falana Chambers, the senior advocate said the university should urgently reconsider the decision in light of what he described as appalling and well-documented allegations of serious human rights violations.

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President Hassans administration is committing egregious human rights violations, including unlawful killings, torture, excessive use of force and enforced disappearances against the Tanzanian people, Mr Falana said.

He added that the government had reportedly used lethal force against her own people, including protesters challenging the credibility of the countrys 2025 elections.

Mounting scrutiny

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that NSUK announced President Hassan as guest of honour for its anniversary ceremony, where she is expected to receive a Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa).

The decision has drawn attention in Nigeria, especially against the backdrop of findings by international organisations. Human Rights Watch said Tanzanian authorities responded to protests with lethal force and other abuses, while a CNN investigation documented shootings of largely unarmed protesters, supported by video verification and forensic analysis.

Although Tanzanian authorities have acknowledged casualties, they have disputed high death toll estimates and defended their actions as necessary to maintain order.

Mr Falana said such developments should weigh heavily on the universitys decision.

The University should neither ignore nor appear indifferent to grave violations of the rights to life, freedom of expression, and peaceful assembly, core principles that universities are duty-bound to uphold, he said.

NUC guidelines

The senior lawyer also referenced the National Universities Commission (NUC) guidelines issued in February 2026, which caution against the indiscriminate award of honorary degrees.

According to him, the guidelines require that such honours be reserved for individuals of proven integrity, outstanding achievement, and demonstrable contributions to society, with clear emphasis on due diligence and reputational risk.

Honorary degrees are not merely ceremonial; they are symbolic endorsements of values, integrity, and public service, he said. The University must immediately suspend the award if it is not to be accused of tolerance, indifference or even complicity.

Mr Falana argued that proceeding with the award would be inconsistent with Nigerias constitutional commitments and international obligations, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

It would also be entirely inconsistent with the fundamental principle of the rule of law, human dignity and international human rights standards, he added.

Call for probe

Beyond urging the university to halt the process, Mr Falana called on the NUC to intervene.

I urge the National Universities Commission to immediately, transparently and effectively investigate whether NSUKs decision complies with the NUCs February 2026 guidelines, he said. Pending this, the NUC should ask the NSUK to suspend or reconsider the proposed conferment.

He noted that the guidelines place responsibility on university governing councils and senates to carry out rigorous vetting processes and provide transparent justification for honorary awards.

The senior advocate also cited legal precedents to support his position, including the Supreme Court decision in Abacha v. Fawehinmi, which affirmed the applicability of the African Charter in Nigerian law, and a ruling of the ECOWAS Court in SERAP v. Federal Republic of Nigeria, which underscored the duty of public institutions to uphold human rights and accountability.

Backstory

In October 2025, Tanzania held a presidential election that returned Ms Hassan to office with 98 per cent of the vote. The process was widely criticised after key opposition figures were barred from contesting, including Tundu Lissu, who remains in custody on treason charges.

A detailed investigation by CNN documented a violent response by security forces to post-election protests. The report, based on geolocated videos, forensic audio analysis, satellite imagery, and witness testimony, found that police and armed men shot at demonstrators, many of whom appeared unarmed.

READ ALSO: Nigerian university dismisses staff engaged in illegal NYSC mobilisation

Videos verified by CNN showed bodies piled inside morgues in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, while satellite imagery indicated disturbed earth consistent with reports of mass graves at Kondo cemetery near the commercial capital.

A doctor who treated victims told CNN that many of the injured had gunshot wounds to the head, chest, and abdomen.

All had sustained gunshot wounds on different parts of the body, the doctor said, describing days when bodies filled morgues and spilled outside.

Human Rights Watch reached similar conclusions. In a separate report, the organisation said Tanzanian authorities responded to protests with lethal force and other abuses, noting that police used live ammunition against demonstrators.

The Tanzanian authorities violent and repressive response to election-related protests further undermines the credibility of the electoral process, said Oryem Nyeko, a senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.

The group added that security forces, including individuals in civilian clothing, were implicated in shootings across several regions. It also cited reports that bodies of victims were disposed of in undisclosed locations.

While the Tanzanian government has acknowledged that casualties occurred, it has not released official figures and has dismissed higher death toll estimates as exaggerated.

President Hassan has defended the actions of security forces. In a national address, she said the protests were not peaceful demonstrations but part of a coordinated attempt to destabilise the government.

These were not protests, it was violence with malicious intentions, she said. What happened was a manufactured event.

She added that the government had a duty to protect the country, stating that the force used is proportional to the event.

No official response

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier contacted NSUK, seeking clarification on the criteria for selecting President Hassan and whether the university considered international reports on Tanzanias human rights record.

The university had not responded as of the time of that report, and there has been no official reaction to Mr Falanas latest call.

The development adds to growing scrutiny of the planned award, placing the university under pressure to justify its decision as the convocation date approaches.

With regulatory guidelines, public criticism, and now legal advocacy converging on the issue, attention is likely to remain on how the university and relevant authorities respond in the coming days.
The Nigerian Army says four of its personnel were killed during a foiled attack by terrorists in Benisheikh, Borno State. The four included two officers and two soldiers, the army said, refuting reports that 17 soldiers were killed.

The headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), a joint military task force in the North-east, disclosed this via the armys official X handle on Friday.

OPHK categorically refutes the claim that 17 soldiers, including a Brigade Commander, lost their lives during the incident, it said. The official and verified report, as earlier released through Defence Headquarters, clearly stated that 2 officers and 2 soldiers paid the supreme price in the course of the engagement. Any contrary figure being circulated is entirely false, misleading, and devoid of credibility.

The army did not disclose the names or ranks of the officers and soldiers killed.

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PREMIUM TIMES reported that the fighters of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacked three military bases in Borno including the one in Benisheikh where the brigade commander, Oseni Braimah, a brigadier general, and other soldiers were killed.

Many media outlets reported that 17 soldiers including Mr Braimah were killed in the Benisheikh attack.

In his Friday statement, the spokesperson for OPHK, Sani Uba, claimed that the widely circulated figures were part of a deliberate attempt to distort facts and undermine ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the North-east.

Brigade Commanders Situation

The army spokesperson also said that claims that the brigade commander was killed because his escape vehicle failed to start or was unserviceable are false.

He explained that the commander was actively leading troops from a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, which was only temporarily immobilised during the intense exchange of fire.

ALSO READ: ISWAP terrorists raid military bases in Borno

The insinuation that the Brigade Commanders vehicle was unserviceable is equally incorrect. The Commander was mounted on a high-grade Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, which was temporarily immobilised in the heat of combat while he was actively coordinating the counter-assault, Mr Uba, a lieutenant colonel, wrote.

According to him, this reflected the severity of the battle and the commanders presence at the frontline, rather than any equipment failure.

Mr Uba also said that many of the images and videos circulating about the attack were inaccurate, urging the public to disregard such content.

The pictures and videos being circulated in connection with the incident are unrelated to the Benisheikh attack and are being deliberately misrepresented to reinforce false narratives, he wrote. The public is urged to disregard such content, which is clearly intended to misinform and create unnecessary panic.

He stressed that troops successfully repelled the attack, retained control of their position, and forced the attackers into a disorganised retreat.

He warned against the spread of unverified information, describing it as harmful to national security and detrimental to the morale of troops engaged in ongoing operations.

The Benisheikh attack and its casualties add to a growing list of recent daring attacks by terrorists that have led to the killing of many soldiers.

On Friday, President Bola Tinubu praised the gallantry of the soldiers who repelled the Benisheikh attack but also mourned the slain soldiers.

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, the Nigerian leader wrote in a statement shared by his office.
The Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NIGSAC) has released an updated list of terrorism financiers.

The list, published on the committees website, includes 48 individuals and armed groups operating across Nigeria.

Among those listed were Tukur Mamu, the publisher of Desert Herald, who took the lead in negotiating the release of hostages kidnapped during the 2022 AbujaKaduna train attack. Mr Mamu is already being prosecuted for terrorism financing but has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Groups like Boko Haram (also known as Jamaatu Ahlis Sunna Liddaawati wal-Jihad), its breakaway faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were also listed as terrorism financiers.

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The updated list

The updated list includes 42 individuals and six [armed] groups. Apart from Boko Haram, ISWAP and IPOB, other groups designated are Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (popularly known as Ansaru), yan taadda and yan bindiga. The last two groups fall in the category of rural terrorists, loosely referred to as bandits.

However, PREMIUM TIMES observed that many of the names on the updated list had been identified as terrorism financiers between 2020 and 2025.

Nigeria has been battling with terrorism, especially in the North-east where Boko Haram insurgency has lingered for more than a decade. While insurgent groups like Boko Haram finance their operations through kidnapping for ransom and other illicit economic activities such as mining and logging, authorities have argued that they are also being sponsored or aided by some individuals.

The first time suspected terrorism financiers in Nigeria were named was in 2020 when a court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) convicted six Nigerians for allegedly funding Boko Haram. Those convicted at the time were Surajo Muhammad, Yusuf Adamu, Ibrahim Alhassan, AbdurRahman Musa, Bashir Yusuf and Muhammad Isa. While the first two were sentenced to life imprisonment, the four others bagged 10-year jail terms.

In 2024, the Nigerian government updated the list with 19 names including Mr Mamu and six business entities. Also, last year, the government added to the list the leader of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), Simon Ekpa, and 13 members of IPOB or BRGIE. These include Godstime Iyare, Francis Mmaduabuchi, John Onwumere, Chikwuka Eze, Edwin Chukwuedo, Chinwendu Owoh and Ginika Orji. Others are Awo Uchechukwu, Mercy Ali, Ohagwu Juliana, Eze Okpoto, Nwaobi Chimezie and Ogomu Kewe.

Mr Ekpa, who has been convicted in Finland, was designated for raising funds for violent activities of armed groups in the South-east where the Eastern Security Network, the armed wing of IPOB, has been reigning terror since the arrest and incarceration of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

While IPOB and Lakurawa were added to the list in 2025, two business entitiesIgwe Ka Ala Enterprises and Seficuvi Global Companywere also designated.

In its previous designations, the committee, chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, explained that its action was in line with Section 54 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

It had recommended, among other things, an immediate identification and freezing of assets belonging to the designated persons.
Nigerias largest carrier, Air Peace, has warned of possible flight delays across its network due to fuel scarcity, adding to concerns over operational challenges in the countrys aviation sector.

The airline disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, noting that the situation could disrupt scheduled flights.

We wish to inform you that some flights across our network may experience delays due to fuel scarcity, the airline said.

Air Peace said it is working with relevant partners to manage the situation and restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

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Please be rest assured that we are actively working with our relevant partners to manage the situation and restore normal operations as quickly as possible, while minimising any impact on your travel plans, the statement added.

While the airline did not provide details on the extent of the disruption, it urged passengers to stay informed and seek assistance where necessary.

The development highlights recurring concerns around aviation fuel supply in Nigeria, which has in the past contributed to flight delays, cancellations and increased operational costs for airlines.

The airline apologised to passengers for the inconvenience, stating that efforts were ongoing to ensure safe and timely travel.

Your safety and comfort remain our top priorities, and we are committed to getting you to your destination safely and as promptly as possible, the airline stated.
Wheat is starting off Friday with losses across the three markets. The wheat complex was weaker on Thursday, following an increased stocks number from USDA. Chicago SRW futures saw losses of 4  to 7  cents at the close. Open interest was down 15,543 contracts, as May dropped 21,480 contracts. KC HRW futures were down 4  to 8  cents on the session. OI was down 5,151 contracts on Thursday. MPLS spring wheat was down 4  to 5  cents in on the day. Crude oil was back up $4.06 on Thursday.

Export Sales data from Thursday morning tallied 163,950 MT of old crop wheat business in the week of April 2, well above the week prior and 52.49% above the same week last year. Venezuela was the top buyer of 52,500 MT, with 51,000 MT sold to Japan. New crop business was shy of traders estimates of 150,000 MT to 400,000 MT at 90,656 MT. Mexico was the buyer of 33,800 MT, with 18,000 MT to the Philippines.

More News from Barchart

The monthly WASDE update from USDA tallied wheat US ending stocks 7 mbu higher to 938 mbu. That came on a 1 mbu cut to seed use, a 5 mbu increase to imports and 1 mbu assumed for rounding reasons. The cash average price was still up a nickel to $5.

World ending stocks were raised by another 6.16 MMT, to 283.12 MMT. That came from a mix of increased production, with Russia up 0.8 MMT and EU rising 1.11 MMT, and use trimmed by 4.68 MMT, mainly in India.

May 26 CBOT Wheat closed at $5.74 1/2, down 5 3/4 cents, currently down 4 3/4 cents

Jul 26 CBOT Wheat closed at $5.85, down 6 1/4 cents, currently down 5 3/4 cents

May 26 KCBT Wheat closed at $5.90 1/2, down 4 3/4 cents, currently down 2 cents

Jul 26 KCBT Wheat closed at $6.05 3/4, down 6 1/4 cents, currently down 2 1/2 cents

May 26 MIAX Wheat closed at $6.18 1/4, down 5 3/4 cents, currently unch

Jul 26 MIAX Wheat closed at $6.34 3/4, down 5 cents, currently down 1/4 cents

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
The Supreme Court on Friday set aside a Court of Appeal decision that disqualified senior lawyers Wole Olanipekun and Muiz Banire from appearing for Nestoil Limited and Neconde Energy Limited in a $2 billion dispute over a contested receivership.

In a unanimous judgement delivered by Mohammed Idris, the court held that a receiver whose appointment is being challenged in court cannot, in the same proceedings, assume control over the companys choice of legal representation, Vanguard newspaper reported.

The court ruled that doing so would create a clear conflict of interest, especially where the validity of the receivership itself is the central issue before the court.

Mr Olanipekun can resume his role for Neconde Energy, while Mr Banire continues to represent Nestoil in the ongoing dispute involving a consortium of lenders led by FBNQuest Merchant Bank and First Trustees Limited.

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At the centre of the case is whether a receiver appointed by lenders can exclusively determine a companys legal representation, even where the validity of that appointment is under judicial scrutiny.

The Supreme Court answered in the negative.

Mr Idris noted that the issues brought before the trial court sought interpretation on whether the lenders were entitled to enforce security, appoint a receiver, and whether such a receiver could lawfully exercise powers under the appointment.

According to the court, these questions go to the very foundation of the receivership rather than routine management or asset realisation.

It would occasion a conflict of interest, the court held, for a receiver appointed by parties whose rights are being challenged to also determine the legal representation of the company in the same proceedings.

The court emphasised that the receivers authority derives from the transaction under dispute, making it improper for such a receiver to control the companys legal defence in a suit questioning that authority.

It further held that proceedings challenging the validity and scope of a receivership do not fall within the general powers granted to a receiver under Section 556(3) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and its Eleventh Schedule.

In such circumstances, the court ruled, a company retains its residual powers to defend itself through its board of directors and counsel of its choice.

The defence of the action through its directors and the counsel retained by them cannot be said to be incompetent merely because a receiver has been appointed, Mr Idris said.

The court faulted the Court of Appeals 13 January decision, which had recognised the receiver as the sole authority to appoint a lawyer and consequently disqualified Messrs Olanipekun and Banire.

Describing that position as erroneous, the Supreme Court held that the lower court failed to appreciate the inherent conflict in allowing a receiverwhose appointment is under challengeto control the companys legal representation.

How the dispute started

The case began in October 2025 when the Federal High Court in Lagos granted a Mareva injunction in favour of First Trustees and its subsidiary, FBNQuest Merchant Bank, authorising them to take control of assets belonging to Nestoil and its affiliate, Neconde Energy.

The order was given by trial judge D. I. Dipeolu against Nestoil, Neconde Energy, and their promoter, Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, as well as Nnenna Obiejesi.

The court also restrained the defendants from dealing with funds alleged to total $1.01 billion and N430.01 billion, representing outstanding indebtedness as of September 2025.

Mr Azudialu-Obiejesi was also said to have provided personal guarantees for additional obligations running into hundreds of billions of naira and over $200 million across several commercial banks.

Following the order, the companies and their promoters approached the court seeking to set aside the injunction.

In its ruling, the Court of Appeal held that once a receiver was appointed, the powers of the board of directors to appoint legal counsel were effectively suspended.

On that basis, the court disqualified both Messrs Olanipekun and Banire from representing Nestoil and Neconde in the suit.

The court held that only the party that appointed the receiver could validly act in that capacity.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed the Court of Appeal to first determine the issue of legal representation as a preliminary question before proceeding with the substantive appeal.

That directive followed concerns over procedural disputes in the case and was aimed at clarifying who was properly authorised to appear for the parties.

The Supreme Court also cautioned against delays in debt recovery proceedings, warning against what it described as technical manoeuvres that could frustrate justice.

At the Supreme Court hearing, several senior lawyers appeared for the parties, including teams representing the lenders, the companies, and their promoters, as well as the court-appointed receiver-manager.
An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Oyo State, Saheed Oladele, has resigned his membership of the party, citing marginalisation of young people in its decision-making processes.

Mr Oladele, who served as chairman of Ward 4 in Ibadan North Local Government Area, announced his resignation in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Saturday..

In the letter dated 7 April, the former APC adherent said his decision followed recent developments and party positions which, according to him, indicate that the party in Oyo State is not ready to give youths meaningful roles.

He said although the party engages young people, it does so as instruments without corresponding influence, a situation he noted contradicts his belief in inclusive governance.

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Mr Oladele said he had been committed to the party since its inception, contributing to unity and internal cohesion, including during his time as a gubernatorial aspirant.

Recent developments and party positions have made it increasingly clear that, within Oyo State, the APC is not yet prepared to give young people a seat at the decision-making table, but rather prefers to engage them as instruments without corresponding influence.

This reality stands in contrast to the values I hold and the future I envision for our people.

While I remain deeply appreciative of the opportunities the party has afforded me, my loyalty to the service of the masses, must take precedence over loyalty to any system that does not sufficiently prioritise their advancement and collective good, he said.

He also referenced his involvement in the Youth O Clock movement, through which he advocated greater inclusion of young people in governance and policy decisions.

The politician, however, said his loyalty to the people must take precedence over allegiance to any political structure that does not prioritise their advancement.

In view of this, I hereby resign my membership of the APC, effective immediately, he said.

Mr Oladele expressed gratitude to party leaders and stakeholders for the opportunity to serve, noting that he would continue to work towards the development of Oyo State and Nigeria.

Oyo APC

The resignation of Mr Oladele from the APC comes amid build-up to the 2027 general elections, which includes the governorship election in Oyo State, where he had been one of the early and visible aspirants within the ruling party.

Before his resignation, Mr Oladele was widely reported as a frontline APC governorship hopeful who had been engaging party stakeholders across the state, including local government executives and political blocs, in efforts to consolidate support ahead of the contest.

He had consistently framed his ambition around youth inclusion and party unity, positioning himself within what he often described as the Youth OClock movement for generational change.

In the emerging 2027 political landscape, Mr Oladele had been mentioned alongside other APC aspirants seeking to challenge the dominance of Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is expected to influence the succession battle in the state.

Among the prominent aspirants already identified within the APC race are former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, Senator representing Oyo North, Fatai Buhari, former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu; and federal lawmaker, Remi Oseni.

The APC is eyeing a comeback in 2027 since losing power to Governor Makinde in 2019.

READ ALSO: Kano ADC federal lawmaker is dead

Whats next?

There have already been signs of political cross-mobilisation around his candidacy. Earlier reports indicate that leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State had reached out to Mr Oladele in what was seen as early engagement ahead of 2027, with party stakeholders describing him as a strong potential governorship option.

The SDP engagement added to speculation about possible realignments in Oyo politics.

Mr Oladeles resignation from the APC now raises questions about his next political move and whether he could formally align with another platform ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, said it has commenced fresh efforts to secure accreditation for its Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme.

The institutions spokesperson, Adegbenro Adebanjo, disclosed this in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES.

He said the steps are being taken following fresh concerns among students about the programme.

Background

The first batch of students for the institutions MBBS programme was admitted in 2021 and matriculated in 2022.



The university currently has three sets of 300L students (300L A, B, and C). This is because the first and second sets of students, who ought to be in fourth and fifth year, could not progress beyond 300L due to the non-accreditation of the course by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)



It is therefore not admitting students into the MBBS programme this admission session due to a problem.



The 300L students, numbering about 156, say they have been at the level since 2024.

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For five years, we have waited, being patient, understood circumstance, even accepted an extra year, still, no accreditation. When does it end?



We want to move forward. We say no to more stagnation. We demand answers and concrete plans. When is our accreditation? When are we writing our 1st MB, one of the students, who does not want to be quoted for fear of victimisation, told PREMIUM TIMES.

Authorities take steps

Mr Adebanjo said efforts by the institution have reached advanced stages towards achieving full accreditation of the programme by MDCN.

According to him, all the steps for accreditation have been taken; the institution is only awaiting the visit of the council to complete the process.

On Tuesday, the major medical laboratory of the school of Health Technology will be formally opened, which is about N100 million; it has been done and is ready, he said.



You also know that the FUTA Teaching Hospital is also up and running.



On the same Tuesday, the hostel that will accommodate the students, very close to the place, will be opened.



I can assure you that before the end of the month, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria will come for the accreditation.



This time around, we are assured that we will nip the accreditation and all things will be settled, Mr Adebanjo said.

Ondo govts move

In October, the Ondo State Government formally handed over its state specialist hospital to FUTA in furtherance of the programmes accreditation.

READ ALSO: Falana asks Nigerian university to suspend honour for Tanzanian president over rights concerns

The facility has since been upgraded, and further improvements are ongoing to meet the councils requirements.



The handover includes the transfer of staff infrastructure, equipment, and liabilities.



All employees were to be absorbed into the FUTA Teaching Hospital, a federal government hospital.



Officials say the institution will not only serve the FUTA Medical College, but will also enhance medical training and improvement in general health care in the state.
The deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese (LP, Benue), has reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to support the Nigerian Armed Forces in tackling terrorism and banditry across the country, following the recent attack on troops in Borno State.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Saturday, the lawmaker said the 10th National Assembly would continue to provide the legislative backing, funding and oversight required to strengthen the capacity of the military and other security agencies.

The lawmaker was reacting to the attack by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on three military bases in Borno including Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area.

The insurgents launched a coordinated assault on the base, engaging troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in a fierce gun battle. While the military repelled the attack, casualties were recorded among personnel.

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PREMIUM TIMES reported that early accounts indicated that a senior officer, Brigadier-General Oseni Braimah, and a few other soldiers were killed in the confrontation.

The Nigerian Army also clarified that two officers and two soldiers died.

In a statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday night, President Bola Tinubu extended condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The president urged troops to remain resolute in the face of the loss and reaffirmed his administrations commitment to supporting the military in its operations.

Reacting, Mr Agbese described Nigerias security situation as complex, citing insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes, and stressed the readiness of the legislature to work closely with the executive to address the challenges.

The National Assembly will stand firmly with our armed forces and all security agencies to defeat terrorists and bandits threatening the peace and unity of our country, he said.

He commended troops on the frontlines for their courage and sacrifice, describing them as patriots committed to protecting the countrys territorial integrity.

The lawmaker said the House of Representatives would continue to prioritise defence and security in its legislative agenda, including ensuring adequate budgetary provisions, improving the welfare of military personnel and strengthening intelligence-gathering mechanisms.

He added that lawmakers would intensify oversight of defence spending to promote transparency, accountability and effective use of allocated resources.

According to him, sustained and timely funding is critical to the success of military operations, particularly in the procurement of essential defence equipment.

We understand that the government cannot afford everything at the same time which is true. Nevertheless, timely release of funds for procurement of critical defence assets will go a long way in addressing threats against the country, he said.

He also urged Nigerians to support security agencies by providing credible and timely information, noting that the fight against insecurity requires a collective national effort.

The battle against terrorism and banditry is not for the military alone. It requires the cooperation of all Nigerians. Citizens must remain vigilant and support security agencies with useful information, he added.

He expressed optimism that sustained collaboration among the legislature, executive and security agencies would help Nigeria overcome its security challenges and restore lasting peace in affected communities.
President Bola Tinubu congratulates Chido Onumah, journalist, author, and civil society activist, on his 60th birthday on 10 April.

President Tinubu joins friends and comrades in celebrating Mr Onumah and his life of dedication to promoting democratic ethos, press freedom, and media literacy in Nigeria.

President Tinubu recalls Mr Onumahs participation in pro-democracy movements as a student activist in the 1980s and as a young journalist with publications such as The Guardian, AM News, PM News, The News, The Punch, among others.

President Tinubu extols the contributions of Mr Onumah in galvanising Nigerians to support the war against corruption as head of the then Fix Nigeria Initiative, a project of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

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As a civil society activist, Dr Onumah contributed significantly to the promotion of Media and Information Literacy, especially among young people. His support for the implementation and promotion of the whistleblowing policy under the last administration is equally praiseworthy,  the president said.

President Tinubu urged Mr Onumah to rededicate himself to the service of his fatherland by deepening causes that foster national unity, expand civic space, and strengthen democracy.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information and Strategy)

11 April 2026
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has denied owning or operating any account on X, (formerly known as Twitter), describing claims linking him to a partisan post as false and malicious.

In a statement, his spokesperson, Adedayo Oketola, said the allegations that Mr Amupitan, endorsed a political post on the social media platform were entirely baseless and a fabrication.

The INEC Chairman does not own or operate any personal account on X. He has at no time engaged in partisan commentary, nor has he ever associated himself with any political leaning or activity in his private or public capacity, the statement read.

Social media users had accused the INEC chairperson of using an X account and also making partisan comments on the platform.

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But Mr Oketola said it was part of a coordinated attempt to undermine the credibility and neutrality of the INEC leadership.

The statement also raised concerns about the growing activities of cybercriminals impersonating the chairperson online.

Beyond this partisan mischief, the commission is aware that cybercriminals have been on the prowl, utilising fake social media accounts in the chairmans name to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians, the statement said.

We wish to place it on record that several of such fraudulent accounts had been identified and reported to security agencies in the past. This latest fabrication is merely a continuation of a criminal pattern aimed at exploiting the commissions profile for illicit gains. It said several fake accounts using Mr Amupitans name had previously been identified and reported to security agencies.

Mr Oketola said the electoral body is working with security agencies and cyber-intelligence units to track down those responsible for the alleged identity theft and misinformation.

He warned that perpetrators would be prosecuted in line with the law, noting that identity theft and the spread of forged or manipulated online content are offences under Nigerias Cybercrimes Act.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Mr Amupitan, a professor of law, as chairman of INEC in October last year.

He replaced Mahmood Yakubu, also a professor, who led INEC from 2015 until he stepped down as his second tenure of five years drew to an end.
The Abia State Government has said the ongoing industrial action by the Abia State Chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) stemmed from a dispute over payment of leave allowance to the judiciary workers.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Ikechukwu Uwanna, disclosed this on Thursday at Government House, Umuahia, while briefing reporters on the JUSUN strike.

Judiciary workers in Abia State began an indefinite strike on 15 March, accusing the state government of failing to pay them their leave allowance.

Its paid as consolidated salary

But Mr Uwanna, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, argued that the workers have been receiving the allowance as leave bonus which are usually put together as consolidated salary.

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Now, consolidated salary is called consolidated because everything is consolidated into one and paid in different installments.

Sometimes we also look at what happens in other states. The federal government does not pay for leave allowance to JUSUN members in the nation. That is our finding, he said.

Just like the federal government does not pay leave allowance to, for instance, medical doctors or health workers in the federal civil service because of the consolidated scheme.

The attorney-general urged the workers to suspend the industrial action because what they were agitating for was being paid as part of their consolidated salaries.

He recalled that, upon request by the JUSUN leadership for leave allowance payment, the Office of the Accountant General asked them to confirm that they have not earned leave bonuses before now, but they failed to do so.

The official said the government, after receiving the request, discovered through the Office of the Accountant General that part of the components of the consolidated salary being paid to judiciary workers includes what is called the leave bonus, which is the same as the leave allowance being demanded by the workers.

So we asked the judiciary to provide us with evidence that there is no component of leave bonus in their salary.

Mr Uwanna challenged the workers to provide verifiable evidence that they have not been receiving leave allowance and that the government would pay them within 48 hours.

The state government will pay within 48 hours if it realises that there is no leave allowance or leave bonus as a component of their consolidated salary, he stated.

Verification of judiciary workers in Abia

Mr Uwanna also explained why judiciary workers, unlike others, had not been verified in Abia State.

The attorney-general claimed that efforts to get them verified had been continuously frustrated by members of the JUSUN.

As you may all recall, at the commencement, Governor Alex Otti was sworn in, he commenced a verification exercise for all civil servants.

And in view of the fact that we understand that the judiciary is independent, the judiciary staff were not verified when every other staff was verified.

We then engaged the judiciary for the purpose of getting a consultant that will conduct a verification exercise for the judiciary, he narrated.

Continuing, the official said: Indeed, on the 15th of March, the same day that they went on strike, was the day that was finally slated for the commencement of the verification exercise.

And one wonders, is this a coincidence, or was it a well-orchestrated scheme to continue to earn salaries by ghost workers and persons who have questionable credentials?

JUSUN is aware that the governor is one who is always ready and able to pay workers their entitlements, and he has made that claim by paying every other civil servant.

Mr Uwanna pointed out that the strike has affected the payment of pensioners who were staff of the judiciary prior to their retirement.

The attorney-general called on the union leaders to call off the strike to enable the pensioners of judiciary extraction to get verified and begin to receive their pension.

JUSUN should allow the judiciary to verify its staff so that those pensioners can be paid.

We have had a lot of engagement, and time will fail me to explain the process that we have gone through to ensure that theres proper verification, so that they can come into a system.

Theyre not going to come into the executive system. They are going to come into their own electronic platform. Please, I would implore them, once again, not to continue to suffer these pensioners, he said.

So let them call off the strike, so that this verification exercise can be done, and these pensioners can start earning what is due them.

Ottis commitment to workers welfare

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information in the state, Okey Kanu, said that the state government was aware of the fact that the JUSUN has been on an industrial action, and it has to do with the issues of welfare of Judiciary Staff.

Mr Kanu explained that the briefing was organised to enable the government to address the welfare dispute with the judiciary workers.

He said the government was committed to tackling the issue.

The state government is thinking about the ongoing issues with regards to the industrial action and what steps the government wants to take to ensure that there is harmony within the state civil service, he stated.

On her part, the Accountant General of Abia State, Njum Uma-Onyemenam, stressed that the state government is committed to paying staff members and pensioners on or before the 28th of every month and emphasised that the need for the judiciary to submit its documents to enable it to get its funds accordingly.

The only question that were asking the judiciary staff today is to provide verifiable proof that they have earned leave allowances that were not paid over the period.

For the judiciary, they need to provide documentation. They need to submit their documentation and go through the payment process to be able to get their lump sum, she said.

Mrs Uma-Onyemenam explained that, contrary to claims, she does not handle the payroll of the judiciary workers.

The judiciary handles their payroll, and when they come up to make their demands, when they come, raise their payment vouchers, and their payment vouchers go through the process of payment, that is the only time the Accountant General has the legal right to make that pay, she explained.

PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately get the comment of the Chairperson of JUSUN in Abia State, Chinedu Ezeh, as he was yet to respond to a text message as of the time of filing this report.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has delisted 23 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Nigeria following technical deficiencies observed during the 2026 Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

According to a statement signed by the spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, the board also barred one CBT centre, Ha-shem Academy, Yaba, Lagos, from participating in any of its examinations.

The board also issued warnings to several other centres with minor issues, while declaring that one centre would no longer be used for any of its examinations.

JAMB said the action followed an internal review of the mock examination, which is designed to test candidates and CBT centres preparedness as well as an opportunity to identify centres that fall short of the required operational and technical standards.

According to the board, the review revealed that several centres failed to meet expected standards, prompting immediate action.

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Consequently, the board has taken decisive steps, in line with its commitment to maintaining the integrity of its examination processes, to ensure that only centres that are fully prepared and compliant participate in the main UTME exercise, the board said.

Delisted centres

The delisted centres cut across multiple states, including Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Osun, Ogun, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Oyo, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The centres include Micben Seat of Wisdom Academy ICT Hall, Ukwa West, Abia state; Bishop Crowther Seminary CBT Centre, Awka; The Oracle Lens, Nnokwa, Anambra state; Derbys Young ICT Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa; Avid ICT Solutions CBT Centre, Asaba; Brightfield School CBT Centre, Ekpan, Asaba; and Conarina Maritime Academy, Abraka, Delta.

Others are Daniet Global Resources, Benin City; Moses and Grace College of Health Sciences and Technology CBT Centre, Benin City: De-Lite CBT Centre, Maitama; Zulqad Consult Ltd CBT Centre, Lugbe, Lagos: Florin High School CBT Centre, Ejigbo; Folbob CBT Centre, Ibeju-Lekki; Great Kezino College CBT Centre, Ikorodu; Obans CBT Centre, Ikorodu; and Teesas Learning and CBT Centre, Lekki.

Also included are Braingate Model Schools CBT Centre, Arepo; Greenhills Academy CBT Centre, Itele, Ogun; Oduduwa University CBT Centre, Ile-Ife; Lasting Glory Schools CBT Centre, Ibadan; Nesam International School CBT Centre, Ibadan; SAF Polytechnic CBT Centre, Iseyin; and Rabjib Computer Academy, Jos.

Warnings issued

Beyond the delisted centres, JAMB said a number of CBT centres with minor technical issues have been placed on notice.

These centres, spread across states such as Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Ogun, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba and the FCT, were warned to address identified shortcomings ahead of the main examination.

The affected centres include Abia State College of Health Science CBT Centre, Aba; Amjad Integrated Services, Mubi; Lamido Zubairu Education Centre, Yola; Mubi Infotech and CBT Centre; Knowledge Partners Ltd, Uyo; Chumet Institute Ltd, Nnewi; JAMB PTC Awka (Centres 1 & 2); Nkemefuna Foundation CBT Centre, Obosi; Greg & Co ICT Ltd, Makurdi; and Omis CBT Centre, Okpokwu.

Others are Klinnicapps Academy, Yala; Fube CBT Hub, Asaba; Harvard International CBT Centre, Jeddo; Vona Tech Hub and Global ITConsults, Benin City; St Augustine Computers Centre, Nkanu West; Best Intellect International Academy, Gwagwalada; Cyrus International School CBT Centre, Kuje; Fozy Global Concepts CBT Centre, Apo; Kings Comprehensive Electronic Test Centre, Dei-Dei; Oginni ICT Services CBT Centre, Nyanya; and Satellite Academy Schools CBT Centre, Karshi.

Also included are JAMB Professional Test Centre (PTC), Owerri; Amal Computers and Test Centre, Kaduna; Christ Ambassadors International College, Kaduna; Mainland College of Education CBT Centre, Zaria; Silvergate College CBT Centre, Zaria; Emirate College of Health Sciences CBT Centre; Kano Cooperative CBT Centre; Legend ITC Integrated Service; Zenith Science College CBT Centre; Albarka Multipurpose Cooperative CBT Centre, Lokoja; Kogi State University CBT Centre, Anyigba; and Yabma International Science Academy, Lokoja.

Others include General A.A. Eyitayo Resources CBT Centre, Igbaja; Ilorin West LGA CBT Centre; Imam Hamzat College of Education CBT Centre; Nigerian Army College of Education CBT Centre, Ilorin; Binta International School CBT Centre, Ajao Estate; Dorcas Memorial College, Ajegunle; First Option PrivateSchools, Lekki; Grand Schools CBT Centre; Huntsville Technology Ltd, Anthony; JKK OneWare Ltd, Ilupeju; Miva Open University CBT Centre, Yaba; Mosambell Edu-Consults Ltd, Lagos Island; Olyg81 EdTech CBT Centre, Yaba; Overcomer Digital Services, Oshodi; Richplus Academy, Abule Egba; The Faculty CBT Centre, Ipaja; Totallight College, Ikorodu; Tots Up School CBT Centre, Shasha.

Others are Command Science Secondary School, Lafia; Gods Own Scholars Academy, Masaka; Byte Tech Solutions CBT Centre, Suleja; Niger State College of Education CBT Centre, Minna; Divine Sound College CBT Centre, Sango-Ota; Federal College of Education CBT Centre, Abeokuta; Federal Polytechnic CBT Centre, Ilaro; Golden Eagle Hills Academy CBT Centre, Mowe; Jextoban College CBT Centre, Ibafo; Life Builders CBT Centre, Ifo; Golden Path School CBT Centre, Ijoko; AMC ICT Centre, Ile-Oluji; and Babson ICT Centre.

Others are British Transatlantic Polytechnic CBT Centre, Akure; Derimobo ICT Place, Odo LGA; Hollaram Educational Services, Akure; Public Service Training Institute CBT Centre, Ilara-Mokin; Bishop Felix Owolabi Intl Academy CBT Centre, Osogbo; College of Education CBT Centre, Moro; JAMB PTC Osogbo; Icon Online Professional Tutors (Centres 1 & 2), Ibadan; I-Flier International School CBT Centre, Ibadan; Jesus the Rock College CBT Centre, Ibadan; NCC/JAMB PTC, Igboho; Perfect Wisdom College CBT Centre, Ibadan; West Consult CBT Centre, Ibadan; Plateau State Polytechnic CBT Centre, Barkin Ladi; and University of Jos Consultancy CBT Centre.
The Nigerian government has issued learner identification numbers to 1.9 million students as it begins the nationwide rollout of a digital system designed to track learners across the education system.

The initiative, known as the Learner Identification Number (LIN), assigns every student a permanent academic identity to improve education data management and support planning across schools in the country.

In a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Education said more than 1.9 million candidates sitting for the 2026 examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) have already been issued identification numbers.

The statement signed by the ministrys spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, said it would strengthen education data and examination integrity.

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About Initiative

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, had disclosed the introduction of the learner identification number last month.

Mr Alausa said the LIN will be used to track and identify pupils who drop out before completing their secondary education.

He said the LIN will assist in tracking the pupils from primary school through their academic journey, including assessment, even when they change schools.

The ministry explained that the LIN system is integrated with the Digitised National Education Management Information System (DNEMIS), which provides a national register of schools.

By linking learners to verified identities, the system enhances examination security, reduces impersonation, and supports tracking of out-of-school children, dropouts, and learning gaps, the statement read.

The ministry said it will expand the system nationwide across public and private schools. It called on stakeholders to support full implementation.
Hassan Danjuma, the member representing the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has died.

A first-time legislator elected in 2023, Mr Danjuma originally won his seat under the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

However, he recently defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), maintaining a close political alliance with Rabiu Kwankwaso, the former Governor of Kano State.

The news of his passing was confirmed early Saturday morning via a Facebook statement in Hausa by Saifullahi Hassan, a media aide to Mr Kwankwaso.

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According to the statement, the lawmaker appeared to be in good health as recently as Tuesday, when he attended a meeting at Mr Kwankwasos residence in Abuja.

The meeting was on preparations for the upcoming ADC State Congress, where party members will elect members of the State Executive Committee.

Mr Danjuma was among the five federal lawmakers from Kano who declined to follow Governor Abba Yusuf to the All Progressives Congress (APC), choosing instead to remain aligned with Mr Kwankwaso in the opposition.

Mr Danjumas death followed a tragic string of deaths within the Kano State legislative circle.

Last December, the state mourned the loss of two members of the House of Assembly: Aminu Saadu (Ungoggo LGA)

Sarki Aliyu (Kano Municipal LGA) who both passed away within an hour of each other.
By Hannah Lang and Pete Schroeder

April 10 (Reuters) - Crypto giant Kraken's landmark Federal Reserve master account comes with restrictions aimed at mitigating risks, but it - and others likely to follow in its wake - could still create vulnerabilities for the U.S. financial system.

Founded in 2011, Wyoming-based Kraken is one of the world's largest crypto exchanges, with both retail and institutional clients. Last month, it became the first-ever crypto company to win a Fed master account. The Kansas City Fed granted Kraken a "limited- purpose" account for one year initially, but neither party disclosed details of its restrictions.

Fed master accounts are often likened to bank accounts for banks, letting accountholders move funds directly via the Fed's payment rails.

The decision has sparked concerns among banks and the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, Maxine Waters, over potential financial-system risks. They also say the approval process was opaque and that it flouted Fed protocols. Waters has asked the Kansas City Fed to disclose more details by Friday.

To be sure, banks stand to lose out as crypto firms expand onto their turf. But some regulatory experts said banks' risk concerns are warranted.

A spokesperson for Kraken told Reuters that the Fed master account allows its Wyoming banking arm to access the central bank's wholesale payments system, Fedwire, and hold limited balances overnight. That means it can cut out bank intermediaries and move money faster and more cheaply.

But unlike many accountholders, Kraken cannot earn interest on reserve balances it holds at the Fed, or access emergency Fed lending or the central bank's other FedNow and ACH payment systems, the spokesperson said. They declined to say whether Kraken will have access to Fed credit.

The account details have not previously been reported. Kraken will initially use it to serve wholesale clients. It hopes to eventually add new features, said Jonathan Jachym, Kraken's global head of policy.

"We look at this as a great testament to regulatory rigor and cooperation. It promotes principles of both safety and soundness, and innovation," said Jachym.

A Kansas City Fed spokesperson said it was reviewing Waters' letter. The spokesperson declined to comment further.

CRYPTO SYSTEM INROADS

Granted more than five years after Kraken first applied, the account marks another victory for the digital asset industry under President Donald Trump's crypto-friendly administration, which is giving the sector more access to the mainstream financial system, sparking alarm among banks.
President Bola Tinubu on Friday asked the ministers of budget and finance, along with the head of the Federal Service, to look into how the administration can mitigate the biting effects on Nigerians of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

He gave the directive at a civic reception in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, after commissioning some projects undertaken by the administration of Governor Douye Diri. The Head of Service, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, an indigene of Bayelsa, attended the event.

Four governors, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Umoh Eno of Akwa Ibom, and Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori of Delta, accompanied the president to the state. The deputy governor of Borno State, Umar Kadafur, represented Governor Babagana Zulum.

Former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, and a former senator, Ben Murray-Bruce, were among the dignitaries at the civic reception.

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President Tinubu reiterated that his administration is aware of the ongoing economic challenges arising from the Middle East war, but quickly added that his government will work with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Budget, and the Head of Service to propose measures to ease the hardship.

Yes, I hear you from various angles of the economy. The fuel prices are biting hard. But look around. Lets thank God that we are better off listening to what is happening in other African countries, what they are going through.

The president assured his audience that his administration will continue to seek ways to alleviate the suffering of the vulnerable.

This is a government that cares. We will look at the numbers with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, he said.

President Tinubu said the All Progressives Congress (APC) across all levels was committed to improving citizens well-being.

Regardless of their shenanigans, the All Progressive Congress (APC) believes that the people deserve to see governance translated into roads, bridges, power, jobs and real opportunities that affect human beings. That signals the development of our country.

We are all working hard. The projects that I commissioned today demonstrate and testify to an immutable truth: Development advances further, faster when the federal government and the state government work in partnership and towards a shared purpose, President Tinubu said.

The president commended Governor Douye Diri for embarking on impactful projects which align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration.

Douye, youve done a great job. I have commissioned some projects, very transformative projects. The bridge, linking communities and the dual carriageways, create opportunities, jobs, and hope for our nation. Thank you for that commitment, and thank you for being a very progressive governor, he said.

The president recalled his pioneering efforts towards establishing the Independent Power Plant as governor of Lagos State, stressing that, despite the dire power challenges across the nation, his administration will ensure energy sufficiency for national development.

President Tinubu commended Governor Diri for demonstrating the power of very purposeful leadership and assured him that the federal government would continue to partner with subnational governments for the benefit of citizens through job creation and skill empowerment.

At the commencement of the event, President Tinubu observed a minutes silence in memory of the fallen members of the armed forces who lost their lives while defending the nation in the theatres of battle, as well as the former governor of the state, DSP Alamieyeseigha.

The president had earlier inaugurated several projects, including the 60-megawatt gas-fired Independent Power Plant (IPP) in Elebele, Ogbia Local Government Area, the 630-metre Angiama  Oporoma Bridge, and the new Yenagoa City Road (1).

In his remarks, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri said the presidents policy interventions created the enabling environment for the state to deliver the gas-fired power plant and move closer to a reliable, independent electricity supply.

Your administrations decisive policy interventions have paved the way for meaningful reforms in various sectors, including power, enabling us to deliver on our pledge of reliable, independent energy through the construction of these 60-megawatt gas-fired turbines.

For us, it is a cause for thanksgiving and rejoicing, he said.

The governor described the project as a major step forward for Bayelsa, noting that it would improve power supply, stimulate economic activity, and enhance residents quality of life.

He also highlighted other infrastructure projects commissioned by the President during the visit, including the 630-metre Angiama-Oporoma Bridge, which he said addressed a 6-decade connectivity gap in one of Nigerias key oil-producing areas.

The governor added that the inauguration of a dualised road linking the fast-growing New Yenagoa City will boost access, unlock economic opportunities, and support the development of a modern capital city.

Mr Diri said the projects were part of the states Assured Prosperity agenda, including major road corridors connecting the three senatorial districts to the Atlantic Ocean and opening up opportunities in the blue economy.

He listed other projects still at various stages of construction. Among them are a 30,000-seat international stadium, the nine-storey state secretariat, and roads and bridges connecting rural communities otherwise separated by water, all part of his governments Assured Prosperity agenda.

The governor commended President Tinubu for approving waivers for the importation of turbines and related equipment for the power project, as well as the award of phase two of the Nembe-Brass Road.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

April 10, 2026
At least 10 persons were killed and several others injured by bandits during a late evening attack on Bunkasau village in the Bukkuyum area of Zamfara State, on Friday.

Residents told PREMIUM TIMES over the phone that the terrorists rode into the village on motorcycles.

Weve counted 10 dead bodies this night (Friday). Well have to wait till tomorrow to bury them, a resident who is now in Zarummai, told PREMIUM TIMES. He sought anonymity for security reasons.

The bandits operated for over an hour. We called policemen and sent a message to the chairman (local government council) but no response came until after the bandits left, the source said.

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The security situation in western Zamfara, especially in Anka and Bukkuyum, has deteriorated over the last few weeks.

On Thursday, bandits attacked Yar Galma village but were confronted by the police and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force in the area.

Four residents were severely injured by the bandits during the attack.

The states police spokesperson, Yazid Abubakar, did not respond to SMS and WhatsApp messages sent to him over the attack.

But in a press statement he shares with PREMIUM TIMES Friday, over repelling of attacks in Maru and Bukkuyum, Mr Abubakar said the command would continue to protect citizens of the state.

The Zamfara State Police Command reiterates its commitment to safeguarding lives and property and urges members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with credible and timely information, he noted.

Bukkuyum, in western Zamfara, shares boundaries with Kebbi and Niger states and is one of the most vulnerable areas to bandits attacks in the state.

In recent weeks, the situation in both Zamfara and Katsina states has deteriorated with cases of attacks leading to the death of civilians and security agents. About 50 bandits were also killed by security agents in Tsafe area last week.
The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has further extended the deadline for filing individual annual income tax returns to 21 April.

The extension was announced in a statement signed by the LIRS Head, Corporate Communications, Monsurat Amasa-Oyelude, and seen by PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday.

The LIRS stated that it extended the tax filing further after observing a significant increase in traffic on its eTax platform as more taxpayers endeavour to meet the filing deadline.

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) wishes to express its sincere appreciation to esteemed taxpayers for their continued compliance and commitment to the filing of their individual annual income tax returns.

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Following the earlier extension granted to 14 April, 2026, the Agency has observed a significant increase in traffic on its eTax platform as more taxpayers endeavour to meet the filing deadline.

In view of this development, and to ensure that all taxpayers are provided with adequate opportunity to complete their filings, LIRS hereby announces a further extension of the deadline, now set for 21 April, 2026, the statement read.

On 25 February, the agency directed individual taxpayers in Lagos to file their annual tax returns for the 2026 year of assessment by 31 March.

However, the LIRS later extended the deadline to 14 April to give taxpayers more time to complete their filings.

According to the LIRS, the additional extension is granted in consideration of the overwhelming response and to enhance taxpayer convenience, while maintaining the integrity and accuracy of submissions.

In the statement, the LIRS urged the Lagos taxpayers to fulfil their civic responsibility within the extension window on the LIRS eTax platform only.

Taxpayers are reminded that the filing of annual income tax returns remains a statutory obligation and are encouraged to take advantage of this final extension to fulfil their civic responsibility.

The executive chairman of LIRS, Subair, on Friday reiterated that all filings must be completed electronically via the LIRS eTax platform: https://etax.lirs.net, which remains the only approved channel for submission, the statement read.
The suspension of the chairmen of Bukkuyum, Umar Faru, and Kaura Namoda, Mannir Haidara, by the Zamfara State House of Assembly on Wednesday has continued to generate reactions in the northwestern state.

The House, after receiving a report from its Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Committee, decided to suspend the two local government council bosses over alleged financial misconduct.

Invitations were sent to them (Chairmen) for them to explain expenditures in their councils but they deliberately refused to honour the invitations. Following deliberations, presided by the Speaker, the House unanimously adopted the committees recommendations and approved the immediate suspension of the two Chairmen pending the conclusion of the investigation, Bello Madaro, the Assemblys spokesperson, told journalists in Gusau.

While members and supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state applaud the suspension, members of the opposition parties see it as a witch-hunt especially towards Mr Faru, who refused to follow Governor Dauda Lawal to the APC last month.

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Mr Faru, who was elected as chairman under the Peoples Democratic Party, just like the governor, refused to defect to APC. He has been criticising the governor and the APC since the decamping in March.

Mr Haidara, the Kaura chairman, was among those who joined the APC.

The Assemblys deputy speaker, Adamu Aliyu, said the suspension has no political undertones.

He said the House standing committee sent memos to all the 14 council bosses to provide details of their expenditures.

After they responded, we sent them an invitation and gave them days and time to come separately and explain their responses to us. 12 of them came but these two(Bukkuyum and Kaura Namoda) refused to honour the invitation. We sent them letters of reminder thrice but they refused to comply, Mr Aliyu, who is also the chairman of the local government and chieftaincy affairs committee, said.

Its politically motivated

However, speaking to DCL Hausa on Saturday, the suspended Bukkuyum Chairman, Mr Faru said his suspension was politically motivated.

He accused the House of Assembly of suspending him because he refused to join the APC.

The House sent us an itinerary to face its committee to discuss our spendings. When I saw it, I sent a letter to the House notifying them that I was going to Mecca for my lesser pilgrimage and asked them to choose a new date for me when I return. No official communication was sent to me when I returned, I only heard that I refused to honour their invitation.

They said I was invited thrice, Im challenging them to show me the letter they sent to me thrice. They dont have that evidence because no one invited me thrice. But I sent them a letter and they acknowledged receiving it, Mr Faru said.

Mr Faru said the House of Assembly doesnt have the constitutional right to suspend him, therefore, he would continue to parade himself as chairman.

ALSO READ: Court stops Aliyu from parading himself as Zamfara Assembly Speaker

I suspect that its because I didnt follow them to APC. I said my local government is facing serious attacks so, why would I join the APC? I told them that Ill only join APC when the security situation in my area improves, he said.

Mr Faru said the federal government never withheld the Zamfara State government allocations when Mr Lawal, the governor, was in PDP.

His allocation was never withheld by the federal government when he was in PDP He (Mr Lawal) doesnt have the right to withhold our funds because this is enrishned in the constitution, local government funds belong to the local government so he cant withhold because Im not a member of his party.

The spokesperson to Zamfara State governor, Sulaiman Bala  Idris, didnt respond to an SMS and WhatsApp messages sent to him over the development. His known phone number was unreachable.
It was too quick. Humanity heaving a sigh of relief on Tuesday, 7 April when a two-week ceasefire in the United States/Israel-Iran war came into effect.

The very next day, one of the most savage attacks in the war took place in Lebanon.

Israel, a sidekick of the US, carried out a series of deadly attacks on Lebanon, killing least 254 persons and injuring over 1,165. All within 24 hours of the ceasefire.

It was pure lunacy. Even the United Nations, UN, despite its characteristic silence in the face of genocide, expressed horror.

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Its High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, cried out: The scale of the killing and destruction in Lebanon today is nothing short of horrific. Such carnage, within hours of agreeing to a ceasefire with Iran, defies belief.

Even allies of US and Israel, including Qatar and Oman, agreed that the senseless killings in Lebanon are crimes against humanity.

Not unexpectedly, the US justified the carnage with its Vice President JD Vance claiming: We never made that promise. But the ceasefire was not about promises, but agreements.

In officially announcing the ceasefire agreement, the Pakistani Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif who mediated it, informed the expectant world: With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes. Both parties have displayed remarkable wisdom and understanding and have remained constructively engaged in furthering the cause of peace and stability. We earnestly hope that the Islamabad Talks succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days!

The US and Israel did not dispute this. But rather than the good news Sharif expected, bad news rolled in. First, the renewed massacre in Lebanon, and the Israeli and US leaders threatening to wreck the peace process.

Despite the ceasefire, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bellowed: Let me be clear. We still have objectives to complete, and we will achieve them, either through agreement or through renewed fighting.

As Israel bombed Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire, President Trump announced he hasnt faith in the ceasefire, so: All US ships, aircraft, and military personnelwill remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with. He did not say which agreement is real and which is not or, whether this real agreement exists in the first place. He added: If for any reason it is notthe Shootin Starts, bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before.

As if the world has not experienced enough nightmare, he added ominously: In the meantime our great Military is Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest.

This declaration does not seem to come from a sound mind. What next conquest is he looking for? Perhaps he sees himself as Alexander the Great conquering vast swaths of the world, or Adolf Hitler rolling over Europe.

In the 38-day war that followed the US-Israeli invasion of Iran, at least 2,211 persons were killed and over 22,017 injured across the Middle East, including Israel. These were avoidable deaths. It also led to mass displacement of populations and massive destruction. The world economy was severely affected with the bulk of goods passing through the Strait of Hormuz dropping by 83 percent, and fertilizer by 82 per cent. But it is trade and the Strait the European Union is interested in, not human beings. So, rather than speak out against the invasion and push for a ceasefire, its member countries were pressurising Iran to reopen the strait for passage.

As for many in the social media who were not directly affected, the war was a spectacle. It was like watching an exciting movie. It was about weapons and how much destruction they were causing.

There was the excitement about the search for an American co-pilot who came down on Iranian territory. The speculations and analysis centred around his rescue. The rescue of a human being is good, but the question was: what was he doing on Iranian soil? Simple. He had been sent to bomb the country and kill Iranians. So, bringing down a combat aircraft deployed to do maximum human and infrastructure damage was also good.

In the entire war, Iran in withstanding the unrestrained mass destruction of its facilities and massacre of its leadership and citizens showed how a determined people can withstand the enormous weaponry of perhaps the worlds largest and most sophisticated military. It reminds humanity that the best reaction to bullies is neither pacification nor submission, but resistance.

Despite the savage attacks it was subjected to, Iran did not run to the ceasefire table. Rather, it reviewed the invasion, the casualties and damages, then gave a ten-point condition. These included assurances that the US and Israel would no longer attack it and the imposition of some special tax on the strait which would help pay for the infrastructural damages caused by the war.

The US had dismissed the existence of such conditions, but they surfaced at the negotiations.

Meanwhile, the US brigandage continues. After its invasion of Venezuela and abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia, it has began feasting on the country as a war booty. While still holding the Maduros hostage, the US, like a highway armed robber, is taking Venezuelan oil. American Chevron is now extracting 250,000 barrels of crude oil daily from Venezuela. It plans to increase this to 400,000.

Trump had before the misadventure in Iran, planned to attack Cuba. He had tightened the blockade noose on the island and frightened countries from supplying it fuel and basic necessities. But courageous countries like Mexico had risen to the challenge by sending Cuba necessary supplies.

Trump had also threatened to seize Greenland even if it meant engaging in an armed conflict with the old US allies in Europe.

He had also assisted Israel carry out genocide in Gaza, then decided to take part of the Palestinian homeland and convert it into a tourism centre. Currently, he is trying to run Gaza through a so-called Board of Peace composed of his cronies like former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair and Jared Kushner, his son in law.

The world is on its knees with the US choking it. A coalition of the willing needs to rescue humanity.

Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author.
Gunmen have killed a traditional ruler in Imo State, Nigerias South-east.

The victim, Paulinus Ekwueme, is the traditional ruler of Ochia Community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of the state.

Apart from the traditional ruler, the hoodlums also killed five other yet-to-be-identified individuals in the community during the attack.

Henry Okoye, the police spokesperson in Imo State, in a statement on Saturday said the gunmen killed the victims when they invaded the community on Friday afternoon.

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Mr Okoye, a deputy superintendent of police, said police authorities received a distress report from Ohaji Police Division at about 4:30 p.m., indicating that the community was under attack by the gunmen.

The spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Audu Bosso, immediately deployed tactical units of the police with available operational assets to the area.

Upon receipt of the report, the commissioner of police immediately mobilised and dispatched tactical teams to the scene at Assa, where operatives recovered the burnt corpses of the deceased.

The remains have been evacuated and deposited at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri, for preservation and autopsy, he said.

Mr Okoye said the police in the state had begun comprehensive investigation into the incident whilst intensive operations are ongoing to track down the attackers.

Adequate security measures have also been emplaced to forestall any future occurrence of such a tragic incident in the area and its environs, he stated.

The spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Bosso, and his management team have visited the community to reassure residents of the polices resolve to restore calm and enhance sustained security presence in the affected area.

The commissioner commiserated with the family of the late traditional ruler and other deceased victims, assuring that police operatives would ensure safety of residents and also track down the hoodlums.

He further urged the residents to support the ongoing investigation by reporting suspicious movements and individuals to the police for action.

Increased attacks

Like other states in South-east, security has deteriorated in Imo with frequent attacks by armed hoodlums in recent times.

This is third time a traditional ruler would be killed in deadly attacks in the South-east in the last two months.

The latest incident came exactly nine days after Josephat Ikegwu, the traditional ruler of Ishinkwo Community in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, was shot dead by gunmen on 1 April.

Mr Ikegwus killing occurred exactly one month after gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, abducted and then killed the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi, Francis Igwe.

Mr Igwe was abducted by the hoodlums on his way to church. His body was later recovered about a week later and deposited in a mortuary.

The police later said they arrested nine suspects in connection with the kidnapping and death of the traditional ruler.
FORT CHIPEWYAN, AB, April 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) Chief and Council are pleased with the decision from the Alberta Court of King's Bench to issue a stay in the Alberta separation referendum campaign.

Justice Leonard's decision to issue a stay means that Alberta's chief electoral officer cannot certify the separation petition until after the court has issued a decision in the court cases launched by Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy.

The three Nations submitted their claim to the court stating that any attempt to secede from Canada, especially without consulting the First Nations, is a violation of the sacred Treaties. Further, they argued that the UCP government's facilitation of the referendum process, including granting separatists more time to collect signatures and lowering the number of signatures required, was a betrayal of the Duty of the Crown to uphold the Treaties.

"Whether the summer of 1812 or the spring of 2026, Canada's Indigenous people have always been the first and last line of defense against American annexation. While Ottawa sleeps, Alberta's first inhabitants are doing everything we can to save confederation. We shall never allow our Treaties to be broken, and we will never bend the knee to foreign tyrants or their useful idiots," said Chief Adam.

"We are standing up for our Treaties, for our people and for the land that is all under threat through this referendum effort," said Chief Adam. "We are doing this for all Albertans, especially children and youth, who deserve to grow up in a country that respects the rule of law and recognizes the supremacy of the constitution."

SOURCE Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc., an importer, wholesaler, and distributor of food products, failed to provide employees with all legally required meal and rest breaks, as according to law. This, allegedly, has resulted in violations of various California Labor codes.

LOS ANGELES, April 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc. violated the California Labor Code. The Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc. class action lawsuit, Case No. 26STCV06255, is currently pending in the Los Angeles County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here.

The Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP Speed Speed

According to California Labor Law, companies are required to pay employees for all time worked, meaning the time during which an employee is subject to the control of an employer, including all the time the employees are permitted or suffered to permit this work. Allegedly, Defendant required their employees to work off the clock without paying them for all the time they were under Defendant's control. To the extent that the time worked off the clock does not qualify for overtime premium payment, Defendant, allegedly, failed to pay minimum wages for the time worked off-the-clock in violation of Cal. Lab. Code  1194,1197, and 1197.1

**THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT**

California Labor Code  226 provides that every employer shall furnish each of his or her employees with an accurate itemized wage statement. According to the Complaint, Plaintiff was paid on an hourly basis. Therefore, Plaintiff's wage statements should reflect all applicable pay periods in which the wages were earned pursuant to Cal. Lab. Code Section 226 (a). Allegedly, the wage statements Defendant provided to Plaintiff failed to identify such information.

For more information about the class action lawsuit against Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today.

**THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT**

Media Contact

Nicholas De Blouw

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP

(800) 568-8020

[email protected]

https://www.bamlawca.com/

SOURCE Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP
First crewed deep space mission in 53 years validates Orion for future lunar exploration

DENVER, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- After traveling 694,481 miles to the Moon and back, the Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)-built Orion spacecraft has successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, completing NASA's Artemis II mission and marking a major milestone in humanity's return to deep space exploration.

NASAs Orion spacecraft splashing down in the Pacific Ocean after its historic Artemis II mission. Credit NASA

Following a 10-day journey around the Moon, Orion and its four-person crew dramatically re-entered Earth's atmosphere at speeds approaching 24,000 mph before deploying parachutes and splashing down off the coast of southern California. The mission demonstrated Orion's ability to safely carry astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit, farther from Earth than humans have ever traveled and return them safely home  capabilities essential for NASA's future Artemis missions.

"As Orion brings its crew safely home from humanity's first crewed mission to deep space in more than five decades, we've proven what's possible through relentless innovation, discipline, and partnership," said Robert Lightfoot, president of Lockheed Martin Space. "I am incredibly proud of our Lockheed Martin team. This mission validates Orion's performance in the most demanding environment and confirms we are ready to take bold next steps  returning astronauts to the lunar surface."

Orion's Mission: Setting the Stage for Future Exploration

During the mission aboard Orion, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen traveled thousands of miles beyond the far side of the Moon on a free-return trajectory. Along the way, the crew:

Conducted critical system evaluations, including life support, navigation, communications, propulsion operations and manual piloting

Captured science imagery and observations of the far side lunar surface

Tested Orion's fully integrated environmental control and life support systems, as well as advanced avionics and crew interfaces

Set the record for the farthest human spaceflight from Earth at 252,756 miles

These systems enabled astronauts to live and work in deep space while gathering essential data. The data will be used to refine systems and operations ahead of Artemis III which will demonstrate critical docking with NASA's Human Landing System and Artemis IV, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon for the first time since Apollo.

Orion performed exceptionally well throughout the mission, including its most demanding phase, Earth re-entry. The spacecraft's heat shield withstood temperatures nearing 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, while its parachute system executed a precise descent sequence to ensure a safe landing.

After splashdown, recovery teams extracted the crew via helicopter and transported them to the USS John P. Murtha recover ship. The astronauts will undergo post-mission medical evaluations before returning to shore and then flying to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for NASA's Orion spacecraft and has led its design, development, and production. The company continues to work alongside NASA and its partners to enable sustainable lunar exploration and support the agency's long-term goals for human exploration of Mars.

About Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at Lockheedmartin.com.

SOURCE Lockheed Martin
Sunda Energy PLC (AIM:SNDA) this week unveiled a series of strategic developments, including a transformational acquisition in New Zealand, a collaboration agreement in Timor-Leste, and a structured financing package to support its next phase of growth.

Chief executive Andy Butler said the New Zealand acquisition represents a step-change for the company, positioning it as a production-focused business with immediate output and significant upside. He stated that the deal takes us to a different level, noting that it will deliver more than 1,000 barrels of production alongside opportunities to expand through in-field development and exploration.

The acquired assets span multiple blocks and include producing fields such as Cheal East and Sidewinder, as well as additional revenue streams from gas processing and a potential gas storage project. Butler highlighted that the business is cash flow generative and largely self-funded, providing a strong financial foundation.

A key catalyst identified is an exploration opportunity associated with the acquisition, which Butler suggested could more than double, maybe even treble production in a relatively short timeframe. This positions the company for near-term growth alongside its existing portfolio.

Here, we take a closer look at what was said when Butler joined the Proactive studio to talk about the deal.

Proactive: Andy, very good to speak with you. You put out a lot of announcements today. Can you summarise what's happening at Sunda?

Andy Butler: Hello, Stephen. Good to speak to you. We've been busy and announced a collaboration in Timor-Leste with Finder Energy to secure a rig and drill at Chuditch. We also announced a transformational acquisition in New Zealand with production and exploration upside, alongside a financing package and retail offer.

Proactive: You described the acquisition as transformational. What makes it so significant?

Andy Butler: It takes us to a different level. We become a production company with over 1,000 barrels, with growth potential and a strong operational team. Theres also exploration upside that could significantly increase production.

Proactive: Tell us more about the assets.

Andy Butler: The assets span five blocks in New Zealand, including producing fields like Cheal East and Sidewinder, plus development and exploration opportunities. There are also revenue streams from gas processing and a gas storage project supporting energy security.

Proactive: How does this affect risk and diversification?

Andy Butler: We now operate across three jurisdictionsTimor-Leste, the Philippines, and New Zealanddiversifying risk while maintaining a consistent strategic theme.

Proactive: Can you explain the fundraising?

Andy Butler: The funding is structured to support the acquisition through phased payments. It includes institutional investment, convertible loan notes, and a retail offer, ensuring certainty to complete the deal.

Proactive: What should investors look forward to?

Andy Butler: A busy year aheadprogress in Timor-Leste, developments in the Philippines, completion of the New Zealand acquisition, and potential exploration drilling.
(As I've reported, among the businesses that have recently been demonizing plaintiff lawyers is Uber, which is pushing a ballot measure in California that would all but shut the courthouse doors to some passengers injured during Uber rides.)

You know who rails against "Washington bureaucrats" and "plaintiff lawyers"? Businesses that are fearful that government regulators and juries will clamp down on their wrongdoing. These critiques are often described as efforts to get government off the backs of the people. What they don't explain is that once government has climbed off, big business will saddle up.

The first clue that something is being hidden appeared in DeRemer's op-ed, in which she blamed "Washington bureaucrats" and "plaintiff lawyers" for stifling the financial innovation that people supposedly have been clamoring to put in their retirement accounts.

Far be it for me to offer anyone investment advice. But there are a few things that Trump and DeRemer aren't telling you about these proposed new options. Namely, the dangers they present to unwary small investors.

Notwithstanding Chavez-DeRemer's assertion that this change would be all to the good for workers, the truth is that she and Trump are acting at the behest of alternative investment promoters, who have long slavered for access to the nearly $14 trillion in assets held in 401(k)s and other such defined contribution retirement plans.

We have seen a number of proposals from private equity funds where the returns are really not calculated in a manner that I would regard as honest.

Her goal, she wrote, is to "unwind regulatory overreach and litigation abuse that have stifled innovation." Her instrument is a proposed regulation that in effect would provide a safe harbor for plan sponsors  that is, employers  to offer those options in their employees' plans without risking lawsuits or government scrutiny over whether they're sufficiently prudent for workers to choose.

Thanks to President Trump's "bold new vision of a new golden age for America," Chavez-DeRemer wrote in the Wall Street Journal on March 30, her agency is taking steps to open these crucial retirement accounts to a raft of new investment options, such as cryptocurrencies and private equity funds.

If you believe Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, American 401(k) accounts are about to get much better.

Story Continues

So let's examine the unacknowledged issues with "innovative" alternative investments. Private equity firms are known for buying companies that are either held privately, or are public companies due to be taken private. In many cases, they turn profits for their investors by cutting payrolls and reducing services at their portfolio companies, then draining what's left until there is nothing left. Cryptocurrencies, as I've written, are a scam all their own.

We'll start with the implicit and explicit rules guiding employers when they decide what investment choices to offer workers in their 401(k)s.

"Employers are fiduciaries, which means they must make decisions about retirement investments that are in their employees best interest," observes Eileen Applebaum of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. "They must be prudent in curating a menu of retirement plan options for their workers. And they have been successfully sued for lack of prudence by workers whose retirement accounts held high fee, illiquid, risky investments that failed to perform."

The fiduciary standards are developed in part by government bureaucrats. And the successful lawsuits? They're brought by plaintiff lawyers.

In 2021, the Biden-era Labor Department warned that most sponsors of 401(k) plans and other defined contribution plans "are not likely suited to evaluate the use of [private equity] investments" in those plans. The administration shied away from outlawing such investments outright in 401(k)s. Nevertheless, employers understandably saw the warning as a yellow light, if not a flashing red light.

As of 2024, only about 4% of plan sponsors offered alternative investments, Applebaum reported. The threat of litigation also stayed their hand; 66 lawsuits were filed against plan sponsors that year, according to Encore Financial, a personal finance firm. High fees and other fiduciary failures were at the heart of most of the cases.

This isn't the first time that Trump has tried to wedge private equity investments into 401(k)s. In 2020, during his first term, then-Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia issued an opinion that the mere presence of private equity investments among 401(k) choice was not in itself a fiduciary violation.

Read more: Hiltzik: Thinking of putting crypto in your 401(k)? Think twice

Scalia said his goal was to "remove barriers to the greatest engine of economic prosperity the world has ever known: the innovation, initiative, and drive of the American people."

Until then, individuals were effectively barred from the investments by a Securities and Exchange Commission rule allowing only "accredited" investors  those who could show annual income of more than $200,000 or net worth of $1 million or more, not including their homes.

I didn't offer an opinion then about the wisdom of these investments, but wrote only that "if I were inclined to invest my 401(k) money in private equity, I would hope that my family would arrange to have my head examined."

My reasoning then was that private equity funds produce limited disclosure, or no useful disclosure at all; there are no commonly accepted formulas to measure their returns; and theyre subject to management fees immensely higher than conventional stock, bond or money market funds.

No less an experienced investor than Warren Buffett warned his own shareholders away from the sector, I pointed out.

We have seen a number of proposals from private equity funds where the returns are really not calculated in a manner that I would regard as honest, Buffett said at the May 2019 annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, which held his corporate investment portfolio.

Since then  indeed, since the Great Recession of 2007-2009  the private equity sector has been promoting itself as a source of financial returns superior than those of conventional stock portfolios while glossing over cavils such as Buffett's.

The promoters boast that their funds have low correlations with public markets  that is, when the public markets falter, the private markets gain; that they're skilled at finding bargains among targeted businesses; and that they impose profit-gaining efficiencies on their acquired businesses.

In recent years, however, the private equity argument has faded. "Current data raises questions concerning these predicate assumptions," wrote Nori Gerardo Lietz of Harvard Business School in 2024. Private equity fund performance, she observed, has "eroded materially."

Read more: Hiltzik: Shame, suicide attempts, 'financial death'  the devastating toll of a crypto firm's failure

That's true. From 2022 through the first three quarters of 2025, according to the research firm MSCI, private equity firms turned in annualized returns of 5.8%, while the Standard & Poor's 500 index of public firms yielded 11.6%.

Institutional investors such as public employee pension funds have begun to ask whether the sector deserves their money.

In the last year, the Yale University endowment and the public employee pension fund of New York City have sold off billions of dollars in private equity investments, some at a discount to their stated values. (To be fair, the California Public Employees' Retirement System, or CalPERS, has remained a fan, attributing its recent improvement in overall returns to a strengthened investment in private equity.)

The sight of major investors voting on private equity with their feet has turbocharged the private equity sector's campaign to reach into individual retirement accounts. By some measures, however, individual investors have even less tolerance for some of the features of private equity than do institutions. Unlike publicly traded stocks, these investments are illiquid, meaning they can't be sold at will and they can't be reliably priced.

As for cryptocurrencies, the other major alternative investment being touted by Trump, their shortcomings are well documented.

In contrast to conventional stocks and bonds, they don't represent stakes in anything concrete and as a result are extremely volatile.

Bitcoin, for instance, ran as high as $126,000 in October; as of Thursday it was priced below $72,000. Among other queasy-induced crashes, bitcoin lost 35% of its value in less than four weeks between mid-January and early February, falling from $96,929 on Jan. 13 to $62,702 on Feb. 4.

These are all factors demanding notice from small investors contemplating adding these sectors to their retirement funds. For that reason, some retirement professionals doubt that even the Trump administration's favor will persuade many plan sponsors to open their doors to alternative investments. Trump's regulators may be taking a hands-off approach to these sectors, but plaintiff lawyers aren't likely to back off.

For individual investors, these are sectors that were made for the phrase "caveat emptor." If you don't know your Latin, it means "buyer beware."

Get the latest from Michael Hiltzik

Commentary on economics and more from a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Sign me up.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
About this content 

About Stephen Gunnion

Stephen Gunnion is a senior financial journalist and broadcaster at Proactive Investors. He has more than 25 years of experience in television, radio and print media, anchoring on a number of television channels including South Africa's Business Day TV, CNBC Africa and the South African Broadcasting Corporation, where he was the economics editor. He has also worked for Daily Maverick, Bloomberg, the Business Day newspaper and Investors' Chronicle. Read more

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Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

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Coiled Therapeutics (AIM:COIL) executive chair, Dr Sotirios Stergiopoulos, talked with Proactive about promising clinical results for its lead oncology candidate AO-252, alongside CEO Sridhar Vempati. The discussion highlights a significant improvement in clinical outcomes, with the company reporting an increase in clinical benefit rate from 40% to 80% following a shift to twice-daily dosing.

Vempati explained that the enhanced efficacy appears linked to sustained drug exposure, noting that maintaining therapeutic levels for longer durations helps drive stronger results. He also emphasised AO-252s multimodal mechanism, targeting mitosis, DNA damage repair, and immune activation. This approach not only attacks tumours directly but may also help the immune system recognise and respond to cancer more effectively.

Dr Stergiopoulos highlighted the importance of these findings in heavily pre-treated patients, many of whom had exhausted available treatment options. He said, The fact that were seeing effect is really astounding and it gives us every confidence that we are on the right path. The ability to generate responses in such late-stage cases suggests potential for even greater efficacy in earlier treatment lines.

The company is now advancing plans for combination trials and new formulations, with multiple data readouts expected throughout 2026. AO-252s favourable safety profile and synergy with existing therapies could expand its use across a wide range of cancer indications.

Proactive: Sotirios, Sridhar, very good to speak with you. I'll start with you Sridhar  you've gone from a 40% to an 80% clinical benefit rate just by switching to twice daily dosing. How significant is that jump? And what does it tell you about how this drug actually works?

Sridhar Vempati: It's a very good question. What we see is that doubling the clinical benefit rate from 40% to 80% is a profound shift. It tells us that AO-252 is likely concentration-dependent rather than peak-dependent. With once-daily dosing, drug levels may drop below the efficacy threshold during the day. With twice-daily dosing, we maintain therapeutic levels for longer, which drives efficacy.

This has also been validated preclinically, where we saw more cures in mice with twice-daily dosing. Clinically, were now seeing that confirmed. Additionally, because AO-252 activates the immune system through mitosis and DNA damage repair pathways, sustained exposure helps maintain immune activation. Importantly, switching to twice-daily dosing has not increased toxicity  the safety profile remains benign, and we have not yet reached the maximum tolerated dose.

Proactive: Sotirios, some of these patients had already tried nine different treatments before AO-252. What does it mean to see results in people who have essentially run out of options?

Dr Sotirios Stergiopoulos: This is exactly what you look for in a drug. As a physician, you never want to run out of options. The fact that weve seen clinical effects in heavily pre-treated patients gives us confidence that this drug can work even in very difficult situations.

These patients had undergone multiple lines of therapy, and many were being considered for hospice care. Seeing reductions in such cases is very encouraging. It suggests that if the drug is used earlier, it could be even more effective.

Proactive: Youre talking about AO-252 potentially activating the immune system as well as attacking tumors directly. If that holds up, how could this broaden long-term market potential, particularly in combination therapies?

Sridhar Vempati: Most oncology drugs are either cytotoxic or immunotherapies. AO-252 is multimodal  it targets mitosis, DNA damage repair, and the immune system.

This allows it to work across multiple pathways and makes it highly suitable for combination therapies. Its safety profile supports combining with chemotherapy, targeted therapies, or immunotherapies.

Importantly, AO-252 can convert cold tumors into hot ones, making them visible to the immune system. That opens up combinations with major immunotherapies like KEYTRUDA. Preclinical data also shows synergy with chemotherapy and antibody-drug conjugates, significantly expanding the market opportunity.

Proactive: Sotirios, youve got a packed calendar for 2026. Whats the single data readout you're most excited about?

Dr Sotirios Stergiopoulos: There are multiple areas of focus in 2026. Were starting with a new formulation aimed at improving on the 80% clinical benefit rate. We expect to have a significant number of patients enrolled by mid-year.

Were also exploring multiple indications and planning combination trials, including one in Australia. Additionally, were working with the FDA to define dosing for expansion cohorts. Its a very data-rich year with multiple catalysts expected in the second half.

Proactive: Final thoughts?

Sridhar Vempati: We believe Coiled Therapeutics is poised for its next step. We have the team and strategy to execute on key milestones and bring AO-252 to market faster.

Dr Sotirios Stergiopoulos: Were extremely excited and look forward to continuing to develop this treatment and potentially changing the treatment landscape.
Novo Resources Corp (TSX:NVO, OTCQX:NSRPF, ASX:NVO, FRA:1NOR) earlier this week outlined plans to commence drilling at its Wyloo project in Western Australia, marking the start of a broader exploration campaign expected to deliver steady news flow through mid-2026.

Executive co-chairman and acting CEO Mike Spreadborough said drilling at Wyloo is scheduled to begin in late April, following minor delays caused by weather disruptions. The program will comprise approximately 2,500 metres of aircore drilling designed to test a target defined by encouraging surface sampling results.

Spreadborough highlighted that rock chip samples have returned elevated levels of antimony, silver, zinc and lead, alongside gold, pointing to a potentially significant polymetallic system. He described Wyloo as probably the most exciting target Novo Resources has had for a long time, underscoring the companys growing confidence in the project.

The Wyloo campaign represents the first drill testing of the target, with the company aiming to better understand the geological controls and assess whether the mineralisation reflects a hydrothermal system. Spreadborough noted that while the geological model remains unconfirmed, drilling is expected to provide critical insights.

Beyond Wyloo, Novo Resources is progressing additional exploration across its Pilbara portfolio. At the Cronus project near Karratha, the company plans to drill five fence lines to test potential extensions of mineralisation identified by neighbouring explorer Artemis. Previous results at Cronus have already returned promising gold intersections, supporting further follow-up work.

Meanwhile, at Balla Balla, Novo Resources is preparing for a second phase of drilling comprising around 6,000 metres of reverse circulation drilling. The company has refined its targeting to focus on two key zones following analysis of more than 20,000 metres drilled in 2025. Spreadborough said this phase would aim to tighten drill spacing and extend mineralisation at depth, helping to build the story ahead of a potential third phase.

He added that the exploration approach at Balla Balla is iterative, likening it to peeling an onion, with each phase providing greater clarity on the projects potential.

With funding secured, Novo Resources is positioned to execute its planned programs and deliver a steady stream of results over the coming months, providing multiple catalysts for investors as drilling progresses across its key assets.

Key highlights

Novo Resources is launching a major drilling campaign across multiple WA projects

Wyloo project drilling begins late April 2026, following weather delays

Initial program: ~2,500m aircore drilling targeting antimony and polymetallic mineralisation

Strong surface results include antimony, silver, zinc, lead and gold

Wyloo described as the most exciting target Novo has had for a long time

Company expects consistent news flow from April to July

Cronus project drilling to test extension of mineralisation near Artemis ground

Balla Balla project advancing to second-phase drilling (~6,000m RC)

Exploration strategy focused on greenfields discovery rather than near-mine assets

Company fully funded to execute upcoming drilling programs

Proactive: Welcome back to Proactive Investors, ladies and gentlemen. I'm your host, Kerry Stephenson. Today I've asked Mike Spreadborough to come back and have a chat with us. He is the executive co-chairman and acting CEO of Novo Resources, listed on the ASX and the TSX as NVO.

The reason Ive asked Mike to join us is that the company is starting its drilling program at Wyloo in the Pilbara in Western Australia, with a strong start to 2026 ahead. Mike, give us the update.

Mike Spreadborough: As you said, post-Easter, so the Easter Bunny is coming. Its really good. Were kicking off almost three months of drilling, so people will see strong news flow from late April through to July as we execute our plans in the province.

Late April well be on the ground. There was a slight delay due to a cyclone in Western Australia, but we will start drilling at Wyloo. Its near Paulsens, inland from the Paulsens gold operation.

Were seeing mineralisation including gold and antimony, and strong rock chip samples with high lead, zinc, silver and antimony, along with some gold. Theres about a kilometre strike length at surface, and now well begin drilling.

Were planning around 2,500 metres of aircore drilling starting in April. Were not yet sure of the exact geological modelit may have a hydrothermal themebut thats why were drilling. Its probably the most exciting target Novo Resources has had for a long time.

Proactive: This is one you seem particularly excited about. Can you expand on that?

Mike Spreadborough: It goes back to Novo Resources DNA as a true greenfields explorer. Were not focused on brownfields or areas near existing processing plantswe want to make new discoveries.

Weve held this ground for a while, and its taken time to work with Aboriginal groups to gain access. Initially, access was only possible by helicopter. Geological work including soil and rock chip sampling was completed in 2023, so its taken time to reach the drilling stage.

The rock chip results are exciting. This is a project that simply needs to be drilled. There are no guarantees, but its a compelling target.

Proactive: Once Wyloo is underway, youre also planning drilling at Cronus and Balla Balla?

Mike Spreadborough: Yes. Well move to Cronus near Karratha, where well drill five fence lines along a trend. Artemis has had success nearby, so we want to see if that continues onto our ground.

Weve had some good gold hits previously, so we want to follow that up, although its not our main focus.

After that, well move to Balla Balla with a different contractor. That will be the second phase of drilling there.

Proactive: How much drilling at Balla Balla, and why is it exciting?

Mike Spreadborough: Well complete about 6,000 metres of RC drilling. In 2025, we drilled over 20,000 metres across a large  ground position. Weve analysed that data and are now focusing on two key areas, Quarry and Babbage.

Well tighten drill spacing and go deeper to build the geological story. Its a bit like peeling an onionweve done soils, first-phase drilling, and now this is the second phase.

A third phase will likely determine whether theres something significant there. We may also incorporate geophysics.

The broader concept relates to structural trends similar to known mineralised systems in the region. We need to drill to test that theory.

Proactive: Plenty of news flow coming from Novo Resources. Mike, great to chatcome back with updates soon.

Mike Spreadborough: Absolutely. Weve got about 12 weeks of strong news flow ahead, and importantly, were fully funded for drilling.
Resolution Minerals Ltd (ASX:RML, OTCQB:RLMLF, FRA:NC3) earlier this week reported that its Antimony Ridge project in Idaho has been added to the US Federal FAST-41 Permitting Transparency Program, marking a significant regulatory milestone for the companys critical minerals strategy.

Strategic Advisor Steve Promnitz said the designation effectively places the project on a shortlist of preferred developments being considered by the US government. He noted that the FAST-41 process is designed to streamline permitting timelines and improve coordination between federal agencies, adding that it provides a tick of approval for investors assessing project quality.

Promnitz explained that the inclusion is expected to accelerate development at Antimony Ridge, while also strengthening the companys engagement with US authorities as they seek to secure domestic supply of critical minerals. He said antimony, a key focus for the project, has become increasingly important due to its use in flame retardants and military applications such as munitions.

He stated that antimony has shifted from being an important mineral to becoming supercritical, particularly in light of recent geopolitical developments and the need for the US to replenish supply chains from domestic sources.

The Antimony Ridge asset forms part of the broader Horse Heaven project in central Idaho, which spans more than 50,000 acres and also hosts gold and tungsten mineralisation. Promnitz highlighted Idaho as a supportive mining jurisdiction with established infrastructure, skilled workforce availability, and a history of resource development.

Looking ahead, the company is advancing several near-term catalysts. Promnitz said Resolution Minerals expects to deliver updates on metallurgy and processing options, including plans for a potential antimony processing hub and pilot plant in Idaho. In addition, discussions are ongoing regarding tungsten stockpiles and potential pathways to processing within the US.

The company is also preparing to commence a large-scale gold drilling campaign in May, with two rigs targeting up to 13,500 metres of drilling through to August. Promnitz indicated that the program could support an initial resource of at least 3 million ounces, noting similarities with a neighbouring project.

Overall, the FAST-41 designation represents a key step forward for Resolution Minerals as it positions Antimony Ridge within the US critical minerals supply chain, with multiple development and exploration milestones expected in the coming months.

Interview highlights

Resolution Minerals secured FAST-41 status for Antimony Ridge in Idaho

FAST-41 designation supports faster permitting and federal coordination

Project added to a shortlist of strategic US critical minerals assets

Antimony demand rising due to defence and industrial applications

Promnitz describes antimony as supercritical amid geopolitical pressures

Idaho highlighted as a mining-friendly jurisdiction with strong infrastructure

Horse Heaven project spans 50,000+ acres with gold, tungsten, and antimony

Antimony Ridge features high-grade mineralisation with historic production

Upcoming catalysts include metallurgy updates and processing development

Tungsten project discussions ongoing with US groups

Major gold drilling program planned (MayAugust) targeting ~3Moz resource

Proactive: Welcome back to Proactive Investors. Im your host Kerry Stevenson. With me today is Steve Promnitz, Strategic Advisor for Resolution Minerals. The company recently announced securing US government permitting counsel and FAST-41 status for the Antimony Ridge project in central Idaho. The stock saw strong market interest following the news. Steve, what does this FAST-41 coverage really mean for the company?

Steve Promnitz: Thank you, Kerry. The key thing is that it puts Resolution Minerals on a shortlist of preferred companies that the US government can consider for project support. Weve been to Washington DC a number of times, and there are many competing projects. This designation demonstrates well receive assistance with fast-tracking permitting for Antimony Ridge. It also means a dedicated project manager will help coordinate across agencies. Its essentially a tick of approval and signals to investors that the project has passed an important filtering process.

Proactive: Some viewers may not understand antimony. What is it, and why is the US government so interested?

Steve Promnitz: Antimony is an industrial mineral used in flame retardants and in military applications like munitions and missiles. Given recent geopolitical developments, the US needs to replenish supply quickly and prefers domestic sources. Its gone from important to supercritical.

Proactive: Is Idaho a good jurisdiction for mining, and can you tell us about the project?

Steve Promnitz: Idaho is very supportive of mining and development. It has strong infrastructure, skilled workers, and established projects. Our Horse Heaven project covers more than 50,000 acres and includes gold, tungsten, and antimony assets. Antimony Ridge hosts some of the highest-grade antimony in North America, with historic production dating back to World War I and II.

Proactive: What news flow can investors expect going forward?

Steve Promnitz: Following FAST-41 status, we expect updates on metallurgy and processing, including a potential processing hub and pilot plant in Idaho. Were also advancing tungsten discussions and plan a major gold drilling program starting in May, targeting an initial resource of at least 3 million ounces.

Proactive: That sounds like a busy period ahead. Thanks for joining us.

Steve Promnitz: Thank you.
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United Nations, April 11 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes the US-Iran talks scheduled to start in Islamabad over the weekend, his spokesperson said.

"He calls on the parties to seize this diplomatic opportunity to engage in good faith toward a lasting and comprehensive agreement, with a view to deescalation and the prevention of a return to hostilities," spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a daily briefing, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The Secretary-General reiterates that there is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, in full accordance with international law, including the UN Charter," Dujarric said.

The UN chief's personal envoy for the Middle East conflict and its consequences, Jean Arnault, continues to be in the region to support diplomatic efforts, Dujarric added.

The temporary ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel was achieved early Wednesday, despite which Israel has continued its attacks on Lebanon.

Meanwhile, a high-level Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf arrived in Islamabad on Saturday to participate in the upcoming talks with the United States, Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement.

The delegation also includes Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.

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 US-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.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Washington, April 11 : India and the United States expanded cooperation on energy, critical technologies and defence during Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's meetings with senior US officials this week, signalling closer strategic alignment.

On the final day of his hectic three-day engagements, energy cooperation featured prominently, with Misri meeting US Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

The Indian Embassy in Washington said Misri "called on Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Discussions focused on advancing energy security, deepening bilateral energy trade, and identifying new avenues to strengthen the India-US Energy Partnership."

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor pointed to growing collaboration in the sector. "After India's historic passage of the SHANTI bill, we are ready to cooperate on civil nuclear in addition to other areas such as coal gasification and US LPG exports," he said.

Beyond energy, the talks covered emerging technologies and supply chains.

According to the US Department of Commerce, "This week, Under Secretary William Kimmitt and India's Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, met to discuss advancing US-India cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, securing trusted supply chains, and exploring opportunities for US AI exports."

Misri also held discussions with senior White House officials, including National Security Council leadership.

The Indian Embassy said the talks covered "issues of mutual strategic interest including the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture and the recent developments in West Asia."

Defence cooperation also featured in the engagements.

Gor said, "The US Army and Indian Army will play an important role in bolstering defense ties."

He added that "defense cooperation between the US and India is only growing and it's making both our countries safer and stronger," citing discussions on "defense sales of US equipment and strengthening interoperability."

Misri also attended a reception at India House hosted by India's Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra, where he met officials and stakeholders from across the US administration.

The Indian Embassy said he "interacted with friends and partners from across the US Administration, reaffirming the strong and vibrant bilateral partnership, and joint efforts to further strengthen ties."

The meetings reflect growing convergence between New Delhi and Washington across strategic and economic priorities, including energy security, technology cooperation and defence ties.

India and the United States have deepened their partnership over the past decade through regular high-level exchanges and expanding cooperation across sectors. The relationship has been elevated to a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership covering defence, trade, technology and people-to-people ties.

Both countries are also working more closely in the Indo-Pacific, focusing on regional stability, resilient supply chains and emerging global challenges.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
The debut of Morgan Stanleys spot Bitcoin ETF marked a major milestone on Wednesday for the investment bank with $9.3 trillion in client assets, but the financial powerhouse is already weighing what could be next when it comes to crypto.

The firm filed applications in January for exchange-traded funds tracking Ethereum and Solana, but its doubtful that the company will stop there, Amy Oldenburg, head of digital-asset strategy at Morgan Stanley, told Decrypt in an interview this week.

Were not going to stop at just Bitcoin, she said in reference to Morgan Stanleys spot Bitcoin ETF, which has generated approximately $46 million in net inflows since debuting Wednesday, according to Farside Investors. Its really about the longer-term journey, and theres quite a long way to go.

Last year, Morgan Stanley became the first major wirehouse to allow its army of more than 15,000 wealth advisors to pitch third-party spot Bitcoin ETFs to eligible clients, green-lighting products offered by asset managers Fidelity and BlackRock. And Morgan Stanleys next moves could resemble steps those competitors have taken, Oldenburg said.

She described a tokenized money-market fund as definitely a path forward for Morgan Stanleys product roadmap, highlighting opportunities across other asset classes that the investment bank could tap for creating digital representations of real-world assets.

Franklin Templeton pioneered the format for yield-bearing tokens that are backed by U.S. Treasuries in 2021, but that asset managers product has since been supplanted by BlackRocks BUIDL, which has grown to $2.3 billion, according to RWA.xyz. Fidelitys Digital Interest Token, meanwhile, has garnered a total value of roughly $172 million.

Parametric, a Morgan Stanley subsidiary, has established a plethora of rules-based investment strategies for clients, including tax-loss harvesting. Helping clients offset capital gains tax liabilities with digital assets represents something to also explore, Oldenburg said.

The investment bank has already telegraphed other moves: Last year, it confirmed plans to offer crypto trading via E*TRADE in a team-up with infrastructure provider Zerohash. In February, Oldenburg said Bitcoin-based yield and lending services are also being explored.

'Captive Audience' Could Drive Demand for Morgan Stanley's Bitcoin ETF: Bloomberg Analyst

Morgan Stanleys Bitcoin Trust may struggle to grow past BlackRocks $53 billion spot Bitcoin ETF, but itll likely put pressure on the industry-leading alternative, Bloomberg Senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas told Decrypt this week.
Seoul, April 11 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has stressed the North places 'top priority' on further developing traditional ties with China during his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, state media reported Saturday.

Their meeting took place Friday, the last day of Wang's two-day visit to Pyongyang, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It marked his first trip to the North since 2019.

The meeting came months after Kim held summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last September to discuss ways to deepen bilateral ties, which were seen as strained amid North Korea's military and diplomatic alignment with Russia.

During the talks with Wang, Kim affirmed that North Korea's steadfast stance is to "place the greatest value on and give top priority to further developing the DPRK-China friendly relations with socialism as their core," the KCNA said.

DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Yonhap news agency reported.

He also underscored the need to "further intensify the visits and contacts at different levels and boost mutual support and cooperation for the protection of the common interests and the multifaceted and sustained development of the bilateral relations in view of the present international geopolitical situation and the long-term strategic interests of the two countries," according to the KCNA.

The North's state media did not specify, but Kim appears to be referring to the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran that began in late February.

In response, Wang highlighted China's willingness to develop friendly relations between China and North Korea, assessing bilateral ties as entering a "new phase of development" following last year's summit between Xi and Kim, according to the KCNA.

Kim also said North Korea would "fully support" China's policies aimed at "realising the territorial integrity of the country on the basis of the 'one-China' principle and building a fair and just multipolar world," in an apparent reference to China's territorial claim to Taiwan.

China's foreign ministry said Friday that Kim reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing high-level exchanges and strategic communication with China during his meeting with Wang. Kim also voiced full support for Xi's vision for building a community for a shared future and China's "legitimate" territorial claims to Taiwan, it said.

Wang's meeting with Kim came a day after he met one-on-one with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui.

His visit to Pyongyang comes ahead of US President Donald Trump's planned trip to China in mid-May for talks with Xi. Speculation has continued that Trump may seek a meeting with Kim on the occasion of his trip to China, as he has expressed interest in reengaging with the North's leader.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Bogota, April 11 : Colombia's trade ministry said that it will raise tariffs on imports from neighboring Ecuador to 100 per cent from 30 per cent, matching a decision made a day earlier by Quito, as tensions between the two countries escalate.

Trade Minister Diana Morales said on Friday in a statement that Ecuador's latest tariff hike from 50 per cent to 100 per cent 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, Xinhua news agency reported.

The escalating tensions between Ecuador and Colombia come within the final months of Petroas presidency. Elected in 2022, Petro is Colombiaas first left-wing president and a former rebel involved in the countryas six-decade-long armed conflict.
New Delhi, April 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid rich tributes to Mahatma Jyotirao Phule on his birth anniversary, describing him as a visionary social reformer who dedicated his life to the ideals of equality, justice, and education.

Marking the beginning of his 200th birth anniversary celebrations, the Prime Minister said Phule's thoughts continue to guide society in its pursuit of progress and empowerment.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "On the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, paying tributes to a visionary social reformer who dedicated his life to the ideals of equality, justice and education. He was also a pioneer in championing the rights of women and the marginalised. Through his efforts, education became a powerful instrument of empowerment. This year, we mark the start of his 200th birth anniversary celebrations. May his thoughts continue to guide everyone in the pursuit of societal progress."

In another post, the Prime Minister shared a blog titled 'Mahatma Jyotirao Phule: A Light That Still Shows India the Way', noting that Phule's emphasis on education, learning, and welfare of all remains highly relevant in the present age. He wrote that Phule stands as a guiding light for many and that his life's message continues to inspire generations.

In his blog, PM Modi further reflected, "Today, 11th April, is a deeply special day for all of us. It is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, one of India's greatest social reformers and a guiding light for generations. This year, the occasion carries even greater significance, as it marks the beginning of his 200th birth anniversary celebrations."

He added that Phule's life reflected moral courage, relentless enquiry, and an unshakable commitment to social good. "His contribution lies not only in the institutions he built and movements he led, but also in the hope he aroused and the confidence he instilled in millions," the Prime Minister noted.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tribute to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, calling him a great social reformer and educationist.

"Respectful salutations on the birth anniversary of great social reformer and educationist Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. Jyotiba Phule considered education as the most effective means of social reform. He did remarkable work for women's education and, by establishing the 'Satyashodhak Samaj,' made a significant contribution towards establishing equality and justice in society," HM Shah wrote on X (loosely translated from Hindi).

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also paid homage, describing Phule as a pioneer of India's educational revolution and a strong advocate for the uplift of Dalits and empowerment of women.

He said: "Those who wear out their bodies for equality and truth, ever dedicated to the upliftment of Dalits and the empowerment of women.The father of India's educational revolution, the great social reformer, intellectual revolutionary sun Mahatma Jyotiba Phuleon his birth anniversary, presenting humble salutations to him."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Mahatma Phule taught that true progress of society is possible only when every individual has access to education, respect, and equal opportunities.

"On the birth anniversary of the great social reformer and the powerful voice of the exploited and deprived, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, humble tribute. He taught us that society progresses only when every individual receives education, respect, and opportunities. His struggles ignited a new light in the lives of millions. Let us resolve to advance his ideals and build an egalitarian and enlightened society," CM Yogi stated.

Jyotirao Phule was a 19th-century Indian social reformer who strongly advocated for education for women and oppressed communities. He founded the Satyashodhak Samaj to promote equality, education, and social justice in society.
London, April 11 : Britain will hold talks with allies next week on reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping without paying tolls to Iran.

British foreign ministry officials are set to meet next week with counterparts from countries that joined a virtual April 2 meeting hosted by British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The talks will include "coordinated economic and political measures, including possible sanctions" and the release of ships and sailors trapped in the Strait, the official was quoted as saying.

Representatives from over 40 countries, along with international organisations such as the European Union and the International Maritime Organization, attended the April 2 meeting to discuss possible coordinated actions on Iran, including diplomatic pressure and economic and political measures like sanctions, Xinhua news agency reported.

An official with knowledge of the planning has said the meeting is expected to look for ways to support a sustainable end to the conflict and focus on increasing international diplomatic pressure on Iran to reopen the strait.

This includes exploring coordinated economic and political measures, such as sanctions, and working with the International Maritime Organisation to secure the release of thousands of ships and sailors trapped in the strait.

It would be the third meeting hosted by Britain regarding the issue this month. It is not yet clear which day the meeting will be held next week.

The US and Iran entered a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the United States and Iran are heading into high-stakes ceasefire talks in Islamabad amid deep mistrust, competing demands and mounting pressure on both sides to find an exit from the conflict, according to mainstream American media reports.

As The Washington Post reported, the two sides appear to share little common ground beyond "their need to find an exit ramp from the war."

Ahead of the talks, both countries accused each other of acting in bad faith. US President Donald Trump described Iran's public proposals as "a hoax" and said Tehran was being "dishonourable" in restricting tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz, The Washington Post reported.

Iran, meanwhile, has set firm preconditions. According to The Washington Post and The New York Times, Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said issues such as the release of "blocked assets" must be resolved before negotiations begin.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Dehradun, April 11 : Booking for helicopter services for the Shri Kedarnath Dham pilgrimage will begin on Saturday evening, at 6 P.M.

According to officials, the administration and relevant agencies have completed all preparations to ensure a smooth and convenient journey for devotees.

In the initial phase, bookings for helicopter tickets will be available for the travel period from April 22 to June 23.

These tickets can be booked exclusively through the official IRCTC website. Online booking is mandatory to ensure transparency and prevent fraud.

Meanwhile, earlier on April 2, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was paid a courtesy visit by the 'Rawal' (head priest) of Shri Kedarnath Dham, Shri Shri Shri 1008 Bhimashankar Ling, to discuss the preparations for the Char Dham Yatra.

Welcoming the revered shrine's head priest, Chief Minister Dhami expressed gratitude for the visit and shared detailed updates on the ongoing reconstruction and development works at Shri Kedarnath Dham.

He noted that the state government has been consistently working to enhance infrastructure, safety measures, and facilities for pilgrims visiting the revered shrine.

Chief Minister Dhami highlighted that special emphasis is being placed on ensuring a smooth and well-organised Char Dham Yatra season this year.

He stated that authorities are focussing on crowd management, improved connectivity, medical facilities, and disaster preparedness, taking into account the increasing influx of devotees each year.

The Chief Minister also underlined that lessons learned from previous pilgrimage seasons are being incorporated into current planning, with coordination among various departments to ensure seamless arrangements.

He added that the state government is committed to providing a safe, comfortable, and spiritually fulfilling experience for all pilgrims.

During the discussion, both sides deliberated on key aspects related to pilgrimage management at Shri Kedarnath Dham, including logistics, accommodation, sanitation, and emergency response systems.

The growing number of devotees was also taken into account while reviewing preparedness for the upcoming season.
New Delhi, April 11 : MP Shashi Tharoor, on Saturday reiterated the party's strong commitment to Women's Reservation, stating that the Congress stands firmly with efforts to enhance women's opportunities in political representation.

In a post on X, Tharoor said, "I want to repeat that we are firmly committed to Women's Reservation. In fact on my way in and out, I was approached by a delegation of @MahilaCongress colleagues expressing hope that their opportunities would soon be enhanced. I assured them that we stood with them all the way!"

Earlier, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) met at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi on Friday evening to deliberate on its stand regarding the proposed amendments to the Women's Reservation Bill. The meeting comes amid renewed political debate over the implementation and structure of the long-pending quota legislation.

Following the meeting, Tharoor shared another detailed post outlining the party's position. He stated that the CWC reaffirmed Congress's long-standing support for 33 per cent reservation for women, recalling that the party had introduced and passed a similar Bill in the Rajya Sabha in 2013. However, he also raised concerns over the government's current approach.

"The CWC condemned the government's unilateral and opaque push for amendments without consulting Opposition parties," Tharoor said, adding that the party has flagged concerns over the timing and manner of the proposed changes. He warned that combining the Bill with a delimitation exercise could have serious implications for the democratic balance across states, particularly in the South and Northeast.

He further noted that several Congress leaders at the meeting questioned the government's intent, alleging that earlier delays in implementation were justified on the basis of the Census, while the current push appears politically driven ahead of upcoming elections and the 2029 General Elections.

Tharoor emphasised that while the Congress remains fully committed to one-third reservation for women, the process must be inclusive, transparent, and respectful of federal principles. He cautioned that the amendment should not be used as a political instrument that undermines Parliament's role as a deliberative institution.

The CWC meeting highlighted the party's attempt to balance its support for gender representation with concerns over procedural fairness and constitutional balance, as the debate over Women's Reservation continues to intensify in national politics.

Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet earlier on Wednesday approved a draft amendment Bill to operationalise the Women's Reservation Act ahead of schedule, potentially bringing it into effect for the 2029 General Elections.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to sources familiar with the development. The proposed amendment seeks to modify the existing framework of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, formally known as the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, which was enacted in 2023.
New Delhi, April 11 : Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will embark on a three-day visit to France and Germany starting Sunday (April 12) to review bilateral cooperation across key sectors and discuss global and regional developments, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Saturday.

The visit follows the visits of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron to India in January and February 2026, respectively, the MEA said, adding that it "is in keeping with the regular high-level exchanges between India and Europe".

"It will provide an opportunity to review the full spectrum of India's bilateral relations with both countries and advance ongoing cooperation across key priority areas," read a statement issued by the MEA.

In Paris, the Foreign Secretary Misri will co-chair the India-France Foreign Office Consultations with the Secretary General of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Martin Briens.

Both sides will hold discussions on a wide range of issues, including defence, civil nuclear energy, space, cyber and digital, AI, innovation, and initiatives fostering people-to-people exchanges and cultural ties, as well as the latest global and regional developments, the MEA mentioned.

In Berlin, Misri will co-chair the India-Germany Foreign Office Consultations alongside Geza Andreas von Geyr, State Secretary of the German Foreign Office.

"The discussions would cover diverse domains of bilateral cooperation, including trade and investments, defence and security, technology, green energy, development cooperation, education and people-to-people ties as well as global and regional matters of mutual interest," the MEA stated.

The Foreign Secretary is also expected to meet other dignitaries and senior government officials in both places.

The visit follows Misri's trip to Washington, where he reviewed the full spectrum of Indiaa"United States ties and advanced cooperation across key sectors, including trade, defence and technology.

India and the United States expanded cooperation on energy, critical technologies and defence during Misri's meetings with senior US officials this week, signalling closer strategic alignment.

--IANS

scor/sd/
Islamabad, April 11 : The format of talks between the United States and Iran remains uncertain, a source close to the issue told Xinhua on Saturday.

The source, in a phone interview with Xinhua, said multiple arrangements have been made for the talks, including both face-to-face negotiations and talks held in separate rooms.

Pakistan has made preparations for both scenarios, the source said, adding that Islamabad is ready either to facilitate direct talks between the two sides or to arrange separate venues for their delegations and convey messages between them.

Al Jazeera reported that although the United States and Iranian delegations are expected to stay at the same hotel in Islamabad, they will not hold face-to-face talks. Instead, they are expected to remain in separate rooms while Pakistani officials relay messages between them.

Earlier this week, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told the Senate that Pakistan's role is to help bring the United States and Iran "to sit together" in Islamabad to resolve their issues, but Pakistan will not try to influence either side.

As The Washington Post reported, the two sides appear to share little common ground beyond "their need to find an exit ramp from the war".

Ahead of the talks, both countries accused each other of acting in bad faith. US President Donald Trump described Iran's public proposals as "a hoax" and said Tehran was being "dishonourable" in restricting tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz, The Washington Post reported.

Iran, meanwhile, has set firm preconditions. According to The Washington Post and The New York Times, Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said issues such as the release of "blocked assets" must be resolved before negotiations begin.

Vice President J.D. Vance, who is leading the US delegation, sought to lower tensions. "I think it's going to be positive," he told reporters, adding that if Iran negotiates "in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend an open hand," according to The Washington Post.

The talks come as the broader regional situation remains volatile. While a ceasefire is technically in place, Israeli operations in Lebanon continue, complicating diplomatic efforts, according to The Washington Post and The New York Times.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, April 11 : JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always held deep respect for Nitish Kumar, even during periods of political divergence.

Jha said, "The Prime Minister has always had respect for Nitish Kumar. Even when we were not together politically, there was never any difference in that regard. The Prime Minister has always personally respected Nitish Kumar and has viewed his entire political career with dignity. What he has expressed is exactly what he has genuinely felt..."

JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan also praised Nitish Kumar's leadership, crediting him with transforming Bihar's development trajectory. "Nitish Kumar has elevated Bihar from the status of a 'failed state' to the very heights of development. We will forever remain indebted to him. His tenure will forever be remembered, and now, as he wished to work in contribution to India's future, he will definitely perform very well there as well," he told IANS.

Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Modi had posted on X, lauding Nitish Kumar's experience and contribution to public life.

In his message, PM Modi said, "Nitish Kumar ji is one of the most experienced leaders in the country. His commitment to good governance has been appreciated everywhere. He has made an indelible contribution to the development of Bihar. 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. I am fully confident that his 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."

Nitish Kumar on Friday took oath as a Member of the Rajya Sabha, marking a major shift in his long political career. He had arrived in New Delhi on Thursday, accompanied by Sanjay Jha and Vijay Kumar Choudhary, to complete 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 across all four legislative bodies  the State Legislative Assembly, State Legislative Council, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha. The rare distinction underscores the longevity and breadth of his political career, spanning both state and national politics.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, April 11 : With just days left for campaigning to conclude ahead of the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader, Joseph Vijay, will address a massive public rally in Kanyakumari district tomorrow (Sunday) as part of his whirlwind statewide campaign.

Vijay is set to campaign for TVK candidates contesting in six Assembly constituencies a" Kanyakumari, Nagercoil, Colachel, Vilavancode, Killiyoor and Padmanabhapuram.

The highlight of his visit will be a major public meeting at the Vivekananda College Ground near Kanyakumari, where a large turnout of supporters is expected.

Party executives had earlier sought police permission to conduct the rally from 2 P.M. to 10 P.M. However, authorities have granted approval with restrictions, allowing the event to be held only between 2 P.M. and 8 P.M., limiting the duration to six hours.

Meanwhile, with the Election Commission permitting campaigning only until the evening of April 21, political parties across Tamil Nadu have intensified their outreach efforts in the final phase of the campaign.

DMK President and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin continues an aggressive campaign schedule, addressing public meetings in two cities daily.

AIADMK General Secretary, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, is also actively engaging voters through extensive roadshows across multiple constituencies.

Naam Tamilar Katchias chief coordinator Seeman remains on the campaign trail, touring various regions to mobilise support for his partyas candidates.

In preparation for Vijayas visit, senior TVK state executive members Anand and Sengottaiyan will inspect arrangements in Kanyakumari district today, reviewing security measures, stage construction, and logistical planning at the venue.

Vijayas Kanyakumari rally is seen as a key moment in TVKas campaign strategy, particularly in southern Tamil Nadu, as the electoral battle enters its decisive final stretch.

a"IANS

aal/rad

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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More money, more problems? Yes and no.

Even with the criticism leveled at the 401(k) plan industry, it has helped baby boomers accumulate massive retirement wealth. Many spent years doing what they were told: maxing out contributions and leveraging tax-deferred, compounding growth over decades. After years of strong (if volatile) market returns, affluent boomers account balances are sky-high. So, too, is the amount of risk they face in retirement, raising the demand for tax-savvy decumulation and longevity planning. Forward-thinking advisory firms are taking note.

Theres a big group of baby boomers out there who have found themselves sitting on $3 million, $5 million or even $10 million in net worth, much of it in retirement accounts, said Debbie Taylor, Carson Groups chief tax strategist. Even a decade ago, they couldnt have dreamt of reaching balances like these. Theyre not trained on how to unlock these gains and manage this wealth through their retirement.

It turns out that many advisors arent either, having been solely focused on the accumulation question. Thats why firms across the industry are investing in tax planning capabilities, including Carson and its AI platform, affectionately named Steve. To Taylor, its an extremely exciting time to be a tax expert, and one thing is very clear: desirable clients are going to vote with their feet.

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READ ALSO: How Are Private Markets Supposed to Fit into DC Plans? and Retirement Income Planning Is Now a Global Challenge

A Modern Tax Planning Strategy

Taylors own firm was formally acquired by Carson Group in 2024, and while it wasnt the largest deal by any means, Taylor Financials specialized tax planning capabilities were expected to make a big difference for both advisors and clients.

Whats so exciting about this moment is that the technology has progressed far enough to allow us to be so much more efficient, Taylor explained. The old way required advisors to move between three or four different platforms to manually gather client data, and then youd have a 15-column spreadsheet that you used to generate a thoughtful tax recommendation. Totally not scalable or profitable.

What used to be manual and time-consuming is fast morphing into a fluid, efficient planning process for both the advisor and the client across the industry. Rather than simply deferring taxes, the goal is to consider both the accumulation phase and the distribution phase at all times, coordinated at the household level.
New Delhi, April 11 : The Delhi Police on Saturday busted a major cyber fraud syndicate involved in providing mule bank accounts used for siphoning off money through online scams and a gaming application operating from the national Capital. A total of 14 accused have been arrested in the operation, and significant recoveries have been made.

The police recovered Rs 79,000 in cash, 28 mobile phones, 17 passbooks, three laptops, and 23 ATM cards from the possession of the accused. The operation was carried out by a dedicated team of Police Station Cyber, South-West District.

According to officials, the syndicate was actively involved in duping innocent citizens through sophisticated online frauds, including fake investment schemes and part-time job scams. The accused used mule accounts opened across various bank branches to receive and transfer the proceeds of crime, making detection difficult.

A detailed technical analysis of financial trails, suspicious bank transactions, ATM withdrawals, and complaints registered on the national cybercrime platform led investigators to identify multiple mule accounts being used to channel fraudulent funds.

Further investigation revealed that the gang lured individuals via social media and messaging platforms, offering commissions in exchange for bank accounts, SIM cards, and ATM cards.

The police team, led by Inspector Pravesh Kaushik and supervised by ACP Sanghmitra and Additional DCP Abhimanyu Poswal, conducted sustained surveillance and multiple raids across Delhi-NCR.

The breakthrough came with the arrest of Mohd Faiz, who disclosed the involvement of his cousin Mohammad Fahad. Fahad's interrogation led to further arrests, including Suveb Rabbani and other associates operating from Noida and nearby areas.

Subsequent raids in Faridabad, Noida, and Ghaziabad exposed a larger network. A key operational office of the syndicate was traced to Laxmi Nagar, where six accused were found running a gaming-based call centre linked to an online betting application. Investigators found that the defrauded money was routed through gaming accounts to conceal its origin and facilitate illegal transactions.

Police said the accused played different roles, including account suppliers, telecallers, and operational managers. One of the key accused, Mukul Malik, was identified as the leader managing the operations and was reportedly in contact with a mastermind known as "Hank."

A case has been registered under FIR No. 47/2026 at PS Cyber, South-West District, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). At least 15 complaints on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal have been linked to the arrested individuals.

Further investigation is underway to trace other members of the network and uncover the full extent of the operation.
Patna, April 11 : The Bihar government's new rules governing the use of social media by its employees, warning of strict disciplinary action in case of violations, finally came into force.

In January this year, it approved the Bihar Government Servants' Conduct (Amendment) Rules, 2026, introducing stringent regulations governing the use of social media by government employees.

The amendment, notified by the Governor under Article 309 of the Constitution of India, is applicable across Bihar and came into effect upon its publication in the Official Gazette on Friday evening.

The move is seen as an effort to maintain discipline and protect institutional integrity in the digital age.

Under the guidelines, the government employees are prohibited from expressing personal views on platforms such as Facebook, X, and Instagram regarding government policies, schemes, or judicial decisions -- especially those of the Supreme Court of India and High Courts -- without prior approval. Violations will be treated as misconduct.

According to the rules, employees cannot use official email IDs or mobile numbers to create or operate personal social media accounts. The use of fake profiles, anonymous identities, or pseudonyms to post content is strictly prohibited.

Sharing photos, videos, documents, or filming reels and live streams from within office premises has been completely banned. Any such act will invite strict disciplinary action.

Employees are barred from expressing support for or opposition to any political party, media organization, or public figure on social media. Posting inflammatory or objectionable content related to caste, religion, or other sensitive issues is strictly forbidden.

In a significant shift, the government has also revised norms related to competitive examinations. Government employees will now be allowed to appear for such exams only once during their entire service tenure, and that too with a mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC). Earlier, up to five attempts were permitted.

Following the implementation of these rules, a sense of caution and heightened vigilance has spread across government departments. From senior officials to junior staff, employees are now exercising extreme care in their digital interactions.
Jammu, April 11 : Police in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Saturday said they carried out a major crackdown on drug peddlers, arresting five persons and seizing heroin during naka checking operations.

Jammu, April 11 (IANS) Police in Jammu and Kashmiras Rajouri district on Saturday said they carried out a major crackdown on drug peddlers, arresting five persons and seizing heroin during naka checking operations.

A police statement said that in the first operation, action was taken against drug trafficking by the Nowshera Police on Friday.

During routine checking, a Scorpio vehicle bearing Registration No. JK11H-8838 was intercepted at Thalka Naka. On search, one person, namely Wajid Khan, son of Nisar Khan, resident of Kakora, Tehsil Manjakote, was found in possession of approximately 11 grams of heroin (chitta).

The accused was arrested on the spot, and contraband was seized. Accordingly, FIR No. 68/2026 U/S 8/21 NDPS Act has been registered at PS Nowshera, police said.

In another operation, during naka checking at Lamberi, a Scorpio vehicle bearing Registration No. JK11D-3883 was intercepted.

Four persons, namely Naseem Akram, son of Mohd Akram, resident of Rajouri; Waqar Ahmed, son of Nazir Hussain, resident of Manjakote; Danish Choudhary, son of Mohd Fazil, resident of Govardhan Bala; Rameez Raja, son of Nisar Hussain, resident of Kakora, were found in possession of heroin (chitta).

The total recovery was 13 grams. All accused were arrested, and contraband was seized, police said. Accordingly, FIR No. 67/2026 U/S 8/21/22/29 NDPS Act has been registered at PS Nowshera.

Further investigation in both cases is underway.

District Police Rajouri reiterates its firm commitment to eradicate the drug menace. Strict legal action shall continue against drug peddlers. Public cooperation is solicited, the statement added.

J&K police and the security forces have been carrying out operations against drug smugglers, drug peddlers, and those involved in hawala money rackets.

It is believed that funds generated through these illegal activities are finally used to sustain terrorism in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Anti-infiltration and prevention of drug smuggling, etc, is carried out on the line of control (LoC) by the army and on the international border by the Border Security Force (BSF) in J&K.
Kolkata, April 11 : Four Class nine girl students who mysteriously disappeared from a school were rescued within 12 hours by the officers of Kolkata's Amherst Street police station, said a senior officer of Kolkata Police on Saturday.

The sensational incident took place at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the century-old Arya Kanya School at Bidhan Sarani in north Kolkata.

The incident began on April 8. The four students had gone to school just like any other day. But after the school ended, they did not return to their homes. Their parents, who got worried, rushed to the local Amherst Street police station and lodged a kidnapping case. Based on their complaint, a team from the Amherst Street police station, led by Officer-in-Charge Shubhdeep Chakraborty, immediately started an investigation.

A police officer said that the Kolkata Police team started examining the CCTV footage of Howrah and Sealdah stations in the afternoon. The photographs of the four missing students were shown to the Government Railway Police, Railway Protection Force and hawkers present at the station.

Through sources, the police learned that the four students had changed their school uniforms in the toilet of the Old Complex of Howrah Station and boarded a long-distance train. Incidentally, trains to Mumbai and Asansol were leaving Howrah at that time.

During the initial probe, the investigation team, after questioning the classmates of the four missing students, learned that the four students had recently been scolded for going to a hookah bar in Kolkata without informing their parents.

In addition, a friend of a schoolgirl told the police that one of the four students had met an 18-year-old youth from Asansol through Instagram. The four students had even met him a few days ago when the youth came to Kolkata for a business purpose.

On Wednesday night, a team of police from the Amherst Street police station left for Asansol. Upon reaching there, the Kolkata Police learned through the local police station that a youth and a minor girl had been injured in a bike accident during naka checking at around 11:30 p.m. The police found the young man in the hospital after searching for him. After questioning him, the Kolkata Police came to know about the presence of four girls in Asansol.

The girls went to several hotels in Asansol to spend the night on Wednesday. But no one agreed to pay the hotel rent for the four minors. The Kolkata Police rescued the four girls unharmed from Asansol station at around 2:30 a.m. on Thursday. They were brought to Kolkata on Thursday afternoon. It is learnt that they are currently kept in a home.

"Investigation is on to find out why the girls went to Asansol and who had taken them there. Efforts are on to find out the motive behind the girls leaving the school and not informing their parents, and ending up in Asansol. We are trying to solve the mystery behind their disappearance," said the senior officer of Kolkata Police.
Kolkata, April 11 : West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, kept her eyes closed when women in different pockets of the state were being tortured and shamed by goons backed by the ruling Trinamool Congress, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday.

"The entire country was ashamed over the ghastly rape and murder of a lady junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital. At Sandeshkhali, the Trinamool Congress goons had exploited and shamed women. Infiltrators have become a terror factor for the women of West Bengal. And when all these things were happening, Mamata Banerjee kept her eyes closed.

"Today I am saying that all those responsible for such incidents, after enjoying the patronage of the Chief Minister, would be behind bars," the Union Home Minister said at a campaign rally at Onda in Bankura district amid campaigning for the forthcoming two-phase Assembly elections in West Bengal later this month.

He also said that those who were responsible for the killing of BJP workers in the state during 15-years of the Trinamool regime will also not be spared.

"Over 300 BJP workers were killed in election violence. The Trinamool Congress goons think that they will get away with this. I want to tell them that those who have disturbed BJP workers will be held accountable when our government is formed.

"I give a warning to the anti-social elements of Trinamool Congress that it would be better for them if they were to stay at home on the two polling days on April 23 and April 29. Otherwise, you will not be spared. The people of West Bengal will vote fearlessly this time. We will make arrangements so that Mamata Banerjee's goons cannot obstruct voter," Shah said.

He also claimed that Mamata Banerjee would deliberately avoid the process of driving out infiltrators from the state, since they were her dedicated vote bank.

"The illegal infiltrators are a threat to the common people. They are taking away the jobs of the youth. They are thriving on our ration. But the people of West Bengal will not tolerate a single infiltrator. This time," he said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chandigarh, April 11 : Haryana Director General of Police Ajay Singhal on Saturday warned against the promotion of gun culture and objectionable or misleading content on social media, saying such activities will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against offenders.

Chandigarh, April 11 (IANS) Haryana Director General of Police Ajay Singhal on Saturday warned against the promotion of gun culture and objectionable or misleading content on social media, saying such activities will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against offenders.

From January 1 to April 10, a total of 6,083 objectionable, misleading, and law-and-order disturbing URLs, contents, apps, and websites have been taken down, the DGP said.

According to detailed data, 4,278 were linked to Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), 1,172 from YouTube, 372 from X, 167 from other platforms, 53 from Telegram, 36 from Reddit, and 5 from Snapchat, an official statement said.

The DGP said strict action will be taken against content glorifying weapons, promoting violence, displaying obscene content involving women, portraying children and girls in an indecent and objectionable manner, and fake content that presents a negative image of Haryana and its people.

He clarified that such activities not only hurt social values but also affect peace and harmony in the state.

He further said Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is also serious about this issue, and the state government is committed to maintaining a positive social environment. Under the guidance of the Chief Minister, strict measures are being taken to curb such anti-social and misleading activities.

The DGP in the statement said the people of Haryana are inherently peace-loving, hardworking, and play a leading role in nation-building. The stateas citizens have made significant contributions in various fields such as the armed forces, agriculture, the Indian economy, the white and green revolutions, industry, Bollywood, music, and trade. Therefore, any kind of propaganda or misleading representation that harms the positive image of the state will be dealt with strictly.

He appealed to all citizens, especially the youth and content creators, to use social media responsibly and contribute to spreading positive messages in society. He warned that anyone directly or indirectly attempting to create unrest, spread misinformation, or hurt cultural values will face strict legal action.

Haryana Police reiterated that maintaining law and order in the state is its top priority, and any activity that weakens the social fabric will not be tolerated at all.
Kolkata, April 11 : Trinamool Congress supremo, Mamata Banerjee, on Saturday criticised the BJP for proposing to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in West Bengal and claimed that through this the saffron camp wants to snatch away the rights of the people.

Addressing an election rally in Keshiary of West Midnapore district, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed, "Do you know the meaning of UCC? You will not have any rights. You will not have the right to practice your religion as per your wish."

In this context, she further stated, "Hindus get married according to their religious rituals and customs, Scheduled Castes get married by their religious customs, tribals get married according to their religious customs, minorities get married by their religious customs and Christians get married according to their religious customs. Everyone has different paths and opinions."

"But the BJP says there will be only one path. BJP will teach the mantra, whatever BJP tells you, you have to do. It will take away everything from all the people. It will take away your religion, your education and your culture, your tradition," she alleged.

She claimed, "Do you know the meaning of UCC? There is only one BJP, one policy. One religion. Therefore, I ask you to think about this issue once again."

The comments from CM Banerjee came a day after the BJP promised to implement UCC in West Bengal.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah while presenting the party's 'Sankalp Patra (manifesto)' for the Assembly polls announced this along with other promises.

Meanwhile, CM Banerjee attacked the BJP and the Election Commission at the same time, alleging that there was a conspiracy to cancel her nomination in the Bhabanipur constituency.

She said, "Those traitors tried to cancel my nomination by making two false affidavits in my name. This was done to cancel my nomination at my polling station."

Attacking the BJP and the Election Commission at the same time for this purported conspiracy, CM Banerjee said, "Even though they tried to cancel the nomination, they could not do it in the end. They have disrespected and damaged my reputation, so that I cannot stand for the election."

The Trinamool leader added, "Our fight is not only with the BJP. It is also with the BJP's washing machine. If such atrocities are being committed against me, then you can understand what can happen to you."

Speaking about the exclusion of names in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, the Chief Minister said today, "SIR is a big scam. It is an attempt to bring the BJP to power. BJP is driving the bulldozer."

She also said, "BJP is bringing the Delimitation Bill in Parliament during the elections."

"It could not wait, because, BJP actually wants to divide Bengal into pieces," she claimed.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Hubballi : , April 11 (IANS) In a tragic incident, an II PUC (Class 12) student died by suicide on Saturday in Hubballi in Karnataka, reportedly distressed over her examination performance despite securing a first-class result. The deceased has been identified as 18-year-old Shravani Maruti Kale.

According to the police, Shravani was studying at Kanakadasa College and was a commerce student. She was known to be studious and had confidently appeared for the board examinations, even telling her friends that she would secure 100 per cent marks. However, she scored 78 per cent.

Following this, she reportedly fell into severe mental distress and hanged herself at her residence. The incident has shocked her family. The body has been shifted to the KIMS Hospital mortuary.

Family members stated that she was studious and active, and had expected excellent results. When she could not achieve the marks she had hoped for, she allegedly took the extreme step.

Preliminary investigations indicate that she was friendly and frequently interacted with her friends. She had reportedly told them that she would secure 100 per cent. Further investigation is underway.

The results of the Karnataka II PUC (Class 12) board examinations were announced on Thursday by the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB). This year, an overall pass percentage of 88.48 per cent was recorded, with 5,46,698 students passing out of a total of 6,32,200 candidates. Girls outperformed boys, recording a pass percentage of 88.70 per cent, compared to 83.65 per cent among boys.

The results recorded a significant increase to 86.48 per cent, up from 73.45 per cent in 2025, largely due to lowering the minimum passing marks to 33 per cent overall.

Earlier, a 17-year-old II PUC student died by suicide at her residence in Manorayanapalya in Hebbal in Bengaluru, hours after her results were announced on Thursday. The deceased, identified as Tanushree, was a science student at a private college in the city.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that Tanushree had failed in three subjects and was reportedly distressed. She had called some of her friends to discuss her results, and they had asked her to come over as she was alone at home.
Raipur, April 11 : The security forces have demolished an underground hideout constructed by Maoists in the Kakur area under Sonpur Police Station area in Narayanpur, officials said on Saturday.

The hideout was discovered during an intensive search operation by the Narayanpur Police near a security camp in the dense forest region.

Acting on specific inputs, the police team launched a thorough combing exercise in the Kakur area. During the search, they unearthed a well-concealed underground structure that had been built by Naxal operatives.

According to officials, the hideout was used by the extremists for multiple purposes, including hiding from security forces, holding secret meetings, and carrying out their daily operational activities in the region.

The security personnel immediately took action and completely demolished the underground facility to prevent its further use by Maoists. No explosives or arms were reported to be recovered from the site during this particular operation. However, its destruction is seen as a major blow to the Maoists' operational capabilities in Narayanpur.

This development comes as part of the intensified anti-Naxal eradication campaign being carried out by the Narayanpur Police.

Security forces have been continuously conducting search and area domination operations across vulnerable pockets to ensure the safety of local civilians. These efforts have led to the regular recovery of improvised explosive devices, arms, ammunition, and other material caches planted or hidden by Naxal elements.

Officials said that such operations are crucial for maintaining pressure on Naxal networks and gradually eliminating their influence in the Bastar region.

The demolition of the underground hideout is expected to restrict the movement and activities of Naxal cadres, who often rely on such concealed structures for survival and planning.

Local residents have welcomed the proactive steps taken by the security forces, as these actions help create a safer environment and reduce the fear of Naxal presence in the area.

The Narayanpur Police have assured that similar search operations will continue in the coming days and support the larger goal of making Chhattisgarh free from Naxal violence.

The successful operation once again highlights the commitment of security forces in tackling left-wing extremism through sustained ground-level actions and intelligence-based strategies.
New Delhi, April 11 : Amid the US-Iran talks in Islamabad, the Congress on Saturday targeted the Union government for its diplomatic inability to prevent the US from according to Pakistan a "new role" in the West Asia peace process.

Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary Communications In-Charge, on social media platform X, said, "The US-Iran meeting is beginning today in Islamabad. The entire world, including India, are hoping that this is the beginning of a durable peace process between the two countries that will not get derailed by Israel's continuing aggression in its neighbourhood."

"Peace in West Asia must return quickly. The Strait of Hormuz must once again revert to the situation that prevailed before the US-Israel assault on Iran began on Feb 28...," the Congress leader said.

He noted that Pakistan's reported role "undermines" India's long-standing strategy of diplomatically isolating Islamabad over terrorism.

In a post on X, made hours after the ceasefire announcement, Ramesh said, "The entire world will cautiously welcome the two-week ceasefire in the West Asia conflict between the US and Israel on the one side and Iran on the other. The conflict had begun on Feb 28 with the targeted assassinations of the topmost echelons of the regime in Iran."

The veteran Congress leader also linked the developments to India's diplomatic positioning, saying that the hostilities began shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel, which he claimed, "diminished India's global stature and standing".

Ramesh also questioned why India could not outshine Pakistan in the Gulf conflict-related talks.

"Why didn't India as the current President of BRICS+ launch any peace or mediation initiative -- especially since Iran, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia are members of the BRICs+?" the Congress leader asked in a post on X.

Ramesh raised questions on Indian diplomacy, saying, "How has Pakistan managed to carve out a new role for itself despite its role in the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack of April 2025 and the diplomatic engagement India mounted to isolate it following the terror attack?"

The veteran Congress leader said, "This failure is especially damming because the Manmohan Singh-led Congress government had very effectively isolated Pakistan after the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008."
Investors took a victory lap yesterday -- the S&P 500 gained 2.5%, delivering a rare gap up -- but the future is far from clear.

The fact that the ceasefire agreed to by the U.S., Iran, and Israel is already hanging on by a thread, the uncertainty should have most investors in a neutral stance right now.

More News from Barchart

On Monday, MarketWatch contributor Barbara Kollmeyer discussed why the S&P 500 could drop to 6000 before it reaches a new high.

The bottom line is that many investors are looking past Middle East tensions, assuming stocks will swiftly return to prior highs, but the reality is we are lacking the fully oversold conditions that typically accompany a breach of the 200 DMA, he said, Kollmeyer referring to BTIG chief market technician Jonathan Krinsky.

Prior to yesterdays move, the index had traded below its 200-day moving average (MA) since March 19. Krinsky suggests that as long as the index doesnt close above 6,800, it could drop to 6,150 or lower.

Further, the last time the index traded below its 20-day MA was from February to May 2025. Before that, it was September to October 2024.

So, the gap up yesterday could be good, or it could be a head fake on its way down. Fortunately, Im not a market timer.

In yesterdays unusual options activity, RTX (RTX), maker of Pratt & Whitney jet engines, had the most unusually active option on the day. Its May 1 $220 call had a Vol/OI (volume-to-open-interest) ratio of 217.22, more than double Rocket Labs (RKLB) Jan. 21/2028 $85 call at 92.93.

Whether you are big into options or not, RTXs call is a no-brainer. Heres why.

The Option in Question

As you can see, the call had a volume of 23,400 yesterday, 217.22 times the open interest. There wasnt one massive trade, but a bunch of medium-sized bets -- 10 of 500 or more contracts and 41 between 100 and 500 contracts. That tells you interest was broad among institutional investors. But there were also many trades of one or two calls by retail investors.

The net trade sentiment for RTX options on Wednesday was bullish at $678,100, according to Barchart options flow data. Many of the bullish trades at the ask price occurred from 2:50 p.m. ET to the close at 4.
New Delhi, April 11 : Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had a virtual call with Dr Majid bin Abdullah Al Qassabi, Minister of Commerce of Saudi Arabia, and expressed optimism that the recently announced ceasefire would pave the way to lasting peace and security in the region.

He hailed indomitable spirit of Saudi people who have been steadfast in their resolve to maintain supply chain resilience amidst increased disruptions and volatility.

Goyal also condemned attacks in the country during the ongoing conflict and appreciated Saudi Arabiaas efforts to protect Indian community.

According to an official statement, both sides noted the strain conflict has put on regional supply chains and stressed the need for an early recovery through coordinated efforts to ensure smooth trade flows.

Goyal highlighted Indiaas steps to support exports to KSA and the Gulf region. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and expressed optimism for early progress in the India-GCC FTA negotiations.

The statement further stated that the virtual meeting underscored the shared commitment to further deepening the India-Saudi Arabia economic partnership.

Earlier, 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.

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 Indiaas unequivocal support to the UAE while condemning recent attacks and thanked the Emirati leadership for assisting the Indian diaspora during the crisis.

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.

--IANS

na/
New Delhi, April 11 : Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had a virtual call with Dr Majid bin Abdullah Al Qassabi, Minister of Commerce of Saudi Arabia, and expressed optimism that the recently announced ceasefire would pave the way to lasting peace and security in the region, a ministry statement said on Saturday.

He hailed indomitable spirit of Saudi people who have been steadfast in their resolve to maintain supply chain resilience amidst increased disruptions and volatility.

Goyal also condemned attacks in the country during the ongoing conflict and appreciated Saudi Arabiaas efforts to protect Indian community.

According to an official statement, both sides noted the strain conflict has put on regional supply chains and stressed the need for an early recovery through coordinated efforts to ensure smooth trade flows.

Goyal highlighted Indiaas steps to support exports to KSA and the Gulf region. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and expressed optimism for early progress in the India-GCC FTA negotiations.

The statement further stated that the virtual meeting underscored the shared commitment to further deepening the India-Saudi Arabia economic partnership.

Earlier, 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.

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 Indiaas unequivocal support to the UAE while condemning recent attacks and thanked the Emirati leadership for assisting the Indian diaspora during the crisis.

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.
Bhopal/Raisen, April 11 : Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan struck a deeply personal chord at the three-day 'Advanced Agriculture Festival' in Raisen (45 km from Bhopal), declaring that his purpose was not to merely "occupy the chair" and become a "burden upon it," but to genuinely transform farmers' lives.

Bhopal/Raisen, April 11 (IANS) Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan struck a deeply personal chord at the three-day 'Advanced Agriculture Festival' in Raisen (45 km from Bhopal), declaring that his purpose was not to merely "occupy the chair" and become a "burden upon it," but to genuinely transform farmers' lives.

"My heart holds but a single yearninga singular dedication, a singular resolveto create a model," he said, pledging to turn the region's agricultural transformation into a "national blueprint." Chouhan emphasised that without increasing farmers' income, India's real development cannot be achieved. "For me, farmers are like God, and the people are Janardan. Serving them is true worship," he told thousands of cultivators gathered from Raisen, Vidisha, Sehore and Dewas.

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, he said, a grand scheme for agricultural upliftment is underway, aiming to ensure food security for 140 crore Indians through self-reliance in grains, fruits and vegetables. He urged farmers to adopt integrated farming, combining crops with animal husbandry, beekeeping and poultry, noting that a one-acre model demonstrated at the fair could yield over Rs 5 lakh annually.

Chouhan encouraged farmers to attend 20 technical seminars on horticulture, drones, soil testing and market linkages, describing the fair as a "unique school" to reshape farming practices.

Nearly 4,000 farmers registered for training sessions led by scientists, supported by a new mobile app offering instant soil and fertiliser guidance.

He announced that a comprehensive agriculture roadmap for four districtsprepared by scientists considering local conditionswould be unveiled on Sunday, with both central and state governments committed to its implementation.

"It is for this very reason that this agricultural fair  this 'Advanced Agriculture Festival'  has been organised here. I urge you to participate in it with complete earnestness. Take the time to understand the various schemes introduced by the government; there are, indeed, a great many such schemes available today," the Union Minister added.

Chouhan announced that a comprehensive agriculture roadmap for the four districts, prepared by scientists considering local agro-climatic conditions, will be released on Sunday. He assured that both central and state governments will work together to implement it on the ground with full sincerity. Plans include developing the region as a horticulture hub and strengthening the pulse mission with assured procurement at the minimum support price.

He requested farmers to participate with full seriousness for three days, learn new techniques and join in changing the direction of agriculture in the area.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the event while Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav was also present.

Chouhan thanked both leaders and called upon everyone to take a collective resolve for the progress of farmers and the nation.

The Agriculture Minister concluded with a heartfelt appeal: "Participate with full sincerity, learn new techniques, and join in changing the direction of agriculture. Together, let us take a collective resolve for the progress of farmers and the nation."
Ayodhya, April 11 : Nripendra Misra, Chairman of the Ram Mandir Construction Committee and former Principal Secretary to former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister late Kalyan Singh, has reflected on the events surrounding the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid, saying on Saturday that key decisions in such situations are largely driven by political leadership rather than bureaucratic officials.

Recalling the developments of that period, Misra said that in 1992, despite reports indicating a collapse of law and order in Ayodhya, the then Chief Minister Kalyan Singh had issued clear instructions that police should not open fire on 'Karsevaks'.

He also referred to his tenure serving under different political administrations, including that of former Chief Minister late Mulayam Singh Yadav, noting the contrast in approaches adopted by the two leaders during moments of crisis.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Misra said, "Decisions of this kind are not taken at the level of the Principal Secretary. About 90 per cent of such decisions are political in nature, and around 10 per cent involve inputs from the Home Secretary, the Chief Secretary, and the Director General of Police."

"I served as a Principal Secretary of both former Chief Ministers Mulayam Singh Yadav and Kalyan Singh. You would also be aware that when the report was presented to Kalyan Singh, stating that law and order in Ayodhya had collapsed, he gave the written order that no firing would take place in the sacred city," he added.

The remarks come in the context of the earlier Ayodhya firing, when police opened fire on karsevaks on October 30 and November 2, 1990, during the tenure of Mulayam Singh Yadav as the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.

At that time, large numbers of Lord Ram devotees had gathered in Ayodhya as part of the Vishva Hindu Parishad's Kar Seva.

Police firing on the unarmed karsevaks reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than 28 people.

Former Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav later said that the action was taken on his orders and justified it as necessary to protect the Babri Masjid and maintain national unity.

In contrast, during the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, Kalyan Singh, who was the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, directed that no firing should take place on karsevaks despite the volatile situation.

He is reported to have said that "Karsevaks will not be shot at for a building", and later resigned from the Chief Minister's post, taking moral responsibility for the events that unfolded.

Former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh's resignation came on the evening of December 6, 1992, following the Babri Masjid demolition.

Nripendra Misra's observations underline the differing administrative and political responses during two of the most significant and contentious episodes in Ayodhya's history, while emphasising the dominant role of political decision-making in matters of law and order.
Kabul, April 11 : Pakistan's commitment under the bilateral defence pact with Saudi Arabia appears to be largely symbolic, with Islamabad's response to Iranian strikes in the Kingdom proving hollow, a report has mentioned.

According to Afghan Diaspora Network, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, addressing the Senate on March 3, said that he reminded the Iranian Foreign Minister of the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) with Saudi Arabia.

However, citing a treaty is not the same as honouring its obligations. The report added that Islamabad refrained from deploying air defence systems, fighter jets, and interceptor batteries and instead offered to mediate.

On March 12, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman summoned Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with Army Chief Asim 2Munir and Dar, to Jeddah.

The report suggested that Saudi Arabia explicitly invoked the SMDA, calling for Islamabad's active military involvement.

As Pakistan continued hedging, the Crown Prince was reportedly left frustrated with Islamabad's reluctance and a "clear breach" of SMDA.

"Pakistan's excuse has been the ongoing military conflict with Afghanistan, which it initiated unilaterally. Because its forces are heavily engaged against the Taliban, Islamabad argues it cannot spare resources for Saudi defence. Pakistan would likely limit itself to low-level defensive support rather than direct intervention, citing the Afghan war, risk of Iranian retaliation, and domestic sectarian tensions. But this excuse collapses under scrutiny as Pakistan decided to escalate the conflict with Afghanistan and disregarded all mediation efforts," the Afghan Diaspora Network report detailed.

"Pakistan's own Defence Minister warned in February that action would come before Ramadan, but the timing of the escalation, days before the Iran war, looks less like counterterrorism and more like strategic positioning. Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the two previous mediators in the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict, would be too preoccupied with the Iran crisis to intervene, giving Pakistan a free hand to sustain hostilities without outside pressure," it added.

Highlighting that Pakistan's reluctance reflects a recurring pattern, rather than an isolated case, the report said, "In 2015, when Saudi Arabia launched Operation Decisive Storm against Houthi rebels in Yemen and explicitly asked Pakistan for fighter jets, troops, and naval support, Pakistan's parliament voted unanimously to remain neutral. That was without a formal defence pact, but it led to a chill in the bilateral relationship."

"In 2026, the same pattern repeats with a signed defence agreement on the table. Pakistan has long treated its alliances as mechanisms of extraction, and it milked the United States for billions during the war on terror while sheltering the groups America was fighting. China has invested billions through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and Pakistan has struggled to provide basic security for Chinese projects," it added.

Pakistan's unwillingness, the report noted, exposed its failure to act on the commitments of the defence pact, breaking Saudi Arabia's trust.

"Saudi Arabia, which bankrolls Pakistan's economy, deposits billions in its central bank, absorbs millions of its workers, and now finds itself under sustained Iranian attack, has every reason to feel betrayed," it stated.
Pune, April 11 : A major aviation mishap was narrowly avoided on Saturday after a helicopter carrying senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Chhagan Bhujbal mistakenly landed in a parking area instead of the designated helipad in Pune district. The incident sparked intense panic among security personnel and onlookers.

Bhujbal's office said that the Minister is fine and there is no need to panic.

Minister Bhujbal was traveling from Nashik to Khanvadi in Purandar tehsil to attend the event commemorating the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, and several other ministers were also scheduled to attend the event.

While a specific helipad had been prepared for the arrival of VVIPs, the pilot reportedly mistook an open space in the car parking lot for the landing site. At the time of the incident, the parking area was relatively empty, which likely led to the pilot's confusion. However, the manoeuvre was extremely risky as the helicopter's spinning rotors posed a severe threat to any nearby structures or vehicles.

Fortunately, despite the serious navigational error, the helicopter landed safely. Minister Bhujbal and all other passengers on board are reported to be unharmed. Once the minister disembarked, the helicopter was subsequently moved to the actual designated helipad.

The office of Chhagan Bhujbal has taken serious note of the lapse. Security agencies have launched a formal inquiry to determine whether the incident was a result of a technical glitch or human error. aIt is a grave concern that such a mistake occurred. We are awaiting the final report from the aviation authorities regarding the pilotas conduct," a security official stated.

Minister Bhujbal, talking exclusively to IANS after the incident, said, "There is no cause for worry."

This incident has raised eyebrows among supporters and the public, especially following a recent aviation scare involving NCP leader Ajit Pawar on January 28. Former NCP president and DCM Ajit Pawar died after his plane crashed in Baramati.

All eyes are now on the administration to see what disciplinary action will be taken against the pilot for this significant breach of safety protocol.
New Delhi, April 11 : A 22-year-old unemployed youth from Odisha's Bhubaneswar has been arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell in connection with alleged online radicalisation activities linked to social media platforms, officials said on Saturday.

According to a joint press statement issued by Suresh Dev Datta Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate, the accused has been identified as Sheikh Imran alias S.K. Imran, the son of Sheikh Amir and a resident of Ganga Nagar in Bhubaneswar.

The accused Imran was apprehended on April 10 from the Unit-6 area with assistance from the Commissionerate Police.

The arrest comes after a wider operation by the Delhi Police Special Cell, which had earlier detained a group of young individuals in Delhi in connection with "social media posts on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Signal related to radicalisation".

During the questioning of those suspects, investigators reportedly identified a link leading to Odisha.

Acting on the input, the police detained Sheikh Imran.

The press statement during further questioning said, "It was revealed that Sheikh Imran, an unemployed youth, was acting as an active member of the radical group."

Authorities also said that through Sheikh Imran's social media accounts, he had come into contact with a close-knit group on WhatsApp and Signal, where "radical content on religious lines was circulated, which is detrimental to national security".

Officials also noted that Sheikh Imran was taken into custody after coordinated efforts between the Delhi Police and local authorities. He was subsequently produced before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate Court in Bhubaneswar and taken on transit remand by the Delhi Police for further investigation.

The press note emphasised that the investigation began after analysis of the online activity of suspects detained in Delhi, which led to the identification of the Odisha-based connection.

The accused is currently in custody as investigators continue to probe the extent of the alleged network and its digital footprint.
Bhopal, April 11 : A newly married couple was among four persons killed after a truck overturned onto a stationary autoarickshaw in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday afternoon, police said.

Bhopal, April 11 (IANS) A newly married couple was among four persons killed after a truck overturned onto a stationary autoa'rickshaw in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday afternoon, police said.

The incident occurred around 12 p.m. near Tongra village on Tongra Road, under the jurisdiction of Sirsod police station.

A heavily loaded truck carrying poultry feed suddenly lost control and overturned directly onto a stationary auto-rickshaw parked near a petrol pump. The impact was so severe that four people died on the spot, while others sustained injuries, police officials said.

The victims included 25-year-old groom Virendra Shakya, a resident of Rajgarh village in the Tendua police station area, and his newlywed bride Rajeshwari Shakya, who belonged to Sanjay Colony in Shivpuri.

The couple had married on Friday in a simple temple ceremony attended by close family members.

On Saturday, they were returning to the groomas village along with other relatives in the auto-rickshaw. Also travelling with them were the groomas mother, Anvesh Shakya (50), his sister-in-law Rajo Shakya (22), and his sister Bhuriya Shakya (19).

The driver had halted the auto-rickshaw near the petrol pump, and he, along with one passenger, had stepped out to a nearby shop when the tragedy struck. The truck overturned with full force, completely burying the auto-rickshaw beneath it.

The area echoed with cries of distress and panic as locals rushed to the spot.

Police and district administration teams reached the spot promptly and used an earthmoving machine to lift the overturned truck and rescue the trapped victims from the mangled auto-rickshaw.

The injured persons have been admitted to a nearby hospital where they are receiving treatment.

Preliminary investigation by the police suggests that the truck went out of control, possibly due to mechanical failure or driver error, though a further probe is underway.

A case has been registered, and efforts are being made to ascertain the exact cause.
Bengaluru, April 11 : Amid speculation over a cabinet reshuffle, more than 20 senior MLAs of the ruling Congress in Karnataka are planning a visit to Delhi to meet the party high command, a move that has gained significance against the backdrop of the leadership tussle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar.

The Congress government has completed three years in power, and senior MLAs who have been elected three to five times are sensing an opportunity. They have decided to place their demands before AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and the national leadership.

Congress insiders revealed that the proposed cabinet reshuffle could become another flashpoint between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, as both have reportedly prepared their own lists accommodating their supporters. In addition, party sources stated that the high command has also prepared a separate list.

Reacting to the development, seven-time MLA and Special Representative of the Karnataka Government in Delhi, T.B. Jayachandra, said in Bengaluru on Saturday that those planning to visit Delhi are senior and experienced MLAs who have contributed significantly to the party.

"MLAs who have been elected three, four, and five times have come together, held a meeting, and decided to go to Delhi. This cabinet under the Congress government has completed three years, and two years of its term remain. In the event of changes in governance, we are putting forward our candidature. We are not approaching the high command through any intermediaries," Jayachandra clarified.

"We are going to meet our own high command leader from Karnataka, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge," he added.

He said the cabinet reshuffle should be based on political calculations and noted that nothing can be said with certainty in politics. "As we approach the 2028 Assembly elections, it is important to fulfil the aspirations of party workers," he maintained.

"We have discussed our strategy to present our case before the high command. The final decision rests with them. There is no question of dissatisfaction or acting in favour of anyone. The three-year term has ended, and we are requesting that opportunities be given to others," he said.

He added that the demand by junior MLAs and MLCs for cabinet posts is not unreasonable. "All 140 legislators and MLCs have a chance to become ministers. Ultimately, the high command will decide who will go to the cabinet and who should be dropped. They will consider caste equations and other criteria," he said, adding that social justice would also be taken into account.

Jayachandra stated that the discretion for cabinet expansion rests with the Chief Minister and that the matter has been brought to his notice. "The Chief Minister is aware of the Delhi trip and has accepted the demand with an open mind," he said.

"There is no confusion regarding the leadership. The matter is being discussed internally and will be resolved," he added. "I am leaving for Delhi tomorrow (Sunday) morning. Many others will join me in Delhi by the evening. All of us will meet in Delhi on Monday (April 13) morning. I am confident that a cabinet reshuffle will take place. It cannot be predicted how things will unfold, but naturally, there will be changes," Jayachandra said.
New Delhi, April 11 : The government on Saturday said that the overall gas allocation to fertiliser plants is being further enhanced by 5 per cent to reach approximately 95 per cent of their six-month average consumption, based on available inventory and scheduled LNG cargo arrivals.

Consumers have been prioritised with 100 per cent supply to domestic PNG and CNG transport.

Since March 2026, about 4.15 lakh PNG connections have been gasified and about 4.55 lakh additional customers have registered for new connections. Till date, more than 26,000 PNG consumers have surrendered their LPG connections, informed Petroleum Ministry.

Moreover, about 1,13,233 MT of commercial LPG (equivalent to over 60 lakh of 19-kg LPG cylinders) has been sold since March 14, 2026.

On March 10, 7,140 MT of commercial LPG (equivalent to more than 3.76 lakh 19-kg LPG cylinders) was sold.

According to the ministry, CGD entities have also been advised to prioritise PNG connections for commercial establishments such as hotels, restaurants and canteens, to address concerns regarding the availability of commercial LPG. CGD companies including IGL, MGL, GAIL Gas and BPCL are offering incentives for domestic and commercial PNG connections.

The government said that states/UTs and Central Ministries have been requested to expedite approvals required for expansion of CGD networks.

The government has offered all States/UTs additional 10 per cent allocation of commercial LPG to States provided they can help in long term transition from LPG to PNG. Eighteen states/UTs are already receiving additional commercial LPG allocation linked to PNG expansion reforms.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has adopted an Accelerated Approval Framework for CGD infrastructure for three months to process applications on priority.

To encourage cleaner, more secure and self-reliant energy future, the government has developed a model draft State CBG Policy.

The model policy is intended to serve as a comprehensive flexible guiding framework to enable States to create their own investor-friendly and implementation-oriented ecosystem for CBG development.

Those states which opt for this will be prioritised for the next tranche of additional allocation of commercial LPG, said the government.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 11 : As many as 38 delegates from 22 countries were all praise for the ECI after witnessing firsthand the scale, precision, and vibrancy of India's electoral process during the April 9 Assembly elections in Kerala, Puducherry, and Assam, an official said on Saturday.

Branimir Farkas from Croatia said, "Indian voting is a true festival of democracy for the whole world...what is overwhelming for me is the enthusiasm of people to vote. We can only learn from this process; it's a huge process and done right."

Uuc-Kib Espadas Ancona from Mexico said, "The process of election in India is certainly a place to learn."

The delegates were hosted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) under the International Election Visitors' Programme (IEVP) 2026, said an official statement.

The IEVP programme of ECI has got a boost after Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar took over as the Chair of the member states of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA) a few months back.

As many as 70 democratic countries had evinced interest in experiencing the most transparent election processes of India during the International Conference held by ECI in Delhi in January 2026, said an official.

The international delegates began their two-day visit (April 8-9) to Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry by visiting the dispatch and distribution centres, where they observed the systematic movement of polling parties along with election materials, said the statement.

On the voting day, delegates observed mock polls. Thereafter, delegates from these 22 countries separately visited polling stations in Assam (Kamrup Metro and Kamrup Rural), Kerala (Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram), and Puducherry to witness the actual polling process, it said.

In Puducherry, delegates were impressed by enhanced vigilance measures such as flying squads, drone-based monitoring, and innovative initiatives like the welcoming robot, Nila.

In Kerala, they visited a Gen Zthemed polling booth and appreciated the enthusiasm of first-time voters, while in Kamrup (Rural), Assam, delegates applauded and availed themselves of health checkup facilities at polling stations, said the statement.

The delegates expressed their appreciation for the inclusive, participative, and accessible features at the polling stations, including ramps, wheelchairs, volunteers, and creche facilities, as well as dedicated polling stations managed by women and persons with disabilities (PwDs).

The International Election Visitors' Programme (IEVP) is a flagship initiative of the Election Commission of India aimed at fostering international cooperation and engagement with Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and international organisations.

The programme provides a comprehensive overview of India's electoral framework, institutional mechanisms, and operational architecture, while familiarising delegates with best practices and innovations in election management.
Bengaluru, April 11 : In the backdrop of the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill, a Parliament session will be held to discuss the implementation of women's reservation. In this context, a 10-day awareness campaign will be conducted across Karnataka to educate women about their rights, Union Minister of State (MoS) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour and Employment, Shobha Karandlaje, announced.

Speaking at a press conference held on Saturday at the State BJP Office in Bengaluru, she appealed to political parties to accept the Women's Reservation Bill. She expressed hope that in the future, experts from various fields would be identified and given tickets. She also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts in implementing women's reservation.

She noted that women's reservation had been a long-standing demand and aspiration. There had been doubts about whether it would ever be realised. Recalling events from around 15 years ago, she said that when the bill was discussed in Parliament, some political parties had torn up copies of the bill and strongly opposed it.

She added that both opposition mindset and hostility towards women's reservation were evident in Parliament at the time.

The bill was later shelved, and during the 10-year tenure of the UPA government, it was not brought forward. After Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, he emphasised women's empowerment across educational, social, and economic sectors, she said.

Highlighting Karnataka's achievements, she pointed out that gram panchayats led by women presidents had shown excellent performance and received awards.

Responding to a question, she said that political parties are expected to give priority to existing representatives while allocating Parliament tickets, and that the process of identifying candidates should begin now.

She alleged that Congress is wearing "yellow glasses," seeing everything through the lens of elections.

Shobha Karandlaje said she does not believe the Women's Reservation Bill will impact state elections. She also demanded clarity from AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on whether he opposes the bill itself or merely its discussion at this time.

Answering another question, the Union Minister said that during the time when late Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi was leading the UPA, discussions on women's reservation took place, but what was seen was "crocodile tears." She alleged that at times they opposed it.

She further claimed that for Congress, only Priyanka Gandhi Vadra matters, and there is no need for other women to come forward. According to her, the party's mindset is that Priyanka Gandhi should be promoted, while opportunities for other women are not necessary.

Shobha Karandlaje opined that apart from Indira Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi, Congress does not want ordinary women to enter Parliament, and urged the party to change this mindset.

State Mahila Morcha President C. Manjula said that the Prime Minister has taken the initiative to bring the Nari Shakti Vandan Act and extended congratulations.

She announced that women's conventions would be organised in all districts by the Mahila Morcha. A signature campaign will also be conducted. The campaign will begin on Sunday in KR Puram in Bengaluru under the leadership of Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje and will be expanded across the state.

She added that a missed call campaign is being launched to support the bill, and press conferences will be held at the divisional level. Youth Morcha will also organise bike and scooter rallies.

State BJP Vice Presidents Malavika Avinash and Rupali Naik, State Mahila Morcha President C. Manjula and State spokesperson Surabhi Hodigere were present.
Washington, April 11 : Pakistan's position on women is not merely a case of gender inequality but reflects a broader systemic failure by the authorities to protect basic human rights.

Amid a climate of institutional tolerance, practices such as forced marriages and so-called "honour killings" continue to persist across the country, a report detailed this week.

Writing for the US-based online platform 'Medium', European political analyst and journalist Dimitra Staikou stated that despite efforts by Pakistan's political leadership to project an image of modernisation and global engagement, the lived experiences of women expose a stark gap between "rhetoric and reality".

She stressed that failure to protect women's rights goes beyond a moral concern, acting as a barrier to sustainable development and weakening both social cohesion and economic progress.

"On March 16, 2026, in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan, at least eight women lost their lives and dozens more were injured when the roof of a building collapsed as they had gathered to receive state financial aid. They had been forced onto the rooftop due to severe overcrowding, in a process that was ostensibly designed to support them. This incident is not merely an 'accident'; it starkly illustrates the vulnerability of women even within programmes intended for their protection," Staikou detailed.

"Just weeks earlier, in early February 2026, in the province of Punjab (Pakistan), a young woman was murdered by members of her own family in yet another 'honour killing', reportedly for refusing a forced marriage. The case triggered limited local reactions, without leading to meaningful public debate or accountability  an all too familiar pattern," she added.

Citing a January analysis by the Pakistani newspaper 'Dawn', the expert exposed a persistent reality: "Courts in the country continue to misinterpret even fundamental concepts such as consent, leaving rape victims effectively unprotected by the very system meant to deliver justice."

She highlighted that Pakistan ranks last out of 148 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report 2025 by the World Economic Forum, with only 56.7 per cent of its overall gender gap closed, marking a decline compared to previous years.

"The index, which evaluates equality across economic participation, education, health, and political empowerment, reflects a reality in which women are systematically excluded from the labour market and decision-making processes,' Staikou stressed.

She further cited international human rights bodies, noting that Amnesty International observed that women in Pakistan "continue to face significant barriers in accessing justice", while Human Rights Watch (HRW) asserted that gender-based violence "remains pervasive, with authorities consistently failing to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable".

Reflecting on Pakistan's persistent gender inequality Staikou said, "The problem, therefore, is not a lack of awareness or international pressure but a lack of genuine political will."
Pune, April 11 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to grant 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies aligns perfectly with Mahatma Jyotiba Phule's vision of women's education and empowerment.

He noted that this historic move serves as a true tribute to the great social reformer.

Marking the bicentenary birth anniversary year of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, the Chief Minister inaugurated the 'Jyoti-Savitri Zilla Parishad School' at Phule's ancestral village of Khanwadi (Purandar taluka).

The state-of-the-art school has been constructed by the Pune Zilla Parishad.

The ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse, and other Cabinet members, including Aditi Tatkare and Mangal Prabhat Lodha.

Chief Minister Fadnavis remarked that establishing an ultra-modern school in Mahatma Phule's ancestral village is the most fitting way to begin the bicentenary year.

"This is the state's first Zilla Parishad school to follow the CBSE pattern from Class 1 to 12. This is a significant step toward providing international quality education to rural students. Students from these backgrounds are already reaching institutions like ISRO and NASA," he said.

The Chief Minister also acknowledged the efforts of the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, noting his personal involvement in every stage of the school's construction.

He expressed pride in seeing rural students master foreign languages like French and German, calling it a sign of a transforming education system.

Chief Minister Fadnavis announced the launch of a skill training centre named after Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, with plans to establish 1,000 such centres across the state.

Under Industry 4.0, 100 modern laboratories have been set up in 100 schools by the Pune Zilla Parishad to enhance the quality of education.

Paying homage to the social reformer Phule, CM Fadnavis described Mahatma Phule as more than just a social worker; he was a progressive farmer, a successful entrepreneur, and a visionary thinker.

"His foresight is visible in iconic projects like the Mumbai Municipal Corporation building, Khadakwasla Dam, Yerwada Jail, and the Katraj Tunnel," the Chief Minister noted.

He highlighted Mahatma Phule's struggle against social evils, his role in starting the first girls' school at Bhide Wada, and his work in discovering the Samadhi of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to celebrate the first Shiv Jayanti.

Minister Chhagan Bhujbal clarified that research has fixed Phule's birth date as April 11, 1827.

He lauded Prime Minister Modi's decision on political reservations for women as a fulfilment of Phule's ideology of equality.

Maharashtra Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore announced that the state government is working on a Rs 150 crore memorial for Savitribai Phule at Naigaon and a Rs 10a"12 crore project at Katgun to honour the legacy of the Phule couple.

Pune Zilla Parishad CEO Gajanan Patil told that the school spans 12 acres and offers free education with modern labs.

A hostel for 280 students is expected to be completed by next year.

Chief Minister Fadnavis launched a 'Cycle Bank' scheme for students.

As many as 88 different laboratories established in various Zilla Parishad schools were virtually inaugurated.

A portrait of Mahatma and Savitribai Phule, created by students, was unveiled by the Chief Minister.
Kochi, April 11 : Course Completion Divisions for 53 Officer Trainees of the 107th Integrated Officer Training Course were held at Naval Base, Kochi, on Saturday, said the Southern Naval Command.

"The parade was reviewed by Commodore Pramod G Thomas, Cmde (Training), HQSNC. The 39-week training, conducted across 14 professional schools of the Indian Navy, equips these future naval leaders with essential skills through a blend of theoretical instructions and hands-on experience using advanced simulators, emulators, and training models," said the Indian Navy in a social media post.

"As the young officers advance into their sea appointments, they carry forward the professionalism, ethics, and commitment to serve the nation with pride," it said.

Earlier, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi awarded the prestigious '  (Navy's Intellectual Beacon)' Badge to Capt Ashok Garg at a ceremony held in the South Block, New Delhi, on Friday.

"Capt Ashok Garg secured First Prize in the 2025 edition of the NIB Essay Competition for his work on ': ', reflecting forward-looking thought and operational relevance in an evolving maritime environment," said Spokesperson of the Indian Navy on social media.

The NIB initiative fosters a culture of , , and . This award recognises the winner's outstanding contribution and reinforces the Navy's commitment to nurturing a thinking, researchoriented mindset across the organisation, aligned with the Navy's vision of a future-ready force, it said.

Earlier, at the just-concluded Ran Samwad 2.0, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi addressed the forum on "Maritime Forces Visualisation of Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)".

The Chief of Naval Staff structured the talk in two parts. First, how the maritime battlespace has changed into a dense, transparent, deeply interconnected grid shaped by speed, scale and simultaneity and second, how the Indian Navy is adapting to this through Multi-Domain Operations, said the spokesperson.

The multi-domain character of maritime operations is not new to the Indian Navy, and speed is no longer merely an enabler of warfare but a distinct capability, he said.

The future fleet will not be defined by platforms alone, but by the effects it can generate in an integrated manner, he said.

He said the Navy's response rests on three pillars - physical, conceptual and human: building a networked and resilient future fleet, refining doctrine and strategy for contested multi-domain conflict and training sailors with new skills, simulators and stronger jointness, so that the Navy can deliver decisive integrated effects.
Agartala, April 11 : As part of the Central forces, the elite Tripura State Rifles (TSR), which has previously undertaken election-related duties in more than a dozen states, is set to be deployed in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said here on Saturday.

A senior police official stated that, following a request from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), ten TSR companies comprising 778 personnel had been deployed in Assam, where elections to the 126-member State Assembly were held on April 9. After the completion of polling in Assam, the ten TSR companies moved to West Bengal on Friday night and are expected to reach the state on Saturday.

"After reaching West Bengal, the TSR troops will be deployed across different districts," the official told IANS.

Voting for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be conducted in two phases -- on April 23 (152 seats) and April 29 (142 seats). The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

The official further noted that two ad-hoc battalions of the TSR, each comprising five companies, were initially deployed in Assam and will now be stationed in West Bengal to carry out election-related duties.

"The TSR (India Reserve Battalion) is being deployed in Assam and West Bengal as part of the Central forces.

Two senior Commandants, Amarjit Debbarma and Alok Bhattacharjee, are leading the TSR battalions," the official said. He added that the MHA had initially requested the Tripura government to provide 25 TSR companies for deployment in the two poll-bound states.

However, the state government was reluctant to spare such a large number of personnel due to two crucial elections within Tripura -- the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) polls and the by-election in the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency in North Tripura district. Elections to the 30-member, politically significant TTAADC will be held on April 12 (Sunday), while the by-election in the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency was held on April 9.

The TSR has 14 battalions, of which 11 are categorised as India Reserve Battalions. These units can be deployed in any state across the country when required by the MHA.

During the Lok Sabha elections held between April 19 and June 1, 2024, TSR personnel were deployed for polling duties in Maharashtra, Bihar, Odisha, and Himachal Pradesh.

In addition to providing security during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, TSR's India Reserve battalions have undertaken election duties in almost all states, ensuring security during both Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

Trained in counter-insurgency operations, TSR personnel have demonstrated exemplary performance in Tripura, playing a crucial role in curbing the four-and-a-half-decade-long insurgency in the Northeastern state.

Two TSR battalions, comprising around 2,000 personnel, including officers, have been stationed in the national capital under the Delhi Police since 2019, and with South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) in Chhattisgarh since 2022.

Apart from these deployments in Delhi and Chhattisgarh, one battalion is currently providing dedicated security to the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation's drilling sites in Tripura.
Patna, April 11 : Amid ongoing political discussions over the government formation in Bihar, Rajya Sabha member and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) Chief Upendra Kushwaha, on Saturday, made a significant statement regarding the future of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Speaking at the birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Kushwaha, who leads the RLM, said that Nitish Kumar has already secured a seat in the Rajya Sabha and is unlikely to continue as the Bihar Chief Minister.

However, Kushwaha clarified that the timing of Nitish Kumar's resignation would be his personal decision.

The RLM Chief indicated that a new leader would be chosen after a meeting of the Janata Dal-United, following which the process of forming a new government in Bihar would move forward.

He emphasised that governance in Bihar would continue under the 'Nitish Model', suggesting continuity in policies and administrative approach.

Dismissing speculation of rifts within the NDA, Kushwaha asserted that all NDA allies are united and that there are no differences within the coalition.

Paying tribute to Jyotiba Phule on his birth anniversary, the RLM Chief highlighted the social reformer's contribution toward uplifting marginalised communities and promoting women's education.

He noted that Phule's efforts played a key role in enabling women to access education and break social barriers.

Upendra Kushwaha also recalled that during his tenure, the celebration of Phule's birth anniversary was given official recognition as a state function in Bihar in 2010.

He announced that the Rashtriya Lok Morcha would celebrate Phule's 200th birth anniversary throughout the year, reaffirming its commitment to his ideals.

Responding to demands within JD-U regarding the possible elevation of Nitish Kumar's son Nishant Kumar as the Bihar Chief Minister, Kushwaha described it as an internal matter of the party.

In a lighter remark, he added that he would find it interesting to share the legislative space with Nitish Kumar and raise questions -- hinting at his acceptance of the evolving political scenario.

Nitish Kumar took the oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha in New Delhi on Friday, and he is expected to resign as the Bihar Chief Minister in next few days.
Barabanki : , April 11 (IANS) Rehan Kazmi, a resident of Kintoor here, the ancestral village of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, on Saturday, asserted that the US has been "defeated badly" and Iran "has won on the basis of its strength and capability". He also alleged that Pakistan is working according to the direction of the US and that the latter had asked Islamabad to attempt mediation during the ongoing West Asia conflict.

His reaction comes ahead of a meeting between the US and Iranian delegations in Islamabad amid the two-week conditional ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran.

Kazmi said that the goals with which America entered into the conflict with Iran, "it has not been able to achieve it".

"Like the US had spoken about regime change in Iran and to end its nuclear programme. America has not been able to fulfil it," he added.

He said, "The US had to accept Iran's 10-point conditions and after that it declared a ceasefire for two weeks."

"The world has seen that US has been defeated badly and Iran has won on the basis of its strength and capability," Kazmi asserted.

About Pakistan's attempt to facilitate talks between Iran and America, Kazmi accused the rogue nation of seeking "selfish interests".

He said, "According to what I have read and known about the country, Pakistan can do anything for its own selfish interest. But if it says that it is attempting for world peace, no one has spread more distress in the world than Pakistan."

He also accused Pakistan of carrying out terrorists acts.

"From all this it is clear that they have never done anything for peace,:" Kazmi said.

According to the former Iranian Supreme Leader's native village resident, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was being called to America time and again and "by coming in between (of the conflict), he (Sharif) has actually saved the reputation of the US."

Accusing Pakistan of working on the directions of America, Kazmi alleged that it was the US which had told Pakistan to attempt for mediation.

He said, "This was done by the US in order to show the world that it was "Pakistan's attempt (for peace) and that is why the country (US) had to accept it."

He also added that this is because "The US has been Pakistan's friend".

"Iran does not need anybody for protection, it is fully independent on it's own," Kazmi said.
Jammu, April 11 : The Indian Army's White Knight Corps on Saturday launched a 100aday antiadrug campaign in Jammu and Kashmir, in alignment with the UT administration's efforts under the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan'.

Jammu, April 11 (IANS) The Indian Army's White Knight Corps on Saturday launched a 100day antidrug campaign in Jammu and Kashmir, in alignment with the UT administration's efforts under the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan'.

Defence ministry spokesperson Lt Colonel Suneel Bartwal said in a statement that in alignment with the efforts of State functionaries under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, Chief of Staff (COS) White Knight Corps launched a three-month-long series of high-impact activities as part of the Anti-Drug Campaign, reaffirming the Indian Army's commitment towards nation-building and societal resilience.

The campaign commenced with a Joint Pledge Ceremony followed by Pad Yatra by school children and NCC cadets at Nagrota, symbolising a unified resolve to combat the menace of drug abuse.

The initiative is being conducted in close synergy with civil administration, police authorities, medical agencies, educational institutions and community leaders, ensuring a whole-of-society approach.

Over the next fourteen weeks, the campaign will focus on intensive awareness drives across schools and colleges, community engagement through influencers and religious leaders, and targeted outreach programmes to sensitise youth and families.

Structured lectures, interactive sessions, testimonial engagements and sustained media outreach will form the core of the awareness effort, supported by digital amplification and grassroots participation.

The initiative will also facilitate early identification, counselling support and linkage with rehabilitation mechanisms, while promoting positive behavioural change through community participation and youth engagement activities.

This concerted effort reflects the enduring commitment of the Indian Army to partner with State agencies and civil society in addressing social challenges, strengthening public trust and guiding the youth towards a constructive and drug-free future.

"We Serve, We Protect!" the spokesperson said.

Earlier today, launching the 100-day-long 'Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan', Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha announced the cancellation of passports, Aadhaar cards, driving licences and attachment of properties of drug smugglers and peddlers as punitive action to rid the UT of the menace.
Chandigarh, April 11 : Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday said the government has implemented several new initiatives to make the procurement system more transparent, secure, and farmer-friendly. a

These initiatives will enhance transparency, curb unauthorized activities, and provide faster, more convenient services to farmers. a

CM Saini was reviewing the wheat procurement process at the Babain grain market in Kurukshetra.

Later, he interacted with farmers on various aspects, including bringing wheat to market, selling the crop, and receiving payments. The farmers praised the government and said they faced no difficulties. a

The Chief Minister honoured farmer Dharamchand, a resident of Hamidpur, who sold wheat in front of him, by presenting him with a shawl. a

Earlier, upon arrival at the grain market, the Chief Minister and Vice-President of the Haryana State Child Welfare Council, Suman Saini, received a warm welcome. a

The Chief Minister said the government has mandated a three-tier crop verification system. This system ensures that the crops brought to procurement centres match the crops registered by farmers. This is making the crop verification process more accurate and reliable. a

The Chief Minister further said the government is successfully conducting procurement operations with complete transparency, accountability, and order. The state government is fully committed to the interests of farmers and will ensure the purchase of every single grain of their crops, he said. a

CM Saini said the government has implemented comprehensive reforms in the procurement system and appointed nodal officers in each market. a

Senior officers have been assigned the responsibility of regularly monitoring district markets, and Deputy Commissioners have been appointed in charge of the district-level procurement system. a

Ministers and MLAs are also regularly visiting the markets to review the arrangements so that farmers do not face any inconvenience, he said. a
Oil has been on a knife-edge in 2026, with strikes on Irans Kharg Island briefly pushing Brent crude (QAM26) above $110 and a very tenuous ceasefire stirring fresh worries about traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. That same flashpoint has fueled talk that a serious squeeze in shipments could even send prices toward $200 a barrel, turning every headline into a new risk check for global energy names.

Shell (SHEL) is right in the middle of that story. The company says strong oil trading should give its Q1 numbers a boost, even as it lowers its gas output outlook because of the Iran situation. That mix of higher crude prices, softer production guidance, and capital moving out of the region is an odd backdrop for a stock that is already up more than 20% this year and still yields about 3.1%.

More News from Barchart

The real question now is whether this ceasefire and cooling Middle East risk make SHEL more appealing or more vulnerable at these levels. Lets dive in.

SHELs Solid Financial Footing

Shell is a UKbased energy giant that produces and sells oil, natural gas, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) across global markets.

Its New Yorklisted stock trades at $91.18 as of the afternoon of April 9, up 24% so far in 2026 and 42% over the past year.

www.barchart.com

SHEL stock still looks reasonably priced, trading at 14.96x trailing earnings and 6.04x pricetocashflow, versus sector medians of 16.79x and 7.39x. It has a market value of about $266.6 billion and offers a forward annual dividend of $2.98 per share, which works out to a 3.2% yield.

Their fourth-quarter 2025 results, released in late January, showed adjusted earnings of $3.256 billion, down from $3.661 billion a year earlier and about 40% below the prior quarter. That worked out to $1.14 per share, short of the $1.21 Wall Street was looking for and the weakest quarterly profit since early 2021.

Shells cash flow told a stronger story. Its operating cash flow for 2025 came in at $42.86 billion, up 28.24% year-over-year (YoY). However, its net cash flow dropped to -$8.89 billion after a 46.84% decline driven by heavy investment and money returned to shareholders.

Even so, the board still kept its foot on the pedal for buybacks, approving another $3.5 billion repurchase program for the first quarter of 2026.
Jaipur, April 11 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 213 development works worth Rs 607.66 crore in Bandikui, Dausa district, on the occasion of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule's birth anniversary. a Jaipur, April 11 (IANS) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 213 development works worth Rs 607.66 crore in Bandikui, Dausa district, on the occasion of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule's birth anniversary. 

Sharma stated that the life of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule was dedicated to the upliftment of exploited and deprived sections of society, including women, farmers, and labourers.

He said that PM Narendra Modi is carrying forward Mahatma Jyotiba Phule's mission, and under his leadership, India is progressing rapidly on the path of social unity and harmony.

Sharma was addressing a programme in Bandikui on Saturday on the occasion of the 200th birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, along with the inauguration and laying of foundation stones for various development projects. 

He noted that Mahatma Gandhi had referred to Jyotiba Phule as a "true Mahatma," while Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar regarded him as one of his three gurus.

The Chief Minister added that Phule ignited the flame of social justice and education among backward classes and women, beginning social reform by educating Savitribai Phule. 

He said that Mahatma Jyotiba Phule visited slums and settlements to encourage girls' education. He established shelter homes for widows and orphans and strongly advocated for women's rights. 

He also composed Mangalashtakas (auspicious verses) in support of women's empowerment. Additionally, Phule worked extensively for the welfare of distressed farmers and labourers.

Sharma recalled that last year, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, PM Narendra Modi had urged the nation to celebrate the 200th birth anniversary of Mahatma Phule with pride.

Accordingly, the period from now until April 10, 2027, will be observed as the Bicentenary Year of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. 

He said that, inspired by Phule's vision, several welfare schemes launched by the Prime Minister have significantly improved the lives of backward classes, Dalits, and women. 

He highlighted that initiatives such as PM Awas Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, Jal Jeevan Mission, PM Ujjwala Yojana, and Jan Dhan Yojana have benefited millions, adding that more than 250 million people have been lifted out of poverty due to pro-poor policies.

The Chief Minister stated that the state government is working with full commitment for the welfare of the poor, farmers, youth, and women. The annual assistance under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi has been increased from Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000. Farmers are also receiving a bonus of Rs 150 per quintal on wheat procurement at the Minimum Support Price. 

He added that 20 lakh women have been trained, out of which 16 lakh have become 'Lakhpati Didis.'

The government is also actively implementing drinking water and irrigation projects across the state. Farmers in 24 districts are now receiving daytime electricity. 

Sharma remarked that while paper leaks had shattered the aspirations of youth under the previous government, no such incidents have occurred under the current administration. He stated that over 1.25 lakh government jobs have been provided so far, and a recruitment calendar has been issued for another 1.25 lakh posts.

He said that the government is also promoting employment in the private sector. To empower livestock farmers, schemes such as the Mangala Pashu Bima Yojana and Gopal Credit Card Yojana are being implemented. Under the Dudh Utpadak Sambal Yojana, a subsidy of Rs 5 per litre is being provided to milk producers. 

The Chief Minister said that Rajasthan is receiving full support from the Central Government.

Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, major projects, including the revised cost of the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery and Phase 2 of the Jaipur Metro, were approved in a single Cabinet meeting.

He reiterated that the government is committed to fulfilling all promises made to the public and is taking strict action against those involved in paper leaks, the Jal Jeevan Mission scam, and corruption.

Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa said that the lives of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and B. R. Ambedkar inspire society to overcome challenges through courage and determination. 

He emphasised that their teachings encourage equality and girls' education, which the present government is actively promoting.

State Minister Avinash Gehlot stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, development is progressing across every region of Rajasthan.


Chandigarh, April 11 : Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday made a series of announcements while addressing the Viksit Dadri Rally held in Charkhi Dadri. a

Accepting the demands raised by local MLA Sunil Sangwan, the Chief Minister announced that an open drain will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 76.60 crore for stormwater disposal. The project will connect the Loharu Feeder or Badhwana Distributary to Drain No. 8. a

He further announced the renovation and removal of Sahuwas and Fatehgarh minors. a

Similarly, the Kamod minor will be remodelling to benefit villages including Khatiwas, Jashri, Kolhawas, Kamod, Rawaldhi, Mishri and Ghiarada. a

He also announced the rehabilitation of Bond distributaries for villages such as Bond Kalan, Kalanor Khurd, Gudan and Katesra. a

The Chief Minister further said aphirnisa of villages, including Dudiwala Kishanpura, Rampur, Dudiwala Nandkaran and Dohka Dina will be paved. a

The Chief Minister announced the construction of a District Council building in Dadri, along with a new 100-bed additional block at the Civil Hospital. a

He also announced the construction of a PG College building in Dadri. Raniila village will be included in the Mahagram Yojana, subject to the availability of land. a

To address waterlogging issues, proper rainwater drainage arrangements will be put in place from Dadri to Kaliyana village. a

He said the feasibility of establishing a Dadri Central Cooperative Bank will be examined. a

The Chief Minister announced that the Government Senior Secondary School in Sarangpur will be renamed in honor of Shaheed Amit Sangwan. Subject to land availability, a new Government ITI and mini bus stand will be established in Ranakoli village. An old-age home will be constructed in Samaspur village. a

He further said anganwadi centres in play schools across Charkhi Dadri will be constructed and renovated. Procurement centres will be developed in Bhageshwari and Achina villages, subject to land availability. a

The Chief Minister also announced Rs 5 crore for repair works of various roads under the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board in the Dadri area. a
Patna, April 11 : Political rhetoric in Bihar has intensified amid the ongoing debate over Nitish Kumar's move to the Rajya Sabha.a Patna, April 11 (IANS) Political rhetoric in Bihar has intensified amid the ongoing debate over Nitish Kumar's move to the Rajya Sabha.

Responding to opposition criticism, Bihar Rural Work Minister Ashok Choudhary issued a sharp rebuttal, calling the controversy unnecessary and asserting that taking oath in the Rajya Sabha is a routine constitutional process.

Ashok Choudhary emphasised that the decision to move to the Upper House is entirely Nitish Kumar's personal and political choice, and accused the opposition of creating unwarranted noise around the issue.

Launching a direct attack on Tejashwi Yadav, Choudhary used strong words, calling such remarks a reflection of a limited mindset.

He argued that there is no precedent within Tejashwi Yadav's political lineage of voluntarily stepping down from the Chief Minister's post to move to the Rajya Sabha.

Drawing comparisons, he recalled that Nitish Kumar had previously stepped aside to appoint Jitan Ram Manjhi as Chief Minister.

He also took a swipe at the opposition, referring to Rabri Devi's tenure, stating that leadership changes in their camp had occurred under different circumstances.

Targeting the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Choudhary claimed that despite making strong statements during elections, the party has repeatedly faced setbacks.

He predicted further decline for the RJD, asserting that it could face complete decimation.

Responding to remarks by Akhilesh Yadavwho had suggested that Nitish Kumar could have been a Prime Ministerial contenderChoudhary said such concern was belated and questioned its timing.

He reiterated that the electoral mandate in Bihar was secured under Nitish Kumar's leadership, and his transition to the Rajya Sabha should be viewed in that context.

"It is his personal decision, and no outsider has the right to interfere," Choudhary said.

The exchange of sharp statements has further escalated the political war of words in Bihar, intensifying the already charged atmosphere between the ruling alliance and the opposition.
Dhaka, April 11 : Rumeen Farhana, a Bangladeshi independent lawmaker, has slammed the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government over the appointment of party-linked figures to key positions, including the Governor of Bangladesh Bank and Vice Chancellors of several public universities, local media reported this week.

Speaking during a parliamentary session, Farhana said, "In every country, the Central Bank is the regulatory authority for financial institutions and acts as the government's bank. Looking at other South Asian countries, one sees highly qualified individuals with PhDs, from institutions like Princeton, appointed to Central Banks. In contrast, after the formation of the new government in Bangladesh, the person appointed (as Bangladesh Bank Governor) was a member of BNP's election committee and Managing Director of a sweater factory."

"The same pattern is evident in the appointments of Vice Chancellors at universities, where party-affiliated VCs and pro-VCs have been installed. Being politically active is not condemnable, but if one cannot be appointed without party affiliation, that is unfortunate," Bangladesh's leading newspaper Daily Star quoted Farhana as saying.

A former BNP leader, Farhana contested the February 12 national election as an independent candidate from the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency after the party allocated the seat to an alliance partner.

She further claimed that the 2024 July protests were aimed to build an inclusive Bangladesh, while lamenting the declining role of women in significant decision-making processes.

"Women were at the forefront of this movement. We saw a wave of young, new faces. Yet within a year, those women seem to have disappeared. Why?" the lawmaker questioned.

"Women are needed at the front of marches; they stand as shields against police tear gas and batons, and they help in times of turmoil. Yet, once everything is settled, women are treated as objects -- ridiculed for their clothes, their faces, their words, their laughter," she added.

Raising concerns over the balance of power between Bangladesh's President and the Prime Minister, Farhana said, "That is why we had expected the President, this time, to deliver a speech of his own rather than merely read out a cabinet-approved text. But once again, we saw the President compelled to deliver a speech cleared by the cabinet."

"If we cannot allow the President even this small measure of independence, then what kind of balance are we talking about?" she questioned.
New Delhi, April 11 : Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, visited Khuruthang town to gain insights into local development initiatives and urban infrastructure planning in the region.

On the third day of his visit to Bhutan, Union Minister Khattar also visited the historic Punakha Dzong, one of Bhutan's most significant cultural and administrative landmarks.

The Union Minister later visited Simtokha Dzong -- believed to be the oldest fort built by Bhutan's founder in the 17th century -- where he participated in the lighting of butter lamps.

Manohar Lal Khattar subsequently held talks with Lyonpo Chandra Bahadur Gurung, Bhutan's Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, where both sides discussed opportunities for enhancing bilateral cooperation in infrastructure development, urban amenities, connectivity and transport systems.

During the visit, the Union Minister also attended a presentation on Bhutan's development philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) and the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) initiative, highlighting the country's focus on sustainable and holistic development.

He also visited the Buddha Dordenma statue and Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park in Thimphu, reflecting Bhutan's rich cultural and natural heritage.

Union Minister Khattar is also scheduled to interact with the Indian diaspora in Bhutan, which has played a key role in strengthening the close and friendly ties between the two countries.

India and Bhutan continue to share strong bilateral relations based on mutual trust, shared values and close cooperation across sectors.

The visit is expected to further deepen engagement in development, urban affairs and people-to-people ties.

Earlier during his visit, Union Minister Khattar also toured Wangdue Phodrang Dzong.

Taking to social media platform X, the Union Minister said, "Wangdue Phodrang Dzong is one of the unique symbols of Bhutan's rich cultural heritage. This historic fortress not only exemplifies the excellence of Bhutan's traditional architecture but also powerfully represents the country's spiritual traditions and historical significance."

"This site, imbued with natural beauty, presents a unique confluence of cultural heritage, religious faith and architectural skill, which grants it a distinctive place among Bhutan's major attractions."
Mumbai, April 11 : Opposition leaders from the NCP-SP and Samajwadi Party on Saturday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Maharashtra government's decision to make speaking in Marathi mandatory, especially for auto rickshaw and taxi drivers in the state. The opposition leaders cautioned that the decision might lead to an increase in unemployment in the state and also urged to make provisions for learning the local language.

Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Friday addressed the media about the state government's firm stance on 'Speak Marathi, Get a Permit' campaign.

Minister Sarnaik had said, "If one wishes to reside in Maharashtra and conduct business here, one must be 100 per cent proficient in Marathi. This decision was not taken after I became a Minister, but was actually adopted back in 2019. Whether one is a rickshaw driver or engaged in any other trade, proficiency in the Marathi language will be mandatory."

Speaking to IANS, Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Rais Shaikh emphasised that people from North India and also from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, make a "major contribution to building and running Mumbai".

He urged the state government to make provisions so that the migrants, especially the auto rickshaw and taxi drivers, can learn Marathi.

"I agree to what (Pratap) Sarnaikji is saying that one should know Marathi but then facility should be given for that. I have urged (the Maharashtra government) multiples times in the State Assembly to start Marathi language courses in different places. License should be provided (to auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers) as well as the course," he said.

The SP MLA also added, "I don't think any North Indian will say no to learn Marathi."

Shaikh accused Maharashtra Minister Sarnaik of doing politics for vote.

"For the proper functioning of Mumbai, everyone's efforts are required, including those who drive auto rickshaws, taxis etc."

NCP-SP leader Naseem Siddiqui also expressed his disappointment with the regulation.

He highlighted that such language restrictions will be problematic for those working in the Middle East and Muslim-dominated countries.

"Even many people from the Muslim community do not know Arabic, even though it is the local language there. What if a rule is applied that one must know Arabic to work in Saudi Arabia?" Siddiqui told IANS.

"Similarly, if people from Maharashtra working in Uttar Pradesh or Bihar are required to know Awadhi or Lucknowi dialects for jobs, it will increase difficulties," he added.

He cautioned that such a regulation will lead to a dearth of employment opportunities.

"Unemployment will increase, youth will face problems, communal differences will increase. There won't be any benefit," the NCP-SP leader said.

NCP-SP leader Fahad Ahmad accused Minister Sarnaik of not understanding Maharashtra.

"He (Minister Pratap Sarnaik) does not understand the state's culture. Maharashtra does not divide people, it works to unite them. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj brought the entire country together under one idea," he said.

While agreeing that everyone in the state should know Marathi language, Ahmad said that it is not fair to "take away food from a child's plate just because his or her father does not know the language".
Washington, April 11 : While global terrorism deaths dropped by 28 per cent and attacks by nearly 22 per cent, Pakistan has emerged as an outlier, topping the Global Terrorism Index 2026 with 1,139 terrorism-related deaths last year, a report highlighted on Saturday.

Writing for online magazine 'American Thinker', Fatima El Hashimi, a Moroccan researcher and journalist, said that violence has become routine in Pakistan - a grim normalisation reflecting a deeper and more dangerous reality of the country's rapidly deteriorating security situation, marking the sixth consecutive year of increasing terrorism.

She stressed that this spike underscores the continuation of a sustained and troubling trend.

"Terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan have risen every year for six years, and the latest increase is the largest year-on-year jump in a decade. The number of attacks more than doubled from 517 in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024, then showed a slight decline in 2025, though it remained at historically elevated levels," Fatima mentioned.

She noted that the report's indicators, including the incidents, fatalities, injuries, and hostages, depict a picture of a country where militant violence is not only "persistent but evolving in ways that challenge the state's capacity to respond. "

The expert stated that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan continue to be the epicentres of violence, accounting for over 74 per cent of attacks and 67 per cent of deaths in 2025.

"These regions, long neglected in terms of governance and development, continue to bear the brunt of Pakistan's internal conflict," Fatima added.

Pakistan's counterterrorism strategy, she said, remains "heavily skewed toward kinetic action raids, reprisals, and targetted strikes", while the "non-kinetic pillars of counter-extremism remain weak, fragmented, or entirely absent."

"One of the clearest symptoms of this weakness is the absence of a credible, verifiable terrorism database. Global organisations rely on transparent, evidence-based reporting, yet Pakistan's law enforcement agencies often expect the world to accept their claims without documentation." Fatima stated.

She argued that lasting peace will remain elusive unless Pakistan moves beyond a force-driven strategy to address deeper issues, including ideological militancy, cross-border sanctuaries, political instability, and governance deficits.

"Breaking this cycle requires more than firepower. It demands political clarity, consistent civilian governance in conflict-hit regions, and serious regional diplomacy, particularly with Afghanistan. It requires police reforms that strengthen local law enforcement rather than sidelining it. It requires intelligence sharing across agencies that often operate in silos. And it requires judicial reforms that ensure militants are prosecuted effectively rather than recycled back into the conflict," Fatima further emphasised.
Kolkata, April 11 : Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Saturday warned people of Jhargram to remain vigilant as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would try to bring in outsiders from neighbouring Jharkhand to influence the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal.

Addressing an election rally in Jhargram, Chief Minister Banerjee sent a message to the Trinamool Congress to be more careful before the upcoming state elections.

She gave instructions to the Trinamool Congress workers and leaders to keep the electronic voting machines (EVMs) safe even if the lights go out.

"The BJP will try to influence the West Bengal election by bringing money and people from Jharkhand. Keep a check on all the railway stations here. They will try to bring money and drugs. They will try to create unrest again. There is an attempt to bring people from outside West Bengal to spoil the environment before the election as well," Chief Minister Banerjee said.

The Chief Minister also gave an important message about the tribal vote bank in the poll-bound state.

She said that a Bill has been passed in the State Assembly to recognise the Sari and Sarna religions, but the Centre has not yet implemented it.

She also spoke about the Kurmali language and culture, adding that an academy has been formed for this language and the Trinamool Congress-led state government promises to stand for the tribal community.

Taking a jibe at the BJP, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "They (BJP) make many promises before the elections, but they are not seen again after the elections."

The Trinamool Congress supremo also targeted the BJP on cultural issues.

She alleged that the tradition and history of West Bengal are being distorted without showing respect.

The Chief Minister's message from the Jhargram meeting was clear.

She warned the Trinamool Congress workers and said that the ruling party is not willing to take any risks until the counting of votes on May 4.

"Guard the EVM with your lives. Don't leave counting centres until the last of the votes are counted," Chief Minister Banerjee added.

Polling in Jhargram will take place in the first phase of West Bengal Assembly polls on April 23.
Gandhinagar, April 11 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will launch a synchronised election campaign across 15 municipal corporations in Gujarat on Sunday, with candidates collectively taking a pledge of public service under the 'Janseva Sankalp' programme, marking the formal start of its campaign for upcoming local body elections.

According to BJP leaders on Saturday, the programme will begin at 9.30 a.m. on Sunday across all 15 municipal corporations simultaneously.

The party said the initiative has been planned after the completion of nomination filing by its candidates on Saturday and is being carried out as per the instructions from the State BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma.

The BJP candidates will collectively take a pledge of public service as part of the campaign launch process.

The party added that senior BJP leaders will be deployed across all municipal corporations in line with the organisational plan.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will participate in the programme in Ahmedabad, while state BJP President Vishwakarma will be present in Rajkot.

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and State BJP General Secretary (Organisation) Ratnakar Pandey will attend the programme in Vadodara.

Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil will be present in Surat, while BJP MP Parshottam Rupala will be in Jamnagar.

Former State BJP President R.C. Faldu will participate in Bhavnagar.

In Vapi, State BJP Scheduled Tribe Morcha President Ganpat Vasava will represent the party, while State Minister Kanu Desai will attend in Navsari.

Former Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama is scheduled to be present in Mehsana.

State BJP General Secretary Aniruddh Dave will attend in Gandhidham, while former Minister Gordhanbhai Zadafia will be present in Anand.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel will attend a programme in Nadiad.

Former BJP MP Ramesh Dhaduk will participate in Porbandar, former Minister I.K. Jadeja will be present in Morbi, and State Minister Jitu Vaghani will attend in Surendranagar.

As per schedule announced by the State Election Commission for the local body elections, voting for the municipal corporations and other local bodies is scheduled to be held on April 26, with polling conducted in a single phase across the state.

The elections will cover 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats, involving lakhs of voters.

The vote counting will take place on April 28, two days after polling, and results will be declared on the same day, completing the electoral process within a short post-poll window.
Abu Dhabi, April 11 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar kicked off his two-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by interacting with the members of the Indian community on Saturday.

During his interaction, EAM Jaishankar highlighted Indian government's ongoing efforts towards the security and well-being of its nationals amidst the West Asia conflict.

"Started my visit to the UAE interacting with the members of the Indian Community. Spoke about GOI's efforts towards their well-being and security amidst the West Asia conflict. Appreciated their contributions to the local society during these difficult times. As well as the support of the Government of the UAE in ensuring welfare of the Indian community," the minister posted on X after the meeting.

The EAM arrived in UAE after concluding his two-day visit to Mauritius where he also participated in the 9th Indian Ocean Conference.

His visit to Mauritius delivered a series of impactful outcomes across health, education, infrastructure, and green mobility while reaffirming Indiaas commitment to its Neighbourhood First policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and support for the Global South. 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.

In the second leg of the visit, EAM will meet the leadership of the UAE to review close cooperation and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Earlier in the day, EAM Jaishankar announced that another 312 Indian fishermen were safely evacuated from Iran to India through Armenia. He further thanked the government of Armenia for making it possible.

"Another 312 Indian fishermen safely evacuated from Iran to India through Armenia. Thank the Government of Armenia and my friend Ararat Mirzoyan for making it possible," he posted on X on Saturday.

Armenia has been facilitating the evacuation of Indian nationals in Iran.

Earlier, the MEA had said that more than 1,200 Indian nationals have been safely evacuated from Iran, out of which 996 moved to Armenia.
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Income investors are drawn to dividend stocks for their steady stream of income. But dividend stocks are appealing for another reason: They tend to outperform non-dividend payers over long time periods. According to a Hartford Funds study, over a 50-year period, dividend payers returned an average of 9.2% annually, significantly outperforming non-dividend payers, which returned 4.3% annually.

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Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue 

Image source: Getty Images.

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Ayodhya, April 11 : After a row erupted over remarks by the Ram Mandir Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Misra that decisions during critical events like the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition were largely driven by political leadership rather than bureaucratic officials, Hindu saints and religious figures in Ayodhya came out in his support. They accused the then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister late Mulayam Singh Yadav of passing orders to open fire at the 'Karsevaks'.

Recalling the developments of that period, Misra had said that in 1992, despite reports indicating a collapse of law and order in Ayodhya, the then Chief Minister Kalyan Singh had issued clear instructions that police should not open fire on 'Karsevaks'.

He also referred to his tenure serving under different political administrations, including that of former Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, noting the contrast in approaches adopted by the two leaders during moments of crisis.

Calling Misra's statement "commendable", Mahant Sitaram Das Ji Maharaj of Saket Bhavan Temple, told IANS, "Administrative decisions are influenced by those in power, they are not taken independently."

"Nripendra Misra did not have the authority to take decision when gunshots were fired at the 'Karsevaks', neither were those fired with his decision. The gunshots were fired on the orders of the then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. The Samajwadi Party founder has accepted this several times on various public platforms."

Mahant Sitaram Das also accused Mulayam Singh Yadav of being "against Ram Bhakts".

Mahant Sitaram Das added that irrespective of the government that comes to power, Misra will keep on working for the benefit of the country.

"His (Nripendra Misra's) emotions towards God reflect that he is and will forever remain a 'Ram Bhakt'," he said.

He alleged that the Samajwadi Party and "those who involve in appeasement politics" are framing a conspiracy to accuse Misra.

"He (Misra) will not be held guilty on the basis of their allegations because at that time gunshots were fired on Mulayam Singh Yadav's orders," Mahant Sitaram Das reiterated.

Mahant Raju Das, a prominent priest of Hanumangarhi, also echoed similar view.

He mentioned that whatever Nripendra Misra said was correct because "senior government officials holding top positions are naturally influenced by the Chief Minister of the state. They have to follow the instructions of the Chief Minister of the state. "

"Like right now Yogi Adityanath is the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, so all orders must have been discussed with him. It is the Chief Minister who is responsible for taking decisions," he said.

Mahant Raju Das also accused Mulayam Singh Yadav of working for the Muslims and hence "firing bullets was his (Mulayam Singh Singh's) decision."

Another saint of a temple in Ayodhya, added, "Mulayam Singh Yadav's government was in power in Uttar Pradesh at that time. Government officials functioned according to his orders. It was a very condemnable incident."
Patna, April 11 : Amid the ongoing political churn in Bihar over leadership changes and Nitish Kumar's impending move to the Rajya Sabha, the state government has taken a major decision that has sparked concern among thousands of government doctors.a Patna, April 11 (IANS) Amid the ongoing political churn in Bihar over leadership changes and Nitish Kumaras impending move to the Rajya Sabha, the state government has taken a major decision that has sparked concern among thousands of government doctors.a

In a significant policy move, the Bihar Health Department has issued a resolution imposing a complete ban on private practice by government doctors.a

The decision is being seen as a strong administrative step aimed at reforming the stateas public healthcare system.a

According to the official order, doctors employed in government service will no longer be allowed to operate private clinics or engage in private practice alongside their public duties.a

The move has been taken in line with the governmentas Saat Nishchay-2 initiative, which focuses on strengthening public services, including healthcare.a

Officials indicate that the decision stems from long-standing concerns about the poor condition of government hospitals, allegations of doctorsa absenteeism, and complaints that patients are being diverted to private clinics.a

By enforcing a strict separation between public duty and private practice, the government aims to ensure better availability of doctors and improved patient care in government facilities.a

To offset the financial impact, the government has announced that doctors will receive a Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) as compensation for giving up private practice.a

However, the move has triggered strong reactions within the medical community.a

Many doctors argue that the decision may affect morale, lead to staffing challenges, and put the overall healthcare system under unintended strain.a

Despite the backlash, the governmentas stance remains firm a" public servants drawing salaries from the state exchequer will not be permitted to run parallel private practices.a

The Bihar Health Department has clarified that the ban will not be limited to district-level doctors.a

It will also apply to the Bihar Medical Education Service cadre, including senior professors and faculty members serving in government medical colleges.a

Notably, the order extends to specialist doctors at premier institutions, including the Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology (IGIC).a

Under the new rules, none of these doctors will be allowed to provide services at private nursing homes or clinics.a

Issued just days ahead of the proposed swearing-in of the new government on April 15, the directive has quickly become the central topic of discussion within the stateas health administration and medical fraternity.
New Delhi, April 11 : Former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, Veena Sikri, said on Saturday that Iran had urged the US Vice-President (V-P) J.D. Vance to join the peace talks currently underway in Pakistan's Islamabad, because of his anti-war approach. She also called Pakistan's role in facilitation of the talks as "choreographed" by the US.

Speaking to IANS, Sikri said, "It is known that a few days ago, US President Donald Trump announced that he would 'obliterate Iran', and the ceasefire reportedly took place at the last moment."

She mentioned that the ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran was a fallout of a major global concern regarding the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

She also added, "With the way it kept on firing, Iran has showed its independence and resiliency."

Peace talks between US and Iranian delegations are reportedly underway in Islamabad, being facilitated by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Sikri reminded that such talks had also taken place in February in Muscat, which was then mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.

"Oman's Foreign Minister, who was mediating the talks at that time, had spoken about a breakthrough because Iran had reportedly accepted all the conditions of US," the former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh said.

She added that despite the reported breakthrough in the previous talks, Israel launched an attack on Iran and America supported it, which is why former Ambassador Sikri feels that "Iran has developed a mistrust" towards them and is therefore sceptical of the talks happening now.

The former diplomat underlined that this, along with Tehran's previous ordeal of dealing with President Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, is the reason why this time Iran has insisted US Vice-President Vance to come for the talks.

"It is often said in America that JD Vance has always been against war," Sikri said.

Having highlighted that direct talks between Washington and Tehran have not begun yet, the former diplomat said, "If the direct talks start taking place soon, it can result in some negotiation."

Citing reports of a draft tag in the initial post on X by Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif after announcement of the ceasefire by the US, she said, "Pakistan has an orchestrated and choreographed role. It is doing whatever America is asking it to do."

She also referred to reports of Iran having asked the US to release its frozen assets in return for free movement through the Strait of Hormuz, which was later denied by Washington.

"This shows that some kind of bargaining is taking place," Sikri said.

According to the former diplomat, Iran will not continue the talks if Israel's attacks on Lebanon does not stop.

"It is being said that Israel does not want these talks to happen because according to them what they had wanted, like regime change in Iran, has not happened yet. Israel might even want to start attacking Iran again," Sikri said.
New Delhi, April 11 : Much before the monsoon, Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Verma on Saturday visited the city's arterial roads, reviewing drain desilting and preparedness on the ground.

Travelling across south Delhi under the "Government on Wheels" initiative, the Minister was joined by senior officials from multiple departments, turning the inspection into a moving assessment of critical stretches.

"When you come to these locations yourself, the situation becomes very clear. You can see what has improved, where work is slow, and what could turn into a problem once heavy rain begins," Minister Verma said during the visit.

The inspection covered Moolchand Crossing, AIIMS Crossing, Chattarpur Metro stretch, Nelson Mandela Marg, Munirka Flyover, Vivekanand Marg, Benito Juarez Marg, along with several underpasses that are known pressure points during the monsoon.

At multiple stops, the PWD Minister got down to examine drains, desilting work, and road conditions.

In some areas, incomplete cleaning and potential choke points were identified, with immediate instructions given to address them within strict timelines.

"These are not small issues. A partially cleaned drain or a blocked outlet is enough to disrupt an entire stretch. The focus right now is to remove every such weak point before the rains test the system," Minister Verma said.

He spent time in low-lying areas and underpasses, where even short spells of heavy rain can lead to water accumulation and traffic disruption.

Officials were directed to ensure that these locations remain fully functional during peak rainfall.

The presence of multiple departments during the inspection helped in resolving overlaps instantly -- whether related to drains, road surfaces, or maintenance responsibilities.

The visit also highlighted that while preparations are underway across most corridors, consistency in execution and finishing remains crucial in the days ahead.

For those who commute through these routes daily, the inspection brought a visible sense of urgency in the Delhi government, with Minister Verma pushing teams to close gaps before they turn into monsoon problems.
Doha, April 11 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a sharp verbal attack on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, accusing him of "massacring his own Kurdish citizens" while accommodating Iran's "terror regime".a Doha, April 11 (IANS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a sharp verbal attack on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, accusing him of "massacring his own Kurdish citizens" while accommodating Iran's "terror regime".

Jewish Prime Minister's statement comes as high-stakes US-Iran negotiations are underway in Islamabad.

In a post on X, Netanyahu said: "Israel under my leadership will continue to fight Iran's terror regime and its proxies, unlike Erdogan who accommodates them and massacred his own Kurdish citizens."

The attack followed reports that Turkish prosecutors have sought up to 4,596 years in prison for Netanyahu and other Israeli officials over crimes against humanity and genocide related to the Gaza conflict and the interception of the Sumud flotilla in 2025. 

Netanyahu's remarks also come amid a dramatic escalation in Turkey-Israel hostilities. 

Erdogan had earlier said that Turkey would have joined the ongoing regional war "if not for Pakistan's mediation", a direct acknowledgement of Islamabad's diplomatic leverage. 

The war of words erupted just as Pakistan hosts face-to-face talks between US and Iranian delegations in Islamabad, negotiations made possible by Islamabad's successful mediation to broker a two-week ceasefire. 

Pakistan has deployed over 10,000 security personnel in the capital under multi-tier arrangements to ensure the safety of visiting delegations. 

The Serena Hotel in the Red Zone has been sealed off for the envoys, with the army and paramilitary forces guarding all entry points. 

The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived under strict VVIP protocol. 

The US side is headed by Vice President J.D. Vance.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has separately met both delegations, with Pakistani officials emphasising the country's "unique position" as a "trusted interlocutor" for all stakeholders. 

The US has reportedly rejected Iran's initial 10-point proposal, and negotiations are expected to focus on Iran's nuclear program, sanctions relief, and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Business

New Rancho Cucamonga City Council Resource Gives Residents Quick Access to Key Local Information

A new online resource is helping residents quickly find essential information about the Rancho Cucamonga City Council, including district representation, meeting details, and current council members.

The page is now live and available to the public by clicking Rancho Cucamonga City Council.

The page was created to simplify access to commonly searched information such as:

Rancho Cucamonga City Council districts

District 2 representation

Council member names, including Kristine Scott and others

City Council meeting schedules and general participation details

For many residents, finding this information can require navigating multiple pages or documents. This new resource brings it together in one place in a clear, easy-to-understand format.

David VanGorden, candidate for Rancho Cucamonga City Council District 2, the seat currently held by the incumbent Kristine Scott, said the goal is to remove barriers to basic civic awareness.

People shouldnt have to dig through multiple sources just to understand how their city government works, said VanGorden. This page gives residents a simple starting point.

The resource is designed to be informational, providing a general overview of how the council is structured and how residents can stay informed.

VanGorden noted that small stepslike knowing your district or recognizing council member namescan lead to greater community involvement over time.

When residents have access to straightforward information, it becomes easier to follow whats happening and to take part in local discussions, he said.



About David VanGorden

David VanGorden is running for Rancho Cucamonga City Council, District 2. His campaign focuses on providing clear information, encouraging resident engagement, and addressing local issues with practical, common-sense approaches.
Business

URL To Video Launches AI Platform That Turns Product Links into Marketing Videos

San Francisco, CA, March 24, 2026  URL To Video, an AI-powered platform designed for eCommerce sellers and digital marketers, today announced the launch of its product link-to-video generation tool. The platform enables users to instantly convert product URLs into ready-to-publish marketing videos and product showcase videos optimized for short-form platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.

As short-form video continues to dominate social media marketing, many online sellers struggle to produce engaging video ads consistently. URL To Video addresses this challenge by automatically generating structured promotional videos from a single product link, helping marketers create advertising content faster and at scale.

Highlights of URL To Video

The highlights of this platform include:

Product URL to Video Generation

With URL To Video, users can quickly transform a product page into a complete marketing video. The system automatically extracts product images, titles, and description to generate structured promotional videos suitable for advertising campaigns and social media content.

This feature allows online sellers to quickly create marketing videos without requiring video editing or design experience.

Ad Clone Video Feature

One of the core capabilities of URL To Video is its Ad Clone feature, which allows users to replicate the structure of successful advertising creatives from an integrated ad library.

Instead of building marketing videos from scratch, users can select a proven ad format and apply it directly to their own product. This enables marketers to quickly create high-performing ad variations based on proven creative frameworks.

AI Avatar & AI Voice Generation

URL To Video also provides AI-powered avatar and voice generation capabilities, allowing users to create engaging product videos with realistic digital presenters and natural-sounding narration.

Users can automatically generate voiceovers for their product videos and combine them with AI avatars to present product features, marketing messages, or promotional storytelling. This helps creators produce professional advertising content without recording voiceovers or appearing on camera.

Multi-Platform & Multi-Format Video Creation

The platform is built to support a wide range of modern social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, X, and LinkedIn.

Users can generate videos in multiple formats, including vertical (9:16), square (1:1), and horizontal (16:9), making it easy to publish marketing content across different platforms and campaign types.

With automated formatting and scene generation, marketers can quickly produce multiple variations of advertising videos for testing and scaling campaigns across diverse social media channels.

Built for eCommerce Marketing and Content Creation

URL To Video is designed to support the fast-paced needs of online sellers, dropshipping businesses, and digital marketers who need to produce advertising content at scale.

By combining product link analysis, AI video generation, and ad creative replication, the platform reduces the complexity of video production while enabling businesses to create more marketing content in less time.

The system is particularly useful for eCommerce entrepreneurs and marketing teams looking to improve advertising efficiency and quickly launch video campaigns across multiple social media platforms.

About URL To Video

URL To Video is an AI video generation platform that converts product links into ready-to-publish marketing videos. The platform helps eCommerce sellers, marketers, and content creators quickly produce advertising content for social media platforms without video editing knowlegde.

By combining automated product analysis and AI-driven video generation, URL To Video simplifies the creation of scalable marketing content for modern online businesses.

Contact Us

Website: https://urltovideo.ai/

Email: xin@mail.urltovideo.ai

YouTube@URLToVideoAI
The number of LGBTQ+-focused bookstores in the U.S. has slowly but steadily increased over the past five years. While this new generation of booksellers all give a nod to their predecessors, theyve also made a point of doing things differently.

Some say the pandemic prompted them to reconsider unsatisfying corporate jobs, while others say that because they could not find LGBTQ+ literature in their local bookstores, they decided to open their own. Others simply want to provide a safe space for their community that offers an alternative to bars.

I just wanted to create more queer space in Columbia [S.C.] and resources that I wish Id had, growing up. says Baker Rogers, who opened Queer Haven Books in 2024, after a year of pop-ups. Im an academic, so I did it around learning and education. Store programming includes a variety of book clubs; there's even one that combines discussion with collective action. Its one of our most popular book clubs, Rogers says, so many people in the area are interested in topics that we have a unique insight into.

Patrick Kern left his corporate job and opened Little District Books in 2022 in Washington, D.C. to, he says, fill a need for a queer-focused indie since Lambda Rising in Dupont Circle closed in 2010. Now that the store has moved from a 750-square-foot space into a 2000-square-foot space, Kern says that he can expand in-store programming. Were going to do more community events, he says, we have a lot in the works.

Alex Spencer said that during the pandemic, she found she could not work a desk job anymore. And, though she had more time to read, she could not find queer books at the big-box stores in Tallahassee, Fla. All the LGBTQ books are shelved with other books in the same genre, she says. Its great for equality, but not great for finding what you want. Noting that Tallahassee used to have an LGBTQ+ bookstore that closed in the late 90s, Spencer opened Common Ground Books in 2022 to once again provide the city with a dedicated queer space that extends beyond the traditional LGBTQ+ bookstore business model.

Common Ground, Spencer says, leans into all different subsets of queer culture, stocking and showcasing books by and about people who are trans, nonbinary, or asexual. It is expanding beyond a solely LGBTQ+ focus, evolving into what Spencer describes as a broad radical bookstore, with books on social justice and politics, as well as Black and Native American literature.

Other new queer bookstores vary in origin stories and business modelssome launched or spent time as pop-ups, others have always been bricks-and-mortar. Originally a bricks-and-mortar store in Hutchinson, Kans., Crow & Co. recently moved into a permanent shared space in Superior, Wis., but still hosts pop-ups in brewpubs in Duluth, Minn. Once a pop-up, Always Here Bookstore in Portland, Ore., doesnt just sell books: it provides lockers filled with free mutual aid products, including gender-affirming gear (like binders) for anyone who wants them.

For us, being a queer bookstore is about more than the books we curate, says John Hart, who opened Always Here in 2025. Queerness is political, too. Performing mutual aid work ourselves is really just us walking our talk.

Kaitlyn Mahoney launched Under the Umbrella in 2021 in Salt Lake City because they wanted to read more queer books, and it was very difficult, even in 2021, to find queer books here, they say. I just thought it shouldnt be this hard in such a queer city. Under the Umbrella, which has a cafe, bills itself as a safe, sober, and accessible space for all ages to gather, with programming that includes pop-up artisan markets and Queer Speed Date nights. This is more than a bookstore, Mahoney says. Its been a community space from the beginning. Not everyone wants to go to a bar.

Seattle was home to several LGBTQ+ bookstores between 1988 and 2005, and then there were none for almost 20 years, says Charlie Hunts, who opened Charlies Queer Books in 2023 to fill that need. It also felt like the right time to open a queer bookstore because of the rise in both anti-LGBTQ legislation and record number of book bans, he says.

While most communities in the U.S. lack an LGBTQ+ bookstore, three queer bookstores have opened in Brooklyn within the past two years, including Gladys Books & Wine in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood in September 2025. Gladys is also a lesbian bar, the kind of establishment which owner Tiffany Dockery calls a dying breed. The stores inventory radiates out from a core collection of books by Black queer and trans women, she says. Our selection is not exclusive; it is about what is centered. Well consider any writer that aligns with the politics of Black lesbian feminism.

 For us, being a queer bookstore is about more than the books we curate. 

Hive Mind Books in Bushwick, a bookstore with a coffee shop, which opened in October 2024, focuses on small press titles and community, says owner Jules Wernersbach. Hive Mind is doing what queer bookstores have always done for queer arts and culture, they say, but it also puts people over profits, by offering a space and free events where people can just hang out. They dont have to buy anything.

Crown Heights Nonbinarian Bookstore, which opened a week after Hive Mind, on Election Day 2024, began two years earlier as the Nonbinarian Book Bike pop-up. We had the foresight to recognize where this country might be headed, with the rise in anti-trans legislation and book bans, says cofounder K. Kerimian. There was the need for a bricks-and-mortar space that centers trans folks. Why else would you go from a cargo bike to paying rent in New York City?
When Pope Leo XIV arrives in Algeria this April, he will do so not only as the first pontiff to visit our country, but as a pilgrim returning to one of Christianitys earliest intellectual homes. His journey to Algiers and Annaba carries a significance that extends beyond ceremony, rooted in a shared history that has shaped both Algeria and the wider Christian world.

Algeria reflects layers of civilization rather than a single narrative. That continuity is perhaps most vividly expressed through Saint Augustine of Hippo, who was born in Thagaste, now Souk Ahras, in present-day Algeria, and preached in Hippo, now Annaba. His writings remain central to Christian theology, yet his life also reflects something broader: a tradition of inquiry and dialogue that emerged from North Africa and continues to resonate far beyond it.

That legacy is not confined to texts. It remains visible in Algerias landscape, from the Basilica of Saint Augustine overlooking the Mediterranean to the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers. These sites are not relics of a distant past. They exist within a modern society that is overwhelmingly Muslim, yet conscious of the historical currents that have passed through it. The presence of this heritage, preserved rather than erased, reflects a continuity that has endured through political and cultural change.

The forthcoming visit builds on an established relationship between Algeria and the Vatican. Diplomatic ties have been sustained through regular engagement, including recent discussions between President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and the Holy See. These exchanges have focused on areas where interests converge: interreligious dialogue, regional stability, and the role of faith communities in addressing global challenges. In a region often defined externally by its divisions, such engagement has developed without spectacle, grounded in consistency rather than episodic attention.

Algerias approach to religious coexistence is shaped as much by history as by policy. The example of Emir Abdelkader, who protected thousands of Christians in Damascus in 1860, remains a point of reference not because it is invoked frequently, but because it reflects a set of instincts that continue to inform the present. Religious identity in Algeria has not been insulated from tension, yet it has also not been reduced to a tool of political contestation in the way it has elsewhere.

This context informs how Algeria views the significance of the Popes visit. It is not an attempt to rediscover a forgotten past, nor to present an idealized image of the present. Rather, it reflects an understanding that dialogue between faiths is most meaningful when it is anchored in lived experience. The small Catholic community in Algeria today, composed largely of foreign nationals alongside a limited number of Algerian faithful, operates within a framework that allows for engagement with state institutions and religious authorities alike. These interactions rarely attract attention, but they form the basis of continuity.

The visit also arrives at a moment when global discourse increasingly frames relations between the Christian and Muslim worlds in terms of friction. Algeria offers a different perspective, one shaped less by abstraction than by proximity. The history of North Africa is not one of separation between civilizations, but of overlap, exchange, and adaptation. That reality does not eliminate differences, but it places them within a broader context that makes dialogue possible.

When Pope Leo XIV visits Annaba, he will stand in the city where Augustine once wrote about the human search for meaning and belonging. Those questions remain relevant, though the context has changed. Algerias experience suggests that continuity does not require uniformity, and that engagement across traditions can persist without losing its grounding.

The visit will be measured in images and statements, but its significance will likely be quieter. It will be found in the reaffirmation of a relationship that has evolved over centuries and in the possibility that such relationships can continue to develop in a world that often assumes otherwise.

Sabri Boukadoum is the Ambassador of Algeria to the United States.
Building generational wealth is a key aspiration for many investors. That usually requires decades of successful investing, with the focus on decades. Investors who create a solid, diversified portfolio of winning stocks and hold through the years have a high chance of success.

The anchor stocks will be the reliable giants that underpin these kinds of portfolios. Stocks that withstood the tests of time and continue to grow and reward shareholders. Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA)(NYSE: BRKB) is an excellent candidate.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue 

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Class B but still Berkshire

Specifically, I'm talking about Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares. Class A shares go for $720,500 per piece as of today's prices, which makes them unattainable for most of us. However, the company issued the second round of shares that are priced at $479 today. Still a hefty price tag, but much more accessible to investors.

There are small differences between the two classes, and B shares provide exposure to all of Warren Buffett's favorite stocks, including Apple, Coca-Cola, and American Express. They also give you ownership of some of the equity portfolio's more unique positions, like its Japanese and Chinese stocks. And that's just the stock portfolio.

Investors love to follow Berkshire's stock moves, previously managed by Buffett and today in the capable hands of Greg Abel. But Berkshire Hathaway owns more than 190 businesses, including well-known brands like Duracell batteries, Benjamin Moore paints, and Brooks running shoes.

Warren Buffett has often spoken about his belief in the U.S. economy, and he looks for businesses that will endure and not become obsolete with new technology. Owning Berkshire Hathaway stock is owning a vast array of solid, well-built, and reliable businesses that should last over time and that you can pass through to the next generation.

Steady long-term growth

Over time, Berkshire Hathaway stock has outperformed the S&P 500 by a fantastic margin: a 6,099,294% gain since 1965 versus 46,061% for the broader index. Buffett himself has cautioned that it's unlikely to repeat that kind of outstanding performance; as the company gets bigger, it's harder to take action that moves the needle.

But the stock still offers stability and value, especially in challenging times and volatile markets. Berkshire Hathaway stock joined the trillion-dollar club last year, one of only 10 that sport such a high market cap, and it's the ninth-most-valuable company in the U.S.
President Trump has a way of forcing questions onto the national stage that Washington would rather avoid. In recent months, he has again spoken in expansive terms about American reach, including arguing that the United States needs control of Greenland for national security. Also, joking after taking over Venezuela, he joked that it could become the 51st state. His administration has treated the Caribbean in the same strategic register. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Puerto Rico in September 2025 and told U.S. forces there they were defending the American homeland, while Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez said the visit recognized Puerto Ricos strategic importance in the fight against drug cartels and Nicolas Maduro.

That conversation should lead to one obvious place: Puerto Rico. If the country is prepared to think boldly about what should stand more fully under the American flag, then it should begin with the U.S. citizens who already do. Puerto Rico is not a foreign acquisition, not an imperial fantasy, and not a talking point. It is already American soil, already bound to the Union, and already indispensable to American interests. The real question is not whether Puerto Rico belongs inside Americas orbit. The real question is whether Puerto Rico is prepared to make the disciplined case for admission as a state.

That question has become even more urgent because Cuba is once again reminding Washington that the Caribbean is not a side theater. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in February that Cubas status quo is unacceptable and that Cuba needs to change. This month, Cubas deepening fuel crisis has become entangled with Russia-linked tanker traffic and U.S. sanctions policy, as one Russia-linked fuel shipment assessed as Cuba-bound diverted to Trinidad and Tobago while another Russian-flagged tanker was reported headed toward Cuba with roughly 730,000 barrels. The point is that the Caribbean is again a live zone of American pressure, adversary signaling, and strategic attention.

Puerto Rico should hear that message clearly. If Washington is tightening the legal and strategic perimeter around Cuba, if Russia is testing the edges of that pressure, and if the United States is already using Puerto Rico as part of its forward position in the Caribbean, then Puerto Rico should stop making the statehood case as a grievance and start making it as a readiness program. It should present itself not as a territory asking for sympathy, but as the already-American jurisdiction prepared to enter the Union on equal terms, under equal obligations, with institutions that operate by the same civic standards expected of every state.

Puerto Ricos annexation to America cannot be won on sentiment alone. It will be only won when Puerto Rico presents itself as the one serious, disciplined, already-American candidate for admission. That means Puerto Rico must act to quickly unequivocally align with America.

Puerto Rico cannot seek admission while preserving every comfortable ambiguity of territorial life. A territory may live in the contradictions of dual habits, expectations, and standards whereas a state cannot. If Puerto Rico wants voting representation, permanent union, and full equality inside Americas constitutional system, then it must operate like a place that is prepared to govern as a state.

That readiness must begin with constitutional clarity by fully adopting and governing using the Constitution Congress approved in 1952 which is in American English. For Puerto Ricos equality movement, the governing principle is easy: one constitutional order designed to be equal to America. Statehood has to rest on American constitutional unity.

The territorial legislature must enact the civil and criminal codes, and government must operate, in American English. Public schools must educate students in American English. This is an argument for political maturity. While no American state is culturally identical to another, they all are legible inside the constitutional, legal, commercial, and civic life of the nation it seeks to join. Public laws cannot remain half inside and half outside the common American framework.

Puerto Rico must eliminate tax abatements to selling itself as a carveout, a shelter, or a permanent exception where American income taxpayers can go hide from their American income tax responsibilities. A state must compete through infrastructure, talent, transparency, public safety, reliable institutions, and enterprise. It must not ask for a star on the flag while preserving an economic model built on special dispensations. Equality cannot be argued persuasively while exception remains the business plan.

The territorial government must shrink as well until it can be supported with no more than a 10 percent income tax. A serious statehood movement cannot ask Congress to ignore bloated administration, chronic fiscal strain, and the habits of territorial dependency.

Puerto Rico must reduce welfare dependency to less than 20 percent of the population through growth, work, training, investment, and a civic culture. A healthy state is not built on passivity. It is built on resilience, upward mobility, and the dignity of work. If Puerto Rico wants the Senate votes that have been missing for generations, it must make the case that statehood would eliminate the history of American dependency.

And then Puerto Ricos residents must immediately pay full American income taxes. Nothing would send a stronger signal to Congress or to Americans at large. Puerto Rico must say plainly that it is not asking to preserve the privileges of territory while receiving the prestige of statehood. It is asking for equality, and it accepts the obligations that come with equality. Rights and duties travel together. A place that wants full representation must be willing to shoulder full responsibility.

Supporters of President Trump should see this clearly. If this administration is willing to think seriously about American strength, American reach, and the strategic meaning of the Caribbean, then Puerto Rico should become the most serious domestic statehood question on the table.

Javier Ortiz, with over 30 years of experience in technology, business, and the public sector, leads investment technical due diligence and innovation at Falcon Cyber Investments. He was the Executive Director of Puerto Economic Recovery Initiative which advocated for policies to stabilize Puerto Rico's economy and reduce its dependence on federal transfers during the hotly PROMESA law debates.
The media pound on President Trump because he hasn't told the American people exactly when the war will end. This is crucial, so the criticism goes, if the people are to support the war. Implied is the gotcha attitude that those who govern us are a sorry lot of dissemblers, Trump being the worst of the worst. Those politicians that dispense snake oil to the masses.

But no commander-in-chief can tell you exactly when a given war will end. This should be obvious. Many journalists, however, assume there's always blood in the water. They repeat the common wisdom as if it were news.

The more important question remains. Why was Iran attacked in the first place? What was the first purpose? Most importantly, was there an alternative way to go?

The answer must be in the affirmative. Trump could have presented the goal of "making sure that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon" not as a war on one rogue country. The war isn't just about Iran. It's a legitimate use of military action to enforce the internationally agreed goal of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, as set out in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), signed in 1968 and ratified in 1970.

Trump could have said (and maybe actually believed) that the overriding purpose in making war was to forestall a world order in which widespread possession of nuclear weapons had become a common denominator of international policy. Recovering Iran's stock of enriched uranium would have followed naturally from this. (For memory, the Obama administration's JPCOA agreement with Iran got Iran to export nearly all of its enriched uranium to Russia.)

The NPT was designed for three goals: 1) to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, 2) to promote peaceful nuclear energy cooperation, and 3) push for existing nuclear states' disarmament. Three pillars: non-proliferation, peaceful use and disarmament.

The NPT was ratified by 191 states. The IAEA was established as the monitor of compliance. No non-nuclear state, including Iran, could plausibly justify refusing the legal obligation not to build nuclear weapons. Indeed, Tehran, then governed by Shah Pahlavi, ratified in 1970. Of great importance, the Islamist revolutionary government set up in 1979 never revoked Iran's signature.

Where were the strategists in the Trump administration, those with enough experience, geopolitical wisdom and knowledge of the history of non-proliferation, to influence the decision?

This was a missed opportunity of historical proportions. The U.S. was enforcing international law, the war had legitimacy. Instead, we got "Trump's war". Instead, we have got a gunfight at the OK Corral.
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.
Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran has reassured Air India employees of the Tata Group's unwavering commitment to the airline's ambitious transformation, emphasising safety, service quality, and operational excellence amidst current global challenges.

Kindly note the image has been published only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Air India/Instagram

Key Points Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran addressed Air India employees, acknowledging current challenges but reaffirming commitment to the airline's long-term transformation.

Chandrasekaran highlighted significant progress over four years, including hiring 17,000 employees, merging four airlines into two, modernising core systems, expanding the fleet, and improving customer experience.

The vision for Air India is to become a globally-competitive airline, connecting India to the world with consistent service quality and equal dignity for all passengers.

Safety is paramount and non-negotiable, sitting at the centre of every decision across operations, engineering, training, and customer experience.

Employees were urged to remain focused on execution and financial discipline amidst external pressures and operational disruptions, including those caused by the West Asia conflict.

Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran told an Air India employee townhall on Friday that the airline is operating through a challenging phase while its long-term transformation continues to advance, with a vision to ensure equal dignity for passengers in the first row and the last row of a flight.

The address comes at a time when Air India is dealing with leadership change after chief executive Campbell Wilson resigned in early April.

It came amid sustained execution pressures, heightened regulatory scrutiny following maintenance-related lapses, and operational disruption from the West Asia war.

The conflict has forced large-scale rerouting and cancellations, including around 2,500 flights to the region, with Air India operating close to 30 per cent of its normal West Asia schedule.

It shifted several Europe-bound services to longer southern routes via Africa, increasing flight times and fuel consumption.

Addressing employees at the Air India group headquarters and later meeting the broader leadership team, Chandrasekaran said the workforce had already demonstrated resilience in difficult conditions.

"Air Indians have shown great tenacity in dealing with a perfect storm, and we must continue with the same spirit that has been demonstrated," he said.

Commitment to Transformation

He reiterated strong backing from the promoter group, adding, "The Tata Group remains committed to Air India group. The board is fully supportive and will continue to work closely with the management team."

Chandrasekaran said the airline had reached a critical stage in its transformation journey, highlighting structural and operational changes underway over the past four years.

He added, "It has been an incredible four years, and Air India group has reached a critical stage of its transformation.

Over 17,000 employees have been hired and onboarded, four airlines have been merged into two, core systems are being modernised, the fleet is expanding, aircraft are undergoing major refurbishment, and our network and operational metrics continue to improve, resulting in a clear improvement in customer experience and net promoter scores."

Vision for a World-Class Airline

Reaffirming the long-term vision, he said the objective remains to create a globally-competitive airline rooted in service quality and consistency.

"We remain committed to building a world-class airline.

"Our vision is to connect India to the world, and to establish service standards where there is as much dignity and respect for the passenger in the last row as there is for the passenger in the front row," Chandrasekaran said.

On operations and priorities, Chandrasekaran mentioned safety as the most critical pillar.

"Safety is of utmost importance for Air India. It is non-negotiable and sits at the centre of every decision we take across operations, engineering, training and customer experience," he said.

He also acknowledged the external environment and near-term pressures facing the airline industry.

"While our future is bright and we have laid a solid foundation for our ambition, we are going through a challenging time, the impact of which is most visible in the airline industry."

He urged employees to remain focused on execution and financial discipline.

"What matters now is staying focused on execution. Our focus should be on what is within our control, where we can improve, be precise on costs and remain grounded in the reality of the situation."
This article was first published 1 year ago

There are enough threads left to weave a Season 4, hopefully without the dark clouds hovering over Phulera, observes Deepa Gahlot.

The fictional village of Phulera in UP, where TVF's Panchayat is set, is a fairy-tale village, untouched by the lawlessness, casteism and misogyny that marks so much of rural North India.

It made the viewer wish all Indian villages were so clean, had smile-inducing slogans painted on the walls; where the biggest problems were a pot-holed road and an occasional power outage.

It was in this rustic paradise that Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar), an engineering graduate, had arrived, accepting a low-paying job as the panchayat secretary, to get some work experience as he prepared for the MBA entrance exam. He is thrown into the deep end of village life, but in the process discovers friendship, loyalty and maybe, love.

The first two seasons (in 2020 and 2022) were slice-of-life comedies, in which Writer Chandan Kumar and Director Deepak Kumar Mishra, created humour out of everyday situations.

The Pradhan of the village is Manju Devi (Neena Gupta), a figurehead, elected to the position because of the women's reservation in panchayats.

As is the case in so many places, her husband, Brij Bhushan Dubey (Raghubir Yadav) is the de facto headman, and is addressed as Pradhanji by everyone.

There is no judgment over this practice, it is accepted and gently lampooned.

However, over two seasons, the illiterate Manju Devi, who did not even know the national anthem, has become a bit more assertive. In Season 3, she uses her power and her voice a lot more.

Prahlad Pandey (Faisal Malik), the deputy Pradhan, and the office assistant, Vikas (Chandan Roy) form Abhishek aka Sachivji's inner circle.

Then there's the Pradhan's daughter Rinki (Sanvikaa), with whom Abhishek has a reluctant and chaste romance.

At the end of the second season, two major events took place, Abhishek was transferred by the vengeful MLA, Chandrakishore Singh (Pankaj Jha), and Prahlad's soldier son was killed at the battlefront, which was a surprisingly tragic turn for the usually sunny series to take.

Season 3 picks up from there, with Abhishek thinking about his future and trying to avoid his new posting to Bhaypura, and a grieving Prahlad lying in a drunken stupor.

Meanwhile, in a hilarious first episode, the Pradhan and Vikas's pals try to get his transfer reversed by preventing the new incumbent from joining.

They succeed in their plan, but make an enemy out of the MLA, and this bad blood then runs through the remaining episodes.

It takes away somewhat from the appealing simplicity of the previous seasons, in which laugh-out-loud comedy was generated from mundane incidents like an arrogant groom demanding Abhishek's fancy office chair, or a villager insisting that the newly-installed CCTV camera be used to trace his missing goat.

There is one such episode here, before it all dissolves into political rivalry -- an old woman (Abha Sharma) pretends that her son has thrown her out of the house, so that she becomes eligible for a rural housing scheme for the homeless.

This small deception in which Abhishek and the Dubeys get involved, gives a chance to Dubey's rival Bhushan (Durgesh Kumar) and his ambitious wife Kranti Devi (Sunita Rajwar), to launch an attack, with the backing of the MLA. He has troubles of his own and is seething against Phulera.

The series still retains its light touch and whimsicality, but every other show uses the corrupt MLA stereotype, and one hoped Panchayat would stay away from evil and violence.

On the other hand, for how long could Phulera retain its innocence -- the big, bad world was bound to come bumping in over the craters of the village road.

The strength of the series is its cast -- the main actors have got into the spirit of their parts by now, but it is the smaller characters, who add to the charm like the cunning old woman hoping to buck the system, the bird-seller Bam Bahadur (Amit Kumar Maurya), who is willing to take on the MLA's goons, and the arrogant groom from the first season (Asif Khan), who returns for a visit and carries out a crucial mission.

There are enough threads left to weave a Season 4, hopefully without the dark clouds hovering over Phulera -- the show is like an antidote to all the real-world wickedness.

Panchayat 3 streams on Amazon Prime Video.

Panchayat 3 Review Rediff Rating:
This article was first published 15 years ago

Shaikh Ayaz reviews The King's Speech. Post YOUR reviews here!



A mongst its many achievements -- and let's view this film outside of its Oscar conquests -- director Tom Hooper's searing drama on the British royalty gets it right on two counts: a remarkable script-screenplay and an adroit craftsman's choice of performers.



The King's Speech, whose title itself conveys what you are to expect, employs its bare narrative with a mature novelist's skill. Though there are no major plot developments or twists as such, its two lead characters and their good-humoured (and at times heated) interactions demand more than just your involvement.





They draw you into their world which is as real as yours, in which there are insecurities and obstacles in a life of imperial splendour. It humanises those insecurities and obstacles and it seems to boldly state than suggest that it takes as much effort, if not more, to overcome them.



Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush are the edifice, two inordinately gifted actors -- and more than that, absolutely cherry-picked by the one who knows the variety well -- on which The King's Speech stands unshakeably. It's clear that the film itself is dedicated to their friendship, a strange union of two people who seem different on surface but united in their intent and duty.

In more ways than one, The King's Speech reaffirms what most filmmakers take for granted, that a film should stay rooted in its culture and that its characters, as far as possible, must belong to that culture. So, if Firth and Helena Bonham Carter, who play the King and the Queen, are in real life British, Rush, an Aussie quack, is indeed Australian by birth.

Largely a performance-goaded film than plot-driven, The King's Speech has its defining moments shot on Firth and Rush and that establishes in no uncertain terms that the film has its priorities in place. The interactions between Firth, who's King George VI with an acute speech disorder and Rush, the therapist that he's qualification-wise not, produces humour, tension, rage, awkwardness and embarrassments in equal measure. And that's how it should have been, for theirs is a relationship of 'equals.'

Every time the King musters the courage to speak, he struggles, embarrassingly grimaces, as if forming bubbles in his mouth and presents himself to be a weak monarch with a weak voice.

In a deeply ironical moment, the King muses, with abject submission, "If I am King, where is my power? Yet, I am the seat of all authority because they think that when I speak, I speak for them."

In that very statement lies a dramatic paradox because if the King is weak -- and we are talking of a King who controls not only the UK but other colonies, too, in the face of a growing German threat -- the subject is weak.

In his King, Firth is refined, restrained and irascible given to outbursts of affection, diffidence and gratitude. Unlike the King's tongue, Hooper's direction doesn't bumble, demonstrating an unflinching faith in his voice as a creator.
America's population and its media and its democratic structures seem fine with this, which is why Trump continues as he does, asserts Aakar Patel.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the James S Brady press briefing room at the White House, April 6, 2026. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Key Points When the American constitution was being debated its founders felt that the ability of an individual to declare war separated a king from an elected leader.

The president could direct and manage the violence but only after the formal declaration; it was Congress which was required to shoulder the responsibility of declaring war.

This vital separation of power has been eroded in the Iran war and there is no difference between the US president and a king if the difference rests on the capacity to invade nations.

We are in the second month of what is settling in to become a long war and I thought I should put down a few observations.

The first is that nations around the world are preparing their populations for what is coming down the pike.

Australia has made public transport free in Tasmania and Victoria to encourage citizens not to use cars.

Egypt requires shops and restaurants to shutter at 9 pm. The Philippines now has a four day week and so does Pakistan.

Myanmar uses an odd day-even day system to keep cars off the road. Slovenia has a 50-litre limit on fuel purchase and Nepal has reduced the gas in LPG cylinders.

Thailand's government has asked people not to wear jackets so air-conditioners may run at higher temperatures.

Bangladesh closed its universities and introduced planned blackouts (what we used to call load-shedding in the old days).

South Sudan is also limiting electricity use. Sri Lanka has made Wednesday a public holiday. The list goes on.

India fuel shortage concerns

In India there is no similar measure yet. This is for two reasons.

First, our government appears to think, though it has not said so explicitly, that there is no real problem.

It has told us that the shortages people are feeling are the result of panic and if this irrational panic in Indians were to subside then things would be normal.

The other reason is that our government calculates it has an adequate stock of the things we import from the Gulf: Fuel, gas, fertiliser inputs and so on.

'Adequate stock' is, of course, an elastic term because nobody knows how long the war will continue.

None of this squares with what we are seeing in terms of autorickshaw queues and the mass migration of workers. We will see how things change as Iran continues to hold out.

Another observation I have is that America has attacked Iran without Congress, meaning its version of parliament, declaring war.

Why is that relevant? When the American constitution was being debated its founders felt that the ability of an individual to declare war separated a king from an elected leader.

The president could direct and manage the violence but only after the formal declaration; it was Congress which was required to shoulder the responsibility of declaring war.

This vital separation of power has been eroded in the Iran war and there is no difference between the US president and a king if the difference rests on the capacity to invade nations.

Trump foreign policy contradictions

The interesting thing here is that it is the conservatives, who usually pride themselves on being constitutionalists, who want this state of affairs.

Another reason why this is worth mentioning is that the Donald Trump is a mercurial president. He can say and has said that the war is 'very complete' but will go on.

He says talks are progressing well and in the next sentence say there is nobody to talk to because America has murdered all the Iranian leaders.

He demands Iran open the Hormuz Strait in a post and then in a speech say America will leave and it is up to other nations to open it.

America's population and its media and its democratic structures seem fine with this, which is why Trump continues as he does.

The third observation I have is about India's role in this.

Many of our fine WhatsApp groups are convinced that Jawaharlal Nehru squandered our United Nations Security Council seat.

It is unclear what the basis of this belief is, but perhaps it is that Nehru forgot to throw his hanky on the seat to reserve it (or that he threw his hanky and missed) or some such thing.

But let us assume we actually had a permanent seat in the UNSC. What would we do with it today to address the war in the Persian Gulf?

The seat's holders have one primary power: The veto, meaning the right to reject things that come up for a vote in the security council.

The United Kingdom has that power, and it says it is not a participant in this war.

What has it done and what can it do with its seat? Nothing that one can think of, which is why the world is not turning to the UNSC at this moment.

What any nation including India can do to end this war or mitigate against its damaging effects must come from the initiatives it can take to rally other nations.

Those who want to stand on the sidelines will make no difference whether they are clutching their precious UNSC veto or not. They are bystanders.

These are some of the observations I have and I suspect that this will not be the last time that this column will refer to the Iran war.

There are events that reshape the world and change the way that it functions forever.

This is one such instance and America's president-king has forced all of us into this new reality, whether we like it or not and whether we want it or not.

Aakar Patel is a columnist and writer and you can read Aakar's earlier columns here.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Trump seems to have estimated that Ghalibaf is a pragmatic politician who is receptive to close relations with the US and is enthusiastic about fostering business and economic ties in particular, points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

IMAGE: The Iranian delegation led by parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, second from right, and Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, second from left, is welcomed by Pakistan's army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, left, and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammad Ishaq Dar, right, on their arrival in Islamabad, April 10, 2026. Photograph: Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Handout via/Reuters

Key Points US-Iran talks in Islamabad show promise as economic interests and leadership pragmatism outweigh longstanding geopolitical tensions.

Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf's business empire and political influence position him as a key negotiator alongside Donald Trump.

Iran's 10-point proposal largely builds on the 2015 nuclear deal, with limited contentious issues remaining.

Strait of Hormuz toll mechanism emerges as a potential compromise on compensation without implying war reparations.

Israel's actions in Lebanon remain a critical sticking point, complicating final consensus despite broader diplomatic momentum.

The glaring differences between the United States and Iran notwithstanding, the talks in Islamabad have a fairly good chance of being a success.

There is too much at stake, and there are unifying factors where commonality of business and economic interests of the two leaderships outweigh geopolitical considerations.

President Donald Trump has a counterpart in Majlis Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf heading the Iranian delegation, who is also self-made billionaire-politician like Trump and believes that all good politics is principally about creating wealth -- for oneself as well as for the country.

The routes they took in their meteoric ascendancy in politics were different but Ghalibaf is also not a cleric or a doctrinaire ideologue who he rose through hawza (religious) seminaries or theological networks.

Ghalibaf's strategic asset lies in his revolutionary credentials -- sacrifice, command experience, and institutional loyalty -- by virtue of his long experience in the war with Iraq while serving in the Revolutionary Guards, then in the broader State machinery.

Alex Vatanka, author of books on Iran and a Senior Fellow at the Washington-based think-tank Middle East Institute (funded by the petrodollar Gulf states), recently wrote, 'For all his (Ghalibaf's) hardline rhetoric, for all his long record in the security state, he is one of the few senior figures left in Tehran who can plausibly be described as both a regime insider and a functioning political operator.'

'He belongs to the Islamic Republic's military elite, but he has also spent years trying to translate that pedigree into broader governing authority. That combination is what makes him matter.'

The defining moment in Ghalibaf's career trajectory came in 1989 when he landed the job of the chief executive of the Mostazafan Foundation, a charitable organisation, which he brilliantly turned into the second-largest commercial enterprise and a vast empire (external link).

Such foundations -- or Bonyads as they are called -- by virtue of their nexus with the IRGC (external link) wield enormous political power, control the commanding heights of the country's economy and is the glue of Iran's political economy.

Ghalibaf's business empire spanning infrastructure, construction, real estate, etc enabled him to build a network of loyal allies and partners, and to shape policy and advocate for his interests.

In turn, Ghalibaf's unparalleled wealth and influence made him a formidable force in Iranian politics.

Suffice to say, Ghalibaf makes an ideal partner for Trump to steer the battered ship of US-Iran relationship out of troubled waters.

Trump's circle is sure to appreciate Ghalibaf's shrewd business acumen. Tehran has already proposed to the Trump administration the seamless business opportunities including in the oil and gas sector, if only the ties between the two countries are normalised.

IMAGE: US Vice President J D Vance shakes hands with Field Marshal Asim Munir as US Charge d'Affaires Natalie A Baker and Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar look on in Islamabad, April 11, 2026. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/Reuters

It is from such a perspective that the 10-point plan put forth by Iran this week are to be viewed.

Arguably, there are no major obstacles to reaching an agreement, now that the nuclear issue has already been negotiated threadbare and a common ground is available.

If we were to flesh out the 10-point plan ad seriatim (external link), the main sticking point is the last item on 'An end to the war on all fronts, including military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.'

And that is because Israel's specific interests come in. But the good part is that there is universal condemnation of Israel's attempt to annex Lebanese territory with the very same brutal methods it adopted in regard of Gaza.

The first 7 items basically non-issues, they leap out of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA). Item 8 about 'Compensation for damage inflicted on Iran' and item 9 regarding 'The withdrawal of US troops from the region' have wrinkles to be ironed out but some modus vivendii is possible.

Significantly, Tehran refrained from pressing its demand at item 8 as 'war reparations' and instead seeks 'compensation.'

This is where the US' willingness to accept Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz comes in.

'Compensation' can be in the nature of generating an income out of a toll system in the Strait of Hormuz whereas war reparations is an admission of guilt.

IMAGE: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher-Ghalibaf speaks during a press conference in Tehran, November 27, 2024. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Reuters

Trump Bets on Ghalibaf as a Partner

Trump has still not forgiven Barack Obama for releasing Iran's blocked funds (external link) in circumstances related to the final stages of the JCPOA negotiations, amounting to around $1.7 billion of Iranian funds that were frozen by Jimmy Carter administration (which included $400 million by way of interest) in a 1979 assets freeze following Iran's seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran and the detention of American diplomats.

Trump seems to be open to Iran generating income via a toll system in the Strait of Hormuz and speculated playfully that the US could jointly operate the new system with Tehran and earn some money on the side.

The heart of the matter is that Trump seems to have estimated that Ghalibaf is a pragmatic politician (external link) who is receptive to close relations with the US and is enthusiastic about fostering business and economic ties in particular.

Don't be surprised that if things go well, the two of them might even strike a friendship.

Politico reported recently that the Trump administration was 'quietly weighing' Ghalibaf as 'a potential partner -- and even a future leader.'

An Administration official told the paper that Ghalibaf was a 'hot option' but the choice was not final as the US still would have to 'test' him and weigh other prospects: 'We can't rush into it.'

'We are dealing with a man who I believe is the most respected,' Trump said, adding that it was 'not the Supreme Leader' and that his administration has not heard from Mojtaba Khamenei at all.

IMAGE: Police officers equipped with riot gear stand guard at D Chowk area in Islamabad, near the President's House, as Pakistan prepares to host the US. and Iran for peace talks, April 10, 2026. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

Ghalibaf's Expanding Influence

Ghalibaf has long been seen as a protege of the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a confidant of his son Mojtaba, the new Leader -- and a close friend of General Qasem Soleimani, one of Iran's most powerful and charismatic figures, whom the first Trump administration assassinated in 2020.

Unsurprisingly, Ghalibaf's ascension raised concerns about the entrenchment of crony capitalism and the dangers of conflating business interests with politics in Iran's political economy, and will be a constant reminder that the lines between business and politics are increasingly blurred in the Islamic Republic.

Trump should find it a comforting thought that Ghalibaf could be an Iranian equivalent of Mikhail Gorbachev with whom Margaret Thatcher noted after their very first encounter in 10 Downing Street in 1984, even before he became the Kremlin boss, that 'We can do business together'.

Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar served the Indian Foreign Service for 29 years.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, Jammu and Kashmir police arrested eleven drug peddlers and seized heroin in coordinated operations across multiple districts, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat drug-related crime in the region.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Jammu and Kashmir police arrested eleven drug peddlers in multiple districts.

Heroin was seized from the arrested individuals during vehicle checks and searches.

The arrests were made in Udhampur, Poonch, Doda and Kathua districts.

The arrested individuals have been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Police intercepted vehicles and conducted searches leading to the arrests and seizures.

Eleven drug peddlers were arrested along with heroin at separate places in Udhampur, Poonch and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said.

Four drug peddlers were held after 13 grams of heroin were seized during the checking of their car at Lamberi in Rajouri district, a police spokesman said.

He said three drug peddlers were arrested when police intercepted a Srinagar-bound private vehicle at Chenani along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and recovered 10.16 grams of heroin from their possession.

One more drug peddler was arrested along with 2.59 grams of heroin at the same checkpoint, he added.

A couple, riding a motorcycle, were arrested after 102.44 grams of heroin were seized from them at a checkpoint in the Goond area of Nagri Parole in Kathua district.

The duo -- Saphai Din and his wife Zoona -- were coming from the Bamyal area of Punjab when they were caught, the spokesman said.

He said another drug peddler was arrested along with 4.43 grams of heroin during the search of a bus at Khelani in Doda district.

All the arrested peddlers were booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and further investigation is on, the spokesman said.
This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter.

7-Elevens leadership shuffle has continued into April as the worlds largest retailer continues to see executive turnover. The latest changes have once again hit 7-Elevens marketing department.

Mario Mijares, vice president of marketing, loyalty, and monetization platforms, left the convenience retailer on April 8, Mijares confirmed in a message to C-Store Dive. Additionally, Marissa Eddings, head of brand, advertising, media, in-store marketing and 7-Elevens in-house creative agency, has exited the retailer, Eddings noted in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday.

In his message, Mijares said that he and Eddings were on the team that was formerly led by Marissa Jarratt, 7-Elevens chief marketing officer who exited in January. Mijares confirmed that he left 7-Eleven to pursue other opportunities.

Since Jarratts departure, 7-Elevens marketing organization has reported to Raghu Mahadevan, who also spearheads the retailers digital operations and demand chain. C-Store Dive highlighted Mahadevan as a name to watch in the companys pursuit of its next CEO in the U.S.

A spokesperson from 7-Eleven did not respond by press time when asked to comment on Mijares and Eddings departures and the future of 7-Elevens marketing organization. Eddings did not respond by press time to comment.

Mijares, who joined 7-Eleven in 2020 in his latest role, led teams responsible for customer research and analytics, loyalty programs, in-store media, shopper marketing, and retail media and monetization platforms. He recently spoke at a forum hosted by professional community and advertising services organization Brand Innovators about how 7-Eleven approaches loyalty and the evolution of its retail media network.

Prior to joining 7-Eleven, Mijares held senior executive leadership roles in marketing and digital strategy for supermarket chain Winn-Dixie.

7-Eleven

Eddings, who ended a nearly eight-year tenure with 7-Eleven, per her LinkedIn bio, led the retailers brand, advertising, media, in-store marketing, and the in-house creative agency. She led teams that boosted 7-Elevens Slurpee Day and launched the companys 7Collection online merchandise line. Prior to 7-Eleven, Eddings held brand and marketing roles at Capital One and American Express.

Besides its marketing leaders, other 7-Eleven executives that have departed since the beginning of the year have included former Chief Merchandising Officer Jesus Delgado-Jenkins and Senior Vice President of Corporate Operations Tony Harris. The leadership shakeups come in a year that promises seismic change for 7-Eleven, which just pushed back the timeline for its initial public offering in North America.
An India-flagged LPG tanker successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz after a ceasefire, ensuring the flow of vital energy supplies to India amidst geopolitical tensions.

IMAGE: Jag Vikram is the ninth Indian vessel to exit the Persian Gulf since early March, while about 15 India-flagged ships remain in the region, awaiting passage. Photograph: Adani Port/ANI video grab

Key Points India-flagged LPG tanker Jag Vikram successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz after a US-Iran ceasefire, ensuring continued energy supplies.

The Jag Vikram is carrying approximately 20,400 tonnes of LPG cargo and is expected to arrive in Mumbai on April 15, 2026.

India imports a significant portion of its energy needs from Gulf countries, making the Strait of Hormuz a critical energy corridor.

The Indian government is coordinating with maritime stakeholders to ensure seafarer welfare and uninterrupted maritime operations in the region.

India is gradually restoring gas supplies to industries and prioritising piped natural gas connections for commercial establishments to reduce LPG demand.

An India-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker, Jag Vikram, has crossed the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such transit by an Indian vessel since a temporary two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran was announced.

Ship tracking data showed the tanker moved through the strategic waterway between Friday night and Saturday morning and was located in the Gulf of Oman, east of the Strait on Saturday afternoon, proceeding eastwards.

The vessel movement was also confirmed by a government statement giving an update on developments in West Asia.

"The India-flagged LPG vessel Jag Vikram has safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz today (Saturday)," it said. "The vessel is carrying approximately 20,400 tonnes of LPG cargo with 24 seafarers onboard. It is expected to arrive at Mumbai on April 15, 2026."

Jag Vikram is the ninth Indian vessel to exit the Persian Gulf since early March, while about 15 India-flagged ships remain in the region, awaiting passage.

Owned by Mumbai-based Great Eastern Shipping Company, Jag Vikram is a mid-sized gas carrier with a deadweight capacity of over 26,000 tonnes.

At least 28 India-flagged vessels were in the Strait of Hormuz region when the West Asia conflict erupted, including 24 on the western side and four on the eastern side of the waterway.

Prior to Jag Vikram's transit, eight vessels from the western side and two from the eastern side had managed to sail to safety. Several foreign-flagged ships carrying India-bound cargo also remain stranded in the Persian Gulf.

According to MarineTraffic data, hundreds of vessels remain in the region, including 426 tankers, 34 LPG carriers and 19 LNG vessels, many of which had been effectively stranded amid the disruption.

The government statement said that port operations across India remain normal, with no congestion reported.

"The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Missions, and maritime stakeholders to ensure seafarer welfare and uninterrupted maritime operations," it added.

India's Energy Dependence and Supply Adjustments

India, the world's third-largest energy consumer and fourth-largest gas user, imports about 88 per cent of its crude oil, around half of its natural gas needs and nearly 60 per cent of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) requirement, underscoring its dependence on overseas supplies.

More than half of crude imports, about 40 per cent of gas and up to 85-90 per cent of LPG shipments come from Gulf countries and pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy corridor that was shut during the West Asia conflict.

The United States and Iran earlier this week agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire that includes reopening the Strait for shipping.

India curtailed LPG supplies to commercial users such as hotels and restaurants after disruptions to Gulf energy flows, before restoring about 70 per cent of pre-crisis volumes as alternative supplies were secured.

Natural gas supplies were initially cut to industries, including fertiliser plants, to prioritise CNG for transport and piped cooking gas for households. Supplies to fertiliser units have since been partially restored, with operating urea plants receiving about 80 per cent of recent average consumption, while overall allocation to the sector has been raised to around 95 per cent this week.

Gas availability to other industrial and commercial users has also been increased gradually, though it remains below normal levels.

City gas distributors have been directed to prioritise piped natural gas connections for commercial establishments, including hotels, restaurants and canteens, as part of efforts to shift demand away from LPG.
Abhishek Banerjee, a key TMC leader, has launched a scathing attack on political rivals, accusing them of supporting the BJP, while pledging to reinstate voting rights and championing the TMC's welfare schemes in West Bengal.

Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

Key Points Abhishek Banerjee accuses political rivals of acting as 'agencies' for the BJP in West Bengal, specifically targeting a Chief Election Commissioner and opposition leaders.

Banerjee promises to restore voting rights to disenfranchised citizens within one month of the TMC returning to power in West Bengal.

Banerjee criticises Humayun Kabir, alleging corruption and divisive comments, and questions the BJP's stance on Sheikh Hasina's presence in Delhi.

Banerjee highlights the TMC's Lakshmir Bhandar scheme as a contrast to the BJP's alleged unfulfilled promises, positioning it as a reliable benefit for women.

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday labelled political rivals as "agencies" of the BJP and promised to restore voting rights of disenfranchised citizens within a month of returning to power.

Addressing a rally here, Banerjee identified three "agencies" allegedly working to undermine people and strengthen the BJP in West Bengal's Murshidabad district -- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and politician Humayun Kabir.

He accused Kumar of "taking away voting rights" of the poor under the guise of logical discrepancies in electoral rolls, and warned that a weakened TMC would hurt them more than the party.

"If the TMC is weak in this soil, the loss for you (locals) is much more than the loss for TMC," he said.

Accusations Against Humayun Kabir

Banerjee trained his heaviest fire on Kabir, referencing a viral video allegedly showing the Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief demanding Rs 1,000 crore.

"Not for the mothers and brothers of Murshidabad, not for roads, not for housing, but to put in his own pocket," he alleged.

He further claimed the purported video showed Kabir describing Muslims as "very foolish" and easily misled.

Dismissing Kabir's claim that the video was AI-generated, Banerjee asked: "If it is an AI-generated video, why did Pirzada Khobayeb Amin resign? And why did Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM leave your side?"

The TMC leader also mentioned a past exchange over the Babri Masjid, claiming Kabir had met and told him he would "only lay the bricks and then throw them away."

Banerjee claimed that he had told Kabir, "TMC does not do politics with religion. The BJP is doing politics with the Ram Mandir, and you are doing politics with Babri Masjid. Where is the difference? If you have to build the Babri Masjid, do it. You retire from politics. Both cannot happen together."

Promise to Restore Voter Rights

On the restoration of voter rights, Banerjee assured those dropped from electoral rolls would get their voting rights back within one month of the "Ma Mati Manush" government taking charge on May 4.

"You are citizens of this country, citizens of this state. No one should be worried or panicked," he said.

Targeting a 22-0 sweep in Murshidabad, up from the party's 20-0 result in 2021, Banerjee took personal responsibility for the district's development, citing several projects he described as "repayment for the debt of love".

"The responsibility for the development of all 22 seats is mine. I am fulfilling the debt of love through development," he declared.

Attacks on BJP and Focus on Welfare Schemes

Addressing an election rally in Birbhum's Sainthia, Banerjee alleged that of the 90 lakh names deleted in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, 57.5 lakh are Hindu Bengali voters.

"They are branding Hindu Bengalis as Bangladeshis and striking their names off the electoral rolls," he claimed at the rally along with Birbhum TMC strongman Anubrata Mondal by his side.

Turning the Bangladeshi charge back on the BJP, Banerjee asked Modi to clarify the status of Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in Delhi since August 2024.

"Hasina has been given shelter in Delhi by you. Is she an infiltrator or a refugee?" he asked.

On the BJP's poll promises, Banerjee claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pledged Rs 2,500 per month to women if the party won in Delhi, but "not a paisa" had reached beneficiaries even after 14 months.

He termed the BJP's guarantees a "chit fund", alleging that "the seller disappears after the sale", and claimed that in Bihar, BJP leaders were demanding money back from pre-poll beneficiaries.

In contrast, Banerjee highlighted the TMC's Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, under which women from the general category receive Rs 1,500 and SC/ST women Rs 1,700 per month.

"As long as TMC exists, no one can stop Lakshmir Bhandar," he said.

Banerjee also challenged the BJP to present a report card of the work done in Birbhum over the last 10-12 years and described this election as a "vote for revenge" against the BJP.
Police in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, have arrested two men after a woman died following a brutal acid attack allegedly motivated by her rejection of one of the suspect's romantic advances.

Key Points Two men have been arrested in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, following the death of a young woman from an acid attack.

The victim and her mother were attacked in their home while sleeping, sustaining severe burn injuries.

Police investigations revealed the attack was allegedly motivated by the woman's refusal of a romantic relationship with one of the accused.

The arrested individuals are Chhotelal Kharwar and Anuj Kushwaha, residents of Kushinagar district.

Authorities are actively searching for two additional suspects, Chhotu Kushwaha and Abhimanyu, believed to be accomplices in the crime.

On Thursday night, assailants broke into a house in Morwan area under Ramkola police station limits, and threw acid at 23-year-old Kajal and her mother Lilavati Devi (58) while they were sleeping.

Both sustained severe burn injuries and were initially taken to Kushinagar Medical College, and later referred to Gorakhpur Medical College in critical condition.

Kajal died during treatment on Friday morning, while her mother is said to be critical.

According to the police, a case was registered at Ramkola police station based on a complaint by Abhishek Yadav, the brother of the deceased. Based on the suspicion of family members, two persons -- Chhotu Kushwaha and Abhimanyu -- were named in the FIR.

The police have arrested two persons -- Chhotelal Kharwar and Anuj Kushwaha, both residents of Kushinagar district -- in connection with the incident.

Investigation Reveals Motive Behind Acid Attack

Additional Superintendent of Police Siddharth Verma on Saturday said, during interrogation, the accused revealed that Chhotelal was attracted to the deceased woman and was pursuing a romantic relationship with her, with his accomplices assisting him in the pursuit.

The young woman had repeatedly refused to communicate with him, citing the fact that her marriage had already been arranged elsewhere.

The official said angered by her refusal, the accused with the help of his accomplices allegedly climbed onto the roof of the deceased house through a window, and poured acid on the young woman and her mother in their sleep, before fleeing from the spot.

Chhotu Kushwaha and Abhimanyu, alleged accomplices in the act, are absconding and efforts are on to nab them, the official added.
The lunar flyby mission involving Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada's Jeremy Hansen was the first journey to the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972 when Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt spent three days exploring the lunar surface.

IMAGE: Crew members Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover sit on the front porch after being extracted from the Artemis II capsule by recovery personnel in the Pacific Ocean in this screengrab from a livestream video after the Artemis II crew's flyby of the Moon, April 10, 2026. Photograph: NASA/Handout via Reuters

Key Points NASA's Artemis II mission successfully completed a lunar flyby, marking humanity's return to the moon after five decades.

The Artemis II mission demonstrated the capabilities of NASA's Space Launch System rocket and Orion crew module for deep space travel.

The mission provided unprecedented views of the moon's far side and a total solar eclipse.

NASA is planning future missions to land humans on the moon and establish a lunar habitat as a launchpad for Mars exploration.

Lessons learned from Artemis II will be applied to the upcoming Artemis III mission.

Amid claps and cheers, four astronauts of National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Artemis-II mission splashed down in the Pacific ocean after a historic flight to the moon  the first by humans in more than 50 years.

"The path to the moon is open but the work ahead is greater than the work behind," Amit Kshatriya, Indian-origin NASA Associate Administrator told a press conference shortly after the Artemis-II crew returned to earth off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 eastern time on Friday.

The lunar flyby mission involving Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada's Jeremy Hansen was the first journey to the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972 when Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt spent three days exploring the lunar surface.

Rick Henfling, the flight director, said the Artemis II astronauts are 'happy and healthy and ready to come home to Houston'.

Artemis II was the first crewed mission to utilise NASA's Space Launch System rocket and Orion crew module -- demonstrating that the agency's equipment can propel astronauts out of Earth's orbit and bring them safely home.

"Yesterday, flight director Jeff Radigan said we had less than a degree of an angle to hit after a quarter of a million miles to the moon," Kshatriya told reporters.

"And their team hit it. This is not luck; that is 1,000 people doing their job," he said.

The mission flew 700,237 miles; its peak velocity was 24,664 m.p.h.; and the flight had an entry range of 1,957 miles but landed within one mile of its target, Henfling said.

NASA now aims to land humans on the moon where the space agency also plans to set up a habitat that would be the launchpad for future missions to Mars and beyond.

It was a triumphant homecoming for the crew of four whose record-breaking lunar flyby revealed not only swaths of the moon's far side never seen before by human eyes but a total solar eclipse.

They emerged from their bobbing capsule into the sunlight one by one.

Henfling said his team 'breathed a sigh of relief' once the side hatch opened on the Orion Integrity after it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.

"We all breathed a sigh of relief once the hatch opened up, that's when we brought the team in," he said.

"We said a few words to the flight controllers, and then we turned around to the families and waved and gave them a thumbs up, and we all watched as each of their four astronauts got out of the spaceship and were hoisted up onto the helicopters. It was a great day," he added.

Henfling said his team felt 'anxiety' as the four astronauts re-entered the Earth's atmosphere, but felt confident in all their training leading up the history-making lunar mission.

Looking Ahead: Artemis III

NASA said the Artemis III mission is "right around the corner" following its history-making journey around the moon.

"The next mission is right around the corner, and you know, we'll take the lessons learned from Artemis II," Henfling said.

"We learned a bunch on how to fly people in space, both from vehicle operations, but also from how to run a control room with a deep space mission. And when the time is right, we'll get back into specific training, and we've got a core group of about 30 flight directors, and they're all extremely capable.

"I think anybody who's assigned to that next mission is going to be as successful as us," Henfling said.

Amit Kshatriya is serving as the highest-ranking civil servant and a senior advisor to the administrator at NASA.

He leads NASA's 10 centre directors, as well as the mission directorate associate administrators. He is also the agency's chief operating officer.

Kshatriya previously served as the deputy associate administrator for the Moon to Mars Program in the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD) at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC.
Autorickshaw drivers in Thiruvananthapuram launched a strike after a railway police officer allegedly assaulted a driver, prompting calls for investigation and justice.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Autorickshaw drivers in Thiruvananthapuram initiated a strike in response to the alleged assault of a fellow driver by a railway police officer.

The alleged assault involved verbal abuse, physical violence, and demands to remove the autorickshaw from the station area.

Police have assured the drivers that an investigation will be conducted and appropriate action will be taken.

The strike at Thampanoor railway station was called off after authorities promised to address the drivers' concerns regarding the alleged police misconduct.

Autorickshaw drivers at Thampanoor railway station went on a brief strike on Saturday morning in protest against one of their colleagues allegedly being beaten by a railway police officer the previous night, officials said.

An official at Thampanoor station said that a railway police officer had allegedly assaulted an autorickshaw driver on Friday night, and a case would be registered in connection with the incident.

"A case will be registered. We are recording statements. It was an officer of the railway police force," the officer said.

Details of the Alleged Assault

According to autorickshaw drivers operating near the railway station, the police officer abused and assaulted their colleague for not removing his vehicle from the area as directed.

"The officer abused him for not removing the autorickshaw, and when he questioned it, he was slapped on the face and kicked in the stomach. The officer hurled further abuses at him. Therefore, we decided to go on strike," one of the autorickshaw drivers told reporters.

Resolution of the Strike

The officer at Thampanoor police station said the strike was subsequently called off after the drivers were assured that action would be taken in the matter.
The BJP defends Shone George's criticism of a Kerala newspaper, Deepika, alleging political bias and misuse of media influence ahead of the Assembly elections, sparking debate on religious groups and political alignment.

Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points BJP defends Shone George's criticism of Deepika newspaper, alleging political bias towards the UDF in Kerala.

The BJP claims Shone George criticised the misuse of a media house associated with a particular religion for political gains.

The party asserts it respects all religions and aims for equal justice, denying any discrimination based on caste or religion.

BJP claims it has significant Christian and Muslim members, highlighting its inclusive political stance.

Shone George alleged the newspaper favoured the Congress-led UDF and criticised certain Catholic bishops for supporting the opposition.

BJP state general secretary S Suresh on Saturday came to the defence of party leader Shone George, saying that he only criticised the alleged "misuse" of a media house for political interests.

Shone had recently criticised the church-supported Malayalam daily -- Deepika -- over its reported stance favouring the UDF ahead of the Assembly polls in Kerala.

Suresh said that any attempt to divert the support of any religious group or community to the Congress, "will be seen as politics and will be questioned politically".

"Such questioning or criticism should not be misinterpreted. Shone George's remarks were against a media house which the Congress has projected as the mouthpiece of a particular section of a religion.

"Shone only spoke out against the misuse of the media house, known to be associated with a particular religion, for political gains," the BJP state general secretary told reporters here.

With regard to comments against some bishops by Shone's father P C George, Suresh said that the latter's remarks were probably influenced by the peculiar regional situation in Poonjar and any further clarifications regarding it will have to be sought from the veteran politician.

Suresh's remarks come in the wake of widespread criticism against the father-son duo and the BJP over the pair's recent remarks against the Malayalam daily and bishops.

BJP's Stance on Religion and Equality

The BJP state general secretary said that the party respects and protects all religions and beliefs, and its aim was to treat everyone equally.

"Equal justice to all, appeasement towards none is the BJP stand. Neither the Centre nor any government of a BJP-ruled state has shown any discrimination towards any caste or religion," he said.

He claimed that in Kerala, there was discrimination based on religion, and this was seen in Munambam and when there was an attack on the Pala Bishop.

Each time, it was the BJP that stood up for secularism, he further claimed.

BJP's Inclusive Politics

Suresh further contended that the BJP has more Christian members than other political organisations and thousands of people from the Muslim community have also expressed their interest in working for the party.

"BJP does not have a communal stand. It is an inclusive political party," he said.

Shone has alleged that the newspaper had taken a position favouring the Congress-led UDF in the run-up to the Assembly elections, and asserted that the Church had no moral obligation to safeguard the interests of the daily's investors.

George criticised certain Catholic bishops, alleging that they supported the opposition UDF in the polls. He also claimed that a bishop of the Kanjirapally diocese had directed nuns to vote for the front.
Ramesh Chennithala, a senior Congress leader, strongly condemns the BJP's alleged attempts to intimidate church leaders in Kerala, asserting that such tactics to influence the Christian community will not be tolerated.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala accuses the BJP of attempting to intimidate church leaders in Kerala to garner support.

Chennithala criticises BJP leader P C George's remarks against bishops and defends the church's right to express its views.

The Congress alleges the BJP only shows interest in the Christian community during Christmas, while attacking them and their institutions at other times.

Concerns are raised over the FCRA amendment bill and its potential impact on churches in Kerala.

Chennithala urges the BJP to reject statements made by its leaders if they were made without the party's knowledge.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday alleged that the BJP was trying to intimidate bishops and church leaders to make them support it, and said that such tactics will not work in Kerala.

Chennithala was referring to the critical remarks made by BJP leader P C George and his son Shone George against certain bishops over their reported stance during the April 9 Assembly polls.

He said that church leadership has the right to express its views, and that attempts to intimidate them into changing their stand will not be accepted in Kerala.

"The politics of intimidation will not work in Kerala. No party has adopted that stand in the state," he said.

He claimed that P C George's statements made a day earlier were aimed at intimidating the church leadership.

"Such statements are not acceptable in a democracy. Insulting a church-supported Malayalam daily and attacking bishops is not the correct move. It is unfortunate. Everyone knows the atrocities committed by the BJP against the Christian community in North India," Chennithala contended.

He alleged that the BJP visits churches and Christian homes with cakes during Christmas, but during the rest of the time, it and the Sangh Parivar attack Christians and their institutions.

"So, the BJP is mistaken if it thinks it can control the church and the Christian community through intimidation. This kind of attitude will not be permitted in Kerala. People here will not allow it," he said.

Chennithala further said that church leadership has every right to express its views and guide the laity in the correct direction, and they cannot be intimidated for doing so.

"If such statements were made without the knowledge of the BJP leadership, the party should reject them," he said.

Controversy Over Church Support in Assembly Polls

On Friday, P C George criticised certain Catholic bishops, alleging that they supported the opposition UDF in the polls. He also claimed that a bishop of the Kanjirapally diocese had directed nuns to vote for the front.

Shone, who contested from Pala, echoed similar allegations, stating that despite the BJP supporting church-related concerns, the party had not received reciprocal backing.

George further said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had assured that the proposed FCRA amendments would not create difficulties and would only require disclosure of foreign funding details.

"Those bishops who speak on politics will be seen as politicians by us. We will deal with them politically. We will not respect them," he had said.

Concerns Regarding FCRA Amendment Bill

On concerns raised by sections of the Christian community over the FCRA amendment bill, he said, "Let them keep their concerns to themselves. The bill will be passed."

Churches in Kerala have expressed opposition to the proposed amendments, which were introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25.

The Centre has maintained that the changes aim to enhance transparency and ensure proper utilisation of foreign funds, while also preventing misuse for activities such as forced religious conversions.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the legislation seeks to strengthen accountability in the use of foreign contributions.
A tragic bus accident in Odisha's Koraput district has left one dead and 20 injured after the vehicle plunged into a gorge, prompting investigations into the cause of the crash and raising concerns about road safety.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A state-run bus plunged into a gorge in Odisha's Koraput district, resulting in one death and 20 injuries.

The Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) bus was travelling from Bhawanipatna to Visakhapatnam when the accident occurred in the Sunki ghat section.

Initial reports suggest the driver may have fallen asleep, leading to the bus veering off the road at a sharp bend.

Rescue operations were conducted by fire personnel, and the injured were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Police are investigating the cause of the bus accident to determine the factors that contributed to the deadly incident.

At least one person was killed and 20 others were injured after a state-run bus carrying them plunged into a gorge in Odisha's Koraput district on Saturday, police said.

The accident took place in Sunki ghat section in Pottangi block in the early hours.

The Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) bus was en route to Visakhapatnam in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh from Bhawanipatna when the accident took place around 2 am near Panasamanagudi village.

"The bus veered off NH-26 at a sharp bend and plunged nearly 40 feet down the ghat road, overturning in the process. Due to the impact, passengers were thrown inside the vehicle, while one passenger got trapped under the bus," Sunki police station inspector-in-charge Chatrubhuja Nayak said.

"Fire personnel from Jeypore and Semiliguda joined in the rescue operation," he added.

The deceased has been identified as Jambab Bihari (40), who hailed from Balagaon village in Kalampur block of Kalahandi district.

He was rescued in a critical condition and admitted to the Pottangi Community Health Centre, where he died during treatment, police said.

Four critically injured passengers were shifted to Koraput Medical College and Hospital after primary treatment, while two others were taken to Visakhapatnam through private arrangements.

A passenger, Bhagirathi Bag, who was seated in the front row, said, "The accident occurred because the driver apparently dozed off."

"An investigation is underway into the accident," the police officer said.
A Class XII student's tragic suicide in Beed district, driven by exam stress, underscores the urgent need to address mental health and academic pressure among teenagers.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A Class XII student in Beed district allegedly committed suicide, highlighting the severe impact of exam stress on young individuals.

The student's suicide note indicated that exam pressure was a significant factor in her decision.

The incident occurred in Ambajogai, where the student resided with her younger brother and grandmother while her father worked in Pune.

Police are conducting further investigations into the circumstances surrounding the student's death to understand the contributing factors.

A Class XII student allegedly committed suicide in Beed district, a police official said on Saturday.

The incident took place at Ambajogai town on Friday night.

"Poonam Meghraj Dahiphale (17), originally from Umrewadi in Dharur tehsil, was under exam stress as per her suicide note. She was living here with her younger brother and grandmother, while her father stays and works in Pune," the Ambajogai police station official said.

Further probe is underway, he added.
Amid US-Iran talks in Pakistan, the Congress party is questioning the Modi government's diplomatic strategy and its failure to isolate Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack, raising concerns about India's global standing.

IMAGE: A Pakistani official stands during the arrival of the US Vice President JD Vance for talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/Reuters

Key Points Congress questions the government's failure to prevent the US from assigning Pakistan a mediator role between Iran and the US, despite India's efforts to isolate Pakistan after the April 2025 Pahalgam attack.

Jairam Ramesh criticises the government's 'huglomacy' and questions how Pakistan secured this role despite its alleged involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack.

Congress highlights the contrast with the Manmohan Singh government's successful isolation of Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

The party questions India's gains from trade deals with the US and its lack of peace initiatives within BRICS+ regarding the Iran-US conflict.

Congress expresses concern over India's relationship with China and its potential impact on Pakistan's actions.

The Congress on Saturday questioned the government's "failure" to prevent Washington from according Islamabad the role of a mediator between the two warring countries despite New Delhi's diplomatic outreach to isolate it following the April 2025 Pahalgam attack.

This raises serious questions about "the self-declared Vishwaguru's huglomacy", said Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh, alluding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Congress leader's remarks came shortly before US Vice President J D Vance arrived in Pakistan to hold crucial talks with an Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf aimed at ending the conflict in West Asia.

In a post on X, Ramesh said the US-Iran meeting is beginning today in Islamabad and the entire world, including India, is hoping that this is the beginning of a durable peace process between the two countries "that will not get derailed by Israel's continuing aggression in its neighbourhood".

Concerns Over Pakistan's Role and India's Diplomatic Strategy

"But serious questions about the substance and style of the self-declared Vishwaguru's huglomacy arise - How has Pakistan managed to carve out a new role for itself despite its role in the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack of April 2025 and the diplomatic engagement India mounted to isolate it following the attacks?" he asked.

"This failure is especially damming because the Dr Manmohan Singh Government had very effectively isolated Pakistan after the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008," he said.

Ramesh further asked, "How has India allowed the US to accord Pakistan this new role even after the Namaste Trump, Howdy Modi, and Phir Ek Baar Trump Sarkar campaigns of Mr. Modi and his cheerleaders?"

He alleged that India also agreed to a "very clearly one-sided" trade deal where it gave much more than what it got and yet the Modi government failed to gain any leverage with the US.

"Why didn't India as the current President of BRICS+ launch any peace or mediation initiative -- especially since Iran, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia are members of the BRICs+?

"What has India gained from its calibrated capitulation to China in the past eighteen months -- especially in view of China's pivotal role in Pakistan's response to Operation Sindoor and its continued propping up of Pakistan?" the Congress leader asked.

Peace in West Asia must return quickly, Ramesh said.

"The Strait of Hormuz must once again revert to the situation that prevailed before the US-Israel assault on Iran began on Feb 28th - a mere two days after Mr. Modi had completed a most ill-advised and ill-timed visit to Israel," he said.

The US-Iran talks are taking place amid a two-week halt in the war, which began with Washington and Tel Aviv launching attacks on the Islamic Republic on February 28.

The war has caused oil prices to spiral due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route through which 20 per cent of the world's energy is transported.
Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo  SABESP (NYSE:SBS) is among the 11 most profitable stocks in each sector so far in 2026. As of March 6, Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo  SABESP (NYSE:SBS) is a consensus buy among 93% of the analysts covering the stock. The 1-year median price target of $31.08 reflects an upside potential of mere 2.68%. On March 19, Jefferies started coverage with a Buy rating and a price target of $36.60, being one of the firms bullish on the company.

The firm believes that Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo  SABESP (NYSE:SBS) has the potential to enhance operational efficiency and accelerate water and sewage coverage under favorable regulatory conditions. That said, Jefferies expects the companys regulatory asset base to climb 70% by 2029.

11 Oversold Mid-Cap Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds

A stock market chart. Photo by Arturo A on Pexels

As stated by analyst Alejandro Demichelis,

We launch on Brazils largest water utility Sabesp at Buy with a US$36.6/BRL190 PT. While the stock has performed well YTD, to us the market still under-appreciates its scope to ramp up operational efficiencies and water/sewage coverage under supportive regulation.

Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo  SABESP (NYSE:SBS) is a Brazilian company that provides basic and environmental sanitation services. Founded in 1954, the company offers treated water and sewage services.

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A crude bomb explosion at a West Bengal school has heightened political tensions ahead of the upcoming elections, prompting investigations and accusations between political parties.

Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points A crude bomb exploded on the rooftop of a school in Nadia district, West Bengal, causing concern ahead of state elections.

The explosion occurred after school hours, with no reported casualties, but prompted immediate investigation by local authorities.

Political parties, including TMC and BJP, are trading accusations regarding the planting of the explosives, escalating pre-election tensions.

The Election Commission is investigating the incident to ensure fair and peaceful elections in the Kalyani constituency.

A crude bomb exploded on the rooftop of a school building in Nadia district of poll-bound West Bengal on Saturday, police said.

No casualties were reported in the incident that happened at Ghordagacha Madhyamik Shiksha Kendra in the Saguna panchayat area in the Kalyani assembly constituency, they said.

The blast took place shortly after school hours, when students had left the premises following an examination. A few teachers and non-teaching staff were still present when the loud explosion was heard from the rooftop, they added.

Teachers rushed upstairs and found that a crude bomb had gone off, while another unexploded device was lying nearby. Police were immediately informed.

Investigation and Response

Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Kalyani, Pritam Saha, said an investigation is underway.

Election Commission general observer for Kalyani, P Siva Sankar, visited the spot for inspection, accompanied by security forces.

Political Reactions

The TMC accused BJP workers of planting the explosives to trigger unrest ahead of the polls, while the BJP denied the allegation and blamed the ruling party.

West Bengal will vote in two phases, on April 23 and 29. The votes will be counted on May 4.
Delhi Police have successfully apprehended three suspects involved in a brazen daylight robbery in Hari Nagar, West Delhi, using advanced surveillance techniques and local intelligence.

Key Points Three individuals have been arrested for their involvement in a daylight armed robbery in Delhi's Hari Nagar.

The suspects were identified using CCTV footage and technical surveillance despite attempts to conceal their identities.

Police recovered the stolen gold 'kada', cash, and weapons used during the robbery.

One of the arrested individuals, Aman Raj, has a history of involvement in multiple criminal cases, including robbery and assault.

The investigation is ongoing to uncover further details related to the armed robbery case in Delhi.

Police arrested three people for their alleged involvement in a daylight armed robbery in west Delhi's Hari Nagar area, an official said on Saturday.

The incident took place on April 4 when three masked men, armed with knives, robbed a man. Police recovered the looted gold 'kada', cash and weapons used in the crime.

A team was formed after registering a case. The team analysed footage from over 200 CCTV cameras installed in and around the area and tracked the movement of the accused before and after the incident.

Investigation and Arrests

"Despite the accused concealing their identities and using a motorcycle with an obscured registration number, police relied on technical surveillance and local intelligence to identify them," a senior officer said.

Subsequently, raids were conducted at multiple locations across Delhi, leading to the arrest of three accused -- Om Karan alias Golu (22), Aman Raj (35) and Krish alias Krishna (19), he said.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to their involvement in the crime.

"Aman Raj was found to be involved in multiple criminal cases, including robbery and assault. Further investigation is underway, the officer said.
A 22-year-old man in Bhubaneswar has been arrested for suspected terror links after Delhi Police uncovered radical social media activity, highlighting the growing concern of online radicalisation.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A 22-year-old man, Sheikh Imran, was arrested in Bhubaneswar for suspected links to a terror outfit.

The arrest was made by a joint team of Odisha and Delhi Police following an investigation into social media activity.

Imran was allegedly an active member of a radical group and in contact with others sharing extremist content online.

Authorities seized a mobile phone, laptop, and other materials from Imran's possession as part of the investigation.

Delhi Police have arrested a 22-year-old man from Bhubaneswar for suspected links with a terror outfit, an official statement said on Saturday.

The accused, identified as Sheikh Imran, a resident of Unit-6 area in Ganga Nagar locality, was arrested by a joint team of Odisha and Delhi Police on Friday for his alleged connection with anti-national activities, it said.

Imran came under the police scanner after a special cell of the Delhi Police picked up some youths in the national capital a week ago and scrutinised their social media posts, the statement said.

On the basis of interrogation of the youths and analysis of their social media posts, an Odisha link was found, and Sheikh Imran was apprehended, it said.

Investigation Details

During further interrogation, it was found that Imran, an unemployed youth, was an active member of the radical group, it said.

Imran had come in contact with a closed group on social media, where radical religious content detrimental to national security was being shared, the statement said.

He was produced before the Bhubaneswar Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate Court and taken on a transit remand to the national capital.

A mobile phone, a laptop and other materials were seized from Imran's possession.
Delhi Police have successfully apprehended three individuals involved in a Rs 10 lakh online investment fraud, highlighting the growing threat of stock market scams and the importance of vigilance.

IMAGE: Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Key Points Delhi Police arrest three individuals for their involvement in a Rs 10 lakh online investment fraud.

The complainant was lured into investing with promises of high returns in the stock market through a social media group.

The accused used mule bank accounts to receive and transfer the defrauded money.

Part of the defrauded amount was traced to a bank account operated from Rohini, leading to the arrests in Vijay Vihar.

The Delhi Police has arrested three people for their alleged involvement in a Rs 10 lakh online investment fraud, an official said on Saturday.

The case was registered on February 2 this year based on a complaint by Amit Kumar Jain, a resident of Subash Park in Shahdara, who alleged that unknown people duped him on the pretext of high returns from stock market investments.

Police said the complainant was added to a social media group in December 2025, where he was persuaded to invest money with assurances of guaranteed profits. Trusting the claims, he transferred Rs 10 lakh.

However, after receiving the money, the accused stopped communicating and blocked him.

Investigation and Arrests

During the investigation, police found that part of the defrauded amount had been routed through a bank account operated from Rohini.

Acting on this input, they raided a place in Vijay Vihar and apprehended three accused, Sumit (26), Sandeep (42) and Kamal Kumar (41).

"Interrogation confirmed that the accused operated mule bank accounts used to receive and transfer cheated money," a senior police officer said. Further investigation is underway, police added.
Delhi Police have successfully dismantled a major interstate cyber fraud network, arresting three individuals connected to digital arrest and investment scams that swindled victims out of over Rs 80 lakh.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police busted an interstate cyber fraud network involving digital arrest and investment scams.

Three individuals were arrested for their involvement in defrauding victims of over Rs 80 lakh.

Fraudsters posed as law enforcement officials to coerce victims into transferring money in digital arrest scams.

Accused individuals arranged mule accounts to route cheated money and evade detection.

A fake firm and bank account were used to collect money from victims through fake trading schemes.

The Delhi Police has busted an interstate cyber fraud network and arrested three people in connection with separate cases of digital arrest and investment frauds scams involving over Rs 80 lakh, an official said on Saturday.

Digital Arrest Scam Busted

In the first case, a fraud of Rs 47.74 lakh was reported in February, where the victim was duped by fraudsters posing as law enforcement officials. The accused threatened the victim with a digital arrest and coerced him into transferring money.

During the investigation, police traced Rs 18.74 lakh to a bank account in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh. Based on technical surveillance and financial trail analysis, Gautam Singh (25) was arrested on April 8.

He had provided his bank account and SIM card to co-accused Farhan for Rs 15,000, police said.

Farhan (30) was later apprehended from Noida for arranging mule accounts used to route the cheated money. Transactions were conducted remotely using unregistered mobile numbers to evade detection, police said.

Online Investment Fraud Uncovered

In a separate case, the crime branch arrested Ankush, a resident of Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, for his involvement in a Rs 35 lakh online investment fraud.

"The accused opened a fake firm and bank account, which was used to route money collected from victims lured through fake trading schemes," a police officer said.

The account was found linked to multiple cyber fraud cases, indicating a wider interstate network. Two mobile phones and bank account kits have been recovered from the accused, police said.

Further investigation in both cases is underway, police added.
Delhi Police have successfully dismantled a cyber fraud ring, arresting 14 individuals involved in providing mule bank accounts used to facilitate online investment and job scams, highlighting the growing threat of financial cybercrime.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police busted a cyber fraud syndicate involved in providing mule bank accounts for online scams.

Fourteen individuals were arrested in Delhi-NCR for supplying bank accounts, SIM cards, and ATM cards to fraudsters.

The syndicate used a gaming application to launder money obtained through fake investment schemes and online job scams.

A key operational office was discovered in Laxmi Nagar, revealing a gaming-based call centre used for fraudulent activities.

The investigation is ongoing to identify the mastermind and other individuals involved in the cyber fraud network.

Delhi Police busted a cyber fraud syndicate allegedly involved in providing mule bank accounts and arrested 14 people from multiple locations, an official said on Saturday.

The operation was carried out following an analysis of suspicious bank accounts linked to fraud cases, he said.

The accused were allegedly involved in supplying bank accounts, SIM cards and ATM cards to fraudsters running fake investment schemes and online job scams, police said, adding that the cheated money was routed through these accounts and siphoned off using a gaming application to conceal its trail.

"During technical surveillance and raids in Delhi-NCR, the syndicate members were identified and apprehended," a senior police officer said.

The investigation revealed that the gang operated through social media platforms, luring people with commissions in exchange for opening or providing bank accounts, which were later used for laundering the proceeds of fraud.

Key Operational Office Uncovered

A key operational office of the syndicate was unearthed in east Delhi's Laxmi Nagar, where several accused were allegedly running a gaming-based call centre, the police said.

Rs 79,000 cash, 28 mobile phones, 17 passbooks, three laptops and 23 ATM cards were allegedly recovered from their possession, the police said, adding that further investigation is underway to trace the mastermind and other links.
Delhi Police successfully dismantled a major interstate narcotics syndicate operating between Bihar and Delhi, leading to the arrest of the alleged kingpin and uncovering a well-organised drug trafficking network.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points An interstate narcotics syndicate operating between Bihar and Delhi has been busted by Delhi Police.

The alleged main supplier of the drug syndicate was arrested in Madhepura, Bihar.

The investigation began after the arrest of an individual consuming smack in Delhi.

Police recovered over eight kg of cannabis and 10 grams of heroin during the operation.

The syndicate was procuring cannabis from Bihar for Rs 5,000-6,000 per kg and selling it in Delhi for Rs 12,000-13,000 per kg.

An interstate narcotics syndicate operating between Bihar and Delhi was busted, with the arrest of its alleged main supplier from Bihar's Madhepura, an official said on Saturday.

The breakthrough came during the investigation of a case registered on March 24 at Hauz Qazi police station, when a man identified as Mohammad Ali was apprehended while allegedly consuming smack during routine patrolling.

During the interrogation, Ali disclosed that he had procured the contraband from a supplier identified as Sonu, who operated near Paharganj. "Acting on this lead, police launched a sustained operation to unravel the supply chain," the officer said.

Based on inputs, three people -- Binod Kumar, Sonu Kumar Mandal and Sanjit Kumar -- were arrested from the Todapur area on March 27. Police recovered over eight kg of cannabis and 10 grams of heroin from their possession, they said.

Further investigation revealed that the contraband was being sourced both from Delhi and Bihar. Acting on this, police conducted a raid in Raghubir Nagar and arrested another person, Surender Prasad, recovering 10.66 grams of heroin from him.

Inside the Narcotics Operation

"During interrogation, the accused revealed that cannabis was being procured from Bihar at a rate of Rs 5,000-6,000 per kg and sold in Delhi for Rs 12,000-13,000 per kg, indicating a well-organised interstate network," the officer said.

To trace the main supplier, a police team travelled to Bihar's Madhepura and apprehended the alleged kingpin, Banti Kumar alias Lallan Sah, 24, on Monday.

Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the syndicate, police added.
After 35 years, the Delhi Police have finally cracked a cold case, arresting a man accused of murdering his landlady during a 1991 robbery attempt in Trilok Puri.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police solve a 35-year-old murder case from 1991, arresting Chhavi Lal Verma for the death of his landlady during a robbery.

The accused, Chhavi Lal Verma, evaded arrest for decades by changing his identity and location across multiple cities.

The breakthrough came when the Crime Branch reopened the case, using technical surveillance and field intelligence to track Verma down in Ludhiana.

Verma confessed to the crime, admitting that he targeted the landlady for robbery, believing she had substantial cash reserves.

The case highlights the Delhi Police's commitment to resolving even decades-old cold cases, bringing closure to victims and their families.

The Delhi Police cracked a 35-year-old murder case with the arrest of a proclaimed offender who allegedly killed his landlady and injured her son in a robbery case in 1991, an official said on Saturday.

The accused, identified as Chhavi Lal Verma. Police said that he deliberately avoided returning to his native place for years to evade arrest and also skipped major family events, including his children's marriages.

"The case dates back to August 2, 1991, when a PCR call was received regarding a violent incident at West Vinod Nagar. A police team rushed to the spot and found the woman lying unconscious with multiple stab injuries on her neck, while her son, aged around 18-20 years at the time, had sustained stab wounds on his face," the police officer said.

Both victims were shifted to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, where the woman succumbed to her injuries, while her son survived after treatment.

During the investigation, it emerged that Verma, aged around 25 at the time of the incident, was a tenant in the victim's house in east Delhi's Trilok Puri area. He had attacked the duo with a sharp-edged weapon, police said.

Police said he targeted the woman with the intention of robbery, believing that she possessed substantial cash as her husband was residing abroad.

"When the landlady and her son resisted, he attacked them repeatedly with a chopper and fled," the officer said.

Following the incident, Verma went into hiding and managed to evade arrest despite efforts by the local police. He was eventually declared a proclaimed offender by a Delhi court on May 10, 1996.

"The case remained pending for decades, with the accused successfully staying under the radar by constantly changing his identity and location," the officer said.

Breakthrough in the Cold Case

The breakthrough came when a team from the Crime Branch reopened the case and began fresh efforts to trace the accused. A dedicated team was tasked with tracking him down.

Over the past six months, the team worked meticulously, combining technical surveillance with field intelligence.

"Officers revisited old case records, tracked down past associates and conducted extensive inquiries in the accused's native village in Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh as well as other locations linked to his relatives," the officer said.

Despite multiple leads turning cold, the team persisted and developed fresh inputs regarding his possible whereabouts.

He is learnt to have moved across several cities, including Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur and Goa, before eventually settling in Punjab. During this period, he frequently changed jobs and identities, working in low-profile roles to avoid attracting attention.

Arrest and Confession

"Based on credible intelligence, the team finally traced his presence to Ludhiana. A raiding team was immediately dispatched, and after sustained local verification and surveillance, Verma was apprehended on April 10," the officer said.

At the time of his arrest, he was working as a security guard at a commercial establishment in Ludhiana, police said.

During interrogation, Verma confessed to the crime and revealed that financial motive was the primary reason behind the attack. He admitted that he had planned the robbery after assuming that his landlady had significant cash reserves.

"His plan turned violent when the victims resisted, leading to the death and attempted murder," the officer said.

Police said Verma managed to evade arrest for over three decades by living a highly cautious life, avoiding any contact that could expose his identity, and continuously relocating across states.

"Following his arrest, the Crime Branch informed the concerned police station in Trilok Puri for further legal proceedings. Further investigation into the matter is underway," the officer said.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into the West Bengal school jobs scam by raiding the residence of former education minister Partha Chatterjee, who was previously arrested and later released on bail in connection with the case.

Key Points ED officials raided the Kolkata residence of former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee in connection with the school jobs recruitment scam.

Partha Chatterjee was previously arrested in July 2022 and spent over three years in custody before being released on bail in November 2025.

The investigation stems from ED raids in 2022 that uncovered over Rs 50 crore in cash and gold jewellery at Chatterjee's residence and the premises of his associate, Arpita Mukherjee.

Chatterjee is accused of being the 'mastermind' behind the illegal appointment of teachers and non-teaching staff in government-aided schools during his tenure as education minister.

Following his arrest, Chatterjee was removed from his cabinet positions and suspended from the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

ED officials on Saturday visited the residence of former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee in Kolkata in connection with the school jobs recruitment scam, sources said.

A team of ED officials reached Chatterjee's house in Naktala area around 10.45 am after central forces cordoned off the premises, they said.

Chatterjee was released on bail on November 11, 2025, after spending over three years (39 months) in custody following his arrest by the ED on July 23, 2022, in connection with the scam.

The team conducted a search at his residence and questioned him, an ED official said, adding that Chatterjee did not attend an earlier summons after his release on bail.

He had secured bail from the Supreme Court in the CBI-probed case in August 2025 and subsequently in other related cases before being released from judicial custody after completing formalities.

He had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kolkata before his release.

Background of the School Jobs Scam Investigation

The investigation began with ED raids on July 22-23, 2022, at his Naktala residence and the premises of his close associate, Arpita Mukherjee.

During these raids, over Rs 50 crore in cash and gold jewellery were seized, and both Chatterjee and Mukherjee were arrested.

Chatterjee was accused of being the "mastermind" in a multi-crore scam involving illegal appointments of teachers and non-teaching staff (Group C & D) in government-aided schools while serving as the state's education minister.

His bail conditions included surrendering his passport and not leaving the jurisdiction of the trial court.

Following the arrest, he was stripped of his cabinet portfolios and suspended from the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

He was not renominated from his Behala Paschim seat for the 2026 Assembly polls by the TMC, from where he was the sitting MLA for four terms since 2006.
The Enforcement Directorate has launched fresh searches targeting ex-minister Partha Chatterjee in connection with the West Bengal teachers' recruitment scam, intensifying the money laundering investigation.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted new searches related to the West Bengal teachers' recruitment scam.

Former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee is under investigation for alleged money laundering in connection with the scam.

The raids targeted multiple locations, including Chatterjee's residence and the residence of Prasanna Kumar Roy, an alleged middleman.

Chatterjee was previously arrested in July 2022 and recently granted conditional bail by the Supreme Court.

The ED is investigating multiple cases against Chatterjee related to various teacher and staff recruitments.

The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday conducted fresh searches against former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee and some others as part of a money laundering investigation into an alleged teachers recruitment scam in the state, officials said.

Two premises, including the residence of Chatterjee and that of Prasanna Kumar Roy, a jailed alleged middleman in the said case, in Kolkata, are among the premises covered, they said.

The suspended TMC leader, Chatterjee, once served as the party's secretary-general and a key strategist even before the party's rise to power in 2011.

The action was undertaken after Chatterjee failed to depose for questioning before the ED three times in the alleged scam of recruitment of West Bengal Central School Service Commission (SSC) assistant teacher for Classes IX to XII, the officials said.

The ED arrested Chatterjee in the alleged primary teachers recruitment scam in July 2022.

The Supreme Court granted him conditional bail in this case recently, and he came out of jail.

The federal probe agency is probing multiple cases against him related to the recruitment of primary teachers, SSC assistant teachers and SSC group C and D staff hiring.
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Are your clients tired of paying high premiums on a life insurance policy that no longer offers what they need?

Dont just let it lapse: It may be worth more than they realize. Life settlements, or selling policies to third parties, offer holders a chance at a higher return than they might get from simply surrendering them. There are many reasons to sell a life insurance policy, according to Bryan Nicholson, executive director of the Life Insurance Settlement Association, from bolstering retirement income to covering the cost of long-term care. There are likewise reasons to be cautious when weighing options, especially if clients experience aggressive sales tactics. Whats clear is that financial advisors with knowledge of the life settlement process can help see them through.

From our experience, its worked out well in the right situations, agreed Joon Um, advisor at Secure Tax and Accounting in Beverly Hills. It can be a bit involved with underwriting, life expectancy reviews and multiple offers, so its not always quick.

Sign up for The Daily Upside at no cost for premium analysis on all your favorite stocks.

READ ALSO: How Are Private Markets Supposed to Fit into DC Plans? and Retirement Income Planning Is Now a Global Challenge

Life Settlement Pros and Cons

Before the emergence of the modern life settlement market (which is an interesting story in itself), individuals had to surrender their policies or wait for them to lapse in order to get out. Today, they can solicit cash bids on their policies from institutional buyers who analyze factors like the insureds age, health and policy premiums to submit competing offers. The process frequently results in a payout greater than the policys cash surrender value.

According to 2024 market data from the Life Insurance Settlement Association, sellers received a multiple of 6.5-times the cash surrender value, Nicholson said. The data also found:

The average individual payout was $222,807.

In aggregate, sellers were paid $511 million more than they would have received by simply surrendering or lapsing their policies.

The main things to watch are taxes, fees and making sure the client is fully comfortable giving up the policy, Um told Retirement Upside. In some cases, keeping or restructuring the policy makes more sense, so its important to have an open mind. Overall, it can be a good option, but very case-by-case, Um said.

A Missed Opportunity. While not everyone will be well-served by life settlements, Nicholson said, significant benefits are being overlooked: Each year, roughly $50 billion in policies that could qualify for life settlements are instead lapsed or surrendered. This happens most often because the policyholder was simply never told another option existed.
Wanted gangster Sahil Chauhan, subject to an Interpol Red Notice and wanted in multiple cases, has been successfully deported from Thailand to India, marking a significant victory for Indian law enforcement.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Gangster Sahil Chauhan, wanted in multiple Indian states and subject to an Interpol Red Notice, has been deported from Thailand.

Chauhan, associated with the Bhuppi Rana and Bambiha gangs, faces 16 criminal cases including murder and dacoity.

Haryana Police collaborated with the CBI, Ministry of External Affairs, and Ministry of Home Affairs to secure Chauhan's deportation.

Chauhan previously fled India using a fake passport and attempted to travel to Portugal.

This is the fifth deportation secured by Haryana Police this year, highlighting ongoing efforts to apprehend wanted criminals.

Gangster Sahil Chauhan, wanted in multiple cases in different states and facing an Interpol Red Notice, was deported from Thailand, officials said on Saturday.

Several other gangsters, including Rao Indrajit Yadav, have been detained in Dubai and other countries. Their paperwork is being processed, and extradition is underway, Haryana Police's STF IG B Satheesh Balan said.

Chauhan was located in Bangkok by the Central Bureau of Investigation using Interpol channels and was brought back to Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday morning, from where the Haryana Police's STF took him to Bhondsi headquarters in Gurugram, the officials said.

"The CBI, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, has successfully coordinated the return of wanted fugitive Sahil Chauhan from Thailand on April 10," a statement from the CBI said.

Chauhan, a resident of Ambala's Shahzadpur, committed his first crime in 2016 and was wanted in 16 criminal cases involving murder, attempt to murder, dacoity and the use of illegal firearms. Haryana Police requested the CBI to issue a red notice against him, it said.

Gang Affiliations and Criminal History

Chauhan, a key member of Bhuppi Rana Gang and Bambiha Gang, operated in Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh areas. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for firing upon rival gangster Monu Rana in Jagadhari court on January 4, 2017. However, after being released on bail, he fled to Bengaluru, Balan said.

He was also associated with Gurugram's Kaushal Chaudhary gang.

Fleeing the Country and Apprehension

In 2024, using a fake passport, he fled abroad from Bengaluru. He then travelled to various countries for two years, and reached Thailand, a few days ago, the IG said.

He was trying to renew his father's passport, as his father was due for dialysis. He wanted to take his father to Thailand. Meanwhile, the STF learned about his presence there, Balan said.

He also attempted to travel to Portugal via the donkey route. His passport was made at an address in Bengaluru, which was impounded on March 17, he added.

This is the fifth deportation secured by Haryana Police in 2026. Earlier, Ankit Shokeen, Aman Bhainswal, Sombir Motta and Shilu Dahar have been deported this year, Balan said.
Wanted gangster Sahil Chauhan, subject to an Interpol Red Notice, has been deported from Thailand to India, marking a significant victory in the ongoing crackdown on organised crime and fugitive criminals.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Gangster Sahil Chauhan, wanted in multiple criminal cases, has been deported from Thailand to India.

Chauhan was located in Bangkok through Interpol channels and brought back to India by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

He is a key member of the Bhuppi Rana and Bambiha gangs, operating in Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh.

Haryana Police have secured five deportations of wanted criminals in 2024, demonstrating a crackdown on organised crime.

Chauhan previously fled India using a fake passport and attempted to travel to Portugal before being apprehended in Thailand.

Gangster Sahil Chauhan, wanted in multiple cases in different states and facing an Interpol Red Notice, was deported from Thailand, officials said on Saturday.

Several other gangsters, including Rao Indrajit Yadav, have been detained in Dubai and other countries. Their paperwork is being processed, and extradition is underway, Haryana Police's STF IG B Satheesh Balan said.

Chauhan was located in Bangkok by the Central Bureau of Investigation using Interpol channels and was brought back to Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday morning, from where the Haryana Police's STF took him to Bhondsi headquarters in Gurugram, the officials said.

"The CBI, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, has successfully coordinated the return of wanted fugitive Sahil Chauhan from Thailand on April 10," a statement from the CBI said.

Chauhan, a resident of Ambala's Shahzadpur, committed his first crime in 2016 and was wanted in 16 criminal cases involving murder, attempt to murder, dacoity and the use of illegal firearms. Haryana Police requested the CBI to issue a red notice against him, it said.

Gang Activity and Escape

Chauhan, a key member of Bhuppi Rana Gang and Bambiha Gang, operated in Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh areas. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for firing upon rival gangster Monu Rana in Jagadhari court on January 4, 2017. However, after being released on bail, he fled to Bengaluru, Balan said.

He was also associated with Gurugram's Kaushal Chaudhary gang.

In 2024, using a fake passport, he fled abroad from Bengaluru. He then travelled to various countries for two years, and reached Thailand, a few days ago, the IG said.

He was trying to renew his father's passport, as his father was due for dialysis. He wanted to take his father to Thailand. Meanwhile, the STF learned about his presence there, Balan said.

He also attempted to travel to Portugal via the donkey route. His passport was made at an address in Bengaluru, which was impounded on March 17, he added.

This is the fifth deportation secured by Haryana Police in 2024. Earlier, Ankit Shokeen, Aman Bhainswal, Sombir Motta and Shilu Dahar have been deported this year, Balan said.
Police in Ranchi are investigating the suspicious death of a 16-year-old domestic helper, with the official in whose house she resided under scrutiny after the girl was allegedly beaten to death.

Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points A 16-year-old domestic helper was allegedly beaten to death in Ranchi, Jharkhand, prompting a police investigation.

The victim's body showed signs of injury, suggesting she was beaten, according to the Ranchi Rural SP.

The official in whose house the girl worked is under suspicion, and his initial explanation of a bathroom fall is being questioned.

An FIR has been lodged based on the victim's family's statements, and a post-mortem examination is underway to determine the cause of death.

Police said a 16-year-old girl was allegedly beaten to death in Jharkhand's Ranchi district on Saturday.

The incident happened within the Kanke police station area, they said.

"The body of the victim has been sent for post-mortem examination at RIMS. Several injury marks have been found on the body of the girl. It appears she was beaten to death," Ranchi Rural SP Praveen Pushkar told PTI.

She was staying as a domestic help in an official's house in the Kanke area for the past four years, he said.

"In the preliminary investigation, the role of the official appears suspicious. The police will take further action based on the post-mortem report," the SP said.

Upon questioning, the accused official told police that the girl had died after she fell in the bathroom, he said.

The matter came to light when the accused officer went to hand over the girl's body to her family.

An FIR in this regard has been lodged based on the statements of the victim's family members, further investigation into the matter is underway.
A major loan fraud has been uncovered at a Prayagraj bank, where 16 individuals, including gold appraisers, are accused of using counterfeit gold to secure substantial loans.

Photograph: Kind courtesy anomalnaya/Pixabay

Key Points Sixteen individuals, including two gold appraisers, are booked for alleged loan fraud involving counterfeit gold at a Prayagraj bank.

The fraud was uncovered during a routine re-verification process, revealing that the gold pledged as collateral was fake.

Internal audits exposed the discrepancy after initial assessments by bank-approved appraisers verified the gold's authenticity.

Police have launched an investigation into the matter, involving individuals from Prayagraj and Bhadohi.

Sixteen individuals, including two gold appraisers, were booked for allegedly securing loans worth lakhs of rupees against counterfeit gold from a bank in Prayagraj, officials said on Saturday.

Civil Lines Station House Officer (SHO) Ramashray Yadav said that following a complaint by the Regional Head and General Manager of Canara Bank, Pankaj Verma, an FIR was lodged under Section 318 (4) (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on Friday.

According to the complaint, Vishnu Verma, a member of the bank's panel of gold appraisers, had initially verified the quality and purity of the gold pledged by the borrowers.

Based on his assessment, loans were sanctioned to 16 individuals. A second appraiser on the panel, Kaushal Kishore Verma, also reportedly submitted a verification report confirming the gold was genuine.

Discovery of the Fraud

The discrepancy came to light during a routine re-verification process mandated by bank guidelines. Internal audits conducted on July 3 and July 15, last year, by appraisers Sudhanshu Verma and Shiv Kumar Verma, respectively, revealed that the ornaments pledged were fake.

The names in the FIR include gold appraisers Vishnu Verma from Prayagraj and Kaushal Kishore from Sant Kabir Nagar. The other 14 accused consist of five individuals from Bhadohi and nine from Prayagraj. Police have initiated a probe into the matter.
In Gujarat, a dry state, 18 individuals were arrested for allegedly violating alcohol prohibition laws at a party in Anand, highlighting ongoing efforts to enforce the ban.

Key Points 18 individuals were arrested in Anand, Gujarat for allegedly consuming alcohol at a private party.

The arrests occurred after a police raid on a farmhouse near Umeta, owned by Parikshit Mistry.

The individuals arrested include 15 men and 3 women, all residents of Vadodara and business partners.

Authorities seized beer cans, phones, and cars during the raid, indicating a planned event.

A case has been registered under the Prohibition Act, and efforts are underway to arrest the farmhouse owner and the alcohol supplier.

Eighteen persons were arrested for allegedly consuming liquor at a party in Anand in Gujarat, which is a dry state where manufacture, sale, storage and consumption of alcohol is prohibited.

They were held after a farmhouse owned by one Parikshit Mistry near Umeta here was raided on Friday night on a tip-off, leading to seizure of beer cans, phones and cars, Anklav police station inspector PJ Batva said.

"The arrested persons comprise 15 men, including owner Mistry's brother Dharmesh, and three women. They are residents of Vadodara and business partners. Efforts are on to arrest Mistry and the alcohol supplier," the official said.

A case was registered under Prohibition Act and medical examinations are underway to confirm alcohol consumption, he added.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has strongly criticised Congress leaders, urging them to focus on the governance and development in Congress-ruled states instead of targeting Haryana's progress and policies for farmers.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini challenges Congress to assess governance in their own states instead of criticising Haryana.

Saini highlights Rs 540.98 crore worth of development projects inaugurated in Charkhi Dadri.

The Haryana government claims significant development work in the region compared to the previous Congress rule.

Haryana government says it is committed to procuring all crops at MSP, criticising the opposition's claims.

Former CM Hooda accuses the Haryana government of imposing arbitrary conditions on crop purchases.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday said that Congress leaders should visit the party-governed states like Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana to assess whether their governments fulfilled electoral promises, instead of visiting 'anaj mandis' in the state to "mislead" farmers.

Addressing the Viksit Dadri rally, Saini said that while the opposition only indulges in levelling allegations, the Haryana government has a clear "report card" of development and fulfilment of its promises. He added that the government remains fully committed to fulfilling all promises made to the people under the double-engine governance model.

During the event, Saini inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 43 development projects worth Rs 540.98 crore at the 'Viksit Dadri' rally held at the vegetable market. These projects aim to strengthen infrastructure, improve the drinking water supply, expand the road network, and enhance public amenities in the district.

Describing Charkhi Dadri as a land of pride and bravery, the CM said the region has a glorious history of contribution in the 1857 freedom struggle, the national freedom movement, and the wars with China and Pakistan.

Development Initiatives in Charkhi Dadri

Over the last 11 years, 271 announcements have been made for the constituency, of which 201 have been completed and 58 are under implementation, he said.

Saini added that development work worth Rs 1,364.60 crore has been carried out in the region under the present government, compared to Rs 303.30 crore during the 10-year Congress rule.

The government is working with a focus on balanced regional development and aims to strengthen public trust through performance-based governance, said Saini.

Highlighting recent budget provisions, the CM said special initiatives have been included for Charkhi Dadri and other districts. These include provisions for farmers' access to mandi space for organic and natural produce, and construction of additional 100-bed blocks in district hospitals.

Controversy Over Crop Procurement

Saini said that Haryana is the first state in the country to procure all crops at MSP and criticised the opposition for attempting to "mislead" farmers by visiting mandis. He advised Congress leaders to evaluate governance in Congress-ruled states instead of making politically motivated visits to mandis in Haryana.

Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday accused the government of imposing "arbitrary" conditions on purchase of crops.

Leader of the Opposition Hooda alleged that the BJP government in Haryana continues to impose fresh conditions on farmers "with the intent of ensuring that the government does not have to procure crops."
A Maharashtra court has sentenced the mastermind of a major investment fraud to prison and ordered the auction of his assets to compensate hundreds of victims who were defrauded through schemes promising high returns.

Key Points Ramkrut Munshi Yadav, director of Simbak Agro Plantation, sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment for investment fraud.

The court ordered the auction of Yadav's seized properties to repay hundreds of defrauded investors under the MPID Act.

Yadav was found guilty of criminal breach of trust and violating the MPID Act for misappropriating investor funds.

The company shut down in 2002, leaving over 200 investors without their promised returns.

The Thane Collector has been instructed to auction the properties and distribute the proceeds to the investors within three months.

A special court in Maharashtra's Thane district has sentenced the mastermind of an investment fraud to three years of rigorous imprisonment, and ordered the government authorities to auction his seized properties to repay the money of hundreds of duped investors.

In an order passed on April 9, special court judge G T Pawar, hearing cases registered under the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (MPID) Act, also imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on the convict, Ramkrut Munshi Yadav, Director of Simbak Agro Plantation (India) Ltd.

The court found Yadav guilty of criminal breach of trust and violations of the MPID Act. However, it acquitted two other accused - Indira Subhas Yadav and Bindu Sudarshan Yadav - citing their resignation from the company and lack of evidence regarding their active involvement in daily transactions.

Details of the Investment Fraud

The case dates back to 1992 when the informant was allegedly lured by Ramkrut Yadav to invest in various schemes promising substantial returns, tax advantages and insurance. The victim became an agent, collecting money from the public for schemes ranging from daily savings and fixed deposits to "agro plantation" plans.

The prosecution established that the company suddenly shut its office in July 2002, leaving more than 200 investors in the lurch.

An offence was then registered against the trio with the Naupada police station in the city.

Court's Judgement and Directives

In its judgement, the court said, "The prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the accused floated the scheme and accepted deposits from various depositors. They misappropriated the funds entrusted to them and floated the scheme without obtaining permission from the RBI or SEBI".

"Since the deposits and liability are admitted, no further evidence is required for proof thereof...Their default in repaying the agreed returns is also proved, and they admitted receipt of deposits and liability to repay them," it said.

The court added, "The Competent Authority, that is Collector, Thane is hereby directed to take necessary steps for obtaining notification from the state government for auction sale of said properties and for distribution of sale proceeds to all investors of their invested amount along with interest as promised by accused."

The collector is required to report compliance within three months.

Special public prosecutor V G Kadu appeared for the prosecution, while Anil Joshi defended the accused.
Despite a ceasefire, the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked as Iran struggles to clear mines, causing global energy concerns and raising questions about the conflict's resolution.

IMAGE: Strait of Hormuz has been virtually shut since the beginning of the war. Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters

Key Points Iran is struggling to reopen the Strait of Hormuz due to its inability to locate and remove all the mines it laid during the recent conflict.

US officials report that Iran lacks the capability to effectively clear the mines it planted in the Strait of Hormuz.

The haphazard mining of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian authorities has complicated the mine-clearing process.

The US insists on the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a key condition for ending the war with Iran.

The continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused a surge in global oil and gas prices, impacting energy procurement.

According to a New York Times report, Iran is unable to locate all the mines it laid in the waterway to block passage during the war.

Citing US officials, the report says Iran lacks the capability to remove the mines it planted soon after the US and Israel began their offensive.

Iranian authorities mined the strait "haphazardly", US officials said, as reported by New York Times.

Iran placed both land and naval mines in the Hormuz to pressure the US and Gulf countries to end aggression on its soil.

Strait of Hormuz Remains Shut

The US wants the Strait reopened immediately, with President Donald Trump reiterating this as a key condition for ending the war.

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.

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.

Impact of the Strait of Hormuz Blockade

Global oil and gas prices had surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz. The move severely impacted energy supplies to countries around the world including India.

West Asia has been a major source of India's energy procurement.
An Iranian delegation brought images of victims from the Minab school attack to Islamabad for crucial talks with the US, highlighting the devastating impact of the strike.

Photograph: @mb_ghalibaf/X

Key Points Iranian delegation, led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, carries images of Minab school attack victims to Islamabad for US talks.

The 'Minab 168' aircraft pays tribute to the 168 people, mostly children, killed in the Minab school strike.

The US delegation, headed by Vice President J D Vance, is also en route to Islamabad for the crucial talks.

The Minab school was destroyed in a missile strike on February 28, resulting in heavy civilian casualties.

The Iranian delegation, led by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and accompanied by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, is scheduled to participate in the Islamabad Talks later in the day.

The US delegation, headed by Vice President J D Vance, was also en route to the Pakistani capital.

In a poignant gesture, images from the Iranian aircraft -- named 'Minab 168' -- showed seats filled with photographs and belongings of victims of the Minab school strike.

The aircraft pays tribute to 168 people killed in the attack, most of them children.

Sharing visuals from the flight on X, Ghalibaf wrote, 'My companions on this flight #Minab168.'

The Iranian Embassy in South Africa also shared Ghalibaf's post, saying, 'We will never forget the children of Minab, ever.'

Minab School Attack Details

On February 28, on the first day of US-Israeli strikes on Iran, a girls' elementary school in Minab, southern Iran was destroyed in a missile strike, resulting in heavy civilian casualties, including a large number of schoolchildren.
The Iranian delegation led by its Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, would participate in the Islamabad Talks slated to begin later Saturday, after the arrival of the US delegation led by Vice President J D Vance, which was on its way to Islamabad.

IMAGE: The Iranian delegation led by parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is welcomed by Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Asim Munir and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammad Ishaq Dar, as Pakistan prepares to host the US and Iran for peace talks, in Islamabad, on April 10, 2026. Photograph: Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Handout via Reuters

Key Points US and Iranian delegations are in Islamabad for talks mediated by Pakistan, aiming to resolve their ongoing conflict.

The talks follow a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Iran has stated that preconditions, including a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked assets, must be met before negotiations can begin.

The US delegation, led by Vice President J D Vance, has been given clear guidelines for the negotiations by President Trump.

The outcome of the Islamabad talks is expected to have significant implications for regional security, global energy markets, and international diplomacy.

An Iranian delegation landed in Islamabad in the wee hours of Saturday for talks with the United States, as the world keeps its fingers crossed for an agreement to end the conflict between the two sides.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while announcing a two-week ceasefire on Wednesday, had said that the US and Iran would hold talks in Islamabad, tagging the presidents of the US and Iran in his statement on X.

The Iranian delegation led by its Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, would participate in the Islamabad Talks slated to begin later Saturday, after the arrival of the US delegation led by Vice President J D Vance, which was on its way to Islamabad.

The Pakistan foreign office said the delegation from Iran was received upon its arrival by Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshall Syed Asim Munir, and Minister for Interior, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi.

"A high-powered delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran led by Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad today to participate in Islamabad Talks," the foreign office said in a statement.

Expressing hope that the two sides would engage constructively, Dar reiterated Pakistan's desire to continue facilitating the parties towards reaching a lasting and durable solution to the conflict in West Asia, according to the statement.

The delegation came amid speculation making rounds on social media, casting doubts on the visit by the Iranians due to the strikes by Israel in Lebanon.

There were some reports quoting Iranian media that the delegation would participate in talks if the conditions agreed in the ceasefire deal were fulfilled.

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency had reported that negotiations would not begin until the "preconditions" were met, echoing a message from Ghalibaf before leaving for Islamabad.

'Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties are 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 a post on X.

'These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin.'

Meanwhile, the US delegation under Vice President Vance was expected to land soon in Islamabad.

President Donald Trump, as per reports, has given Vance 'some pretty clear guidelines' on the negotiations.

"As the US president said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend an open hand. If they're going to try to play us, they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive," Vance told the media before boarding his plane to Islamabad.

Diplomatic Efforts and Ceasefire Details

The talks are taking place amid a two-week halt in the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began with the former launching attacks on the latter on February 28.

Pakistan led the diplomatic push to bring the two sides to the table, which became possible after an appeal by Prime Minister Sharif earlier this week, leading to a pause in the fighting.

Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi, who held a telephone call with the country's ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Reza Shibani, earlier asserted that the US must live up to its ceasefire commitments, which he said included ensuring the truce covers Lebanon.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had said that the Israeli attacks on Lebanon blatantly violated the initial ceasefire and would render negotiations meaningless.

Security Measures in Islamabad

A thick security blanket covered Islamabad, which was on 'red alert' ahead of the 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.
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High-level peace talks between the US and Iran, facilitated by Pakistan, aim to de-escalate the conflict in West Asia and potentially reshape regional stability.

IMAGE: US Vice President JD Vance walks with Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar after arriving for talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/Reuters

Key Points US and Iranian delegations are meeting in Pakistan to negotiate an end to the conflict in West Asia.

The talks occur amid a two-week halt in the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Pakistan is facilitating the negotiations, hoping for a lasting solution to the regional conflict.

The US delegation includes Vice President J D Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner.

The outcome of these negotiations could significantly impact West Asia's security and global energy markets.

United States Vice President JD Vance landed in Pakistan on Saturday to hold high-stakes talks with Iran with an aim to reach a permanent peace agreement to end the war in West Asia that has crippled global energy supplies and caused widespread economic disruptions.

Vance, accompanied by several top American officials, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, arrived in Islamabad hours after an Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, reached the Pakistani capital city.

The US Vice President was received at the airport by Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the Nur Khan airbase.

The Pakistan-mediated peace talks are taking place, days after Iran and the US announced a two-week ceasefire.

The Iranian and American delegations are set to hold separate meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before the commencement of any potential peace negotiations, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

It will be the first high-level negotiations between Iran and the US after the war began on February 28, following joint strikes on Iranian targets by the US and Israel.

WATCH: JD Vance arrives in Islamabad

US President Donald Trump has already cautioned that the US will resume its military action against Iran if the talks do not produce a peace deal.

Before departing for Pakistan, Vance said he was looking forward to the negotiations and hoped that it would be "positive".

As the US president 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 that the negotiating team is not that receptive," he added.

Welcoming the US Vice President, Dar commended the US's commitment to achieving lasting regional and global peace and stability, according to the Pakistan Foreign Office.

Dar, who is also the foreign minister, expressed the hope that "parties would engage constructively, and reiterated Pakistan's desire to continue facilitating the parties towards reaching lasting and durable solution to the conflict."

IMAGE: D Vance talks with Asim Munir and Ishaq Dar. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/Reuters

Iranian Delegation in Islamabad

The Iranian delegation, led by its Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived early on Saturday.

The delegation came amid speculation making rounds on social media, casting doubts on the visit by the Iranians due to the strikes by Israel in Lebanon.

Ghalibaf, shared a photo from inside the aeroplane while en route to Pakistan. In the photograph, he is seen standing in front of the images of the Minab School students killed in strikes placed on the plane seats.

"My companions on this flight - Minab 168," Ghalibaf posted on social media with the photograph.

Islamabad On 'Red Alert'

A thick security blanket covered Islamabad, which was on 'red alert' for the 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.

Implications of the Peace Negotiations

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.
A police constable in Jharkhand is under investigation for allegedly defrauding multiple individuals of 39.60 lakh through a fake vehicle auction scheme, highlighting the risks of online scams.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A police constable in Jharkhand is accused of defrauding people of 39.60 lakh.

The constable allegedly lured victims with promises of cheap seized vehicle auctions.

An FIR has been lodged against the constable, who is posted at the Cyber Police Station in Jamtara.

Preliminary investigations reveal that at least eight people were defrauded in the scheme.

The accused has been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The Giridih police have lodged an FIR against a constable for allegedly defrauding people of Rs 39.60 lakh by luring them with the promise of a cheap auction of seized four-wheeler vehicles, an officer said on Saturday.

The accused constable has been identified as Gautam Kumar Sharma and is currently posted at the Cyber Police Station in Jamtara district, the officer said.

"We have lodged an FIR against the accused on Friday after receiving a written complaint from Maharaj Prasad Yadav of Chapuwadih village," said Jitendra Singh, the officer in charge of Benganad police station.

He said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused defrauded a total of Rs 39,60,500 from as many as eight people, including the complainant.

"Apart from the aforementioned case, around 10 to 12 other people from the Muffasil police station area were also defrauded by him," the OC added.

The police have initiated a thorough investigation into the matter, he said.

The accused originally hails from Gadiya village in Deoghar district and has been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), police said.
Police in Belagavi have arrested two individuals from Hyderabad in connection with a sophisticated 'digital arrest' scam that defrauded an elderly businessman of over Rs 15 crore.

Key Points Two individuals from Hyderabad were arrested for their involvement in a 'digital arrest' scam in Belagavi.

An 81-year-old businessman lost over Rs 15 crore after being falsely accused of financial crimes by fraudsters posing as CBI officials.

The investigation traced beneficiary accounts across multiple states, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

The fraudsters coerced the victim into sharing financial details and transferring money to a 'safe account' under false pretenses.

Police investigations revealed the arrested individuals provided their account details to a handler who remains at large.

Two people were arrested in connection with a 'digital arrest' scam in which an 81-year-old businessman allegedly lost over Rs 15 crore after fraudsters posing as CBI officials accused him of involvement in a financial crime, police said on Saturday.

The accused duo -- Venkatesh Sharath Naik and Degavat Sripada Naik -- both residents of Hyderabad, were apprehended during an operation conducted by the investigators recently, they said.

Their arrests followed a detailed investigation into the case registered on March 18 at the Belagavi City Cyber Crime police station.

Investigation and Arrests

According to the police, investigators traced 10 beneficiary accounts spread across Hyderabad, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and West Bengal. A Rs 2 crore transfer to a Hyderabad account provided the breakthrough in the probe, following which on April 6, a Cyber Command Unit team raided locations in Hyderabad, leading to the arrest of the two individuals.

Investigators revealed that the duo had handed over their joint account details, internet banking credentials and cheque books to a handler who remains at large.

Modus Operandi of the Cyber Fraud

According to officials, the senior citizen received multiple calls, including video calls, for nearly six weeks.

The fraudsters claimed that the victim had received a Rs 5 lakh commission for laundering Rs 25 lakh and that complaints had been filed against him for illegal financial activities.

Threatening to arrest him in a money laundering case, they allegedly coerced the victim into sharing his account and financial details with them and transferring the money to a "safe or government account," they added.

They assured him that the amount would be returned after the investigation. The victim grew suspicious when he received no response from the callers and found all mobile numbers untraceable, according to officials. He then complained to the police.
Kerala Congress leaders are strategically avoiding naming a chief minister candidate before the election results to prevent internal conflicts and maintain party unity.

Key Points Kerala Congress leaders agree to postpone naming CM candidate to avoid pre-election result disputes.

Senior Congress leaders emphasise the party's established procedure for selecting the CM after the election results.

Congress leaders express confidence in the UDF's victory in the Kerala Assembly elections.

Party leaders highlight the unity within the Congress and UDF alliance during the election period.

The final decision on the CM candidate will be made by the party high command after consulting with MLAs.

Congress leaders on Saturday decided to refrain from naming preferred candidates for the chief minister's post to avoid differences before the announcement of the Kerala Assembly election results.

Earlier, Congress MP K Sudhakaran had extended support to Ramesh Chennithala, while Ernakulam DCC president Mohammed Shiyas, without naming V D Satheesan, said the CM should be from the district.

The Kerala Assembly polls were held on Thursday, with results for all 140 constituencies to be declared on May 4.

K Muraleedharan, speaking to reporters, said it was not appropriate to express such opinions at this stage.

"Going into such a discussion is not appropriate, as it would give a bad impression of differences in the party to the public. No one should create such a situation," he said, adding that the decision would be taken by the party high command.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also said that the party follows a set procedure in selecting the CM, and it would be followed in Kerala as well. "Our party's way is to take the opinion of all MLAs, and then the leadership will make a decision. There will definitely be a Congress CM in Kerala," he said.

Tharoor termed the controversy over the chief minister's post unnecessary.

"I always say, let the construction of the house be completed before buying household goods. The construction will be completed on May 4, after which we can decide," he said.

He expressed confidence that the UDF would secure a thumping victory and alleged that the BJP wanted the LDF to remain in power.

Senior Congress leader V M Sudheeran said the chief minister would be selected according to the party's established procedure.

"The decision is taken by the high command after consulting leaders and MLAs. I don't see any possibility of controversy over the CM post in Congress now," he said.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also said there was no controversy over the CM's post, as it would be decided by the party high command.

"There has been no such discussion here. We are clear that no such controversy should be created. There has never been a time when the Congress and the UDF have worked so unitedly," he said.
Post-election violence in Kerala escalates as a CPI(M) rebel supporter's car is torched, highlighting rising tensions and political unrest in the Kannur district.

Key Points A car belonging to a CPI(M) rebel supporter was partially burnt in Mathamangalam, Kerala, following recent Assembly elections.

The victim suspects the attack is linked to his social media support for a CPI(M) rebel leader who ran as an independent candidate.

A shed owned by the CPI(M) rebel leader was also set on fire, indicating escalating post-election tensions.

Multiple incidents of violence have been reported across Kannur district after the Assembly elections.

Police have registered multiple cases of violence in Payyannur, Mayyil, and Mattannur following the election results.

A car belonging to a CPI(M) rebel supporter was partially burnt at Madamangalam in Mathamangalam here, police said on Saturday.

The incident occurred at the house of M K Narayanan at Peroor in Mathamangalam around midnight.

Narayanan has lodged a complaint with the Peringome police station and a preliminary investigation has been launched, officials said.

According to police, Narayanan, amid heavy rain and strong winds, woke up and noticed people moving around inside his house's compound. When he rushed out, they fled from the spot.

However, his car was found partially burnt, allegedly by the miscreants.

Police said the complainant suspects that the attack could be linked to his social media posts supporting CPI(M) rebel leader V Kunhikrishnan, who contested as an Independent candidate backed by the UDF in Payyannur.

Escalating Post-Election Tensions

Meanwhile, a shed on land owned by Kunhikrishnan in Payyannur was also set on fire by unidentified persons on Friday night.

Following the conclusion of Assembly elections on Thursday, multiple incidents of violence have been reported from various parts of Kannur district.

The house of a CPI(M) leader who supported Kunhikrishnan was also attacked and his car was burnt in Payyannur.

Multiple cases of violence were registered at Payyannur, Mayyil and Mattannur police stations after the election.
A political storm is brewing in Kerala over a temple marriage involving a young woman, with accusations of underage status and politically motivated support fueling the controversy.

Key Points CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam alleges political motives behind the controversy surrounding a Kerala temple marriage.

An investigation was launched in Madhya Pradesh following claims the woman was underage at the time of the marriage.

Left leaders previously supported the couple, calling their marriage the 'real Kerala Story'.

Congress leader K Muraleedharan suggests CPI(M) support was politically motivated to gain votes.

BJP state general secretary S Suresh calls for an investigation into an alleged conspiracy behind the marriage.

CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam on Saturday said there was a political motive behind the controversy surrounding the marriage of a young woman who came into the limelight during the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela and later married her friend, a Muslim man, at a temple in Kerala.

An investigation was recently launched in Madhya Pradesh after claims surfaced that she was only 16 years old at the time of the marriage.

Last month, following the wedding in the state, Left leaders met the couple and described it as the "real Kerala Story".

Speaking to reporters, Viswam said the marriage had been approved based on the Aadhaar card produced before the authorities and that any new information should be properly investigated.

He said the incident was still a "Kerala Story".

"When her age was checked, she was not a minor. Her age was determined based on the Aadhaar card details," he said.

When asked about allegations that the woman is underage, he said, "There is politics behind all this. You may forget it, but we will not."

Opposition Parties Weigh In

Congress leader K Muraleedharan said it should be noted that the case was registered by the Madhya Pradesh government, which was opposed to the marriage.

Referring to Left leaders visiting the couple and extending support, Muraleedharan said CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan might have done so to get a few votes for the party in the Assembly election.

"When we get involved in such issues, all aspects should be examined. You should not rush to give an opinion to gain a few votes," he said.

BJP state general secretary S Suresh said an investigation should be conducted into those allegedly involved in a conspiracy behind the marriage.

"This was a conspiracy that has now come to light. CPI(M) leaders M V Govindan, V Sivankutty, and A A Rahim are involved in the conspiracy," Suresh alleged.

He also questioned who had given Govindan and Sivankutty permission to conduct the marriage of a 16-year-old. "CPI(M) should answer this," he said.
Congress leader K Muraleedharan has criticised blaming communities for their voting choices in the Kerala elections, while also commenting on the BJP's approach to minority communities and expressing confidence in the UDF's electoral prospects.

Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points Congress leader K Muraleedharan condemns blaming any community for their voting preferences in the Kerala elections.

Muraleedharan suggests the BJP's attitude towards minority communities outside Kerala is reflected in the state.

He expresses confidence in the UDF's prospects, citing support from both minority and majority communities.

Muraleedharan criticises the Election Commission for inadequate polling arrangements in Thiruvananthapuram.

Former police chief T P Senkumar supports remarks against Catholic bishops and criticises the BJP's outreach to the Christian community.

Congress leader K Muraleedharan on Saturday said that no community should be blamed for not voting for a particular party.

He was responding to questions regarding BJP leader P C George and his son Shone George, who criticised the Catholic church, its bishops, and a newspaper supported by it, alleging that they had turned against them in the election.

The Kerala Assembly polls were held on Thursday, with results for all 140 constituencies to be declared on May 4.

The LDF is aiming for a third term, the UDF for a comeback, and the NDA to open its account in the state.

He said the remarks indicated that the BJP's attitude towards minority communities outside Kerala was being repeated in the state.

"Communities should not be blamed for not voting for us. On some occasions, we receive votes from certain communities, and at other times, we do not. In some elections, we also did not receive votes from certain communities, but we did not blame them," he said.

He added that the UDF had received votes from both minority and majority communities this time.

"The consolidation of minority and majority communities will work in favour of the UDF this time," he said.

He further stated that the contest in the election was primarily between the UDF and the LDF, although the NDA's presence was also felt.

He expressed confidence that the UDF would secure up to 100 seats in the election.

"The attitude of the people is key. They want change," he said.

He also noted that unprecedented queues were witnessed at polling booths in Thiruvananthapuram, where voter turnout is usually lower.

"This indicates a possible change in government, as people voted enthusiastically this time," he said.

He alleged that the Election Commission did not make adequate arrangements for the polls, claiming that basic facilities were lacking.

He said there were no fans, no special consideration for elderly voters, and no generators in case of power outages.

Muraleedharan contested from the Vattiyoorkavu constituency in Thiruvananthapuram.

Senkumar's Criticism of BJP's Kerala Strategy

Meanwhile, former state police chief T P Senkumar criticised BJP state leaders over the party's outreach towards the Christian community in Kerala and backed remarks made by party leaders against Catholic bishops.

In a Facebook post, Senkumar, a BJP supporter, said he had earlier warned the party against shifting its focus from its core Hindu base to Christian outreach, including during the controversy related to the alleged attack on nuns in Chhattisgarh.

He also criticised the BJP leadership, including the party's state president.

"A president who does not know even the ABCD of Kerala, and a group of followers who do not question him-where have they brought the BJP in Kerala today?" he asked.

He said the remarks made by P C George and Shone George were "absolutely correct."

"In reality, who is it that only takes all the benefits without giving anything in return? A tendency to always take advantage. They should also understand that the BJP can rule India even without their support," he said.
A KSRTC bus driver in Kerala is under investigation for allegedly assaulting an elderly passenger after a dispute over a missed bus stop, resulting in injuries and a police probe.

Photograph: ANI Video Grab

Key Points A KSRTC bus driver in Kerala is accused of assaulting an elderly passenger following a disagreement about a bus stop.

The elderly passenger, identified as Bhadran, sustained head injuries and required stitches after the alleged assault.

Police have registered a case against the KSRTC driver and have launched a detailed investigation into the incident.

The incident occurred when the passenger questioned why the bus didn't stop at his designated stop.

A case has been registered against a KSRTC bus driver for allegedly assaulting an elderly passenger and kicking him out of the vehicle at Vattapara here, police said on Saturday.

The case has been registered against a driver of the Peroorkada depot of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) for assaulting Bhadran (65), a native of Kallayam in Vattapara.

Officials at Vattapara police station said the incident occurred around 9.45 pm on Thursday when Bhadran was travelling on a KSRTC bus from East Fort to Kuttiyani.

Details of the Alleged Assault

When Bhadran questioned the bus staff for not stopping at the designated bus stop where he intended to alight, the driver allegedly abused him verbally, police said.

Later, the driver stopped the bus at Karayalathukonam, assaulted Bhadran with an iron rod and kicked him out of the vehicle, officials said.

According to the FIR, the complainant sustained head injuries and required three stitches at a hospital.

Police said a detailed investigation has been launched and the driver, who has been identified, will be arrested soon.
K V Thomas forecasts a third term for Kerala's LDF government, highlighting Congress infighting and accusing the BJP of injecting 'consumerism' into the state's political arena.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points K V Thomas predicts the LDF will secure a third consecutive term in Kerala, citing a lack of anti-incumbency.

Thomas attributes the potential failure of the UDF to internal infighting and a lack of clear leadership.

He accuses the BJP of introducing 'consumerism' into Kerala politics, referencing allegations of cash for votes.

Thomas criticises BJP leaders' remarks regarding churches, viewing them as attempts to intimidate the religious community.

K V Thomas, the Special Representative of Kerala government in New Delhi, on Saturday said that the CPI(M)-led LDF will return to power for a third time and the Congress-led UDF will not form government due to the alleged "infighting" within it.

Thomas, a former Congress leader and union minister, also accused the BJP of bringing "consumerism" into politics, saying it was evident from what happened in Palakkad.

He was referring to the allegation against BJP leader Sobha Surendran of offering cash for votes.

Thomas, while speaking to a TV channel here, further said that consumerism can also be seen in BJP leader Shone George's remark that if churches do not help the saffron party, it might not help them.

"This is what RSS and BJP have been saying in Delhi for years," he claimed.

He said that statements by Shone and his father P C George, show their true nature.

"They are coming as wolves with masks. They are trying to scare the church by their statements. But, it will not be successful in Kerala," Thomas said.

LDF's Strengths and UDF's Weaknesses

Regarding the Assembly poll outcome, he was confident that the LDF would get a third term as there is no anti-incumbency feeling in the state.

Praising the LDF, he said that as the current government goes out, there is Rs 4,000 crore in the treasury and claimed that this has never happened in the past.

He said that the UDF will not come to power as they have no leaders or leadership as there will be "infighting" on a daily basis.

Thomas said that already there is a fight within the Congress over who would be the chief minister.
In a shocking case of honour killing, a father and uncle in Maharashtra have been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering a 17-year-old girl over a land dispute related to her planned marriage, highlighting the persistence of such barbaric crimes in India.

Key Points A father and uncle in Jalna, Maharashtra, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the honour killing of a 17-year-old girl.

The murder stemmed from a dispute over transferring land to the girl as a condition of her marriage.

The court cited the Supreme Court's view that honour killings are 'rarest of rare' crimes deserving the harshest punishment.

The accused confessed to killing the girl and cremating her body to conceal the crime.

The court considered the lack of prior criminal records and the accused's initial attempts to dissuade the girl before handing down the life sentence.

A court in Jalna district of Maharashtra has sentenced a man and his brother to life imprisonment for murdering the former's 17-year-old daughter in 2022 over an issue linked to her proposed marriage.

The girl's would-be in-laws wanted her parents to transfer some land in her name to go ahead with the marriage of their son with her as both of them were in love. The girl's family, however, opposed the idea of giving the land. But as she insisted on tying the knot with her lover, the convicts killed her and cremated her body in a bid to conceal the crime, the prosecution said.

Principal District and Sessions Court judge Varsha Mohite on Friday sentenced Santosh Sarode (45) and Namdev Sarode (40), both residents of Bhatkheda in Jalna tehsil, to life imprisonment

Additional government pleader S R Dhokrat said the incident took place on December 13, 2022, in Pirpimpalgaon area under Chandan Zira police station limits.

As per the information, Sarode killed his minor daughter and secretly performed her last rites in his field to destroy evidence. During questioning, Sarode and his brother confessed to killing her.

Details of the Honour Killing and Land Dispute

During the investigation, the police found that the girl had initially eloped with her lover, which her family believed brought dishonour to them. Later, as both families belonged to the same caste, they agreed to solemnise the marriage. However, a dispute arose during the ceremony over a demand to transfer 1.5 acres of land in the girl's name, leading to the wedding being called off.

The girl insisted on going ahead with the marriage, which angered the accused. They brought her home on a motorcycle, assaulted her and later hanged her to death from a tree. They subsequently cremated the body in their field to conceal the crime.

Police recovered ash, burnt bones, teeth, and other remains from the spot along with her clothes and the motorcycle used in the crime. A case was registered under Sections 302 (murder), 201 (destruction of evidence), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

During the trial, the prosecution examined 13 witnesses and their testimonies proved crucial.

Court's Judgement and Rationale

In the judgement, the court cited the Supreme Court's observation that honour killings fall within the "rarest of rare" category deserving the harshest punishment, calling such acts barbaric and a blot on society.

The court noted that the accused were the sole earning members of their families, and had no prior criminal antecedents, and also observed that they had initially tried to dissuade the girl from the relationship.

Considering the circumstances, the court held that it could not be conclusively said that they would reoffend or pose a continuing threat to society, and therefore awarded life imprisonment.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each, with an additional two years of simple imprisonment in case of default.
April 10 (Reuters) - IPhone-maker Apple led global smartphone shipments in the first quarter of 2026, growing 5% year-on-year, even as overall shipments fell due to a shortage of memory components, Counterpoint Research said on Friday.

Global smartphone shipments fell 6% from a year earlier as Middle East tensions also weighed on consumer sentiment, the research firm said.

More from Yahoo Scout What caused global smartphone shipments to decline 6%? How did Samsung and other competitors perform this quarter? Why did Apple lead smartphone shipments for first time? What impact did memory shortages have on smartphone market?

* Apple led the smartphone market for the first time in afirst quarter with a 21% market share, Counterpoint said. * The firm attributed the growth to Apple's premiumpositioning, integrated supply chain and performance in China. * The iPhone maker posted a 23% surge in China smartphonesales in the first nine weeks of 2026. * Samsung's shipments declined 6% year-on-year in thequarter, giving it a 20% market share, as a delayed Galaxy S26launch and weakness in the entry-tier segment weighed onvolumes, the research firm said. * Xiaomi maintained its third spot with a 13% share, butdropped the most among the top five brands, according to thereport. * The decline in overall shipments "is primarily driven bymemory players prioritizing AI data centers over consumerelectronics," Counterpoint analyst Shilpi Jain said.

(Reporting by Ananya Palyekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)
A tragic incident in Kerala resulted in the death of a mahout from Tamil Nadu after he was fatally gored by an elephant's tusk while feeding the animal.

Key Points A mahout from Tamil Nadu died after being gored by an elephant's tusk near Naruvamoodu, Kerala.

The incident occurred while the mahout was feeding the elephant palm leaves.

The mahout was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to injuries due to blood loss.

A portion of the elephant's tusk broke off during the attack.

A mahout from Tamil Nadu died on Saturday morning after succumbing to injuries sustained in an attack by the elephant he was tending near Naruvamoodu, police said.

According to an officer at the Naruvamoodu police station, the incident occurred on Friday night while the mahout, one of the two caretakers, was feeding the elephant palm leaves.

As the elephant pulled the leaf towards itself, the mahout, who was holding one end, was dragged closer and gored in the torso by the animal's tusk, the officer said.

During the incident, a portion of the elephant's tusk also broke off, police added.

The injured man was rushed to a government medical college hospital, where he underwent surgery. However, he succumbed to his injuries due to extensive blood loss.

Police said no case has been registered so far.

Statements from family members and witnesses are yet to be recorded, following which further action will be taken.
Delhi police have arrested two people and apprehended a juvenile after a 21-year-old man was found murdered near a shrine, revealing a story of vengeance and violence.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A 21-year-old man was discovered dead near a shrine in Delhi's Welcome area, prompting a police investigation.

Delhi police have arrested two individuals and apprehended a juvenile in connection with the murder.

The suspects confessed to attacking and assaulting the victim due to a long-standing grudge.

The investigation is ongoing to recover the weapon used in the crime and gather further evidence in the Delhi murder case.

A body of a youth lying near a mazar in Jheel Park was reported around 6:45 pm on April 10. A police team rushed to the spot and recovered the body.

The deceased was identified as Mohammad Shamim. "A forensic team examined the crime scene and collected evidence, following which the body was shifted to GTB Hospital for post-mortem," the official said, adding that a case was registered under sections of murder and investigation was initiated.

Arrests Made in Delhi Murder Investigation

During the probe, a police team analysed local inputs and reconstructed the sequence of events.

Based on the investigation, police arrested two persons -- Wasim alias Miya (20) and Tilak Raj alias Raj (23) -- both residents of Welcome area. A 17-year-old was also apprehended.

Motive Revealed: A Long-Standing Grudge

The official said during interrogation, the accused confessed to their involvement in the crime. They claimed they bore a grudge against the deceased, who used to bully them. To exact vengeance, the trio attacked and assaulted the victim, before fleeing the spot.

Police said efforts are underway to recover the weapon used in the offence and further investigation is in progress.
A 26-year-old man was grievously injured in a stabbing attack in Delhi's Trilokpuri area, highlighting the dangers of unresolved personal disputes and prompting a police investigation.

Key Points A 26-year-old man was seriously injured in a stabbing attack in Trilokpuri, East Delhi.

The stabbing resulted from a personal dispute between the victim and the assailants.

The victim is currently receiving treatment at Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital.

Police have identified the accused and are actively working to apprehend them in connection with the Trilokpuri stabbing incident.

A 26-year-old man was grievously injured after being stabbed by a group of men over old enmity in East Delhi's Trilokpuri area, police said on Saturday.

The victim, Huzaf, was taken to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment, police said.

The incident took place, when a group of assailants intercepted him, as he was returning home after getting his clothes ironed, near a temple at around 8 pm on Friday.

The attack stemmed from a personal enmity between him and the assailants, police said, adding that one of them attacked Huzaf with a knife, causing injuries on his back and shoulder.

The accused have been identified and efforts are underway to apprehend them, they added.
A highway accident in Uttar Pradesh led to the discovery of a marijuana smuggling operation, resulting in the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of 6.5 kg of the drug.

Key Points 6.5 kg of marijuana was seized by police in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, after a highway accident.

Two individuals, Harsh Yadav and Abhishek Agnihotri, were arrested for alleged marijuana smuggling.

The marijuana was discovered during the inspection of an accident-damaged SUV.

The accused have been sent to judicial custody, and the vehicle used for smuggling has been seized.

One of the accused, Harsh Yadav, has prior criminal cases registered against him.

Police here have recovered 6.5 kg of marijuana from an accident-hit SUV and arrested two alleged smugglers here, officials said on Saturday.

The recovery was made after a road accident near the Vandana Dhaba in the Lambhua police station area on the Lucknow-Varanasi highway. Two vehicles, an SUV and an Innova, collided after the SUV went out of control, broke the divider and rammed into the oncoming vehicle, they said.

Additional Superintendent of Police Akhand Pratap Singh said the impact left both vehicles badly damaged. Police reached the scene and, with the help of locals, rushed the injured to the Community Health Centre in Lambhua.

Discovery of the Contraband

"While inspecting the damaged SUV, the police team noticed a strong smell of marijuana emanating from inside the vehicle. A thorough search led to the recovery of 6.5 kg of contraband packed in yellow and green bundles," Singh said.

During questioning, the injured occupants of the SUV allegedly tried to evade answers. However, verification through police apps revealed their criminal background, officials said.

Accused Identified and Arrested

The accused were identified as Harsh Yadav alias Eshu (22), a resident of Rajajipuram, and Abhishek Agnihotri (20), a resident of New Para Colony, both in Lucknow.

During interrogation, Yadav allegedly confessed that the vehicle had been used for smuggling for a long time. Police said he has prior criminal cases registered against him at the Tal Katora police station in Lucknow.

The contraband and the vehicle used in trafficking have been seized. Both accused have been arrested and sent to judicial custody, police added.
An MBA student was injured in a stabbing incident at a hip-hop festival in Mumbai, prompting a police investigation into the assault at the Bandra Kurla Complex grounds.

Photograph: Nate Chute/Reuters

Key Points An MBA student was stabbed at a hip-hop and youth culture festival held at MMRDA Grounds in Mumbai.

The student, a resident of Sion, sustained superficial injuries from a sharp object.

Police are investigating the incident and are in the process of registering a case.

The victim is currently stable after receiving medical treatment.

An MBA student suffered injuries after being stabbed during a hip-hop and youth culture festival in Mumbai on Saturday, police said.

The incident took place at the MMRDA Grounds in the Bandra Kurla Complex area, an official said.

The student, a resident of Sion area, was attacked with a sharp object by an unidentified person at the event. He was provided medical treatment and is currently stable, police said.

The student later approached the police with a complaint.

A senior police official said his injury is superficial and police are in the process of registering a case.
Discover how Amit Kshatriya, an Indian-American scientist, ascended from watching Houston rocket launches to becoming NASA's Associate Administrator, leading critical space exploration initiatives like the Artemis I mission and the Moon to Mars programme.

IMAGE: NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya attends a press conference about the Artemis II mission to the Moon, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on March 30, 2026. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Key Points Amit Kshatriya, an Indian-American scientist, has been appointed as NASA's Associate Administrator, the highest-ranking civil servant position at the agency.

Kshatriya's career at NASA includes roles as a software engineer, robotics engineer, spacecraft operator, and flight director for the International Space Station.

He played a key role in the Artemis I mission, which returned a spacecraft designed to carry humans to the Moon.

Kshatriya is now responsible for leading NASA's 10 centre directors and overseeing the agency's Moon to Mars programme, aiming for a long-term lunar presence.

His achievements have been recognised with the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal and the Silver Snoopy award for contributions to flight safety.

From admiring rocket launches as a child growing up in Houston to steering the operations at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Indian-American scientist Amit Kshatriya has had a stellar innings at the space agency that has set on a mission to land astronauts on the moon.

As NASA's Associate Administrator, Wisconsin-born Kshatriya serves as the highest-ranking civil servant at the agency and as a senior advisor to Administrator Jared Isaacman.

Kshatriya leads the agency's 10 centre directors, as well as the mission directorate associate administrators at NASA Headquarters in Washington. He also acts as the agency's Chief Operating Officer.

Born to first-generation Indian immigrant parents, Kshatriya holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, and a Master of Arts in mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin.

He was born in Brookfield, Wisconsin, but considers Katy, a suburb of Houston, Texas, to be his hometown.

Kshatriya's interest in space took root as he watched space launches in Houston, which is home to NASA's Mission Control at the Johnson Space Centre.

After dabbling in the oil and gas industry and the medical sector after graduation, he joined United Space Alliance, NASA's primary contractor for the space shuttle program, in 2003.

Kshatriya has worked as a software engineer, robotics engineer, and spacecraft operator, primarily focused on the robotic assembly of the International Space Station.

Ascent Through NASA Ranks

From 2014 to 2017, he served as a space station flight director, where he led global teams in the operations and execution of the space station during all phases of flight.

From 2017 to 2021, he became deputy and then acting manager of the ISS Vehicle Office, where he was responsible for sustaining engineering, logistics, and hardware program management.

In 2021, Kshatriya was assigned to NASA Headquarters as an assistant deputy associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD), where he was an integral part of the team that returned a spacecraft designed to carry humans to the Moon during the Artemis I mission.

Kshatriya served as the Deputy Associate Administrator for the Moon to Mars programme as NASA plans to set up a long-term presence on the lunar surface to launch future interplanetary missions.

Kshatriya was named as NASA's Associate Administrator in September last year.

Awards and Recognition

He was awarded the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal for actions as the lead flight director for the 50th expedition to the space station.

Kshatriya is also the recipient of a Silver Snoopy, an award astronauts bestow for outstanding performance contributing to flight safety, for his actions as lead robotics officer for the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Dragon demonstration mission to the orbiting laboratory, according to the space agency's website.
A Merchant Navy sailor tragically died in a hit-and-run accident on the Delhi-Dehradun expressway, highlighting the dangers of road travel and prompting a police investigation.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A 24-year-old Merchant Navy sailor died in a hit-and-run accident on the Delhi-Dehradun expressway.

The sailor, Mohan, was on leave and travelling with his mother when the incident occurred near Muzaffarnagar.

Mohan's mother, Mukesh, sustained serious injuries and is receiving medical treatment.

Police have registered a case and are investigating to identify and apprehend the driver of the unidentified vehicle involved in the fatal accident.

A 24-year-old Merchant Navy sailor who was on leave died after being hit by an unidentified vehicle on the Delhi-Dehradun expressway, with his mother seriously injured, police said.

The deceased, Mohan, and his mother, Mukesh (55), were returning from Shamli to their village in Baghpat district when the incident occurred, Circle Officer Phugana Yatendra Singh Nagar said.

Mohan worked in the Merchant Navy and was visiting home on leave, he said.

A case has been registered.

The body of the deceased has been sent for post-mortem examination. Efforts are underway to trace the driver of the unidentified vehicle, he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledges to implement the Uniform Civil Code in West Bengal, vowing to combat appeasement politics and address concerns over infiltration and demographic shifts during a rally in Jangipur.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during an election rally ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections in Purba Bardhaman . Photograph: Narendra Modi Photo Gallery/ANI Photo

Key Points Prime Minister Modi promises to implement the Uniform Civil Code in West Bengal to end appeasement politics.

Modi accuses the TMC of relying on infiltrators and vote-bank politics, alleging demographic changes in West Bengal.

Modi claims the TMC government is corrupt and has led to economic decline and job losses in West Bengal.

Modi criticises the TMC for violence during Ram Navami processions and accuses them of circulating AI-generated videos.

Modi warns those involved in corruption that they will face jail if the BJP comes to power in West Bengal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sharpened the BJP's pitch on identity and infiltration in poll-bound West Bengal, promising to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to end what he called the "politics of appeasement", while asserting that the party would not allow Bengalis to become a minority in the state.

Addressing a rally at Jangipur in Muslim-majority Murshidabad district, Modi framed the upcoming assembly elections as a battle to protect West Bengal's identity and future, while accusing the ruling TMC of thriving on appeasement politics and the "support of infiltrators".

"The nation's security is of paramount importance to us. The BJP's resolve is to implement UCC in West Bengal to end the politics of appeasement forever," Modi said, a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the party's manifesto promising to bring in the law within six months.

Claiming that rapid demographic changes were taking place in several parts of the state, Modi alleged that the TMC had abandoned its old slogan of 'Maa-Mati-Manush' and was now depending on infiltrators and vote-bank politics to retain power.

"The TMC came to power by raising the slogan of 'Maa-Mati-Manush'. But now, it wants to form a government for infiltrators with their votes. West Bengal will no longer tolerate appeasement and vote-bank politics. We will not allow Bengalis to become a minority in the state," he said.

The prime minister said this election is about saving West Bengal's identity.

"West Bengal has made up its mind: for its identity and future, it will bring about a change," he said.

"Bengal's history shows that when it resolves for change, no power in the world can stop it. Whoever challenged Bengal had their arrogance shattered, from the British to the Congress and the Left... now it's the TMC's turn," the PM added.

Accusations Against TMC

He also referred to violence during Ram Navami processions in parts of the state this year and accused the TMC of protecting those responsible.

"Ram Navami was celebrated peacefully across India, but in West Bengal, such rallies were attacked and violence took place under the protection of the TMC," he said.

"The TMC, sensing defeat in the polls, had started circulating AI-generated videos. Do not fall into this trap," Modi said, in an apparent reference to a video circulated by the ruling party purportedly involving suspended leader and Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir.

Stepping up his attack on the Mamata Banerjee government, Modi alleged that after coming to power, the TMC had become a "carbon copy" of the Left Front.

He accused the ruling party of perpetuating the same politics of intimidation and extortion that West Bengal witnessed during the Left rule.

"Arms, drugs, cattle smuggling, cut-money, and commissions -- TMC has taken the contract for everything," Modi alleged.

Issuing a warning to those allegedly involved in corruption, Modi said there would be no leniency if the BJP came to power.

"No red carpet will be laid out for those who devour the rights of the people; the doors of the jail will be flung open for them," he said.

Referring to the RG Kar hospital rape and murder case, Modi said people had not forgotten how the TMC government had allegedly stood by the accused.

Economic Critique

Attacking the government on the economy, Modi claimed that West Bengal had fallen behind other states because of corruption and the "syndicate raj".

"Every state is engaged in increasing its GDP and economy, but West Bengal's share in the country's GDP is declining rapidly. West Bengal has accumulated a debt of more than Rs 8 lakh crore," he said.

Modi claimed that while more than 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty under the BJP-led government at the Centre, people in West Bengal were being pushed into distress because investments and industries were leaving the state.

"Because of the TMC's corruption and 'syndicate raj', thousands of companies have left West Bengal. No new industry is coming to the state. Thousands of jobs have been lost and the youth are being forced to migrate to other states," he said.

He also said Murshidabad's silk farmers had suffered because of the TMC government's neglect.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran's Supreme Leader, is reportedly recovering from significant injuries sustained in an attack, raising questions about succession and stability in the region.

IMAGE: A man holds a poster of Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, during a solidarity rally in support of Iran and against Israel and the United States in Baghdad, Iraq, April 3, 2026. Photograph: Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters

Key Points Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran's Supreme Leader, is reportedly recovering from severe injuries sustained in an attack.

Reports indicate Khamenei suffered facial disfigurement and leg injuries in the attack on the supreme leader's compound.

Despite his injuries, Khamenei is said to be mentally sharp and participating in meetings via audio conferencing.

Khamenei is reportedly involved in decision-making on major issues, including the war and negotiations with Washington.

Khamenei has not made any public appearances since the conflict began, with messages attributed to him being run by Iranian state media.

Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei is still recovering from severe injuries to his face and leg caused by the US-Israeli airstrike at the beginning of the war that killed his father, Ali Khamenei.

According to a report in Reuters, Khamenei's face was disfigured in the attack on the supreme leader's compound in central Tehran.

He also suffered a significant injury to one or both legs, the report claimed.

Mojtaba Khamenei Remains 'Mentally Sharp'

Even though he is severely injured, Reuters claimed that the 56-year-old is recovering from his wounds and remains 'mentally sharp'.

He is taking part in meetings with senior officials via audio conferencing and is engaged in decision-making on major issues including the war and negotiations with Washington, the report said.

In March, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had claimed that Mojtaba Khamenei, is "wounded and likely disfigured" in strikes by the US on the country, describing the new leadership in Tehran as "desperate and hiding" amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

During a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth stated that the new leadership was in "no better shape" and questioned the recent statement by the supreme leader for its legitimacy, calling it "weak" and unusual for a country with extensive media and surveillance capabilities.

Mojtaba Has Not Appeared In Public

Earlier, The Times reported that Khamenei is receiving medical treatment in Qom city of Iran, citing an intelligence assessment.

Since the conflict broke out in West Asia, Mojtaba Khamenei has not made any public appearance; messages attributed to him have been run by the Iranian state media.
A murder suspect who escaped from a mental health facility in Kerala after being accused of stabbing a woman to death has been recaptured in Mumbai, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances of his escape.

Key Points Vineesh Vinod, accused in the Drishya murder case, escaped from a mental health centre in Kerala in December.

Vinod was arrested in Mumbai after police received information about his whereabouts at a railway station.

Vinod is accused of stabbing Drishya to death in 2021 after she rejected his proposal and also attacking her sister.

A police team from Kozhikode has been dispatched to Mumbai to bring Vinod back to Kerala.

A 26-year-old man, accused in a murder case, who had escaped from a mental health centre here three months ago, was nabbed from Mumbai on Saturday, police said.

Vineesh Vinod of Muttungal, accused of the Drishya murder case, reported in Malappuram district, escaped from the Kuthiravattom Government Mental Health Centre by making a hole in a toilet wall in December last year, they added.

Vinod has been booked for stabbing to death Drishya (21) of Elamkulam near Perinthalmanna in January 2021 after the woman rejected his love proposal.

He had also allegedly set fire to the stationery shop of Drishya's father before reaching her house to attack her. Drishya's sister, Devashree, who tried to save her, was also allegedly attacked by the accused.

Investigation and Recapture

After Vinod escaped from the mental health centre last December, police had formed a special team to track him down.

He had earlier escaped from the same facility a few years ago but was caught within days.

Based on information that Vinod was seen at a railway station in Mumbai, local police and Railway Protection Force (RPF) officials were alerted. They identified Vinod and took him into custody, a Kozhikode City Police officer said.

A police team from Kozhikode has left for Mumbai to bring Vinod back to the state.

He is expected to be brought to Kozhikode on Sunday, they said.
Short-seller Michael Burry just made his view on Nvidia (NVDA) stock a lot harder to ignore.

In a new Substack post, the popular investor disclosed that he added to his bearish Nvidia position, loading up more on long-dated puts, with the stock still at the heart of the AI rally.

At the same time, he scooped up shares in the biggest Chinese tech companies, such as Alibaba and JD.com.

For perspective, Nvidia stock has had a forgettable run of late.

Its tracking in the red over the past six months, down 2% and only up 1.2% year to date. Those numbers pale in comparison to its one-year performance, which was roughly 65%.

That said, Burry said he bought January 2027 $115 strike puts at $3.30 and is holding onto $100 strike puts from earlier.

He sees the trade as 3% of notional value, arguing in his post that borrowing costs could easily get that high or higher if Nvidia stock really starts falling.

Simultaneously, his new Alibaba and JD.com additions show that hes rotating into where he sees value, while leaning harder against the markets most crowded trades.

Who is Michael Burry?

Clearly, Michael Burry needs no introduction in the investing world.

He is arguably the most popular contrarian on Wall Street, having built his legend by spotting and betting against the housing bubble before the 2008 financial crisis hit.

That trade earned him the moniker The Big Short, and more importantly, generated nearly $100 million for himself and $725 million for his investors, CNBC reported.

For perspective, he launched his hedge fund, Scion Capital, in 2000, according to MoneyWeek. He shut it down after the financial crisis, and then returned in 2013 with Scion Asset Management.

The firm managed a relatively small $155 million worth of assets as of March 2025 before being wound down in November 2025.

Nevertheless, he remains as relevant as ever, with his sharp takedowns on AI and related topics. These days, he posts on X (the former Twitter) and publishes on Substack, swinging for the fences about the hottest investing themes.

Nvidia market cap growth over time

Nvidias current market cap: About $4.58 trillion, according to Yahoo Finance

2025 year-end market cap: $4.64 trillion 2024 year-end market cap: $3.29 trillion 2023 year-end market cap: $1.22 trillion 2022 year-end market cap: $364.18 billion 2021 year-end market cap: $735.27 billion Source: Companiesmarketcap.com

Jensen Huang applauds at Nvidia GTC 2026 as the company's AI chip boom fuels growth expectations.Bloomberg/Getty Images

The logic behind Burrys new Nvidia trade

Burrys bearish call on Nvidia comes with structure, and the numbers make that intent crystal clear.

Nvidia stock is currently trading at around $188.63, according to Yahoo Finance, so the $115 strike sits at 39% below the current price.
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien challenges Prime Minister Modi's corruption claims in West Bengal, accusing the BJP of shielding corrupt leaders and highlighting the TMC's achievements in poverty reduction and social welfare.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Derek O'Brien accuses BJP of providing 'reprieve' to opposition leaders facing corruption probes after they join the party.

O'Brien highlights TMC government's achievements in poverty reduction, unemployment, and welfare schemes in West Bengal.

O'Brien disputes Modi's claims on PM-Kisan benefits, promoting the state's Krishak Bandhu scheme as superior assistance for farmers.

O'Brien criticises BJP on women's safety, citing national crime data and controversies like the Bilkis Bano case.

O'Brien questions the effectiveness of PM Vishwakarma Yojana, claiming low loan sanction rates.

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien on Saturday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his promise of a 'white paper' on corruption in West Bengal, saying nine of 10 Opposition leaders facing corruption investigation who joined BJP "got reprieve".

In a post on X, O'Brien shared a "fact-check" of the claims made by Modi at a poll rally in West Bengal's Katwa in Purba Bardhaman district.

"Another election speech by Narendra today. Once more, let's expose his 8 claims and present an 8 point reality check," O'Brien said.

O'Brien's Rebuttal of Corruption Allegations

On the prime minister's remarks that the BJP would bring a 'white-paper' on corruption, he said, "Nine out of 10 Opposition leaders facing corruption investigation who joined BJP got reprieve. Praful Patel, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Narayan Rane, Ajit Pawar, Ashok Chavan. Suvendu Adhikari made Leader of Opposition. BJP Washing Machine."

Countering Claims on Governance in West Bengal

Countering claims about governance in West Bengal, O'Brien said the TMC government had lifted "two crore people out of poverty", reduced unemployment, and launched multiple welfare schemes. He also highlighted initiatives such as 'Duare Sarkar camps' and social assistance programmes, asserting that crores of beneficiaries had received services at their doorstep.

Farmers' Income and Welfare Schemes

On Modi's remarks on increasing farmers' income in West Bengal, O'Brien disputed claims regarding benefits under the PM-Kisan scheme, stating that a parliamentary panel had recommended increasing the amount, which had not been implemented.

The TMC leader contrasted this with the state's Krishak Bandhu scheme, claiming it provided higher assistance to farmers in West Bengal.

Women's Safety Concerns

On the issue of women's safety, O'Brien criticised the BJP, citing national crime data and referring to controversies including the remission of convicts in the Bilkis Bano case. He also targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah over law and order issues in Delhi.

"81 women get raped every day in the country. The highest rate of crime against women is in Delhi where police are under Home Minister Amit Shah. BJP shielded MP who molested champion women wrestlers. Freed rapists of Bilkis Bano," he said.

Employment Schemes and Citizenship

On employment schemes, including the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, O'Brien claimed that only a fraction of applicants had received loan sanctions, questioning the effectiveness of the initiative.

In his speech, Modi said the BJP had brought in the Citizenship (Amendment) Act to grant citizenship to refugees and accused the TMC of trying to spread fear among them.

He alleged the 15-year rule of TMC has given nothing but fear to every citizen, and promised age relaxation in government recruitment. Modi also promised to roll out Ayushman Bharat in Bengal immediately after the BJP forms the government.
An investigation in Bijnor reveals a Pakistan-linked handler is allegedly expanding his network in India through social media, inciting anti-national activities and radicalising youth.

Key Points Two men were arrested in Bijnor for alleged links to a Pakistan-based handler using social media to expand his network in India.

The handler, Aqib, allegedly incited youngsters against Hindus and promoted anti-national activities through radical content on Instagram.

Arrested individuals claim they connected with Aqib and another individual, Maizul, three years prior while working in Surat.

Police are searching for multiple individuals connected to the network, including Aqib, Maizul, Sameer, and Azad.

An earlier investigation into Aqib was mishandled, leading to the suspension of involved police officers and transfer of the Circle Officer.

Two men arrested in Bijnor for allegedly being in touch with a Pakistan-linked handler based in Saudi Arabia told police that the Pakistani handler was expanding his network in India via social media.

Circle Officer Najibabad, Anjani Kumar Chaturvedi, said on Saturday that police arrested Uvaid Malik and Jalal Haider in Bijnor following a tip-off regarding their alleged links with Aqib, a native of Sathla village in Meerut's Mawana area who is currently staying in West Asia.

According to police, Aqib earlier come into the spotlight after a video surfaced on Instagram on November 23, purportedly showing him displaying an AK-47 rifle and explosives.

Details of the Investigation

During interrogation, the arrested men allegedly told police that Aqib used to incite youngsters against Hindus and encourage anti-national activities, disseminating radical and inflammatory ideas on Instagram, the officer said.

Police said both the arrested men came in contact with Aqib and Maizul (who is based in South Africa) three years ago while working in Surat.

According to the police, Uvaid was planning to flee to Nepal on the advice of his Pakistani contacts.

Police are now searching for Sameer, Maizul, Aqib, and Azad.

According to the police, Maizul is also part of Aqib's social network, the CO said.

Previous Mishandling of the Case

On April 6, Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Jha said the video first surfaced last year.

Following the viral clip, a case was registered at the Nangal police station by sub-inspector Vinod Kumar.

However, the then station house officer (SHO) 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.

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.
Pakistan has deployed a significant military contingent, including troops and fighter jets, to Saudi Arabia as part of a strategic defence agreement designed to bolster regional security and military cooperation.

IMAGE: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Riyadh. Photograph: Shehbaz Sharif on Facebook

Key Points Pakistan deployed approximately 13,000 soldiers and 10-18 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia under a joint strategic defence agreement.

The deployment aims to enhance joint military coordination and improve operational readiness between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia's armed forces.

The defence agreement stipulates that an attack on one country is considered an attack on the other, strengthening their alliance.

Pakistani troops and jets are stationed in Saudi Arabia solely for the country's defence, according to officials.

Pakistan reportedly sent missile interceptors to Saudi Arabia last month, amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region.

A Pakistani military contingent comprising around 13,000 soldiers and 10 to 18 jets has reached Saudi Arabia as part of a joint strategic defence agreement signed last year, the Gulf Kingdom announced on Saturday.

The military contingent's deployment to King Abdulaziz Air Base in the Eastern Sector includes fighter jets and support aircraft from the Pakistan Air Force, according to a statement from Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence.

The deployment aimed to enhance joint military coordination, improve operational readiness between the armed forces of the two countries, and support security and stability at regional and international levels, it added.

A Pakistan government official also confirmed sending troops and jets to Saudi Arabia as part of the two countries' strategic defence agreement, under which any attack on one country would be considered an attack on another.

Details of the Deployment

Expert on international affairs Mohammad Mehdi told PTI that Pakistan had sent aircraft and troops to Saudi Arabia last month, but the news has been broken only now by the Saudi authorities.

"At least 13,000 Pakistani soldiers and 10 to 18 fighter jets landed in Saudi Arabia. As many as 10,000 soldiers are already present in Saudi Arabia. And this arrangement has been made under the defence pact between the countries," Mehdi said.

He said Pakistani soldiers and fighter jets are there only for the defence of Saudi Arabia.

Another official who spoke with PTI said that Pakistan had also sent missile interceptors to Saudi Arabia last month amid Iran's attack on the American bases in the Gulf.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi sparked speculation with a rare conversation at a parliamentary event honouring Jyotirao Phule, prompting questions about potential shifts in Indian politics.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi engaged in a rare conversation during a Jyotirao Phule commemorative event at the Parliament House complex. Photographs: DD/ANI video grab

Key Points The brief interaction between Modi and Gandhi drew attention due to the infrequent nature of their direct communication.

Both leaders paid tribute to Jyotirao Phule, highlighting his contributions to social reform, equality, and education.

Modi emphasised Phule's role in championing the rights of women and marginalised communities, marking the start of his 200th birth anniversary celebrations.

Gandhi acknowledged Phule's dedication to protecting the rights of the marginalised and his struggle against discrimination and inequality.

A brief conversation initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi drew attention during a commemorative event for renowned social reformer Jyotirao Phule at the Parliament House complex here on Saturday.

The interaction stood out as the two leaders are rarely seen speaking to each other beyond exchanging pleasantries at such public events.

When the prime minister arrived to pay floral tributes at the statue of Phule on the occasion of his birth anniversary, several dignitaries, including Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, were standing in a row.

After greeting everyone with folded hands, Modi stopped near Gandhi and started talking to him.

Though it was not immediately known what they spoke about during their minute-long exchange, Gandhi was seen replying and nodding to Modi on a few occasions.

Gandhi was flanked by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union ministers J P Nadda, Virendra Kumar and Arjun Ram Meghwal, outgoing Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha and newly nominated Rajya Sabha MP Harivansh, among others.

The brief conversation also drew speculation on social media.

Tributes to Jyotirao Phule

After paying tributes, Modi wrote on 'X': Paid homage to Mahatma Phule in the Parliament complex. May his ideals continue to give strength and hope to countless people".

Prime Minister Modi described Phule as a visionary social reformer who dedicated his life to the ideals of equality, justice and education.

"He was also a pioneer in championing the rights of women and the marginalised. Through his efforts, education became a powerful instrument of empowerment," Modi said in another post.

The prime minister said this year marks the start of Phule's 200th birth anniversary celebrations.

"May his thoughts continue to guide everyone in the pursuit of societal progress," he said.

In a post, Gandhi said: "On the birth anniversary of the great social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule ji, I offer my humble homage to him".

"He dedicated his entire life to protecting the rights and entitlements of the marginalised. His struggle against discrimination and inequality showed the nation the path to equality and justice.

"His ideals and thoughts will forever continue to inspire us to move forward towards social justice," Gandhi said.
In Andhra Pradesh, India, police shot a 19-year-old murder suspect who allegedly attacked officers with a knife while being apprehended for the murder of a minor girl.

Key Points Police in Andhra Pradesh shot Venkateshwarlu, a 19-year-old murder suspect, after he allegedly attacked them with a knife.

Venkateshwarlu is accused of murdering a minor girl at her residence in Agraharam.

The incident occurred in the Ranibagh forest area, where Venkateshwarlu allegedly attempted to evade arrest.

Two police constables sustained injuries during the confrontation with the accused.

The accused is currently receiving treatment at RIMS, Kadapa, and faces charges including murder and assault on police officers.

Police opened fire on a 19-year-old man accused of murdering a minor girl by slitting her throat, an official said on Saturday.

Venkateshwarlu, a college student and "jilted lover", attacked the girl at her residence in Agraharam on Friday when she was alone, police said.

During an operation to apprehend him, the accused allegedly attempted to attack police personnel with a knife. In response, police opened fire, said Mydukuru Sub-Divisional Police Officer Rajendra Prasad.

"He tried to attack the police, and in that process, three rounds were fired. One bullet struck his leg, injuring him," Prasad told PTI.

The incident occurred in the Ranibagh forest area along the Mydukurua Badvel road at around 11.30 pm on Friday.

Two constables sustained injuries to their hands during the confrontation, police said.

The accused is currently undergoing treatment at RIMS, Kadapa.

Police have registered a case in connection with the attack on the constables and have also invoked relevant provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 103 related to murder.
A Pune-based television journalist is facing voyeurism charges after allegedly filming a woman without her consent at a local lodge, sparking a police investigation and condemnation from journalist organisations.

Key Points A TV journalist in Pune, Rohan Kadam, is accused of voyeurism for allegedly filming a woman without her consent.

The incident occurred at a lodge in Budhwar Peth, where the journalist claimed to be conducting a sting operation.

The woman filed a complaint after noticing she was being filmed through a partition wall.

The Pune Union of Working Journalists has urged police to take action against the journalist.

An FIR has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 77 (voyeurism) and 3(5) (common intention).

Police have registered a case of voyeurism against a television journalist in Pune for allegedly filming a woman in an objectionable position without her consent at a lodge in the city, officials said on Saturday.

The FIR was filed against Rohan Kadam under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 77 (voyeurism) and 3(5) (common intention) at the Vishrambaug police station here, while the complaint mentions that he was accompanied by three other journalists, they said.

The incident took place on April 8 when the accused had checked into a room at a lodge in Budhwar Peth, which houses a red light area.

In her complaint, the woman said that while she was wearing her saree after establishing "physical relations with a customer", she realised that an unidentified person was filming her through a net above the partition wall between the rooms.

She opened the door of her room and knocked on the adjacent door, asking the person to come out, the FIR said.

"The woman sought clarification from Kadam, who gave vague answers and refused to show his phone. When the lodge operator, the woman and others questioned him, he claimed that they were a group of four journalists conducting a sting operation," it said.

Police said Kadam was assaulted when he allegedly tried to flee from the spot.

The woman later approached the Vishrambaug police station and lodged a complaint.

"We have registered a case in this regard and further probe is on," a police officer said.

Journalists' Union Calls for Action

Meanwhile, the Pune Union of Working Journalists (PUWJ) has written a letter to city Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, seeking action against the journalist for the alleged act.

In the letter, the journalists' body said there were murmurs that some journalists and others were trying to ensure that no offence is registered in the matter.

"We do not agree with this and clarify that PUWJ will not come in the way of the probe," the letter stated.
Rajasthan's Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) conducted a major crackdown on illegal drug operations, seizing narcotics and arresting seven individuals across multiple districts in a coordinated effort to combat drug trafficking.

Key Points Rajasthan's ANTF seized narcotics and arrested seven people in coordinated raids across multiple districts.

Operation Ganjajuli led to the destruction of 5,860 cannabis plants and the seizure of 15 kg of ganja.

Police unearthed a large-scale illegal cannabis cultivation spread over six bighas in Rajsamand district.

The illegal cannabis crop, concealed within wheat fields, had an estimated market value of over Rs 10 crore.

One individual wanted by Gujarat Police for MD trafficking was apprehended in Pratapgarh.

The Rajasthan Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) conducted a series of coordinated raids at seven locations across districts in a single day, seizing large quantities of illegal narcotics and arresting seven accused, police said on Saturday.

Inspector General (ANTF) Vikas Kumar said the unit destroyed 5,860 cannabis plants, and seized around 15 kg of ganja and nearly 85 kg of poppy husk during operations across Rajsamand, Barmer, Kota, Jaipur and Pratapgarh districts.

Operation Ganjajuli Uncovers Large-Scale Cannabis Cultivation

The action came as part of 'Operation Ganjajuli', with a large-scale illegal cannabis cultivation spread over nearly six bighas of private land unearthed in Rajsamand district.

Around 5,860 cannabis plants were destroyed on the spot and 12.130 kg of processed cannabis was seized.

Officials said the illegal crop concealed within wheat fields in a hilly terrain had an estimated market value of over Rs 10 crore and could have yielded more than 2,000 kg of ganja.

The operation was conducted jointly with the Narcotics Control Bureau under the supervision of its zonal director Ghanshyam Soni.

Arrests and Further Action

Action against narcotics was also taken in other districts, with significant recoveries and several arrests.

In Pratapgarh, the team apprehended one Farid, wanted by Gujarat Police in a narcotics case involving MD (psychoactive drug) trafficking, police said, adding that the accused was handed over to Gujarat Police.
An assistant engineer in Rajasthan is under investigation after being caught with 3.7 lakh in unaccounted cash, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat corruption in the region.

Key Points Rajasthan's Anti-Corruption Bureau seized 3.7 lakh in unaccounted cash from an assistant engineer.

The engineer, Mahendra Singh, was intercepted near Hindaun City in Karauli district.

Singh failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the source of the money.

A detailed investigation will be carried out under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Rajasthan's Anti-Corruption Bureau during a surprise check on Saturday seized unaccounted cash of 3.70 lakh from an assistant engineer of a municipal body in Karauli district, official said.

The accused, Mahendra Singh, posted as an assistant engineer at the Anta municipality in Baran district, was intercepted during a checking operation near Hindaun City in Karauli.

DG ACB Govind Gupta said that the action was carried out following zxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxs possession. Singh failed to provide a satisfactory explanation or supporting documents regarding the source of the money, following which the amount was seized.

The ACB said questioning of the accused is underway, and a detailed investigation will be carried out under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Passengers on the Kolhapur-Mumbai Sahyadri Express experienced a terrifying ordeal as robbers halted the train by tampering with signals and looted their valuables in Maharashtra.

Key Points The Kolhapur-Mumbai Sahyadri Express was stopped by robbers who tampered with a signal in Maharashtra.

Passengers on the Sahyadri Express were robbed of valuables, including mobile phones and gold ornaments.

The incident occurred near Shenoli station in Karad taluka, close to the Satara-Sangli border.

Miraj Railway Police are investigating the Sahyadri Express robbery and attempting to identify the suspects.

A gang of robbers stopped the Kolhapur-Mumbai Sahyadri Express in Maharashtra's Satara district by tampering with a signal and looted valuables from passengers, police said.

The incident occurred around Friday midnight near Shenoli station in Karad taluka, close to the Satara-Sangli border, an official said.

The train came to a halt after the suspects apparently caused the signaling system to malfunction, he said.

They then boarded the train and robbed passengers of valuables including mobile phones and gold ornaments, the official said.

On being alerted, a team of Miraj Railway Police reached the spot and initiated a probe.

Efforts are on to identify and trace the accused, police said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah sharply criticised Mamata Banerjee's governance in West Bengal, promising to end corruption and bring development under a BJP government.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Amit Shah accuses Mamata Banerjee of playing the 'victim card' to gain sympathy votes in West Bengal.

Shah claims Banerjee's 15-year rule has led to the ruination of West Bengal, with industries leaving the state.

The BJP promises to end the 'syndicate raj' and ensure justice for women facing atrocities in West Bengal.

Shah assures employment opportunities for youth in Bengal, with a monthly allowance until they find work.

The BJP pledges to evict infiltrators and provide land for border fencing to stop infiltration into West Bengal.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of playing the "victim card" to gain sympathy votes and asserted that she had pushed the state towards destruction during her 15-year rule.

Addressing rallies at Chhatna and Onda in Bankura district and Baghmundi in Purulia, Shah said the BJP would end the TMC's "syndicate raj" if voted to power and ensure justice for women facing atrocities.

"Banerjee plays the victim card. At times, she wears a bandage on her leg or head. This time, even if you wear a bandage on your leg, head or hand, people of Bengal will not vote for you," he claimed.

During the eight-phase 2021 Assembly elections in Bengal, the TMC chief campaigned in a wheelchair with a plaster on her leg following an injury while canvassing at Nandigram.

"Banerjee has pushed Bengal towards ruination, 7,000 industries have left the state," he said at Baghmundi in Purulia district, maintaining that youths are forced to seek work in other states.

Shah said youth will get work within the state after the BJP forms the government in Bengal, and till they find employment, they will be given Rs 3,000 per month.

He asserted that the BJP will work towards making Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's dream of "Sonar Bangla" come true.

"We will work towards bringing back Bengal's lost glory under the leadership of Narendra Modi," Shah said.

Accusations of Corruption and Insecurity

Accusing the TMC of spreading the tentacles of 'syndicate raj' and the practice of demanding 'cut money' in every sphere, the BJP leader alleged that "goondas and infiltrators rule the roost".

"We will end the 'syndicate raj' of the TMC after winning the elections. The time has come to say 'tata bye bye to Hirak Rani'," he said, while addressing a rally at Onda.

Shah was referring to Satyajit Ray's classic 'Hirak Rajar Deshe' (The Kingdom of Diamonds), released in 1980. The movie, starring Utpal Dutt and Soumitra Chatterjee, is about a king who is an autocrat and tortures dissenters and his people.

Shah alleged that one has to "pay cut money to the ruling party or go through syndicates for everything in the state, from buying cement to sand".

He claimed that while Banerjee asked women not to venture out at night, a girl in BJP-ruled Assam can move out wearing gold ornaments even at 1 am without fear.

"A BJP government will ensure round-the-clock security for women in Bengal," he said.

Maintaining that the rape-murder of an on-duty doctor in state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital brought shame to Bengal, he claimed that women in the state's Sandeshkhali suffered atrocities for years at the hands of TMC goons.

"All those involved in atrocities on women during Banerjee's rule will be brought to justice," Shah asserted.

He also assured potato farmers that their produce will be sent across India, so that they get remunerative prices.

The state government had earlier imposed restrictions on selling potatoes to other states.

Promises of Change and Development

Shah also stated that infiltrators will be thrown out once the BJP comes to power in the state.

"India is not a 'dharamshala' (free guest house), and infiltrators who pose a threat to the country will be thrown out," Shah said.

He claimed that over 300 BJP workers had been killed in political violence in the state and assured action against those responsible.

Asserting that the Election Commission has made adequate arrangements for free and fair polls, he warned against any attempt to disrupt the process.

"We will ensure no TMC goon engages in mischief during the elections," he said.

Elections to the 294-member assembly will be held in two phases - on April 23 and April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.

He alleged that allotment of ration provided by the Modi government is not reaching poor people due to siphoning by middlemen.

"We will introduce a thumb impression system to ensure not a single gram of foodgrain goes to the hands of TMC's goons," he said.

Stating that no person from the Adivasi community had ever been appointed President before, he said the Modi government made Droupadi Murmu India's first Adivasi President.

"Mamata Banerjee insulted Murmu when she came to the state for an Adivasi programme," he said, appealing to the Adivasis in Bengal to avenge this by way of defeating Banerjee in the elections.

Shah said the BJP has decided to include Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution as soon as the saffron party forms a government in Bengal.

"Rajbangshi and Kurmali are important languages of Bengal, Assam and Jharkhand," he said.

Paying his respects to social reformer and educationist Jyotiba Phule on his 200th birth anniversary, Shah said that the central government has decided to bring several projects for the welfare of backward and Adivasi people of the country.

He said that the BJP will ensure that infiltrators are evicted once it comes to power in Bengal. He claimed that the BSF has been asking for land at the Indo-Bangladesh border to erect barbed fences, but the Banerjee government has denied this for the last 15 years.

"BJP has decided to give land for fencing to the BSF within 45 days of coming to power in the state for stopping infiltration," Shah said.

Claiming that Mamata Banerjee has not done anything in the last 15 years except preparing the ground for making "her nephew" the chief minister of the state, Shah said, "I want to tell her today that bhaipo (nephew) will never be able to become the chief minister; your time is complete."
Cathie Wood, head of Ark Investment Management, frequently adjusts her tech positions. She buys more when stock prices fall and trims when they rally, locking in short-term gains while sticking to her long-term vision.

Thats what she just did, adding shares of a megacap tech company thats down nearly 30% year-to-date.

Last year, the flagship Ark Innovation ETF gained 35.49%, far outpacing the S&P 500s return of 17.88% in the same period. But as of April 10, Woods flagship Ark Innovation ETF (ARKK) was down roughly 11% year to date, while the S&P 500 dropped 0.42%.

Wood gained a reputation after the Ark Innovation ETF delivered a 153% return in 2020. But her style also brings painful losses in bearish markets, as seen in 2022, when the Ark Innovation ETF tumbled more than 60%.

Those swings have weighed on Woods long-term gains. As of April 10, the Ark Innovation ETF has delivered a five-year annualized return of -10.7%, while the S&P 500 saw an annualized return of 12.2% over the same period, according to data from Morningstar.

Cathie Wood expects great acceleration from tech developments

Wood focuses on high-tech companies across artificial intelligence, blockchain, biomedical technology, and robotics. She thinks these businesses have strong growth potential, though their volatility often causes fluctuations in the Arks funds.

From 2014 to 2024, the Ark Innovation ETF wiped out $7 billion in investor wealth, according to a March 2025 analysis by Morningstars analyst Amy Arnott. That made it the third-biggest wealth destroyer among mutual funds and ETFs in Arnotts ranking. The analyst hasnt updated the 2025 ranking.

In a March 23 Bloomberg podcast, Wood says the global economy is not heading into a downturn, but into what she calls a great acceleration driven by AI and other breakthrough technologies.

Were not going into the Great Depression, were going into the great acceleration, Wood said, pointing to how past technological revolutions reshaped economic growth.

She noted that global real GDP growth averaged just 0.6% between 1500 and 1900, before the Industrial Revolution lifted it to around 3% for more than a century. Now, she argues, a new wave of innovation could push growth much higher.

Related: Federal reserve reveals troubling reality about wealthy Americans

We think [technologies] are going to take growth into the 7 to 8% range, Wood said, adding that the number may actually be conservative.

Wood also noted that AI is driving down costs across industries.

These technologies are deflationary, she said. AI training costs are dropping 75% per year, and inference costs are falling as much as 85% to even 98% annually.
Amidst ongoing diplomatic efforts, Donald Trump warns that the US is prepared to launch a significant military strike against Iran if upcoming peace negotiations in Islamabad fail to yield a positive outcome.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the James S Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 6, 2026. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/File Photo/Reuters

Key Points President Trump warns of potential military action against Iran if peace negotiations in Islamabad fail to produce a deal.

The US is reportedly mobilising military resources and enhancing strategic positioning in the region, preparing for potential conflict.

Vice President JD Vance is leading a US delegation to Islamabad for talks with Iran, emphasising the need for good faith negotiations.

Trump expresses concerns over Iran's trustworthiness regarding nuclear weapons commitments.

The US delegation includes Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, highlighting the high-level engagement in the peace process.

Amid diplomatic efforts to achieve a comprehensive solution to the hostilities in West Asia, United States President Donald Trump on Friday warned that the US is prepared to launch an intense military strike on Iran using its 'best ammunition' if peace negotiations in Islamabad fail.

In a phone interview with the New York Post, Trump indicated that clarity regarding the success of the negotiations would emerge within the next 24 hours.

"We're going to find out in about 24 hours. We're going to know soon," Trump said during the phone interview when asked whether he believed the talks would be successful.

US Signals Military Preparedness

Highlighting military preparedness, Trump stated that the United States has already begun mobilising its resources and enhancing its strategic positioning in the region.

"We have a reset going. We're loading up the ships with the best ammunition, the best weapons ever madeeven better than what we did previously, and we blew them apart," he said.

Emphasising the scale of the military build-up, he added, "But we're loading up the ships. We're loading up the ships with the best weapons ever made, even at a higher level than we used to do a complete decimation."

Warning of Action if Talks Fail

Trump further warned that failure to reach an agreement would lead to decisive military action by Washington, DC.

"And if we don't have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively," he added.

Raising concerns over Tehran's position, Trump told the New York Post, "You're dealing with people that we don't know whether or not they tell the truth."

"To our face, they're getting rid of all nuclear weapons, everything's gone. And then they go out to the press and say, 'No, we'd like to enrich.' So we'll find out," he added.

Vance Heads to Islamabad for Talks

Meanwhile, US Vice President J D Vance on Friday 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 his departure, Vance stated that the United States remains open to constructive engagement, provided 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.

High-Level US Delegation

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 President Trump, Jared Kushner, will be part of the delegation.

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.
Following the suspicious death of an inmate from burn injuries, three jail personnel in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, have been suspended, prompting a departmental inquiry.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Three jail personnel in Pratapgarh, including a deputy jailor, have been suspended after an inmate died from burn injuries.

The deceased inmate was an undertrial prisoner facing charges under rape and the POCSO Act.

A departmental inquiry has been ordered to investigate the circumstances surrounding the inmate's death.

Preliminary investigations suggest the incident may be a case of suicide, but a detailed investigation is underway.

The Director General of Prisons has suspended three personnel, including a deputy jailor, following the death of an inmate at the district jail in Pratapgarh, a jail official said on Saturday.

The inmate died on Friday after sustaining burn injuries inside the prison under suspicious circumstances.

District Jail Superintendent Rishabh Dwivedi identified the deceased as Deepak alias Rahul, an undertrial prisoner from Unnao who was facing charges under rape and the POCSO.

He has been in jail since November 1, 2025, following orders of a special POCSO court.

The suspended personnel include deputy jailor Dhruv Narayan Srivastava, chief warder (bandi rakshak) Akhilesh Singh, and another staff member, Prasad.

The DIG (Jails) has been directed to initiate a departmental inquiry.

"Prima facie, the incident appears to be a case of suicide. The inmate suffered critical burn injuries within the jail premises," Dwivedi said, adding that the exact sequence of events would be established after a detailed investigation.

The case against him had been registered at the Kandhai police station in Pratapgarh.

The body has been sent for postmortem examination, while a forensic team is conducting a probe.
A Muslim cleric in Deoband has been arrested by the UP ATS for allegedly using social media to spread inflammatory content and maintaining links with individuals in Pakistan, raising concerns about communal tension.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points UP ATS arrested a Muslim cleric, Mufti Zakir, in Deoband for allegedly sharing inflammatory social media posts.

The cleric is accused of inciting people by opposing CAA, NRC, the Ram Temple verdict, and other sensitive issues.

Mufti Zakir allegedly maintained contact with individuals and groups in Pakistan via WhatsApp.

Police are analysing the cleric's mobile phone records for spreading misinformation and rumours to foment communal tension.

The cleric was allegedly inspired by videos of jailed former JNU student Umar Khalid and harboured animosity towards those advocating Hindu-Muslim unity.

The UP ATS (Anti-Terrorist Squad) has arrested a mufti (Muslim cleric) from Deoband here for allegedly sharing inflammatory and objectionable posts on social media and maintaining contacts with individuals in Pakistan, police said on Saturday.

ATS Deoband In-charge Inspector Sudhir Ujjwal filed a formal report at the Deoband Police Station and stated that, after intelligence input, they raided 'Mil Wala Phatak' in Deoband and arrested the accused, Mufti Zakir.

Allegations Against the Cleric

The probe revealed that Mufi was posting messages and sharing content via social media to incite people by opposing CAA, NRC, UGC, SIR, the Ram Temple verdict, and actions taken during the "I Love Mohammed" protests.

Police registered an FIR against the accused and stated that Mufti Zakir appears to have been inspired by watching videos of jailed former JNU student Umar Khalid.

He also harbours animosity toward prominent ulemas (Islamic scholars) and politicians who advocate for Hindu-Muslim unity, said the report.

The ATS alleged that Mufti Zakir was in contact with individuals and groups in Pakistan via WhatsApp.

His mobile phone records are also being analysed as he was allegedly using it to spread misinformation and rumours, thereby fomenting communal tension.

Increased Security Measures

Local police has been placed on alert, and surveillance has been intensified in sensitive areas.

Rojant Tyagi, SHO of the Deoband Police Station, said the ATS is interrogating the accused.
As the negotiations continued, the Iranian government said on social media that "talks between Iran and the US in Islamabad entered the expert-level stage as economic, military, legal, and nuclear committees joined in".

IMAGE: Members of the media work as a screen displays news with images of Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meeting with US. Vice President JD Vance and separately with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, at a media centre set up for the coverage of the US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad on April 11, 2026. Photograph: Asim Hafeez/Reuters

Key Points Pakistan is facilitating indirect negotiations between Iran and the US in Islamabad, with the goal of achieving a ceasefire.

The talks are viewed as a significant step towards de-escalating tensions and fostering durable peace in the West Asia region.

Both US and Iranian delegations held separate meetings with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir prior to the negotiations.

The negotiations are taking place during a two-week halt in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, which commenced on February 28.

A US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance held historic face-to-face talks with top Iranian negotiators in Pakistan on Saturday to reach a peace agreement to end the war in West Asia that has paralysed global energy markets and disrupted trade.

The Pakistan-brokered talks -- the first direct, high-level engagement between the two sides since the 1979 Islamic Revolution -- are being watched globally amid increasing expectations of a breakthrough.

Ahead of the trilateral negotiations in Islamabad's Serena hotel, the Vance-led US team and the Iranian delegation headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf held separate meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

"After Pakistan PM Sharif held separate meetings with both the delegations, formal round of direct negotiations between Iran and the United States has officially begun," a senior Pakistani official told PTI.

Pakistan's State-run PTV said Iranian and US officials sat across the table for "landmark peace negotiations." The format of the talks was not very clear.

As the negotiations continued, the Iranian government said on social media that "talks between Iran and the US in Islamabad entered the expert-level stage as economic, military, legal, and nuclear committees joined in".

Without elaborating, it added that certain "technical details" are being finalised.

Sources in the Pakistani establishment said that the overall atmosphere in talks was "encouraging".

There were reports that talks may continue on Sunday if no breakthrough was achieved tonight.

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the negotiations have moved beyond general issues and entered technical-level discussions on "certain topics".

The US delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance, who is accompanied by President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

The Iranian delegation is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and also includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, along with other leaders.

IMAGE: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets with Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in Islamabad on April 11, 2026. Photograph: Office of the Iranian Parliament Speaker/West Asia News Agency/Reuters

Diplomatic Engagements

Earlier, both delegations were received at the Nur Khan airbase by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Minister for Interior, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi.

In his meeting with the Iranian delegation, Prime Minister Sharif affirmed Pakistan's sincere resolve to continue playing its role as a mediator towards achieving meaningful results from the peace talks.

Sharif, during his meeting with the American delegation, expressed hope that the talks between the US and Iran would lead to durable peace in West Asia.

IMAGE: US Vice President JD Vance talks with Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar after arriving for talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/Reuters

America First approach

In a related development, Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran's first vice president, said the peace talks could produce a deal if the American side worked in the interest of the US in sync with President Donald Trump's America First approach.

"However, if we face representatives of 'Israel First', there will be no deal," he said on social media.

Aref cautioned that the world will face "greater costs" if there was no peace deal.

Iran Set Preconditions

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency earlier reported that negotiations between Iran and the US will not begin until Tehran's "preconditions," including stopping Israeli hostilities against Lebanon and de-freezing of Iranian assets are met.

Quoting an "informed source", it later claimed that the American side has agreed to release Iran's frozen assets. However, there is no confirmation yet on the report.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf shared a photo from inside the aeroplane while en route to Pakistan. In the photograph, he is seen standing in front of images of the Minab School students killed in strikes, which were placed on the aeroplane seats.

"My companions on this flight - Minab 168," Ghalibaf posted on social media with the photograph.

Trump Warns Military Action

US President Donald Trump has already cautioned that the US will resume its military action against Iran if the talks do not produce a peace deal.

Before departing for Pakistan, Vance said he was looking forward to the negotiations and hoped they would be "positive".

"As the US president said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend an open hand. If they're going to try to play us, they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive," Vance said before boarding his plane for Islamabad.

Iran's Trust Issues With America

After his arrival in Islamabad early Saturday, Ghalibaf told reporters about the issue of trust with the US, reminding them of Iran's past experience with that country.

"Twice within less than a year, in the middle of negotiations, and despite the Iranian side's good faith, they attacked us," he said, adding: "We have goodwill, but we do not have trust (in Americans)."

He said if the American side is ready for a "genuine agreement," then it would see Tehran's readiness for it.

Iran has laid out a 10-point plan for the talks that included demands for the withdrawal of US forces from West Asia, the lifting of sanctions against Iran, and allowing it to control the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan's Role and Global Impact

Pakistan led the diplomatic push to bring the two sides to the table, which became possible after an appeal by Prime Minister Sharif earlier this week, leading to a pause in the fighting.

Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi, who held a telephone call with the country's ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Reza Shibani, earlier asserted that the US must live up to its ceasefire commitments, which he said included ensuring the truce covers Lebanon.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that the Israeli attacks on Lebanon "blatantly violated" the initial ceasefire and would render negotiations meaningless.

Heavy Security Blankets Islamabad

A thick security blanket covered Islamabad, which was on 'red alert' ahead of the 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 protected by the army and the Rangers, and only authorised officials and residents are allowed to go through it.

The Iran-US 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.
Amidst escalating regional tensions, Donald Trump has announced that the US is initiating a process to clear the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil corridor, to ensure the safe transit of energy supplies for countries worldwide.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One, at Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, Virginia on April 10, 2026. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Key Points Donald Trump announces the US is initiating a process to clear the Strait of Hormuz to ensure safe passage of energy supplies.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global crude oil exports, and instability there impacts global oil prices.

Trump criticises other nations for not taking action to protect the Strait of Hormuz themselves.

Trump claims Iran's military capacity has been significantly reduced, minimising regional threats in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump highlights that tankers are now travelling to the US to purchase crude oil, indicating a shift in global energy dynamics.

In a first since the Iran war began, United States navy destroyers crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, US media outlet Axios said.

The warships' passage was not coordinated with authorities in Tehran, the report said.

"We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said on his Truth Social platform, calling it "a favor" to countries such as China, Japan and France that "don't have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves."

'Clearing out Strait of Hormuz'

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has announced that the Washington is "starting the process" of clearing the Strait of Hormuz, a move aimed at securing one of the most vital maritime oil corridors in the world, amidst escalating regional friction.

In a statement shared on Truth Social, Trump positioned the initiative as a global service intended to guarantee the safe transit of energy supplies.

"We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to countries all over the world, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others," he said.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint situated between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, facilitates the passage of a major share of the world's crude exports.

Historically, any instability within this narrow waterway has led to significant fluctuations in global oil prices and a surge in maritime insurance premiums.

Trump took the opportunity to lambast other nations for their perceived hesitation in protecting the route, remarking, "Incredibly, they don't have the courage or will to do this work themselves."

While the President did not disclose specific operational plans, his comments indicate a strategic shift towards neutralising threats to merchant shipping, specifically risks posed by naval mines.

Any direct intervention to secure the waterway is expected to have profound geopolitical and economic consequences due to the involvement of various international powers.

Trump's Claims Regarding Iran's Military Strength

In the same post, Trump launched a scathing attack on media outlets, accusing them of bias and claiming they were incorrectly depicting Iran as "winning." He dismissed these reports as products of "Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS)," counter-arguing that Iran was actually "losing big."

He further claimed that Iran's military capacity has been decimated, asserting that its naval and aerial forces have been neutralised. According to Trump, the country's air defences, radar systems, and manufacturing hubs for missiles and drones have been largely obliterated. He added that prominent leadership figures are "no longer with us," though these assertions were not accompanied by specific evidence.

The US President characterised the remaining regional threats as minimal, suggesting that the primary danger to maritime traffic is the chance of vessels hitting sea mines. He further claimed that the assets used to deploy such mines had been eliminated.

Shift in Global Energy Dynamics

Additionally, Trump noted that tankers from various nations are currently voyaging to the United States to procure crude oil. He framed this as a shift in global energy dynamics, citing it as proof of international confidence in American resources despite the ongoing volatility in traditional transit routes.
A woman in Beed, India, is facing charges for allegedly blackmailing a doctor, driving him to suicide, after explicit content and threatening messages were discovered on his phone.

Key Points A doctor in Beed district died by suicide after allegedly being blackmailed.

Police have booked a woman for abetment of suicide and other offences.

Explicit chats and videos suggest the woman threatened to frame the doctor if he refused to marry her.

The doctor sent his mobile phone password to his brother before his death, leading to the discovery of the evidence.

A woman was booked in Beed district for allegedly blackmailing and threatening a doctor, who ended his life in distress, a police official said on Saturday.

Dr Mandar Dabhade, a resident doctor at Swami Ramanand Teerth Rural Government Medical College and Hospital in Ambajogai, hanged himself in his rented room in Rohidasnagar area on April 6, the official said.

"Dabhade sent his mobile phone password to his brother before ending his life. Upon accessing the device, explicit chats and videos sent by the accused to the doctor were found. She was allegedly threatening to commit suicide and frame him in the case if he refused to marry her," the official said.

Based on the complaint of Dabhade's brother Umesh, we have booked one Snehal Patil, a divorcee living in the same locality as the deceased, for abetment of suicide and other offences, the official said.
Trump criticised Iran for attempting to use international waterways for leverage, stating that the United States had restrained itself only to allow space for negotiations.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump gestures after deboarding from Air Force One as he returns from Virginia, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, on April 10, 2026. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Key Points Donald Trump asserts the US will not allow Iran to impose tolls on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, deeming it an international waterway.

Trump criticises Iran's proposal to levy transit fees on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipments.

An Iranian parliamentary proposal suggests transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz could be paid in Iran's national currency, the rial.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important maritime chokepoint, impacting international oil and trade flows.

United States President Donald Trump on Saturday asserted that Washington would not allow any attempt by Iran to impose tolls on vessels passing through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, describing it as an international waterway amid rising tensions with Tehran.

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews ahead of US Vice President J D Vance's departure, Trump dismissed the possibility of permitting any transit charges in the region.

"No, we're not going to allow that, it's international water. If they're doing that, we're not going to let that happen," he said.

Trump's remarks come a day after he strongly criticised Tehran over its reported proposal to levy transit fees on ships crossing the Strait, which serves as a vital artery for global oil shipments.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticised Iran for attempting to use international waterways for leverage, stating that the United States had restrained itself only to allow space for negotiations.

'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!'

Strait of Hormuz Transit Policies

The remarks come amid renewed debate over transit policies through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route.

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.

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.
A Youth Congress leader was brutally murdered in his Dharwad home, prompting a police investigation and raising concerns about political violence in the region.

Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points Fairoz Pathan, a Youth Congress leader, was murdered in his home in Dharwad, Karnataka.

Four unidentified assailants reportedly barged into Pathan's residence and attacked him with weapons.

The police are investigating the murder, using CCTV footage to identify and apprehend the suspects.

The motive behind the murder of the Youth Congress leader is currently unknown and under investigation.

A Youth Congress leader was allegedly killed by unidentified assailants after barging into his residence in the city, police said on Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Fairoz Pathan.

The incident took place at his house in the Hashminagar area on late Friday, creating panic among local residents.

Police said that four unidentified assailants barged into his house and attacked him with lethal weapons.

After committing the crime, the accused fled from the spot. The entire act has been captured on nearby CCTV cameras, providing crucial leads for the investigation, a senior police officer said.

Upon receiving information, police from the Sub-Urban Police Station rushed to the spot and conducted an inspection. The exact reason behind the murder is yet to be ascertained, he said.

Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to identify and apprehend the accused.
A Youth Congress leader was brutally murdered in his Dharwad home by unidentified assailants, prompting a police investigation and raising concerns about political violence in the region.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Fairoz Pathan, a 32-year-old Youth Congress leader, was murdered in his home in Dharwad, Karnataka.

Four unidentified assailants broke into Pathan's home and attacked him with weapons, leading to his death at the scene.

Police are investigating the murder, with CCTV footage providing crucial leads about the suspects involved.

The family of the victim alleges that the attackers assaulted others in the house and stole mobile phones.

Authorities are exploring all possible motives, including political rivalry or previous enmity, as part of a comprehensive investigation into the planned attack.

A Youth Congress leader was allegedly killed by unidentified assailants after barging into his residence in the city, police said on Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Fairoz Pathan (32), they said.

The incident took place at his house in the Malapur area on late Friday, creating panic among local residents.

Police said that four unidentified assailants barged into his house and attacked him with lethal weapons.

City Police Commissioner N Shashikumar said while he (Pathan) was at home, between 9.30 pm and 10 pm, around three to four people came there and assaulted him. Due to the attack, he suffered severe bleeding and died on the spot, as per the information received.

"We have already got some clues about the suspects, and our officers and staff have been assigned to trace them. Efforts are on to arrest the accused as soon as possible," he told reporters here.

Responding to reports suggesting political rivalry or previous enmity, and whether the family had mentioned any such angle, the officer said, "No. I spoke with his mother and his sister. They are only saying that whoever committed this act should be punished.

"We have not yet collected detailed information from them. Right now, family members and several leaders from their community have gathered here. They will lodge a complaint, and we will conduct a comprehensive investigation. Anyone who is directly or indirectly involved in the incident will be brought under the ambit of the law during the probe," the commissioner said.

"If someone enters a house and carries out an attack, it indicates that it might have been planned in an organised manner. We will conduct a thorough investigation to find out who planned it and who executed it. The probe will be comprehensive, and action will be taken to ensure such incidents do not recur," he added.

After committing the crime, the accused fled from the spot. The entire act has been captured on nearby CCTV cameras, providing crucial leads for the investigation, a senior police officer said.

Upon receiving information, police from the Sub-Urban Police Station rushed to the spot and conducted an inspection. The exact reason behind the murder is yet to be ascertained, he said.

According to the family, Pathan had married only about 15 days ago and was sitting outside his house when the incident occurred. His mother claimed that about four to five men arrived at the spot and approached him, following which he ran inside the house and bolted the door. However, the attackers broke open the door and entered the house armed with knives, she said, adding that everything had been captured on CCTV cameras.

The family alleged that the assailants assaulted Pathan and also attacked other people present in the house, including a woman, using whatever objects they could find. They also took away two mobile phones from the house.
Last quarter, Delta CEO Ed Bastian was touting record quarterly and full-year revenue, along with a strong growth forecast for the year ahead.

Three months later, the airline is sounding a more bearish tone, with the war in Iran throwing a wrench in the industry's plans.

In its first-quarter earnings, Delta beat and maintained its guidance but warned that it was too early to update its full-year 2026 projections.

But with good news on the company's overall health, CEO Ed Bastian made a series of predictions about how the recent war is affecting the domestic airline's ability to meet its original guidance.

Fares are going up (duh)

Delta reported that its fuel costs rose 8% year-over-year to $2.591 billion, but with the price of jet fuel more than doubling since the Iran conflict started, per data from IATA, CEO Ed Bastian says that the company's base assumption is that fares are going to continue rising.

Delta is in a uniquely strong position since it operates its own oil refinery in Pennsylvania, which is going to help it offset $300 million in the coming quarter, thanks to cost savings from handling its own refining.

Controversially, however, airfares might not come back down once the conflict is over. In remarks made on the company's Q1 earnings call, Bastian admitted that the airline will keep higher fares in place, even if fuel prices do settle down. In other words, the airline concedes that it could use the Iran conflict to permanently raise airfares.

Delta will cut back on growth, routes

Delta also plans to pare back on its growth plans, particularly on the fringes of its schedule. On the earnings call, the company said it would cut "capacity in off-peak times," such as edge-of-day, redeye, and midweek flights.

The thinking is that reducing the number of flights per day and packing capacity into higher-demand flying times will lead to more profitable flights. In anticipation of weaker demand from higher prices, Delta's plan is effectively to restrict supply. That will keep planes full and sustain profits.

Premium travelers will deal with it

Bastian's comments about prices have drawn controversy, but there is some rationalization: He insists that the airline's more premium customers are "immune" to higher prices.

He adds that the airline's premium customers have continued to book, adding that they are "candidly immune or becoming more immune to the headlines and not delaying their investments in the experience economy."

He adds that it's because the impacts on premium customers from the conflict in the Middle East have been marginal  that they are not "feeling affected by that." That could be because the stock market has soldiered higher on anything resembling good news, largely ignoring the long-term implications of a regional conflict with global economic repercussions.
China denounces U.S. move to sabotage bilateral normal sci-tech exchanges, cooperation

Xinhua) 16:47, April 10, 2026

BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Friday denounced U.S. move to sabotage normal scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, saying this will only dampen U.S. innovation.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily press briefing when answering a relevant question.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Revenue decline of 14.4% in Q4 was primarily attributed to a difficult year-over-year comparison against a significant order pull-forward in late 2024.

Management noted a 'whipsaw effect' in ordering patterns as customers paused activity in mid-2025 to assess the impact of major tariff shifts.

Gross margin expansion of 210 basis points was driven by a strategic shift toward higher-margin businesses within the Brands, Products, and Channels (BPC) framework.

Operating loss improved year-over-year due to the optimization of warehouse operations, a decrease in selling and distribution costs, and lower R&D spending.

The company is actively executing a 'China Plus One' strategy, securing new manufacturing partnerships in Thailand and other regions to mitigate trade policy risks.
WASHINGTON -- The United States has condemned Russia's latest actions against independent media following reports of new detentions and a high-profile newsroom raid in Moscow.

"We have seen the recent reports of two more journalists detained in Russia. The United States condemns any attempts to intimidate, harass, and punish journalists and independent voices for exercising fundamental rights to free speech and a free press," a State Department spokesperson told RFE/RL on April 10 in response to an inquiry about the developments.

"The United States considers freedom of expression to be a foundational component of a functioning democracy, a belief also reflected in Russia's own constitution," the spokesperson said, pointing specifically to Article 29, which guarantees "the freedom of ideas and speech" and protections for media from censorship.

"We urge the Russian government and courts to uphold this obligation to respect the fundamental freedom of expression, recognizing that societies are strengthened by the ability of individuals to express themselves freely without government reprisal or censorship," the spokesperson added.

Raid, Arrests, And Escalating Pressure

The comments come after Russian security forces raided the Moscow office of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta on April 9, detaining journalist Oleg Roldugin and seizing equipment and documents during a search that lasted more than 13 hours.

Authorities said the case relates to alleged "illegal use, transfer, or storage of information containing personal data," charges that could carry a prison sentence of up to six years. A Moscow court later ordered Roldugin held in pretrial detention until May 10. He has pleaded not guilty.

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.

The raid coincided with a ruling by Russia's Supreme Court labeling the prominent human rights group Memorial as extremist, further raising concerns about a widening crackdown on civil society.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, more than 10 staff members were held inside the Novaya Gazeta office during the search and were unable to communicate with the outside world for hours. The group called for Roldugin's immediate release and described the case as part of a broader pattern of pressure on the outlet.

Separately, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) detained a former freelance contributor to RFE/RL in the Siberian region of Chita on treason charges, accusing him of communicating with Ukrainian intelligence.

The man, reportedly identified by some outlets as Aleksandr Andreyev, last worked with RFE/RL more than a decade ago.

Longstanding Crackdown Intensifies

The latest actions are part of a broader crackdown that has intensified since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Authorities have revoked media licenses, designated outlets as "foreign agents" or "undesirable," and pursued criminal cases against journalists.

Treason charges, such as those brought against the former RFE/RL contributor, carry especially severe penalties. In 2023, President Vladimir Putin signed legislation increasing the maximum sentence for treason to life imprisonment.

Analysts and press freedom advocates say the latest developments reflect both continuity and escalation.

"By banning Memorial and raiding Novaya Gazeta, the Kremlin is accelerating its war on truth and history," said Natalia Arno, head of the US-based Free Russia Foundation.

"These are not isolated incidents, but part of a systematic dismantling of Russia's civil society -- one that has unfolded over more than two decades of Vladimir Putin's rule and intensified dramatically since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine," she told RFE/RL on April 10.

Arno added that authorities are also tightening control over the Internet, social media, and VPN access, arguing the measures are aimed at preventing people from "connecting, organizing, and demanding change."

For Clayton Weimers, executive director of Reporters Without Borders USA, the latest arrests and raid underscore a broader reality.

"Press freedom in Russia is a thing of the past," Weimers told RFE/RL on April 10. "These latest arrests are just the latest reminder that you cannot do journalism freely in that country anymore."

He noted that while independent reporting continues, much of it now operates from exile or under significant personal risk inside Russia.

Together, the raid, arrests, and legal actions suggest the Kremlin's campaign against independent media is not a departure from past practice, but rather a continuation -- and possible intensification -- of long-standing efforts to control information and suppress dissent.
Kyiv reported more than 450 violations of a 32-hour truce between Russia and Ukraine just hours after it came into force on April 11, following pledges by both countries to cease fire in light of Orthodox Easter.

The Ukrainian military said that at least 22 assault operations, 153 shelling incidents, 19 strikes by kamikaze drones, and 275 FPV drone strikes were carried out by Russian forces before 9 p.m.

While no immediate comment was made by the Kremlin, accusations of Ukraine violating the truce with drone strikes were made by the governors of Russia's border regions of Kursk and Belgorod.

"We understand who we're dealing with. Ukraine will maintain the cease-fire and respond in kind," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote earlier on the same day on Telegram.

The brief pause in fighting was meant to last until the end of April 12. It followed another round of overnight Russian strikes on Ukraine and a fresh prisoner exchange between Moscow and Kyiv.

The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia launched 160 drones at the country before the truce began. Local officials reported dozens injured across the country and at least two people killed in Ukraines major port city of Odesa, as well as in the Dnipropetrovsk and Kherson regions.

"It was a horror," a local Odesa resident told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service after the strikes. "I heard something flying and falling. I didn't realize what happened. It was a split second. My daughter run into me shouting that the place was on fire."

According to Serhiy Lysak, head of the Odesa military administration, the attack damaged private and multistory residential buildings, a local dormitory, and a kindergarten.

Russia's Defense Ministry also claimed it shot down 99 Ukrainian drones.

Separately, hours before the truce, the two sides exchanged 175 soldiers each. Zelenskyy said there were injured among those returned from Russia, adding the majority of those returned had been held by Moscow since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Andriy Yusov, Ukraine's deputy head of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that Kyiv was suggesting a broader exchange to Moscow, but it has refused some of the proposed initiatives.

Ukraine has also sought to prolong the Easter truce into a lasting cease-fire. The Kremlin rejected an idea on April 11, saying it will stay short-term and describing it only as a humanitarian measure.

During earlier precedents, both sides accused the other of using the time to resupply and redeploy troops, as well as of other incidents along one of the largest front lines in a conventional war since World War II.

Speaking to Current Time on April 10, some local residents in Ukraine's war-torn eastern city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region -- which was hit by Russian forces on April 11 -- said that while they were trying to be hopeful, they doubted 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 believe. We 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 conflict, now in its fifth year.
After nearly two years of suspended engagement under a multiyear strategic partnership, the United States has resumed high-level contact with Georgia. On March 30, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

While Tbilisi has framed the outreach as a possible "reset," many analysts say it is too early to draw such conclusions. Still, Washington appears to have reasons to re-engage.

Under President Donald Trump, US foreign policy has shown growing interest in strategic logistics corridors, and in that context Georgia's location remains relevant, analysts say.

"It suggests that Washington may still see room to influence the political and geopolitical direction of Anaklia port before it is irreversibly anchored in a Chinese-led direction," Vakhtang Partsvania, an economics professor at Caucasus School of Business in Tbilisi, told RFE/RL.

Relations deteriorated sharply after Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party adopted policies widely viewed in Washington as anti-democratic, including controversial legislation such as a "foreign agent" law and the use of force against protesters.

In response, in November 2024, the United States suspended its multiyear strategic partnership with Georgia.

Washington also imposed sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of Georgian Dream, along with other officials.

As Tbilisi went on to deepen its ties with China and maintain engagement with Russia, US attention increasingly shifted toward Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Anaklia Port: The Strategic Core

"I don't think that Georgia is a very big strategic priority for the US, but there might be various things Washington wants to do in this region that would better cooperation with the Georgian government," Joshua Kucera, a senior analyst at International Crisis Group, told RFE/RL. "That could be transit, and I think it's reasonable to guess that's the reason behind the visit to Anaklia and Poti," another major port.

Positioned between Russia and Iran and bordering the Black Sea, Georgia remains a key transit hub.

Washington has long viewed the country as part of the so-called Middle Corridor -- a trade route that links Europe and Asia while bypassing both Moscow and Tehran.

In the South Caucasus, the United States has backed the TRIPP project (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity), connecting Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan through Armenia and enabling goods from Asia to reach Europe.

Georgia's Black Sea ports would be critical to expanding that corridor and the Middle Corridor in general.

If completed, Anaklia would become Georgia's only deep-sea port capable of handling large cargo vessels, strengthening the Trans-Caspian International Transportation Route (TITR).

Initially, a US-Georgian consortium--the Anaklia Development Consortium (ADC)--won the bid. The Georgian government canceled the contract in 2020, citing unmet obligations. The project stalled for years, and in May 2024 Tbilisi selected a ChineseSingaporean consortium led by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) as its new private partner, though final contract details remain unclear.

Just days before the Rubio-Kobakhidze call, US State Department official Peter Andreoli visited the Anaklia port. Few details were disclosed, but Georgia's opposition party Lelo  Strong Georgia called for the port to be named after President Donald Trump and positioned as a hub in the proposed "Trump Route."

"Anaklia Port today is in an in-between state. The project has not been cancelled, construction activity is underway, and a Chinese consortium has been named as the preferred private investor. However, the absence of a publicly confirmed final contract means the project remains open. That is precisely why the recent US visit matters," Partsvania told RFE/RL.

"It cannot be excluded that Anaklia may become part of a wider strategic bargaining framework. This does not necessarily imply direct pressure, but rather a combination of incentives and expectations, where deeper political and economic engagement from the United States could be linked to limiting the role of Chinese actors in strategically sensitive infrastructure," Partsvania added.

"Washington recognizes that its policies regarding TRIPP and the South Caucasus more generally could suffer unless it has closer ties with Tbilisi," Paul Goble, an analyst at the Jamestown Foundation, told RFE/RL.

Iran Factor: A Secondary Driver?

The war in Iran is cited as another possible reason for renewed contact.

Just a day after the Rubio-Kobakhidze call, a US military aircraft -- a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III -- landed in Tbilisi.

The aircraft, typically used to transport troops, equipment, or humanitarian aid, arrived from Germany and later departed southward.

Kornely Kakachia, director of the Georgian Institute of Politics, said the United States may be reassessing Georgia's role in a shifting regional landscape.

"The refueling of jets...could be something like a minimal level of what the United States could expect from Georgia," Kakachia told RFE/RL.

The US Embassy in Tbilisi downplayed the development, saying such flights are routine and "not related to any regional tensions."

A Diminishing Role?

For years, Georgia's importance for Washington was tied to unresolved conflicts in the South Caucasus -- particularly between Armenia and Azerbaijan -- as well as its role as a transit corridor.

But as Baku and Yerevan move closer through a US-backed peace process, that leverage may be diminishing.

At the same time, new regional initiatives such as TRIPP risk sidelining Georgia from emerging trade routes.

US Vice President JD Vance notably skipped Tbilisi during his recent South Caucasus visit, underscoring the country's reduced diplomatic priority.

What Comes Next?

Despite Georgian Dream's framing, many in Washington remain skeptical that the Rubio call signals a genuine shift.

"It's striking that the State Department would pick up the phone now," said a senior Senate Democratic aide, speaking on condition of anonymity. "There's no clarity on policy, no clear objectives, and frankly, a lot of members of Congress are scratching their heads about why this call even happened."

Former US Ambassador Ian Kelly said the administration's approach reflects uncertainty rather than strategy.

"The Trump administration would be ambivalent at best about Georgia," Kelly said.

Laura Thornton, a former senior director at the McCain Institute, also questioned the significance of the outreach.

"The Trump administration is transactional. Without rare earth minerals, golden jets, or some other treasure to offer, [Georgia Dream] is unlikely to spark Trump's interest."

Georgia has signaled that more US visits could follow. But for now, Washington remains noncommittal.

"We have no visit to announce at this time," the US Embassy in Tbilisi said in a written response to RFE/RL's Georgian Service.

Alex Raufoglu and RFE/RL's Georgian Service contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON -- US Vice President JD Vance has stepped into the most consequential diplomatic challenge of his tenure, arriving in Islamabad to lead high-stakes negotiations with Iran.

These talks may ultimately determine whether a fragile, two-week cease-fire holds, or the region collapses back into renewed conflict.

The American delegation includes special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as well as officials from the National Security Council, State Department, and Pentagon. They face an Iranian team led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

Back in Washington, President Donald Trump has struck a dual tone of optimism and deterrence.

Speaking to reporters on April 10, Trump noted he expects progress that could "open up the Gulf with or without" a formal deal, while simultaneously warning that he would not allow Iran to effectively toll or control the Strait of Hormuz.

Yet, as negotiations are set to begin on April 11, the path to a lasting settlement remains deeply uncertain--shaped by competing pressures, regional conflict dynamics, and fundamental disagreements over the requirements for peace.

Negotiations Born of Pressure, Not Trust

For Ryan Bohl, senior Middle East and North Africa analyst at RANE risk intelligence company, the seriousness of the talks is not in doubt, but their outcome is far from guaranteed.

"The talks are serious," Bohl told RFE/RL on April 10, pointing to a diminished US appetite for prolonged conflict and Iran's urgent need for a pathway toward reconstruction and internal stability.

"But there remains uncertainty as to how much either side is willing to compromise."

In Bohl's assessment, both Washington and Tehran are negotiating under pressure, though the leverage is asymmetrical. Iran believes it holds a strategic advantage through its influence over the Strait of Hormuz and its higher tolerance for short-term strain.

"Iran's political will, in the near term, is not as weak as America's," Bohl said. "They seem to think they can leverage this to gain concessions."

That leverage is psychological as much as it is material. Bohl suggests Tehran is finding opportunity in Washington's inconsistent messaging.

"Tehran likely sees Washington's somewhat erratic communications as a sign of weakness and urgency," he said, adding that this emboldens them to push for concessions such as the unfreezing of assets for reconstruction.

At the same time, Trump's political calculus complicates the US position. Determined not to appear to be conceding to Tehran, the president may limit the flexibility required for a breakthrough, despite domestic vulnerabilities that Bohl suggests could weaken Washington's hand.

Hormuz: Strategic Asset Or Escalatory Trap?

This tension is most visible in the Strait of Hormuz, the vital artery for global energy that Iran has partially restricted.

Dan Arbell, a veteran of the Israeli Foreign Service and scholar-in-residence at American University, describes the situation as precarious.

"The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is still very much in place," Arbell told RFE/RL. While a "trickling passage" of ships continues, Iran has linked full restoration of transit to Israeli operations in Lebanon. "That is certainly undermining the current effort," Arbell added.

Bohl views Iran's posture as a calculated gamble.

"Iran has demonstrated it effectively controls Hormuz for now," he said. "But Trump may still believe he needs to use force to reopen it if Iran uses it as a bargaining chip for too long."

The result is a volatile equilibrium: a strategic chokehold that provides Tehran leverage but risks triggering the very military response it seeks to avoid.

The Lebanon Front: A Potential Deal-Breaker

Complicating the diplomacy is the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and Israel. Iran insists this front cannot be separated from a broader cease-fire.

Bohl underscores that Tehran views the group as essential to deterring future Israeli military campaigns: "Iran cannot let Hezbollah be picked off by the Israelis."

Arbell points to the ongoing violence as a primary obstacle. "Israel is bombing targets across Lebanon...while Hezbollah continues firing rockets into northern Israel," he said.

These developments pose a direct challenge to the Islamabad track.

Parallel efforts are under way to address this. The US State Department is expected to host ambassador-level talks between Israel and Lebanon on April 14 in Washington. However, Arbell warns that expectations should remain modest.

"We have to be realistic," Arbell said. "There will not be change overnight. This is a process." He said that while Israel's priority is the disarmament of Hezbollah, the militant group is unlikely to disarm without a broader regional shift.

US and Israel: Aligned, But Not Identical

A key point of friction lies in whether Israel's campaign in Lebanon should be tied to the US-Iran negotiations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought to preserve freedom of action against Hezbollah, but that position is shifting under American pressure.

"Israel was advocating not to tie the two," Arbell said. "But in recent days, it's clear the US is expecting Israel to deescalate...to avoid undermining the larger effort."

Arbell clarified that this is a "difference of approach" rather than a rupture in the alliance. While the US is focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and stabilizing global markets, Israel remains focused on degrading Hezbollah's capabilities.

He suggested a firmer US message to Netanyahu could emerge over the weekend, urging restraint to give diplomacy a chance.

Limits of Diplomacy And Need for Realism

The core of the negotiations remains anchored in long-standing US demands: curbs on Iran's nuclear program, limits on missile development, and an end to support for regional proxies like Hamas and the Houthis in Yemen.

Arbell cautions that the US cannot expect Iran to "change overnight" or surrender. He argues for a pragmatic approach: "The US needs to bring ideas that can be implemented and accepted. Otherwise, this will not happen."

Both analysts see a convergence of interests in pausing the conflict. Arbell noted that Iran needs "breathing space" to recover from the devastation of recent attacks.

Bohl, however, sees a risk of stalemate. "One realistic off-ramp is mutual exhaustion," he said. But he also warned of a less stable possibility: If Washington exhausts its political will before Tehran, Iran could retain informal control over the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining the ability to disrupt it again in the future.

Why Islamabad Holds the Key

While multiple diplomatic tracks exist, both experts agree that the Islamabad talks carry the most immediate weight.

"I think the Pakistan talks are more important," Arbell concluded. "What happens between the US and Iran has a greater impact on the overall situation." Unlike the complex Israel-Lebanon track, these negotiations could produce outcomes implemented within days.

For Vice President Vance, the moment is defining. Success could stabilize a volatile region and mark a major diplomatic achievement for the administration. Failure risks entrenching a cycle of conflict marked by recurring violence and persistent threats to the global economy.

As talks begin, the question is no longer whether both sides want an off-ramp, but whether they can agree on one before the balance between leverage and escalation collapses.
As recently as a decade ago, foreign automakers were planning on China's massive and growing automotive industry to turn into a second pillar of profitability, standing next to North America, to support long-term growth.

Unfortunately, China's automotive market pushed the boundaries of electric vehicles (EVs) more quickly than anticipated, and created a market that was roughly 50% new-energy vehicles -- and a market that foreign automakers such as Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) struggled to compete in.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue 

When life gives you lemons, you know what to do -- and Ford is leading the charge.

Lots and lots of lemons

Many investors following the automotive industry understand that China's auto industry has been stuck in a brutal price war, driven by an influx of competitors trying to carve out their niche in the growing EV market. That said, more data is coming in that emphasizes just how brutal this price war has been on profits.

Image source: Getty Images.

More than half of China's car dealerships became unprofitable just last year, with 56% of dealerships booking losses in 2025, up significantly from 42% in 2024, according to the China Automobile Dealers Association. However, when accounting for the number of dealerships merely breaking even, it looks even worse, with only 24% of dealers in China reporting a profit. The price war has forced 82% of dealerships to retail new vehicles at prices below wholesale, an unsustainable metric.

With the price war showing no signs of abating anytime soon, automakers were forced to switch gears, and quickly.

Making lemonade

With foreign automakers struggling to compete with domestic rivals in China, many have begun to switch to turning the country into a low-cost vehicle export hub, sometimes partnering with local producers to send outgoing vehicles with some of China's latest software and tech. Ford is one of the leaders in this shifting of gears.

In fact, just about a year ago, Ford CEO Jim Farley gave investors a glimpse at the difference the shift in priorities has made. After six straight annual losses in China, its operations turned a profit in 2024. While Ford long ago stopped being as transparent with data out of China, it's not too difficult to see what helped this profit boost. In 2024, Ford exports from China surged 60% to roughly 170,000 vehicles, compared to its wholesale deliveries with joint venture Changan Automobile Co. rising only 6% to 247,000 vehicles.
A solution is needed today as fuel protests continue to escalate, Sinn Fein TD Claire Kerrane has insisted.

Speaking this afternoon Deputy Kerrane claimed that "every time Micheal Martin opened his mouth this week, more people joined the ongoing fuel protests. Rather than de-escalating the situation, he and Government have added fuel to the fire all week."

Deputy Kerrane described farmers as "hardworking and decent" stressing that they weren't protesting for the fun of it, but rather out of desperation.

For hauliers and farm contractors, their livelihoods are on the line," she said. "Living on a farm, my whole life, I know that farming is difficult work - even on the good days when prices are good. And so, we need a solution today. The solutions being sought are temporary. Government need to do everything in their power to reduce taxes on fuel. Every possible lever that can be pulled now needs to be," she insisted.

Deputy Kerrane went on to ask what was the EU doing for Members States like Ireland. The Government have reminded us for two weeks now of their 250 million package. Spain have announced a package of 80 different measures worth 5 billion. Of course, I am not suggesting 5 billion needs to be spent but it shows how little the Irish Government have moved and it shows the need that is there," she said.

We have a wealthy country, we have to be able to support our farmers on the bad days. Otherwise, what is the wealth generated for? From day one of this war, Government have been too slow.

We need an announcement today that will end the protests and allow protesters to go home to their families," said Deputy Kerrane.
The family of 87-year-old Roosky farmer Liam Farrell, whose body was exhumed on Friday as part of a Garda cold case investigation, said this case was not just about their father but about elderly people living in Ireland "who should be able to live out their years in safety".

A Garda cold case team is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Mr Farrell's suspicious death at his home in Roosky six years ago.

He was found bloodied and bruised by family members at the back door of his house on January 12th 2020. His family firmly believes he was assaulted before suffering a heart attack.

On Friday, the Farrell family spoke to the media after their late father was exhumed at Bornacoola cemetery in Leitrim by members of the Garda Technical Bureau.

A post-mortem will now be carried out on Mr Farrell's remains, the results of which will remain confidential for operational reasons.

At yesterdays press briefing outside Bornacoola cemetery, Chief Superintendent Des McTiernan, who is heading up the cold case team, and the Farrell family renewed their public appeal for any information that may assist the investigation.

Son Peter said that "the attention of the country is on this case" and it "has to be solved".

Here is an excerpt from yesterdays briefing where sons Peter and Brendan address the media:
A technician and broadcaster with Midwest Radio who passed away peacefully at his County Roscommon home has been described by former colleagues as a gentle giant and an amazing guy.

Michael Neary, Milltown, Ballinlough, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family, following a long illness.

He first joined Midwest Radio in 1985  initially as a radio presenter  before combining his broadcasting skills with his technical abilities and played a central role in the stations technical department until 2010. After that, Michael continued to broadcast a variety of music programmes.

He had an extraordinary knowledge and love of all genres of music and his very popular weekly Saturday morning Country Music programmes recorded huge listenership figures. Apart from music, his other main passion was agriculture and he hosted the weekly farming programme  Farming Matters  every Wednesday night for over 10 years here on Midwest Radio, the station management said.

Michael was also instrumental in bringing many memorable outside broadcasts to listeners. He was the main engineer on Midwest Radios historic broadcast of Mass from the summit of Croagh Patrick in July 1989 and was responsible for the weekly broadcast of live Masses from various churches around the region for over two decades.

Due to his incredible technical skills Midwest Radio delivered a range of programmes to listeners by way of live outside broadcasts ranging from sport events, election counts, festivals and protests.

Michaels talents were many, but it was his lovely personality and wit that will be best remembered by the many who knew and loved him.

Listeners from across the region and beyond have been paying tribute to him, noting that it was a pleasure to tune into Michael's programmes, he had a lovely warmth about him.

Midwest Radio presenter and fellow Roscommon man Gerry Glennon, speaking on the stations Tommy Marren Show, described him as a genius and an amazing guy.

Its always said that a person is unique. Michael was unique  but as well as being unique, he was special, said Mr Glennon.

He had so many gifts, and he used those gifts so well. No one could ever say they had a row or a disagreement with Michael Neary. He was one of lifes gentlemen. He was a very private man, but a wonderful man, and hell be so sorely missed. But he has left us with a wonderful legacy.

Mr Glennon added that he had a ferocious desire to live throughout his illness, during which he was supported by his wonderful wife and children.

Presenter Tommy Marren also paid tribute, saying it had been a privilege to work with someone who was so even headed and knowledgeable.

Midwest Radio broadcaster Michael Commins in a Facebook tribute said that he understood rural Ireland and its people. He was steeped in his love for country music and Irish trad music and was embedded in the farming community, the bedrock of so much that is good in our native culture.

He was a treasure in the history of Midwest Radio and, hand on heart, was one of the nicest people that I had the pleasure of working alongside at the station all down through the years.

Pre-deceased by his father, Bob, baby niece, Michelle, father-in-law and mother-in-law, James & Mary Hickey, Greenwood, Ballyhaunis. Deeply regretted by his loving wife, Pauline; children, Sharon, Brian & Elaine; their partners Dan, Anne-Marie & Padraig; mother, Josephine; brother, John; sister ,Mary Raftery; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and his many friends, especially his lifelong friend Gerry.

Reposing at Donnellan's Funeral Home, Clare Street, Ballyhaunis on this evening , Saturday, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.. Funeral will arrive to St. Patrick's Church, Granlahan on Sunday for Mass at 12 o'clock, with burial afterwards in the local cemetery.
Hundreds of Rossie fans gathered in Times Square, New York this morning, Saturday on the famous red steps.

"The colour, the energy, and the unwavering support on the other side of the world says it all about the Rossie spirit," said Roscommon GAA ahead of Sunday's big match.

Roscommon GAA also paid tribute to the Roscommon players and management for joining in the photo  "a brilliant group representing the county with real class. Moments like this make you proud to be from Roscommon. Keep flying the flag," added Roscommon GAA.

Watch below as the Rossie gather in Time Square.
Kizim: between tradition and freedom

KIZIM, the latest film directed by Radu Potcoava, for the first time brings to the screen a story inspired by the Tatar community in Romania.

,    

Corina Sabau, 11.04.2026, 14:00

Based on a screenplay by Elias Ferchin, a well-known actor, director, and screenwriter of Tatar descent, the film marks the film debut of young actress Yeliz Meryem Mustafa. Yeliz plays the role of Selda, a teenager from a traditional Tatar family in Constanta who longs to enjoy her best high school years with her boyfriend and friends, but finds herself clashing with the prejudices of her conservative, tradition-bound parents. The script written by Elias Ferchin was inspired by his own childhood experiences in Poarta 6, a multicultural neighborhood in Constanta. The idea developed gradually as the actor started writing for the big screen, exploring the realities of his own community.

The film is inspired by personal feelings and experiences, by stories I heard within my family and the community I come from. I took bits and pieces from everywhere and tried to build a script that included elements of our traditions, which I felt was essential to showcase, especially since this is, after all, the first film about Tatars. This community is less known in Romania. I know many people who know next to nothing about it. That was, lets say, the first layer of the story. Then I focused on a love story, a forbidden romance between a Tatar girl and a Christian Romanian boy, and it was around this relationship that the entire screenplay revolves.

Kizim is simultaneously a story about teens, young love and the conflicts that arise when young people try to find their own path, as well as a journey into a lesser-known world. The film blends a universal coming-of-age story with a specific cultural context, and the balance between the two is vital to the narratives delivery.

I started with these two ideas from the beginning, and they intertwined quite naturally during the writing process. Coming of age is a fascinating subject when it comes to teenagers. The issues we presented in the film arent necessarily exclusive to this particular community or this age group: they happen everywhere, they are universally valid. I integrated them organically into the script. Then, with Radu Potcoavas contribution, we managed to focus more on the group of teens, to really highlight them. After all, their generation is important, with all the mistakes, misunderstandings, problems, and awkwardness typical of their age. We tried to depict them as they really are, so that we, as parents, can understand them and have some food for thought at the end of the film.

For the director Radu Potcoava, an important challenge in Kzim was the way in which the coming-of-age story takes shape within the cultural context in which it is born. Because the film is not just about a community or just about puppy love, but about how these two planes converge into a universal story:

I think that was actually the main point of negotiation between myself and Elias, because I felt that this balance was very important. The film was not supposed to be just about the Tatar community, but neither was it intended to focus exclusively on this coming-of-age story. We had to find that very fine balance between the two. Obviously, the first love is a universal story and things could have turned out the same no matter where in the world it took place. Ive heard many parents scorn their childs partner. I think thats actually the main point of the film. Its about trust and communication between parents and teenagers, but also between teenagers and parents. I think things go both ways and I think thats healthy. Because, look, Selda comes from a traditional Tatar family, where things are very clear, although there is still a small loophole. Her boyfriend, Tudor, on the other hand, comes from an open-minded, very relaxed Romanian family. And yet, at some point Tudor suffers much more during the story. Basically, something even harder happens to him than to Selda. This shows that even the very relaxed or too open-minded parental model does not always work.

The films carefully chosen cast brings together both young and established actors. Apart from Yeliz Meryem Mustafa, the cast includes Judith State, Matei Saizescu, Tudor Chirila, Amuly, Anastasia Udrea, Luca Adrian Fieraru, Tudor Milan Palade and Bogdan Farcas. (VP & AMP)
5-11 April 2026

Holy Week for Orthodox Christians.

The Week in Review

Radio Romania International, 11.04.2026, 14:00

Holy Week for Orthodox Christians.

Orthodox Christians (the majority in Romania) and Greek Catholics began Holy Week on Monday, the final week before Easter, during which they commemorate the Passion of the Savior. Christians are preparing to celebrate the great feast of the Saviors Resurrection, on Sunday, April 12. Roman Catholics and Protestants around the world celebrated Easter on April 5.

Discussions regarding fuel prices took place in Bucharest.

After capping the mark-up on gasoline and diesel, the government in Bucharest decided to reduce the excise duty on diesel, the most widely used fuel and the one whose price has risen the most recently, against the background of the war in Iran. The new prices took effect on Tuesday and have dropped only slightly at most gas stations in Romania. The situation on the fuel market was discussed on Monday at a meeting convened by President Nicusor Dan to analyse the supply of crude oil and fuel in the context of international developments stemming from the war in Iran. Romania is not currently facing difficulties regarding crude oil and fuel supplies, the Presidential Administration states. The measures that have come into effect are valid until the end of June. On the other hand, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced five strategic directions for increasing electricity production: eliminating speculative technical connection permits that drive up electricity prices, improving the performance of state-owned companies, reducing distortions in the energy market, increasing storage capacity, and supporting strategic investments. He emphasized that speculative investors must be removed from the market, and state-owned companies in the sector must have clearer performance indicators.

The SRI is assisting in thwarting a cyberattack.

The FBI, together with several European partners, including the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI), announced the dismantling of a prolonged cyberattack targeting sensitive infrastructure in several Western countries. The U.S. Department of Justice announced that it had carried out a court-authorized operation to disrupt a network controlled by Russias Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). According to the cited source, the network carried out hijacking operations against targets worldwide, including individuals in the military, government, and critical infrastructure sectors. GRU actors compromised routers in the U.S. and around the world, hijacking them to conduct espionage activities.

The head of state appointed the new heads of the major prosecution offices.

President Nicusor Dan has appointed the new heads of Romanias major prosecution offices. Thus, Viorel Cerbu is the new chief prosecutor of the National Anti-corruption Directorate, (DNA), Codrin Miron will lead the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), and Cristina Chiriac is Romanias Prosecutor General. What I expect from the prosecutors offices and their heads is a revitalization of their work to meet Romanians expectations, said the head of state. Regarding DIICOT, he specified that he wants to see major drug and tax evasion networks dismantled. The Save Romania Union (in the coalition government) believes that these appointments should have been accompanied by a process that unequivocally inspires trust and transparency, and argue that they bear the mark of the PSD, the main partner in the four-party coalition.

The Mangalia Shipyard is in bankruptcy.

Romanias heavy industry has been dealt a blow by the closure of the Damen Mangalia Shipyard on the Black Sea, the countrys largest industrial shipbuilding facility and one of the most important in Europe, which is now in bankruptcy. The shipyard had been in insolvency since June 2024, and due to a lack of orders, the situation had become critical. The National Trade Union Bloc warned that this situation is causing a major social impact at the local level and requires urgent attention from the Romanian government. In fact, employees protested in front of the companys headquarters, dissatisfied and worried that they would be forced to look for new jobs. Economy Minister Irineu Darau stated that the state will seek solutions to protect the countrys strategic interests in the shipbuilding industry. In 2018, Damen invested in the Mangalia Shipyard, acquiring a majority stake from the Korean company Daewoo, and then agreed to transfer 2% of the shares to the Romanian state so that it could become the majority shareholder with 51%, on the condition that the Dutch partner retain operational and managerial control of the shipyard.

Romanian football coach Mircea Lucescu passed away

Mircea Lucescu, the most successful coach in the history of Romanian football , died at the age of 80. He had been hospitalized in Bucharest and was in a coma after suffering an acute myocardial infarction on April 3. Born in 1945 in Bucharest, he served as head coach of the Romanian national football team from 1981 to 1986, during which time he led the team to qualification for the 1984 European Championship in France. Lucescu coached in Italy, Turkey, and Ukraine, where he won the UEFA Cup with Shakhtar Donetsk. In Romania, he led Dinamo and Rapid Bucharest to success. Lucescu also coached the Turkish national football team. He is the third most successful coach in the history of world soccer, with 36 trophies, surpassed only by Spains Pep Guardiola and Scotlands Sir Alex Ferguson. In 2024, Lucescu returned as coach of the Romanian national team. Figures from the world of sports, current and former football players, politicians, diplomats, and businesspeople mourned the death of the Romanian coach. (MI)
Kia Seltos has been launched in India and it has emerged as a hot cake for SUV buyers. With an all-new platform, new exterior design language and one of segments best interiors, new Seltos could be a complete package for many. Even in terms of safety, Kia Seltos has now aced the Bharat NCAP charts in this segment.

Missing piece in this puzzle is a hybrid powertrain, which is slated to launch by 2026 end globally and probably in 2027 for the Indian market. Kia Seltos Hybrid has been showcased at the New York Auto Show some time ago and has been demonstrated in a video by Kia Hyundai Channel. Lets take a closer look.

Kia Seltos Hybrid Walkaround

On the outside, Kia Seltos Hybrid showcased for US market looks more or less the same as the Indian model. Primary differentiator is that US model gets yellow LED DRLs, which is white for India. We get a 360-degree camera system, which US-spec Seltos Hybrid misses out on. Wheels top out at 18-inch over here, which goes till 19-inches with US model.

Specific to Seltos Hybrid, we get a front speaker which will alert surroundings when in pure EV mode. Under the bonnet, we can see a Hybrid engine with Hybrid and Smartstream G branding on the engine cover. We can see orange high-voltage cables in the engine bay. It has to be noted that US model does not get gas struts like Indian model does.

Kia Seltos Hybrid for USA misses out on a panoramic sunroof, but gets a powered tailgate. Other notable changes include a new steering column where gear selector has been shifted and then a new centre console where we can see larger cupholders that are adjustable as well. Sporty seats with Type-C ports and physical buttons for climate control are common, though.

Also common is the 30-inch Trinity display that incorporates a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 5-inch climate control touchscreen. The steering wheel gets a multitude of physical buttons and dials for audio, cruise control, ADAS features, instrumentation and even Drive and Terrain modes. A comprehensive ADAS suite is present too.

Specs, Mileage

The exact performance metrics of Kia Seltos Hybrid are not revealed yet. Engine displacement is around 1.6L and it is a 4-cylinder unit. This is a self-charging hybrid system and not a plug-in hybrid system, which means pure electric range will be insignificant. Peak combined system performance is speculated to be around 140 bhp and 265 Nm, mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Seltos Hybrid will miss out on a spare wheel and offers a slightly smaller boot.

Kia Seltos Hybrid is set to launch in USA by 2026 end for 2027 model year. It will be offered with X Line trim only. India launch is expected to happen in 2027. The vehicle showed in the video is a pre-production unit and production model might get a slightly different equipment list.














April 10 (Reuters) - Global equity fund inflows nearly doubled in the week through April 8 as a two-week Middle East ceasefire raised hopes of a resumption of shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Investors pumped a net $23.47 billion into global equity funds, when compared with net acquisitions of approximately $12.11 billion in the prior week, LSEG Lipper data showed.

More from Yahoo Scout What sectors attracted the most investor interest? Which regions saw the strongest investment flows? How did bond funds perform during this period? What caused global equity fund inflows to double?

Asian shares were on track for the best week in more than three years, with gains of over 7%.

U.S. equity funds attracted $9.76 billion, a nearly 80% increase in inflows from $5.42 billion in net purchases the previous week. European and Asian funds also attracted $9.1 billion and $2 billion of net inflows.

For equity sectoral funds, net purchases reached $4.79 billion, the highest since February 18. Investors injected a net $3.88 billion, $1.36 billion and $530 million, respectively into tech, industrial and utility sector funds.

Global bond funds had weekly net investments of $13.87 billion, partly reversing $19.25 billion of outflows the week before.

Short-term bond funds and government bond funds gained $7.5 billion and $3.4 billion, respectively on a net basis after a week of outflows.

After a gap of two weeks, money market funds also attracted inflows of $72.05 billion.

On the commodities markets, gold and other precious metals commodity funds attracted their second successive weekly inflow, totalling a net $1.9 billion.

Emerging markets, meanwhile, witnessed a revival of buying interest as investors pumped $2.77 billion into equities and $228 million into bonds after four successive weekly net sales, data for a combined 28,765 funds showed.

(Reporting by Gaurav Dogra; editing by Barbara Lewis)
Intel (INTC) stock is a shining example of how fast things can move in stock markets. In 2024, the chip giant fell 60% to log its worst-ever year in its over five-decade-old history as a listed company. However, the companys fortunes changed last year, and while it dipped to a multi-year low, it closed the year with gains of 84%. The rally has continued into 2026, and the stock is up over 60% for the year despite all the noise over the war in Iran and soaring energy prices. INTC stock has more than tripled from its last years lows in what has been a remarkable turnaround.

www.barchart.com

Several factors have supported Intels rally. Last year, within a span of a few weeks, SoftBank (SFTBY) and Nvidia (NVDA) announced billions of dollars in investment in the company, while the U.S. government converted its grants into equity, taking a nearly 10% stake in the company in the bargain.

More News from Barchart

These investments helped bring the much-needed cash to Intels coffers and somewhat addressed the issue of cash burn. Another issue the company was facing was regarding its foundry business, where it hadnt been able to secure major customers despite plowing billions of dollars.

Intel Partners With Musks Terafab

However, there has been some progress on that front, and the company has joined Elon Musks ambitious "Terafab" project to develop and manufacture advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips for Tesla (TSLA), SpaceX, and xAI. The partnership looks like a watershed moment for Intel and is a strong validation of its foundry capabilities.

Intel is also reportedly in talks with Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL) and Amazon (AMZN) for advanced chip packaging services. While these reports are not confirmed, and rumors of Intel partnering with Apple (AAPL) have been doing the rounds for the last few months, the current reports look a lot more credible if we connect the dots. During the Morgan Stanley TMT conference last month, Intel CFO Dave Zinsner said, We're actually close to closing some deals that are in the billions of dollars per year in terms of revenue on packaging.

Intels Valuations Might Appear Stretched

With foundry deals and capital raises, Intel has addressed two of the issues that had been plaguing the company and, by extension, its stock price. Meanwhile, another factor that helped spur the rally in Intel was its really cheap valuations, where it was even trading below its book value at the trough and looked like a bargain. The multiple has since risen to nearly 2x amid the monster rally in INTC stock.
If you rely on Social Security, youre now one of the top targets for scammersand the tactics are getting more convincing by the day. Federal agencies are warning that fraud aimed at older Americans is rising fast, with billions lost annually and new schemes appearing constantly.

What makes these scams especially dangerous is how real they look and sound, often mimicking government agencies or even loved ones. Many retirees dont realize theyve been targeted until money is already gone. The good news is that once you understand how these scams work, you can spot them before they do damage. Here are three of the newest and most dangerous Social Security scams retirees must avoid right now.

1. Government Impersonation Scams That Use Fear and Urgency

One of the fastest-growing threats involves scammers pretending to be from the Social Security Administration or other government agencies. These criminals often call, email, or text claiming theres a problem with your Social Security number or benefits. They may use official-sounding language, fake badge numbers, and even spoofed caller IDs to appear legitimate.

The goal is to create panic so you act quickly without thinking, often demanding immediate payment or personal information. In many cases, victims are told they must pay fines or risk losing their benefits entirely. Authorities stress that real government agencies will never threaten you or demand payment through gift cards or wire transfers. This is one of the most common Social Security scams todayand one of the most successful because it plays on fear.

2. AI Voice and Deepfake Scams That Sound Shockingly Real

A newer and more alarming trend involves scammers using artificial intelligence to clone voices or create realistic messages. These scams can sound like a government official, a bank representative, or even a family member in distress. AI allows criminals to create highly personalized and believable scenarios that are much harder to detect than older scams.

In some cases, retirees receive calls that sound completely natural, with no obvious red flags like robotic speech or poor grammar. Scammers gather personal details from social media or data breaches to make their stories even more convincing. This can lead victims to send money quickly, believing the situation is urgent and real. These advanced Social Security scams are particularly dangerous because they remove the usual warning signs people rely on.

3. Fake Emails and Texts Offering Social Security Updates

Another rapidly spreading scam involves emails or texts that look like official Social Security communications. These messages may claim to provide updated benefit statements or alert you to a supposed issue with your account. Clicking the link often leads to a fake website designed to steal your personal information or install malware.

Some messages even use real employee names or official logos to appear authentic. Once scammers gain access to your data, they can commit identity theft or drain financial accounts. These phishing-style Social Security scams are especially effective because they appear routine and harmless. If you didnt request the information, its safest to assume the message is fraudulent.

How to Protect Yourself From These Social Security Scams

The most important rule is simple: never share personal or financial information with unsolicited contacts. If someone claims to be from Social Security, hang up and contact the agency directly using an official number. Avoid clicking links in unexpected emails or texts, even if they look legitimate.

Always verify urgent claims with a trusted family member or financial advisor before taking action. Consider setting up account alerts and using multi-factor authentication for added security.

Finally, report suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities so others can be protected as well. Taking these steps can dramatically reduce your risk of falling victim to Social Security scams.

The reality is that Social Security scams are not slowing downtheyre evolving. From impersonation calls to AI-generated voices and convincing phishing messages, todays scams are designed to look and feel real. But the more you understand these tactics, the harder it becomes for scammers to succeed.

Have you or someone you know received a suspicious Social Security call, text, or email recently?

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If youre counting on a fast tax refund this year, you may want to prepare for delaysand frustration. Experts warn that the IRS is entering the 2026 filing season with fewer workers, more complex tax rules, and major system changes that could slow everything down. For millions of Americans, that means longer wait times for refunds and less access to help when something goes wrong. Even simple issues could take weeks to resolve, especially during peak filing season. Heres whats really happeningand how you can avoid getting stuck in the backlog of IRS refund delays.

IRS Staffing Cuts Are Slowing Down Everything

One of the biggest reasons for IRS refund delays in 2026 is a significant drop in staffing. Reports show the IRS workforce is down by roughly 27%, leaving fewer employees to process returns and assist taxpayers.

This means fewer people answering phones, reviewing returns, and resolving issues. In fact, the agency also missed hiring targets for seasonal workers, which are critical during tax season. As a result, even routine filings could take longer than usual to process.

Getting Help From the IRS May Take Much Longer

If you need to contact the IRS this year, be prepared to wait. Experts say longer phone hold times and reduced customer service are already affecting taxpayers.

With fewer trained representatives available, many calls are being routed or delayed instead of being resolved quickly.

This can be especially frustrating if your return has an issue that requires manual review. Even simple questions may take multiple attempts to get answered.

Paper Returns and Errors Are Facing Major Backlogs

Not all tax returns are treated equally when it comes to processing speed. Paper filings, amended returns, and returns with errors are much more likely to be delayed. These types of returns require manual handling, which is harder with reduced staff.

Backlogs are already building, with hundreds of thousands of returns waiting to be processed. Even small mistakeslike mismatched informationcan trigger additional delays. If your return falls into one of these categories, IRS refund delays could stretch far beyond the typical timeline.

New Payment Rules Could Freeze or Delay Refunds

Changes to how refunds are issued are also contributing to delays this year. The IRS is moving away from paper checks and prioritizing direct deposit payments. If your bank information is missing or incorrect, your refund could be frozen until the issue is resolved.

In some cases, taxpayers may wait weeksor even monthsbefore receiving their money. This shift is intended to modernize the system, but its creating short-term complications.

What You Can Do to Avoid IRS Refund Delays

While some delays are out of your control, there are steps you can take to protect yourself. Filing electronically with direct deposit remains the fastest way to receive your refund.

Double-check your return for errors before submitting it to avoid unnecessary reviews. Make sure your bank information is accurate to prevent payment issues. If you receive a notice from the IRS, respond as quickly as possible to avoid additional delays.

Why This Tax Season Requires Extra Patience and Planning

This years tax season is shaping up to be more challenging than usual, and IRS refund delays are a reality many taxpayers will face. With fewer workers, new policies, and increased demand for assistance, the system is under pressure. While most straightforward returns may still be processed within a few weeks, anything outside the norm could take much longer. The key is to plan ahead, file early, and stay informed throughout the process.

Have you experienced IRS refund delays this yearor are you still waiting on your refund?

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IRS Rules Explained: When Pets, Beer, and Even Body Oil Can Be Legal Tax Write-Offs
If youre considering hiring a caregiver in Harris County, you may want to pause before signing any agreement. New data and growing concerns across Texas suggest billing complaints tied to home care services are rising, leaving many seniors and families facing unexpected costs. While caregivers provide essential support, the industry is under pressure from staffing shortages, rising wages, and increased demand. These pressures can sometimes lead to billing confusion, disputes, or even overcharges. Heres what people in Harris County (Texas) need to know now.

Why Caregiver Billing Complaints Are Increasing

Billing complaints in the home care industry are rising for several reasons, and its not always due to intentional wrongdoing. Agencies are dealing with staffing shortages, which can lead to inconsistent scheduling and billing discrepancies. In Texas, caregiver shortages are severe, with some providers reporting vacancy rates as high as 30%.

When staffing is unstable, tracking hours and services becomes more complicated. At the same time, administrative systems havent always kept up with growing demand. This combination increases the likelihood of billing errors or disputes.

How Rising Costs Are Changing the Caregiving Industry

The cost of caregiving is rising rapidly, and thats impacting how services are billed. Texas has already increased reimbursement rates to support higher caregiver wages, averaging around $13 per hour under recent policy changes. While higher pay helps attract workers, it also raises the overall cost of care.

Agencies may pass these increases on to clients through higher hourly rates or additional fees. In some cases, billing structures become more complex to account for overtime or specialized care.

The Most Common Billing Issues Seniors Are Reporting

Understanding the most common billing complaints can help you spot problems early. One frequent issue is being charged for hours that were never worked or services that werent provided.

Another common complaint involves unclear pricing structures, where fees are not fully explained up front. Some families report being billed for last-minute schedule changes they didnt request. There are also cases of duplicate charges or inconsistent weekly totals.

Warning Signs You Should Never Ignore

Before hiring a caregiver or agency, there are red flags that can help you avoid future problems. Be cautious if a provider refuses to give a clear, written breakdown of costs. Vague contracts or missing details about hourly rates, overtime, or additional fees are major warning signs.

Watch for inconsistent communication about scheduling or services provided. If invoices frequently change without explanation, thats another red flag.

Taking a few proactive steps can significantly reduce your risk of billing issues. Heres what you can do

Always request a detailed written contract outlining services, rates, and billing policies. Ask how hours are tracked and how disputes are handled if discrepancies arise. Keep your own records of caregiver hours and services to compare with invoices. Consider working with licensed agencies that have clear oversight and accountability.

If you notice something off in your billing, act quickly to address the issue. Start by contacting the agency and requesting a detailed explanation of the charges.

Keep documentation of all communications and invoices for reference. If the issue isnt resolved, you may need to escalate the complaint to local consumer protection agencies. In Harris County, reporting concerns can help identify patterns and protect other seniors.

Protecting Your Finances Starts Before You Sign the Contract

Hiring a caregiver is often a necessary step, but it shouldnt come with financial surprises. With rising costs and increasing billing complaints, seniors in Harris County need to be more vigilant than ever. The key is to ask questions, review every detail, and stay involved in the billing process. Even small discrepancies can add up over time, especially with long-term care.

Have you or a loved one experienced billing issues with a caregiver or home care agency?

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A new scam is quietly targeting older adults in Maryland, and its catching many off guard because it looks so routine. Imagine getting a simple text warning that your water service may be shut off unless you pay a small fee immediatelyit feels urgent, believable, and easy to fix. Thats exactly why scammers are using this tactic, especially in areas like Howard County, where local alerts feel familiar. These messages are part of a growing wave of smishing scams designed to steal personal and financial information. If you or a loved one is over 60, understanding this water service text scam Maryland threat could save you from becoming the next victim.

What the Water Service Text Scam Looks Like

The water service text scam Maryland residents are seeing usually arrives as a short, urgent message. It may claim your water bill is overdue or that your service will be interrupted unless you click a link and pay immediately. These texts often look official, using logos, account numbers, or language that mimics local utilities. In reality, they are designed to trick you into entering sensitive information like credit card details or login credentials. Officials warn that scammers increasingly use text messages because they feel more immediate and personal than email. According to local consumer protection resources, these are classic smishing attempts meant to steal money or data.

Why Seniors Are Being Targeted More Often

Scammers are not choosing victims randomlythey are deliberately targeting older adults. Data shows people over 60 report some of the highest financial losses from fraud each year.

Many seniors have stable income sources like Social Security, making them attractive targets. Theres also a trust factor, as older generations are more likely to respond to messages that appear to come from government or utility services. In some cases, scammers rely on unfamiliarity with newer technology like text-based billing alerts. The combination of trust, routine, and urgency creates the perfect setup for fraud.

How the Scam Tricks Even Careful People

What makes the water service text scam in Maryland so effective is how ordinary it feels. The message usually asks for a small payment, which lowers suspicion compared to large, dramatic scams. It often includes a link to a fake website that looks nearly identical to a real utility payment portal. Once victims enter their information, scammers can quickly access bank accounts or credit cards. Experts warn that these scams rely on urgency, pushing people to act before thinking. Local officials emphasize that legitimate agencies rarely demand immediate payment via text.

Red Flags You Should Never Ignore

Spotting the warning signs can help you avoid falling into the water service text scam. First, any message demanding immediate payment should raise concern, especially if it threatens service disruption. Second, look closely at the senderscammers often use unfamiliar numbers or slightly altered names. Third, never trust links sent via unsolicited texts, even if they appear official. Another major red flag is being asked to provide personal or financial information directly through a link. Authorities consistently advise residents to verify any claims by contacting the utility company directly, not through the message.

What Local Officials Are Saying Right Now

Officials in Howard County have been actively warning residents about rising scam activity, including text and phone impersonation schemes. In recent cases, scammers have even pretended to be law enforcement or government agencies to demand payment.

Authorities stress that legitimate agencies will never demand payment over the phone or through text messages. The countys Scam Squad program works with law enforcement and consumer protection agencies to track and share alerts about these threats.

They encourage residents to report suspicious messages immediately to help prevent others from being targeted. The growing number of cases shows this isnt a one-off scamits part of a larger trend. Staying informed is one of the most effective defenses.

Why Awareness Is Your Best Defense Right Now

The water service text scam trend highlights a bigger issue: scams are becoming more subtle, more local, and harder to detect. What used to be obvious fraud now looks like everyday communication, making it easier to fall for. Seniors are especially at risk, but anyone can be targeted by these messages. The good news is that awareness and simple precautions can dramatically reduce your chances of becoming a victim. By staying alert, verifying information, and sharing knowledge with others, you can break the cycle scammers depend on. In todays world, being cautious isnt paranoiaits protection.

Have you or someone you know received a suspicious utility text like this recently? Share your experience in the comments to help stay safe.

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A new statistical analysis of archival sky surveys from the early Cold War has found that mysterious, short-lived bursts of light in the night sky were more likely to appear around the time of above-ground nuclear weapons tests and to increase alongside reports of unexplained aerial phenomena (UAPs).

Transient star-like objects have been identified in sky surveys conducted prior to the launch of the first artificial satellite on October 4, 1957, said Dr. Beatriz Villarroel of the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics (Nordita) and Dr. Stephen Bruehl from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

These short-lived transients  lasting less than one exposure time of 50 min  have point spread functions and are absent in images taken shortly before the transients appear and in all images from subsequent surveys.

In some cases multiple transients appear in a single image, exhibiting characteristics not easily accounted for by prosaic explanations (e.g., gravitational lensing, gamma ray bursts, fragmenting asteroids, plate defects).

As part of their VASCO (Vanishing and Appearing Sources during a Century of Observations) project, Dr. Villarroel and Dr. Bruehl identified more than 100,000 short-lived, star-like transients on photographic plates from the first Palomar Observatory Sky Survey, conducted between 1949 and 1957.

They then compared the timing of these flashes with records of 124 above-ground nuclear tests and thousands of reported UAP sightings.

Of the 2,718 days in this period, transients were observed on 310 days (11.4%), they said.

In the overall sample, the number of transients per date ranged from 0 to 4,528, across multiple locations on multiple plates.

Above-ground nuclear weapons tests (US, Soviet, and British) were conducted on 124 days (4.6%) during the study period.

UAP reports were recorded in the UFOCAT database on 2,428 days during the study period (89.3%).

The researchers found that the transients were about 45% more likely to occur on days within a one-day window of a nuclear test than on other days.

The effect was strongest the day after a test, when the likelihood of observing a transient rose by roughly 68%.

The study also reported a modest correlation between the number of transients and the number of UAP sightings recorded on the same date.

For each additional sighting report, the number of transients increased by about 8.5%, on average.

The teams findings do not establish what the transients are, nor do they demonstrate a causal connection, but they challenge some conventional explanations.

The transients do not resemble defects caused by dust or radioactive contamination on photographic plates, the scientists note, and their timing  particularly the peak one day after nuclear tests  does not fit simple scenarios like debris from explosions.

Instead, the authors outline two broad possibilities.

One is that nuclear detonations may have triggered previously unrecognized atmospheric phenomena capable of producing brief, point-like flashes.

The other, more speculative, is that some transients could reflect objects at high altitude or in orbit  potentially related to the same events that generated UAP sightings.

The researchers emphasize that both ideas remain unproven.

Our findings provide additional empirical support for the validity of the UAP phenomenon and its potential connection to nuclear weapons activity, contributing data beyond eyewitness reports, they said.

The possibility that some transients may represent UAP events in orbit captured on photographic plates prior to the launch of the first artificial satellite cannot be ruled out.

This study adds to the small peer-reviewed literature seeking to apply systematic scientific methods to the study of UAP-related data.

The ultimate importance of the associations reported in the current work for enhancing understanding of transients and UAP remains to be determined.

A paper on the findings was published on October 20, 2025 in the journal Scientific Reports.

_____

S. Bruehl & B. Villarroel. 2025. Transients in the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS-I) may be associated with nuclear testing and reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena. Sci Rep 15, 34125; doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-21620-3
Despite a fragile ceasefire currently, there's still potential trouble brewing from the conflict in Iran. Mainstream automakers such as Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and General Motors (NYSE: GM) don't do big business in the Middle East and remain relatively unimpacted by the current Iran conflict.

It's a different scenario for high-flying luxury stocks such as Ferrari (NYSE: RACE), which took a hit in the markets after the Iran conflict began. Dubai (in the United Arab Emirates) has been a massive driver of growth in recent years, and the rising Middle East tensions come at a crucial time in the luxury industry and for Ferrari investors. Here's how much it should concern you.

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Not so luxurious situation

High-end and super-luxury automakers face growing uncertainty across the globe with demand in China and Europe slower, tariffs eroding profits in the U.S., and now the conflict in Iran disrupting a highly coveted luxury region. In fact, according to Bernstein, the Middle East was the fastest-growing luxury market last year. Former Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer told Automotive News, "For a manufacturer of premium and luxury cars in particular, it's an utter disaster."

Sales in the ultra-luxury Middle East market are very high margin, and brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Porsche are watching closely to adapt to drastic and sudden changes in demand and distribution capabilities, leaving some to wonder if production cuts could be necessary if the conflict drags on for a few more weeks.

Image source: Ferrari.

The good and bad news

For Ferrari investors in particular, there's a little more insight. While many luxury automakers don't disclose regional profit margins and some no longer publish global sales figures, Ferrari reported that the Middle East generated 4.6% of total sales in 2025. That's more important than the figure would seem, considering it's a larger market for Ferrari than China, and the Middle East accounted for a lesser 3.5% of Ferrari's total sales only a year earlier.

Despite being a fraction of total sales for Ferrari, supply chain constraints, rising air freight costs, and declining regional demand do present direct and immediate profitability risks. That said, Ferrari does have some flexibility with its long, stable-yet-flexible purchase order book and can redirect vehicles to other regions in many cases.
Using high-resolution CT and synchrotron scanning, paleontologists confirmed that the fossilized specimen from the Early Triassic of the South African Karoo Basin contains an unborn dicynodont Lystrosaurus, resolving a long-standing mystery about whether early mammal ancestors laid eggs. The researchers suggest the dicynodont eggs were likely soft-shelled, explaining why they have remained elusive for so long.

Lystrosaurus represents a major group of primarily herbivorous vertebrates that were common during the Permian and Triassic periods.

This ancient creature was between 1.8 and 2.4 m (6-8 feet) in length, had no teeth, but bore a pair of tusks in the upper jaw.

Lystrosaurus fossils are known from China, Europe, India, South Africa and Antarctica and this geographic distribution was one of the early pieces of evidence used in support of the large supercontinent Pangea.

For over 150 years of South African paleontology, no fossil had ever been conclusively identified as a therapsid egg, said University of the Witwatersrands Professor Julien Benoit.

This is the first time we can say, with confidence, that mammal ancestors like Lystrosaurus laid eggs, making it a true milestone in the field.

Using advanced imaging, Professor Benoit and colleagues examined three perinate Lystrosaurus specimens found in the Karoo Basin, South Africa.

One of the specimens displayed a tightly curled posture, suggesting it was still inside an egg, and completely lacked tusks.

Understanding reproduction in mammal ancestors has been a long-lasting enigma and this fossil provides a key piece to this puzzle, said Dr. Vincent Fernandez, a researcher at the ESRF  the European Synchrotron.

It was essential that we scanned the fossil just right to capture the level of detail needed to resolve such tiny, delicate bones.

When I saw the incomplete mandibular symphysis, I was genuinely excited, Professor Benoit said.

The mandible, the lower jaw, is made up of two halves that must fuse before the animal can feed.

The fact that this fusion had not yet occurred shows that the individual would have been incapable of feeding itself.

According to the team, Lystrosaurus laid relatively large eggs for its body size.

In modern animals, larger eggs typically contain more yolk, providing all the nutrients an embryo needs to develop independently, without parental feeding after hatching, the researchers said.

This strongly suggests that Lystrosaurus did not produce milk for its young, unlike modern mammals.

Large eggs also offer another crucial advantage: they are more resistant to drying out.

In the harsh, drought-prone environment following the extinction, this would have been a critical survival trait.

The findings further suggest that Lystrosaurus hatchlings were likely precocial, born at an advanced stage of development.

These young animals would have been capable of feeding themselves, escaping predators, and reaching reproductive maturity quickly.

The discovery not only provides the first direct evidence of egg-laying in mammal ancestors but also offers a powerful explanation for how Lystrosaurus came to dominate post-extinction ecosystems.

This research is important because it provides the first direct evidence that mammal ancestors, such as Lystrosaurus, laid eggs, resolving a long-standing question about the origins of mammalian reproduction, Professor Benoit said.

Beyond this fundamental insight, it reveals how reproductive strategies can shape survival in extreme environments: by producing large, yolk-rich eggs and precocial young, Lystrosaurus was able to thrive in the harsh, unpredictable conditions following the end-Permian mass extinction.

The study appears in the journal PLoS ONE.

_____

J. Benoit et al. 2026. The first non-mammalian synapsid embryo from the Triassic of South Africa. PLoS One 21 (4): e0345016; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0345016
Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) is one of Jim Cramers stock calls as he discussed the impact of the Iran war on the markets. A caller inquired what could cause a long-term problem for the company, and Cramer replied:

Well, youd have to see metals and mining really get crushed. Youd have to see the Permian give out. Youd have to see no more construction on roads. None of thats going to happen. Joe Creed has got this thing going. Hes the CEO. I think CAT is one of the most viable stocks. I think this stock could be up gigantically if we get the end of the war, gigantically.

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) provides heavy machinery, engines, turbines, and rail equipment. In addition, the company offers power systems, parts, and support that keep the equipment working. Cramer discussed the stock during the February 27 episode, as he said:

Now also on Thursday, very exciting, Caterpillars part of a fireside chat at CONEXPO. Thats that annual construction trade show that you and I probably dont go to, but sounds like a real hoot. Theres CEO, Joe Creed, a total straight shooter, might talk about how people are using Caterpillar generators to power data centers. All very exciting. I kick myself daily for not getting into that one, and I dont know if theyll let me out from my job here to go attend CONEXPO. Maybe next year.

While we acknowledge the potential of CAT 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.
German filmmaker and author Alexander Kluge, "who elevated cinematic collages into an art form and won the top prize at the Venice film festival in 1968," died March 25 at age 94, the Guardian reported. A former assistant of legendary filmmaker Fritz Lang, Kluge "was an accomplished director of intellectually rewarding, if at times oblique filmic essays, and an ever-productive writer of short fiction."



He also played a key role in organizing the New German Cinema movement, which "brought forth better-known auteurs such as Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Werner Herzog, and he continued to bring experimental film to the small screen in his later years," the Guardian noted.



After World War II, Kluge studied law, history and church music at the Goethe University Frankfurt, where he was mentored by the philosopher Theodor Adorno. Although he began practicing law, he was increasingly drawn to literature and film. In 1962, he signed the Oberhausen Manifesto, which called on the German film industry to break free from current trends.

Abschied von Gestern (released as Yesterday Girl in the U.S.), one of the first films to emerge from the manifesto, is the story "of a Jewish woman who struggles to settle in West Germany after fleeing from the east, it was told in a jarring style, using discontinuous sound and a non-sequential narrative," the Guardian wrote. It won the Silver Lion at the Venice film festival, an honor Kluge followed up by winning the Golden Lion two years later with Artists in the Big Top: Perplexed.

As an author, Kluge's first collection of short stories, Case Histories (1962) "brought him accolades for its empathetic depiction of characters trying to navigate a country defeated in war," the New York Times noted, adding that his experimental novel The Battle (1964) "focused on the Battle of Stalingrad as seen through German eyes" and won the Bavarian State Prize for Literature.



Kluge's films often included a montage of photographs, archival footage, paintings, drawings and intertitles. This was echoed in his short stories and novels, which included documentary material like photos, maps and diagrams, complicating narratives as he melded nonfiction and fiction, the Times added. One of the best-known writers to be influenced by Kluge's use of photographs was W.G. Sebald (The Rings of Saturn).



In the 1960s, Kluge became involved in Gruppe 47, the West German literary association whose members included Gunter Grass and Heinrich Boll.



Kluge worked with the German sociologist philosopher Oskar Negt, whom he met in 1969. They co-authored three books about political and social subjects, including historical materialism and the philosopher Jurgen Habermas's concept of the bourgeois public square. In 1972, they published Public Sphere and Experience, a sociological study of television, his first book-length collaboration with Negt.



Kluge's book Chronicle of Feelings (2000) is a two-volume, 2,000-page collection of his stories. The Times wrote that he "initiated collaborations with artists, writers and thinkers for exhibitions, theater productions and staged readings. Among those he partnered with were the German artists Gerhard Richter and Georg Baselitz."



Kluge also collaborated with the U.S. author Ben Lerner on a "poetic dialogue" book, The Snows of Venice (Spector Books, 2018). "My language is not as beautiful as lyrics," he told the Paris Review at the time. "This is something that you have to know how to do. Poets are diamond polishers. But there are also collectors of raw diamonds--I am a good archaeologist."



His many honors include the Georg Buchner and Heinrich Boll literary prizes and, in 2007, the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Times noted. Despite his success as a filmmaker, Kluge maintained that he always considered himself an author first, observing in his 1993 Heinrich Boll Prize acceptance speech: "This is because books have patience and can wait, since the word is the only repository of human experience that is independent of time.... Books are a generous medium, and I still grieve when I think of the library burning in Alexandria. I feel in myself a spontaneous desire to rewrite the books that perished then." Many of Kluge's books are available in English from Seagull Books.
Amazon announced the expansion of its Counterfeit Crimes Unit (CCU) to India, reinforcing its global commitment to protecting consumers and brands from counterfeit goods. The unit will bring together Amazons local experts, working closely with Indian brands, sellers, and law enforcement agencies to combat counterfeit operations and safeguard consumer trust in Indias fast-growing e-Commerce sector.

The expansion of CCU to India reflects Amazons commitment to preserving marketplace integrity while helping protect customers and sellers on amazon.in. The unit will focus on proactively detecting and removing counterfeit listings, safeguarding intellectual property, and enabling coordinated enforcement action against bad actors, while deepening collaboration with industry bodies and government stakeholders. This effort is in line with Amazons broader long-term commitment to India, including its plan to invest more than $35 billion across its businesses in the country through 2030.

Protecting customers and brands from counterfeit goods is fundamental to preserving trust in our store and protecting sellers, said Kebharu Smith, Director of Amazon's Counterfeit Crimes Unit. Our global anti-counterfeiting efforts have helped prevent millions of dollars in potential harm. With CCU expanding to India, we're bringing that same commitment and expertise to help protect customers, brands, and sellers on amazon.in. We're combining advanced technology, dedicated teams, and strong partnerships with brands and law enforcement to take the fight to bad actors on the ground in India. This helps create a safer marketplace for customers, sellers and brands.

Amazon has invested in brand protection initiatives globally, including in advanced machine learning algorithms, dedicated investigation teams, and collaborative tools the Brand Registry program. The CCU will extend these global capabilities to sellers and brands listed on Amazon.in. This initiative complements Amazon's existing consumer protection efforts in India, including the #ScamSmartIndia campaign launched in partnership with the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) to combat online frauds and scams.

Since its inception in 2020, the CCU team has initiated over 200 civil actions against bad actors and resulting in more than $180 million in court-ordered restitution and judgments for brands and victims.
Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) is one of Jim Cramers stock calls as he discussed the impact of the Iran war on the markets. Toward the end of the lightning round, answering a callers query about the stock, Cramer said:

No, no, here, listen to me, Jim Taiclet is bankable. I want you to buy more. I think it would be terrific.

Photo by Artem Podrez on Pexels

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) designs and maintains aircraft, missile systems, and helicopters for government and military use. The company also produces satellites, naval vessels, and cybersecurity tools. During the April 2 episode, a caller noted that aerospace and defense stocks have been declining and asked for Cramers advice. The Mad Money host responded:

Okay, its easy, Lockheed Martin. Jim Taiclet does a great job. The fact that the stock is down in the last few weeks is actually a terrific opportunity. I like that very much. I also like Boeing. Boeing I own for my Charitable Trust I feel badly that we dont own an oil, but we do own Boeing, and I think thats just a terrific, terrific situation. A lot of things have changed in the world since Feb 28. The idea of owning outright military, a defense stock, they have not been that great until now. The President obviously wants a bigger defense budget. Lockheed gets more than, I think Lockheed does a great job, and Taiclet does a terrific job. And that is the straightforward one to own, and thats the one I would tell you to buy.

While we acknowledge the potential of LMT 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

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True crime might be having a moment, but Alan Erson, producer of the ABC miniseries Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia, wants to put true law in the spotlight. Through four landmark cases brought to the High Court of Australia, the series focuses on citizens who shifted the national landscape. People such as Rodney Croome, who fought to decriminalise homosexuality in Tasmania; the late Torres Strait Islands land rights campaigner Eddie Mabo; Palestinian asylum seeker Ahmed Al Kateb, who challenged mandatory immigration detention; and Wiradjuri woman and member of the Stolen Generation Vickie Roach, who fought for prisoners right to vote.

We looked for big stories about the law, with the highest stakes, which inevitably led us to the High Court of Australia, says Erson. Were at a time when there are some people who are losing faith in democracy. Thats possibly understandable. But to see the system working for some people, some of the time, is helpful  Vickie Roach was a woman locked up in prison. Eddie Mabo was an ordinary guy who discovered that the state of Queensland owned the land that his people had occupied for thousands of years. We do have some mechanisms for ordinary people to seek justice and recognition.

Vickie Roach appears in the ABC documentary Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia.

The series blends dramatisation and archival footage with powerful interviews  with the plaintiffs and their families, their legal teams, the judiciary and politicians. In turning legalese into engaging television, Erson leant on the theatrical skills of barristers.

There is a drama to the High Court, he says. Its just couched in complicated language. Its like Shakespeare without the poetry. Lawyers are great storytellers. When theyre telling the story to the High Court, theyre using the language and tropes of the High Court. But when you ask them to tell the story to an ordinary person sitting next to them on the bus, theyre quite good.
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Some people eat to live, for fuel and function and nutrition. Others live to eat, defining their lives by outrageous dining experiences and elaborate plates that pull big numbers on Instagram. Sofia Levin is something else altogether. Her pursuit of flavour is as relentless as her spirited curiosity that transcends trends, culture and geographic borders. Driving down suburban streets with her is like taking a meerkat for a walk; shes always peering out the window with wide eyes, jotting down the names of new spots. At the table, she orders widely and asks questions, lingers a little longer to land on the story worth telling from inside tiny kitchens. For Levin, the food writer turned MasterChef Australia judge, food is something to be understood, traced and held up to the light. Its culture, history, politics, memory and family. Its also pleasure, of course. What tastes good and is worth talking about always takes priority. The marriage of those two things  the joy and meaning in meals  defines the way she eats, writes and, now, judges. Sofia Levin is back for her third season as a judge on MasterChef Australia. Peter Tarasiuk Season 18 of the hopes-and-dreams factory called MasterChef Australia begins airing this month. Its 36-year-old Levins third season as one of the all-seeing eyes behind the flaming cloches, alongside the shows alumni Andy Allen and Poh Ling Yeow, as well as French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli. Every Australian has questions about what happens behind the scenes on the show. Ask away! Levin smiles. Were talking over a breakfast of omurice and okonomiyaki at Papirica, a sleepy cafe in Collingwood serving home-style Japanese food on dinky mismatched plates and cups. Most people have questions about the temperature of the food on the show, especially when it finally arrives at the judging bench. Im more interested in what happens to all those packets of spices contestants open for each new challenge. (Turns out, theyre packaged up for cast and crew to take home, from a big communal market that lives on set, where Levin tops up her grocery shot during the long months of filming.)

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This is, in some ways, the third generation of MasterChef Australia. I vividly remember tuning into the first season from my uni sharehouse, and encountering a challenge where Yeow, inaugural winner Julie Goodwin and their cohort had to decorate cupcakes. Related Article Exit interview

Reality TV I can only laugh about it: Australian Survivors most hapless player finds his redemption The show seemed to require higher and higher stakes in subsequent years. Cupcake became croquembouche; audition tapes swapped out stir-fries for sous-vide proteins. By the end of a series, it was not unusual for a steady and smart cook to be booted off for not executing a delicate and elaborate dessert of foams and smoke. The actual food felt far away. Thats no longer the case. Levins guiding principle begins and ends with taste. No.1, it has to be delicious. Something can be extremely technical and not taste good. When somebody does something really technical that they dont have clarity on, or they cant explain, its not always a good dish. In fact, quite often its not. She brings up criticisms by Facebook warriors of last seasons back to win premise, where previous seasons runners-up competed for the title. Some people like seeing their old favourites and others just feel like its unattainable, or they want to see someones journey from the start again. This season, weve got those home cooks and the atmosphere is different. MasterChef Australia 2025 judges: Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli. Each iteration of the MasterChef Australia judging panel features people who cook professionally, and one lone critic; when Levin was first announced in 2023, it was to step into the shoes left vacant by fellow critics Melissa Leong and Matt Preston.

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Despite this role  the expert eater whos travelled widely and tasted even wider, whose job is to put dishes and flavours into geographic and social context for the benefit of the viewers at home  to detractors, they might as well be wearing a name tag saying not a cook. Editor's pick Australian TV Double Dutch: The unlikely origin of a hit Australian game show People say, Oh, well, get in the kitchen and then you can tell us [your opinion], says Levin. And to that I say, Do film critics also produce? Do music reviewers also play an instrument themselves? Its a different skill. There are very, very few chefs who can write like I write. Its a different but inextricably linked skill. I also dont think any of them have eaten as much as Ive eaten. The response to Levins ascent from writing behind a byline (including for Good Food) to discussing it in front of millions of TV screens has been exceedingly positive  shes thoughtful and encouraging, and deploys the kind of wide, genuine smile that can comfort even the most harried contestant. Last year, she was nominated for a Silver Logie for Most Popular New Talent. But hanging onto the outlook and opinions shes always held close  only now with more eyes and ears trained on her  means being told to stay in her lane occasionally. Not that she listens. Sofia Levin, Andy Allen and Poh Ling Yeow at last years Logies Awards. Sitthixay Ditthavong Food is a window into things that are really important, and it can be extremely political, she says. Anyone who says food is not political or tells me to stick to food and not politics while writing about it is privileged beyond their means to be able to say something like that. Food is all about politics. The evolution of a dish  thats a historical timeline for everything. Its slavery, its immigration, its the wealth divide, its everything. For half the year, her life is all about the show, and in the other months, attention returns to her website, Seasoned Traveller. To tell stories about eating curiously, she dives into census data, scans suburbs for demographic shifts, seeks out venues that exist just below the surface of mainstream attention.

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I like looking for places and venues that are reserved or known within their communities, she says. Theyre often so excited to just see you in there. Theres a particular pleasure, too, in anonymity in spite of her fame. Those places, they have no idea who I am. And I love it. Related Article Reality TV I dismissed the first season of The Piano, now it makes me cry on the sofa Her path into those stories was shaped early. I was exposed to travel from a really young age. I was extremely lucky and privileged in that sense, she says. With a British mother and extended family overseas, her childhood was punctuated by trips that expanded her palate and perspective in equal measure. She describes herself as the quintessential eldest child. Very big only-girl, older-sibling-energy when you get to know me, she says. Im the oldest and I ask the most questions. I am project manager of the Levins. The days and weeks before we speak have really put her project manager position to the test. In between long days shooting MasterChef Australia, shes been working behind the scenes to pull off two major fundraising events close to her heart. Sofia Levin (centre) with her father, Greg, and mother, Abby. Paul Hermes As part of this years Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Levin drew on her hospo network and Logie-level popularity to transform Wesley Place  the charming courtyard tucked between historic bluestone buildings on Little Lonsdale Street in Melbournes CBD  into the site of an open-air food festival one day, and an intimate dinner and high-stakes auction the next evening. Both events were to raise money for MND Victoria, an organisation working to provide care and support to people living with motor neurone disease. As anyone whose life has been touched by MND will tell you, once it enters your life, its impossible to stop caring. For Levin, that happened in 2022, when her father, Greg, was diagnosed. Her first fundraising events happened soon after: a series of dinners centred around a gallery exhibition of her dads photographs. He was a really avid photographer. He never did it professionally, but he was very good. On all those family trips, Sofia would eat and pitch stories about the food scenes and dishes she encountered around the world, and Gregs images would sit alongside her words. So he was published! she says with a proud smile.

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Related Article Streaming Hes skipping Spelling Bee and wont be drawn on Fisk, but Aaron Chen has another gig lined up Levins father, a doctor and co-owner in an East Melbourne fertility control clinic, died in 2024, as her first season of MasterChef Australia was airing. The timing created a strange overlay of public and private experience: a career high unfolding alongside a profound personal loss. I had a lot of people reach out, who I didnt know, on Instagram saying, Hey, I saw your dad for a procedure, I only met him once, but just wanted to say he made the whole thing bearable, he was my favourite person in there  thats a very private thing to share. But knowing that her memory of Greg as a very calm, gentle, kind man extended far outside the reaches of the family unit was a comforting reminder. 2025 winner Laura Sharrad with judges (from left) Poh Ling Yeow, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Sofia Levin and Andy Allen. At the fundraiser dinner, Levin flits between guests, chatting enthusiastically with hospo high-rollers, fans of the show and guests living with MND and their carers. Introducing the auction, she jokes that guests are only allowed to talk to Yeow  who sits by her side  if they place a bid. Dinners at exclusive restaurants Yiaga and Chae go for several thousand dollars, as does the priceless spot at the MasterChef Australia semi-final dinner (Youll meet the judges, taste the food, feel the energy, and even have to sign an NDA, the program promises). By the end of the night, the two events have raised more than $65,000 for MND Victoria. You read about motor neurone disease, you hear someone whos got it, I get the emails, all of that, Levin says. But I feel simultaneously deeply affected by it but also disconnected to it. I dont know if its just an automatic compartmentalisation, so I can get along with day-to-day life. Its not until Im working on something like this  that Im really moved by it and connected to it again. For now, though, theres the show. Another season, another cohort of hopefuls, another five months of long days and late nights. I do love it, she says. But its long.

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NationalFatherhood Opinion Andrew Tates not the only man missing from Therouxs manosphere doco Parnell Palme McGuinness Columnist and communications adviser April 12, 2026  5:00am

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Theres a character missing from Louis Therouxs Inside The Manosphere documentary, and its not Andrew Tate. Much has been written about Therouxs probe into the world of the content creators who sell manhood to a generation of dislocated boys. Whether these meditations centre on the missing character or glide over him tells you a lot about the author  and even more about their cultural politics. Louis Theroux with Justin Waller in Inside the Manosphere. Waller told him about growing up in a Louisiana trailer park, with a mother who would just come in sometimes and start punching his father. Netflix Because the missing man is the father. The fathers of each of the interviewees. The fathers of their audiences. The absence forces viewers to grapple with the idea of the father as a key contributor to the development of a child. Therouxs documentary is a patchy experience. The filmmaker becomes a character to a degree that even celebrity documentarians try to avoid. He is not sure how to be on the sidelines of this world of misogyny, antisemitism and paedophile hunting, which turns into a gay bashing.

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His subjects, used to controlling the image they put into the world, are not sure how to handle an outside camera usurping their ability to edit and shape it. They joke about the situation uncomfortably. They turn their cameras on him. They vacillate between hamming it up for the documentarian and seemingly genuinely wanting to be understood. Nonetheless, valuable insights emerge. First, regarding the content creators relationships to women. For all the men boast about one-way monogamy and exerting control in relationships because thats what women really want, when their wives and mothers are in the room the dynamic shifts. The OnlyFans models the men invite on their broadcasts might be happy to play the part the manosphere has written for them. But the women they love disrupt the narrative. Insofar as they tolerate the bluster, they do so because they say the public image is not what they experience in private. The men seem to be trying to prove something to themselves as well as the women, which the women arent buying. Harrison Sullivan, aka HSTikkyTokky, with his mother, Elaine, and documentary maker Louis Theroux in Inside the Manosphere. Netflix And then there are the creators relationships with men. Theroux tells the viewer towards the end that its striking how many were raised without dads. The documentary explores the story of influencer HSTikkyTokky, the child of a single mother, born of a brief relationship with a rugby star. The mum comes across as a switched-on woman who is clearly devoted to her son and worked long hours to give him a good education. If anyone is enough as a parent, surely its her. And HS tells Theroux that if there is any trauma there  it is subconscious  its not something that Im aware of. In a clip of an encounter between father and son, HS body language betrays a wary yearning. The subconscious will out.

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Another creator, Justin Waller, tells of growing up in a Louisiana trailer park, with a mother who would just come in sometimes and start punching his father. As a society, we dont talk much about female violence. But theres trauma here too. Justins father was later prevented from seeing his children and Justin and his siblings were raised by their mother. We never find out how that came to pass. Related Article Investigation

Extremism An Andrew Tate insider is helping Australian Nazis recruit teens These are the sad stories of the men trying to teach boys how to be masculine without having had good role models themselves. Thats like me trying to teach someone to conduct an orchestra, having only observed it being done from afar from the wrong angle. With the benefit of hindsight, the issue of fatherlessness would have been a strong lead for Theroux to start his investigation into the manosphere, instead of the place to end it. The problem isnt new and nor is scholarly work on it. In 1965, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, in his capacity as assistant secretary of labor to US president Lyndon Johnson, authored a report on poverty in black communities, which was politically controversial in its time. The report argued that the high rate of black families in which the father was absent  often due to a cycle of crime and imprisonment  was holding the black community back from attaining economic and political equality. It found that that black families which had both father and mother were more likely to become and remain safely middle class. Many white American families are also now fatherless, often with similar results.

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Nonetheless, there is ongoing resistance to discussing the issue of fatherlessness in polite society. Partly from the generous instinct not to shame, guilt or stigmatise mothers and children who, for whatever reason, find themselves in that situation. Partly because there are more than a few shining examples of boys who grow up to be wonderful men and fathers despite not having had a father around themselves. Trust me, I know. I am the daughter of one and married to another. Not everyone is so lucky. Among the many fascinating insights of a recent federal Department of Education research project, which studied outcomes for 274,000 children based on their first five years of life, is the finding that boys are especially vulnerable to adverse conditions. Not every boy who grows up in a less than ideal situation will suffer serious setbacks. But enough will that we should give special thought to what can be done to protect these vulnerable children. Another perspective Opinion

Feminism I watched the manosphere documentary. Wow, are men OK? Jacqueline Maley Columnist and senior journalist David Maywald, an Australian advocate for men, boys, healthier relationships and social balance, says the research shows that fatherlessness is connected to youth crime, mental health struggles and educational disadvantage. It is also, as Therouxs documentary suggests, connected to a form of misogyny, violence and antisocial behaviour that are sold as masculinity by men  whove never experienced the real deal  to boys looking for role models they dont have in their own families. The solution to bad men is better men. And a society which stops treating fathers as extraneous.

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Parnell Palme McGuinness is an insights and advocacy strategist. She has done work for the Liberal Party and the German Greens and is a senior fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.

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For subscribers Parnell Palme McGuinness is an insights and advocacy strategist. She has done work for the Liberal Party and the German Greens and is a senior fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies. She is also an advisory board member of Australians For Prosperity, which is part-funded by the coal industry.
The term has re-emerged amid war in Iran. But what qualifies as a failed state  and why are they such a worry?

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In these Explainers, journey with us to far-flung regions (and some closer to home) to understand the tensions shaping our world. See all stories .

These have been extraordinary times in Iran, home to more than 90 million people. Theres now an eerie pause after wave upon wave of air attacks left plumes of smoke staining the air, black raindrops, apparently the result of strikes on oil facilities, leaving a slimy residue on streets and windscreens in Tehran. In the city of Isfahan, fragments of mirror shattered by shockwaves litter an ancient palace. The two-week ceasefire already looks fragile, however, a peaceful outcome still far from certain. Donald Trumps reasons for joining Israel in attacking Iran on February 28 have not been made entirely clear. But the allies aims appeared to include forcing regime change, presumably hoping for a moderate government friendlier to Western and Israeli interests, or weakening the incumbent regime so severely it might no longer be a regional threat. As the conflict wore on commentators were even speculating that Iran, its leadership decapitated, its critical infrastructure decimated, could become a failed state  a term coined by Americans in the early 90s to describe a nebulous existence where government control collapses, leaving a population in chaos. Trumps rhetoric has seemed to support this outcome. He promised, before the ceasefire, to bomb Iran back to the Stone Ages and, as the deadline for negotiations approached, he threatened: A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. Over the years, neighbours such as Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, riven by internal strife and foreign interventions, have found themselves teetering, or are still teetering, on the edge of institutional failure; nearby Yemen, home to the Iran-supported Houthi militia, remains imperilled by civil war. If Iran, one of the Gulfs biggest gorillas, modern-day successor to the once-mighty Persian empire and regional challenger to Saudi Arabia, somehow failed, what would that look like? What can we learn from the worlds failed or fragile states? In Tehran, a couple embraces as other pro-government Iranians shout slogans during the April 8 funeral for a senior figure in Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps, killed in US-Israeli air strikes. Getty Images

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What qualifies as a failed state? It was mid-afternoon on October 3, 1993, when US airborne forces, providing security to a broader UN operation delivering aid to war-torn Somalia, set out from Mogadishu International Airport on an ambitious snatch job. The targets were two high-ranking advisers to a powerful local warlord who was obstructing the distribution of food and had proven recalcitrant. There was a chance he would be grabbed too, forcing the issue. Somalia had been riven by civil war for two years following the collapse of the last legitimate, albeit dodgy, government headed by the military dictator Siad Barre, who had fled overseas, leaving his people to suffer famine and chaos. Mogadishu, the capital, was now largely controlled by clan chiefs, policed by gunslingers armed with rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47 assault rifles. This particular US mission was complicated. After an initial assault from helicopters, elite troops would shimmy down ropes to the ground to grab the bad guys then were to be scooped up by a convoy of armoured getaway vehicles  all in 30 minutes. What happened next was, for the US at least, a disaster, later recounted with fictional embellishment in the movie Black Hawk Down. Militia fighters shot down two of the US helicopters with rockets and waged an overnight battle that cost 18 American lives, believed to be the most US fatalities in a single engagement since Vietnam (although Somali casualties were estimated to be much higher). Children stand on the wreckage of a US helicopter shot down during a raid over the Somali capital Mogadishu in 1993. Getty Images Not long after, under the weight of public disapproval back home, the US withdrew its forces, leaving the floundering nation and its warring factions to their own devices.

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When The New Yorkers Jon Lee Anderson visited Mogadishu much later, in 2009, to meet with the then-new and hopeful president, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, things were still precarious (reflected in the title of his subsequent article, The Most Failed State). Peacekeeping troops (volunteers from other African nations) controlled the presidential compound, the airport and the port but not much else; fighters from a fearsome group of Islamist guerrillas called Al-Shabaab (the youth) roamed freely. Somalia remains an open battlefield, Anderson wrote. Most buildings had either been wrecked, like the cathedral, or, like the old parliament, had vanished. A failed or failing state is one that  has weak or almost nil capacity to provide for the basic needs of its people. Lavina Lee, University of Sydney Somalia, still yet to truly find its feet, is often held up as an archetype of a failed state, a term used to describe a nation where the central government is nonexistent, or has minimal control, and central authorities are unable to provide basic services. Says Lavina Lee, director of the Foreign Policy and Defence program at the University of Sydney: A failed or failing state is one that doesnt have control over the monopoly of the legitimate use of force, that has weak or almost nil capacity to provide for the basic needs of its people. While many states have, historically, failed for numerous reasons, the term in modern times refers to states that have typically struggled either because they have not been able to reconfigure robustly after years of colonial rule, instead sliding into internal power disputes; and/or because of external forces (more on which shortly); or because they have been abandoned by wealthier allies. The Soviet Union stopped aiding client states after it ceased to exist, noted The Economist in 2021. America ceased propping up dictators solely for being anti-Soviet  Without patrons with deep pockets, several regimes were toppled, and some states slid into anarchy. In such a failed state, people are likely to live under the threat of criminal violence if not outright civil war. What government remains is often unable to maintain its borders. Much of the population is likely to be dispersed, either as refugees within the country or fleeing elsewhere. Mobutu Sese Seko, here being sworn in again as president of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1984, was known for his brutal and economically ruinous leadership over 32 years, following an era of Belgian colonial rule marked by cruelty. Getty Images As Robert I. Rotberg, a scholar of international affairs who worked on a five-year project on state failure for Harvard University and the World Peace Foundation, writes: Once the downward spiral starts in earnftoughest  corrupt autocrats and their equally corrupt associates usually have few incentives to arrest their states slide, since they find clever ways to benefit from impoverishment and misery. They end judicial independence, block civil society, and suborn the security forces.

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The rulers demonstrate more and more contempt for their peoples  Many of these leaders drive grandly down their boulevards in motorcades, commandeer commercial aircraft for foreign excursions, and put their faces prominently on the local currency, on airports and ships, and on oversized photographs in public places. You have resilient states on one end, fragile states in the middle and failed states on the other end. Lavina Lee, University of Sydney Some academics today prefer the term fragile to describe all struggling nations. I see it as a spectrum of state strength and weakness, says Lavina Lee. You have resilient states on one end, fragile states in the middle and failed states on the other end. The opposite of a failing or fragile state is a stable state, not necessarily just affluent and peaceful but able to endure crises  such as fuel shocks or pandemics  without descending into disarray. We [Australians] live in a strong state, says Lee. We have things like the monopoly on the legitimate use of force by the government. We have a state that has the strong capacity to provide for the basic needs of the people and to actually extract taxes in order to do that. And then youve got the monopoly on the creation and enforcement of rules and institutions, court systems, the law. Stallholders at a street market in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, after general elections had been delayed following unrest in 2018. Kate Geraghty Why are so-called failed states such a worry? As Somalia collapsed into anarchy in 1991, failed states increasingly began to be seen as a risk to US interests. Instead of the spectre of aggressive governments challenging US hegemony, it was now the threats of terrorism and radicalism, flowering in largely uncontrolled territories, that came to be seen as paramount concerns.

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The journal Foreign Policy was one of the first to use the term, in 1992-93 identifying what it said was a disturbing new phenomenon  the failed nation-state, utterly incapable of sustaining itself as a member of the international community. It cited as examples Somalia, Sudan, Liberia, Haiti and the remnants of Yugoslavia, which broke up between 1990 and 1992. It is becoming clear that something must be done, wrote authors Gerard Helman and Steven Ratner, citing the massive abuses of human rights that tended to be seen as nations fell into anarchy but also noting the need to help those states is made more critical by the evidence that their problems tend to spread. Ziba, 21, with sons Ahmed and 18-month-old Suleiman, who was suffering from malnourishment, in a camp for displaced people in Afghanistan in 2019, after their village suffered drought then floods. Kate Geraghty Not long after, Madeline Albright, a future US secretary of state who was then the US ambassador to the United Nations, also used failed state to describe Somalia, writing in The New York Times in defence of the ongoing UN action there. Success is important not only for the Somalis, she wrote, but also because anarchy may produce refugees, uncontrolled arms peddling and targets of opportunity for terrorists and their state sponsors. It was probably the most important and consequential change in US national security strategy. Levi West, ANU The CIA decided this was such a concern that in 1994 it funded a long-term research project at the University of Maryland called The State Failure Task Force, seeking to identify the causes of state failure, which it defined as a relatively new label that encompasses a range of severe political conflicts and regime crises exemplified by events of the 1990s in Somalia, Bosnia, Liberia, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire). A US national security strategy paper from 2002 subsequently argued that America [was] now threatened less by conquering states than by failing ones. US president George H. W. Bush visits US forces in Somalia just a month before the disastrous death of 18 soldiers in Mogadishu in October 1993. Getty Images

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The administration of George W. Bush was heavily informed by this notion, says Levi West, an authority on terrorism and counter-terrorism at ANU: that states with what he calls alternate governance arrangements were likely to become breeding grounds for terrorists. Therefore, we needed to go and bring light to the dark corners of the world, so to speak, to turn these into stable, functional governing arrangements so that theres law enforcement capability to stop all of the terrorism. It was probably the most important and consequential change in US national security strategy. By then, the notion of state failure had become common in foreign policy discourse, observed the international affairs scholar Charles T. Call in Third World Quarterly in 2008; he criticised it as a vague catch-all that he considered counterproductive. The US Carnegie Endowment for International Peace also funded several research projects on the subject; in the UK, the Overseas Development Institute still focuses on researching aid delivery to what it calls fragile states. Passengers ride in a shared taxi as it makes its way through Port-au-Prince, Haiti in March 2026. AP What does it mean, in practice, to label a state failed? Once identified as a risk the challenge for the US and others seeking to intervene in a failed state has been how to do so effectively, Somalia an object lesson. Says Levi West: Are we trying to make it into a functioning, thriving liberal democracy? Or do we just need it to be stable enough and capable enough that its not going to result in terrorist attacks against our people, either in that part of the world or in the West? Or are we just getting it to a stable enough position where we can extract resources from it? Of course, it can be argued that US interventions (and those by other powerful nations) have often been responsible for creating the conditions for failure to happen in the first place: the CIAs backing of the successful coup-detat against Haitis first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, in 2004, certainly contributed to decades of political instability that led, eventually, to todays humanitarian crisis. Sending a US-led coalition of forces into Afghanistan in 2001, after the attacks on September 11, 2001, to topple the Taliban  which was harbouring the terrorist organisation al-Qaeda  was initially successful. The Islamist regime was replaced with an interim administration. Yet the coalition was unsuccessful in eradicating the Taliban and al-Qaeda, whose fighters waged a destructive but ultimately successful 20-year guerilla war against Western forces. The US withdrew the last of its forces and ceded the now-shattered nation back to the Taliban, on August 30, 2021. Us troops in central Baghdad topple a statue of Iraqs leader Saddam Hussein in April 2003. Getty Images The US invasion of Iraq in 2003, sold to the public as a hunt for non-existent weapons of mass destruction, did topple the regime of the dictator Saddam Hussein but led, again, to decades of political instability that endure today. Day-to-day life for many people in crisis-affected countries such as Haiti, Sudan and Afghanistan is an insanely tough mix of ingenuity to survive. James Elder, global spokesperson UNICEF To wit: it is certainly possible for a mighty nation like the US to initially impose its will on a smaller one, but its significantly harder to implement and maintain a stable government in the aftermath. Theres a lot of assumptions that it is a thing that can be resolved or fixed by a military intervention, says West. Afghanistan and Iraq have probably demonstrated that actually thats not really true. Terrorism and crime aside, failing states typically also trigger humanitarian catastrophes. Day-to-day life for many people in crisis-affected countries such as Haiti, Sudan and Afghanistan is an insanely tough mix of ingenuity to survive, says James Elder, global spokesperson for UNICEF, the United Nations agency dedicated to protecting the wellbeing of children. On the first day of Eid celebrations in March, Yemenis visit a cemetery to pray for relatives in the capital Sanaa. Getty Images In war-torn Yemen, according to the aid group Oxfam, some 4 million people have been displaced by fighting, more than half of the population does not have enough to eat and diseases such as cholera are rampant. Some 2.5 million Syrians fled the 2011 civil war into Turkey with another 1.5 million into Lebanon  placing enormous strain on its public services, according to the UNHCR  while those left at home faced severe shortages of essential supplies. In Iran, in mid-March, 3.2 million people were estimated to have been temporarily displaced by the conflict. In fact, UNICEF says more than one in six children globally either live in a conflict zone or are fleeing from one. There comes a point where trauma reaches a critical mass, where entire communities exist in a state of shock and awe. James Elder, UNICEF Failing states offer little or no safety net to populations who have lost their livelihoods or are displaced due to internal conflicts, famine or drought. Families fall back on small trade, family-to-family agriculture, casual labour and remittance networks to meet basic needs, says Elder. Communities still have strong social cohesion, so they share limited resources. But the reality is many households are not able to make do. Eventually, he says, There comes a point where trauma reaches a critical mass, where entire communities exist in a state of shock and awe. There is only so much you can endure. Note, though, that some academics argue that a states failure can depend on a Western definition of success, such as a functioning democracy, which might trivialise the effectiveness of power structures outside the reach of more recognised authorities. In Lebanon, for example, in some areas the listed terrorist organisation Hezbollah and its members of parliament provide government-like services, such as funding health and education, where the actual government does not. Fragility is not shorthand for chaotic poor countries, observes Bridi Rice, CEO of the Development Intelligence Lab, a Canberra-based think tank. But it is true that some countries have more sources of fragility than others. In a fragile state, shocks hit harder and people suffer more because institutions, politics, economies or social cohesion are not strong enough to absorb them. Police officers attend the funeral of a colleague in July 2025 in Haitis capital Port-au-Prince, which has been overrun by criminal gangs. Getty Images Which states are fragile today? Certainly at risk of failing is Haiti, which has not had presidential elections for a decade and is slipping into anarchy, over-run by criminal gangs that threaten its sovereignty, its police forces beleaguered. It currently hangs on the success of a United Nations intervention, a Gang Suppression Force that will eventually number some 5500 troops to tackle the criminals, who control as much as 90 per cent of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Related Article Explainer

Trump diplomacy Cuba is finished: What does Trump want with the island nation? Yemens civil war, which began in 2014 when Houthi rebels took the capital, Sanaa, broadened into a regional crisis with Iran, the US, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia intervening. Sudans internal conflict has also at times morphed into a struggle for control by several outside nations with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and others linked to one or other of the two main warring factions, seeking to shore up their interests in the region. Cuba, suffering an energy shock and the increasing inability of the state to provide essentials for much of its populace is in a precarious spot, in no small part thanks to decades of US trade embargoes and now Trumps oil blockade. That failure to control territory has enormous implications for regional stability. Dara Conduit, University of Melbourne So too Myanmar, where the civil war endures, displacing millions, and opium production is booming after a decline in production in Afghanistan under the Taliban. Says Lavina Lee: Youve got parts of Myanmar on the Thailand border where organised crime syndicates have taken control over pockets of territory and trafficked people who are slaves to these scam syndicates. Colombias government, nominally stable, has at times been unable to control much of its territory, ceding it to guerillas and drug cartels; extremist Islamists, meanwhile, have flourished in contested territories  Somalias Al-Shabaab, al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, parts of Africa such as Mali, where the UNESCO-protected city of Timbuktu was briefly laid siege in 2023 by the al-Qaeda affiliate Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin. Built in the 14th century, the UNESCO world heritage-listed Sankore mosque in Timbuktu in Mali was briefly laid siege by an al-Qaeda affiliated group in 2023. Getty Images That failure to control territory has enormous implications for regional stability, says Dara Conduit, an expert on authoritarian regimes at the University of Melbourne. Syrias civil war, in particular, allowed groups such as the Islamic State to thrive. Iraq also remains fragile, although its not a failed state, says Conduit. Theres some extent of law and order there. But the situation in Iraq has had significant consequences for regional stability as well. Somalias new-ish federal government has made some progress towards re-establishing a coherent state but, according to Freedom House, is still handicapped by competing demands for control from semi-autonomous regional governments, an outright separatist government in Somaliland, and by the ever-present threat of attacks by Islamist militants. Political affairs remain dominated by clan divisions, it notes. People affected by drought receive food packages from a Turkish aid group in the Somali capital Mogadishu in February 2026. Getty Images Consequently, Somalia tops the most recent annual ranking of fragile states compiled by the not-for-profit Fund for Peace, generally accepted as the most comprehensive index of its kind. It aggregates a dozen major indicators (such as violence, grievances between different groups, human rights, economic stability, refugees and provision of services such as sanitation and education) to rank 179 countries from most fragile to most secure. Joining Somalia in the top 10 most fragile (using data from 2024) were, in order, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen, Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Haiti and Chad. Myanmar was 11th, Mali was 14th. On the other side of the funds ledger, Australia ranked 11th-most stable behind the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Canada, Ireland, Switzerland, Denmark, New Zealand, Iceland, Finland and, least fragile of all, Norway. The UK was the 31st-most stable, seven spots ahead of the US. Increased fragility in the Indo-Pacific is a direct threat to Australias national interests, both economically and in security terms. Bridi Rice, CEO Development Intelligence Lab In our immediate neighbourhood, Papua New Guinea stands out as the most fragile state, which is no surprise to Bridi Rice, who lived there for several years. Whether you agree with the fragile state label or not, Papua New Guinea is facing a convergence of pressures including violence, insecurity, corruption and declining human development outcomes, she says. Increased fragility in the Indo-Pacific is a direct threat to Australias national interests, both economically and in security terms. Fragility should be read as a strategic warning light. Royal Thai Army soldiers patrol the border with Myanmar on the lookout for people trafficking in 2025. Kate Geraghty At 43rd on the index, Iran, meanwhile, ranked as less fragile than Turkey (41st), though recent events may see that change, beginning with the economic stresses that sparked nationwide protests in January, which then triggered a brutal crackdown that saw many thousands killed. Related Article Explainer

Middle East tensions The Great Satan: How the era of the ayatollahs began There are few signs, though, that the regime is about to collapse. The Iranians are doing a very good job of both weathering this [war] and imposing significant costs, not just on the US administration but on the rest of the world, says Levi West. Lavina Lee concurs. President Trump is very open about the fact that he has been surprised that the Iranian regime has been more resilient than they expected, that the security apparatus is still intact, that it might be severely degraded, but we dont see any signs yet of significant defection within the regime, she says. But its not over. Even if theres not a complete collapse of the regime, given that so many leaders have been assassinated, theres a high degree of possibility theres going to be an internal power struggle there, and we might not know what the outcome of that would be. Get fascinating insights and explanations on the worlds most perplexing topics. Sign up for our weekly Explainer newsletter.
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NationalSydney Writers' Festival Opinion Is Sydney Writers Festival screwing its writers? This isnt fiction Melissa Mantle Writer April 11, 2026  1:30pm

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The Sydney Writers Festival prides itself on being a barometer of the world around us that helps sustain Australias literary community and culture as a whole. So why is it courting another controversy this year by doing business like an elite mafia, sparking accusations of restraint of trade and causing bestselling authors such as Michael Robotham to weigh in against its conduct? Let me explain. Last year, the Sydney Writers Festival and the State Library of NSW jointly received $1.5 million from the NSW government to expand events beyond the usual week-long festival (this year, May 17-24) into year-round programming. The devil in the detail is that authors appearing at festival events with more than 50 attendees  even the satellite events throughout the year  are contractually barred from appearing at similar gatherings of readers in Sydney for four weeks before and two weeks after their SWF appearance. Bestselling crime author Michael Robotham addresses readers at an independent booksellers event. This non-compete clause is a disaster for independent bookshops like the one I work for, the Constant Reader. We offer Sydneys longest-running author event program in conjunction with North Sydneys Stanton Library, hosting about 50 authors a year with audiences of up to 130 people. The gag order is also a disaster for authors. Certainly, Michael Robotham wasnt happy when he found out. Reacting to a story I wrote for The North Shore Lorikeet last week, the bestselling Australian crime fiction author wrote on Instagram: As a writer who appears regularly at bookshop and library events around Australia, I dont believe in clauses that protect a single body and shut out other event organisers.

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That this internationally successful author recognises the need for various book events in each city  not just one with a major festival, no matter how much clout it has  is indicative of writers reliance on independent bookshops. Tim Ayliffe, a journalist turned thriller writer, called it a dangerous precedent. And high-profile author Julia Baird, a columnist for this masthead, commented: Its bonkers to try to prevent [indie bookshops] from hosting authors. Its how we meet authors across the country, and the thoughtful booksellers placing our work in their hands. Related Article CBD Randa Abdel-Fattah sells out Sydney Writers Festival appearance Thank you, Julia. As a bookseller, keen reader and arts critic, theres not much I enjoy more than placing the right books in the right hands. Jay Lansdown, owner of the Constant Reader, thinks the clause amounts to restraint of trade. He wrote to NSW Arts Minister John Graham last August suggesting that the states investment be contingent on the festival not requiring authors to sign exclusivity contracts. Is the festivals demand on authors even legal? Either way, the Sydney Writers Festival does not appear to be budging. Its rationale for upholding its exclusivity period, festival chief executive Brooke Webb says, is to ensure these events are viable, well attended, and properly remunerated for authors.

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Yes, it pays authors for their appearances. And some exclusivity might be justified when the festival wears the cost of flying in international authors. But when it applies to all events and all authors drawing a crowd of more than 50 people, one wonders how the industry is meant to respond to such a barrier created by this not for profit cultural institution. Authors will hardly feel encouraged when they discover theyre expected to twiddle their thumbs for six weeks around their festival event because theyre barred from promoting their book elsewhere. Bonkers: Julia Baird (right) in discussion with Annabel Crabb at an independent booksellers event. Its telling that the festival views independent bookshops as competition rather than allies in a literary ecosystem. Mark Rubbo, chairman of Readings Books, calls it disingenuous and self-serving  the best remuneration an author can get is via royalties from their book sales through booksellers who care. Its a much grimmer scenario now that the non-compete clause applies to all the festivals extra satellite events throughout the year  and we dont know how many there will be. Perhaps the festival could grow its audience naturally if it used its state funding to cut the cost of a ticket (the $7.50 booking fee included) rather than encroaching year-round into booksellers terrain. This sorry tale recalls an aphorism by Franz Kafka: Leopards break in to the temple and drink all the sacrificial vessels dry; it keeps happening; in the end, it can be calculated in advance and is incorporated into the ritual.

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Acknowledging the leopards in the temple may be a boon for the Sydney Writers Festival. Id cop a $7.50 booking fee just to hear authors musing about why controversy seems to have become part of the business model for writers fests. In the meantime, if the SWF is any sort of barometer of the world, its a broken one. Melissa Mantle is a freelance journalist, bookseller and arts critic.
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NationalFive Minutes with Fitz Opinion Prime lunar real estate: Australias lawyer to the stars  and the moon  is worried Peter FitzSimons Columnist and author April 12, 2026  5:00am

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Dr Cassandra Steer is an internationally recognised expert in space law and the chair and founder of the Australasian Centre for Space Governance. She is now director of policy research with Space Strategies Consulting Ltd. She spoke to me from her Montreal home on Thursday. Fitz: Dr Steer, thank you for your time. In this week of Artemis II boomeranging around the far side of the moon, I seek an overview of the whole space thang. Where its up to, and where its going? They tell me you are one of the worlds leading legal experts in the field. How did you, as an Australian, get into space law, something I think a lot of us didnt quite know exists. Cassandra Steer says we have a custodian responsibility for space as much as for Earth. Photo: Supplied CS: [Laughing] I was always interested in the humanities, philosophy, languages, international relations. My background is international law and international conflict, and it was in the course of working in that field that I started to become interested in what technology is doing to warfare. How do we look at whos responsible? How do we restrain states? How do we limit the impacts on civilians of warfare? And it was actually military lawyers who I worked with who said, Well, youve got to look at space. Fitz: A difficult place to put up a shingle, but, OK?

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CS: I hadnt even thought about space, but the more I started to look at it, the more I realised space is just another domain where all of these issues are playing out, where nations and corporations need legal help in navigating all the agreements, protocols and treaties that are supposed to control what happens there. Fitz: Whats happening there right now, and making headlines, is the whole Artemis program  named because in Greek mythology Artemis is the sister of Apollo. But as opposed to the Apollo program, it is not, according to The New York Times, a flag and footprint exercise. CS: Yeah, its a race for dominating prime lunar real estate in the long term, not just landing and leaving. Fitz: The NYT said this week that this race now is no longer between America and Russia; its between America and China, and it looks like the Chinese are winning, with the big deal being who is first to get to the south pole of the moon. CS: Yes, but while the US likes to paint it as a Cold War 2.0, its not just China in the race with them, because were not in a bipolar era politically. Were in a multipolar era where youve got countries like India, Japan, and even Israel, trying to get to the moon. And importantly, youve got commercial players who are very much part of it.

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Fitz: But why go to the moon at all, beyond the wonder of it? Does the moon have minerals that we dont have on Earth, and could we get them back here in commercial quantities? And what is the big deal about the south pole? CS: The reason the south pole is so interesting is because it has ice, which means a space station established there can use it for water. And it probably has helium-3, which is a highly rare gas, and it can be used for fuel. But there really is an interesting question mark around what is the justification here, really? Because we keep being told were going back to the moon to have a long-term human presence on the moon. Well, why are we doing that? Yes, well, to get the resources. Well, why do we want the resources? Well, to support a long-term human presence on the moon? But why do we want that to get the resources? So its this circular argument. Fitz: It certainly is. The new Earthrise, taken by the Artemis II crew. AP Australian scientists are helping develop laser communications technology on board the Orion spacecraft. AP

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Artemis II launches at Cape Canaveral on April 2. Getty Images CS: All these companies are involved because theyre trying to make a case that theres trillions of dollars worth of profit to be made, but were still not quite sure how. So this is not about bringing those resources back to Earth. Theres no business case for that. Fitz: So, why? CS: In the shorter term, its just about dominating the next politically important piece of space, at a time when everyone also recognises the growing military and economic benefits of near-Earth space. For one thing, satellites now are integral to just about everything we do on Earth, so it really is important. But who gets to the south pole first to establish a base is hugely strategically and symbolically important. Fitz: And so, good Lord willing, and the creeks dont rise, in early 2028, the Americans will land on the moon, unload the sleds, get out the huskies, put on their space-helmets and head to the south pole. Mush you dawgies! I said mush!

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Space Nuclear-powered villages could be on the moon within 10 years. Where do we fit in? CS: [Laughing] Yes, but my bet is on China getting there first. The US, as we know, is in total and utter internal turmoil. Trump keeps chopping and changing, and recently cut the NASA budget to levels it hasnt seen since before the Apollo program of the 60s, and then Congress tried to put the budget back in place, but the new administrator just said hes in favour of the cuts. And their timelines have changed, and Ive lost count of how many times theyve changed their goals, of whether this is about the moon or Mars. They just cancelled, two weeks ago, a thing called the Gateway, which was supposed to be a critical piece of infrastructure for Artemis. The Canadians and the Europeans are saying, Hang on, weve spent billions of dollars on this already. The research and development timelines go for years. You cant just cancel it last minute. Fitz: So, its a typical Donald Trump shambles? CS: Yes, exactly. You cant run space programs and planning with that kind of shambles, while the Chinese have extremely consistent internal governance. It has a dictatorship, but that means it has very consistent programs and funding and timelines that do not diverge from what was put in place already more than 10 years ago. Everyone works towards a single goal, and its a very clear timeline, and theyve always said theyll be on the moon by 2030 and theres no question in my mind that they will. Fitz: Whoever gets there first, you told me previously, will establish an exclusion zone?

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CS: Yes, as this is prime lunar real estate, and were pretty sure there are resources there. Whoever is first will set up shop pretty quickly, and then theyre going to say we need to put a safety zone around these operations because lunar dust is really highly abrasive, and any small movement will kick it up, and it could become very destructive to equipment and possibly threaten human lives if there are humans around. Fitz: OK, lets just say that the USA gets there first and sets up a lunar space station with a, lets say, 20-kilometre radius around their exclusion zone on the south pole of the moon. And lets say the Chinese then land 18 kilometres away. Would you expect a phone call from the Americans? You know, Better call Saul ... nah, lets call Dr Cassandra Steer. Shes space lawyer to the stars, and the moon! CS: (Laughs) Fitz: I mean, how is the law up there enforced? Who runs the show? CS: Yeah, I want to be clear. Theres no law around this. This is actually something thats being asserted in the non-binding Artemis Accords and also in Chinas own principles around its own program for its International Lunar Research Station. In this, America and Chinas principles are very much the same. They are not going to try and infringe on that safety zone because it means they wont be able to set up their own safety zone. But its not actually an enforceable law at all.

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Fitz: But it is a whole lot of treaties, to start with? Related Article Explainer

Space Like the Wild West: Who owns the moon and whats up there? CS: Yes, and the foundation stone is the UNs Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which is like a constitution, and it puts down organising principles and values, and it says all space activities should be for the benefit of all nations, regardless of their scientific or economic status. It is prohibited to claim territory in space, and the treaty says by claims of sovereignty or by any other means, it prohibits nuclear weapons in space, and it prohibits military bases in space. So what it did was put in place key principles that the world agreed upon. Fitz: But in the age of Trump, when $300 will just about let you fill up your tank with diesel, whats the value of that American commitment to any treaty? American commitments are surely worthless? CS: The Americans still basically support the Outer Space Treaty. But they also say, We interpret non-appropriation as still allowing for resource extraction because thats not a territorial claim. So this was hotly debated in 2015 under president Obama when the US introduced national legislation to this effect, but then they put in place something called the Artemis Accords, and they said anyone who wants to be part of this new, exciting Artemis program to return to the moon has to agree with that interpretation and has to sign this accord. It includes saying that mining of space resources is not appropriation and is allowed under the Outer Space Treaty. Australia was one of the first seven countries to sign on to that because we were very keen to be part of the Artemis program.

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Fitz: Lets go back to you, as a space lawyer. When its 9am on a Monday, and your phone rings, who is it? What do they want from you? CS: A lot of my contracts are with defence departments, particularly Canadas and Australias where Im explaining to them a bit about what weve just discussed, but also things like how the laws around conflicts apply to satellite operations, what the impacts are on civilians. I am currently on a team writing doctrine for Canadian defence about how they can operate in space. And I do a lot of education about policy and strategy, and some of it is the civil side, like the Australian Space Agency, thinking about sustainability in space and how we can make a good regulatory environment for Australian companies. Fitz: Sustainability in space? Put your potato peels in worm farms? I get that on Earth, but what is the concept of sustainability in space? Related Article Data centres Data centres in space? Thats less crazy than you think CS: Because of our global dependencies on satellites, we have a huge problem of space traffic. In the first 50 years of space activities, we went from zero satellites to about 300. But in the last 20 years, weve gotten up to 16,000 satellites, most of them in low Earth orbit moving at 10 times the speed of a bullet. Theres an ever-growing risk of collision between satellites, or between bits of debris and satellites. Theres been a few events in space like collisions or actual deliberate military testing to destroy satellites which have created enormous amounts of debris. So although theres this huge commercial competition to launch more and more satellites, that is simply unsustainable. So these things have to be worked out.

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Fitz: And Australia in all this? CS: The Australian government doesnt really get it. Our space agency is sorely underfunded and constantly being shrunk down in size, and its crippled. It cant do anything that it should be able to do. Europe thoroughly understands how important space is, both for the civil side and economy, global trade, and also for the military and strategic side. But right now, Australia is not a good environment for space companies. Fitz: What a strange turn your career has taken that you start out studying arts, and find yourself as a sheriff in the badlands of the space frontier. When youre with your Canadian partner on a starry, starry night, and you gaze up at the moon, does it change the way you look at it? CS: It does! I mean, when I look up at the moon now, I apologise to it, and I say, Im really sorry. Were about to come and f--- things up. Fitz: How? How are we going to ruck things up? Why? What is the ruck-up thats coming?

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CS: There are historical heritage sites, like the first human footprints on the moon that could be destroyed by this competitive activity. We have a custodian responsibility for space as much as for Earth. There are all sorts of cultures around the world who have sacred relationships to the moon. And whats going to happen is, entities like Elon Musks company are going to speed things up. Were going to have commercial and militarised competition on the surface of the moon to extract as much as possible, as quickly as possible, with very little concern for the natural environment. And I just think thats really sad. Fitz: Thank you for your time. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) is one of Jim Cramers stock calls as he discussed the impact of the Iran war on the markets. A caller asked if they should sell, hold, or buy more CVS shares, and heres what Cramer had to say:

No, no, no. Listen to me, listen to me good. David Joyners the real deal. He is creating the national drugstore chain. Now, CVS is real. Hes for real [buy, buy, buy].

Stock market data. Photo by Burak The Weekender on Pexels

CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) provides healthcare solutions through insurance, pharmacy benefit management, and retail pharmacy services. During the January 8 episode, Cramer mentioned the stock and said that he is looking for another huge year. He commented:

The sixth best sector and the only other sector to finish 2025 up double digits was healthcare, which finished up 12.5%. Coming into last year, there was a lot of worry about what the health and human services department might do to the industry under the leadership of RFK Jr. But when the worst of these fears failed to materialize, the healthcare stocks were able to make a big run into the end of the year. Guess what was the best performer? CVS Health, up nearly 77% as the company recovered under new CEO David Joyner, and their top competitor Walgreens, is shutting down a lot of stores. Joyners money. Im looking for another huge year.

While we acknowledge the potential of CVS 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

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A body has been found after a fire ripped through a house on Brisbanes south on Saturday afternoon.

Firefighters, police and paramedics were called to a single-story house on Foote Street in Acacia Ridge about 1.10pm, where they found the house engulfed in flames.

Four fire trucks were called to fight the blaze, which was under control just before 1.45pm and extinguished about an hour later.

Emergency services were called to the house just after 1pm on Saturday. Nine

Paramedics said they treated a man in his 40s at the scene with minor injuries.
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NationalWATragedy About 50 West Australian children die from SUDC every year. So what is it? Caris Harper April 12, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

When Micah was one-and-a-half years old, his parents breathed a sigh of relief. He was out of the woods for every new parents worst fear - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, better known as SIDS. Drew La Reservees son Micah. I remember saying to my partner when Micah turned one, well, now were good, mum Drew La Reservee said. Now were out of that danger zone of SIDS, were fine and hes healthy.

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But just seven-months later, La Reservee realised they had been tragically mistaken. Micah died in his sleep about two years ago, and his death was considered Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC). Different from SIDS, it is a category of death for a child 12 months or older where the cause remains unexplained after investigation. La Reservee said she was grieving and searching for answers when she connected with other families in Perth who had experienced a similar loss. She befriended Cassandra Otway through social media, after Otways daughter Sadie passed away in her sleep at two-years old, after having multiple febrile seizures throughout her life. Her cause of death was also marked down as SUDC.

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Otway said before she met La Reservee, it had been agonising thinking she was alone. Cassandras daughter Sadie passed away when she was just two years old. It was torturous trying to find people to connect with in those early days, she said. The pair went to Red Nose Australia for support, a charity focusing on preventing the sudden and unexpected deaths of babies and children, and helping parents through their grief. La Reservee said it had felt isolating in the early days of her loss, because SUDC is not as recognised as SIDS.

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People say they specialise in grief and loss, but its not child loss, she said. Sometimes we have to explain ourselves to doctors or medical professionals, and thats really frustrating because at that level, everybody should know about it. It would be really nice to just say to someone I lost my daughter to SUDC, and not have to explain it. Both mothers said there needed to be more work done to educate people about the condition. Melanies daughter Mylee.

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When you do go into a labour ward or a hospital in general, theres posts everywhere about SIDS and Red Nose, and nothing touches the surface on SUDC, La Reservee said. Yes, theres no preventable measure at this point, but that doesnt mean we cant still put awareness out there on posts in hospitals where it matters most. Melanie Andrew-Manning is completing her PhD on SUDC research - funded by Red Nose - and said the lack of education in the sector was frustrating. She lost her daughter Mylee in her sleep at just 15-and-a-half months old. Whilst theres a limited amount of research on SUDC, what I know from working in this space is that we get about 50 unascertained cases of childhood death a year here in WA, Andrew-Manning said.

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Melanie Andrew-Manning graduated with honours from the University of Western Australia following Mylees passing. Red Nose Australia chief executive Amy Cooper said educating people on SUDC was extremely difficult due to its inherent unknowns. It makes it very hard for Red Nose to be able to educate on how to prevent Sudden Unexplained Death in Children because there are no known risk factors and there arent any specific prevention strategies as a flow-on for that. Andrew-Manning said while parents impacted by SUDC would continue to advocate for their children, it was important to get medical professionals, coronial services and the general public on the same page. She said advocating for your childs health, investing in sleep monitoring devices and having conversations with other families were ways parents could take as much control as possible.

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Related Article Queensland votes LNP wants health checks for preschool kids to turn their life around To anyone thats going through what we did, Im incredibly sorry that you have to face that because I know that it is the most devastating thing that youll ever go through in life, Andrew-Manning said. Whilst your life will never be the same you can learn to live a new kind of normal and life can still be beautiful beyond loss. If you or someone you know has experienced SUDC, or the loss of a child or infant, you can reach out to Red Nose Australias free 24/7 support line at 1300 308 307, or access SUDC specific support and guidance worldwide through the SUDC Foundation.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Tragedy

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PoliticsNSWEddie Obeid Editorial Obeid and Co escape prosecution over water deal The Herald's View Editorial Updated April 11, 2026  10:32am , first published April 11, 2026  5:00am

Updated April 11, 2026  10:32am ,first published 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

The NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has dropped a charge of misconduct in a public office against former Labor minister Eddie Obeid, despite the Independent Commission Against Corruption finding his alleged role in a water deal was corrupt. Obeids District Court trial  his third trial  was due to start on April 28, but this week the ODPP withdrew the charge. Former ministers (from left) Eddie Obeid, Joe Tripodi and Tony Kelly. Daniel Munoz, Steven Siewert, Rob Homer Obeid, a figure of controversy for decades who served two terms in prison after being convicted of offences over secret cafe leases at Circular Quay and a coal exploration licence, walks away and the people of NSW are none the wiser. A spokesperson for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said the reasons for the decision to drop the charge against Obeid were subject to legal privilege.

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Obeid was charged with misconduct in public office in 2022 alongside two other former Labor ministers, Joe Tripodi and Tony Kelly, over a business deal involving Australian Water Holdings and a lucrative public-private partnership with Sydney Water. Charges against Tripodi and Kelly over the AWH deal were dropped in December. Kelly stood trial the previous October, but the jury was discharged after it was unable to reach a verdict. Tripodi had been due to stand trial on that charge last month but is now set to be tried on a separate public office misconduct charge in October. The ICAC recommended charges against the Labor trio after its Operation Credo investigation into the water deal. That was nine years ago. It has been four years since Obeid, Tripodi and Kelly were first charged. Twelve years ago, Operation Credo also dramatically damaged the other side of politics. Eddie Obeid leaves Long Bay Jail last August. Sam Mooy

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Liberal Barry OFarrell resigned as NSW premier after admitting to unintentionally misleading the ICAC over a $3000 bottle of Penfolds Grange from AWH; federal assistant treasurer Arthur Sinodinos, who earlier was AWH deputy chairman, temporarily stood aside and the NSW Liberal Party refunded some $75,000 worth of tainted donations. Related Article Exclusive

Courts Eddie Obeid escapes prosecution over corrupt water deal Last August, Obeid was released from jail after serving three years for granting the coal exploration licence for which his family received a $30 million benefit. In January, after a Herald investigation established an Obeid family trust had concealed a $30 million stake in a Bankstown development site, the NSW Crime Commission froze the property assets of Obeid Corporation Pty Ltd. In NSW, the glacial pace that authorities took to act resulted in the three alleged protagonists walking away with barely a scratch. Certainly, their reputations were tainted  but given the findings of the ICAC, they clearly never cared much for the public anyway. Court undertakings involving political corruption are complicated but the failure to put Obeid and Co. in the dock leaves many questions unanswered about what really happened all those years ago. Jordan Baker sends an exclusive newsletter to subscribers each week. Sign up to receive her Note from the Editor.

CLARIFICATION This editorial has been updated to clarify that Barry OFarrells conduct was unintentional.
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SportRacingHorse racing Sir Delius ends Autumn Glows perfect run with return to his best Craig Kerry April 11, 2026  6:01pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Trainer Adrian Bott was focused on a belated shot at the Cox Plate (2040m) with Sir Delius after the rich import ended the perfect record of Autumn Glow, and seemingly her hopes of going to the spring Victorian feature, with victory in the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m). Autumn Glow was the star attraction on Saturday at Randwick as the Chris Waller-trained four-year-old tried to stretch her winning streak to 12 and prove she could still dominate going beyond a mile for the first time. Loading Autumn Glow started a $1.30 favourite but was tested throughout as Light Infantry Man led and Sir Delius took off under Craig Williams down the back straight, leaving the star mare midfield without cover. Williams pressed on and took the lead at the 350m, and Autumn Glow could not go with him, finishing 2 lengths away in third. Waller-trained stablemate Lindermann was expected to lead but was in last spot before powering home for second, 2 lengths off. Nash Rawiller was suspended for a week from April 19 and fined $7500 for excessive whip use on Lindermann, which he struck 10 times before the 100m.

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In ending Autumn Glows run, Sir Delius completed a stunning comeback after being ruled out of the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup last year when failing Racing Victoria scans. A record $2.7 million buy for Bott, legendary co-trainer Gai Waterhouse and supporters at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale in October 2024 in England, Sir Delius won two group 1s in Melbourne before the controversial call. Sir Delius winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Getty Images Bott was confident he could have Sir Delius peaking third up for the Queen Elizabeth, but admitted he was second-guessing the preparation after thirds in the Verry Elleegant and Ranvet Stakes. Waterhouse had declared Sir Delius the best weight-for-age horse in Australia over 2000m. Great to see him getting back where he deserves to be because hes such a talent, Bott said.

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I was second guessing whether wed not had him right in those first couple of runs, then not having him as forward as we needed to, but, you know, its all satisfying now. This is the one that counted. Obviously it was difficult those first parts of the preparation, he had a little bit of expectation on him from what he was able to achieve in the spring. But we kept focus and this was the goal that we really wanted to be able to achieve. Today was the right set-up and Craig executed it perfectly. Jockey Craig Williams hugs trainer Adrian Bott. Getty Images Im delighted for all the owners that are involved and the team thats made it possible. Bott said the Cox Plate would now be the target, but he was unsure if Sir Delius would press on to the Melbourne Cup. He said Saturdays win was right up there with his best biggest since joining Waterhouse in 2016. The pair have won two Golden Slippers together.

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We move forward, youve got to look at those targets in front of you, he said of last springs ruling. Im delighted hes been able to get back to the top level. Hes executed really well and cant wait for the spring again. Earlier, Waller and top jockey James McDonald combined with Ohope Wins to claim the $1 million Australian Oaks (2400m). Ohope Wins settled second last and stormed home to become the fourth filly to win the New Zealand-Australian Oaks double, beating Profoundly by a long neck. Waller was unsure what the spring targets would be for the Yulong-owned filly.

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Were still learning about her and as youve seen with our horses, winning an Oaks might not mean much come the spring, Waller said. Related Article Horse racing Lees closes on special mark with Sydney Cup upset on memorable day All we know is weve got a horse at the elite level and its now our job to train her like an Australian and see how much speed shes got. Shell tell us how she comes back the first couple of runs and well see where she fits in. It was just going back to simple things, like how she raced in New Zealand. You have your heart in your mouth with some of her runs and today was similar. Williams grabbed a double when winning on In Flight in the last race, the group 2 Sapphire Stakes, for trainer Joe Pride.
General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) is among the stocks Jim Cramer reviewed while discussing the Iran ceasefire that triggered a relief rally. Noting that the stock is down, a caller asked for Cramers long-term opinion. In response, he said:

You know, I was talking with the team earlier about, I was talking to Jeff Marks about, that I saw Smucker, SJM, report a good quarter, and it went up for about a minute, and then it just got crushed. I cant recommend the stock of General Mills, 6.67% yield, it does not stop the decline. Im going to have to say no. I dont have a reason to recommend General Mills, so Im just going to have to say pass. Pass, wow.

A stock market chart. Photo by Arturo A on Pexels

General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) provides branded foods, including cereals, snacks, meals, baking products, frozen items, ice cream, and pet food. Cramer mentioned the stock during the March 18 episode and commented:

I thought that General Mills might bottom on a good quarter, big yield. Sadly, the quarter wasnt good enough. Management tried to turn minuses into pluses, but the crowd wasnt buying it, even with that 6.5% yield.

While we acknowledge the potential of GIS 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.
Iranian delegation in Pakistan for talks with US, Vance on his way



Islamabad, Pakistan, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Iran's delegation arrived in Pakistan on Friday for ceasefire negotiations with the United States as Tehran insisted on a truce in Lebanon and release of its blocked assets for the talks to go ahead.

US Vice President JD Vance warned Iran meanwhile not to try to "play" Washington as he headed to Islamabad to represent the United States.

Despite the temporary truce struck between the foes, deep disagreements remain as to the way forward in talks aimed at transforming the fragile ceasefire into a lasting peace deal.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said making progress 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. "This is that stage which, in English, is called the equivalent of 'make or break.'"

Iranian state television said the delegation was led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and reiterated Iran's position that talks would only begin if Washington accepts its preconditions -- a Lebanon ceasefire and the unfreezing of Iran's assets.

Israel continued to carry out air strikes in Lebanon on Friday and Lebanon's State Security agency said an attack on the southern city of Nabatiyeh had killed 13 of its personnel.

Lebanon's health ministry meanwhile raised the provisional death toll from massive Israeli strikes across the country on Wednesday to 357 dead and 1,223 wounded.

Lebanon's presidency said a meeting would be held with Israel in Washington next week to discuss a ceasefire in the Israeli war against Iran-backed Hezbollah and the potential start of negotiations between the neighbours.



- 'Open hand' -



Vance, speaking to reporters before taking off for Islamabad, said "if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand."

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.

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 crucial oil conduit, the Strait of Hormuz.

Since the ceasefire took effect, President Donald Trump has voiced displeasure at Iran's handling of the strait, which was meant to be reopened, while Tehran has reacted angrily to the continuing Israeli attacks in Lebanon.

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."

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 skeptical 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 fertilizer 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.

As Israel continued to carry out air strikes in Lebanon, the Israeli military said Hezbollah had fired around 30 projectiles from Lebanon into its territory on Friday.

Hezbollah said 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."

Trump told NBC News on Thursday 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.'"

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War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



The latest developments in the Middle East war:



- Lebanon-Israel talks -

Lebanon's presidency said Friday a meeting will be held at the US State Department on Tuesday "to discuss declaring a ceasefire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices," according to a statement.

The statement said the date was agreed to during a first telephone call on Friday evening between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington, and the US ambassador to Lebanon.

- Iran arrives for talks -

Iran's delegation of top officials, led by Iranian Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, arrived in Islamabad for ceasefire talks with the United States, Iranian state television reported Friday.

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.



- Iran demands Lebanon ceasefire -

Iran's parliament speaker demanded a truce in Lebanon and the release of his country's blocked assets on Friday as US Vice President JD Vance warned Tehran not to "play" Washington in talks scheduled to start in Pakistan.

"We're going to try to have a positive negotiation," Vance told reporters as he left for Pakistan where he is expected to arrive Saturday.



- Lebanon toll mounts -

Lebanon's health ministry said the death toll from Israeli strikes across the country on Wednesday had risen from 303 to 357, with 1,223 people wounded.

It said the figure was not final and raised the overall toll in Lebanon since war erupted between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2 to 1,953 dead and 6,303 wounded.

Lebanon's State Security agency said that one Israeli strike in the southern city of Nabatiyeh had killed 13 of its personnel. Israel said it had killed 180 Hezbollah militants in Wednesday's strikes, while the Lebanese health ministry said that day's attacks alone killed 357 and wounded 1,223 more, noting the count was still provisional as rubble is still being removed.



- Trump warning -

President Donald Trump said that Iran has "no cards" in upcoming talks with the United States, apart from its effective stranglehold on the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping channel.

In a separate interview with the New York Post, Trump said US warships are being reloaded with weaponry to strike Iran if the talks in Pakistan 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.



- Thousands at Al-Aqsa Mosque prayers -

More than 100,000 people attended the first Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem since it reopened after a truce agreed between the United States and Iran, the holy site's Islamic authority reported.



- Hezbollah fires on Israel -

The Israeli military said Hezbollah fired around 30 projectiles into Israel, reporting that some strikes caused damage. Air-raid sirens were heard across northern Israel.

The Israeli military also said it had "dismantled" more than 4,300 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon since fighting with the militant group began on March 2.



- Hezbollah warns Beirut govt -

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem urged the Lebanese government to stop giving "free concessions" to Israel ahead of negotiations between the two governments due to begin 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 in a written message broadcast on the party's Al-Manar TV, in which he also denounced Israeli strikes that killed more than 300 people in Lebanon on Wednesday as "bloody criminality".



- Lebanon in food crisis -

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said the entire food system in Lebanon was reeling from conflict, with prices surging and supply chains disrupted as Israel continues its offensive.

"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.



- Israel urged to stop Beirut attacks -

European and Arab states have pressured Israel to stop targeting Beirut, a Western diplomat told AFP.

The diplomat, who asked to remain anonymous in order to discuss sensitive matters, said there was "ongoing diplomatic pressure from European states, Gulf states and Egypt on Israel to prevent renewed Israeli airstrikes on Beirut" following Wednesday's attack.

burs-tw/giv/sla/md

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TotalEnergies
Lebanon says Israel talks set for Tuesday in US



Beirut, Lebanon, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Lebanon's presidency said Friday that a meeting would be held with Israel in Washington next week to discuss a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war and the start of negotiations between the neighbours.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has repeatedly expressed readiness for direct talks with Israel since 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.

After a ceasefire was announced between the United States and Iran this week, Washington and Tehran have been at odds over whether it also applies to Lebanon, as Israel has kept up heavy strikes on the country and Hezbollah has responded with its own attacks.

A statement from Aoun's office said that a first telephone call was held on Friday between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington and the US ambassador to Lebanon, who was also in the American city.

"During the call, it was agreed to hold the first meeting next Tuesday at the State Department to discuss declaring a ceasefire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices," the presidency statement said.

A Lebanese government official told AFP on Thursday that Lebanon wants a ceasefire before starting any negotiations with Israel.

But Israel said Friday it will not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Meeting with his Lebanese counterpart to set up the talks, Israeli Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter "refused to discuss a ceasefire with the Hezbollah terrorist organization," he said in a statement afterward.



- Security forces killed -



Earlier Friday, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem urged the Lebanese government to stop giving "free concessions" to Israel and vowed that "the resistance will continue until the last breath".

Hezbollah has rejected direct talks between the two countries, instead calling for Israel's army to withdraw from Lebanon.

Late Friday near Beirut's seaside promenade, an AFP photographer saw dozens of people, some riding mopeds or brandishing Hezbollah or Iranian flags, protesting against the authorities and negotiations with Israel, after a similar gatherings elsewhere in the capital earlier in the evening.

Lebanese authorities say the weeks of hostilities have killed more than 1,950 people, while the provisional toll of massive Israeli strikes across the country on Wednesday alone has risen to 357 dead.

Israel's military said it "eliminated more than 180 militants" from Hezbollah in Wednesday's strikes, which came hours after the US-Iran ceasefire was announced, adding that "the count is still ongoing".

It also said it had "dismantled" more than 4,300 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon and killed "more than 1,400" Hezbollah fighters since the war erupted.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported strikes on south Lebanon on Friday, saying that "enemy warplanes launched a series of heavy strikes" on Nabatiyeh, hitting a State Security office near the government headquarters in the city.

An AFP photographer saw extensive damage and a fire still raging at the site, where State Security said 13 of its personnel were killed.



- Beirut threat -



Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the "painful loss only strengthens our determination to achieve a ceasefire", while Aoun urged the international community to "assume its responsibilities in putting an end to the repeated Israeli aggressions".

Hezbollah also claimed dozens of attacks on Israeli targets, including cross-border rocket barrages in retaliation for the Nabatiyeh strikes, and a missile attack on a naval base in the southern Israeli city of Ashdod, far from the border.

On Thursday afternoon, the Israeli military issued a warning of incoming strikes for large, densely populated areas of southern Beirut home to major hospitals and the road to the airport, so far without carrying out the threat.

A Western diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity that "there is ongoing diplomatic pressure... to prevent renewed Israeli airstrikes on Beirut after 'Black Wednesday'".

Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny has said he had "received assurances" from foreign diplomats that the airport and the road there would be spared.

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."

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Five things to know about the planned Iran-US talks in Islamabad



Islamabad, Pakistan, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Pakistan is set to host talks between Iran and the United States in a bid to turn a fragile two-week ceasefire into a lasting end to a war that has left thousands dead and roiled global energy markets.

Here are five things to know about the Islamabad talks:



- The war behind the talks -



On February 28, the United States and Israel launched deadly coordinated strikes that killed supreme leader Ali Khamenei and struck Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure.

More than 3,000 people were killed in Iran in five weeks, according to Iranian media and US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

Tehran responded by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf waterway through which about a fifth of global oil and gas passes, sending energy prices soaring and disrupting trade worldwide.

On April 8, Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan. The ceasefire is expected to expire April 22.



- Pakistan's unlikely starring role -



Pakistan's value as a mediator rests on an unusually broad diplomatic network.

Iran was the first country to recognise Pakistan's statehood following independence in 1947, with the two neighbours sharing a 900-kilometre (560-mile) border and deep historical, cultural and religious ties.

Pakistan is also home to more than 20 million Shia Muslims, the second-largest such population in the world after Iran.

Islamabad has cultivated strong ties with Washington, Riyadh and Beijing.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Beijing at the end of March for talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who backed Islamabad's mediation efforts as "in keeping with the common interests of all parties".

Trump himself told AFP that China helped bring Iran to the negotiating table, an account backed by Pakistani officials.

"On ceasefire night, hopes were fading, but China stepped in and convinced Iran to agree to a preliminary ceasefire," a senior Pakistani official familiar with the negotiations told AFP on condition of anonymity.



- What's on the table? -



The gap between the two sides remains vast.

Washington's reported 15-point proposal centres on Iran's enriched uranium and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran has countered with a 10-point plan demanding control over the strait, a toll for vessels crossing the strait, an end to all regional military operations and the lifting of all sanctions.

Lebanon is also a major sticking point.

Israel has continued its strikes in the country targeting Hezbollah -- after the ceasefire came into force -- with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejecting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's assertion that the truce included Lebanon.

US Vice President JD Vance appeared to take a softer tone, saying there may have been a "legitimate misunderstanding" from Iran that Lebanon would be included.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on X that Israel's strikes on Lebanon rendered the negotiations "meaningless".

Iran has also long refused to concede to Washington's demands on its nuclear programme.

Iranian sources have also told Iranian media that Tehran won't attend the talks unless a ceasefire is in place in Lebanon.



- Who are the negotiators? -



Vance will lead the American team, joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner.

It marks the most senior US engagement with Iran since Secretary of State John Kerry negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal.

Witkoff held multiple rounds of Oman-mediated talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi before the war cut the process short.

Araghchi and Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with other security and economic officials, have arrived in Pakistan, Iranian state television and the Pakistani government confirmed.

Reporting their arrival, state broadcaster IRIB reiterated Tehran's position that talks will not begin unless its conditions are met, including a ceasefire in Lebanon.



- Islamabad on lockdown -



The talks are being held in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

The government has kept its cards close to its chest, not confirming the venue, but the Serena Hotel -- located next to the foreign ministry in the capital's high-security Red Zone -- asked its guests to clear out on Wednesday.

Authorities in the capital announced a two-day public holiday on Thursday and Friday.

The streets of Islamabad are flooded with armed security personnel in military fatigues, traffic diversions are in place and police checkpoints are set up.

The talks are expected to be indirect: the two delegations sitting in separate rooms with Pakistani officials shuttling proposals between them, mirroring the format used in earlier Oman-mediated rounds.
Israel won't discuss ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon talks: envoy



Washington, United States, April 10 (AFP) Apr 10, 2026



Israel said Friday it will not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah when it holds talks with Lebanon's government next week in Washington.

The Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors spoke to set up the talks that will open Tuesday at the State Department.

Israel "agreed to begin formal peace negotiations" with the Lebanese government, with which it has no diplomatic relations, said the Israeli ambassador, Yechiel Leiter.

"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," he said in a statement.

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.

Without a ceasefire with Hezbollah, the talks would center on Israel seeking actions from the Lebanese government, which has for years struggled to rein in Hezbollah but has been stepping up its efforts.

Israel has said that a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which will hold talks starting Saturday in Islamabad, does not cover Lebanon.

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.
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



The latest developments in the Middle East war:



- Israel won't discuss ceasefire -

Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter told his Lebanese counterpart that he "refused to discuss a ceasefire with the Hezbollah terrorist organization," according to a statement after a meeting.

Israel "agreed to begin formal peace negotiations" with the Lebanese government, with which it has no diplomatic relations, the Israeli ambassador said.



- Trump: Hormuz to open 'fairly soon' -

US President Donald Trump vowed Friday to have the Strait of Hormuz open "with or without" Iran's cooperation and said his top priority in peace talks was to ensure Tehran can't have a nuclear weapon.

Trump has sent Vance to Pakistan to meet with top Iranian officials in a bid to reach a peace deal following a two-week ceasefire that was agreed on Tuesday.



- Lebanon-Israel talks -



Lebanon's presidency said Friday a meeting will be held at the US State Department on Tuesday "to discuss declaring a ceasefire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices," according to a statement.

The statement said the date was agreed to during a first telephone call on Friday evening between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington, and the US ambassador to Lebanon.



- Iran arrives for talks -



Iran's delegation of top officials, led by Iranian Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, arrived in Islamabad for ceasefire talks with the United States, Iranian state television reported Friday.

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.



- Iran demands Lebanon ceasefire -



Iran's parliament speaker demanded a truce in Lebanon and the release of his country's blocked assets on Friday as Vance warned Tehran not to "play" Washington in talks scheduled to start in Pakistan.

"We're going to try to have a positive negotiation," Vance told reporters as he left for Pakistan where he is expected to arrive Saturday.



- Lebanon toll mounts -



Lebanon's health ministry said the death toll from Israeli strikes across the country on Wednesday had risen from 303 to 357, with 1,223 people wounded.

It said the figure was not final and raised the overall toll in Lebanon since war erupted between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2 to 1,953 dead and 6,303 wounded.

Lebanon's State Security agency said that one Israeli strike in the southern city of Nabatiyeh had killed 13 of its personnel. Israel said it had killed 180 Hezbollah militants in Wednesday's strikes, while the Lebanese health ministry said that day's attacks alone killed 357 and wounded 1,223 more, noting the count was still provisional as rubble is still being removed.



- Trump warning -

Trump said that Iran has "no cards" in upcoming talks with the United States, apart from its effective stranglehold on the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping channel.

In a separate interview with the New York Post, Trump said US warships are being reloaded with weaponry to strike Iran if the talks in Pakistan 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.



- Thousands at Al-Aqsa Mosque prayers -

More than 100,000 people attended the first Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem since it reopened after a truce agreed between the United States and Iran, the holy site's Islamic authority reported.



- Hezbollah fires on Israel -

The Israeli military said Hezbollah fired around 30 projectiles into Israel, reporting that some strikes caused damage. Air-raid sirens were heard across northern Israel.

The Israeli military also said it had "dismantled" more than 4,300 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon since fighting with the militant group began on March 2.

- Hezbollah warns Beirut govt -

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem urged the Lebanese government to stop giving "free concessions" to Israel ahead of negotiations between the two governments due to begin 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 in a written message broadcast on the party's Al-Manar TV, in which he also denounced Israeli strikes that killed more than 300 people in Lebanon on Wednesday as "bloody criminality".

burs-tw/giv/pnb/sla
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



The latest developments in the Middle East war:

- US VP en route to Islamabad -



The plane transporting US Vice President JD Vance, who is heading the Washington delegation, stopped for refuelling in Paris before flying on to the Pakistani capital.

- Iran says lacks 'trust' with US -



Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said shortly after arriving in Pakistan's capital that previous experiences negotiating with the United States had led to a lack of trust.

"We have good intentions but we do not trust," Iranian state media quoted him as saying.

"Our experience in negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and broken promises," he added.

- Iran internet shutdown hits 1,000 hours -



Digital monitor Netblocks said Iran's internet blackout has lasted more than one thousand hours, in an X post on Sunday.

While Iran's domestic intranet remains operational -- supporting local messaging apps, banking platforms and other services -- access to the global internet has been severely restricted since early February.

- Pakistan PM says process at 'make or break' stage -



"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," said Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government is leading mediations, in a televised speech.

"This is that stage which, in English, is called the equivalent of 'make or break'," he added.

- Israel won't discuss ceasefire -



Israel's US ambassador Yechiel Leiter told his Lebanese counterpart in Washington that he "refused to discuss a ceasefire with the Hezbollah terrorist organization", according to a statement after a meeting.

Israel "agreed to begin formal peace negotiations" with the Lebanese government, with which it has no diplomatic relations, the Israeli ambassador said.

- Trump: Hormuz to open 'fairly soon' -



US President Donald Trump vowed Friday to have the Strait of Hormuz open "with or without" Iran's cooperation and said his top priority in peace talks was to ensure Tehran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

Trump has sent Vance to Pakistan to meet with top Iranian officials in a bid to reach a peace deal following a two-week ceasefire that was agreed on Tuesday.

- Lebanon-Israel talks -



Lebanon's presidency said Friday a meeting will be held at the US State Department on Tuesday "to discuss declaring a ceasefire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices," according to a statement.

The statement said the date was agreed to during a first telephone call on Friday evening between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington, and the US ambassador to Lebanon.

- Iran arrives for talks -



Iran's delegation of top officials, led by Iranian Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, arrived in Islamabad for ceasefire talks with the United States, Iranian state television reported Friday.

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.

- Iran demands Lebanon ceasefire -



Iran's parliament speaker demanded a truce in Lebanon and the release of his country's blocked assets on Friday as Vance warned Tehran not to "play" Washington in talks scheduled to start in Pakistan.

"We're going to try to have a positive negotiation," Vance told reporters as he left for Pakistan where he is expected to arrive Saturday.

- Lebanon toll mounts -



Lebanon's health ministry said the death toll from Israeli strikes across the country on Wednesday had risen from 303 to 357, with 1,223 people wounded.

It said the figure was not final and raised the overall toll in Lebanon since war erupted between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2 to 1,953 dead and 6,303 wounded.

Lebanon's State Security agency said that one Israeli strike in the southern city of Nabatiyeh had killed 13 of its personnel. Israel said it had killed 180 Hezbollah militants in Wednesday's strikes, while the Lebanese health ministry said that day's attacks alone killed 357 and wounded 1,223 more, noting the count was still provisional as rubble is still being removed.

- Trump warning -



Trump said that Iran has "no cards" in upcoming talks with the United States, apart from its effective stranglehold on the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping channel.

In a separate interview with the New York Post, Trump said US warships are being reloaded with weaponry to strike Iran if the talks in Pakistan 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.

- Hezbollah fires on Israel -



The Israeli military said Hezbollah fired around 30 projectiles into Israel, reporting that some strikes caused damage. Air-raid sirens were heard across northern Israel.

The Israeli military also said it had "dismantled" more than 4,300 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon since fighting with the militant group began on March 2.

- Hezbollah warns Beirut -



Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem urged the Lebanese government to stop giving "free concessions" to Israel ahead of negotiations between the two governments due to begin 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 in a written message broadcast on the party's Al-Manar TV, in which he also denounced Israeli strikes that killed more than 300 people in Lebanon on Wednesday as "bloody criminality".

burs-tw/giv/pnb/sla/ceg/jts
Gaza civil defence says Israeli strikes kill seven



Gaza City, Palestinian Territories, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



Gaza's civil defence rescue service said on Saturday that Israeli airstrikes in the Palestinian territory had killed seven people overnight, despite the fragile ceasefire in place since October last year.

Mahmoud Bassal, spokesman for the group, which operates under the authority of the Islamist movement Hamas, said an Israeli drone had fired two missiles close to a police post in the Al-Bureij refugee camp.

In addition to the seven dead, he said, several more people were wounded, four of them critically.

The al-Aqsa hospital in central Gaza said it had received six bodies and seven wounded, "including four in a critical condition because of direct impacts to the face, torso and other parts of the body".

The nearby al-Awda hospital said it had received one fatality and two wounded.

Reached for comment by AFP, the Israeli military said it was working to verify the information.

Israel and Hamas regularly accuse each other of violating the ceasefire that came into effect on October 10, after two years of war triggered by the Palestinian movement's 2023 cross-border attack.

At least 738 Palestinians have been killed since the truce began, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which is under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.

The Israeli army has reported five soldiers killed since the start of the truce.

Under the restrictions imposed on the media in Gaza and the difficulties of accessing the field -- the international press is still barred by the Israeli authorities from entering -- AFP is not in a position to independently verify the information provided by the different parties.
Vance in Islamabad for Iran talks overshadowed by mutual mistrust



Islamabad, Pakistan, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Islamabad on Saturday for talks with Iran that the Pakistani premier hosting the warring sides called a "make or break" effort to permanently halt weeks of fighting in the Middle East.

An Iranian delegation led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is also in the city, having arrived overnight at an air base near the capital and disembarked to embrace Pakistan's powerful army chief Asim Munir.

Munir, who shares a personal rapport with US President Donald Trump, also greeted Vance, escorting him down a red carpet at the Nur Khan air base, where US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were already waiting.

It was unclear what time the talks would get underway, though Iranian news agencies reported Tehran's delegation was on its way to a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at 1:00 pm local time.

The warring parties still appeared to be far apart on key issues, including the opening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and made no attempt to hide their mutual suspicion.

"Our experience in negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and broken promises," Ghalibaf said shortly after landing, according to Iran's state broadcaster.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is also part of the delegation, told his German counterpart in a call on Saturday that "Iran enters negotiations with complete distrust due to repeated breaches of commitments and betrayals by the United States", the Tasnim news agency reported.

Vance said before leaving the US that if the other side was "willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand".



- 'Make or break' -



But "if they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive", he added.

After arriving in Islamabad, Vance made a brief stop at the US embassy, before heading to his hotel, according to his office.

The ceasefire is already under strain, notably from Israel's continued strikes in Lebanon, which Iran and Pakistan insist is covered under the current truce.

Prime Minister Sharif, whose country's down-to-the-wire mediation got both sides to the negotiating table this week, said talks would not be easy.

"An even more difficult stage lies ahead," he said, referring to efforts to permanently end fighting that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, sparking Iranian retaliation against Israel and across the Gulf.

"This is that stage which, in English, is called the equivalent of 'make or break.'"

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar "expressed the hope that parties would engage constructively", and reiterated Islamabad's willingness to facilitate a "lasting and durable solution to the conflict".

Iranian state television made only a brief mention of the talks in its first morning news programme, with its second report dedicated to volunteers signing up to defend Iran in the event the war resumed.



- Islamabad plays host -



Iran -- which brought a more than 70-member delegation to Pakistan -- has insisted on the truce covering Lebanon and on the unfreezing of its assets for the Islamabad talks to go ahead, neither of which has materialised so far.

On the US side, President Donald Trump demanded the opening of the Strait of Hormuz as a condition for the two-week ceasefire.

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 added his top priority at the Islamabad talks was to ensure the Islamic republic had "no nuclear weapon. That's 99 percent of it."

Security was tight in the Pakistani capital on Saturday, with a heavy police and paramilitary presence on the streets and road diversions around the "red zone" where government and diplomatic buildings are located.

It was not known whether the two sides would meet face-to-face, or whether they would mirror an indirect format used in Oman-mediated talks before the war.

Pakistan has formulated a team of subject matter specialists to facilitate the two sides in negotiations on navigation, nuclear and other key matters, a diplomatic source familiar with the matter told AFP.

The negotiations will be closely watched by other key regional players, with Egypt and Turkey having helped with mediation, along with China, all of which Pakistan was still coordinating closely with for the talks, the source said.

Beijing has been sought as a possible guarantor of any lasting agreement, official sources have said, with Trump confirming to AFP that China helped get Tehran to the negotiating table.

It was not clear whether China would have any direct presence during the talks or would be willing to take on a formal role.



- Violence in Lebanon -



Complicating the path to a permanent ceasefire was Israel's assertion that the current truce does not cover Lebanon.

Israeli air strikes continued in Lebanon on Friday against Iran-backed Hezbollah despite the Iranian demand that they be halted.

Israel's ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, said his country would hold discussions with Lebanon's government in Washington next week but would not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah.

The militant group said overnight that it had carried out drone and rocket attacks on northern Israel, as well as on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

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."

burs/cl/mlm/smw/dc
Iran delegation meets Pakistan PM ahead of negotiations with US: state TV



Tehran, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



An Iranian delegation met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Saturday, state TV reported, ahead of talks with the United States aimed at ending the war in the Middle East.

Confirming the sit-down, Iran's state broadcaster added that "arrangements for the Iran-US will be defined at the conclusion of this meeting".

The Iranian delegation had previously met with Pakistani army chief Asim Munir after arriving in Islamabad overnight.

Noting Pakistan's previous efforts as an intermediary, Iran's Fars news agency reported that after the meeting with "Munir, the army chief of staff and an influential figure in that country, messages were again exchanged between Iran and the United States".

Munir also greeted Vice President JD Vance, who is leading the US negotiating team, upon his arrival on Saturday.
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Hezbollah MP says direct talks with Israel are 'blatant violation' of constitution



Beirut, Lebanon, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah on Saturday reiterated his Iran-backed group's rejection of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, a day after Lebanon's president said a meeting would take place next week in Washington.

The move is "a blatant violation of the (national) pact, the constitution and Lebanese laws... and it exacerbates domestic divisions at a time when Lebanon most needs solidarity and internal unity to face Israel's aggression and preserve civil peace", Fadlallah said in a statement.

"What the enemy has been unable to do on the ground... it will not obtain in negotiations with an authority that lacks decision-making power, has abandoned its most basic duties, has failed to protect its people and cannot be trusted to safeguard national sovereignty," he added.

A statement from President Joseph Aoun's office said that a telephone call was held on Friday between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington and the US ambassador to Lebanon, who was also in the American city.

"During the call, it was agreed to hold the first meeting next Tuesday at the State Department to discuss declaring a ceasefire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices," the presidency statement said.



- Protests -



Aoun had repeatedly expressed readiness for direct talks with Israel since 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.

After a ceasefire was announced between the United States and Iran this week, the two sides have been at odds over whether it also applies to Lebanon, as Israel has kept up heavy strikes on the country and Hezbollah has responded with its own attacks.

But after Aoun's announcement, Israeli ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said his country "agreed to begin formal peace negotiations" with the Lebanese government, with which it has no diplomatic relations.

"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," Leiter said in a statement.

A Lebanese government official told AFP on Thursday that Lebanon wants a ceasefire before starting any negotiations with Israel.

On Friday, dozens of Hezbollah supporters, some brandishing the group's flag or that of Iran, demonstrated outside the government headquarters and other parts of Beirut.
Gaza civil defence says Israeli strikes kill seven



Deir el-Balah, Palestinian Territories, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



Gaza's civil defence agency reported on Saturday that Israeli airstrikes in the Palestinian territory had killed seven people overnight, with the military saying it had struck an "armed terrorist cell".

Despite an October 10 ceasefire, Gaza remains gripped by daily violence as both the Israeli military and Hamas accuse one another of breaching the truce.

Mahmoud Bassal, spokesman for Gaza's civil defence agency, which operates as a rescue service under Hamas, said an Israeli drone had fired two missiles close to a police post in the Al-Bureij refugee camp.

In addition to the seven dead, he said, several more people were wounded, four of them critically.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza said it had received six bodies and seven wounded, "including four in a critical condition because of direct impacts to the face, torso and other parts of the body".

The nearby Al-Awda hospital said it had received one fatality and two wounded.

AFP images from Al?Aqsa hospital showed Palestinians gathered around the bodies of several men, laid on the ground and wrapped in white shrouds.

Mourners then carried the bodies to Deir el-Balah in a funeral procession.

The Israeli military said it had struck "an armed Hamas terrorist cell", adding that militants had approached what is known as the Yellow Line and "planned to execute a terror attack against IDF troops in the immediate timeframe".

The Yellow Line is the de facto boundary dividing Gaza into two zones: one under Israeli military control and one under Hamas control.

The military did not specify how many people were killed in the incident.

Israel and Hamas regularly accuse each other of violating the ceasefire, which came into effect after two years of war triggered by the Palestinian movement's October 7, 2023 cross-border attack.

At least 749 Palestinians have been killed since the truce began, according to Gaza's health ministry, which is under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.

The Israeli army has reported five soldiers killed in Gaza since the start of the truce.

Media restrictions and limited access in Gaza have prevented AFP from independently verifying casualty figures or freely covering the fighting.

str-az-anr-jd/smw
US official denies report Washington agreed to unfreeze Iran assets



Washington, United States, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



A senior US official denied on Saturday a report saying Washington had agreed to release Iran's frozen assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks.

Iranian and US delegations have arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan for talks aimed at ending the war in the Middle East.

Tehran earlier said any agreement on a permanent end to fighting must include the unfreezing of sanctioned Iranian assets and an end to Israel's war on Hezbollah in Lebanon.

An unnamed "senior Iranian source" told news outlet Reuters that the United States had agreed to unfreeze the assets and that the move was directly linked to ensuring safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a message from the White House, a senior US official responded to the report saying, "False. The meetings have not even started yet."

On Saturday, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met US Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad, the former's office said, adding that peace talks to end the Middle East war had "commenced."
US and Iran envoys meet Pakistani PM as negotiations get under way



Islamabad, Pakistan, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



Senior Iranian and American delegations met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Saturday to begin negotiations towards a deal to end the Middle East war unleashed six weeks earlier by US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.

With the talks under way at Islamabad's Serena Hotel, Iranian media said the negotiating format going forward had yet to be determined, and it was not clear whether the two sides would meet face-to-face or continue to exchange messages via the Pakistanis.

But both sides had arrived at the venue when the Iranian delegation led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf met Sharif, followed by US Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by White House envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

"Commending the commitment of both delegations to engage constructively, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that these talks would serve as a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region," Sharif's office said.

"The Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan looks forward to continue its facilitation of both sides in making progress towards sustainable peace in the region."

Iran has previously said that any agreement on a permanent end to fighting must include the unfreezing of sanctioned Iranian assets as well as an end to Israel's war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, which Vance has said will not be up for discussion in Islamabad.

The warring parties still appeared to be far apart on key issues -- including sanctions, Lebanon and the opening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz -- and made no attempt to hide their mutual suspicion.

"Our experience in negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and broken promises," Ghalibaf said shortly after landing in Pakistan, according to Iran's state broadcaster.



- 'Make or break' -



Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is also part of the delegation, told his German counterpart in a call on Saturday that "Iran enters negotiations with complete distrust due to repeated breaches of commitments and betrayals by the United States", the Tasnim news agency reported.

Vance said before leaving the US that if the other side was "willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand".

But "if they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive", he added.

The ceasefire is already under strain, notably from Israel's continued strikes in Lebanon, which Iran and Pakistan insist is covered under the current truce.

Prime Minister Sharif, whose country's down-to-the-wire mediation got both sides to the negotiating table this week, said talks would not be easy.

"An even more difficult stage lies ahead," he said, referring to efforts to permanently end fighting that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, sparking Iranian retaliation against Israel and across the Gulf.

"This is that stage which, in English, is called the equivalent of 'make or break.'"



- 'No nuclear weapon' -



On the US side, Trump has demanded the opening of the Strait of Hormuz as a condition for the two-week ceasefire.

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 added that his top priority at the Islamabad talks was to ensure the Islamic republic had "no nuclear weapon. That's 99 percent of it."

Security was tight in the Pakistani capital on Saturday, with a heavy police and paramilitary presence on the streets and road diversions around the "red zone" where government and diplomatic buildings are located.

Pakistan has formulated a team of experts to facilitate the two sides in negotiations on navigation, nuclear and other key matters, a diplomatic source familiar with the matter told AFP.

The negotiations will be closely watched by other key regional players, with Egypt and Turkey having helped with mediation, along with China, all of which Pakistan was still coordinating closely with for the talks, the source said.

In Tehran, a 30-year-old resident told AFP he was sceptical negotiations would be successful, describing most of what Trump says as "pure noise and nonsense."

burs/dc/smw
Hezbollah MP slams planned Lebanese talks with Israel as strikes kill 10



Beirut, Lebanon, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah on Saturday reiterated his group's rejection of direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, where authorities reported 10 people killed in Israeli attacks in the south.

The office of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Friday that officials from his country, Israel and the United States would meet next week in Washington "to discuss declaring a ceasefire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices".

Beirut is seeking the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory, while Israel has framed the talks as a step towards formally establishing peace with Lebanon, with which it has technically been at war for decades.

Aoun had repeatedly expressed readiness for direct talks ever since 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.

In the coastal city of Sidon, meanwhile, hundreds of people attended a funeral procession on Saturday for 13 State Security personnel who were killed the day before in Israeli strikes that hit their office in Nabatiyeh in the south.

Loved ones grasped at the coffins, each bearing the Lebanese flag, while others wept inconsolably.

"Who will bring my husband back? Who will give my children their father back?" screamed the wife of one of the dead.

Addressing the authorities, another angry, grief-stricken mourner said: "You left them there to die, and now you're holding ceremonies for them?"



- 'Domestic tensions' -



Hezbollah MP Fadlallah said the decision to hold direct talks with Israel was "a blatant violation of the (national) pact, the constitution and Lebanese laws".

The move "exacerbates domestic divisions at a time when Lebanon most needs solidarity and internal unity to face Israel's aggression and preserve civil peace", he added in a statement.

He went on to say the government "has failed to protect its people and cannot be trusted to safeguard national sovereignty".

Israeli ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter has said his country "agreed to begin formal peace negotiations" with the Lebanese government, but "refused to discuss a ceasefire with the Hezbollah".

Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, said on X that Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam "should know that ignoring the unique role of the resistance and the heroic Hezbollah will expose Lebanon to irreparable security risks".

"Lebanon's stability rests exclusively on cohesion between the government and the resistance," he said.



- 'Civil peace' -



Lebanon's health ministry said 10 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the south on Saturday, with state media reporting Israeli raids on more than a dozen locations.

The ministry said the dead included a member of the Lebanese civil defence and two paramedics from the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee, decrying Israel's "systematic" targeting of emergency workers.

Authorities say more than 1,950 people have been killed in Lebanon since the war erupted.

After a ceasefire was announced between the United States and Iran this week, the two sides have been at odds over whether it also applies to Lebanon, where Israel has kept up heavy strikes and Hezbollah has responded with its own attacks.

On Friday, dozens of Hezbollah supporters, some brandishing the group's flag or that of Iran, demonstrated outside the government headquarters and in other parts of Beirut.

The Lebanese army on Saturday warned against "any action that could endanger stability or civil peace" and said its forces would "intervene firmly to prevent any harm to internal stability".

lg/smw
US 'clearing out' the Strait of Hormuz, Trump says



Washington, United States, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



The United States has started "clearing out" the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump said Saturday, as US-Iran negotiations toward a deal to end the Middle East war got underway.

The comment came as US media outlet Axios reported that several US navy ships had crossed the Strait on Saturday in a move not coordinated with Iran. A senior Iranian military official -- quoted by state television -- denied the report.

"We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said on his Truth Social platform, calling it "a favor" to countries such as China, Japan and France that "don't have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves."

He insisted that Iran is "LOSING BIG!" in the conflict, while acknowledging that Iranian mines in the strategic strait -- through which a fifth of the world's crude passes -- still pose a threat.

"The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may 'bunk' into one of their sea mines," Trump wrote.

The key shipping lane off the coast of Iran has been virtually blocked by Tehran since the United States and Israel started bombing Iran on February 28, though reopening the strait was ostensibly a condition of the shaky ceasefire put in place earlier this week.

Senior Iranian and American officials began negotiations in Pakistan on Saturday, Iranian media reported, in a bid to bring to an end a conflict that has plunged the Middle East into violence and sent shockwaves through the world economy.

In an earlier post, Trump said that empty tankers were headed to the United States from around the world to purchase oil, without providing details.
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



The latest developments in the Middle East war:



- Iranian media says talks start -

Iranian media said negotiations with the United States to end the Middle East war had begun in Islamabad, though the format of the talks remained unclear.

The Fars and Tasnim news agencies said "it was decided to begin negotiations".



- Lebanon says 10 killed -

Lebanon's health ministry said 10 people including three emergency workers were killed by Israeli strikes on south Lebanon.

Israel's military said it had struck more than 200 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in the last 24 hours.



- Vance meets Pakistan PM -

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met US Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad, the former's office said.

"As the Islamabad Talks commenced today, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with His Excellency JD Vance, Vice President of the United States of America," the statement said.



- Iran delegation meets Pakistan PM -

Earlier an Iranian delegation met Sharif in Islamabad ahead of the talks. Confirming the sit-down, Iran's state broadcaster reported that "arrangements for the Iran-US will be defined at the conclusion of this meeting".



- Pakistan calls to 'engage' -

Pakistan's foreign minister called for the United States and Iran to "engage constructively" at the Islamabad talks.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar "expressed the hope that parties would engage constructively, and reiterated Pakistan's desire to continue facilitating the parties towards reaching lasting and durable solution to the conflict."



- Iran says lacks 'trust' with US -

Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said shortly after arriving in Pakistan's capital that previous experiences negotiating with the United States had led to a lack of trust.

"We have good intentions but we do not trust," Iranian state media quoted him as saying.

"Our experience in negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and broken promises," he added.



- Israel won't discuss ceasefire -

Israel's US ambassador Yechiel Leiter told his Lebanese counterpart in Washington that he "refused to discuss a ceasefire with the Hezbollah terrorist organisation", according to a statement after a meeting.

Israel "agreed to begin formal peace negotiations" with the Lebanese government, with which it has no diplomatic relations, the Israeli ambassador said.

Lebanon's presidency said a meeting will be held at the US State Department on Tuesday "to discuss declaring a ceasefire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices."



- Iran internet shutdown hits 1,000 hours -

Digital monitor Netblocks said Iran's internet blackout has lasted more than 1,000 hours, in an X post.

While Iran's domestic intranet remains operational -- supporting local messaging apps, banking platforms and other services -- access to the global internet has been severely restricted since early February.



- Trump: Hormuz to open 'fairly soon' -

US President Donald Trump vowed Friday to have the Strait of Hormuz open "with or without" Iran's cooperation and said his top priority in peace talks was to ensure Tehran cannot have a nuclear weapon.



- Iran demands Lebanon ceasefire -



Iran's parliament speaker demanded a truce in Lebanon and the release of his country's blocked assets on Friday as Vance warned Tehran not to "play" Washington in the Islamabad talks.



burs-pdw/giv
US warships transit Strait of Hormuz: media



Washington, United States, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



Two US warships have reportedly passed through the Strait of Hormuz, the first such transit since the war with Iran began, as President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States had started "clearing out" the strategic waterway.

The US Navy guided-missile destroyers passed through the strait with no issues reported, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing three US officials.

The operation was not coordinated with authorities in Tehran, US media outlet Axios said.

"We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said on his Truth Social platform, calling it "a favor" to countries such as China, Japan and France that "don't have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves."

He insisted that Iran is "LOSING BIG!" in the conflict, while acknowledging that Iranian mines in the strategic strait -- through which a fifth of the world's crude passes -- still pose a threat.

"The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may 'bunk' into one of their sea mines," Trump wrote.

US officials did not immediately respond to AFP requests for comments about the reports.

The key shipping lane off the coast of Iran has been virtually blocked by Tehran since the United States and Israel started bombing Iran on February 28, though reopening the strait was ostensibly a condition of the shaky ceasefire put in place earlier this week.

Senior Iranian and American officials began negotiations in Pakistan on Saturday, Iranian media reported, in a bid to bring to an end a conflict that has plunged the Middle East into violence and sent shockwaves through the world economy.

In an earlier post, Trump said that empty tankers were headed to the United States from around the world to purchase oil, without providing details.
In fiery speech, Pope Leo says 'Enough to war!'



Vatican City, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



Pope Leo lashed out against warmongers on Saturday while calling on billions of people around the globe to embrace peace and "believe once again in love, moderation and good politics".

In one of his most passionate entreaties yet to end the raging conflict in the Middle East, the American pope said faith was needed "in order to face this dramatic hour in history together".

"Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life," Pope Leo implored in an address during a prayer vigil for peace at St Peter's Basilica.

Uttered in measured tones, as is customary for the soft-spoken head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, the comments by the 70-year-old Leo nevertheless marked some of the most pointed criticism yet of the wave of conflicts inflaming the globe.

"Dear brothers and sisters, there are certainly binding responsibilities that fall to the leaders of nations. To them we cry out: Stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided!"

As he has done in the past, the Chicago native did not cite politicians by name, and did not call out specific countries.



- 'Delusion of omnipotence' -



Responsibility also fell to the "immense multitude" that rejects war, Leo said, urging them to build a "Kingdom of peace... in our homes, schools, neighbourhoods, and civil and religious communities."

"A Kingdom that counters polemics and resignation through friendship and a culture of encounter. Let us believe once again in love, moderation and good politics."

The pope described the Kingdom of God as a "bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive."

It also was a place with "no sword, no drone, no vengeance, no trivialisation of evil, no unjust profit, but only dignity, understanding and forgiveness."

Leo painted a grim picture of the current state of the world, "where there never seem to be enough graves, for people continue to crucify one another and eliminate life, with no regard to justice and mercy."

Pope Leo, who was elected pontiff last May following the death of his predecessor Francis, is moderate and known as a bridge-builder. But he has been increasingly denouncing the conflicts dividing the world, most recently on Friday when he railed against the "senseless and inhuman violence" spreading across the Holy Land.

Leo has repeatedly urged de-escalation in the current US-Israeli war on Iran and the need for a diplomatic solution.
Drone, unexploded warhead crash in Finland: police



Helsinki, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



Finnish police said on Saturday that a drone and an unexploded warhead had been discovered in the south of the country.

The drone appeared similar to the ones that fell inside the country in late March, which Kyiv said were knocked off course by Russian interference.

A crashed "unmanned aircraft" had been found in a forest in Iitti in southern Finland, police told AFP.

"According to current information, the drone found in the forest is similar to those previously found in southeastern Finland," police said in a statement.

An "unexploded warhead" had been found inside the cordoned off area, which the military is due to disable, police said.

No details were provided on the origin of the drone or when it crashed.

According to current information, the aircraft -- which was found around a kilometre from the closest residential area -- had not caused any injuries or property damage, police said.

On 29 March, two stray drones crashed in Finland and two days later a third fallen drone was detected.

Two of the fallen unmanned aircraft were confirmed as Ukrainian.

Ukraine has apologised to Finland, explaining that the drones were likely knocked off course by Russian interference.

Kyiv has in recent weeks struck port facilities on the Russian coast in the Gulf of Finland, close to Russia's border with the NATO and EU member.
The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) is one of Jim Cramers stock calls as he discussed the impact of the Iran war on the markets. Cramer noted that it has been one of the worst stocks in his portfolio, as he commented:

Theres one other place we gotta listen to, and thats homes and home repairs. That means Home Depot and Lowes. Sure enough, their stocks tell a clear, disappointing story with Lowes falling 1.5% and Home Depot, Charitable Trust name, hitting the new low list and doing so in a spectacular fashion, dropping 2.4%. What an awful stock that is. That and Nike are my two worst, and I have to wear them every time like a steamer trunk on my back.

Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash

The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) is a home improvement retailer that sells tools, building materials, and decor. It also provides installation and equipment rental services. A caller inquired about the stock during the April 2 episode, and Cramer replied:

Okay, we were very disappointed in the action in Home Depot today. Finished down eight, it hit its 52-week low. The company yields almost 3%. I turned to Jeff Marks, who works with me for my Charitable Trust, I said maybe we should buy some, but were a little beaten down on it. We didnt want to buy it anymore right now. We need to see mortgage rates lower, and we dont have them yet. Im not giving up on Home Depot, but there are issues involving ICE, too, that really hurt them. But I do want to say that I regard it now as one of the most problematic positions in my portfolio, along with Nike. Those are the two Im most worried about.

While we acknowledge the potential of HD 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

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Iran state TV says third round of US talks expected 'tonight or tomorrow'



Tehran, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



Two rounds of talks have taken place between Iranian and US officials in Pakistan with a third round expected on Saturday evening or Sunday, Iranian state television reported as negotiations were underway in Islamabad.

"According to information provided to the state TV correspondent by a person close to the negotiating team, another round of negotiations will likely be held tonight or tomorrow," state broadcaster IRIB reported.

The trilateral direct negotiations were taking place with host Pakistan, a senior White House official said earlier Saturday, a departure from recent practice where both sides held talks via a mediator while seated in separate rooms.

An Iranian state TV correspondent reported that there were "plans for a third round of talks", the latest in the efforts mediated by Pakistan to end the war.

"We are waiting to see whether this (the third round) will happen or not," the correspondent said, according to state TV.

Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that the issue of the strategic Strait of Hormuz -- through which nearly global crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes in peacetime -- was "one of the topics that faces serious disagreement" among the negotiators.

The reports came as the White House said high-level in-person trilateral talks with Iran and Pakistan were "ongoing" in Islamabad late on Saturday.

A senior White House official said in a brief statement that the talks were continuing.
Irish police chief denounces oil refinery blockade



London, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



Illegal activity by fuel protesters is "endangering the state", Irish police chief Justin Kelly said Saturday, as public order units were deployed to clear people blockading an oil refinery.

Garda Commissioner Kelly told reporters the blockading of "critical national infrastructure such as fuel depots and refineries" had "resulted in fuel shortages that are directly impacting on emergency services such as hospitals, the ambulance service, and the fire service".

The protests began on Tuesday over spiralling petrol and diesel prices amid the Middle East war.

Protesters partly blockaded Ireland's only oil refinery and restricted access to at least two other fuel depots.

Demonstrators, many organising online outside of formal representative bodies, also used convoys on motorways to snarl traffic and tractors to gridlock central Dublin on occasions.

Industry group Fuels for Ireland said that 100 petrol retailers had run dry, mainly in the west of Ireland, after customers started panic buying.

Kelly said law enforcers, supported by armed forces personnel, moved in earlier Saturday to "restore fuel supplies from Whitegate Refinery", using pepper spray and making a number of arrests.

"In the coming hours and days we will have further such operations," he added.

In March, Dublin announced a 250 million-euro package to reduce fuel costs, notably including a diesel rebate for road hauliers.

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan said the continuation of the protests despite the increasingly difficult had been "unacceptable".

"While we all acknowledge the impact of higher fuel prices, and seek to minimise that impact, no groups are entitled in our republic to hold our people to ransom in such a manner," he said.

There were now the "bones of an agreement" with the government, the president of the Irish Road Haulage Association said.

Ger Hyland said nothing was yet agreed but his association remained available for further talks.

"It is a substantial package and we hope to have this over the line either late tonight or tomorrow," he added.
Israel PM slams Erdogan after comments on Iran ceasefire



Jerusalem, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply criticised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday after comments he made about the US-Iran ceasefire, vowing that Israel would continue fighting Tehran and its regional proxies.

Shortly after the United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire earlier this week, Erdogan warned US President Donald Trump of "possible provocations and sabotage" that could undermine the agreement, without specifying who might threaten the deal.

On Saturday, Netanyahu responded by criticising the Turkish leader.

"Israel, under my leadership, will continue to fight Iran's terror regime and its proxies, unlike Erdogan who accommodates them and massacred his own Kurdish citizens," Netanyahu said on X.

During his phone call with Trump, Erdogan also urged that the truce "not be compromised under any circumstances," saying Turkey would offer its full support to ensure as much.

Turkey, while a fierce critic of Israel, joined diplomatic efforts with Egypt and Pakistan to reach a ceasefire in the conflict.

Later on Saturday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz also lashed out at Erdogan on X, calling him a "paper tiger".

Erdogan "who did not respond to missile fire from Iran into Turkish territory and has proven to be a paper tiger, is now fleeing into the realm of antisemitism and calling for show trials in Turkey against Israel's political and military leadership".

"What an absurdity. A man of the Muslim Brotherhood, who massacred the Kurds, accuses Israel -- defending itself against his Hamas allies -- of genocide."

"Israel will continue to defend itself with strength and determination -- and he would do well to remain silent."
Israel PM says war succeeded in 'crushing' Iran nuclear, missile programmes



Jerusalem, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that the joint US-Israeli campaign against Iran had succeeded in "crushing" the Islamic republic's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Netanyahu's comments came as Iranian and US officials held two rounds of face-to-face talks in Pakistan in a bid to end the Middle East war, with a third round expected later on Saturday evening or Sunday, Iranian state television reported.

"We have succeeded in crushing the nuclear programme, and crushing the missile programme," Netanyahu said in a televised statement, adding that the war against Tehran had also weakened Iran's leadership and its regional allies.

"We have reached a situation in which Iran no longer has a single functioning enrichment facility."

Netanyahu said the United States and Israel had prevented Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb by launching a war in June 2025, followed by the current campaign that began on February 28.

He said the latest war was launched after intelligence indicated that the now deceased Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei had sought to expand the country's nuclear and missile programmes even after the June 2025 war.

"He sought to bury both missile production and nuclear production deep, deep beneath a mountain, in a way that even B-2 aircraft could not reach. Once again, we could not stand by. We acted," Netanyahu said.

"Most of its missile production capacity has disappeared. They still have missiles, they still have stockpiles, but it is shrinking."

He said there were "enormous achievements" in the war effort.

"They are reflected in this weakened regime, which is now even seeking a ceasefire," he said.

Netanyahu added that, for decades, Iran's leadership and its allies had threatened Israel.

"They wanted to strangle us, and (now) we are strangling them. They threatened us with annihilation, and now they are fighting for survival."



- Israelis rally against wars -



On Lebanon, Netanyahu said the country had approached Israel regarding a potential peace deal.

"In the past month, it has reached out several times to begin direct peace talks," Netanyahu said.

"I have given my approval, but on two conditions: we want the dismantling of Hezbollah's weapons, and we want a real peace agreement that will last for generations."

On Friday, Lebanon's presidency said that a meeting would be held with Israel in Washington next week to discuss a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war and the potential start of negotiations between the neighbours.

Hezbollah and Israeli forces have been clashing since March 2, two days after the start of the Iran war, following rocket fire by the Lebanese armed group at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Khamenei.

Since then, Israel has killed at least 2,020 people in Lebanon, including 248 women, 165 children and 85 medical and emergency personnel, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

Israel carried out its largest air attack this week on Lebanon since March 2, which it says left hundreds of Hezbollah fighters dead.

Even as Netanyahu spoke, around 800 Israeli protesters rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest against the wars in Iran and Lebanon, accusing Netanyahu of attempting to derail the ceasefire with Iran.

"In Bibi, we don't trust," read one banner, using Netanyahu's nickname, as protesters chanted: "No to endless wars, no to a government of death".

Protester Martin Goldberg said Netanyahu was not in favour of a ceasefire with Iran.

"What happened immediately after the ceasefire in Iran, Israel launched one of its largest attacks in Lebanon, which in my opinion, was an attempt to try and sabotage the ceasefire with Iran," the 61-year-old demonstrator told AFP.

"Israel is pretty openly saying that they're not interested in a ceasefire in Iran, and they don't want a peaceful solution in Iran."

myl-anr-ac-jd/jfx
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



The latest developments in the Middle East war:



- Iran and US spar over strait -

Iran denied Washington's claims that two US Navy warships crossed the Strait of Hormuz to clear the strategic waterway of mines, with Tehran warning that military ships attempting the passage "will be dealt with severely".

US Central Command's claim that mine detection operations were already underway was echoed by President Donald Trump, who told reporters Saturday "we have mine sweepers out there. We're sweeping the strait".

A fifth of the world's crude oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz.



- Trump says Iran deal 'makes no difference' -

Trump told reporters Saturday it "makes no difference" if a peace deal comes out of the trilateral US-Iran talks in Pakistan, insisting the United States has already won the war.

The 79-year-old Republican's comments came as Vice President JD Vance was leading the US delegation in Islamabad, with discussions heading into a second day.

Earlier, Iranian media said the United States was making "excessive demands" on the Strait of Hormuz during the talks.



- Iran nuclear programme crushed: Netanyahu -

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the joint US-Israeli campaign against Iran had succeeded in "crushing" the Islamic republic's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

"They wanted to strangle us, and (now) we are strangling them. They threatened us with annihilation, and now they are fighting for survival," he said, adding that the war against Tehran had also weakened Iran's leadership and its regional allies.

He agreed to Lebanese requests for peace talks on two conditions, he added: "We want the dismantling of Hezbollah's weapons, and we want a real peace agreement that will last for generations."



- Lebanon death toll past 2,000 -

Lebanon's health ministry said the death toll since the start of the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah is now 2,020.

The new toll from the Lebanese health ministry includes 248 women, 165 children and 85 medical and emergency personnel killed, along with 6,436 people wounded since Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2.

Earlier Saturday, Lebanon said Israeli strikes on a village near Sidon in the south killed eight people, after earlier strikes killed 10 people including three emergency workers.

Israel's military said it had struck more than 200 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in the last 24 hours.



- Pope denounces warmongers -

Pope Leo lashed out against warmongers while calling on billions of people around the globe to embrace peace and "believe once again in love, moderation and good politics".

In one of his most passionate entreaties yet to end the raging conflict in the Middle East, the American pope said faith was needed "in order to face this dramatic hour in history together".



- Macron appeal -

French President Emmanuel Macron said he had urged his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian to use the talks to achieve "a lasting de-escalation."

"I urged him to seize the opportunity presented by the talks launched in Islamabad to pave the way for a lasting de-escalation and a robust agreement that provides solid guarantees for security in the region," Macron said on X.



- Iran says lacks 'trust' with US -

Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said shortly after arriving in Pakistan's capital that previous experiences negotiating with the United States had led to a lack of trust.

"Our experience in negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and broken promises," Iranian state media quoted him as saying.



- Israel won't discuss ceasefire -

Israel's US ambassador Yechiel Leiter told his Lebanese counterpart in Washington that he "refused to discuss a ceasefire with the Hezbollah terrorist organisation", according to a statement after a meeting.

Israel "agreed to begin formal peace negotiations" with the Lebanese government, with which it has no diplomatic relations, the Israeli ambassador said.

Lebanon's presidency said a meeting would be held at the US State Department on Tuesday "to discuss declaring a ceasefire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices."

burs-jj/giv/sla/acb
It is alleged he did knowingly arrive in the United Kingdom by water from France without a valid entry clearance and, during the relevant period, did an act that caused, or created a risk of, the death of, or serious personal injury to, another person, the court was told.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is one of Jim Cramers stock calls as he discussed the impact of the Iran war on the markets. A caller asked for Cramers thoughts on the stock and whether they should get in it. In response, he commented:

Look, I like Taiwan Semi very much, but I have to tell you, I am going to send you to NVIDIA. NVIDIAs down a great deal. Its suddenly become a disliked stock, and thats when you want to own it.

Photo by Artem Podrez on Pexels

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) produces and sells integrated circuits and semiconductor devices. The company provides fabrication and other related services. During the January 27 episode, Cramer mentioned the stock and said:

I think this industry has a lot more going for it. Two weeks ago, Taiwan Semi, the worlds largest semiconductor manufacturer, reported a total blowout quarter. More important, management said that the demands on fire. They plan to invest heavily in building out the production capacity. For this year, Taiwan Semi guided for 52 to $56 billion in capital expenditures. Thatd be up 27 to 37% from last year. Wall Street was expecting less than 45 billion. When management was asked if that would be enough to fix the chip shortages, their answer was a clear no. Taiwan Semi doesnt see supply and demand coming into balance until 2028 or 2029. So theyre planning to keep their capital expenditures high for the next few years. Again, great news for the semiconductor capital equipment makers.

While we acknowledge the potential of TSM as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years

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Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said: While the High Court has found the proscription of Palestine Action to be unlawful, it has confirmed the impact of that judgment will not take effect until the Governments appeal has been considered which could take many months.
A spokesperson for Irish Rail said the port will soon be at capacity and will not be able to take in any more freight  resulting in ships having to wait on anchor or be diverted to another port if possible.
Asked on RTE Radio Ones The Business how that number may grow, he said: If everything remains as it is, that is to say that the three facilities remain blockaded, then I dont think we could guarantee fuel at any forecourt by very early next week, Monday morning or Monday perhaps.
A Ryanair spokesperson 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.
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She said: The Government have been lobbied by the Israeli state, and they want to get rid of an organisation that opposes genocide  is trying to dismantle the tools of genocide, you know, by taking direct action on weapons manufacturing, and thats like a civil right to be able to protest in that way.
American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) is among the stocks Jim Cramer reviewed while discussing the Iran ceasefire that triggered a relief rally. Cramer was bullish on the stock during the episode, as he said:

American Express, its customer base skews wealthier, and demand for premium products can stay strong even if the rest of the economy slows down. You know exactly what youre going to get with American Express, although it does have again a much higher PE multiple If you want more exposure to an affluent consumer, you go with American Express.

Stock market data. Photo by Alesia Kozik on Pexels

American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) provides credit and charge cards, payment processing, banking, and travel-related services. The company also offers merchant solutions and expense management tools. During the Squawk on the Street episode aired on April 1, Cramer mentioned the stock and said:

I think that American Express was one of the worst performers. I think American Express down 17% seems pretty interesting to me. Im willing to take a, I hate to say this, but a flyer, on some of these travel names, betting that they were too linked with gasoline. With gasoline, now breaching four dollar, but it can start coming down if the President says tonight, that the wars going to end soon.

While we acknowledge the potential of AXP 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

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Singh said Levis has expanded beyond the traditional denim market, describing an addressable market expansion from a $100 billion denim segment to $1.5 trillion, as the company leans into additional apparel categories built around a denim aesthetic. He said management has begun tracking a new TAM, which delivered 25% of growth in the quarter (and about a third of growth last year ).

CFO and Growth Officer Harmit Singh described the quarter as the power of the and, citing gains across U.S. and international markets, wholesale and DTC, mens and womens, and both average unit retail (AUR) and units. Singh added there was a good balance between AURs and units.

Gass said direct-to-consumer (DTC) is now half of Levis business and is expected to remain about half for the year. DTC was up 10% in the quarter, with 7% comp growth and 16 consecutive quarters of comp increases, according to Gass. She also emphasized that DTC gains have not been at the expense of wholesale, noting wholesale was up 8% .

CEO Michelle Gass said the company was really pleased to deliver 9% organic growth and 14% reported growth in the quarter, following 7% growth last year . She attributed results to strategies gaining traction, led by the companys push to become a best-in-class DTC first retailer.

Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE:LEVI) executives outlined what they described as broad-based momentum across channels, categories, and geographies during a J.P. Morgan retail fireside chat, highlighting recent growth, margin initiatives, and strategic priorities including direct-to-consumer expansion, SKU rationalization, and targeted brand segmentation.

Levi has expanded its addressable market to about $1.5 trillion by adding nondenim categories that drove ~25% of quarterly growth, with womens up 13% (now 38% of sales) and strong regional momentum in Asia (China +8%).

Management is cutting SKUs (~ 25% ) to reduce promotions and boost fullprice selling, raised grossmargin guidance and expects to finish the year closer to a 12% EBIT margin (up from 9%) with a path toward midteens over time.

Levi delivered 9% organic growth (14% reported) as DTC now comprises half the business , with DTC up 10%, 7% comp growth and a 16quarter streak of comp increases while wholesale also rose 8%.

Story Continues

Gass said the company is expanding into head-to-toe assortments while remaining disciplined to avoid brand dilution, emphasizing that new categories complement core denim. She highlighted womens as a major growth driver, saying womens was up 13% in the quarter and that tops were also up 13%. Womens represents 38% of the business today, which Gass said should be 50%.

 This New ETF Aims to Capitalize on Surging AI Memory Chip Demand

On customer acquisition, Gass said that within e-commerce, 70% of new customers are in a younger consumer band, which she called really exciting.

SKU rationalization, full-price selling, and margin outlook

Singh said the company has reduced SKUs by probably 25% around the world, aiming to focus on big bets with more global commonality. He cited examples such as Low Loose and non-denim pants for men. The SKU work, he said, has supported better vendor negotiations and lower markdowns, and he said Levis is reducing promotions as product strength enables more full-price selling.

Singh also discussed margin drivers and Levis long-term profitability trajectory. He said the company raised full-year gross margin guidance from flat to slightly up, and characterized 3040 basis points of annual gross margin expansion as natural, driven by mix shifts including womens, DTC, and international growth. Singh said the company expects to close the year closer to 12% EBIT margin, up from 9% in 2023, and said the company is on track toward a mid-teens margin target over time.

Tariffs, guidance prudence, and regional outlook

Singh said the company beat Q1 by a mile on both top and bottom line and flowed about a third of the beat into full-year guidance, citing prudence due to timing early in the year and macro uncertainty. On tariffs, Singh said guidance assumed tariffs at the old rate of 19%20%, not at the 10%, and estimated the upside at $35 million for the balance of the year and $0.07 in EPS, which Gass also referenced. Singh also noted $80 million of tax refunds related to tariffs paid, which he said was not incorporated in guidance.

Gass outlined the companys expectations by region for the year, saying Levis expects:

Europe : mid-single-digit growth

Americas : low-single-digit growth (with an aim to outperform)

Asia: high-single-digit growth

She called Asia underpenetrated for Levis and cited recent momentum, including China up 8% in the quarter. Singh added that Asia is about 20% of Levis business despite roughly half the worlds population being in the region, and said Asia operating margins have improved over the past three years as volume increased.

Brand segmentation, premium Blue Tab, and AI initiatives

Gass described a segmentation strategy anchored by Red Tab as the core, Signature as a value offering, and Blue Tab as a premium line. She said Signature was up 16% and targets value-conscious consumers at a $20$30 price point, including distribution at Walmart and Amazon. For Blue Tab, Gass said Levis is less than 1% share in a $10 billion premium denim addressable market.

Singh said Levis tested Blue Tab last year and is now expanding tests, with next year focused on rollout. He said typical Red Tab items in Levis stores are between $80$120, while Blue Tab is about $250$300, adding that the company needs to improve storytelling as it scales.

On AI, Gass said it is a huge priority focused on enhancing consumer experience and improving efficiency. She described experiments to improve the online shopping journey and a shopping agent concept called Indigo in pilot stages with employees. Singh said the company is constraining incremental headcount and reallocating resources, citing an example where manual wholesale order entry that took 25 days is being reduced to 1520 minutes, enabling staff to shift to higher-value work as volume grows.

Singh also discussed capital allocation priorities, including CapEx of 3.5%4% of sales, a dividend growth approach probably 8%10% in line with net income, and share repurchases to offset dilution. He said additional cash generation could be evaluated with the board, referencing the Dockers sale as an example of returning proceeds to shareholders.

Late in the discussion, Singh confirmed he plans to depart after helping transition to a successor, saying he has been with the company 13 years and expects to leave closer to 14 years.

About Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE:LEVI)

Levi Strauss & Co is a global apparel company best known for its denim jeans and casual wear. Founded in 1853 in San Francisco by Bavarian immigrant Levi Strauss, the company pioneered the modern blue jean with the introduction of rivet-reinforced work pants. Over its more than 160-year history, Levi Strauss has evolved into a lifestyle brand, offering a broad portfolio that includes denim for men, women and children, as well as tops, outerwear, footwear and accessories.

The company's flagship label, Levi's, is recognized worldwide for its iconic styles such as the 501 Original Fit Jeans, while additional brands, including Dockers, Target core metric, and Denizen by Levi's, cater to diverse price points and consumer segments.

The article "Levi Strauss & Co. Touts 9% Organic Growth, DTC Strength and Margin Upside at JPMorgan Chat" was originally published by MarketBeat.
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Mercantile Ports shares extend rally with further 50% gain after India terminal push Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

Shares in Mercantile Ports and Logistics rose 50% on Friday, extending its surge from the previous session when the company outlined plans to fully repay its debt and step up legal action to reclaim its Karanja terminal in Maharashtra, western India.

The group has offered to redeem 100% of its outstanding debt before the Supreme Court of India.

Creditors are considering the proposal, though the process has been delayed.

A hearing in Mumbai this week directed creditors to meet the company, with a meeting scheduled for 10 April in New Delhi.

Mercantile Ports has also secured backing from an international oil and gas company, alongside investor support, to fund a refinancing that would restore ownership of the asset.

The company has invested around 160 million in developing the Karanja facility over 15 years.

It said the terminal remains revenue-generating and has not been operationally insolvent.

Managing director Pavan Bakhshi said it was "difficult to understand why the proposal has not been considered and implemented in a timely manner."

He added the company "will continue to fight to retain our asset, restore it to operational success and protect stakeholders' interests."

Shares have been volatile over the past 12 months, rising above 1.6p in August before falling to 0.3p in December amid its legal struggles.
The Navys newest destroyer, USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr., commissioned into service during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Kaylyn Barnhart Batista/Stars and Stripes)



NORFOLK, Va.  Sailors ran aboard the USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG-124) as it came to life during its commissioning ceremony Saturday at Naval Station Norfolk, officially marking the destroyers entry into active service.

The ship, named after a Medal of Honor recipient and retired Marine Corps colonel, now serves alongside the Navys fleet of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers. It is the first vessel to bear Barnums name. He is one of the few individuals to witness the commissioning of a ship named for them.

All the hard work, the hours and hours of training, and the separation from your families was not for nothing, Barnum told the crew. You have prepared this warship, the newest warship in the fleet. Mission accomplished, bravo zulu, charge on.

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Harvey C. Barnum Jr., a Medal of Honor recipient and namesake of the Navys newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Kaylyn Barnhart Batista/Stars and Stripes)

Sailors run aboard the Navys newest destroyer, USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr., during its commissioning ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Kaylyn Barnhart Batista/Stars and Stripes)



Barnum received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Vietnam War. On Dec. 18, 1965, he moved through enemy fire to lead attacks against entrenched fighters, and, after securing the area, he coordinated the landing of transport helicopters to evacuate casualties.

I dont know where we get individuals like Barney Barnum, but were damn lucky to have them, said Gen. Eric Smith, Commandant of the Marine Corps. That is the stuff that legends are made of.

Before activating the ship, Martha Hill, Barnums wife and the ships sponsor, bestowed good fortune on the vessel and its crew, describing it as a symbol of the nation as it sails the worlds oceans.

Martha E. Hill, the ships sponsor and wife of retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Harvey C. Barnum Jr., listens to a speech during the commissioning ceremony of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) in Norfolk, Va., April 11, 2026. (Ellen Guo/U.S. Marine Corps)



May this ship always be a force of peace through strength. May her crew return home safe from every mission, and may the values she represents endure for generations, Hill said.

The ship, built by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, is a Flight IIA destroyer that brings integrated air and missile defense, advanced radar capability, and increased power needed for modern warfighting, said Navy Secretary John Phelan.

It is designed to detect, track, and defeat threats across every domain air, surface, and subsurface  while carrying long-range strike capability and providing ballistic missile defense, Phelan said. He added that MH-60R Seahawk helicopters extend its reach, enhancing anti-submarine and surface warfare capabilities.

The Navys newest destroyer, USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr., commissioned into service during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Kaylyn Barnhart Batista/Stars and Stripes)

The Navys newest destroyer, USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr., commissioned into service during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Kaylyn Barnhart Batista/Stars and Stripes)



This ship is not symbolic. It is combat power. The ship represents the high end of our fleet, the proven core of our warfighting advantage at sea, Phelan said.

Barnum was involved in the ships construction and was present for key milestones, including the keel laying and christening. Last July, he went underway with the commissioning crew, and fired the first round from the ships 5-inch gun. He also spent time engaging with sailors, sharing stories from his own service, and offering the crew valuable lessons along the way.

Your consistent involvement as the ships namesake, and your close relationship with the ships crew is important and will influence them well into the future, said Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Kilby. Your presence gives this crew a unique and powerful connection to the legacy they are inheriting and have an honor of continuing.
(Marni McEntee/Stars and Stripes)



Udairi Range, Kuwait , 26 Dec. 2002: From left, 3rd Infantry Division Operations Officer Lt. Col. Peter Bayer, division commander Maj. Gen. Buford Buff Blount and Capt. Erik Berdy, the generals aide, stand next to the Armys new command-and-control vehicle as they watch exercises in the Kuwait desert recently. The new vehicle allows the commander to keep pace with battle leaders in a fight.

Read the full article here.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg arriving at court in February. - Ryan Sun/AP

Meta Platforms big AI moment is overshadowing its big-tobacco moment. But this is a tough time to have any sort of cloud over the business that is paying for the social networks attempt to remake itself into an artificial-intelligence superpower.

Metas announcement of its new Muse Spark model this week comes nearly a year after it delayed the rollout of an advanced version of its last model family known as Llama. It also represents the first release from the Meta Superintelligence Labs that the company rushed to build up last year after Llama misfired.

Most Read from The Wall Street Journal

The Muse Spark launch also comes just two weeks after a pair of stinging court losses. Those essentially found the Facebook and Instagram parent legally responsible for harms done by content posted to its platforms.

Those verdicts could open the floodgate to a wave of new legal challenges to Metas lucrative business. That sparked frequent comparisons to the big tobacco cases in the 1990s that eventually resulted in changes to business practices and a massive legal settlement.

Metas stock slumped after those verdicts, but a 9% jump since the Muse Sparks release has helped the shares fully recover from that selloff.

Still, Metas share price is down about 14% over the past six months, lowering its valuation to 21 times projected earnings, making it one of the cheapest megacap tech stocks.

But any hope for a sharp recovery, should the market get past current uncertainties around the Iran war, could be blunted by the recent court verdicts. There is the distinct risk of a domino effect given the thousands of other pending cases against the company.

Although Meta has considerable means to fight and appeal, the prospect of prolonged legal conflict could act as a brake on the stock for some time.

Muse Spark does appear to be competitive with other so-called frontier AI models. The AI benchmarking firm Artificial Analysis ranks Muse Sparks performance near the latest top offerings from Google, OpenAI and Anthropic, marking a significant jump from the last Llama that sits dead-last on the firms current rankings.

Muse Spark clearly establishes Meta as an active and credible participant in the model race standing shoulder-to-shoulder with leading players, Bernstein analyst Mark Shmulik wrote Thursday.
Artemis II lunar mission draws flood of conspiracy theories



Washington, United States, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



From false claims that a historic lunar fly-by was staged in a movie studio to unfounded narratives that footage of the crew was AI-generated, the Artemis II mission has been clouded by a blizzard of misinformation.

The falsehoods -- circulating across tech platforms including X, TikTok and Facebook -- have also added fresh fuel to a longstanding conspiracy theory that NASA's 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing was faked.

Hashtags such as "fake space" and "fake NASA" have gained traction online since NASA's lunar fly-by sent astronauts farther from Earth than any human before.

Among the falsehoods was an image, viewed over a million times on X, purporting to show the Artemis II crew floating before a green screen and facing film cameras -- suggesting their mission was staged in a studio, but in reality bore the hallmarks of AI manipulation.

Some users also shared a video showing text appearing through the mission's official mascot as purported proof the flight was staged.

But a digital forensics expert told AFP's fact-checkers that the anomaly was the result of a failed text overlay by a news station that had syndicated the official feed.

Unfounded claims that the Artemis II mission detected a mysterious moving object on the moon's surface also racked up millions of views across platforms.

The misinformation spread as four astronauts -- preparing on Friday for a high-stakes re-entry and splashdown -- captivated the world with stunning visuals from their fly-by of the Earth's natural satellite from aboard the Orion spacecraft.



- Internet Wild-West -



Once confined to the internet's fringes, conspiracy theories have moved squarely into the mainstream amid growing mistrust of public institutions and traditional media.

Scientific achievements such as the lunar mission present "very easy content for conspiracy influencers," said disinformation researcher Mike Rothschild.

"There are some people whose reflexive reaction to any kind of major event is to claim it's fake and staged, no matter what it is," Rothschild told AFP.

Many of them "pass themselves off as experts in science and physics because it's somehow more believable to their followers than just going with 'the official story.'"

The trend underscores a Wild West internet landscape that is largely bereft of guardrails as false narratives erode digital trust. Several tech platforms have gutted trust and safety teams and scaled back moderation, making them what researchers call a hotbed for misinformation.

Further sowing online confusion were claims that the entire Artemis II mission was a hoax powered by artificial intelligence tools.

The assertion underscores how the rise of cheap and widely available AI tools has given misinformation peddlers a handy incentive to cast doubt on authentic content -- a tactic researchers have dubbed as the "liar's dividend."



- 'Secret knowledge' -



The swirl of falsehoods has also bolstered one of the longest enduring conspiracy theories -- that NASA faked the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing, broadcasting visuals shot in a Hollywood studio.

The conspiratorial discourse has seeped into pop culture, becoming a plotline in movies like romantic comedy "Fly Me to the Moon" -- with Scarlett Johansson's character tasked with faking a moon landing -- and some celebrities also amplifying the claim.

"The moon landing is an example of a conspiracy that will not die," Timothy Caulfield, a misinformation expert from the University of Alberta in Canada, told AFP.

"These conspiracies are attractive for a host of reasons including that they are linked to the allure of having 'secret knowledge' or being aware of things others don't know."

Though easy to debunk, such theories persist as Artemis II comes decades after the previous lunar missions, events today's internet-savvy generation has little recollection of.

"In many ways, it is a testament to how hard it is for humans to travel to the moon -- after all, we did it from 1968 to 1972, and it has taken until 2026 to do it again. It makes many people wonder if it ever happened," space exploration expert Francis French told AFP.

"Right now we are seeing remarkable photographs and video of the Earth and the moon...These photos alone should remove doubt and show once again the amazing things humans are capable of."

burs-mja-ac/sla
After Artemis II, NASA looks to SpaceX, Blue Origin for Moon landings



Washington, United States, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2026



With Artemis II successfully completing its historic lunar mission on Friday, NASA is banking on billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk for the next step: landing astronauts on the Moon.

The Apollo program -- which sent the first and only humans to the Moon's surface between 1969 and 1972 -- was designed so that only two astronauts could land on the lunar surface for a maximum of a few days.

More than 50 years later, American ambitions and expertise have grown, with NASA hoping to send four people on a mission lasting several weeks and eventually building a lunar base.

For the second phase of its mission, the space agency is looking to commercial landers designed by Musk's SpaceX and Bezos's Blue Origin to get its astronauts on the Moon.

After Artemis II splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday after its record-breaking journey, NASA officials urged all hands on deck for a crewed landing in 2028.

"We need all of industry to work and come along with us, and they need to accept that challenge and come with us and really start the production lines that are going to be required in order to achieve that goal," Lori Glaze, the acting associate NASA administrator, told a press conference.

The Apollo program relied on a single rocket, the Saturn V, which carried both the lunar lander and the capsule carrying the astronauts.

NASA has opted for two separate systems for Artemis: the first to launch the Orion spacecraft carrying the crew from Earth, and another to launch the lunar lander, which will be privately contracted.



- 'Camping trip' -



The decision was driven by the technical limitations of the Apollo program, Kent Chojnacki, a senior NASA official in charge of lunar lander development, told AFP.

"It was very not expandable to long-term exploration and long-term stays," he explained.

Although spectacular, the Apollo missions were like "camping trips," said Jack Kiraly, director of government relations at the Planetary Society, which encourages space exploration.

The systems NASA is looking at now are "huge compared to Apollo," said Chojnacki, noting that the new lunar landers being developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX are two to seven times larger than before.

The space agency is also drawing from external partners, such as the European companies that built the propulsion module for Orion.

The new approach opens access to more equipment and resources, but also significantly complicates operations.

To send these giant spacecrafts to the Moon, the private space exploration companies will need to master in-flight refueling, a complex maneuver that has not yet been fully tested.

After the lunar lander is launched, additional rockets will be needed to deliver the fuel required for the journey to the Moon, some 250,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) from Earth.



- 'Lose the Moon' -



Given this risky undertaking and the numerous delays -- particularly those experienced by SpaceX that was supposed to have its lander ready first -- pressure has mounted in recent months.

"We are once again about to lose the Moon," three former NASA officials warned in an article in SpaceNews last September.

China, which is hoping to send humans to the Moon by 2030, has been making progress as well, raising fears in the Trump administration that the United States could get left behind.

With that in mind, NASA raised the possibility last fall of reopening the contract awarded to SpaceX and using Blue Origin's lunar lander first, sending shockwaves through the rival companies.

Both firms announced they were realigning their strategies to prioritize the lunar project -- and keep their lucrative contracts with NASA.

But concerns remain, particularly regarding the feasibility of in-orbit refueling.

"We do have a plan," Chojnacki said, noting that NASA has a back-up plan in case of failure.

The timeline is also up in the air.

NASA says it plans to test an in-orbit rendezvous between the spacecraft and one or two lunar landers in 2027, and carry out a crewed lunar landing in 2028.

Before that, companies will need to test in-orbit refueling and send an unmanned lunar lander to the Moon to demonstrate its safety.

That all needs to happen within the next two years.

"It feels like a very small amount of time," said Clayton Swope of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

cha/ico/eml/aks/hol
Microsoft Corp stock could regain momentum as improving AI execution, cloud growth and financial balance address investor concerns, according to BNP Paribas analyst Stefan Slowinski.

Copilot Push Aims To Restore Confidence

Slowinski said investor frustration stems from limited traction in Microsoft's Copilot offering despite its leadership in SaaS through 365 Commercial Cloud.

He noted that CEO Satya Nadella is driving a "Copilot code red" effort to improve performance and the user experience, with the E7 suite launching on May 1 and additional features rolling out throughout the year. He added that early product feedback is improving, and a stronger Copilot perception could ease investor concerns, especially as competition from Anthropic remains a risk.

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Azure Growth Could Surprise Despite Capacity Concerns

Slowinski said Microsoft allocated about 30% of new cloud capacity last quarter to internal uses such as Copilot and large language model development, raising investor concerns about competition with partners like OpenAI. Despite this, he said Azure could still exceed consensus expectations even if internal usage rises to 50%, supported by growing token demand and higher GPU pricing.

Balancing Capex, Cash Flow and AI Monetization

Slowinski said Microsoft could better balance capital spending, free cash flow, and growth as it leverages neocloud partner capacity, potentially slowing capex expansion. He added that strong free cash flow margins of around 20%, combined with improving Copilot sentiment and potential upside in Azure, could help put the stock back on track.

Trending: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your Safe' Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time

Technical Analysis

At $368.93, Microsoft is trading 2.9% below its 20-day simple moving average (SMA), the stock's average price over the last 20 sessions, which suggests the near-term trend is still tilted lower. It's also 15.9% below its 100-day SMA, indicating the intermediate trend remains pressured, and rebounds may face overhead supply.

The moving-average structure remains a headwind, with the 20-day SMA below the 50-day SMA and a death cross in January (when the 50-day SMA fell below the 200-day SMA), consistent with a longer-lasting downtrend. Moving average convergence divergence (MACD), a trend/momentum measure, is slightly constructive, with the MACD at -9.3784 above the -10.5723 signal line, suggesting that downside momentum is easing, even if the trend is still negative.
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Victoria Beckham has shared her reaction to a racy photograph of son Cruz Beckham.

The youngest Beckham son, 21, only recently concluded his first UK tour with his band Cruz Beckham and The Breakers  but with more music on the way, he wasted no time in promoting his latest track.

Posting on Instagram on Friday (10 April), Cruz celebrated the release of Waste Your Pain by stripping off on a jetty in coastal Miami. In the photo, he is seen using the record to strategically cover up.

The former Spice Girl shared her shocked reaction to the image on Instagram, writing Really Cruz!!! alongside a picture of herself looking gobsmacked.

Victoria remains a big supporter of her sons music career in other areas, however, having attended his London gig at Courtyard Theatre alongside husband David last month. Also in attendance was fellow Spice Girl Geri Horner aka Ginger Spice.

In a review of the show, The Independents Roisin OConnor wrote: Is he any good? Certainly, hes an adept guitar player and clearly has a genuine enthusiasm for music. Having watched him grow up in public and hearing second-hand of his musical aspirations, I feel a bit like Im watching my younger brother play his first ever gig after hearing him practise in his bedroom for days on end.

Hes in a tricky predicament: cynics will argue the only reason he gets any press is because of his name, but then, wouldnt any other band get the breathing space to hone their craft, with at least a couple of years playing live shows before being thrust into the spotlight? He cant win.

The Beckham family is still embroiled in an ongoing feud after eldest son Brooklyn announced that he does not want to reconcile with his parents and siblings in a social media post in January.

People-Beckhams ( 2023 Invision )

Brooklyn accused his parents of trying endlessly to ruin my relationship with wife Nicola Peltz whom he married in 2022.

Months later, David and Victoria are still yet to comment on the explosive statement, which accused the couple of prioritising Brand Beckham over all else and controlling narratives in the press.

Tensions had already been building prior to the statement. In December last year, Cruz alleged that he and his parents woke up to find that they had been blocked on Instagram by Brooklyn.

After reports emerged that David and Victoria had unfollowed their eldest son, Cruz set the record straight, posting on his Stories at the time: NOT TRUE. My mum and dad would never unfollow their son Lets get the facts right. They woke up blocked as did I.
'Interview with the Vampire' reshaped New Orleans history and culture. Now it's 50 years old.
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Key points THEATRE: Heathers the Musical is brimming with teen spirit at Arts Centre Melbourne

MUSIC: The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra perform Choral Splendour

THEATRE: The Irreducible is a piece of performance art thats defiantly surreal

MUSIC: Jimmy Barnes closes his Working Class Man 40th anniversary tour at Rod Laver Arena

THEATRE: Three friends reunite in Spare a Thought for Jana Wendt at La Mama Theatre

THEATRE

Heathers the Musical 

Arts Centre Melbourne, until May 9 Dear diary, my teen-angst bullshit now has a body count, observes Veronica Sawyer, the heroine of Heathers, famously played by Winona Ryder in the 1988 teen movie. Veronica Sawyer (Emma Caporaso, in blue), ingratiates herself with the Heathers (Calista Nelmes, Amelia Rojas and Abigail Sharp). Ruby Alexander. Its the kind of coolly ironic remark that made the film a cultural touchstone for Gen X, though Heathers will survive for as long as teenagers do. Everything can feel like a matter of life or death in the crucible of adolescence, after all, and the darker the global outlook becomes, the more this blackly comic take on teen angst seems to vibe with it. Can musical theatre do justice to the doom-laden subversiveness of Heathers? A decade ago, I didnt think so. The shows last Melbourne outing in 2016, directed by Trevor Ashley, appeared too mainstream  and too Broadway  to channel the storys edgy spirit. This revival has changed my mind, thanks in no small part to the chemistry and charisma of the leads.

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Emma Caporaso is brilliant as Veronica. A smart outsider who makes a calculated bid to become popular at high school, our narrator ingratiates herself with the Heathers (Calista Nelmes, Amelia Rojas, Abigail Sharp)  a toxic clique of cool girls who parade around Westerberg High in matching scrunchies, tartan skirts and over-the-knee socks, while mercilessly bullying those lower in the social pecking order. She knows its a Faustian bargain, but what she doesnt calculate is the arrival of JD (Connor Beaumont)  a Baudelaire-quoting bad boy with a traumatic backstory and a nihilistic streak. Veronicas new boyfriend, JD (Conor Beaumont), takes revenge on school bullies. Ruby Alexander Veronicas new boyfriend takes revenge on school bullies by committing serial murder, tricks her into becoming an accomplice, and uses her talent for forgery to help disguise the deaths as teen suicides. Caporaso can sing like a dream, but its the unusual conviction and attention to detail in the comic acting that wins the audience over in short order. We get treated to a dorkier and deeper portrayal of Veronica than Ryders portrayal. Theres a half-knowing quality, an authentic adolescent messiness to every step Veronica takes, from triumphant sexual awakening to a creeping horror at her own choices, that becomes the beating heart of the show.

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Opposite her, Beaumont brings a dark charm to JD. His recent turn as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho the Musical might have honed his talent for sociopathic characters, although JD is driven by trauma rather than entitlement; until the romcom falls murderously apart, hes a magnetic and vulnerable leading man. The Heathers themselves are a self-appointed troika of bullying and bitchiness, choreographed to camp perfection. Nelmes is virulent as the venomous queen bee. After her characters death, she provides sardonic commentary, while Rojas seizes her crown (in this case, a red scrunchie), and Sharp provides notes of genuine grief from under the chorus of defensive irony. The Heathers, a self-appointed troika of bullying and bitchiness, are choreographed to camp perfection. Ruby Alexander Teen spirit enlivens the supporting performances. Nic Van Lits and David Cuny are hilarious as homophobic jocks whose deaths are passed off as a gay suicide pact. Mel OBrien shines as Veronicas good-hearted but desperately unpopular friend, Martha. The second half isnt as strong as the first, but clever direction, dynamic performances, and attractive design make this production of Heathers much more than a nostalgia hit for Gen Xers. It breathes new life into a teen classic in a way that all musical theatre fans should enjoy.

Reviewed by Cameron Woodhead

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MUSIC

Choral Splendour 

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Melbourne Recital Centre, April 16 Choral music is undoubtedly one of the brightest jewels in baroque musics dazzling crown, so the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and 18-member Brandenburg Choir had no trouble in attracting an enthusiastic audience to a program of favourites by Bach and Handel. Australian Brandenburg Orchestra perform Choral Splendour at Melbourne Recital Centre on April 16, 2026 Laura Manariti In a brace of Bach cantata extracts, the opening of Wachet auf (BWV 140) soon revealed the choirs soaring soprano line, while orchestra and lower voices deftly danced around its principal melody. Popularised in English as Jesu, Joy of Mans Desiring, the last chorus of Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben (BWV 147) effectively mixed charm and clarity. By contrast, Wir danken dir (BWV 29) evoked festive grandeur, especially in its initial Sinfonia, graced with a sparkling organ obligato brilliantly played by Heidi Jones.

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Bachs Concerto for two violins in D minor (BWV 1043) saw soloists Shaun Lee-Chen and Ben Dollman engage in a thoughtfully expressive and subtly coloured dialogue, most of all in the lilting slow movement. Driven by inner dynamism, the duo bookended the work with overflowing energy. Telemanns fine French-style Overture in D major opened the second half with crisply delineated textures, leading into Heinichens Concerto in F major for two horns. The evening was a many-splendoured musical encounter Laura Manariti Exercising considerable mastery of their fiendishly difficult natural horns, soloists Michael Dixon and Doree Dixon summoned up the thrill of the hunt in the outer movements, leavened by a delightfully delicate interlude for winds and plucked strings before the finale. Finally, Paul Dyer and his forces revelled in the extravagant majesty of two Handel coronation anthems. Zadok the Priest, with its famously expectant introduction erupted into celebratory magnificence, but the best was saved until last. In a finely shaped account of The King Shall Rejoice the grandiloquence of the text and the occasion were vividly realised, putting the seal on a many-splendoured musical encounter.

Reviewed by Tony Way

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THEATRE

The Irreducible 

Theatre Works Explosives Factory, until April 25 Created by queer performance artist Cohan, this wonderfully weird piece of physical theatre immerses audiences in an otherworldly setting. The stage is dominated by black scaffolding, festooned with tubes and suspended globes containing luminescent green ooze. The Irreducible is a piece of performance art thats defiantly surreal Kate Cameron Its as if youve stepped into an alien sex dungeon or birthing chamber or Frankensteins lab, and the unnerving stage picture is matched by a startling illusion to begin the show. It fooled me, and Im quite difficult to trick. The Irreducible leaps to wordless, tightly choreographed life when a nude figure in a gas mask appears, with a hook-like appendage  glistening, black, insectile  replacing one foot. That unstable mutation makes one leg longer than the other, and the figure shudders and cavorts and climbs the scaffolding, shocked into a hybrid dance of partial transformation.

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Each sequence introduces a bodily change. Some are humanising (the mask and the appendage come off), some flirt heavily with the Other through insect-like processes  from the figure becoming enveloped by a translucent cocoon to a scene in which they pupate, and (amusingly) produce larvae, using full-body puppetry. As the transgressive burlesque continues, we witness a struggle against the fixtures involved in their transformation, and sometimes a willing embrace of them. The ambiguity is preserved right up to an arresting climax  a coup de theatre that sees nourishment, or perhaps drowning, in a bath of green goo. Although the show looks body-horror adjacent, and its impossible to see it without being forcefully reminded of Gregor Samsa in Kafkas Metamorphosis, the ultimate effect is an uncanniness steeped not in horror, but in wonder. Whatever transhuman future awaits the queer body here, it feels more dream than nightmare. Stasis is a greater threat than change. The desire to be typical, symmetrical, forever the same in oneself, leads to a more awkward movement language than a surrender to the rhythms of constant change and fresh possibility. Impressive scenic, lighting and sound design all add to the atmospheric world-creation of the performance. There are some stunning visual surprises, and the brooding electronic soundtrack by Fia Haugh and Di Drew hugs the shows vision and choreography like a well-tailored costume.

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That the visions kinky is part of its pleasure, though the real liberation to be found in The Irreducible is precisely what the title implies. Cohan has spawned a piece of performance art thats defiantly surreal, mysterious, and resistant to easy interpretation, yet aesthetically complete.

Reviewed by Cameron Woodhead MUSIC

Jimmy Barnes | Working Class Man 40th Anniversary Tour 

Rod Laver Arena, April 10 Older, wiser, and surrounded by family members on stage, Jimmy Barnes doesnt hurl himself into the audience like the wild old days fronting Cold Chisel. Jimmy Barnes performs at Rod Laver Arena on April 10. Richard Clifford However, images from years ago of a far younger and wiry rock n roller  smile plastered across his face  sprang to mind as the 69-year-old prowled the stage. His body may have thickened somewhat, like a maturing tree, but time has not sapped his energy.

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Just two years after Chisels mighty Last Stand tour, Barnes released his chart-topping 1985 album, For the Working Class Man, and the final night of this 40th anniversary tour was a stunning reminder of why his solo career took off like a rocket. Ive cried, and Ive rejoiced in this room, he said about Melbournes packed Rod Laver Arena. I cant think of a better place to celebrate 1985. Images and clips from Barnesys extraordinary and colourful career splashed across the back of the stage as his band launched into album opener Die To Be With You Tonight. There was plenty of bonhomie spilling off the stage, too, as Barnes son, Jackie Barnes, pounded the drums and son-in-law Benjamin Rodgers tore into an early guitar solo during Ride the Night Away. Barnes has not lost any of his onstage energy. Richard Clifford Daylight was another reminder of Barnes songwriting skill, and how these hard-hitting, well-crafted songs have stood up over time. Promise Me Youll Call and No Second Prize brought 1985 flooding back, as Danny Spencer cranked up his guitar.

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Influenced early in his career by the swagger and ferocious live rock n roll of Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, English group Free and the irrepressible Tina Turner, Barnes never backs down. Hes not leaping into the audience, but hes with them every step of the way. As the rollicking, twin-guitar attack filled the stadium, Barnesy upped the ante by ripping into the pure, unrestrained joy of Paradise before his anthemic Working Class Man had the huge crowd singing along. Related Article 

Melbourne live reviews Cold Chisel at 50 show why theyre one of the worlds great rock bands On a night of celebration with fans and family, backing vocals featured daughter Eliza-Jane and wife Jane Barnes. Much to Jimmys delight, Jane also played bagpipes, and daughter Mahalia shared vocals on a powerful rendition of Too Much Aint Enough Love. Earlier, an undercard of superb Australian talent featured Kate Ceberano, Barnes Cold Chisel bandmate, Ian Moss, and his band, and Icehouse. Moss returned for a starring guitar role on Merry-Go-Round, before Ceberano, Icehouses Iva Davies and Moss joined a memorable blast of the Easybeats Good Times, which was covered by Barnes and INXS in 1986.

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Cold Chisels Khe Sanh and Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye) were a tie for biggest crowd sing-along of the two-hour show, but Barnes granddaughter, Ruby, sharing vocals on the iconic Flame Trees was a moment to cherish.

Reviewed by Martin Boulton THEATRE

Spare a Thought for Jana Wendt 

La Mama Theatre, until April 26 A group of people sequestered in a house together under the guise of a weekend away is fertile ground for drama. As social niceties are stripped away, etiquette gives way to something more raw and intimate. This intensified dynamic has been adroitly captured in books, film and theatre  Charlotte Woods aptly titled novel, The Weekend, and Ash Flanders slice-of-life play, This Is Living, among them. In Spare a Thought For Jana Wendt, a group of friends head to the country together. Darren Gill Nicola Watsons play, Spare A Thought for Jana Wendt, is the latest addition to the canon. United by a bond that stretches back decades, three friends  June (Rebecca Bower), May (Tess Masters) and April (Alex Aldrich)  show up to a well-appointed Airbnb in the country, brought to life through Bianca Pardos set of polished marble surfaces and monochromatic interiors.

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As is often the case with such depictions, the trio have diverged in values and vocation since once being tied by circumstance, and the weekend away is a bubbling cauldron of barely concealed resentments and thorny miscomprehensions. Add in some bad weather and their sneaking suspicion that theyre not alone in the house, and the stage is set. The conversations that unfold are a Rolodex of Millennial concerns. Inflated housing prices? Tick. Climate change anxiety? Tick. Concerns about the youth? Tick. There isnt much thats surprising or particularly illuminating about Watsons uneven script  well-trodden issues are dissected in well-worn ways. The moral conscience of the play, teacher May, is too grating and sanctimonious to anchor the proceedings in any meaningful way. Under Anne Brownings direction, Masters naturalistic performance as a tightly coiled spring waiting to unfurl is at odds with the caricaturist April and June  though its less clear what June is caricaturing. The conversations that unfold are a Rolodex of Millennial concerns. Darren Gill Enunciated with the exaggerated drawl of the upper-middle-class, Aldrichs April is an entitled cosmetic surgeon. Purposefully trite addresses that begin with catchphrases like as a mother fly out of Aprils mouth to great effect  this is a character taken to its extreme, and Aldrichs heightened performance of Aprils contradictions lend her a believable complexity despite her overblown veneer.

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Bower is similarly affected as June, but this one-dimensional character doesnt benefit from the same treatment. A PhD graduate 12 years in the making, June is, in many ways, a bridge between Aprils moneyed opulence and Mays eked-out existence. In what couldve been commentary on hypocrisy and performativity, Bowers overdone June is vacuous and inscrutable. Peals of thunder and thudding footsteps are interchangeable to a discombobulating degree in Jack Burmeisters sound design, while Tom Vulcans light design plays with the seed of unknowing at the heart of the play. When the plays sleight of hand is finally revealed, however, the effect is strangely muted. Related Article Melbourne International Comedy Festival Its the final weekend of the comedy festival. Heres what not to miss At its best, Spare A Thought for Jana Wendt is a snapshot of what happens when the porous borders that separate the outside world from our personal lives collapse, and moral quagmires force us to confront what we think we know about ourselves. Its unfortunate that much of it feels derivative and doesnt tread any new ground as it hurtles towards its predictable end.

Reviewed by Sonia Nair The Booklist is a weekly newsletter for book lovers from Jason Steger. Get it delivered every Friday.

CORRECTION An earlier version of the Working Class Man 40th Anniversary Tour review referred to Elly-May. This has been corrected to Eliza-Jane.
Dublin , Ireland - 12 June 2018; Sarah Friar, CFO, Square, on Centre Stage during day one of MoneyConf 2018 at the RDS Arena in Dublin. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images) Sportsfile via Getty Images

Speculation continues to mount about a potential IPO for OpenAI, a company that has revolutionized the tech landscape faster than the market has figured out how to price it. This week, news reports speculated that the decision to bring this company to the street is less a question of if than a matter of when. However, rumors are also swirling about cracks in the executive ranks on how fast this should happen, with The Information reporting this week that Sam Altman wants to hit Wall Street sooner than Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar agrees they should.

For Friar, this is not her first rodeo. In 2015, she sat across from Wall Street analysts, fielding questions about a young fintech company called Square, led by CEO Jack Dorsey, a founder and company many people had not yet heard of. Friar, for her part, knew the numbers cold. She mastered the story, and when Square rang the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange in November of that year, it was in no small part because Friar navigated a bruising, downround IPO setup that nonetheless opened strongly in the market.

Sarah Friars Resume Meets This OpenAIs Moment

Now shes back, considering another IPO roadshow, this time, the company is OpenAI, an entity largely viewed as one of the most consequential in tech history, and the stakes are exponentially higher. The timeline for whats right for Altman and what Friar thinks is right for the shareholders appears to be much less certain.

Square IPO NYSE 2015 - Sarah Friar pictured NYSE Twitter

Friar, a 53-year-old Northern Ireland native, became OpenAIs first-ever CFO in June 2024, joining from neighborhood social network Nextdoor, where she was CEO, leading the company through its own public listing in 2021. Her resume also includes a chapter as SVP of Finance and Strategy at Salesforce, where she has shared that Marc Benioff was a personal mentor, a decade at Goldman Sachs, and an early career at McKinsey in London and South Africa. She has a masters in Metallurgy, Economics, and Management from Oxford, and an MBA from Stanford, where she graduated as an Arjay Miller Scholar. She was also awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to entrepreneurship.

How Sarah Friar Became OpenAIs Financial Nerve Center

At the beginning of this year, Friar went on the record with a message of that she sees 2026 as the year of practical adoption, meaning a shift to real business outcomes. The numbers she used to reinforce this probability were groundbreaking. The companys revenue jumped from $2 billion in 2023 to over $20 billion in 2025, alongside a near 10x increase in compute capacity. As she described, Adoption generates revenue, and revenue fuels the next phase of innovation. In late March the company was valued at a staggering $852 Billion. Ordinarily, thats an IPO story right there.
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Key points Theatre: Sistren is the must-see debut from Iolanthe.

Theatre: English is a seemingly unassuming play that resets your understanding of the migrant experience.

Theatre: Drive Your Plow Over The Bones of the Dead has taken its time getting to the stage but is well worth the wait.

Music: Donald Runnicles gives an awe-inspiring reading of Tchaikovskys Sixth Symphony.

Theatre: Anastasia is frothy, fun and hard to resist.

THEATRE

SISTREN

Belvoir downstairs, April 11, until May 3

Reviewed by KATE PRENDERGAST

 Theres a moment in Sistren when, after laying down some home truths, Isla glances to her bestie Violet, anticipating a salty comeback. Instead, Violet looks down at her open-palmed hands. Youve licked the plate clean, she admits. Isla inspects the imaginary dish, too. No crumbs! she agrees, and Violet tosses the plate behind her to a slapstick crash. The timing is perfect. The audience howls, rocks in their seats. Serving absolute excellence, Sistren is the must-see debut from Iolanthe (a certified up-and-killing-it icon), with director Ian Michael making space for the girls to give their all. This blazingly fierce, fresh and of-the-moment work from Green Door is in its own class of excellence in new Australian theatre. Iolanthe and Janet Anderson in Sistren. Teniola Komolafe Through the tangled sisterhood of its two 17-year-old South London divas, one black, the other trans, and with two incandescently fabulous leads, we get schooled through an intersectional lens in the pain and the immeasurable value of being seen  if never truly known  by the people we love.

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How it starts: rebellious ride-or-dies since forever, Isla and Violet (Iolanthe and Janet Anderson) have been ordered to separate indefinitely by their villainous school principal under threat of suspension. They ignore him, of course, and Isla finds Violet in their secret spot after hours. Its a cosy girl-power sanctuary (from Emma White)  everything pink and fluffy, from the desktops to the back wall. For about the first 40 minutes we get familiar with the plays two baddies and the joy-fuelled phenomenon of who they are together  chaotic, irreverent, uncontainable. Its not a closed universe, either  Sistren has its characters seeing us lot. With the fourth wall casually demolished, the audience is transformed into a collective of active witnesses  addressed intermittently, with some individual audience members teased directly (much to their delight). The show makes divine playfulness a priority, in physical comedy, speech, sound and lighting. In surreal cuts, the two will suddenly catapult to an alternate reality to play out a conceit from the conversation theyre having: Isla on trial for being on the wrong side of history for assuming everyones a paedophile, for example. Hugely entertaining as all this is, Sistren fully comes into itself when the friendship gets tested. Isla and Violet may be soulmates but there are unbreachable distances between them  in their backgrounds, beliefs and bodies, in their relationship to community and identity. Old wounds are opened, fresh ones made. There are unforgettable scenes of combative truth-telling  foremost when Isla confronts Violet about a remark she made almost a decade ago, and it leads into a debate about authenticity, gender affirmation and black appropriation via BBLs (with a blackboard chart to demonstrate).

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THEATRE

ENGLISH

Reginald Theatre, April 11, until May 2

Reviewed by JOHN SHAND

 When you speak another language  you go years without making anyone laugh, Marjan says towards the end of this play, in which she helps four Iranian students in Karaj prepare for their Test of English as a Foreign Language exam. Her statement is mildly ironic, given her teaching capacity, and dramatically ironic because the play often does make us laugh. Its also a profoundly sad observation. Iranian-US playwright Sanaz Toossi won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for English, which, on its surface, is an unassuming little piece comprising short classroom scenes set across a six-week course. Seething beneath these are the emerging private lives of the five characters, and the four students differing motivations for studying English. Then, lying as substrata beneath all that, are the endless ramifications of the way a foreign language affects thought, humour and, ultimately, identity. Nicole Chamoun, Setareh Naghoni, Minerva Khodabande. Richard Farland

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Genuine polyglots readily think and joke in multiple languages but for three of the plays four students  as for most people trying to acquire a second language later than childhood  the task seems a labyrinth of ever-compounding complexity. The quirk Toossi uses, and to which we much adjust, is that when the characters putatively speak Farsi, they use unaccented English, and when they speak English, they have varying degrees of an Iranian accent. Director Craig Baldwin (for the consistent Outhouse Theatre Co) found five actors who can tick these boxes, but mostly with screen backgrounds. Its a credit to them and Baldwin that their stage performances are quite complete. Nicole Chamoun plays Marjan, the teacher, who spent nine years in Manchester, and whose Farsi, we gather, is as accented as her English. Despite the amusing games and exercises she devises (including endless alliteration on the letter w, which comes more naturally as a v for the students), shes beset with impostor syndrome. Chamoun generally accomplishes the potentially elusive balancing act between Marjans confidence, overconfidence and terror that shes failing her class. Despite being married, she also develops a reciprocated crush on the lone male student, Omid. Pedram Biazar succeeds at giving a character whos something of a charlatan a nice-guy veneer, although Omids being the most competent English speaker makes it tricky for us to discern when hes supposed to be speaking Farsi, given Toossis device. Minerva Khodabande bounces between emotional extremes as the livewire Goli, the youngest student, and Setareh Naghoni excels as the insubordinate Elham, who manages to antagonise everyone.

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Neveen Hanna mostly does a fine job with Roya, the oldest student, whos learning English so she can talk to her Canadian-born granddaughter, but who may not be as welcome in her sons new life as she thinks. Time lapses are signalled with bustling Persian music composed by Hamed Sadeghi (and brilliantly recorded) and you emerge after 80 minutes to find the seemingly unassuming play has just reset your understanding of the migrant experience. THEATRE

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead

Belvoir Street Theatre, April 8, until May 10

Reviewed by HARRIET CUNNINGHAM

 Eamon Flacks adaptation of Nobel Prize-winning author Olga Tokarczuks 2009 novel Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead takes its time. Press night has been delayed, twice, as the production takes shape, and the run time is down from four hours but still over three. The start time comes and goes in a packed foyer, doors to the theatre finally opening 10 minutes late. But it is worth the wait.

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Pamela Rabe, Daniel R. Nixon and Emma Diaz. Brett Boardman Janina Duszejko is a woman in her 60s living in rural Poland, on the border of the Czech Republic. She loves animals. She loves astrology and William Blake and crossing boundaries. A string of deaths alarms her tight-knit community but the police cannot crack the case. Janina has her own theory, which she shares with anyone who will listen and many who wont. From this rangy, feminist-anti-ageist-revolutionary eco-saga, Flack has created a three-act murder-mystery that sustains high drama, wry laughs, dangerous ideas and genuine surprises across its entirety. This is a play in the most fundamental sense of the word. The set (Romanie Harper) is dominated by a large revolve, around which Janina paces, walking her world. Costumes (Ella Butler) appear as if from a hand-crafted dress-up box, and the landscape is revealed through tantalising clues and atmospheric lights (Morgan Moroney). The actors create their surroundings from what comes to hand, wheeling in a window to look through, making a snowstorm with well-aimed fistfuls of paper, fighting over who gets to drive across the vividly imagined landscape. And ad-libbing is not out of the question, given the number of moving parts that may or may not mesh across the evening. Such is live theatre.

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The playfulness is a source of delight, as we watch two cats curled up in a basket, or share Janinas glee in crossing boundaries as she jumps from the Czech Republic to Poland and back. Moreover, it is a delight that can, at any given moment, transform into wonder. Such as when Janina watches a flock of fieldfares whirling around her (beautifully choreographed by Charmene Yap) or contemplates the vast, interconnectedness of it all. Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead is a one-woman show for a cast of 11. Pamela Rabe, as Janina, barely leaves the stage, by turns narrating the action and being the action. Her performance is a tour de force, never less than compelling, often hilarious and tragic all at once. The ensemble is an intrinsic part of her narrative, whether it is an outspoken committee or a silent phalanx of foxes, whether singing, flying, moving furniture, fighting or dancing together in the riotous costume ball of the third act. Among this uniformly brilliant ensemble, standouts include Bruce Spence as Janinas neighbour Oddball, Daniel R. Nixon as Dizzy, and the explosively foul-mouthed president, played by Marco Chiappi, bouncing off an ever-ready Rabe as we rattle towards the grand twist at the end. No spoilers. Just go.

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MUSIC

Donald Runnicles conducts Mahlers Sixth Symphony

Sydney Opera House, April 9

Reviewed by PETER McCALLUM

 In welcoming the audience before the concert, violinist Sophie Cole pointed to the aptness of Mahlers Symphony No. 6 in our own times for the way it gives the experience of being swept up by forces beyond our own control. That impression came most powerfully in this performance by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under Donald Runnicles, augmented by musicians of the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), during the works 30-minute, wrestling finale. Donald Runnicles preserves the tension to the end. Jay Patel This movement strives three times for an optimistic outcome before reaching the enlightened but tragic realisation that, on this occasion, this will not be possible, that the individual will go down.

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Mahler brutally underlined the point by ending the first two attempts at surging optimism with literal blows of a hammer, which he indicates should make a short, powerful but dull, echoing blow of non-metallic character (like an axe blow). There were originally three hammer blows, but, acting with the parsimony of genius, Mahler cut the last one. This allowed Runnicles to preserve the tension to the end, unleashing the final A minor chord, which, as a motif, has wavered from major to minor over the entire 90-minute span with wrenching force. Theres no danger of falling asleep during the final movement. Jay Patel In the first movement, Runnicles maintained momentum with unyielding insistence, holding, but sublimating, the pulse as it transitions from the opening march to the lyrical second idea, and waiting until the close of that idea before allowing the driving force to ease. It eased further, dreamily, in the quiet pastoral section of the development, but the unrelenting quality of the music elsewhere left an ambiguous feeling, crucial to the sense of alienation Mahler creates, as to whether the energy is internally generated or externally imposed. This movement had unstoppable forward drive even at the expense of some roughness of detail.

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The second movement, with shrill mocking woodwind and sagging parodies from the horns, was a sardonic take on that drive. Runnicles made the third movement the works emotional centre. Over a bed of muted lower strings, the violins played the opening melody with delicate spareness, leaving horn player Samuel Jacobs to adorn it, on its subsequent appearance, with velvety smoothness. The woodwind players balanced the moment of idyllic quiet before the final swelling climax like sunlight through mist, and the orchestra unfolded one lush harmonic modulation after another as the music eventually subsided into deep serenity. After the searching opening melody of the finale, its introductory section groped through darkness like an awakening serpent. Runnicles led the quick sections with gripping intensity, the strings, under concertmaster Andrew Haveron, maintaining bristling unanimity. As far as uncontrolled forces go, these had many flashes of terror, but, in their fateful closing bars, proved awe-inspiring.

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THEATRE

Anastasia

Lyric Theatre, April 10, until July 17

Reviewed by HARRIET CUNNINGHAM

 Rags to riches, revolution, lost identity and escape from peril ... The story of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia has it all. The youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, Anastasia was rumoured to be the only member of the Romanov royal family to have survived execution by Bolshevik forces in July 1918. The rumours grew into a grand mystery, with at least 10 women coming forward claiming to be the last of the Romanovs. Georgina Hopson makes an ideal Anya with vocal ability to burn. Wolter Peeters Anastasia picks up the legend and gives it the Broadway treatment with a great book by author Terrence McNally, a reliable string of showstoppers by the composer of Ragtime, Stephen Flaherty, plus a starry cast, truckloads of costumes, dazzling set pieces and vocal fireworks. Resistance is useless. The Australian incarnation of this international phenomenon is hard to fault. Georgina Hopson is an ideal Anya, with a voice of immense dynamic and expressive range and a winning stage presence. Robert Tripolino (the lovable rogue Dimitry) and Joshua Robson (dutiful soldier Gleb) compete, dramatically and vocally, for the audiences heart, with Robson nearly winning it in the set piece Still.

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Rhonda Burchmore hams it up to the max as Lily. Wolter Peeters Rodney Dobson as Vlad, aka Count Popov, works magic as a character who could clearly upstage the main action at any given moment. This is especially true when paired with his Countess Lily, Rhonda Burchmore, who gleefully hams it up to the max. Finally, there is Nancye Hayes as the Dowager Empress, the gracious lynchpin around whom the story unfolds. The creative team brings the historical sweep of Anya and Anastasias tale to the stage with great ingenuity, shifting us across three decades and hundreds of miles using everything in the showbiz toolbox. Most notable are the projections (video design by Aaron Rhyne, with set design by Alexander Dodge), which appear behind the static, architectural wall of windows, doors and archways. In conjunction with lighting (Donald Holder) and costumes (Linda Cho) they create instant changes of location, from the streets of St Petersburg to Bolshevik command to Paris  without upstaging the action. Thats except for the getaway scene, where a skeleton train carriage on a revolve is set in motion by rolling landscapes in the background. Its one of the most successful uses of projections for storytelling that I have seen. Eleanor Flynn and Nancye Hayes.

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The other element that stands out is the choreography (Peggy Hickey) which, especially in the second act, captures the free-spirited sense of release in post-war Paris. A high-energy ensemble show themselves adept in classical ballet, ballroom dancing and jazz. Anastasia is a musical of two, distinct parts, and that is part of its appeal: we move from the Disney-esque nostalgia of Old Russia to fiery revolution through to Paris in the 20s, shot through with jazz and flapper dancing. Its Frozen, Les Mis and Ragtime, all in one. Little wonder its hard to resist. MUSIC

TISM

Sydney Opera House, April 10

Reviewed by MICHAEL RUFFLES

 The trolls arent under the bridge, theyre running around the Opera House.

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Melbourne electro-pop-rock anarcho-satirists TISM (This is Serious, Mum) continue a comeback either four or 40 years in the making (should you choose to believe they broke up in 1983) with a show thats somehow both unlikely and inevitable. Performing all of their breakthrough album, Machiavelli and the Four Seasons, at the Concert Hall three decades after it hit the top 10, manages to mine the same nostalgia vein as other artists pulling the same trick (see Lee, Ben; League, Human; and Day, Green) while also taking the piss. As classical music is piped in and roadies tidy up the stage at 7.59pm, the thought occurs that it could all be an elaborate joke. This is only reinforced when a choir walks on to sing Philip Glasss Arse, the albums pomposity-skewering hidden track. TISM: Who let the trolls out? Hats off for the prank, then its giant crescent-shaped moon hats on as the seven anonymous members appear and launch into their highest-charting and possibly most controversial single, the drug-infused celebrity takedown (Hell Never Be An) Ol Man River. They also start launching into the crowd, ripping up costumes and (eventually) breaking a seat.

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Co-frontman Ron Hitler-Barassi asks: What the f--- are we doing here? Giant puppet versions of the band members appear. A cracking good time? Certainly. Absurd? Absolutely. Actually good tunes? Well, mostly. Machiavelli has moments of genius, but also its skips. It helps that they mix the order, skating past the more forgettable and dated (Jung Talent Time is amusing now for different reasons). They are at their best when bombastic: How Do I Love Thee? and Greg! The Stop Sign stand out. Other highlights come from elsewhere: the ironically engaging Im Interested in Apathy, the yob or wanker Rorschach test Whatareya? and a disturbing yet danceable ditty about Hitler having a bad day are among them. TISM, along with the likes of The KLF and Chumbawamba, made trolling an art form before the internet became what it is. Theyre still going at it: the unrepeatable event is back at the Concert Hall on Sunday, hopefully with the seat fixed. Tisk, tisk, tisk: this is satire, kids.

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TISM play the Opera House again on Sunday from 7pm. In need of some good news? Sign up for our Greater Good newsletter for stories to brighten your outlook, delivered every Wednesday.
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April 12, 2026  5:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

I say I do not believe in God, yet as I age, I take great joy in Pascha (Passover, or Pecha), Eastern Orthodox Easter. Jesus rises twice in our house  last week as a Catholic, this Saturday at midnight as Orthodox. After 40 days of fasting, food  especially tsoureki (sweet bread) and red dyed eggs  are a big part of Greek Orthodox Easter. iStock Its not just you guys that have Easter, my wife said on Friday, digging at our Greek superiority complex. But we know that really, were the first. (Saul, or Paul, had to write to the Corinthians, Thessalonians and Ephesians  if the Greeks didnt take up the new creed, a kind of Judaism-lite for gentiles, the Romans never would have.) In Spain, they eat potaje  chickpea and bacalao (codfish) soup  followed by torrijas  Spanish-style French toast. My late communist father had no time for the church: tools of the state. They always side with power, hed say. Yet, Pascha mattered even for him. His name, Anastasios, means resurrection, and Easter Sunday is his name day. Jesus was a radical rabbi socialist and fought against Rome  dont listen to your grandmother, the Romans killed him, not the Jews, my father would say. My mother took the late 1960s love is all view. Jesus was like John Lennon. As a kid, I associated Lennon and Lenin with Jesus.

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My parents, as children, lived through the Nazis carnival of horror in Greece, and then as teens, the bloody fratricide of the Greek Civil War. Where was God when the Nazis burned churches filled with civilians, or when the royalists hung partisans  the dead were Jesus, my father would say loud enough for my grandmother to hear. She called him Atheos. My grandma sought to protect my sister and me from his bad ideas. Related Article Pope Leo At Easter vigil, Pope Leo urges world not to grow numb to war Later, as a young adult, Id remind my father how Archbishop Damaskinos saved thousands of Greek Jews by Christianising them. The SS-Oberfuhrer Jurgen Stroop threatened him with a firing squad. Damaskinos replied, It is traditional to hang clerics in the Greek church. The Nazis left in a rage. Oh well, one good priest  my father would say. As a kid, the 40 days of fasting  no meat, milk, butter, some fish, and by Holy Week, no animal products  killed me. What  no Coco Pops! Id freak. Mum secretly fed me milk and Coco Pops in the morning. I could have wasted away as a chubby kid in early 1970s Adelaide if not for her. I try to fast for Greek Holy Week. On Megali Pempti or Big Thursday, I dye eggs red. On Saturday, my son and I attend Anastasi, resurrection. We arrive at 11.45pm, armed with candles  lambathes wrapped in foil  to receive the holy light. We join in a Byzantine chant, Christos Anesti (Christ has risen). My son, Anastasios, in my mind my fathers resurrection, never met him; my father died at 62.

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Residents complain about the noise, traffic, and all the weird wog shit, as someone once shouted. I do all this so my son knows our faith is about identity. We Greek Orthodox are tethered to something ancient, intangible and unique. After church, we head to someones house, family and friends, to break the fast. We eat avgolemono soup  egg and lemon soup  compete at breaking red-dyed eggs, and enjoy wine, halva, koulouria, and tsoureki  sweet bread with mahlab, like Jewish challah. On Easter Sunday, smoke from charcoal spits climbs from backyards across Melbourne as Greeks feast on Pascha. Thankfully, the slaughter of lambs, also a Passover tradition, happens in distant abattoirs. I was 13 when my uncle, Harry, brought home a lamb for Easter. The cousins and I called him Lamby. One day in Holy Week, Lamby disappeared. He had to go back to the farm, my uncle said. We then realised Lamby was turning over charcoal on a spit for Easter. Editor's pick Updated

Middle East at war Trump issues new threat to Iran as fragile ceasefire tested by Israeli strikes Why does an atheist do this? Ethnicity? History? Tradition? Family? In part. But more to tear at the fabric of contemporary life. Orthodox Easter, be it Greek, Lebanese, Ethiopian, or Serbian, is an otherworldly experience. Cantors sing Byzantine melismatic chants that meld with Eastern incense. We are all in a church unchanged for 2000 years. Whether in Jerusalem, Athens, Addis Ababa, Istanbul, or Melbourne, our church remains a liminal space, time-out-of-time, linking us all.

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Fotis Kapetopoulos is a journalist for the English edition of Neos Kosmos, a leading Greek-Australian masthead. Get fascinating insights and explanations on the worlds most perplexing topics. Sign up for our weekly Explainer 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: Religion

Opinion Fotis Kapetopoulos is a journalist for the English edition of Neos Kosmos, a leading Greek-Australian masthead.
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NationalSpace A new era for humanity: Seven Aussie experts on Artemis IIs key moments Angus Dalton April 11, 2026  3:04pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

When human eyes could finally see it, the Integrity capsule looked like a tiny, fragile panettone hurtling through the sky with the velocity of a meteor. The world stopped breathing until the module, ferrying four now-famous astronauts, deployed its 11 parachutes and hit the cobalt waters of the Pacific Ocean off San Diego on Saturday morning. Splashdown. Artemis II splashes down in the Pacific Ocean. (NASA/Bill Ingalls) The heart-in-your-mouth spectacle followed a violently fast plunge from space that saw the Artemis II crew approach 40,000km/h, a near-record speed, as it streaked through the upper atmosphere above Australia and triggered a fireball of plasma around the spacecraft, scorching with half the heat of the sun. Then a textbook landing sealed the deal: humanity had made it to the moon and back for the first time in half a century. This is the start of a new era of human space exploration, proclaimed NASAs Orion program lead Howard Hu.

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A new era which will see frequent space travel to the moon and beyond. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman described the missions four crew as poets. For 10 days, Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen spoke of love, connection, joy, awe and grief  moments that seized the hearts of millions who, in many cases, were watching their first-ever mission to the moon in real time. Loading The astronauts flew more than a million kilometres, reaching further from Earth than any other humans in history, achieving a peak velocity of 39,693km/h and hitting the right flight path within 0.4 per cent of their target angle. They sent back unprecedented images and scientific insights from the moons far side. Artemis III, said flight director Rick Henfling, is now right around the corner. The next mission will launch crew into low Earth orbit to practice docking with lunar landers in preparation for landing astronauts back on the moon in 2028.

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What else should you know about the most significant space mission in a generation? We asked seven Australian space experts to tell us their key moments. The Orion spacecrafts crew capsule, named Integrity, deploys its first parachutes. NASA A young boy wears an astronaut costume next to a woman waving a flag as they watch a live broadcast of the return of the Artemis II crew. AFP Artemis II astronauts, from left, Reid Wiseman, Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch and Victor Glover gather for an interview en route to the moon. NASA via AP An eclipse in space revealed meteor strikes

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My favourite moment was when, during the total solar eclipse, the crew witnessed live meteorite impacts on the lunar surface, said Katherine Bennell-Pegg, qualified astronaut and Australian of the Year. The cameras on the spacecraft werent fast enough to capture the impact flashes  one of many examples of why humans are critical up there. Monitoring such impacts is so important, for understanding the risk to future missions and also the lunar environment. Katherine Bennell-Pegg, Australian astronaut, says putting humans in space is critical. Australian Space Agency An eclipse viewed from space revealed meteorite strikes on the moon. NASA The director of space technology at the Australian Space Agency, and one of the engineers who contributed to the Artemis missions, was also moved by the tech demos and vehicle checks conducted throughout the astronauts journey, which pave the way for future space travel.

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Proving the spacecraft supports human life (bar the broken toilet) The key moment for me was proving the operation of the Orion spacecraft with a human crew on board. This was a first for the spacecraft that had been in development for over a decade and is key to our future lunar exploration, Lieutenant General Larry James, former deputy director at NASAs Jet Propulsion Lab, said. The fact that life support worked well (aside from the toilet) and we executed proximity operations that will be key to docking with future lunar landers all bode well for putting humans back on the moon! NASA out-classed Musks exploding rockets My major moment of this mission was actually the success of the launch, said Professor Andrew Dempster, director of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research.

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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. 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 slow and steady approach paid dividends as it moves towards more moon missions. AP The astronauts vanished for 40 minutes In many ways this was a routine track for us, said CSIRO astronomer John Sarkissian, who helped track the Orion spacecraft with CSIROs Parkes Murriyang telescope. But what made this time so special was when, with my colleagues, we witnessed the radio signal suddenly disappear when the spacecraft moved behind the Moon, and when it reappeared again on the other side, 40 minutes later. It brought home that there were fellow human beings up there seeing a side of the moon never visible from the Earth.

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Murriyang, CSIROs Parkes radio telescope, helped track Orion. CSIRO The astronauts were the first to directly view the far side of the moon. AP The moment that broke the worlds heart As the crew circled the moon, they discovered two new craters, said Dr Kirsten Banks, Swinburne University of Technology astrophysicist. One they named after their capsule, Integrity, and the other they named Carroll. Carroll is the late wife of Commander Reid Wiseman, who passed away from cancer in 2020. This moment on the livestream had people all over the globe feeling all the feels, and shedding a communal tear for the beauty of this moment. Here were people shattering the record for the farthest humans have ever travelled from Earth, and in that extraordinary moment, what was front of mind was grief, love and community. To me, that says everything beautiful about human nature  that no matter how far we go, we carry each other with us.

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The missions human moments grabbed the worlds attention. AP Aussie researchers tested a NASA laser A highlight was the demonstration of the optical communication system sending a laser beam from the Orion space capsule to Mount Stromlo in Canberra, said Swinburne Professor Alan Duffy, referring to Australian National University researchers working with NASA to test the new system. Decades of Australian astronomical expertise have meant we could track a spacecraft moving at tens of thousands of kilometres per hour to download huge quantities of precious scientific imagery. Apollo Commander passed the torch

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Commander Jim Lovell, who flew on Apollo 13 and 8, passed away last year, says head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo. But before the Artemis II mission Lovell recorded a message played to the crew during their lunar flyby: Welcome to my old neighbourhood! Lovell said. Its a historic day, and I know how busy youll be. But dont forget to enjoy the view. The view from the spacecrafts main cabin windows, looking back at Earth. NASA The Examine newsletter explains and analyses science with a rigorous focus on the evidence. Sign up to get it each week.
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NationalVictoriaCity life After 55 years, this slice of inner-north history is up for sale Carolyn Webb April 11, 2026  9:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A hairdressers best attribute, says 85-year-old Dante Alessio, is the ability to listen. And customers have aired all manner of lifes ups and downs in his home salon over the past 55 years. We were their confidants, he said. Hairdresser Dante Alessio at his home and salon in Thornbury. Eddie Jim One day, a 75-year-old client amazed Dante and his wife Rita by announcing she was getting married. After being single all her life, the client had met a lovely widower at her retirement village. The Alessios did her hair for her wedding, and attended the ceremony at a Preston church, which was beautiful, Rita said.

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Now, as he prepares to retire after a remarkable stretch of 74 years in the trade, Dante says its the people he will most miss. Opened in 1971, the Alessios salon, Dans Hair Cuts, sits at the rear of a brick veneer home on Darebin Road in Thornbury. With a barbers sign out the front, the house is a local landmark. The sign outside Dante and Ritas house has made it a local landmark. Eddie Jim For decades, as they raised their four daughters, Rita would wash clients hair, sweep the floor, answer the phone and make coffee while Dante cut hair. But on April 18, the house will go to auction, marking the end of an era.

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Ken Barbuto, who lives around the corner, said he will miss ducking in for a trim and having a chat about Italy and what weve been up to. The first time I walked in here was like walking into a bit of history, Barbuto said. Happy memories: Dante and Rita Alessio, centre, in red and blue tops, with their parents and four daughters - baby Reina, and Alina, Gilda and Sonia - outside their Thornbury home and salon, circa 1972. Bev Maskill, a customer for 45 years, comes every week for a wash and blow dry. I sit there and have a bit of a laugh and a chat, she said. Dante and Rita are my friends, not business acquaintances. In the early days, the salon was known as Dante Coiffure, and most of his customers were women. With perms in vogue, he spent hours setting hair in rollers, applying smelly chemicals, and washing and drying. There was also blue rinses, and sets  where hair was washed, styled, dried and combed.

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The salon changed its name to Dans Hair Cuts around 1990 and, over time, the clientele has also changed. In 2026, Dante says over 95 per cent of his customers are men who mostly get $25 cuts. Most are regulars. I know what they want, they dont have to tell me, and theyre happy, Dante says. Hairdresser Dante Alessio and wife Rita at their Thornbury home. Eddie Jim Growing up in Buja, in north-eastern Italy, Dante started hairdressing in his father Ettores salon in 1951, when he was just 11 years old. A year later, Ettore left for Australia, with Dante and his mother eventually joining him in 1956.

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He and Rita married in 1964, and seven years later when Ettore retired, the couple opened their Thornbury salon. Though Dante has said he intends to keep working until the propertys settlement, the Alessio family is still deciding what to do with the salons equipment, which includes three vintage hair dryers. Dante Alessio is set to close his salon after 55 years when he and his wife Rita sell their house. Eddie Jim One of Dante and Ritas daughters will keep a barbers chair that Ettore imported from Italy, and which dates back to 1928. Kew resident Cath Whitehead told The Age that her family had been getting their hair done by Dante and his father, Ettore, for four generations.

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Its sad, Whitehead said. Dante is such a hard worker. He was always caring, interested in what was happening in everyones lives, and strived to do an excellent job. 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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NationalVictoriaCrime A farmer kissed his wife goodbye and went to work. He was found in a shallow grave Marta Pascual Juanola Updated April 11, 2026  3:51pm ,first published 10:28am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

When Donna Wills woke up on Easter Sunday, there was nothing to indicate the hell that was about to befall her family. Her husband, Richard, had got up early as usual. Dressed in a yellow high-vis top and a dark-coloured cap, he had eaten his breakfast about 8am, kissed her goodbye and headed to their farm along the Mallee Highway  a dusty outpost dotted with sheep on the outskirts of the tiny community of Ouyen, near Mildura, where he spent most of his time. Richard Wills, who was shot dead and buried in a shallow grave in Ouyen. Facebook Richard, known by most as Rick, was a workaholic. It wasnt unusual for him to stay at the farm until nightfall, tinkering with old machinery that he wanted to sell or tending to the animals. But when the 65-year-old grandfather failed to return to their home on Hughes Street for Easter lunch, Donna started to worry. I went out there and couldnt see him, so just presume maybe someones called in, Donna remembers.

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Richard was the type of guy who would turn around and help a stranger with a flat tyre, or run a jerry can of fuel to someone stranded by the road. It was strange that he hadnt taken his phone with him, but perhaps he had gone for a drive with a mate and something happened, Donna thought. Richard Wills was shot dead and buried in Ouyen. Victoria Police But when Richard did not return home that evening, Donna knew something was wrong. She went back to the farm with a family friend, but her husband of 32 years (and partner of 40) was nowhere to be found. The following morning, Donna called the police. Police, SES members, friends and family descended on the 1600-acre sharecropping property looking for Richard. About 1.30pm on Tuesday, they found the body of the 65-year-old buried in a shallow grave. He had been shot dead and dragged behind a vehicle. He was one to help anyone, Donna says. Why would they want to do it to him?

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Its the same question detectives are struggling to answer. On Saturday, Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Trewavas, a homicide investigator with the Missing Persons Squad, said police hadnt been able to ascertain the motive behind the vicious killing and asked anyone with information to come forward. We see this as a very vicious killing. Its a homicide investigation that we are seeking further information from, he said. Richard usually left the gates unlocked while working on the property, and police believe his killer or killers are likely someone he knew. Since his body was found earlier this week, detectives have been going through CCTV footage and speaking to residents in the Ouyen and Mildura areas, but are yet to arrest anyone. This is a vicious killing, and its not lost on the police that a man who went to work on Easter Sunday, one of the holiest days in his calendar, has not come home, Trewavas said.

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There will be somebody in this community who knows what happened, somebody who has information or is concerned by the actions of a person on Easter Sunday thats alerted them to the fact that they may be involved in this incident. Located at the junction of the Calder and the Mallee highways, about 440 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, Ouyen is home to a community of about 1170 people. On social media, Richards heartbroken daughter Kayla Phillips described her fathers death as another nightmare we dont get to wake up from, having lost her sister 10 years ago after a medical episode. For those that dont know, our beautiful Dad has been found. It is not the outcome we had hoped for, and we are in shock and disbelief, the post read.

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We have a long road ahead while we wait for answers as to what has happened. We feel held, loved and supported by all of our friends/family near and far. Police are urging anyone who saw Richard last Sunday or who has information about his death to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an anonymous report at www.crimestoppersvic.gov.au. 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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NationalVictoriaFood The potato fields and huts that point to Victorias enduring love affair with the spud Benjamin Preiss April 11, 2026  1:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

In times of economic pressure, as we are experiencing now, Louisa Dunn notices an increased enthusiasm among customers for the potatoes grown on her family farm. Her husbands family has grown potatoes on the farm in North Blackwood, about an hours drive north-west of Melbourne, since 1865. Louisa Dunn pulling out a punch of Dutch Creams on her North Blackwood potato farm. Joe Armao Dunn said Victorians were turning to potatoes to ease the cost of living because they were relatively cheap and can be cooked in myriad ways. Theres more demand, she said. A good potato goes a long way because you dont need many to make a meal.

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There are thousands of potato varieties around the world. The Dunns grow about 25 of them, including Dutch Creams, Kipflers, King Edwards and Kennebecs. They also produce lesser-known varieties such as the ancient Peruvian Andean Sunrise and Pink Fir Apple. The Dunns sell their potatoes through Georgies Harvest at South Melbourne Market, Ruby Goose in Trentham and Spud Sisters, who attend farmers markets, as well as supplying to Prahran Market. The Dunns also provide potatoes to be made into chips. Potatoes on Dunns farm that are ready for harvest. Joe Armao The greater Trentham area, which includes Blackwood, is a highly productive potato-growing region with its rich volcanic soil and reliable rain. Farmers are now in the midst of the harvest. Dunn said her business was selling into a more sophisticated market in which chefs and consumers explore different potato varieties and ask which ones are best for particular dishes.

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Beyond the economic and agricultural contribution, the potato industry has left an architectural legacy across the landscape in Trentham and surrounds. So-called spud huts are scattered throughout the region. They are mostly wooden and metal structures that housed itinerant workers decades ago. Elizabeth Toomey at one of the spud huts in the Trentham district. Joe Armao The Trentham and District Historical Society has compiled a list of more than 80 spud huts, but many no longer remain. Some of those still sitting on farms have been well-preserved, while others fell into disrepair. Elizabeth Toomeys grandfather bought land in the area and settled in 1868. He came from Ireland, and Toomey, a committee member of the historical society, said Irish farmers could tell the soil was good for growing potatoes by looking at the tall, straight and dense trees, which indicated good root systems.

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Many farmers built spud huts to accommodate seasonal workers. Toomey said some spud diggers were former soldiers who had served in World War I and were single men who were drifters. They were wonderful characters, funny, sad, interesting, with great stories to tell, and they certainly added a flavour to the district, she said. Most spud diggers came and went seasonally. The fireplace inside the hut. Joe Armao The spud huts, typically built between the late 1800s and mid-1900s, were mostly weatherboard. The historical society is running tours of the spud huts next month as part of the Great Trentham Spudfest. The festival runs over two days and celebrates the regions potato industry and history.

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Hepburn Shire Council has included six itinerant diggers huts in a heritage overlay throughout the Trentham and neighbouring Little Hampton districts. The overlay provides heritage protection, which means council approval is required to alter or paint the buildings or change the land immediately around them. Toomey inside a well-preserved hut. Joe Armao Hepburn Shire development and community director Ron Torres said the huts helped tell the story of the regions history and agricultural identity. These werent large companies farming the land, he said. They were entrepreneurs and people putting their life savings on the line to try and make a living.

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The councils statement of significance said while the huts were basic, they became iconic markers across the rural landscape. Related Article Wine Families and regional businesses hopeful fuel excise cut will bring relief The heritage-protected huts comprised a single room with one window, fireplace and chimney and corrugated metal roofs. Many were about three by two metres in size. There is a high potential for the building structures to yield further information about the story of itinerant agricultural workers in the district, the councils statement said. Torres said applying heritage protection to private buildings often resulted in a backlash from property owners because they would be restricted in what they could do with structures on their own land. But he said none of the owners of the spud huts opposed the heritage overlay.

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Spud hut protection received no objections from the community, he said. But Toomey said the historical society wants more of the remaining huts granted heritage protection. Some of the artefacts inside a spud hut. Joe Armao Its a part of history that should be protected, but very often we arent conscious enough of that until its too late, she said. They want to protect the legacy of the remaining huts, which provided an austere sort of comfort to the workers who harvested the ultimate comfort food. 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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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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PoliticsFederalRoberts-Smith case Ben Roberts-Smith exhibit at Australian War Memorial updated after arrest Nick Newling April 11, 2026  12:12pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

An exhibit dedicated to Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith at the Australian War Memorial has been updated to reflect the criminal charges the soldier is facing over the alleged murders of unarmed Afghan civilians and prisoners. The change was made on Friday  following the arrest of Roberts-Smith on Tuesday  after historians accused the museum of undermining its commitment to historical truth in its refusal to remove or relocate the SAS corporals display in the sites Hall of Valour. The exhibit displayed in the War Memorials Hall of Valour. The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age In April 2026, Roberts-Smith was charged with five counts of the war crime of murder. The legal process is ongoing, a plaque beside the soldiers military suit and helmet in the museum now reads. The plaque previously said the soldier has not been charged with any offence under criminal law. While the descriptive panel still includes information about the unsuccessful defamation case Roberts-Smith brought against this masthead, further minor alterations have been made including the removal of specific detail about his height.

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Memorial director Matt Anderson announced the change at a press conference on Friday, saying: Right now, the memorials commitment throughout this entire process, and the entire legal process, has been to ensure that the panel in the galleries is up-to-date and covers the facts. The most important thing all of us can do now is allow justice to take its course, is to start with the presumption of innocence, he said. The 47-year-old was arrested at Sydney Airport on Tuesday and charged with five counts of war crime  murder after a joint investigation between the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Roberts-Smith remains behind bars after his lawyers declined to apply for release on bail.

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The Australian War Memorial, which features exhibits on Roberts-Smith in both its physical gallery and online, said on Tuesday it would review the wording of the interpretive panel associated with the display. However, the display of his uniform, equipment and medals remains in place. The panel has been updated several times as Roberts-Smith brought and then lost defamation proceedings against this masthead. The memorial was vociferously criticised this week by historians for delays in updating its wording and physical placement in the museum. Michael McKernan, a senior lecturer in Australian history at the University of NSW and a deputy director at the memorial in the 1990s, said Australia should no longer celebrate Roberts-Smith and that his uniform display should be taken from the Hall of Valour. You cant leave it there  its ludicrous. I mean, he is now charged with five murders; lets get real  thats not good, he said, calling for urgent action. He has every right to be considered innocent until found guilty, but the full bench of the Federal Court of Australia upheld that, on the balance of civil probability, he is a war criminal.

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WorldNorth AmericaEpstein fallout The biggest mystery in Washington  just why did Melania make that speech? Michael Koziol April 11, 2026  4:35pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Its the newest, biggest, most intriguing mystery in Washington  why on earth did Melania Trump make that speech about Jeffrey Epstein, and why did she make it now? The first lady surprised everyone by delivering a televised address from the White House in which she insisted she never had anything to do with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, didnt meet Donald Trump through him and was not friendly with his jailed accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Melania Trump arrives to make her surprise statement on Thursday. AP It seemed to come from nowhere, though it was planned at least a day in advance. A media advisory went out on Wednesday morning ahead of the Thursday afternoon event. This correspondent thought it would be about the first conviction under the Take It Down Act, an anti-harassment bill championed by the first lady, and gave it a miss. That turned out to be a mistake. The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today, Trump said, reading from her prepared remarks.

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I am not Epsteins victim, she said, and dismissed what she called fake images and statements circulating on social media for years about her and the deceased paedophile. Loading Not only did the first lady distance herself from Epstein and Maxwell, but she called for their victims to appear before Congress in a hearing centred on survivors that could uncover the truth. Epstein was not alone ... Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes. The sentiment was OK  though Epstein survivors and members of Virginia Giuffres family said in a statement that his victims had already said their piece, and asking more of them now was a deflection of responsibility. But what was striking was the timing. Usually, such a solemn, prepared declaration would be made following a damaging story that had just been published. But this came out of the blue.

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As late-night host Jimmy Kimmel observed: Melania emerged from the rubble of the East Wing  and delivered a doozy of a prepared statement demanding that we stop talking about something no one was talking about. Editor's pick Epstein fallout Just doesnt look good for him: Why Trump and those in his orbit are untouchable Rumours quickly started swirling that new Epstein revelations involving the first lady might be about to break, and she was attempting to stymie the story with a pre-emptive denial. There is, as yet, no evidence for such a theory, other than Trumps speech itself. Then, of course, comes the theory that this was a deliberate distraction. This notion is a perennial favourite of political commentators, especially those who consider themselves armchair experts in the dark arts of political strategy. In this frame, nearly everything is a calculated distraction from one thing or another. And its always a possibility in an administration obsessed with media coverage  particularly television. MAGA influencer Steve Bannon speaks openly about how the administration can manipulate the discourse by flooding the zone with shit to diverge and distract.

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But it would be a strange thing indeed to try to distract from the unpopular war in Iran with an issue that Donald Trump has always shown himself to be especially disdainful of: the Epstein saga. Indeed, the two matters that have most challenged Trumps mastery of his MAGA base are the Iran war and Epstein. Then there is the other possibility: that Melania Trump really did tire of being the subject of online innuendo and decided to do something about it. Not known for her public statements, the underlying reason for Melania Trump opting to speak out now remains unclear. AP One of her advisers, Marc Beckman, did a series of interviews with right-wing media on Saturday (US time), delivering a rehearsed message: that there were three achievements of the first ladys surprise address. One, she cleared her record. Two, she became a champion for the victims. Three, she became a real leader in Washington by calling on Congress to act.

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But all of those are post-facto justifications from a spinner; none are actual reasons. For that, we might just have to wait and see. The only thing we can say for sure right now is that the first lady has reawakened a political issue that had, for now, died off. She has breathed new life into the Epstein saga at a time when her husband needs to take control of the political narrative and refocus it on more friendly ground. Thats a weird flex, at the very least. 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.
Peace talks between US, Iran under way in Pakistan

Peace talks between the US and Iran are taking place in Pakistans capital as a delicate ceasefire hangs in the balance.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) has emerged as the top-performing congressional stock trader in AI-related investments, outperforming the S&P 500 and surpassing Nancy Pelosi, according to data highlighted by Anthony Pompliano on Wednesday.

Ro Khanna Leads Congress In AI Stock Outperformance

A ProCap Insights analysis of congressional stock disclosures shows Khanna's AI-focused trades delivered a staggering 112.1% excess return over the S&P 500 from January 2024 through April 2026.

That performance far exceeds Pelosi's 38.5% outperformance, long considered one of the strongest among lawmakers, as well as gains posted by others across party lines.

The data tracks "alpha," or returns above the broader market, specifically tied to investments in artificial intelligence-related companies.

Don't Miss:

Anthony Pompliano Declares A New King'

Sharing the data on X, Pompliano, CEO of Professional Capital Management, wrote, "Nancy Pelosi take a seat. There is a new king in town when it comes to Congress members being abnormally good traders."

He added that Khanna has "destroyed the S&P 500 since January 2024."

Nancy Pelosi take a seat.



There is a new king in town when it comes to Congress members being abnormally good traders.



Ro Khanna has DESTROYED the S&P 500 since January 2024.



Read the full analysis: https://t.co/3MVvAlAmf4 pic.twitter.com/hDSw1YkxYJ  Anthony Pompliano  (@APompliano) April 8, 2026

Trending: This Startup Thinks It Can Reinvent the Wheel  Literally

The post quickly gained traction online, drawing a brief response from Tesla Inc. and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who replied: "Wow."

Wow  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 9, 2026

The outsized returns highlighted in the report could fuel ongoing scrutiny over whether members of Congress should be allowed to trade individual stocks.

Congress Stock Trades Outperform S&P 500 In 2025

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust posted a 16.6% gain in 2025, delivering a strong year for investors, but several members of Congress outpaced the benchmark through their stock trades during the same period.

See Also: Most Investors Can't Access These Real Estate Deals  But Accredited Investors Can

According to a report from Unusual Whales, Republicans posted average gains of 17.3%, while Democrats averaged 14.4%. Notably, the top-performing lawmakers delivered returns that were more than double the S&P 500's annual performance.
Critics say the public money Palantir obtains is going to a corporation connected to ICE activities, government monitoring, and contentious national security projects. That makes things awkward for funds that typically speak publicly about civil liberties, human rights, and corporate governance.

That matters because pension funds are not like regular stockholders. They are public entities that need to explain where retirement money is going, particularly when the corporation in question is the focus of a heated political dispute.

They also indicate how firmly Palantir stock has become a part of big institutional portfolios, notably via passive index strategies that add more exposure as a company's market capitalization grows. In other words, as Palantir rises, it becomes harder for many big investors to stay away from it.

The California State Teachers' Retirement System is said to hold nearly $624 million worth. The New York State Common Retirement Fund is estimated to possess more than $413 million in PLTR, while the New York State Teachers' Retirement System is said to own roughly $326.5 million.

But the narrative is becoming a lot more complicated.

PLTR is still going strong right now.

When a company sits at the crossroads of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), criticism of war technology, big data gathering, and founder-controlled governance, controversy might begin to emerge as a major long-term risk factor.

Investors' concerns go beyond the strength of Palantir's business. If institutional investors have to work harder to explain why they own the firm, will it be able to keep its premium?

That's why this tale is about more than simply having a pension fund.

These include worries about how AI will be used in the military, on the battlefield, for immigration enforcement, for spying on people at home, and for making decisions about government policy.

Sludge reports that public pension funds in 30 U.S. states own billions of Palantir shares . This means teachers, firefighters, and other public workers' retirement funds are tied to a firm involved in several political disputes.

That rise is making Palantir stock an attractive pick for investors who want to find the next big winner in AI and military technology.

Palantir Technologies ( PLTR ) is currently one of the most powerful AI companies on Wall Street , owing to a strong surge of hope around AI, national security, and government software.

Story Continues

"Pension funds that should someday care for them have their money invested in a company building AI surveillance systems that could be used to harm those same families or their loved ones," Kenny Morris, campaigns strategist for the American Friends Service Committee's Action Center for Corporate Accountability, told Sludge.

Most public pension systems, on the other hand, have used the same defense: fiduciary obligation.

Instead of saying they were going to sell right away, the funds that Sludge spoke about mostly referenced diversification, long-term portfolio building, and passive investment. That doesn't imply they are okay with every component of Palantir's business. This suggests they don't want to sell a stock that is doing well until they can show that it will help their finances.

That difference is crucial for investors.

The risk isn't that all pension funds will sell PLTR tomorrow. The risk is that public pressure, governance campaigns, and institutional discomfort will keep adding to the uncertainty around a stock that is already priced for a lot of future success.

Palantirs immigration, Gaza-era war, and surveillance ties deepen the debate

ICE is just one element of the Palantir story for investors.

The company's work with the government now covers a lot of sensitive areas, and the numbers are large enough to matter. In April 2025, ICE gave Palantir a $30 million contract extension to work on ImmigrationOS, a system that helps keep track of and manage immigration case data. That project was supposed to last until 2027.

But that's only part of the story.

Reuters said in March 2026 that the Pentagon made Palantir's Maven system a core military program. By 2025, the platform had already brought in more than $1.3 billion in Pentagon contracts. Reuters also said that Maven has been used in thousands of U.S. strikes on Iran. This made Palantir even more of a focus in the debate over military AI and combat software.

Next, there is Israel.

Palantir's 2024 annual report said the company had formed a strategic agreement with the Israeli Defense Ministry to deliver technology throughout the battle, Bloomberg indicated.

More Palantir

The corporation didn't say how much money was involved in that deal, and it also indicated that its operations in Israel weren't important to its overall financial results at the time. Even though the value is not known, the arrangement adds another politically sensitive layer to the company's growing defense reach.

This is why this problem is wider than just enforcing immigration laws.

Sludge says that as of March 2026, public pension funds in more than 30 states owned nearly $4.6 billion worth of Palantir stock. CalPERS held around $734 million, CalSTRS held about $624 million, the New York State Common Retirement Fund held more than $413 million, and the New York State Teachers' Retirement System held about $326.5 million.

So the fundamental question for investors is not merely whether Palantir is contentious.

It is whether a corporation linked to a $30 million ICE expansion (as Wired reported), more than $1.3 billion in Pentagon contracts (according to Reuters), and a known collaboration with the Israeli Defense Ministry can continue to command a higher price if public pressure grows.

At that point, it's not just a matter of politics. It becomes a question of how much bad press investors are willing to tolerate in exchange for growth.

ICE-related work is becoming a headline risk for Palantir.Caballero-Reynolds/Getty Images

Palantir governance concerns leave investors with fewer safeguards

The thorny issues with Palantir do not restrict themselves to just politics or military criticism.

Corporate governance is also an issue.

The Sludge report pointed to Palantirs multi-class share structure, which will give people who own the stock an outsized voting power compared to the general public. Many people find this arrangement problematic. The classic one-share, one-vote principle does not work very well here. It also does not help that board independence is weaker.

This point is important because governance is more important when a company is in the news for the wrong reasons and seems polarizing in general.

When a company faces tough questions about ICE, war tech, surveillance, and public accountability, investors often want to know that management can be held accountable and that shareholders' voices matter. But that leverage isn't as strong when the founder is in charge.

For Palantir bulls, that might seem very bookish for now.

Palantir still has strong growth drivers, close ties to the government, and a story about how its software is different from others on the market. Many investors may be willing to ignore governance problems as long as those strengths remain.

But markets will not stay in forgiveness mode forever.

If growth slows, competition increases, or investor enthusiasm around AI stocks cools, Palantir will face substantial headaches moving forward. That issue might be secondary for now, but the same governance issues will come into focus if things start going south for Palantir.

That is especially true for public pension funds, which may face growing pressure to explain how a company with controversial contracts and such a hands-on concentrated management structure.

The New York State comptrollers office, according to Sludge, is in talks with Palantir with respect to governance risks, internal controls, and the scope of the companys work tied to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. It means that these are not what-if scenarios we are exploring with Palantir; these are real-life risks.

That does not mean we are heading toward these funds pulling their capital from Palantir.

But it does suggest that scrutiny is moving beyond activist slogans and into formal institutional channels. That is the kind of change to which investors should pay close attention.

Key, thorny areas investors should monitor for Palantir

ICE-related work and any work that is connected to deportation enforcement

Gaza-era war-tech scrutiny and broader military use

Concerns about AI in the Pentagon and on the battlefield, including debates about targeting

Domestic surveillance and government data aggregation risks

Corporate governance issues that are connected to the senior management of the company

Political exposure linked to alignment with President Donald Trump and donations

ESG pressure on public pension funds that own a lot of PLTR stock

What PLTR investors should watch next

Palantir stock is still rising, for now.

Investors adore the company's ties to artificial intelligence, defense technology, and government contracts, plus the assumption that its software is especially crucial in high-stakes situations. That is a strong mix, and it helps explain why so many stockholders are still ignoring the issue.

But this story is important enough to warrant close attention.

A disappointing quarter isn't always the biggest threat to a premium stock. Sometimes, the tale is difficult to defend because problems keep piling up. For Palantir, such problems are getting exceptionally big. This is more than just an ICE discussion now.

There is also a tale about criticizing combat technology, spying, government, public pensions, and whether institutional investors are still okay with being linked to a corporation that continues popping up in the most politically sensitive areas of government authority.

That doesn't mean the business is over.

If reputational risk keeps mounting, the market may eventually raise harsher questions about how long Palantir's valuation premium will last. Ownership data doesn't necessarily reflect institutional concern right away, but it shows up in how analysts talk about risk, how public authorities deal with a company, and how easy investors keep believing the bull argument.

PLTR is still one of the most interesting and controversial stocks on the market right now.

The question is whether the people who own most of it will keep treating it like any other AI stock, or whether the lengthening list of problems will drive them to think about what type of firm they are really supporting.

Related: Lawmakers send stern warning to Palantir

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Apr 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the Investing section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Palantir Technologies (PLTR) shares are slipping on Thursday after famed investor Michael Burry issued a scathing critique, questioning the firms enterprise dominance.

Meanwhile, the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement seems to be hurting momentum as well, since its eroding the war premium that often boosts defense-related stocks.

More News from Barchart

Following todays decline, Palantir stock is trading just a tad above its year-to-date low of roughly $129.

www.barchart.com

Why Burry Recommends Selling Palantir Stock

Burrys latest warning carries significant weight as it pivots away from valuation concerns only to a more fundamental criticism of Palantirs moat.

According to Burry, the company is being outmaneuvered by more nimble players, specifically citing Anthropics rapid ascent in enterprise AI spending.

The famed investor alleged that Palantirs complex, high-touch integration model is being bypassed for cheaper, more intuitive plug-and-play solutions, challenging the stickiness of its software.

In short, PLTR shares are under pressure because Burrys suggestion that the companys platform is becoming an expensive legacy option rather than a cutting-edge necessity directly hits its long-term growth narrative.

PLTR Faces Structural Headwinds in 2026

Beyond Burrys remarks, investors should exercise caution in playing Palantir shares as they face three significant headwinds in 2026.

First, cloud titans like Microsoft (MSFT) and Alphabet's (GOOG) (GOOGL) Google are bundling artificial intelligence tools into existing contracts at near-zero marginal cost, making PLTRs premium model look prohibitively expensive.

Second, a growth ceiling seems to be emerging abroad, with European and UK regulators now prioritizing sovereign AI and local vendors, stalling Palantirs international commercial expansion.

Finally, a strategic shift in federal spending toward physical military hardware to replenish global stockpiles threatens to divert funds away from the high-margin software contracts that serve as Palantirs bedrock.

Collectively, these shifts point to Palantirs dominance being squeezed by both commodity competition and shifting geopolitical priorities.
Bastar turns to former Naxalites to safeguard Naxal-free status





By Hemant Kashyap :

JAGDALPUR :

IN a major post-clearance strategy, Bastar Police have launched an innovative initiative to train security personnel with the help of surrendered former Naxalites, days after the region was officially declared Naxal-free on March 31. The move is aimed at consolidating security gains and preventing any resurgence of Left-Wing Extremism. Officials said that despite Bastar achieving Naxal-free status, neighbouring states Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra continue to witness Maoist activity.

With dense forest borders connecting these regions, the focus has now shifted to preventing infiltration and ensuring sustained security. Under the programme, 18 former Naxalites from Sukma, Dantewada, and Bijapur have been selected as master trainers. Having spent years within Maoist ranks, they bring first-hand knowledge of jungle warfare, guerrilla tactics, and insurgent movement patterns. They will train security personnel at the Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College in Kanker.

The training will cover ambush techniques, survival strategies, and Maoist operational methods. The objective is to equip forces with the ability to anticipate and counter threats more effectively, particularly in border areas. Bastar Inspector General of Police, Sundarraj P, said special emphasis will be placed on IEDs, a key weapon used by Naxal groups. Former Naxalites will provide insights into how these devices are made, concealed, and deployed, enhancing the forces capacity to detect and neutralise such threats. The initiative includes a rehabilitation component, integrating surrendered Naxalites into meaningful roles while sending a strong message to active cadres. Officials emphasised that continued vigilance remains essential despite the Naxal-free declaration. The new training model is expected to ensure that security forces remain fully prepared to counter any attempt at cross-border intrusion.
Gap in system: RTMNU provides no direct paths to becoming a clinical psychologist





Staff Reporter :

Students in the city aspiring to become licensed clinical psychologists are encountering a significant institutional gap. While interest in psychology as a discipline continues to grow, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) and its affiliated colleges currently do not offer the academic pathways required for registration with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). This absence forces students to adopt indirect routes, or leave the city altogether to meet professional requirements. RCI mandate and licensing requirements RCI is the statutory body responsible for regulating and monitoring services provided to persons with disabilities.

It standardises syllabi and maintains the Central Rehabilitation Register (CRR), which lists qualified professionals in rehabilitation and special education. Earlier, the process required three years of undergraduate study, two years of postgraduate study, and a two-year MPhil in Clinical Psychology, amounting to seven years of training. However, under updated guidelines, the MPhil has been discontinued. The new route mandates a four-year undergraduate degree (BA/BSc Honours), followed by a specialised Masters in Clinical Psychology (RCI). RTMNU missing both pathways At present, RTMNU does not offer either of the courses required under the new system.

There is no provision for BA/BSc Honours programmes in psychology, nor is there an Masters in Clinical Psychology (RCI) available at the university or its affiliated colleges. In the absence of an honours programme, students have to take alternative routes. Those pursuing a three-year undergraduate degree must either complete a one-year bridge course or finish one year (two semesters) of a masters degree with at least 55% marks before becoming eligible for Masters in Clinical Psychology (RCI). This work around substitutes for the missing honours structure but adds complexity and uncertainty to the academic journey. Institutional and regulatory challenges The absence of RCI-recognised programmes is not solely a matter of policy delay. Starting a Masters in Clinical Psychology (RCI) programme involves multiple regulatory conditions. Institutions must have specialised infrastructure and qualified faculty, including teachers who themselves hold RCI licenses.

A top official from the Higher Education Department commented that most colleges affiliated with RTMNU currently lack these prerequisites. Although the University Grants Commission has directed universities to incorporate honours programmes and align with the new structure, implementation remains incomplete. The official also mentioned that processes are underway, but several formalities are still pending. At the national level, new professional pathways are being introduced. The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), a four-to-six-year practice-oriented doctoral programme, has been launched in select government universities over the past year. However, this programme is not available at RTMNU, further limiting local options for advanced clinical training. Gap in a growing field The lack of structured, RCI-aligned programmes highlights a broader issue in Nagpurs higher education ecosystem. Psychology, particularly clinical psychology, is an expanding field with increasing demand for qualified professionals. Yet, the absence of essential academic infrastructure means that students must migrate to other cities to pursue recognised qualifications.
Hindu organisations receive death threats; MP Alok Sharma submits memo to Commissioner





Staff Reporter :

Political and social tensions escalated in the capital city on Friday following reports of death threats issued to leaders of several Hindu organisations after the Hanuman Jayanti celebrations. MP Alok Sharma intervened in the matter, visiting the Police Commissioners office to demand immediate action against those attempting to destabilise the citys peace. Accompanying a delegation that included Chandrashekhar Tiwari of the Hindu Utsav Samiti and Bhanu Hindu of the Jai Maa Bhawani Hindu organisation,

Alok Sharma met Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar. The representatives submitted screenshots of offensive social media posts and direct messages containing explicit death threats. The delegation characterised these threats as part of a co-ordinated conspiracy designed to instill fear and unrest within the community. No room for criminals: MPs stern warning Following the meeting, Alok Sharma issued a robust statement emphasising that Bhopals identity as a peaceful city remains non-negotiable.

Certain anti-social elements are making a malicious attempt to ruin the social fabric of our city, Sharma stated. They must understand that only the rule of law prevails here. If anyone attempts to intimidate citizens, the administration will ensure they are hunted down, even if they are hiding in the depths of the earth. Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar has ordered an immediate high-level probe. Specialised teams from the Cyber Police have been activated to trace the origins of the threatening social media accounts and messages. The Commissioner assured the delegation that technical surveillance is underway and that the perpetrators would be apprehended swiftly to ensure public safety remains uncompromised.
Nitish takes oath as RS member





NEW DELHI :

BIHAR Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday took oath as a member of Rajya Sabha, marking the end of his two-decade rule in the eastern State and paving the way for a new Chief Minister. The oath was administered by Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan in his chamber at a brief ceremony. The Chairman later welcomed him as a member of the Upper House and also on his return in Parliament. Kumar took the oath in Hindi in the presence of Union Minister J P Nadda, who is also leader of the house,

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Panchayati Raj Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ram Nath Thakur and Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary was also present at the oath-taking. JDU leader and partys working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, Congress chief whip in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh, besides BJP MP and former union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy and BJP chief whip in Lok Sabha Sanjay Jaiswal, were among those present during the oath-taking. Vice President of India and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, administered the oath to Shri Nitish Kumar as an elected Member of Rajya Sabha, from Bihar, at Parliament House today, the Vice Presidents office said on X, while sharing pictures of the oath-taking.

After the oath-taking, Kumar came out of the new Parliament building and spoke about the time he was a member of the Lok Sabha and sat in the old Parliament building. As Kumar assumes the Rajya Sabha role, it marks the end of his long two-decade rule in Bihar. Kumar will soon resign as Chief Minister and the NDA is likely to elect a new Chief Minister of Bihar on April 14. He has already resigned as a member of the State Legislative Council on March 30 after he was elected to Rajya Sabha. The JD(U) supremo was elected to the Upper House of Parliament on March 16, and he had to quit as an MLC in the 14-day period after his election. PM Modi congratulates Nitish Kumar on Rajya Sabha innings: PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on taking oath as Rajya Sabha member and said he is one of the most experienced leaders in the country and his commitment to good governance has been appreciated everywhere.

Modi also said that he was fully confident that Kumars long political experience will further enhance the dignity of Parliament. Nitish Kumar ji is one of the most experienced leaders in the country. His commitment to good governance has been appreciated everywhere, he said in a post on X in Hindi. The Prime Minister also congratulated Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh for being nominated as a member of the Upper House. Modi said Harivansh has made invaluable contributions to journalism and public life and he is a respected intellectual and thinker. With his profound thoughts and insights, he has enriched the proceedings of the House over the past few years. I am delighted that the Honorable President has nominated him to the Rajya Sabha. My very best wishes to him for the upcoming parliamentary term, he said.
Senco Gold & Diamonds store opens at Laxmi Nagar





Business Reporter :

Senco Gold & Diamonds has opened the doors of its store in Laxmi Nagar, Nagpur in a display of grandeur, significantly reinforcing its presence in key markets across Maharashtra with a total store count of 10. The grand opening was also marked by the esteemed presence of actor Bhumi Satish Pednekkar, who added a dash of glamour to the unveiling of the store. On the occasion, Pednekkar unveiled new collection. Re-designed as a modern jewellery haven, the brands only outlet in Nagpur is spread across 5,000 sq. ft., and displays Sencos most iconic and intricately crafted gold, diamond and platinum collections be it heirloom-inspired traditional designs or sleek, contemporary silhouettes.

For walk-in customers, the store offers a more immersive and enhanced browsing and shopping experience. From Sencos latest Everlite additions to the Retro collection, blending vintage influences with modern minimalism, the store also marks the unveiling of the Elements of Nature collection, drawing inspiration from the forms and textures of nature and translating them into finely crafted jewellery, the store displays a wide range catering to the evolving tastes of Nagpurs discerning customers. Nagpur is an important market for us, given its growing consumer base and cultural richness. We are delighted to further strengthen our presence in Maharashtra to 10 stores with the grand opening of this retail outlet.

We remain focused on product excellence, innovative design and delivering a seamless customer experience, said Suvankar Sen, MD & CEO, Senco Gold & Diamonds. On the occasion, the franchise owner of the Nagpur store, Davesh Laddha, also said, Our aim is to provide not just a retail space, but an experience where customers can discover designs, celebrate special moments, and build lasting associations with the brand. The store remains open to customers from 11 am to 8:30 pm daily. For details, visithe outlet at Plot No: 12, S Ambazari Rd, opposite Bandhan Bank, Laxmi Nagar, Nagpur.
US, Iran ceasefire talks today Vance leaves for Pak, no word on Iranian delegation





By Sajjad Hussain :

ISLAMABAD :

US Vice President JD 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 negotiation and hoped that it would be positive. As @POTUS said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, were certainly willing to extend the open hand. If theyre going to try to play us, then theyre going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive, Vance said before boarding the plane. Irans semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran has threatened to withdraw from the Islamabad talks if Israeli attacks on Lebanon do not cease. 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, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a post on X on Friday. Irans Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amir Moghadam, on Thursday confirmed that a 10-member Iranian 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. 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. 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. 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 on 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 in Islamabad, officials said. Police and paramilitary Rangers personnel were deployed and are being helped by the army. 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 Asias 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 informed that the Red Zone had been sealed, and a control room had been established in the ministry to monitor the situation. As part of security measures, a large-scale grand combing search operation was carried out in different areas of Islamabad at the direction of the Inspector General of Islamabad. Police also set up special checking points 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.
CT Culture Corner is a weekly look inside the culture, arts and entertainment world in Greater Waterbury, Litchfield County and beyond.?? Hearst Connecticut Media graphic

Not one to be left out of the state's 250th celebrations, the Wadsworth will open the exhibit "Framing American Democracy: Radical Roots,"

April 23 through Sept. 27.

The exhibit asks "Who participates in democracy, and who has historically been excluded from or denied full participation within it," according to a news release. Since the time of its settlement by Rev. Thomas Hooker and 100 other Massachusetts followers in 1636, Connecticut "gave rise to political revolutionaries and revolutionary artists alike," according to the release.

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Frederic Edwin Church painted "Hooker and Company Journeying through the Wilderness from Plymouth to Hartford, in 1636," oil on canvas. Courtesy of the Wadsworth Atheneum

Hooker was a prominent Puritan minister, born in 1586 in Marfield, England. He emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1633, according to Founders of Hartford. Not long after his arrival, he became a pastor in nearby Newton, but soon came into conflict with leaders of the colony over the critical issue of who could vote. To do so in Massachusetts, one had to be a "freemen," or a person "who had been formally admitted to their church after a detailed interrogation of their religious views and experiences," according to Founders of Hartford.

The work of Frederic E. Church, Hartford native, will be on view at the Wadsworth Atheneum this month. This is "Rapids of the Susquehanna," painted around 1846. Courtesy of The Wadsworth

Hooker didn't like this idea, which put him at odds with the influential pastor John Cotton. So, he decided to take his ideas and his flock from Massachusetts to Hartford, a moment celebrated by Hartford's celebrated artist Frederic Edwin Church in "Hooker and Company Journeying through the Wilderness from Plymouth to Hartford, in 1636," which will be part of the Wadsworth exhibit. In the words of Hooker, The foundation of authority is laid, firstly, in the free consent of the people. As God has given us liberty, let us take it.

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Hooker expressed his democratic vision in a 1638 sermon, which influenced the development of the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut,

according to Connecticut History. This foundational document outlined the Connecticut Colonys representative and earned Connecticut the nickname of The Constitution State. (Before we were the "pizza state," of course).

This is a hand-colored lithograph on paper, which the Wadsworth, purchased through the gift of James Junius Goodwin. Created by E.B. & E.C. Kellogg Hartford, it was published by Case, Tiffany & Burnham. Courtesy of the Wadsworth

The Wadsworth acquired Church's painting in 1846, according to the New York Times. It's a tribute not just to his native city, but also to the Hudson River School, of which he was a devout disciple and practitioner.

Trivia Question:

Church was so successful in his lifetime, traveling to spots as varied as Newfoundland to Damascus, that he build himself a mansion he described as "Persian, adapted to the Occident." What is that homestead called and where can you see it?

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But how did Gorey get here?

Many Wadsworth habitues will recall its saucy exhibit "Gorey's World" in 2018, which was the first museum exhibition to explore the artistic inspiration of the famed American artist and author by presenting his personal art collection alongside art of his own creation, according to the museum. Edward Gorey chose inexplicably to leave his personal art collection to the Wadsworth, despite spending nearly his entire professional career in New York City, according to Arts Fuse, which speculates that, as a museum about half-way between New York and Gorey's home on Cape Cod, it seemed expedient.

This is artwork from Edward Goreys "The Gilded Bat," published in 1966. Courtesy of the Edward Gorey House

The Edward Gorey House in Yarmouth Port, Mass., just opened its 2026 season with "O Sordid Type: Edward Goreys Art of Lettering," which, like his fanciful creatures, is immediately identifiable.

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The exhibit offers a deep dive into the calligraphic and typographical experiments of Gorey, according to a news release, which stresses that every piece of text in an Gorey book is hand-lettered  "even his minuscule text drawn in the copyright pages of his miniature books." The only exception was his first book in 1953, "The Unstrung Harp." When it was reprinted in his first anthology "Amphigorey" in 1972, Gorey painstakingly re-lettered all the books text by hand, according to the release.

"Hand-lettered type is rarely mistaken for set type, so while generally suggesting a genteel 19th-century sensibility, the irregularities of Goreys hand-lettering imbue his works with a decidedly louche nature," according to the museum's website. "Gorey wants you to notice this  or at least have it subliminally register as suspect. This dovetails nicely with his general undermining of most aristocratic proprieties with compelling intimations of lurid acts, random violence, inexplicable madness, and casual despair."

"Iron Tonic," (1969) by Edward Gorey, is part of an exhibit that looks at the whimsical author and illustrator's typography. Courtesy of the Edward Gorey House

A visit to the museum, Gorey's former house, is a whimsical adventure for children and adults, but reservations are strongly recommended, especially in summer. The writer, illustrator, ballet-and cat-lover was as idiosyncratic about his collections as he was fanciful in his books and drawings.

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Trivia Answer
FILE - President Donald Trump, right, meets with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Nov. 7, 2025, in Washington. Evan Vucci/AP FILE - President Donald Trump greets Argentina's President Javier Milei at the White House, Oct. 14, 2025, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP FILE - President Donald Trump and Polish President Karol Nawrocki, right, walk along the colonnade toward the Oval Office at the White House, Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington. Evan Vucci/AP FILE - President Donald Trump shakes hands with President of Honduras Nasry Asfura at the Shield of the Americas Summit, March 7, 2026, at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Fla. Mark Schiefelbein/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  In Hungary, President Donald Trump and his top officials used social media and an election-eve trip to Budapest to promote the countrys far-right prime minister in his reelection campaign.

In Argentina, the U.S. administration worked to prop up the countrys financial markets to the tune of $20 billion -- then Trump threatened to pull the assistance if its elections didnt go his preferred way.

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And in Honduras, he backed a conservative former mayor for president  and pardoned a predecessor from the same political party as Hondurans were preparing to vote.

In his second term, Trump has made a public flex of his political influence abroad on a scale that few if any U.S. presidents have exerted, trying to marshal power that hes used domestically to sway races in Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe.

Using endorsements to reward loyal and like-minded leaders, he has shattered a U.S. tradition of avoiding overt involvement in the internal politics of other countries, and made the use of some foreign policy tools more about politics than about advancing U.S. interests, according to his critics.

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The impact of that is to really cheapen a relationship, said David Pressman, who served as the U.S. ambassador to Hungary during the Biden administration. Pressman, who was on the ground in Budapest as Orban publicly backed Trump in 2024, said Hungarian positions on key issues such as Ukraine felt infused through a political U.S. rubric, rather than articulated as sovereign foreign policy.

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The most significant test yet of Trumps political power abroad may come Sunday, when voters in Hungary render a verdict on Prime Minister Viktor Orban's bid for a fifth term. Orban was the first European leader to back Trump during his 2016 run and remained a close ally even during Trumps period of political exile, making sojourns to see him in south Florida and again endorsing the Republican in his 2024 comeback race.

I love Hungary and I love that Viktor, Trump said this week as Vice President JD Vance, visiting Budapest, put him on speakerphone at a rally with more than 1,000 Orban supporters.

Trump says he loves to pick winners

Trump has long reveled in his status as kingmaker in the Republican Party. Now, he boasts that foreign leaders come to him seeking his approval.

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I love it when I give endorsements and people win, Trump said last month at a summit with several Latin American leaders whom he had backed.

Often, his picks share his policy views, like fellow immigration hard-liners Orban and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, or the chainsaw-wielding Argentine President Javier Milei, who used the tool to illustrate his zeal to slash spending.

Trump and his officials have often used the Conservative Political Action Conference as a stage for promoting their foreign political friends.

At a CPAC gathering in Warsaw last year, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urged Poles to vote for conservative Karol Nawrocki, and implied that the future of the U.S. military presence in Poland could hinge on the elections outcome. Nawrocki would go on to win.

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In Hungary last month, Trump greeted CPAC attendees with a video message from behind the Resolute Desk, urging support for Orban.

The prime minister has been a strong leader whos shown the entire world whats possible when you defend your borders, your culture, your heritage, your sovereignty and your values, Trump said. He later added, I hope he wins, and I hope he wins big.

The White House defended Trumps approach as a sign of transparency.

President Trump is a great American statesman who will speak or work with anyone, and he makes no secret about those he likes or supports, spokeswoman Anna Kelly said. Many individuals who align with President Trumps ideology are getting elected to top offices around the world because everyone wants to replicate his immeasurable success on behalf of the American people, she said.

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Sunday's election is a big test of Trump's foreign political clout

Few foreign leaders have amassed as much political support from the Trump administration as Orban. The U.S. president has fired off multiple Truth Social posts promoting the prime minister, whose hard-right authoritarian approach to governance has endeared him to Trump, as did his fealty to the U.S. president even when Trump was out of power.

Hungary: GET OUT AND VOTE FOR VIKTOR ORBAN, Trump posted Thursday night. On Friday, he said his administration stands ready to use the full Economic Might of the United States to help Hungary's economy, if Orban and Hungarians need it.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as a senator, once aired concerns about democratic erosion under Orban. Nonetheless, Rubio endorsed him in February and promoted the very, very close personal relationship and working relationship between Trump and the prime minister.

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During Vances two-day swing to Budapest this week, he made the administrations endorsement of Orban explicit even as he decried foreign election interference from the European Union.

Of course were going to work with whoever wins the Hungarian election because we love the people of Hungary and its an important relationship, Vance told reporters. But Viktor Orban is going to win the next election in Hungary, so I feel very confident about that and about our continued positive relationship.

But Orban had been trailing in independent polls ahead of the April 12 election and Trump  whose push to acquire Greenland and war in Iran have made him unpopular throughout Europe  may have less sway than he once had.

Past presidents have been more subtle

Past administrations have used different methods to influence power abroad. For instance, the Central Intelligence Agency under President Dwight D. Eisenhower helped engineer a 1954 coup that forced out Guatemala's president, Jacobo Arbenz.

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There have been rare cases when past presidents made their support explicit, such as when former President Bill Clinton backed Russian President Boris Yeltsins 1993 move to dissolve parliament and set up new legislative and presidential elections.

But Trumps political engagement abroad is without precedent, said James Lindsay, a distinguished senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Trump is just different than other presidents, and hes viewed differently than other presidents, and that is a strength you can take advantage of, Lindsay said.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said Trump's blatant involvement in elections abroad should be viewed as part of the what the administration called the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine in its national security strategy released in December. The 1823 Monroe Doctrine, named for President James Monroe, has been used to justify U.S. military interventions in Latin America.

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Kaine, who was a missionary in Honduras at a time of deep covert U.S. involvement in Latin America, called the doctrine poison language for the region. It's violating best practice, he said. America has been deeply involved in regime support, opposition and regime change in the Americas for centuries, and it is not a legacy that we should be proud of.

Trump has offered carrots  and sticks  during foreign races

Sometimes Trump's support for foreign candidates has come with more than an endorsement.

In October, Trump was particularly blunt about his intent to withhold assistance for Argentina if Milei's political coalition didnt prevail in legislative elections that month. Shortly before Milei's visit, the administration had finalized a $20 billion currency swap line, aid that had drawn fierce criticism from U.S. farmers and Democratic lawmakers.

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If he loses, we are not going to be generous with Argentina. OK? Trump told a reporter as he hosted Milei at a White House lunch.

In the final days of last year's Honduran elections, Trump not only made his preference for Nasry Asfura clear, but also emphasized that the United States will not be throwing good money after bad if Asfura lost. Both Milei and Asfura were successful in their respective elections.

Trump also announced a pardon for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez for U.S. drug trafficking and weapons convictions. This cannot be allowed to happen, especially now, after Tito Asfura wins the Election, when Honduras will be on its way to Great Political and Financial Success, Trump wrote on social media.

Trump has repeatedly floated a pardon for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including in a formal letter and during a speech to the countrys parliament. Netanyahu is enmeshed in a far-reaching corruption case that includes allegations of fraud, breach of trust and bribery. He faces what could be a tough reelection campaign this year.

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A fiery Vance speech in the early weeks of the Trump administration strained ties with Germany when, at the Munich Security Conference, he criticized mainstream German parties for refusing to work with a far-right party.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz later said it was not the place for a U.S. leader to say something like that to us in Germany.

I wouldnt do it in America, either, Merz said.
A tornado in March did damage in Moro and other areas north of Edwardsville. More severe weather is possible in the region next week. Abigail Zajac/The Intelligencer Alan Black SIUE photo

An April warmup could lead to severe storms next week.

According to SIUE weather expert Alan Black, there is a chance for severe weather in the middle of next week, especially Tuesday, April 14, and Wednesday, April 15, in the Edwardsville area.

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The storm chances are going to really increase as we go into the early part of next week, Black said.

As of April 9, weather.com has a 38 percent chance to Tuesday evening storms and a 47 percent chance for Wednesday morning storms. Both days are calling for winds out of the southwest up to 20 miles per hour.

Severe storms need three main ingredients: warm air, moisture and changing winds with height.

Those ingredients are expected to mix together next week. An incoming cold front could potentially trigger storms.

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Storm activity is expected to begin farther west before shifting into Illinois.

As early as Sunday or very early Monday morning, places like Oklahoma and Texas would be under the risk, Black said. For us, as early as Monday or Monday afternoon, there could be a chance of severe weather.

The threat is expected to increase as the system approaches.

It looks like those severe weather chances could be even greater on Tuesday, Black said.

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The timing of the cold front will be key in determining the severity of storms locally.

By Wednesday, that front comes through, and depending on the time of day, that could potentially be our best bet for severe weather, Black said. I would say Tuesday and Wednesday are probably the most likely couple of days.

Storm strength will also depend on when they develop during the day.

If it comes through overnight or in the morning, thats not as favorable, Black said. If we have a whole day of sunshine and then the storms come through in the afternoon, that ends up being more favorable.

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Black said the increasing humidity this time of year is typical and plays a major role in storm development.
Following the close of voting, Clinton reported preliminary results. The scrutineers have reported that 52.86% of eligible shares have been voted at this meeting, she said, adding that all board-recommended matters of business have been approved and all shareholder proposals have been defeated. Clinton said final results would be posted on RBCs website and SEDAR+.

Clinton nominated 13 director candidates, all current RBC directors, to serve until the next annual meeting. Clinton also moved to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers as auditor until the close of the next annual meeting and made the motion for the advisory say-on-pay resolution for shareholders to accept RBCs approach to executive compensation as disclosed in the proxy circular.

Board Chair Jacynthe Cote opened the meeting in Toronto and introduced CEO Dave McKay and Corporate Secretary Jessica Clinton. Cote said the meeting would consider items described in the 2026 proxy circular, including the election of directors, the appointment of the auditor, a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation, and shareholder proposals.

Royal Bank Of Canada (NYSE:RY) shareholders voted on director elections, auditor appointment, executive compensation and 11 shareholder proposals at the companys 2026 annual meeting of common shareholders, with all management-supported items approved and all shareholder proposals defeated, according to preliminary results announced during the meeting.

CEO Dave McKay highlighted RBCs financial strength and strategy, reporting CAD 20.4 billion in 2025 earnings , Q1 2026 earnings of CAD 5.8 billion (+13% YoY), a major acquisition and a global growth push, plus plans to deploy up to CAD 1 billion in a domestic growth fund and pursue up to CAD 1 billion in AIdriven enterprise value by 2027.

The 11 proposals, mostly filed by MEDAC, sought measures on governance, youth inclusion, performancebased compensation, AI and environmental and labor disclosures; the board recommended voting against them and noted ongoing engagement despite tensions, including Indigenous concerns about board ties to energy projects.

At RBCs 2026 AGM, all management-supported items were approved  including the election of 13 directors, appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers as auditor and the nonbinding sayonpay  while all 11 shareholder proposals were defeated , with 52.86% of eligible shares voted (preliminary).

Story Continues

Shareholder proposals focused on governance, labor, AI, disclosure and environment

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Cote said there were 11 proposals submitted by MEDAC and that the board and management recommended shareholders vote against each proposal for reasons described in the proxy circular. Willie Gagnon, speaking for MEDAC, said the organization submitted more proposals than in some prior years, including several proposals that had been resubmitted.

In his remarks, Gagnon described proposals that included:

Strengthening shareholder participation in annual general meetings, including requested disclosure of participation trends and a breakdown between individual and institutional investors.

Youth inclusion in the banks bodies, which he framed as training youth to take part in board meetings.

A responsible performance-based compensation policy tied to overall bank performance.

A strategic diversification of skills within the board of directors, including questions about the skills matrix and urgency given the economic and financial context.

Formal recognition of the systemic role of the board, including a proposed standing advisory committee on the systemic impact of the banks decisions.

Proposals addressing forced labor and child labor, regulating AI, country-by-country reporting of non-confidential information, an advisory vote on environmental policies, circular economy, and in-person shareholder meetings.

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Gagnon also said he found engagement with the bank more and more difficult compared with past years and questioned why MEDAC was the only shareholder presenting proposals at this meeting. Clinton responded that RBC had discussions with MEDAC and said she was sorry Gagnon was not satisfied with the outcome, adding that the bank looked forward to further conversations in coming years.

Comments and questions on energy and board oversight

During the question period on shareholder proposals, an operator identifying himself as Chief NaMoks, hereditary chief of the Wetsuweten, raised concerns tied to proposal five, including the presence of director Thierry Vandal, whom he said was connected to TC Energy Corporation and therefore had interests tied to oil and gas projects. Cote responded that the board regularly assesses skills and qualifications needed for the board of today and the board of tomorrow. She also defended Vandals background, citing his prior role as CEO of Hydro-Quebec and saying he brings broad understanding of energy globally. Cote added that he has received extremely high ratings from shareholders, saying he has been always above 97% approval.

Another shareholder, Jeff Carlson, argued that we need more investment in traditional fossil fuel production and discovery, not less, and encouraged RBC to expand fossil fuel investment. Cote thanked him for his comment.

Jesse Logan Stoppler, deputy chief of the Hagwilget Village Council, asked about proposal nine, the advisory vote on environmental policies, and criticized RBCs fossil fuel financing and the banks relationship to LNG projects. Cote said, from the boards perspective, RBC did not believe the proposal would help and that it was being put to a vote.

McKay responded with what he described as a macro perspective, saying Canadas strategy around energy security and prosperity requires balance, including renewables, low-carbon energy supply and fossil fuels. He said RBC would support government initiatives to diversify energy sources and continue investing in energy sources that meet global demand and have economics or Indigenous participation, citing legal approvals and FPIC approvals.

McKay highlights financial results, strategy, and planned investment initiatives

After the formal business concluded, McKay highlighted RBCs scale and results, saying the bank serves more than 19 million clients and delivered strong financial results in 2025. He said RBC completed the biggest acquisition in our history and launched a bold global growth strategy at its 2025 Investor Day.

McKay said RBC generated CAD 20.4 billion in earnings in 2025 with return on equity of 16.3% and returned over CAD 11 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks. He also reported first-quarter 2026 earnings of CAD 5.8 billion, up 13% year-over-year, with ROE of 17.6% and a CET1 ratio of 13.7%.

On business performance, McKay said RBC holds the number one market share in key personal and business banking product categories in Canada and has ranked highest among the big five banks in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power for the fifth time in six years. He pointed to wealth management assets under administration reaching record levels and capital markets revenue growth, and he highlighted RBC Clear, a U.S. transaction banking platform, saying it had onboarded over 180 clients and $23 billion in deposits since launching in 2024 toward a $50 billion medium-term target.

McKay also discussed Canadas investment needs, citing new RBC research that he said would show Canada needs CAD 1.8 trillion in capital investment over the next decade, with most capital coming from the private sector. He said RBC intends to launch an initiative to accelerate economic growth in Canada, including plans to form and invest in a growth fund and make direct equity investments, with an ambition to deploy up to CAD 1 billion over coming years to help companies build and scale in Canada.

McKay said RBC created an AI Group earlier in the year that reports to him, with a goal to accelerate AI transformation and deliver up to CAD 1 billion in AI-driven enterprise value by 2027. He also cited employee community contributions, saying RBC employees made CAD 33.6 million in personal donations last year.

About Royal Bank Of Canada (NYSE:RY)

Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE: RY) is a diversified financial services company and one of Canada's largest banks. Founded in 1864 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the firm is now headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. It provides a broad range of banking and financial services to individuals, businesses, and institutional clients through a network of branches, digital platforms and international offices.

RBC operates across several principal business segments including personal and commercial banking, wealth management, insurance, investor and treasury services, capital markets, and global asset management.

The article "Royal Bank of Canada AGM: Directors, Auditor and Say-on-Pay Pass as 11 Shareholder Proposals Fail" was originally published by MarketBeat.
Ron Eberhart touched down in Vietnam on Dec. 21, 1967. Courtesy of Ron Eberhart Ron Eberhart served his country in Vietnam. He also ran a business in Edwardsville for decades. Riley Hansen/The Intelligencer Ron Eberhart (right) with one of his friends in Vietnam. Courtesy of Ron Eberhart

Ron Eberhart  paperboy, soldier, business owner, father  has an all-American success story rooted in Edwardsville.

Eberhart is a graduate of both Edwardsville High School and SIUE, a Vietnam veteran and a business owner.

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Eberharts first job was as a paperboy for the Intelligencer when he was 13 years old. In his first week, he went out to collect money owed for the paper, and when he turned it in, he got his first paycheck.

My first week as an entrepreneur I made two cents! Eberhart laughed.

He delivered papers for a year. He eventually graduated from EHS and enrolled in college. While studying, he got a draft notice, but he was able to defer the draft because he was in school. Eberhart described himself as an unmotivated student at the time, and when he was 19, he decided to go ahead and enlist.

I thought about it one day, and I said, You know what I should do, I should choose the one that I think I would more enjoy, and I thought the Air Force might be it, Eberhart said.

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Eberhart touched down in Vietnam a few days before Christmas 1967. He arrived not long before the Tet Offensive broke out across the country.

I remember when the door opened up, a rush of hot, humid air rushed into the plane. And it was kind of my first sensory experience of being in Vietnam, Eberhart said. He was face-to-face with warplanes, and he realized, This is the real deal  this is not TV.

That first day, he ran into Ronald Rohrkaste, whom Eberhart knew from Edwardsville.

Interestingly, to me that made it more real. Because I didnt know those other guys, but I knew him, Eberhart said.

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Eberhart found out in a letter from his mother that Rohrkaste had died Feb. 9, less than two months after theyd arrived in Vietnam.

Eberharts first post was in Tuy Hoa, where he patrolled the base as part of the Air Security Police. He described the days as brutally hot, walking in the sun.

Eventually, he was transferred to Pleiku in the Central Highlands, where Eberhart found another friend from high school. Eberhart preferred Pleiku, but it was often shelled, especially in the rain, which made it harder to see Viet Cong forces.

One of his most dangerous duties was traveling into the city of Pleiku. He and another man would pick up a woman who screened people coming onto the base for weapons and other contraband. Eberhart and the other soldier traveled in an open Jeep in the dark, often coming across people with machine guns without knowing whether they were friends or foes.

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The interesting thing to me about the Vietnam War was there were no huge battles, Eberhart said, describing most of the fighting as skirmishes.

Eberhart believes the opposition thought if the fighting went on long enough, then public opinion would turn against the war.

They were exactly right, Eberhart said. Thats how you can, after a prolonged war like that, you wind up having 58,300 men killed. It was dreadful. It was just a dreadful war.

'It was as though nothing happened'

When Eberhart left Vietnam, the excitement on the plane was palpable.

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They served us hot dogs, which were cold, and thats all right, they were the best hot dogs I ever ate. Everybody was thrilled.

The trip home was long. The troops first landed in Japan before going on to a base in California, where they had to find their own way to the airport.

We just got back from Vietnam, and you cant provide us a bus? Eberhart wondered.

When he got back to Edwardsville, the experience was like whiplash. Eberhart had just served his country in a deadly war, and he was back living in his childhood home, reporting to his mother.

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I got home, finally in Lambert Airport, drove here to Edwardsville, and the next morning, Im walking in front of my house ... in civilian clothes, and it was as though that didnt even happen. It was as though nothing happened, Eberhart said. It did things to your head. There was no decompression at all. There was no debriefing.

'We never should have gotten involved'

When Eberhart left for Vietnam, he felt support from his peers. When he returned in his early 20s, however, the tide had changed. He recalled a strong student movement at SIUE that opposed the war, and remembers it being directed not just at the presidential administration, but at the soldiers.

We were out and heard a lot of really vicious talk at SIU, Eberhart said. They could say whatever they wanted to, and that was okay, but I just felt it was dreadful to badmouth the soldiers. At the very same time theyre doing that, theres men over there that are getting shot and killed and every other bad thing.

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That sentiment was difficult for a young veteran who had faced danger and lost friends to hear.

It's made Eberhart question whether the war was necessary.

Ive come to the conclusion that that was a dreadful war that we should never have gotten involved in. I wouldnt have said that back in 1969 or 1968, but we never should have gotten involved in it.

Eberhart ultimately re-enrolled at SIUE and had his education paid for through the G.I. Bill and a military scholarship through the state of Illinois. He studied business and graduated in 1973; in 1980, he took over his fathers business, Eberhart Signs and Lighting, which has operated in Edwardsville since 1936. Eberhart ran the business until 2012.

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Now retired, Eberhart is a member of the local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts. He and his wife have traveled through Europe together, beginning with visits to Eberharts son in Germany and then exploring by car and train. Eberhart said they are slowing down, but the two just returned from a trip to Las Vegas together.
Cindy Reinhardt Provided by Cindy Reinhardt

This month marks the 100th anniversary of the last hanging in Madison County. On April 16, 1926, Emil Fricker, 45, a Highland, Illinois, farmer, was hanged outside the Madison County Jail. The jail was located on Edwardsvilles Main Street, where the Madison County Transit Station is today.

He was found guilty of the murders of two men, Robert Kehrli in 1920 and John Nungessor in 1924. Both were husbands of Minnie Schlicht.

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Minnie had a tragic life. She was born in 1895 to an unwed mother, so was fostered by her grandmother and step-grandfather, Martin and Verdena Schlicht. Her grandparents owned a truck farm, and she became accustomed to physical labor at a young age. By the 1910 Federal Census, she was already working as a servant on another farm. Shortly afterward, she was hired as a dairy maid on the Emil Fricker farm.

She was 15 and her employer was more than twice her age, married and with children, but he became infatuated with her. A recent book by a Fricker descendant insinuates that Minnie was the villain of this piece, but given their ages, its more likely that she was another of Frickers victims. When she married Robert Kehrli in 1920, both left the Fricker farm and moved to Edwardsville, but Fricker convinced them to return. A few months later, Kehrli was thought to have committed suicide.

In 1922, Minnie married John Nunggessor and seemed on her way to a new and better life. Minnie and John had a one-year-old daughter and were expecting their second child when John was murdered in 1924. This time Frickers son-in-law and another employee were hired to commit the murder. When apprehended, they talked, and were sentenced to life in prison. Then, another witness came forward who made it clear that Fricker was also responsible for Robert Kehrlis death. It seems if Fricker couldnt have Minnie, he was going to prevent anyone else from having her.

Frickers hanging was the seventh official hanging in Madison County. Law enforcement created an enclosure surrounding the gallows which provided standing room for 200 witnesses. Oddly, there were tickets, signed by the sheriff, for those in the enclosure. Newspapers reported more than a thousand people came to town hoping for a glimpse of the condemned. The Fricker trial and hanging made headline news across the country.

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A few months before Frickers hanging, Minnie, a widow with two young children, married for a third time. With Fricker gone, her third marriage was a long one.

Meanwhile, Frickers elderly mother, his wife Rose, and three children, aged 9 to 20 when their father was arrested, were also victims. They had to live and work in a small town where everyone knew what their son, husband, and father had done. Fricker had been considered a wealthy farmer, but he was in fact heavily mortgaged and the farm was sold for taxes. Rose was able to support her family by working with her widowed sister, Elise, who managed a restaurant. In 1946, she moved to Indiana where her son Richard had settled, and later to California.

The files at the Madison County Archival Library are full of stories, although most, fortunately, are not so tragic as this one. Interested in finding your stories? Visit the Madison County Archival Library at 801 N. Main Street in Edwardsville to browse the shelves or start your own research project. The library is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. If you have questions about this article, you can reach me at cindy.reinhardt@madcohistory.org.
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Raytheon, an RTX business, secured a $627 million contract with the Netherlands for Patriot air and missile defense systems.

The agreement is focused on rapid delivery of advanced air defense capabilities to support European and NATO protection.

This contract expands RTXs export activity in missile defense beyond its existing long term U.S. Patriot work.

For investors watching NYSE:RTX, this new $627 million Patriot contract adds a fresh data point to an already sizable missile defense franchise. RTX shares recently closed at $201.56, with the stock up 7.6% year to date and 59.8% over the past year, and up 111.6% over three years. These returns indicate significant market interest in the companys defense and aerospace mix, including its Raytheon segment.

The Netherlands deal indicates that RTX is securing additional international demand for its air and missile defense systems as European governments prioritize protection of their airspace. Investors will likely monitor how effectively RTX converts this and similar export orders into revenue, margin performance, and any potential follow on work with other NATO partners.

Stay updated on the most important news stories for RTX by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on RTX.

NYSE:RTX Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Apr 2026

We've flagged 2 risks for RTX. See which could impact your investment.

The Netherlands Patriot order is relatively small next to RTXs existing US$50b Patriot umbrella contract and the US$3.8b F135 engine modification, but it still matters for how you think about the companys defense mix. It shows that export customers are willing to commit fresh capital to RTXs ground-based air defense systems, not just rely on U.S. procurement. For you as an investor, that adds another data point that the Patriot franchise is being used as part of broader NATO air-defense upgrades, which can support factory utilization, spares, and training work across several years. It also reinforces RTXs competitive position against peers such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing in integrated air and missile defense. The focus on rapid delivery points to operational pressure, so questions around execution, supply chain, and working capital are still important, especially with RTX already working through a US$268b backlog across defense and commercial aerospace.

How This Fits Into The RTX Narrative
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Analysts have reset their price targets for South Plains Financial to US$48 per share, matching a steady model fair value of US$48.0. The move reflects recent conversations with management, closer attention to loan trends, and a more constructive tone around the bank's positioning in markets like the Houston MSA. As you read on, you will see how these updated views and fresh data points can help you track the evolving story around SPFI.

Analyst Price Targets don't always capture the full story. Head over to our Company Report to find new ways to value South Plains Financial.

What Wall Street Has Been Saying

 Bullish Takeaways

Piper Sandler upgraded South Plains Financial to Overweight from Neutral and raised its price target to US$48, citing a more positive view after recent discussions with management.

The firm points to Q4 2025 loan growth as an encouraging data point following a period it characterizes as stagnant, and it links this to what it describes as a stronger growth narrative.

Piper Sandler also highlights what it sees as an improving opportunity set in the Houston MSA, which it views as supportive for South Plains Financial's positioning among small cap Texas banks.

Keefe Bruyette previously raised its price target by US$1, which provides another reference point for readers tracking how external views on valuation have changed over time.

 Bearish Takeaways

Piper Sandler notes that the shares have marginally underperformed since Q3 2025 earnings, which may keep some investors cautious about execution and timing around the updated targets.

Do your thoughts align with the Bull or Bear Analysts? Perhaps you think there's more to the story. Head to the Simply Wall St Community to discover more perspectives!

NasdaqGS:SPFI 1-Year Stock Price Chart

We've flagged 1 risk for South Plains Financial. See which could impact your investment.

How This Changes the Fair Value For South Plains Financial

Fair value is steady at US$48.0 per share, matching the updated analyst price target range.

Assumed long term revenue growth rate remains at 14.29%.

Projected net profit margin is stable at about 31.71%.

Forward P/E input is essentially flat at 9.61x.

Discount rate is unchanged at 6.978%.

Never Miss an Update: Follow The Narrative

Narratives connect a company's business story with the assumptions behind its forecasts and fair value, so you can see what needs to go right or wrong for those numbers to hold. They refresh as new filings, guidance, and news come through, keeping the thesis current.
April 9 (Reuters) - Elon Musk's IPO-bound SpaceX (SPAX.PVT) 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.

* 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 has set out ambitions to make interplanetary travel viable. It has also outlined plans to deploy artificial intelligence datacenters in orbit.

* The company, which confidentially filed for a U.S. listing in March, generated about $8 billion in profit last year on revenue of $15 billion to $16 billion, Reuters reported in January.

* SpaceX is seeking a public listing at a potential valuation of more than $1.75 trillion.

(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Mexico City; Editing by Sumana Nandy and Subhranshu Sahu)
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Tantalus Systems Holding now carries a CA$7.06 fair value estimate, a small shift from the prior CA$6.97 target that keeps the focus on a fairly tight price range. Bullish and bearish analysts alike are weighing this updated target against the new CA$7.00 Outperform rating, using it as a reference point for how current research lines up with earlier fair value work. As you read on, you will see how these price targets, research notes and recent company developments fit together so you can track the evolving narrative with more clarity.

Stay updated as the Fair Value for Tantalus Systems Holding shifts by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Tantalus Systems Holding.

What Wall Street Has Been Saying

 Bullish Takeaways

National Bank has initiated coverage on Tantalus Systems with an Outperform rating and a CA$7.00 price target. This lines up closely with the current CA$7.06 fair value estimate you saw earlier, giving investors a clear reference point for upside potential in the current research set.

Canaccord, which previously adjusted its target by CA$1.00, signals that at least one established broker is actively updating its valuation work. Investors often watch for this as a sign that a stock is firmly on the radar of institutional research desks.

 Bearish Takeaways

The small difference between the CA$7.06 fair value estimate and National Bank's CA$7.00 target suggests limited room for error. Any execution hiccups or delays could make the risk or reward trade off look less appealing to more cautious investors.

With only a couple of firms publicly referenced so far, the research base appears relatively thin. This can leave investors with fewer independent views to compare when assessing valuation, growth prospects and potential downside scenarios.

Do your thoughts align with the Bull or Bear Analysts? Perhaps you think there's more to the story. Head to the Simply Wall St Community to discover more perspectives!

TSX:GRID 1-Year Stock Price Chart

See how Tantalus Systems Holding's fair value stacks up across multiple valuation models  not just analyst targets.

How This Changes the Fair Value For Tantalus Systems Holding
Well, that didn't take long.

Tesla China denied a report this week that said the electric vehicle company is developing a new, smaller SUV model to be produced at its Shanghai factory. Tesla China says "market information claiming that Tesla is developing a new, smaller, and cheaper electric SUV is inaccurate," Electrek reported, citing the Chinese financial wire Cailian Press.

On Thursday, April 9, Reuters reported that Tesla is developing a new electric SUV and has contacted suppliers about manufacturing logistics and specifications for various components.

The vehicle was supposed to be more than 18 inches shorter in length than Teslas current Model Y SUV (14 ft vs 15.7 ft) and was to 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 four Reuters sources familiar with the discussions, with future plans to expand production to the U.S. and Europe. Teslas 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.

Tesla shares show volatility after company denies working on new vehicle

Either Reuters sources were wrong, or Tesla wasn't ready for this information to become public, because the company has denied the report.

The denial has Tesla's stock going on a rollercoaster ride Friday morning, April 10, with shares dipping as low as $345.59 shortly after the opening bell, though the stock was up 0.14% to $346.06 at last check.

Investors may have been keen on a new model after the company shared it was mothballing its Model S and Model X due to a lack of demand. The Model 3 was the smaller, cheaper version of the Model S, and its widespread adoption after its July 2017 debut helped propel Tesla deliveries (and shares) to the levels they enjoy now.

Tesla's stock has fallen 4.5% over the past five days, 13.28% over the past month, and more than 16% over the past six months. Year to date, shares are down nearly 21%.

When Tesla confirmed it was ending production of the Model 3 and Model X, it said it would refocus its efforts on humanoid robots and driverless cars. However, according to Reuters sources, Tesla also realizes that global markets wont see meaningful adoption  nor regulatory acceptance  of driverless vehicles for years.

So developing a new vehicle would seem to run counter to that messaging.

However, as much as Tesla likes to say it is not just a car company, more than 70% of its revenue ($69.5 billion in 2025) comes from automotive sales, which includes leasing, regulatory credits, and vehicle sales.
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) is included among the 15 Best Cheap Dividend Stocks to Buy.

UBS Lowers Goldman Sachs (GS) Target Despite Stable Long-Term Estimates

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On April 7, UBS lowered its price recommendation on The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) to $930 from $990. It kept a Neutral rating on the shares. The change came as part of a broader Q1 preview across large-cap banks and consumer finance names. The firm adjusted its targets but said its estimates for 2026 and 2027 remain mostly unchanged, even after reducing expected rate cuts from two to one in 2026. The analyst noted that the year-to-date selloff in the sector could unearth some opportunities, especially given strong momentum in direct lending, capital markets, and deregulation, according to a research note.

On April 2, Reuters reported that Goldman Sachs completed its acquisition of Innovator Capital Management, an active exchange-traded fund provider. The deal expands the banks presence in the fast-growing active ETF space. These products have been gaining traction as investors look for lower costs and more flexible strategies, especially at a time when some passive index products have delivered weaker returns.

Goldman Sachs had said in December that it would acquire Innovator Capital, which managed 171 ETFs with about $31 billion in assets, in a deal valued at roughly $2 billion. The firm said more than 70 employees from Innovator will join its asset management unit. With the addition, Goldmans ETF platform now includes around 240 funds with $90 billion in assets.

Innovator focuses on defined outcome strategies that use options to limit downside risk while capping gains. This approach has been attracting interest, particularly from pre-retirement and retired investors focused on capital preservation. The firm added that the defined outcome ETF market, estimated at about $70$80 billion, is growing faster than traditional ETFs as investors look for different ways to manage shifting market correlations.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) is a global financial institution that provides a wide range of services to corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions.

While we acknowledge the potential of GS 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.
Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) is one of the Hot Growth Stocks to Invest in Right Now. On March 27, Jefferies lowered the firms price target on Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) from $102 to $97, while maintaining an Underperform rating on the shares.

The firm expects the company to show steady progress towards its fiscal 2026 guidance. However, Jefferies does not see new catalysts for the company that could drive growth. Moreover, the elevated market expectations that persist create a uniquely risky downside for the company if the expectations are not met.

Separately, on March 26, Oppenheimer reiterated a Hold rating on the stock without disclosing any price targets. The rating came after the company announced the appointment of Simon Edwards as the new chief financial officer. Edwards is currently the CEO of Groq and will join the company effective April 1, 2026. This marks an important step as the position of CFO has been vacant for nearly a year.

Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) specializes in manufacturing solid oxide fuel cell systems for stationary power generation, primarily through its Bloom Energy Server, which converts fuels like natural gas, biogas, or hydrogen into electricity without combustion.

While we acknowledge the potential of BE 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: 10 High-Flying Penny Stocks to Buy and 10 Cheap Stocks to Buy for High Returns in 2026.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
What Happened?

Shares of construction management software provider Procore Technologies (NYSE:PCOR) fell 6.1% in the afternoon session after a UBS downgrade of ServiceNow (NOW) sent shockwaves through the sector, exacerbating a sell-off that began the previous day.

Investors were increasingly rattled by the "seat compression" narrative, where AI-driven automation reduces the number of human users required for traditional enterprise software, directly threatening the per-seat revenue models of giants like Salesforce and Adobe. This sentiment was fueled by the rapid rise of AI-native competitors and "vibe coding" startups that can replicate complex features at a fraction of the legacy cost.

The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks. Is now the time to buy Procore Technologies? Access our full analysis report here, its free.

What Is The Market Telling Us

Procore Technologiess shares are quite volatile and have had 15 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 1 day ago when the stock dropped 6.9% on the news that Anthropic launched Managed Agents, autonomous AI systems that execute complex tasks.

Traders were worried these would disrupt the traditional SaaS (Software as a Service) model, software delivered via subscription, by replacing human-operated tools with more efficient AI workers. The sell-off intensified after short seller Michael Burry (in a deleted social media post) claimed Anthropic was "eating Palantir's lunch." Burry's comments highlighted the vulnerability of legacy platforms to Anthropic's cheaper AI solutions.

Procore Technologies is down 33.3% since the beginning of the year, and at $46.72 per share, it is trading 41.3% below its 52-week high of $79.60 from November 2025. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Procore Technologiess shares at the IPO in May 2021 would now be looking at an investment worth $530.89.

ALSO WORTH WATCHING: Nvidias Quiet Partner. Nvidias chips cost a hundred grand. The connectors that make them work cost even more. One company makes them all.

Every AI server needs specialized infrastructure the chip companies dont make. High-speed cables. Power connectors. Thermal sensors. This 90-year-old company built a monopoly on it. The AI boom just started. This stock is still flying under the radar. Claim The Stock Ticker Here for FREE.
The visit to the Chinese mainland by Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang party this week, particularly her meeting on Friday with Communist Party of China Central Committee General Secretary Xi Jinping, is of significance to developing relations between the two parties and across the Taiwan Strait, expanding exchanges and cooperation, and strengthening the common endeavor of opposing "Taiwan independence".

Much has changed over the past 10 years since the last meeting of the leaders of the two parties. Yet some fundamentals have not.

Compatriots on both sides of the Strait belong to the same Chinese nation. In the process of jointly creating a brilliant Chinese civilization, they have also forged a shared conviction that the national territory is indivisible, the nation must not fall into chaos, the nation must not be disunited, and the Chinese civilization must not be interrupted.

In his meeting with Cheng in Beijing, Xi expressed the CPC's 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".

That clearly indicates the CPC's commitment to peace across the Strait, the enhancement of the well-being of the Chinese nation, and the efforts to realize the rejuvenation of the nation, thereby firmly keeping the future of cross-Strait relations in the hands of the Chinese people.

This is also a stern warning that the secessionist forces on the Chinese island attempting to rely on external parties to unscrupulously seek "Taiwan independence" stand on the wrong side of history and against the common will of the Chinese nation.

Saying that people on both sides of the Strait belong to one family, and should rightfully join hands to advance the cause of rejuvenating the Chinese nation, Cheng reaffirmed that the KMT adheres to the 1992 Consensus and opposes "Taiwan independence".

It is good to hear Cheng express the KMT's willingness to advance exchanges and cooperation across various fields  including people-to-people, economic and trade  and promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

The view Xi put forward regarding the development of cross-Strait relations in the meeting provides strategic guidance for the healthy development of the ties not only between the two parties but also across the Strait that is in line with historical trends and the common interests of the Chinese people on the two sides of the Strait.

Closer bonds across the Strait should be forged by upholding a correct understanding of identity. More efforts should be made to safeguard 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. Differences in social systems should not be an excuse for secession.

So no matter how the international landscape and the situation across the Strait may evolve, the overarching trend toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation should not change, nor should the prevailing momentum for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait to come together.

Taiwan compatriots should recognize that "Taiwan independence" is the primary force undermining peace across the Taiwan Strait and should neither be condoned nor tolerated, as Xi emphasized.

All of these respond to the shared concerns of people on both sides of the Strait and their hopes 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.


Zurich has set up a Warsaw-based branch to start writing commercial insurance business in Poland through Zurich Austria.

The new unit aims to serve both domestic and international companies.

It will provide cover as a primary carrier, co-insurer and reinsurer, and will distribute products through brokers in the Polish market.

Rafa Tokarz will head the Polish branch, having worked in underwriting and corporate insurance for more than three decades.

Tokarz said: I am excited that Zurich has taken a bold step to enter the Polish market. Zurich is a carrier with genuine commercial insurance expertise, as well as a track record of delivering tailored programme solutions on a global scale.

Together with our highly qualified and experienced team  including underwriters, risk engineers and claims handlers  we will bring this proficiency and capability to the market.

In a LinkedIn post, Zurich Insurance Group Commercial Insurance International CEO Luciano Cirina described Poland as one of Europes most dynamic economies.

Responsibility for the business sits with Zurich Austria, where Kurt Moller serves as head of Commercial Insurance Austria & CEE.

The launch marks a further step in Zurichs buildout across central and eastern Europe.

Last month, Zurich Insurance Europe agreed to acquire the non-life portfolio of Generali Espana De Seguros Y Reaseguros in Ireland, where it trades under the RedClick name.

That transaction has a cash value of 337m ($393.8m), subject to final completion adjustments. Generali Spain will retain an additional 51m of excess capital related to its Irish property and casualty operations.

"Zurich forays into Polish commercial insurance market" was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.




Candlelight vigils held at Guwahati

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IMPHAL, Apr 11: Students of Assam Down Town University held a candlelight vigil today expressing their deep sorrow and condemnation over the killing of two innocent children in a bomb attack at Bishnupur's Tronglaobi on April 7.

A large number of students including Assam Down Town University Manipur Students' Union president Yumnam Langam Meitei took part in the candlelight vigil.

The students condemned the killing of the children in the strongest terms and demanded swift action from the Government to arrest and punish the perpetrators of the attack.

The students urged the Government to take up concrete actions to resolve the Manipur crisis permanently and restore peace and normalcy.

A similar candlelight vigil was also held at Manipuri Rajbari in Guwahati today.

All Assam Manipuri Students' Union members and many took part in the vigil.

The participants observed a moment of silence, expressing grief over the tragic loss of innocent lives and extending prayers for the recovery of the injured mother of the two children.
Dardouy Union congratulates

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KAMJONG, Apr 11: The Dardouy (Nambashi's) Union (DU) Manipur has conveyed heartiest congratulations to four stellar and successful individuals for their unwavering commitment, hard work, dedication and exceptional skill in their professions in the first quarter of 2026.

In a press release, DU Manipur has congratulated Dr Nk Mungreiphy MSc & PhD who was appointed as an Associated Professor in the Department of Anthropology under University of Delhi.

The daughter of Nk Benjamin and Nk Vaomila is a postdoctoral- DBT & UGC, Academic visiting Fellow of University of Nottingham, England UK. She was working as Assistant Professor, Amity University, Noida, India prior to the appointment of the present post.

Congratulations have also been extended to M Themreichan BE who was promoted to Assistant Engineer (AE) from the post of SO at PWD, Manipur. He is the son of M Anthony and M Julie.

Thirdly, DU Manipur has applauded Nk Thotmungam who was appointed as Bank PO under Bank of Maharashtra. He is the son of Nk Rockson and Tamah Ningshen.

Lastly, congratulations have been extended to H Yuishang who was appointed as Executive Officer (EO), at SJVN Ltd. Hydropower PSU under Ministry of Power and now posted at Arunachal Pradesh. He is the son of Late Honrei Hungyo and H Lumlaola.
Ask McCormick (MKC) chair and CEO Brendan Foley why his big play for Unilever's (UL) food business makes strategic sense, and it all comes back to delivering on flavor.

"We're not in the business of competing for calories, we're there to flavor them," Foley said on Yahoo Finance (video above). "We really think this combination is terrific on many levels. We have to go execute now."

Foley is trying to orchestrate one of the spiciest deals Big Food has seen in a while.

McCormick and Unilever announced last week that they have entered into an agreement to combine their food businesses, excluding those in India. The deal values the combined company at about $65.8 billion and includes brands like Knorr and Hellmann's.

Deal details

Foley will lead the combined company.

McCormick has received $15.7 billion in committed bridge financing from Citigroup Global Markets, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding. McCormick intends to fund the deal's cash component through cash from its balance sheet and proceeds from new debt issuance.

The combined company expects to realize approximately $600 million in run-rate annual cost savings, net of growth reinvestments. A large chunk of those cost savings is expected to be delivered within the first two years of the deal closing.

The deal is expected to close by mid-2027.

McCormick will get a Unilever food business that performs respectably but endures the same challenges as others in the industry, including market softness due to evolving consumer preferences.

Unilever's food business sales grew by 2.5% last year, with operating profits gaining 2.7% due to a more watchful eye on expenses. The company called out "declining markets" in developed countries, with Hellmann's outperforming due to a new flavored mayonnaise range.

Sales in the Cooking Aids segment increased by a low-single-digit percentage, mostly from higher prices.

The Food Solutions segment saw flat year-over-year sales, as volume gains in North America were offset by declines in China. The company blamed "weaker out of home consumption" and economic pressure.

Foley said the company is ready to innovate in Unilever's food business.

"We do think the combination makes sense both strategically (both businesses focus on flavor, and their categories are complementary) and financially (we estimate over 20% potential post-synergy EPS accretion). We also think MKC has a better track record with M&A than many other food companies (the RB Foods acquisition was especially successful)," JPMorgan analyst Tom Palmer said in a note.
Joshua L. Kallal madison County State's Attorney

EDWARDSVILLE  An Alton man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to disseminating child pornography.

Joshua L. Kallal, 51, of Alton, pled guilty March 30 to a single count of child pornography, a Class X felony.

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Nine other child pornography counts were dismissed as part of the plea.

He had originally been charged in April 2024 with 10 separate counts of child pornography. Five related to disseminating child porn were Class X; the remaining five dealt with possession and were Class 2 felonies.

The charges stem from an investigation by the Illinois Attorney Generals Office.

According to the original charging documents, in February 2024 and March 2024, Kallal was found to be in possession of and disseminated through BitTorrent, five separate computer files containing child pornography, ranging from prepubescent children performing sex acts with adults to files involving children with animals; and was in possession of five separate computer files showing adults having sex with children.

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According to additional court documents filed at the time of the original charges, an investigator with the Attorney Generals Office was conducting an online investigation on BitTorrent, a file-sharing platform, when they came across an IP address that was sharing suspected child pornography.

The investigator was able to determine that child pornography was being shared and obtained a search warrant for subscriber information relating to the account, which identified Kallal. A search warrant was executed on Kallal's address, and a number of electronic items were seized.

At the time of his initial charging, court documents said an analysis of hard drives seized was ongoing but appeared to contain numerous files containing child pornography.
Blue and red police lights at a crime scene. Ajax9/Getty Images/iStockphoto

EDWARDSVILLE  A 45-year-old Benld man was charged April 8 with aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony; and resisting a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor.

The Livingston Police Department presented the case.

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According to court documents, on April 7, the suspect allegedly forcefully grabbed at a Livingston police officer and fled from the officer on foot.

The suspect was ordered released from custody.

Wood River woman faces order of protection charges

A Wood River woman was charged Wednesday with multiple violations of an order of protection.

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The 48-year-old woman was charged April 8 with three counts of violation of an order of protection, all Class 4 felonies.

The South Roxana Police Department presented the case.

According to court documents, on Feb. 22, March 3, and March 13, the suspect violated an active order of protection by sending multiple emails to a protected party.

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It was noted that the suspect has a prior conviction for violation of an order of protection out of Madison County in 2025.

The suspect was ordered remanded to jail, and a motion for additional conditions for pre-trial release was filed by the Madison County States Attorneys Office.

These individuals have only been charged and remain innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. All charges may not be reported.
Deundrea Holloway madison county state's attorney's office/Madison County State's Attorney's Office

EDWARDSVILLE  An Alton man was sentenced to 60 years in prison in the decapitation murder of a pregnant woman in June 2022.

Deundrea S. Holloway, 25, was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to first-degree murder, intentional homicide of an unborn child, and concealment of a homicidal death in the June 9, 2022, killing of Liese Dodd, 22, and her unborn child.

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Holloway will serve 30 years for the first-degree murder charge, 20 years for the homicide of the unborn child, and 10 years for the concealment charge. All will run consecutively, and he must serve 100% of the murder charge, at least 85% of the homicide charge, and 50% of the concealment charge.

After the hearing, Madison County States Attorney Tom Haine said it is unlikely Holloway will ever see the light of day.

Associate Judge Neil Schroeder presided over the hearing Friday.

Dodd had been in an on-and-off relationship with Holloway and had just moved to Alton.

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Her mother, Heidi Noel, of Jerseyville, became concerned when she couldnt contact Dodd. Noel went to the apartment and discovered Dodds decapitated body.

Holloway was later apprehended by the Gillespie Police Department during a theft investigation.

Deundrea Holloway pleads guilty to murder charges

Deundrea Holloway had been originally charged on June 13, 2022, and indicted later that month on two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of intentional homicide of an unborn child, all Class M felonies; dismembering a human body, a Class X felony; offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony; and concealment of a homicidal death, a Class 3 felony.

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Holloways trial had been delayed several times because of concerns about his fitness to stand trial.

On May 28, Schroder ordered the appointment of a court-appointed psychologist to determine whether Holloway was fit to stand trial. Holloway had been found unfit to stand trial in February 2023, and was transferred to an Illinois Department of Human Services facility for treatment but was later determined to be fit to stand trial and brought back to Madison County.

Another issue was that as Holloway was awaiting trial, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that an unborn child cannot be construed as a second murder victim for purposes of seeking a sentence of life in prison.

On Dec. 16, he pled guilty to three of the counts, but the final sentencing was delayed until Friday so the family could prepare a victims impact statement. Her mother read the statement, and during the hearing, a photograph of Dodd was projected on a screen near the table Holloway was sitting at.

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For the family and loved ones of Liese, these types of issues have caused continued angst and uncertainty. This guilty conviction ends that, Haine said. Our hope is that this conviction and sentence provide the family and loved ones some assurance and will be a step toward healing.

Liese Dodd's mother finds solace in 60-year sentence for daughter's killer

In making her statement, Heidi Noel said he had been sentenced to 60 years, but Liese Dodd and her unborn baby girl had been sentenced to death; the rest of her family and friends to life without her or her daughter; and his family to be the relatives of a convicted murderer.

She said Dodd had wanted to love Deundrea Holloway, and was a light sent to your dark world.

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I do not hate you, Noel said. I am sad and disappointed in you.

She said the 60-year sentence brings some resolution, but it doesnt bring her daughter or granddaughter back.

But knowing you will be in prison for 60 years brings some solace and reminds me of a conversation we had, she said. You had been in the apartment all day. You said to me Ive been here all day, its like being in jail, and I hate being in jail.

Well, you now have the next 60 years to hate being in prison, she said, adding she also would pray you find redemption for your soul.

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The case was prosecuted by Assistant States Attorney Lauren Maricle, who is chief of the Violent Crimes Unit at the States Attorneys Office, and Crystal Uhe of the Illinois States Attorney's Appellate Prosecutors Office.

Ginny Smith of the Madison County Public Defenders Office represented Holloway, along with Public Defender Mary Copeland.

Holloway was largely silent during the hearing, speaking only to answer questions from the judge.

Mother of domestic violence victim urges others to seek help

After Fridays hearing, Liese Dodds mother encouraged those with mental issues to seek treatment and for victims of domestic violence to escape and end those relationships.

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This is a tragic outcome of a two-year on-and-off again domestic violence relationship, she said. This didnt have to end this way, my daughter should be here raising her daughter, instead of being a victim of domestic violence.

Find the resolve to end that relationship, she said. If someone threatens to end your life, believe them.

Prosecutors, police praised for justice in Liese Dodd case

Tom Haine praised Liese Dodds family for their strength and grace.

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Haine also commended the prosecutors, Alton Police, and other agencies that assisted in the investigation and arrest, including Madison County Coroners Office, Madison County Sheriffs Office, ISP Division of Forensic Services, Litchfield Police Department, and Gillespie Police Department.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to the prosecutors and law enforcement agencies who worked diligently to secure this outcome, he said.

Their commitment to justice helped ensure that the victims loved ones could see accountability delivered, Haine said. This case has been difficult for everyone. Obviously, it has been traumatic for Lieses family. With this resolution, they were spared the additional trauma associated with a trial. My heart goes out to the family, whose strength, courage, and resiliency during this process have been truly remarkable.

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Strings of Japanese lanterns lit up Kochis evening as Kimchi Kulture Fest 2026 kicked off on April 10, reflecting the city's growing interest in East Asian culture. The three-day festival explores food and culture from Malaysia, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The atmosphere is bustling at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with stalls, fashion pop-ups and traditional performances such as the Chinese dragon dance.

Kimchi Kulture is one of the many festivals and restaurants exploring East Asian cuisine across hotspots in Kochi. The youth in Kochi seem to have moved beyond the typical Chilli Chicken and Fried Rice, often labelled Chinese food. Newer restaurants such as Little Soi and Sakura Komichi, which serve authentic Japanese cuisine, are the new popular spots for outings. Restaurants like Lets Kimchi have started building loyal followings by recreating dishes popularised through Korean dramas. The trend is no longer niche and has even drawn famous chains like Youmee to Kochi.

Fifteen-year old student Amy who was attending the festival confirms this, Im here just for the food. I really enjoy trying authentic East Asian cuisine.

The K-Arnival 2026, Keralas first-ever K-pop festival, held at the St. Theresa's ground also drew in a huge Gen Z crowd interested in blending Kerala and Korean culture. Lifestyle brands have also capitalised on this sentiment, with brands like K-beauty gaining popularity and finding space in omnichannel retailers in Kerala.

At the heart of this trend lies the influence of K-drama, Anime and C-drama on Gen Z. The vivid food and fashion, shown through these media, are particularly enticing. Late-night binge sessions, Mukbangs, and social media have transformed Kimchi, Ramen, and Boba into everyday cravings. This digital exposure seems to have translated into actual demand in Kochi.

Festivals like Kimchi Kulture are not creating the trend but simply turning what Gen Z consumes into a social, physical experience.
Century Lithium promotes Todd Fayram to chief technical officer at Angel Island project Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

Century Lithium Corp. (TSX-V:LCE, OTCQX:CYDVF) announced on Friday that it has promoted Todd Fayram to chief technical officer as it advances development of its Angel Island lithium project in Nevada.

Fayram, who joined the company in May 2023 as senior vice-president of metallurgy, will continue to lead its metallurgical program while taking on broader responsibility for technical strategy and project development.

The company said Fayram has contributed to key technical milestones at Angel Island, including the production of battery-grade lithium carbonate at its demonstration plant.

In his new role, Fayram will oversee metallurgy, process development, engineering, and the continued advancement of Century Lithiums patent-pending chloride leaching and direct lithium extraction process at the Esmeralda County site.

Separately, Century Lithium announced it has granted 6.28 million incentive stock options to directors, officers, employees, and consultants, per its long-term incentive plan. The options are exercisable at $0.47 per share for five years.

Of the total, 1.7 million options granted to independent directors vest immediately, while the remaining 4.58 million options will vest in equal portions over three years.
Differences still exist among the service chiefs of the Army, Navy and the Air Force on the implementation of the process of Theaterisation and the way to go about it, but there is no disagreement on the concept per se or the realisation of an imperative need for it given the growing complexity of modern day warfare, said Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Anil Chauhan.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

There is no difference among the three services on this particular concept. There is total consensus. It is a big thing because, in some manner, the authority of the service chiefs gets diluted. And they are ready to do it for the larger good of the nation. It is an important part, much important than the manifestation aspect, said Gen Chauhan.

The CDS was speaking during an interaction on the sidelines of the second edition of the Ran Sanvad event, a marquee tri-services annual event being held at Bengaluru.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: Speaking at the Tri-Service seminar 'Ran Samwad', Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan says, "I said that war is subordinate to politics, and especially democratic governments are hostage to public opinion, and they survive because of pic.twitter.com/RZCt1I30aL  ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2026

There are hundreds of connected questions relating to the manifestation, those issues on which there is still some kind of difference. But I think these issues can be resolved when we are implementing this concept.

When we set up theater commands, we would be looking at joint headquarters which will subsume tasks like operations, intelligence, logistics, etc. The work of intelligence will also get changed and redistributed. There will be some dilution in military intelligence, air intelligence or naval intelligence; they will all contribute centrally to an organisation. So, we will converge a lot of capabilities and centralise them, Gen Chauhan added.

The prevalent regional or geographical commands will also be reorganised under the theater commands in matters of operations but in matters relating to raising, training and sustenance, they will be looked after by the service chiefs, he pointed out.

Envisaged as a process to transform the Indian military into a modern force capable of pursuing Indias national interest across multiple domains including traditional and emerging one, theaterisation is premised on laying a strong foundation of jointness and integration at all levels among the three services.

The office of the CDS was created on September 30, 2022, with the core mandate of theaterisation, promoting jointness and integration of the Indian military.

With theaterisation, a single commander in a designated zone will command all the assets and resources of all forces be it from the Army, the Navy or the Air Force stationed in that zone.

Theaterisation aims to create two parallel and complementary streams for force application and force generation.

The force application component will become the responsibility of the theater commander, whereas the service chiefs, in their transformed role will be responsible for what is colloquially called the Raise, Train and Sustain (RTS) function.

This system would be much similar to the military system devised in the US in 1986 after the concept of warfighting commanders being responsible for conduct of operations whereas service chiefs were removed from the operational responsibility with the top focus being on RST functions.
After the full print (reports vary on this) of actor-politician Vijays "Jana Nayagan" was leaked online, Vijay fans, serious cinephiles and netizens demanded that the filmmakers take strict action against those responsible for the leak.

The two reigning titans of Tamil cinema, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, condemned the incident, calling it an "attack on art and the artist," while urging the government to take necessary measures to curb such lapses.

"The leak of Jana Nayagan is not an accident - it is the result of systemic failure," wrote Kamal Haasan in a social media note. "Had due process been timely, we would not be here. Inordinate delays in certification created fertile ground for piracy. When legal access is stalled, illegitimate channels take over."

He further added, "Piracy is beyond politics; it is an attack on the art and artist itself. It endangers the work of hundreds of artists and technicians, and the investments of honest tax-paying producers, exhibitors and theatre owners, all who sustain the cinema we love. Who protects the creator when the system fails? We need accountability, swift certification, strict enforcement, and real-time takedowns. I trust true lovers of cinema will unite and give a befitting response by watching the film legally in theatres, as you stood with me in the past."

Meanwhile, Rajinikanth said the incident is shocking and painful, and urged film associations to "raise their voice against this, and the government must identify those responsible and impose severe punishment."

"Such crimes must not be allowed to continue in the future," he added.

Directed by H. Vinoth and produced by KVN Productions, "Jana Nayagan" had been beset by multiple release delays, and the makers were all set to release it during Pongal this year, before the elections. However, the release was further obstructed by censorship woes. Latest reports had said that the it would not be out until after the elections. Vijay had announced that it was to be his final film before he devoted his full-time attention to politics.

Reportedly a Tamil adaptation of Nandamuri Balakrishna-starrer "Bhagavanth Kesari", the action thriller is headlined by Vijay, Mamitha Baiju, and Bobby Deol, among others.
In light of the improved relations between India and China, Salman Khan's upcoming war movie "Maatrubhumi", which is based on the 2020 Galwan conflict, is reportedly undergoing major revisions as the team has been asked to remove mentions of China.

Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, it was originally titled "Battle of Galwan". After a couple of delays, the makers had originally decided on a May 15 release date. However, it seems they'll have to push the release even further to accomodate the new changes brought on by the reshoots and script changes.

As per a report in Bollywood Hungama, the Ministry of Defence had reservations about the films content, and that, as per the directive of the Ministry, China may not be mentioned in the film.

Earlier, the film was inspired by a real event. But as per the request of the Ministry of Defence, Salman Khan and director Apoorva Lakhia reshot the film by adding a fictional spin to the story. Accordingly, he reshot nearly 40% of the film as he added some romantic scenes, backstory, etc. The makers submitted the new cut, hoping that they would get the NOC. But the Ministry still has apprehensions, the source was quoted by the portal.

The source further explained, One of the requests to Salman Khan is that China shouldnt be mentioned in the film. This was communicated to the makers in advance. The cut of 'Maatrubhumi', which was submitted earlier this month, has no mention of China.

However, the report mentions that only the core members of the Maatrubhumi team would know how China is depicted in the film or shown without naming it.

The 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which is the focus of Salman's film, was a violent and fatal confrontation between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh on June 15-16, 2020. It resulted in 20 Indian soldier deaths and an undisclosed number of Chinese casualties. Occurring in the high-altitude Himalayan region, the battle involved hand-to-hand combat using clubs, stones, and sticks. No firearms were allowed as per a 1996 border agreement.

The clash led to a massive, long-term military standoff. In response, India banned over 200 Chinese apps, including TikTok, and implemented stricter economic controls on Chinese firms.

The confrontation marked the first deadly military clash between India and China since 1975, prompting international concern and leading to strained bilateral relations.
Another case of a small Malayalam film with no superstars doing a decent run in theatres, with fairly solid reviews from general audiences for its one-of-a-kind concept. Some netizens have argued that the film would've done even better had it featured big names in its cast.

"Sambhavam: Adhyayam Onnu" was released in theatres on March 6, 2026, and is still playing in select multiplexes with at least one show.

The supernatural thriller, with elements of fantasy and science fiction, will be available for streaming from April 15 on JioHotstar, as a Vishu special. The film marked the directorial debut of Jithu Satheesan Mangalathu and is based on his short film "Sambhavam", a cinematic expansion, to be precise.

Starring Askar Ali ("Honey Bee 2.5"), Vineeth Kumar ("Rifle Club"), Sidharth Bharathan ("Bramayugam"), Senthil Krishna ("Kuttavum Shikshayum"), and Assim Jamal ("Anjaam Pathiraa"), the film revolves around three Kerala Police officers venturing into the mysterious Velloorkkatt forest on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border in search of a missing officer. There, they encounter strange occurrences due to the presence of a supernatural forest deity that presumably controls time, kickstarting a mind-bending time loop.

Written by Jithu Satheesan Mangalathu himself, the idea had invited some comparisons to Lijo Jose Pellissery's "Churuli"; however, the two films are entirely different in terms of treatment and storytelling.

Naveen Najose is the director of photography, while Arjun Prakash handled the editing. Godwin Thomas composed the music and background score.

"Sambhavam: Adhyayam Onnu" is produced by Faras Mohamed, Fahad Sidheekh, and Fayez Mohammed under the banner of Nalla Cinema Productions.
The Congress party had taken a firm stand to contest the Baramati Assembly by-election, and there was strong enthusiasm among party workers. It was on this basis that a candidate was fielded. However, keeping in mind Maharashtras political traditions, culture, and civility, and respecting the requests made by all, the party has withdrawn its candidate as a mark of tribute to the late leader Ajit Pawar.

Clarifying that withdrawing the Congress candidate from Baramati is not the end but a new beginning, State Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal said that just as soldiers fight to protect the nations borders, Congress workers are fighting to safeguard the Constitution and democracy.

Sapkal visited the Baramati Congress office today, where he met and congratulated the partys candidate Advocate Akash Morewho had withdrawn from the by-electionas well as other aspirants, office bearers, and workers.

On the occasion, Pune Rural District President Shrirang Chavan, District Working President Lahu Anna Nivangane, Baramati City President Ashok Ingule, General Secretary Rahul Wable, Kamalakar Satav, Govind Mirge, Youth Congress State Secretary Veer Dhaval Gade, along with several key office bearers, taluka presidents, and party workers from Pune district, were present in large numbers.

Addressing those present, Sapkal further said that when the Congress decided to contest the Baramati election, it faced criticism at multiple levels. There was even mockery about whether the party would find a candidate in Baramati. However, six candidates from Baramati had expressed willingness to contest, out of which Akash More was given the nomination. The aim was to take Congress's ideology and the partys symbol to every household. The workers in Baramati have demonstrated that the Congress ideology remains strong even in adverse circumstances.

The Congress party has maintained that a case should be registered to investigate the accident involving the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and it has not stepped back from this stand.

While Ajit Pawars party is in power, no case has been registered in Maharashtra. However, the Congress government in Karnataka has registered a case and is pursuing it. At the time of withdrawing the nomination, Karnatakas Home Minister sought updates on the case, and MLA Rohit Pawar also met him. Senior State Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe was also present during this interaction. Sapkal reiterated that standing firm on its principles is the hallmark of the Congress party.
In probably the largest land reclamation operation in recent history, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) secured 861 acres of government land in Ailapur villagelocated in the Ameenpur mandal of the Sangareddy districton April 11.

The agency stated that the current market value of the land, located in the suburbs of Hyderabad, is estimated at over Rs 15,000 crore.

Working in coordination with the revenue, municipal, and police departments under heavy security, the HYDRAA teams erected fencing around the vacant government land, demolished illegal structures, and put a definitive stop to what officials say was years of brazen encroachment and fraudulent land sales.

The land in questionSurvey Numbers 1 to 220 of Ailapur village, totalling 1,263 acresoriginally belonged to the Nizam rulers and was recorded as government land following the merger of the state of Hyderabad.

Notably, this comes amid reports claiming that the Telangana High Court had issued a stay order on the HYDRAA operation. In fact, officials from HYDRAA told THE WEEK that there is no such stay order imposed, as of now.

In 2003, a High Court Division Bench order formally confirmed its government status, with the then joint collector declaring all 1,263 acres as government landa significant portion of which has already been occupied by residential developments.

Despite that ruling, disputes persisted. A family claimed 475 acres, producing patta documents, and the matter has been in court ever since.

In 2013, the High Court issued an interim order directing that the status quo be maintained over the landsmeaning no construction, no sales, no alteration of any kind until a final verdict.

However, the HYDRAA officials said the status quo orderswhich have been issued since 1998were ignored by certain constructions, including the demolished guest house.

At the centre of Saturdays operation is M.A. Mukheem, whom HYDRAA said was an advocate who had no legitimate claim over the disputed land. A press statement from HYDRAA said Mukheems father had worked for a Diwan under the Nizam and received 19 acres through a private arrangementland that was, in any case, government property.

Mukheems father allegedly sold that land as plots. Mukheem then went further, encroaching upon an additional 21 acres to build a sprawling farmhouse.

Over the years, Mukheem allegedly sold up to 300 acres of government land at rates ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000 per square yard, pocketing hundreds of crores. He reportedly used those proceeds to acquire properties in other states.

He is also alleged to have maintained close ties with elected representatives and systematically managed government machinery to facilitate his operations.

HYDRAA stated that Mukheem has more than 19 cases registered against him, including a double murder case, an attempted murder case, a case for threatening an MRO, and another for intimidating prospective plot buyers at the Rajendranagar police station.

According to the agency, Mukheem has also been registered as a notorious criminal in connection with a separate 12-acre land dispute in Madhapur. The police have since cancelled his gun licence and seized his firearm.

Acting on a report submitted by the Aminpur tahsildar to HYDRAA commissioner A.V. Ranganathand in compliance with the 2013 High Court interim orderHYDRAA launched its operation early Saturday morning.

HYDRAA teams have also pulled down his brother M.A. Azeems three six-storey towers, built across 2.20 acres. Mukheems luxurious farmhousespread over 40 acres, which has a swimming pool and horse stableswas demolished. HYDRAA has erected a fence around all 861 acres of remaining vacant government land.

In 2023, revenue authorities had already demolished nearly 250 houses and shops built on plots that Mukheem had sold in Rajagopalnagar Colony.

During the operation, Ranganath repeatedly announced that residents who had bought land and built homes would not be disturbed. He was communicating with media members throughout the day over the agencys official WhatsApp channel.

The fencing was carefully planned to avoid inconvenience to villagers and residents of Ailapur Tanda. The land will remain secured in status quo until the pending writ appeals before the High Court reach their final verdict, the commissioner said.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted raids at former education minister Partha Chatterjees house in Naktala on Saturday in connection with the teachers recruitment scam, five months after he secured bail in the case.

Central paramilitary forces were seen cordoning off the area in front of Chatterjees house. The suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader was arrested in July 2022 along with his associate, Arpita Mukherjee, in connection with alleged bribery in the recruitment to government posts, linked to the School Service Commission (SSC).

Chatterjee was reportedly at his residence when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) team arrived on Saturday morning. The former minister had been summoned by the central investigating agency earlier this year, but he had not turned up, citing ill health.

During a 2022 raid at Arpita Mukherjee's house, the ED had allegedly recovered over Rs 50 crore of cash and gold jewellery worth Rs 5 crore. The ED team also simultaneously raided Chatterjees close associate, Prassana Roys office in the New Town area.

Chatterjee was the MLA from Behala West but was denied a ticket after being suspended from the TMC post his arrest.

Meanwhile, in another case of the civic bodies recruitment scam, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Boses son, Samudra Bose, arrived at the ED office in Kolkata. Sujit Bose, who is the candidate from Biddhanagar Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district, had been summoned earlier, but did not appear before the agency, citing health reasons.

Raids were conducted in October 2025 at the ministers office and at the restaurant owned by his son, Samudra Bose. Rs. 45 lakh in cash, digital devices and documents were seized during the raid.

The raids and ED questioning come ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections to be held in two phases on April 23 and 29.
A 24-year-old woman, who was the victim of a horrific assault involving HIV-positive blood, has died by suicide in Hyderabad. The tragedy follows an incident last month where a relative allegedly injected her with the virus after she refused to marry him.

The initial assault occurred on March 11. The accused, identified as Manohar, reportedly forced his way into the woman's home and injected her with his own HIV-infected blood. This act of violence was a retaliatory strike after the woman called off their planned marriage.

According to police investigations, the accused and the victim were relatives. Their parents had originally arranged the alliance. However, as Manohars parents were known to be living with HIV, the womans family requested that he undergo a test in September of last year. When the results returned positive, the woman immediately cancelled the marriage. Manohar was arrested shortly after the subsequent assault in March.

Despite receiving medical attention and support, investigators believe the victim struggled deeply with the psychological aftermath. On Friday, nearly a month after the attack, the woman was found at her home. Although her family rushed her to a government hospital, she was declared dead on arrival.

Local authorities suspect that the combined weight of fear, social stigma, and the immense psychological impact of the attack pushed her to take this step. The Pocharam IT Corridor police are currently verifying all aspects of the case.

NOTE: If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, please reach out to professional helplines. In India, you can contact Kiran (National Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline) at 1800-599-0019
Senior NCP leader and minister Chhagan Bhujbals helicopter landed on a parking lot on Saturday morning, triggering safety concerns.

The pilot of the aircraft reportedly mistook the parking lot for a helipad and made the landing.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that an immediate inquiry would be conducted into the matter.

The minister was headed to the inauguration of the Jyoti Savitri Zilla Parishad School, which was organised in Khanwadi, the birthplace of Mahatma Phule, in Pune district. The parking lot where the helicopter parked was a kilometre away from the assigned helipad.

There were no damages to people or property in the incident.

#BREAKING: Chhagan Bhujbal narrowly avoided a mishap after the helicopter he was in landed in a parking area instead of a helipad in Pune.



Chhagan Bhujbal, Maharashtras Food and Civil Supplies Minister, was involved in a near miss on Saturday after the helicopter he was pic.twitter.com/rw3z2wFBAf  upuknews (@upuknews1) April 11, 2026

When the chopper reached the location, the pilot saw that there were not many vehicles in the parking lot meant for cars and two wheelers. He mistook the lot for a helipad and landed the aircraft there.

A Republic TV report said that the pilot reportedly lost sight of the helipad due to a brownout effect caused by swirling dust disturbed by the helicopter's rotors.

When a helicopter has to land, they are given the latitude and longitude of the helipad are given to the crew in the aircraft.

The Pune district police said that the crew knew the coordinates but ignored it and landed on the parking lot.

The incident created a scare as it came less than three months after Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash.

My pilot landed wrongly in a parking lot. All of us are safe, Bhujbal said.

A senior police officer at Pune rural police said that the pilot will have to face action and that the matter would be reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

Meanwhile, the minister had continued on with his scheduled programme after the disruption.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address three rallies in West Bengal on Saturday, ramping up the Bharatiya Janata Partys campaign for the upcoming assembly elections. This will mark Modis third visit to the state since the Election Commission announced the poll schedule in mid-March.

Tuesdays rallies are scheduled at Katwa in Purba Bardhaman, Jangipur in the Muslim-majority Murshidabad district, and Kushmandi in Dakshin Dinajpur. The events are politically significant, as the BJP seeks to expand its footprint in central and northern Bengal and mount a serious challenge to the ruling Trinamool Congress.

During his earlier visits, Modi sharply criticised the Mamata Banerjee government over law and order issues and alleged illegal infiltration. He launched his state campaign on April 5 in Cooch Behar, highlighting the gherao of judicial officers involved in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

On April 9, Modi addressed three more rallies at Haldia, Asansol, and Suri, focusing on what he described as industrial decay and the infiltration menace in the state.

Elections for the 294-member assembly will be held in two phases, on April 23 and 29, with vote counting scheduled for May 4.

Having increased its tally to 77 seats in the 2021 assembly polls, the BJP aims to wrest power from the Trinamool Congress, even as early opinion polls suggest a slight edge for Mamata Banerjees party.
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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The Central Command (CENTCOM) of the US military on Saturday declared that two guided-missile destroyersthe USS Frank E Peterson and the USS Michael Murphyhad crossed the Strait of Hormuz and had operated in the Arabian Gulf region to "as part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines".

Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce, said CENTCOM commander, Adm. Brad Cooper, in a statement on X, which added that more such US assets, including underwater drones, would join the clearance effort.

This comes after a security official in Iran denied earlier claims that several US Navy warships had crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday amid a fragile two-week ceasefire in the war that is currently in effect.

Speaking to the state-run broadcaster IRIB on Saturday, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson denied the earlier claims, and pointed out that there had only been one "potential ceasefire violation" from an American destroyer warship.

According to a report from semi-official news agency Tasnim, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly monitored this warshipa major development that had a direct impact on the peace talks in Islamabad.

A warning was issued to the destroyer that it would be attacked if it were to enter the Strait of Hormuz, the report said, adding that this information was also quickly conveyed to Iranian negotiators in Islamabad.

This is said to have had a direct impact on the peace talks, with Tehran's negotiators issuing a 30-minute deadline for the US warship to turn back, via Pakistan, the mediator.

The report alleged that it was this dual warning that led the warship to finally make a U-turn.

What were the earlier claims?

As per the earlier claims by a US official, multiple warships had transited the strait as part of an "operation that focused on freedom of navigation through international waters", an Axios report said.

Notably, one of Washington's key demands in the ongoing peace talks at Islamabad is the reopening of the strait.

The question on the US-Iran war, which has been on the crypto-based prediction platform for weeks, carries a $269 million stake.



(us iran war israel, us military iran ground troops, polymarket ceasefire talks 269 million bet)https://t.co/eRq1t3I3kW  THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) April 11, 2026

In that regard, the official added that the warships had crossed the strait from east to west to the Gulf, and then turned and sailed back through it to the Arabian Sea.

However, the official denied that the US had received any such warning from Iranian naval forces, claiming that the move had anyway taken place without the coordination of Tehran.

Donald Trump's 'clearing' claims

This comes as US President Donald Trump continued with his Truth Social rhetoric on Saturday, claiming that Washington was already engaged in clearing mines from the strait "as a favour to Countries all over the World".

Reiterating that Iran was allegedly "LOSING BIG!", he also claimed that all 28 of Tehran's mining boats had been sunk.

Notably, Iran had earlier claimed that it was facing challenges to de-mining the strait, but has not yet refuted Trump's latest allegations.

Also, it is yet to be seen how exactly the de-mining and warship claims factor into the outcome of the tense talks in Islamabad, which are ongoing.
Iran has reportedly lost track of all the naval mines it deployed in the Strait of Hormuz, which has prevented the country from reopening the shipping lane, according to US officials.

The country has been unable to find and remove them.

The development is one of the reasons Iran has not been able to comply with the Trump administration's warnings to let more ships through to the strait, The New York Times reported.

US officials say that Iran mined the Strait haphazardly.

The country did not systematically track the placements of the mines,and in some cases the deployed them in ways that they drifted away from their original positions.

Tehran had used small boats to mine the strait in March after the war began. The IRGC issued a warning to ships that they could collide with sea mines.

Removing nautical mines is far more difficult than placing the. The US military lacks robust mine removal capabilities and relies on littoral combat ships quipped with mine sweeping capabilities. Iran also lacks the same.

On Wednesday, Irans foreign minister said that the strait would be open to traffic with due consideration to technical limits.

American officials have said that the FMs comment on the limitations was about Iran's inability to find and remove the mines that they deployed.

The US military had previously also sought to destroy Irans navy by sinking ships and targeting its naval bases. However, Iran has hundreds of small boats that it could use to lay mines and destroying all of them has been proven impossible. After Iran began mining the strait after the war began, American officials had said that the country was not planting mines quickly or efficiently.

US officials had also estimated the country possesses between 2000 and 6000 naval mines, CBS reported.

Abbas Araghchi is currently in Islamabad for meetings on Sunday with JD Vance.

The mines are likely to be a point of discussion on the main issue of reopening the Strait.

The US is currently uncertain precisely on how many mines Iran has placed in the Strait and where they are located.
Mojtaba Khamenei, Irans Supreme Leader, is recovering from severe facial and leg injuries sustained during the airstrike that killed his father at the beginning of the war, sources say.

Three sources close to the leader told Reuters that the Khameneis face was disfigured in the attack on the supreme leader's compound in central Tehran.

All three sources said that he suffered injury to one or both legs; however, he is still mentally sharp.

Khamenei is reportedly taking part in meetings via audio conferencing and is engaged in decision making on major issues, including the war and negotiations with Washington. Two of the sources said

A source familiar with Us intelligence told Reuters that Khamenei reportedly lost a leg.

Khameneis whereabouts since the attacks on February 28 have been kept under the wraps from the public.

He has not appeared in any photo, video or audio recording since he was appointed the new supreme leader, replacing his father.

Earlier reports about the supreme leader had claimed that Khamenei was in a severe condition and was unable to take part in decision-making. Some alleged that he was in a coma.

The uncertainty behind the low profile kept by Khamenei has led to speculation on who is effectively running Iran at the moment

His father and predecessor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wife and brother in law and sister in law were all killed in the same strikes that injured him.

There has been no official statement made by the Iranian regime on Khamenei's health.

One newsreader on state television described him as janbaz, a word used for the badly wounded after a war.

The reports on Khameneis health have come amid a high stakes talk between the Iranian and US officials in Islamabad.
The Iranian delegation for negotiations with the United States touched down in Islamabad in the small hours of April 11, and even their arrival was a political statement. Inside the aircraft were rows of empty seats with photographs and backpacks belonging to victims of the Minab school strike, a tribute to those children and a message to the world. Earlier, Tehran had deliberately dragged its feet on confirming whether it would show up at all, a calculated move to project composure and gain the upper hand in the negotiations.

Leading the delegation is Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and his presence alone marks a sharp shift in tone. Gone is the Western-facing, deal-hungry style that figures like Javad Zarif once embodied. Ghalibaf is cut from altogether different clotha hardliner, a security man and a product of the revolutionary establishment. He fought in the IranIraq War as a young commander, lost a brother to it, and carries that conflict with him still. His appointment means that Tehran is leading with strength.

At his side is Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a sharp and experienced negotiator who has written extensively on the art of diplomatic leverage. Together they head a delegation that has been assembled with care. Senior officials have been assigned to dedicated committees covering military, economic, legal, and political matters. It means that decisions could be made on the spot rather than referred back to Tehran at every turn.

Iran's greatest card, however, remains the Strait of Hormuz. By making plain that it can choke off maritime traffic through this narrow but vital waterway, Tehran has put itself at the centre of the global economy's anxieties. America cannot guarantee the free passage of commercial shipping there on its own, and both sides know it. The unspoken threat of supply chain disruption and fuel shortages lurks beneath every exchange, and it gives Iran far more leverage than its current circumstances might otherwise suggest.

At the table itself, Iranian negotiators are expected to adopt what their own officials have called a "market style"  unhurried, persistent, grinding. And before any substantive talks can even begin, Tehran has laid down conditions. It wants frozen assets released, and it wants explicit assurances that any ceasefire will cover Lebanon too. For Iran, the two cannot be separated.

Yet for all the outward confidence, the vulnerabilities are real. Iran has taken serious hits, both militarily and economically, in recent months, and the pressure for sanctions relief is mounting. At home, the balancing act is a delicate one. Hardline figures are working to keep their base fired up, even as the judiciary clamps down on dissent to hold things together internally.

There is also the matter of trust, or the lack of it. Tehran has not forgotten that Donald Trump walked away from the 2015 nuclear deal, nor the military actions taken during what were supposed to be periods of diplomacy. Lebanon has become the litmus test. If Washington cannot rein in Benjamin Netanyahu and stop the strikes on Hezbollah, Iran will conclude that America cannot be taken at its word on anything larger. And if the talks collapse entirely, Iran's military leadership has made clear it stands ready to resume hostilities.

The American delegation, for its part, arrives with a rather different energy. Led by Vice President J.D. Vance, it is the highest-level American team to talk to Iran since 1979, and also includes perennial Trump favourites Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Vance is an interesting choice. He has long been sceptical of open-ended Middle Eastern entanglements, and his earlier hesitancy during the conflict has, oddly enough, made him more credible in Iranian eyes. Tehran reportedly pushed for his inclusion, reckoning that someone genuinely wary of escalation might actually mean what he says. But that cuts both ways. Any agreement that looks too generous could wound him politically back home, while failure would leave him associated with a conflict he never much wanted to be part of.

Pakistan, meanwhile, has leant into its role as host with considerable enthusiasm. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has spoken of the moment in grand terms, casting Islamabad as both facilitator and mediator. It is not an unreasonable claim. Pakistan has close ties with Washington, a working relationship with Beijing, and a degree of credibility across the Gulf, which is a rare combination that allows it to serve as a genuine bridge between camps that would otherwise have no easy way to talk.

Wider regional forces are also in play. Saudi Arabia has quietly assembled a loose alignment with Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt, a Sunni grouping aimed at containing both Iranian influence and Israeli military action, driven by genuine alarm at how quickly things could spiral. China, heavily reliant on Gulf energy, has its own reasons to want the Strait of Hormuz calm, and has been using that influence to encourage Tehran towards restraint.

The thorniest problem of all, however, remains Israel. Netanyahu has shrugged off international pressure, refused to extend any ceasefire to Hezbollah, and shown no sign of halting military operations. That intransigence has unsettled the region and drawn pointed criticism from European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron and his British counterpart, both of whom are scrambling to keep the Islamabad process from falling apart. Trump himself was forced to call up Netanyahu yesterday and ask him to go it easy on Lebanon.

What is unfolding in Islamabad, then, is something far more tangled than a straightforward bilateral negotiation. It is a geopolitical pressure cooker, with every party nursing its own calculations, constraints, and lines it will not cross. The ceasefire has quietened the guns for now, but it has resolved nothing underneath. Whether these talks produce something lasting or simply buy time before the next eruption will depend on how carefully, and how honestly, these pressures are handled in the next few days.
Rajya Sabha has been unusually alive, pointing towards realignment and rebalancing within the party formations. After the most visible one, the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar last year over his differences with the government, to more recent ones involving members who were apparently perceived as being soft towards the ruling dispensation.

Aam Aadmi Party's poster boy Raghav Chadha was accused by his party colleagues of resorting to 'soft PR' by raising issues that do not sufficiently unsettle the government. That charge, however, holds equally true for most of AAP's nominated MPs from Punjab, who have not been raising issues forcefully enough to corner the ruling dispensation. Sanjay Singh, who represents Delhi, remains the sole exception  consistently at the forefront of raising political issues aligned with AAP's core focus, whether defending Arvind Kejriwal or staking out ideological positions. When Chadha was removed, ahead of the 15th anniversary of the anti-corruption movement launched by Anna Hazare, which later morphed into AAP, it did spark debate. Though the debate in social media and public conversation remained polarised, the issues he raised were in the public interest but were not seen as pointed enough to represent the voice of AAP.

Chadha has long been perceived as carving out an independent image, distancing himself from the AAP crowd even when Kejriwal was in jail. Overall, it also casts a lens on parties born out of movements, as their key leaders go separate ways in their political journey.

The Chadha episode does raise a pointed question: How should an MP conduct himself in Parliament to remain aligned with his party's image and stated purpose?

It is broadly agreed that the party line runs supreme in Parliament. Members have the freedom to raise issues of their constituency, but must follow the whip during the passing of bills or no-confidence motions. Members' positions are bound by the anti-defection law, which curbs voting beyond the party position and is often seen as curbing dissent.

Congress MP Manish Tewari had introduced a private member's bill asking that MPs be allowed to vote freely across party lines on most bills and motions, except in cases of confidence motions and money bills. He articulated a view expressed by many MPs in private  that whips make them subservient to party lines, which hinders parliamentary debate.

Predictably, many leaders who maintain an independent line face a cold shoulder from their respective party leaderships, but cannot be wished away because of their individual popularity.

Unlike Chadha's case, a change in Biju Janata Dal's strategy did not attract as much debate. BJD parliamentary party leader Sasmit Patra resigned from his position to allow the party to install a new leader more in tune with Naveen Patnaik's thinking. Former Chief Minister's political advisor Dr Santrupt Misra has now entered the Rajya Sabha as a new MP and is expected to play a key role in party strategy. The timing matters: BJD suffered multiple embarrassments when six of its MLAs cross-voted in recent Rajya Sabha polls, and a BJP MP's accusations against party icon and former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik were not as strongly contested.

Both AAP and BJD have kept their distance from the Congress-led INDIA bloc  understandably, given that they have defeated the party on their home turfs in the past and were the grand old party's main opponent in their respective states. But the situation has changed. Both now face a far bigger challenge from the BJP. Their policy of remaining unaligned  particularly in BJD's case  has begun to cost them more than it benefits them.

The third instance, which did not attract as much debate, is the nomination of JDU MP Harivansh Narayan Singh to the Rajya Sabha by the President after his own party, JDU, denied him a ticket. With Nitish Kumar himself now entering the upper house, Singh would have stayed out of the Rajya Sabha as his second term had ended. But he got a third term through the government's nomination quota. This hints at a nuanced realignment ahead of a change of chief minister in Bihar  with the BJP set to occupy that post for the first time.

As some of these cases show, parties can accommodate a degree of personal branding among their members, but draw a firm line when it begins to overshadow the party's own political position.

Rajya Sabha, by virtue of its composition, rarely commands sufficient public attention, yet it plays a crucial role in the passage of legislation and debates. The changes within the party teams point to coming challenges. The next big test before all parties will be delimitation and women's reservation.

After delimitation, there will be a significant increase in the number of seats  making it difficult for most parties to field a sufficient number of credible candidates across expanded constituencies. The only party that appears genuinely equipped to contest upwards of 800 Lok Sabha seats is the BJP. It has a large reservoir of turncoats and its own long-serving cadres who have yet to be accommodated despite years of loyalty to the party. In 2029, those opportunities will arise.

For all non-BJP parties, the critical task will be to hold their flock together and prevent defections ahead of the next general election. As past experience has shown, parties that project a clear and strong political identity are far better at keeping their MPs in line than those that remain ambivalent  and the ambivalent ones are invariably perceived as the first to switch.

As delimitation sets into motion, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha may witness sharper, more hardened political lines  rather than the equidistance many have maintained thus far.
Eliot Engel, a longtime Democratic congressman representing parts of the Bronx and Westchester County, passed away Friday at the age of 79, his family announced.

Engel, who was Jewish, served 16 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1989 until 2021, after first being elected in 1988. Over more than four decades in public service, he was widely known as a staunch supporter of Israel and a leading voice on foreign policy.

In a statement, his family said he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones in the borough that raised him: The Bronx.

During his over 44 years in public service, Eliot Engel fought tirelessly for his constituents at home and for peace and security around the world, the family said. We love and miss him dearly.

Engel was among the most outspoken pro-Israel Democrats in Congress, consistently backing key policies in support of the Jewish state and advocating for its security.

He was also a vocal critic of Barack Obamas 2015 Iran nuclear deal, opposing the agreement over concerns it would not prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

During the latter part of his congressional career, Engel served as both ranking member and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, playing a key role in shaping U.S. foreign policy.

He was defeated in the 2020 Democratic primary by Jamaal Bowman, who went on to win the general election.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Artemis IIs astronauts closed out humanitys first lunar voyage in more than half a century with a Pacific splashdown on Friday, blazing new records near the moon with grace and joy.

It was a dramatic grand finale to a mission that revealed not only swaths of the lunar far side never seen before by human eyes, but a total solar eclipse and a parade of planets, most notably our own shimmering Earth against the endless black void of space.

With their flight now complete, the four astronauts have set NASA up for a moon landing by another crew in just two years and a full-blown moon base within the decade.

The triumphant moon-farers  commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadas Jeremy Hansen  emerged from their bobbing capsule into the sunlight off the coast of San Diego.

In a scene reminiscent of NASAs Apollo moonshots of yesteryear, military helicopters hoisted the astronauts one by one from an inflatable raft docked to the capsule, hauling them aboard for the short trip to the Navys awaiting recovery ship, the USS John P. Murtha.

These were the ambassadors from humanity to the stars that we sent out there right now, and I cant imagine a better crew, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said from the recovery ship.

NASAs Mission Control erupted in celebration, with hundreds pouring in from the back support rooms. We did it, NASAs Lori Glaze rejoiced at a news conference. Welcome to our moonshot.

Their Orion capsule, dubbed Integrity, made the entire plunge on automatic pilot. The lunar cruiser hit the atmosphere traveling Mach 33  or 33 times the speed of sound  a blistering blur not seen since the 1960s and 1970s Apollo.

The tension in Mission Control mounted as the capsule became engulfed in red-hot plasma during peak heating and entered a planned communication blackout. All eyes were on the capsules life-protecting heat shield that had to withstand thousands of degrees during reentry.

Watching the drama unfold nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) away, the astronauts families huddled in Mission Controls viewing room, cheering when the capsule emerged from its six-minute blackout and again at splashdown.

The last time NASA and the Defense Department teamed up for a lunar crews reentry was Apollo 17 in 1972. Artemis II came screaming back at 36,174 feet (11,026 meters) per second  or 24,664 mph (39,693 kph)  just shy of the record before slowing to a 19 mph (30 kph) splashdown.

Until Artemis II, NASAs fresh-from-the-moon homecomings starred only white male pilots. Intent on reflecting changes in society, NASA chose a diverse, multinational crew for its lunar comeback.

Koch became the first woman to fly to the moon, Glover the first Black astronaut and Hansen the first non-U.S. citizen, bursting Canada with pride. They laughed, cried and hugged all the way there and back, striving to take the entire world along with them.

Artemis IIs record flyby and views of the moon

Launched from Florida on April 1, the astronauts racked up one win after another as they deftly navigated NASAs long-awaited lunar comeback, the first major step in establishing a sustainable moon base.

Artemis II didnt land on the moon or even orbit it. But it broke Apollo 13s distance record and marked the farthest that humans have ever journeyed from Earth when the crew reached 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers). Then in the missions most heart-tugging scene, the teary astronauts asked permission to name a pair of craters after their moonship and Wisemans late wife, Carroll.

During Mondays record-breaking flyby, they documented scenes of the moons far side never seen before by the human eye along with a total solar eclipse. The eclipse, in particular, just blew all of us away, Glover said.

Their sense of wonder and love awed everyone, as did their breathtaking pictures of the moon and Earth. The Artemis II crew channeled Apollo 8s first lunar explorers with Earthset, showing our Blue Marble setting behind the gray moon. It was reminiscent of Apollo 8s famous Earthrise shot from 1968.

Born a decade after Apollo, Isaacman greeted the astronauts with hugs as they headed from the helicopters to the ships medical bay for routine checks. They walked by themselves, refusing the wheelchairs offered them.

We are back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon, bringing them back safely and to set up for a series more, Isaacman said. This is just the beginning.

Artemis II was a test flight for future moon missions

Despite its rich scientific yield, the nearly 10-day flight was not without technical issues. Both the capsules drinking water and propellant systems were hit with valve problems. In perhaps the most high-profile predicament, the toilet kept malfunctioning, but the astronauts shrugged it all off.

As for the heat shield, military aircraft crews photographed it from afar during reentry, and divers checked it from underneath as the capsule floated in the Pacific. More detailed examinations are planned.

We cant explore deeper unless we are doing a few things that are inconvenient, Koch said, unless were making a few sacrifices, unless were taking a few risks, and those things are all worth it.

Added Hansen: You do a lot of testing on the ground, but your final test is when you get this hardware to space and its a doozy.

Under the revamped Artemis program, next years Artemis III will see astronauts practice docking their capsule with a lunar lander or two in orbit around Earth. Artemis IV will attempt to land a crew of two near the moons south pole in 2028.

The Artemis II astronauts allegiance was to those future crews, Wiseman said.

But we really hoped in our soul is that we could for just for a moment have the world pause and remember that this is a beautiful planet and a very special place in our universe, and we should all cherish what we have been gifted, he said.

(AP)
The Hong Kong airline said it would hike its fuel surcharge by 34% across routes from April 1 and review them every two weeks. The carrier's CEO said it would maintain flight capacity despite the high fuel prices, but that its 10% passenger capacity growth plan could change if demand declines due to high fuel prices.

It had earlier said it expected a $400 million increase in first-quarter expenses due to the fuel prices.

The U.S. carrier said it would hike checked baggage fees by $10 each for the first and second checked bags and by $150 for the third checked bag on domestic and short-haul international flights. The airline also trimmed certain benefits for economy passengers.

The U.S. airline said it would increase fees for the first checked bag by $5 and by $10 for the second on its North American flights, as well as for its Hawaiian Airlines unit. It hiked prices for a third checked bag from $50 to $200.

India's Akasa Air said it was introducing a fuel surcharge ranging between 199 and 1,300 Indian rupees ($2 to $14) on domestic and international flights.

The airline said on April 7 it would slash flights through May and June and hike fares, having been one of the first to announce broad increases to ticket prices when the conflict broke out. It also suspended its full-year earnings forecast due to fuel market volatility.

The Indian flag carrier said it would revise its fuel surcharge from a flat domestic surcharge to a distance-based grid. It said surcharges on international routes did not compensate for the exponential rise in jet fuel prices.

The airline group said it planned to increase long-haul ticket prices to address surging fuel costs, with cabin fares set to rise by 50 euros ($58) per round trip.

The Malaysian airline's executives said the company had cut 10% of flights across the group, with a surcharge of about 20% on fuel in general.

The Greek airline expects suspended Middle East flights and a spike in fuel prices to have a "notable impact" on its first-quarter results.

Below is a list of how airlines are responding, in alphabetical order:

Jet fuel prices have soared from $85 to $90 per barrel to $150 to $200 per barrel in recent weeks, a financial hit for an industry where fuel accounts for up to a quarter of operating expenses.

April 13 (Reuters) - A surge in jet fuel prices driven by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran https://www.reuters.com/world/iran/ has upended nL1N3ZY033 the global aviation industry, forcing airlines to raise fares and revise financial outlooks.

Story Continues

CEBU AIR

The Philippines-based airline said the sharp rise in fuel prices was a key concern and it would continue to review its pricing and network strategies to mitigate the impact.

CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES

The airline said it would raise fuel surcharges for domestic flights from April 5, with flights of 800km and below hit with a 60 yuan ($9) surcharge and a 120 yuan surcharge for flights over 800km.

DELTA AIR LINES

Delta said it would cut capacity by around 3.5 percentage points from its original plan and raise fees for checked bags in an attempt to offset soaring jet fuel costs, with an increase of $10 on the price of first and second checked bags and a $50 increase on the third checked bag.

The U.S. airline pulled all planned capacity growth for the current quarter and forecast profit below Wall Street expectations. Delta CEO said it would hold off on updating the full-year outlook given uncertainty over how long the fuel price spike would last.

EASYJET

EasyJet CEO Kenton Jarvis said European consumers should expect higher ticket prices towards the end of summer, when existing fuel hedges come to an end.

FRONTIER AIRLINES

The U.S. airline is reviewing its full-year forecast as fuel prices have increased significantly since it issued the outlook.

GREATER BAY AIRLINES

The Hong Kong-based company said it would raise fuel surcharges on most routes from April 1, while keeping them unchanged on mainland China and Japan routes.

Its surcharge for flights between Hong Kong and the Philippines will more than double, the carrier said.

HONG KONG AIRLINES

The airline said it would raise fuel surcharges by up to 35% from March 12, with the sharpest increase on flights between Hong Kong and the Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal, where charges would rise to HK$384 ($49) from HK$284.

IAG

British Airways-owner IAG said on March 10 it did not plan to increase ticket prices immediately, as it has hedged much of its fuel for the short- to medium-term.

INDIGO

India's biggest airline said it would introduce fuel charges on domestic and international flights from March 14, including a charge of 900 rupees for flights to the Middle East and a charge of 2,300 rupees for flights to Europe.

The company is also lobbying the Indian government to cut fuel taxes, sources told Reuters nL6N4010N1.

JETBLUE AIRWAYS

The U.S.-based low-cost carrier said it was increasing fees for optional services such as checked baggage as it experiences "rising operating costs". Baggage prices will rise by either $4 or $9, it said.

KOREAN AIR

The South Korean flag carrier will enter emergency management nL1N40J02T mode from April, as rising oil prices weigh on costs, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The airline plans to implement phased response measures based on oil price levels, and step up company-wide cost efficiency to offset surging fuel costs.

PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES

The carrier said it would raise domestic flight fares by $20 and international fares by up to $100, citing higher fuel surcharges.

SAS

The Scandinavian airline said it would cancel 1,000 flights in April because of high oil and jet fuel prices, after cancelling a "couple hundred" flights in March.

SAS, which had already increased flight prices, said that even if it tried to absorb the rising fuel costs, the price surge would still be a blow to the aviation industry.

SPRING AIRLINES

The budget Chinese airline said it would raise fuel surcharges on domestic flights from April 5, with details to be announced later.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

The American carrier said it would hike checked baggage fees by $10 for the first and second bags, raising costs to $45 for the first bag and $55 for the second.

TAP

The Portuguese airline said its price hikes would partially mitigate the impact of fuel price changes on its revenue.

THAI AIRWAYS

The Thailand-based carrier said it would raise fares by 10% to 15% to address rising fuel costs.

TURKISH AIRLINES, LUFTHANSA

SunExpress, a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, said it would impose a temporary fuel surcharge of 10 euros per passenger from May 1 on routes between Turkey and Europe. The surcharge will apply to bookings made on or after April 1 for departures on or after May 1.

Turkish Airlines said on April 10 it had decided not to distribute any dividend from its 2025 net profit, opting to retain earnings to preserve cash.

T'WAY AIR

The South Korean low-cost carrier said on April 13 it plans to furlough some of its cabin crew without pay in May and June as part of its measures to address the impact of the war in the Middle East.

UNITED AIRLINES

The U.S. airline is cutting unprofitable flights over the next two quarters as it prepares for oil prices to remain above $100 until the end of 2027, CEO Scott Kirby said.

United has been able to raise fares without materially hurting bookings in response to the rapid increase in oil and jet fuel prices, Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella said.

The carrier is also increasing first and second checked bag fees by $10 for customers travelling in the U.S., Mexico and Canada and Latin America, it said in an e-mailed statement to Reuters.

VIETJET

The Vietnamese budget airline said it had adjusted flight frequency on selected routes due to potential fuel shortages.

VIETNAM AIRLINES

The carrier plans to cancel 23 flights per week across domestic routes from April, Vietnam's aviation authority said, after the airline requested government assistance to remove an environmental tax on jet fuel.

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA

Virgin Australia said it was adjusting fares to reflect rising cost pressures across the aviation sector, which it said were being significantly exacerbated by the situation in the Middle East.

WESTJET

The Canadian airline will add a C$60 ($43) fuel surcharge to some bookings and combine flights as costs soar, the Canadian Press reported.

($1 = 0.8557 euros)

($1 = 92.6520 Indian rupees)

($1 = 6.8306 Chinese yuan renminbi)

($1 = 7.8319 Hong Kong dollars)

($1 = 1.3834 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Mireia Merino, Marleen Kaesebier, Bernadette Hogg, Dimitri Rhodes and Aishwarya Jain; Editing by Matt Scuffham, Milla Nissi-Prussak and Leroy Leo)
Like it or not . . . And a lot of TKC readers don't . . . Veteran's advocate & former Missouri SecState Jason Kander hosts what is probably the most popular political podcasts based in Kansas City.

Accordingly . . .

We noticed he picked up a bit of MSM coverage that other fledgling efforts can't seem to garner.

Here's a quick quote from the report that shares some insight into his efforts . . .

"I decided I wanted to start a podcast to help answer that question, and to remind all of us that issues dont exist in a vacuumthey make an enormous impact on actual peoples lives. Thats how Majority54 was born. Majority54 is about the issues dividing America and how we in the majority can better talk about our beliefs to those we have yet to convince."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
One of the very smartest people we know gives us context for the outset of Missouri Republican debate that leverages loyalty to President Trump.

"Another reason why radio talk show hosts can make challenging candidates."

And so . . .

Aspiring congressional candidate and current KC council dude recently shared an anti-MAGA compilation of comments by podcaster Chris Stigall along with noting the talker's longstanding connection to political consultant Jeff Roe.

Here's the money line and a link . . .

Nathan Willett proclaims . . . "Im proud to be the ONLY pro-Trump candidate and conservative fighter for North Missouri in this race."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Nathan Willet on X: "Ouch! Check this out"

Developing . . .
MINSK, Belarus, April 11. Representatives of Azerbaijani and Belarusian media visited the Minsk Automobile Plantone of Belaruss largest machine-building enterprises, specializing in the production of commercial and passenger vehicles, Trend reports.

The event was organized as part of the signing of an agreement to assemble a new batch of municipal vehicles (100 units) based on MAZ chassis at the Ganja Automobile Plant. This agreement was signed as part of the implementation of instructions given by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko during the Belarusian head of states official visit to Azerbaijan. The document was signed by Khanlar Fatiyev, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Ganja Automobile Plant (GAZ) Production Association and a member of the Azerbaijani Parliament, and Valery Ivanovich, General Director of MAZ OJSC. The cooperation between GAZ and MAZ is aimed at expanding and strengthening the bilateral economic ties between Azerbaijan and Belarus, as established by the heads of state.

Media representatives were briefed on the production process of high-quality commercial and passenger vehicles, as well as the history of the plant, which was founded in 1944.

MAZ is considered one of the symbols of Belarusian industry, a key manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks in the region, and a major exporter of vehicles. The company manufactures a wide range of vehicles: trucks, tractor-trailers, dump trucks, truck cranes, timber trucks, buses and minibuses, trolleybuses, special-purpose vehicles, and trailers. The product range includes over 400 models, variants, and configurations.

In an interview with Trend, Valery Ivankovich, General Director of MAZ OJSC, emphasized the particular significance of the new agreement, highlighting the technological partnership and the expansion of production capabilities.

"The new agreement marks another stage in the consistent and systematic development of cooperation between our plants. Over the past ten years, we have been developing joint cooperation with the production facilities that we are establishing and promoting together in Azerbaijan. This is such an important technological integration, an impetus provided by the visit of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to Azerbaijan. The new agreement opens up even broader prospects and opportunities to increase production volumes to a thousand units.

Particular attention is being paid to the development of municipal equipment production, which is directly linked to addressing social issues and improving the quality of life for the population. We are talking about equipment that is essential for everyday life in cities and regions, noted the CEO of MAZ.

Khanlar Fatiyev, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Ganja Automobile Plant, emphasized in an interview with Trend that all of the companys achievements today are directly linked to the name of President Ilham Aliyev.

According to him, in 2004, the enterprisewhich had been in a state of unfinished construction for many yearstransformed into one of the leading plants not only in the western region but also in the entire country in the field of automotive and agricultural machinery production.

A key stage of development, as Fatyiev emphasized, began after the official visit of the President of Azerbaijan to Belarus in 2006. The friendly and fraternal relations between the heads of state laid the foundation for taking bilateral cooperation to a qualitatively new level.

We are proud to be at the center of the development of Azerbaijani-Belarusian economic ties, he noted.

Following that visit, assembly lines were established at the plant, modern technical equipment was introduced, and employees underwent specialized training courses. To date, the plant has produced more than 15,000 tractors of various models and over 4,000 MAZ vehicles.

Fatiyev also stressed that economic cooperation projects with Belarus are constantly a priority for the head of state.

As part of this cooperation, a contract has already been signed with MAZ to supply components for the assembly of 100 vehicles for household waste collection. At the same time, about 90% of the bodywork for the vehicles is manufactured locallyin Ganjaby local specialists.

Speaking about other areas of cooperation with Belarusian enterprises, Fatiyev noted the development of bus and electric bus production. To date, six city buses and four experimental E-321 electric buses have been manufactured as part of the partnership. He noted with particular pride that these electric buses are currently serving our citizens in our beloved Shusha, which has been liberated from occupation.

The buses comply with the Euro 5 environmental standard, are fuel-efficient, and are suitable for operation in Baku, Ganja, Sumgait, and other cities. They are designed to carry up to 83 passengers and are equipped with 26 seats, air conditioning, information monitors, and a video surveillance system.

Electric buses, in turn, are environmentally friendly and economical. They can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h, and their batteries can be fully charged in just 6 minutes at an RGZP/G/300KW 600V-EN charging station in urban conditions.

In conclusion, Fatiyev stressed that cooperation with Belarusian enterprises will continue and expand. According to him, Belarusian equipment is highly reliable and durable, and the products of the Ganja Automobile Plant have already won the trust of consumers.

With orders for buses and electric buses, our production base and the professionalism of our specialists allow us to implement large-scale projects in this area as well, he added.
GABALA, Azerbaijan, April 11. A meeting was held with Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, within the framework of the Peace Bridge initiative during a bilateral roundtable involving representatives of Azerbaijani and Armenian civil societies,Trends special correspondent reports.

Hajiyev exchanged views with participants and answered questions from the Armenian delegation. During the meeting, Azerbaijans commitment to the peace agenda was reaffirmed, including adherence to the spirit of the Washington summit and the agreed bilateral peace framework between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

It was noted that efforts are underway to establish trade relations between the two countries and to ensure transit of goods from Azerbaijan to Armenia. The implementation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project was also highlighted, with expectations that it will transform the regional atmosphere and reshape the broader transport landscape.

Hajiyev emphasized that just as peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia are bilateral in nature, exchanges and confidence-building measures between civil societies should also maintain a bilateral format. He further stressed that ensuring peace and security in the South Caucasus is especially important amid ongoing global instability and conflicts.

The discussions, held from April 10 through 12, focus on promoting dialogue and direct engagement between civil society actors from both countries. The meeting is set to continue through April 12.

The Peace Bridge Initiative continues to foster dialogue and direct engagement between civil society representatives from Azerbaijan and Armenia. On this occasion, the Armenian delegation arrived in Azerbaijan via the land border, crossing through a formally delimited and demarcated section and undergoing all relevant border and passport control procedures.

The dialogue between civil society representatives is taking place within the framework of the agreed bilateral peace agenda endorsed at the trilateral summit of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the United States held in Washington, D.C. on 8 August 2025.

The meeting agenda includes discussions on the current state of the peace process; the activities undertaken by participants in the Peace Bridge Initiative in their respective countries and the results of those efforts; as well as the situation in the region.

Separate sessions will also be devoted to efforts to advance peace at the societal level and to increase trust during the next stages of the peace process.

The Azerbaijani delegation comprises Emin Aliyev, the editor-in-chief of Trend News Agency.

Participants from Azerbaijan:

1. Farhad Mammadov  Director of the Center for Studies of the South Caucasus; Coordinator

2. Rusif Huseynov  Director of the Topchubashov Center

3. Ramil Isgandarli  Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum

4. Kamala Mammadova  Editor-in-Chief, First News Media (1news.az)

5. Fuad Abdullayev  Leading Adviser at the Center of Analysis of International Relations

6. Dilara Afandiyeva  Head of the Womens Peace and Security Center at the Azerbaijan Womens Rights Protection Society

7. Konul Badalova  Research Fellow at the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication

8. Zaur Shiriyev  Nonresident Scholar at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

9. Rauf Aghamirzayev  Transport Expert and Member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport

10. Gulbaniz Ganbarova  Chairperson of the Azerbaijan Rural Womens Association Public Union

11. Nazrin Aliyeva  Chairperson of the Human Rights Support Center Public Association

12. Sanan Rzayev  Presenter, CBC Television

13. Emin Aliyev  Editor-in-Chief, Trend News Agency

14. Murad Muradov  Deputy Director of the Topchubashov Center

15. Aytan Gahraman  Adviser at the Baku International Multiculturalism Center

16. Ilyas Huseynov  Political Analyst

17. Gulshan Akhundova  Chairperson of the Women, Development, Future Public Union

18. Orkhan Babayev  Staff Member of the Center for Studies of the South Caucasus

19. Orkhan Amashov  Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Presenter, AnewZ

20. Yegana Hajiyeva  Member of the Board of the Press Council

Participants from Armenia:

1. Areg Kochinyan  President of the Armenian Council; Coordinator

2. Boris Navasardyan  Honorary President of the Yerevan Press Club

3. Naira Sultanyan  Director of the Democracy Development Foundation

4.Narek Minasyan  Associate Expert at the Armenian Council

5. Samvel Meliksetyan  Expert at the Armenian Council

6. Stepan Grigoryan  Chairman of the Board, Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation

7. Edgar Vardanyan  Associate Expert at the Armenian Council

8. Robert Ghevondyan  Expert at the Armenian Council

9. Lusine Kharatyan  Writer and Cultural Anthropologist

10. Nelli Minasyan  PhD in History, Associate Professor, and Turkologist

11. Davit Stepanyan  Political Commentator at 1in.am; Expert at the Armenian Institute of International Security and Relations

12. Ruben Babayan  Artistic Director of the Yerevan Puppet Theater

13. Eleonora Sargsyan  Peace and Gender Expert; Youth Worker

14. Naira Martikyan  Editor and Country Director of JAMnews (Armenia)

15. Vazgen Karapetyan  Associate Director, Eurasia Partnership Foundation

16. Tatev Danielyan  Editor-in-Chief of Political Programs and Host at Public Television of Armenia

17. Armen Petrosyan  Regional Policy Expert at the Orbeli Center

18. Alen Amirkhanyan  Director of the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment

19. Nelli Rafayelyan  Journalist at the Media Initiative Center

20. Operator, Public Television of Armenia

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. A presentation of Baku city has been held in San Francisco de Campeche, Mexico, Trend reports.

The presentation took place during the General Assembly of Mayors of Mexican Cities included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, the main body of the National Association of World Heritage Cities of Mexico.

The event was attended by the President of the National Association of World Heritage Cities, Mayor of Guanajuato Municipality Samantha Smith, Director General of the Association Jorge Ortega, Mayor of Campeche Municipality Bibi Rabelo, as well as representatives of municipal leaders of a number of Mexican cities, scientific circles, and the diplomatic corps.

The Azerbaijani side was invited to participate in the event as an honorary guest, based on the country's rich experience in preserving the ancient face of Baku and modern development of the city. Within the framework of the event, video addresses were made by the Ambassador of Azerbaijan, Seymur Fataliyev, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve, Rufat Mahmud.

In his speech, Fataliyev depicted Azerbaijan as one of the oldest centers of civilization of mankind, the richness of its cities, and the bright examples of its cultural heritage. He emphasized that under the leadership of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the country pays special attention to preserving and passing on the rich historical and cultural heritage of the country to future generations, and that 2026 has been declared the "Year of Urban Planning and Architecture" in our country. Fataliyev called the inclusion of Icherisheher, Maiden Tower, and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000 a great historical event in terms of confirming the international significance of this monument.

The speech mentioned innovations in the field of urban development in recent decades and new monumental complexes built in Baku. Fataliyev said that following the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change held in November 2024, another prestigious UN event - the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) - will be held in the Azerbaijani capital on May 17-22, 2026. This event is an invaluable platform for Azerbaijan to strengthen the country's position on the global urban planning agenda, as well as to promote sustainable and "smart urban planning models" in the region.

In his speech, Mahmud briefed the participants on the historical and cultural significance of Icherisheher, the management of living in a historical urban environment, and the challenges faced in this process. He noted that Icherisheher is not just a static monument, but is a living legend that combines the preservation of historical heritage and modern urban life. The inclusion of Icherisheher, Maiden Tower, and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs Complex, which reflect the medieval urban ensemble in the Caucasus region and the historical development stages of regional and local architectural traditions, on the UNESCO World Heritage List is an indicator of its universal value.

Mahmud said that in the process of protecting Icherisheher, it's necessary to achieve a balance between protection and development. The main priority areas in this area are the restoration of historical heritage, its integration into urban life, sustainable tourism, development of urban infrastructure, accessible and inclusive environment, digital presentation of heritage, and increasing the mobility of transport systems. Mahmud said that Icherisheher is active in international cooperation, which is implemented through projects in the field of expert exchange and strengthening institutional capacity. In this regard, Icherisheher is interested in cooperation with Mexican cities facing the same tasks.

During the presentations, photos reflecting the ancient and modern face of Baku were displayed. Both presentations were met with great interest by the participants.

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GABALA, Azerbaijan, April 11. The city of Gabala, Azerbaijan, hosted a bilateral roundtable within the framework of the Peace Bridge Initiative, bringing together representatives of Azerbaijani and Armenian civil society, Trend's special correspondent reports.

The latest roundtable convened representatives of non-governmental organizations, media outlets, and think tanks from both countries.

The Armenian delegation arrived in Azerbaijan via the land border, crossing through a formally delimited and demarcated section and undergoing all relevant border and passport control procedures. The crossing itself constituted another symbolic step by the Peace Bridge Initiative toward strengthening confidence-building measures between the societies of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Over the course of two days, four discussion sessions were held. Participants discussed geopolitical developments in and around the South Caucasus and their impact on the peace process. Azerbaijani and Armenian experts also exchanged views on the respective positions and visions of Azerbaijan and Armenia regarding regional developments.

Prior to the bilateral dialogue, representatives of the Peace Bridge Initiative held meetings and discussions with various segments of civil society in their respective countries in order to better understand public expectations and perceptions of the peace process. During a separate session, participants in the Peace Bridge Initiative presented the findings of those meetings, highlighting the principal concerns, expectations, and viewpoints expressed within their respective societies.

Taking into account the expectations expressed within their societies, participants devoted the concluding session to an exchange of views on future joint and individual activities during the next stages of the peace process.

On 11 April, participants in the fourth bilateral roundtable held within the framework of the Peace Bridge Initiative met with Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan - Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The discussion focused on regional security, the progress of the peace process at the political level, and the contribution of civil society to the normalization process.

The two-day dialogue concluded with a press conference at which the outcomes of the fourth meeting were summarized.

The latest meeting of civil society representatives took place in an atmosphere of constructive dialogue, candid discussions, and a reaffirmation that there is no alternative to the peace agenda. Participants in the dialogue, organized within the framework of the Peace Bridge Initiative with the support of the governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia, expressed their intention to continue joint efforts aimed at strengthening confidence during the next stages of the peace process.

The discussions, held from April 10 through 12, focus on promoting dialogue and direct engagement between civil society actors from both countries. The meeting is set to continue through April 12.

The Peace Bridge Initiative continues to foster dialogue and direct engagement between civil society representatives from Azerbaijan and Armenia. On this occasion, the Armenian delegation arrived in Azerbaijan via the land border, crossing through a formally delimited and demarcated section and undergoing all relevant border and passport control procedures.

The dialogue between civil society representatives is taking place within the framework of the agreed bilateral peace agenda endorsed at the trilateral summit of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the United States held in Washington, D.C. on 8 August 2025.

The meeting agenda includes discussions on the current state of the peace process; the activities undertaken by participants in the Peace Bridge Initiative in their respective countries and the results of those efforts; as well as the situation in the region.

Separate sessions will also be devoted to efforts to advance peace at the societal level and to increase trust during the next stages of the peace process.

The Azerbaijani delegation comprises Emin Aliyev, the editor-in-chief of Trend News Agency.

Participants from Azerbaijan:

1. Farhad Mammadov  Director of the Center for Studies of the South Caucasus; Coordinator

2. Rusif Huseynov  Director of the Topchubashov Center

3. Ramil Isgandarli  Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum

4. Kamala Mammadova  Editor-in-Chief, First News Media (1news.az)

5. Fuad Abdullayev  Leading Adviser at the Center of Analysis of International Relations

6. Dilara Afandiyeva  Head of the Womens Peace and Security Center at the Azerbaijan Womens Rights Protection Society

7. Konul Badalova  Research Fellow at the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication

8. Zaur Shiriyev  Nonresident Scholar at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

9. Rauf Aghamirzayev  Transport Expert and Member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport

10. Gulbaniz Ganbarova  Chairperson of the Azerbaijan Rural Womens Association Public Union

11. Nazrin Aliyeva  Chairperson of the Human Rights Support Center Public Association

12. Sanan Rzayev  Presenter, CBC Television

13. Emin Aliyev  Editor-in-Chief, Trend News Agency

14. Murad Muradov  Deputy Director of the Topchubashov Center

15. Aytan Gahraman  Adviser at the Baku International Multiculturalism Center

16. Ilyas Huseynov  Political Analyst

17. Gulshan Akhundova  Chairperson of the Women, Development, Future Public Union

18. Orkhan Babayev  Staff Member of the Center for Studies of the South Caucasus

19. Orkhan Amashov  Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Presenter, AnewZ

20. Yegana Hajiyeva  Member of the Board of the Press Council

Participants from Armenia:

1. Areg Kochinyan  President of the Armenian Council; Coordinator

2. Boris Navasardyan  Honorary President of the Yerevan Press Club

3. Naira Sultanyan  Director of the Democracy Development Foundation

4.Narek Minasyan  Associate Expert at the Armenian Council

5. Samvel Meliksetyan  Expert at the Armenian Council

6. Stepan Grigoryan  Chairman of the Board, Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation

7. Edgar Vardanyan  Associate Expert at the Armenian Council

8. Robert Ghevondyan  Expert at the Armenian Council

9. Lusine Kharatyan  Writer and Cultural Anthropologist

10. Nelli Minasyan  PhD in History, Associate Professor, and Turkologist

11. Davit Stepanyan  Political Commentator at 1in.am; Expert at the Armenian Institute of International Security and Relations

12. Ruben Babayan  Artistic Director of the Yerevan Puppet Theater

13. Eleonora Sargsyan  Peace and Gender Expert; Youth Worker

14. Naira Martikyan  Editor and Country Director of JAMnews (Armenia)

15. Vazgen Karapetyan  Associate Director, Eurasia Partnership Foundation

16. Tatev Danielyan  Editor-in-Chief of Political Programs and Host at Public Television of Armenia

17. Armen Petrosyan  Regional Policy Expert at the Orbeli Center

18. Alen Amirkhanyan  Director of the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment

19. Nelli Rafayelyan  Journalist at the Media Initiative Center

20. Operator, Public Television of Armenia
(By Oil & Gas 360)  A quiet shift is underway in global energy, and it is increasingly centered in the Americas.

The global supply reset: Global energy tilts west- oil and gas 360

From U.S. shale and LNG exports to Brazils offshore growth and Canadas expanding export reach, the Western Hemisphere is moving from a regional supplier to a global stabilizing force. At a time when traditional supply routes are under pressure and geopolitical risk is elevated, the Americas are becoming a more reliable source of both crude and refined products.

This is not a sudden change. It is the result of a decade of investment, technology, and infrastructure buildout that is now converging at a critical moment.

The United States remains at the center of that shift.

Once a major importer, the U.S. is now one of the worlds largest producers and exporters of both crude oil and LNG. Its ability to respond relatively quickly to market signals, combined with a deep, liquid infrastructure network, has made it a key swing supplier during periods of disruption. When global supply tightens, U.S. barrels often help fill the gap.

But the U.S. is not acting alone.

Canada is evolving from a single-market exporter to a more globally connected supplier. While the majority of its crude still flows to the United States, expanded infrastructure, particularly westbound capacity, has opened access to Asian markets. Countries like China, India, and South Korea are increasingly part of Canadas export mix, reducing reliance on a single buyer and strengthening its position in global trade.

Further south, Brazil is emerging as one of the most important growth engines in global oil supply.

Its deepwater pre-salt fields continue to deliver steady production increases, supported by long-life assets and ongoing investment. Unlike short-cycle production, Brazils offshore developments provide durability, adding barrels that can remain in the system for decades.

Even smaller producers are contributing to the shift.

Countries like Guyana are rapidly scaling production, adding meaningful volumes to global supply in a relatively short time frame. At the same time, Mexico and Argentina are working to stabilize and expand their own energy sectors, with Argentinas shale potential in Vaca Muerta drawing increasing attention.

Taken together, these developments are creating a more diversified supply base across the hemisphere. That matters in todays environment.

Global energy markets are increasingly defined by access and reliability, not just production. Supply from regions exposed to geopolitical disruption or constrained transit routes carries higher risk. In contrast, the Americas offer relative political stability, established infrastructure, and shorter, more flexible trade routes, particularly into the Atlantic Basin.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. As reported, on March 18, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the village of Khanoba in the Khojavend district, where they visited the house of Beybala Gasimov, who had moved to the village, Trend reports.

President Ilham Aliyev also spoke with the son of a village resident, little Ayaz.

During a warm conversation, the child asked the head of state for a red KamAZ truck.

A short time later, President Ilham Aliyev fulfilled the child's dream by gifting his family a KamAZ truck.

We present a report from AzTV on this matter:
GABALA, Azerbaijan, April 11. Peace Bridge Initiative creates a new format in Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, the initiative coordinator, Director of the Center for Studies of the South Caucasus, Farhad Mammadov, said at a press conference on the results of the meeting of civil society representatives of the two countries, Trend reports.

He noted that the civil society representative first visited Armenia and then Azerbaijan. The symbolic significance of this visit at this stage is that the transition was made through the delimited and demarcated section, via the land border.

According to him, all border-crossing procedures were carried out here.

"At the same time, since the borders of Armenia are open, special procedures weren't applied. However, since the land borders of Azerbaijan are closed, all necessary state procedures were carried out.

The peace agenda was approved at the Washington summit, and within this framework, there is a high-level interstate dialogue. This dialogue includes both leaders and state structures. Economic relations are also being formed; this includes the implementation of transit and direct trade relations. In addition, dialogue at the civil society level already exists and is being continued.

The main difference between the Peace Bridge Initiative and other formats is that in previous years, such dialogue platforms were mainly implemented in a tripartite format - with the participation of intermediary or donor organizations. Currently, the process is being carried out with state support, and representatives of civil society also directly participate in this process.

Four discussion sessions were organized within the framework of today's meeting. The first two sessions were more political in nature and discussed the impact of the geopolitical situation, the current situation in the region on the peace process, as well as the opportunities it creates. The third and fourth sessions were directly devoted to the role of civil society and future directions of activity.

Within the framework of the meeting, meetings with state officials, which have already become a tradition, were also held. In this context, a meeting was held with Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan. During the meeting, which lasted more than two hours, numerous questions of Armenian representatives were answered in detail," Mammadov noted.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Trade between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan saw significant changes in the first two months of 2026, with Azerbaijan nearly doubling its exports to its Central Asian neighbor, Trend reports.

According to the State Customs Committee, trade transactions between the two countries totaled $65.6 million in January and February. While this marks an 8.8% decline from the same period in 2025, Azerbaijans exports to Kazakhstan grew sharply.

Azerbaijan exported $24.3 million worth of goods to Kazakhstan during the period, nearly twice the amount recorded in the first two months of last year. Non-oil products accounted for almost the entire export figure, at $24.1 million, positioning Kazakhstan as the 7th largest market for Azerbaijans non-oil goods, with a 4.15% share of total non-oil exports.

On the other hand, imports from Kazakhstan fell significantly. Azerbaijan imported $41.3 million of goods from Kazakhstan, a 30.9% decrease compared to the same period in 2025.

Overall, Azerbaijans trade with foreign countries totaled $6.264 billion in the first two months of the year, down 29.6% from January-February 2025. Exports stood at $3.665 billion, down 23.1%, while imports were $2.599 billion, declining by 1.6 times. Despite the drop, Azerbaijan recorded a positive trade balance of $1.066 billion, up 1.7 times compared to last year.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 11. Turkmenistans transport and communications sector grew by 14.1% in January-March 2026, Trend reports via the press service of the Turkmen Government.

The data was presented by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Batyr Annayev during a government meeting on the countrys macroeconomic performance for the first quarter of 2026, chaired by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, on April 3.

According to the report, cargo transportation increased by 2.7%, while passenger traffic rose by 2.9% compared to the same period last year.

Growth in services reached 6.9% in the railway sector, 25% in automobile transport, 17.4% under the Turkmenhowayollary, 108.3% in maritime and river transport, and 14% in the communications sector.

Turkmenistan plays a key transit role in Central Asia, participating in the Lapis Lazuli Corridor (linking Afghanistan/Central Asia to Europe via Turkiye), as a potential link in the INSTC (via Iran/Persian Gulf), and as a Caspian Sea nation leveraging the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian) to diversify trade, connecting to Europe, Turkiye, and the Indian Ocean through the Ashgabat Agreement, aiming to become a major Eurasian logistics hub and reduce reliance on traditional routes.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 11. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Uzbekistans Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov will hold the 6th meeting of the Joint Commission at the level of heads of government in Moscow on April 13, Trend reports via the press service of the Russian Government.

According to information, the meeting will focus on key aspects of bilateral cooperation, including trade and economic ties, scientific and technological collaboration, as well as cultural and humanitarian engagement.

Particular attention will be given to the implementation of joint projects in priority sectors such as industry, energy, including peaceful nuclear development, transport infrastructure, agriculture, and education.

Meanwhile, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Russia reached $12.9 billion in 2025. During the mentioned period, Uzbekistans exports to Russia amounted to $4.3 billion, making Russia the countrys largest export destination.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Irans petrochemical plants have sustained significant damage as a result of military airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel, Hossein Alimorad, former head of development and planning at the National Petrochemical Company (NPC), told reporters, Trend reports.

Speaking to local media, he noted that several complexes belonging to the Persian Gulf Petrochemical Company in Bushehr Province were struck, which is expected to negatively impact overall production and exports.

Alimorad added that the attacks have directly or indirectly affected the output of more than 50 petrochemical complexes in Bushehr Province, while also leading to the suspension of production at over 10 facilities in other regions.

He emphasized that petrochemical products account for more than 25% of Irans non-oil exports, underscoring the scale of the disruption.

The strike on the Persian Gulf Fajr Energy Company complex has severely affected electricity supply to petrochemical plants in the region. The power plant operating within this complex has a production capacity of 1.5 million megawatts and played a key role in supplying electricity to petrochemical facilities, he said.

Alimorad further warned that delays in commissioning planned petrochemical plants could reduce the countrys current production by approximately 76%, leading to a decline in both exports and revenues.

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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Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 11. Uzbekistan and Germany are exploring ways to attract additional German companies to implement joint projects in priority sectors, Trend reports via Uzbekistans Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade.

The issue was discussed during a meeting between Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade Akram Aliev, Malika Akramova, General Director of the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK), and Noyobjon Akhmadjonov, Director of the Bureau of German-Uzbek Economic Cooperation in Uzbekistan.

The parties reviewed the current state and future prospects of Uzbek-German trade, economic, and investment cooperation.

Particular attention was given to preparations for the 10th meeting of the German-Uzbek Business Council, as well as the upcoming German Economy Days in Tashkent. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral business engagement and strengthening investment ties.

Meanwhile, bilateral trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Germany reached $1.43 billion by the end of 2025, marking a 13.2% increase. Total utilized German investments amounted to $6.4 billion.

Currently, 221 enterprises with German capital participation operate in Uzbekistan.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Iran is expected to allocate funds in the near future for the repair of a bridge located in the Hashtrud district along the highway connecting Tehran and Tabriz, said Reza Akbari, Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development and head of the Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, Trend reports.

Speaking to local media, Akbari said that preparations for repair work are underway following his inspection of the damaged bridge in Hashtrud, as well as a collapsed tunnel on the old Mianeh-Gharachaman highway.

He noted that the necessary instructions have been issued to ensure that restoration efforts begin promptly.

Earlier, the governor of East Azerbaijan Province, Bahram Sarmast, also visited the Hashtrud bridge and emphasized the urgent need to allocate funds for technical works.

On April 7, the United States and Israel carried out airstrikes on Iran, during which a bridge located at the 90 km mark of the TehranTabriz highway was hit.

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 11. Diesel fuel has been sent from Azerbaijan to Armenia today, Trend reports.

A total of 15 wagons (887 tons) of diesel fuel were sent from Azerbaijan to Armenia today.

To date, 6,312 tons of diesel (including the latest supply), 979 tons of RON-92 gasoline and 2,955 tons of RON-95 gasoline have been exported from Azerbaijan to Armenia.

xxx

11:12

A shipment of diesel fuel is being sent from Azerbaijan to Armenia today, Trend reports.

According to information, 15 railcars (887 tons) of diesel fuel are being sent from Azerbaijan to Armenia today.

On October 21, 2025, in a joint press statement with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President Ilham Aliyev announced that Azerbaijan has lifted all restrictions on cargo transit to Armenia that had existed since the time of occupation. The first such transit cargo was a shipment of Kazakh grain to Armenia.

Subsequent deliveries included both fuel and agricultural cargo. On December 18, SOCAR shipped 1,220 tons of RON-95 motor fuel to Armenia. On January 9, 2026, a total of 2,698 tons of cargo (48 railcars) were dispatched, including 1,742 tons of RON-95 gasoline and 956 tons of diesel fuel.

On January 11, an 18-railcar train carrying 979 tons of RON-92 gasoline was delivered. On February 25, 4,500 tons of diesel fuel were transported, followed on March 5 by 31 railcars with 1,984 tons of diesel and two railcars carrying 135 tons of Russian fertilizer. Additional consignments included a seven-railcar train of Russian grain on March 9 and, on March 11, a total of 11 railcars loaded with 1,023 tons of grain (net weight: 770 tons).

On March 24 of this year, 4 wagons of fertilizers with a total weight of 271 tons and one wagon of buckwheat weighing 68 tons were dispatched to Armenia via transit through Azerbaijan.

On March 25, 5 wagons with wheat, weighing a total of 350 tons, were dispatched to Armenia via transit through Azerbaijan.

To date, more than 23,000 tons of grain, 1,000 tons of fertilizer, and 68 tons of buckwheat have been shipped from Russia to Armenia via Azerbaijan.

Will be updated
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 11. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov has instructed to modernize the Seydi oil refinery and enhance efficiency in the oil and gas sector, Trend reports via the press service of the Turkmen Government.

The instructions were given to Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Guvanj Agajanov during an offsite Cabinet meeting focused on socio-economic development, including that of the Lebap region.

President Berdimuhamedov also instructed to increase the efficiency of drilling operations and ensure timely maintenance of gas production wells.

Located in Lebap Province, the Seydi Oil Refinery remains one of Turkmenistans oldest and most strategically significant downstream assets. Established in the early 1970s alongside the development of the city of Seydi, it continues to play a key role in the countrys refining capacity and fuel supply.

In the first half of 2025, the refinery processed 269,400 tons of crude oil, representing a 21.7% increase compared to the same period of the previous year. This growth supported higher output of gasoline, diesel, and bitumen, with reports also indicating an upward trend in liquefied hydrocarbon gas production over the period.
Goldman Sachs warned that damage to Qatar's liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure could push global gas prices 50100% higher, sparking a potential energy crisis ahead of winter.

Qatar LNG Attack Disrupts Global Supply

The concern centers on QatarEnergy's Ras Laffan Industrial City, the world's largest LNG production site, which was knocked offline by attacks. Qatar supplies roughly one-fifth of the global LNG market.

"There is a risk that this just drags so much that it makes the process very painful," said Samantha Dart, co-head of global commodities research at Goldman Sachs, on the bank's "Exchanges" podcast.

Don't Miss:

Dart emphasized the severity of the damage, "It doesn't take three years to fix anything. What they are really saying is these two liquefaction trains were so damaged that we need to start over. We need to rebuild them from scratch."

Natural gas prices have already climbed 50% to 70%, and Dart expects further upward pressure if supply isn't restored.

Temporary relief has come from China redirecting surplus gas to global markets, but that window is short-lived.

Meanwhile, the U.S., the world's largest LNG exporter, has limited spare capacity to fill the gap quickly.

Qatar LNG Facilities Hit Amid Middle East Escalation

Last month, President Donald Trump said he would not send U.S. troops to the Middle East and had ordered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop striking Iranian energy infrastructure.

The comments followed Israel's strike on Iran's South Pars gas field and Iran's retaliatory missile attacks on Qatar's LNG facilities, Saudi and Kuwaiti refineries, and UAE gas infrastructure.

See Also: Caught With Nothing Saved for Retirement? These 5 GameChanging Tips Could Still Save You

Trump warned Iran against further attacks on Qatar's LNG sites, clarifying that Israel's strike was limited and that Qatar had no involvement.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the U.S. had struck over 7,000 Iranian targets and sunk more than 120 ships.

Shell plc said all staff at its Ras Laffan Industrial City facilities were safe following the March 18 attack.

A fire at the Pearl gas-to-liquids facility was rapidly extinguished, LNG production remained shut down, and the company coordinated with QatarEnergy and local authorities to assess broader damage.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 11. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has arrived in Uzbekistan on a working visit, Trend reports via the government of Kazakhstan.

Tokayev was welcomed at Bukhara airport by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. A formal reception ceremony was held, featuring national songs and dances in honor of the Kazakh leader.

During the visit, the two presidents are expected to hold an informal meeting and visit a number of historical and industrial sites in the city.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 11. The 7th meeting of the Turkmen-Chinese Intergovernmental Committee on Cooperation is scheduled to be held in Ashgabat on April 16, Trend reports via the press service of the Turkmen Government.

The preparations were reported by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov during a government meeting chaired by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

During the upcoming meeting, the sides are expected to review a wide range of issues related to the further development of Turkmen-Chinese strategic cooperation, including trade, energy, transport and logistics, digitalization, and security.

The agenda also includes expansion of cooperation in information and communication technologies (ICT), artificial intelligence (AI), agriculture, and scientific-educational exchanges, as well as consideration of new agreements aimed at strengthening the legal framework of bilateral relations.

Following the meeting, the sides are expected to sign a protocol and several additional documents.
Premium Iran's IRENEX sales demonstrate surge in value

Transactions on the Iran Energy Exchange (IRENEX) saw a significant increase last week compared to the previous week. Hydrocarbon and electricity sales saw substantial growth, contributing to a major boost in overall transaction value. Sales of other goods also saw a notable rise during the same period.
This visit is part of a broader trend of increasing Kazakh-Uzbek interactions. On March 31, a Kazakh delegation, led by Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev, arrived in Uzbekistan, where a range of bilateral meetings occurred, culminating in the signing of the Programme of Cooperation between the foreign ministries for 2026-2027.

"Thanks to the political will of the heads of state, Kazakh-Uzbek relations have been elevated to a qualitatively new level, demonstrating robust development across all levels of interaction," Kosherbayev remarked during the meetings.

Economic cooperation remains a key focus in the bilateral relationship. The two nations are targeting a trade turnover of $10 billion, a goal that necessitates not only an increase in mutual trade but also a deepening of industrial collaboration and the localization of production.

According to Uzbekistans National Statistics Committee, trade turnover between the two countries reached $837.5 million in January-February 2026, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 26.8%. Another key factor driving the strengthening of ties is the growing investment footprint of Kazakhstan in Uzbekistan. As of early 2026, there are 1,221 enterprises with Kazakh capital operating in the country. In terms of industrial collaboration, the two nations are currently engaged in 78 investment projects, with a combined investment volume of $1.8 billion.

A central aspect of this cooperation is the integration of transport and logistics systems. Both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are enhancing their coordination in the development of railway routes and border infrastructure, recognizing these efforts as essential for expanding market access to the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe.

In 2025, cargo transportation between the two countries reached a record 32.3 million tons, marking a 16% increase and the highest level in a decade. This growth not only underscores the expansion of bilateral trade but also highlights the increasing strategic significance of the region as a key transit hub within Eurasian logistics.

A major project is the development of the International Center for Industrial Cooperation Central Asia on the KazakhstanUzbekistan border. Its completion is planned for 2026. The project is seen as an instrument to accelerate industrial integration and reduce barriers for cross-border business. The agreement regulating the centers operations was signed in November 2023. The facility will be located near the Atameken (Kazakhstan) and Gulistan (Uzbekistan) border checkpoints and will include production sites, storage facilities for goods and equipment, and transport infrastructure.

In addition, on April 3, 2026, an EPC contract was signed for the first phase of the Multifunctional Modern Logistics Center (MSLC) in the Tashkent region. The contract was concluded by the joint venture Silkway CA, established in March 2025 with the participation of Kazakhstans PTC Holding, JSC Uzbekistan Railways, and China Railway Construction Engineering Group. It provides for a turnkey implementation - from design and equipment supply to railway infrastructure construction, a container terminal, and commissioning of the facility. Investment in the first phase will amount to $84 million.

Cooperation in water resources is also gaining importance, with the countries moving toward a more formalized model of joint management. The agreement on transboundary water bodies signed in November 2025 establishes coordination mechanisms for infrastructure operation, data exchange, and joint monitoring, as well as measures to prevent accidents and climate-related risks.

At the same time, the regional energy dimension is strengthening. Hydropower projects are being discussed, including the Kambarata HPP-1 with a capacity of 1,880 MW, which is being developed with the participation of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on the Naryn River in Kyrgyzstan. A broader framework of cooperation in green energy is also taking shape.

On April 9, 2026, Kazakhstan ratified an agreement with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan on a strategic partnership in the production and transmission of green energy, signed on the sidelines of the COP29 World Climate Summit in November 2024. The agreement provides for joint energy projects, interconnection of the three countries power systems, and the laying of a submarine cable across the Caspian Sea. The framework also envisions the formation of an electricity export route integrated into the Black Sea energy corridor.

The overall set of developments points to a gradual formation of a denser economic and infrastructure linkage between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Cooperation is moving beyond a bilateral agenda and is increasingly becoming a system-forming element for the entire Central Asian region.

Against this backdrop, the upcoming visit to Bukhara marks a stage in consolidating an already unfolding model of regional integration, where trade, logistics, energy, and resource management play a central role.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 11. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the U.S. Donald Trump on the successful completion of the Artemis II mission, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh President.

The president noted the significant achievements of American science, saying they expand the boundaries of knowledge and inspire new generations of scientists, engineers, and researchers around the world.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also wished Donald Trump further success in advancing the Artemis program and other space initiatives.

Launched in April 2026, the Artemis II mission marks NASAs first crewed flight to orbit the Moon since 1972.
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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 11. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev agreed to adopt a roadmap between the governments of the two countries aimed at further developing trade and economic cooperation, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president.

The agreement was reached following talks between the two leaders in Uzbekistan's Bukhara.

During the meeting, the presidents reaffirmed their strategic commitment to deepening economic partnership. They also agreed to strengthen coordination between their governments to achieve concrete targets in trade and industrial cooperation, highlighting the importance of systematic support for businesses and encouraging greater economic activity.

The presidents discussed in detail cooperation in the extraction and processing of rare earth metals, as well as in transit and transport, water and energy sectors, and the IT industry. Special attention was given to strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties and developing tourism.

In addition, Tokayev supported Mirziyoyevs Clean Air initiative, noting its relevance for Kazakhstans major cities.

Our situation in Almaty is quite difficult. Unfortunately, Almaty has been included among the most polluted major cities in the world, and urgent measures are needed. If you do not mind, we could propose today the joint implementation of the Clean Air initiative under the patronage of the presidents and carried out by the governments of our countries. I believe that the public in our states and the international community will respond positively. Indeed, much can be achieved within this initiative. It will encourage both local authorities and businesses to act more responsibly in protecting the environment, Tokayev said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Iran has been without internet access for more than 1,000 hours, Trend reports, citing the real-time digital monitoring platform NetBlocks.

The platform reported that while Irans domestic intranet, used for internal communications, banking operations, and other services, remains operational, access to the World Wide Web (WWW) has been unavailable for over 41 days.

According to the information, the Iranian government restricted access to the international network following the outbreak of war in the country.

NetBlocks is a global internet monitoring platform that tracks outages, social media restrictions, and cybersecurity incidents in real time, providing transparency on digital rights and access to information based on technical measurements and open-source data.

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 11. We believe that the talks between the U.S. and Iranian delegations in Islamabad will be constructive, Pakistani Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar said, Trend reports via the Pakistani MFA.

Dar emphasized that the Pakistani government will continue its mediation efforts to help the parties find a lasting and sustainable solution to the Iranian conflict.

Welcoming U.S. Vice President JD Vance, the foreign minister commended the U.S. commitment to achieving lasting regional and global peace.

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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. A delegation led by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, Trend reports.

According to the information, the meeting was held behind closed doors.

No additional information was released about the meeting.

The war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran lasted for 41 days. In connection with the war, a two-week ceasefire was declared between the parties with the mediation of Pakistan.

Talks between the U.S. and Iran are expected to take place in Islamabad in the coming hours.

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.
When Exxon Mobil chairman Darren Woods attended a January White House conference on investing in Venezuela, he was blunt.

Venezuela was "not investable," he told President Donald Trump, who was annoyed by the remark.

The Maduro regime's rules and laws offered little incentive to invest in the country, Woods said. Exxon had had its operations nationalized by the Venezuelan government  not once but twice. Plus, he conceded, Exxon had basically written Venezuela off for 20 years. And to do anything in Venezuela would require a solid on-the-ground investigation.

He didn't mention something else at that meeting  and maybe he didn't need to mention it:

Exxon didn't need Venezuela. Because a big piece of Exxon's future lies less than 700 miles to the east.

About 120 miles off the coast of Guyana.

Related: Persian Gulf crisis claims a corporate victim as gold stock resets plans

A huge and surprising oil find

It's called the Stabroek Block. It is one of the biggest oil finds anywhere in the world in a long, long time. And Exxon sees the find capable of delivering oil for many years to come.

The discovery has jump-started Guyana's economy in a major way. Exxon has invested millions in Georgetown, the country's capital, where it maintains office and staging area for Stabroek activities.

Exxon has been funding expansion of education resources across the country. Exxon's considerable influence in Washington has helped prevent Venezuela from trying to take more than half of Guyana in a border dispute.

For years, the country, parked in the northeast corner of South America, was among the poorest on the continent. It was known for thick rain forests and remote, gorgeous scenery, ungodly amounts of rain and humidity, not to mention corruption. It was where the Rev. Jim Jones set up his ill-fated Jonestown community in the 1970s.

But in 2015, oil arrived.

How big is Stabroek Block?

Remember that the value of an oil company is derived from at least two factors:

The revenue and profits from current and expected future operations.

The size and value of the reserves that it controls. To that we add: The ability of the company to replace the reserves with new reserves over time.

Right now, estimates are that Stabroek Block has about 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels of reserves, and Exxon expects daily production from the region, which was nearing 875,000 barrels a day at the end of 2025, to top 1 million barrels of oil a day before the end of 2026.

It's still exploring the block, which totals some 6.6 million acres where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. The acreage is roughly the size of Massachusetts.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Iran's demands based on 10-point proposals regarding talks with the U.S. have been issued to the Pakistani side, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, told Iranian media, Trend reports.

According to him, a kind of discussion is considered to have begun with the visit of a delegation led by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to Islamabad.

Baghaei said that talks between the Iranian and Pakistani sides are underway, and an exchange of views is taking place.

The official added that it's important for the Iranian side to express its opinion without any ambiguity.

The war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran lasted for 41 days. In connection with the war, a two-week ceasefire was declared between the parties with the mediation of Pakistan.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. The two conditions put forward by Iran to start discussions with the mediation of Pakistan in Islamabad have been accepted by the U.S., Trend reports.

The two conditions put forward by Iran are the release of Iranian assets frozen in other countries and the restoration of a ceasefire in Lebanon.

The talks between the U.S. and Iran have started today in Islamabad with the mediation of Pakistan. The Iranian delegation in the talks is headed by the Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and the U.S. delegation - by Vice President JD Vance.

The war between the U.S., Israel and Iran lasted for 41 days. In connection with the war, a two-week ceasefire was declared between the parties with the mediation of Pakistan.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Talks between the US and Iran may be extended for another day, Trend reports.

According to the information, the negotiations were initially planned for one day, but it is possible that they will be extended for another day to allow the experts to continue their work.

Iranian and US officials reportedly moved from general questions to detailed technical discussions on several fronts.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. An agreement beneficial to both Iran, U.S., and the world is probable in case of negotiations with representatives of 'America First' in Islamabad, Pakistan, First Vice President of Iran Mohammad Reza Aref wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

According to him, however, if Iran faces representatives of 'Israel First,' there will be no deal.

"We will inevitably continue our defense even more vigorously than before, and the world will face greater costs.

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 11. France is ready to contribute to ensuring the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on his X page following talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Trend reports.

"It is crucial for Iran to restore freedom and security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible, and France is ready to contribute to this," Makron wrote.

According to him, during a conversation with the Iranian president, he emphasized "the importance of observing the ceasefire, including in Lebanon." "France fully supports the actions of the Lebanese authorities, who are the only legitimate authority," he added.

.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. A US warship heading to the Strait of Hormuz from the port of Foseir, Oman, has turned back, Trend reports.

It is noted that the Iranian Armed Forces clarified the direction of movement of this warship and informed the negotiating team in Pakistan. The Iranian delegation immediately conveyed this issue to the American delegation through the Pakistani side, which was acting as a mediator.

At the same time, a warning was issued that if the US did not retreat within 30 minutes, the warship would be attacked by Iran, which would be a serious blow to the negotiations between Iran and the US.

It is noted that the said warship stopped moving in the direction of the Strait of Hormuz.

The talks between the U.S. and Iran have started today in Islamabad with the mediation of Pakistan. The Iranian delegation in the talks is headed by the Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and the U.S. delegation - by Vice President JD Vance.

The war between the U.S., Israel and Iran lasted for 41 days. In connection with the war, a two-week ceasefire was declared between the parties with the mediation of Pakistan.
Ryanair, which is Europe's largest airline, is reportedly considering reducing routes as a result of potentially limited jet fuel supply going forward.

"If [the Strait of Hormuz] were to reopen and remain open, I think it will still take a period of months to get back to where supply needs to be given the disruption to the refining capacity in the Middle East, which is a critical part of the global supply of refined products  and not just jet fuel, for other products, as well," Walse said.

Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), told reporters at the IATA World Data Symposium in Singapore that it will likely take months for jet fuel prices and supply to restabilize (4).

Travel has gotten a lot more expensive in Asia, with many airlines adding fuel surcharges or downright canceling flights, senior oil market analyst for Sparta Commodities, June Goh, shared on X in early March (3). Europe is facing imminent jet fuel supply shortages. Brace yourselves.

For airlines, fuel is one of the largest operating costs. When prices surge and supply becomes uncertain, the response tends to be swift: raise ticket prices, cut flights and protect margins. And thats exactly what travelers are seeing now.

Moreover, the Argus US jet fuel index has averaged $2.97/USG in 2026, which is up by 74/USG (or 33%) compared to last year (2). The war has elevated the average spot price by $2.20/USG to around $4.70/bl.

The price of jet fuel in the U.S. has climbed from $2.50 a gallon on February 27 to $4.88 a gallon by April 2 (1).

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If youre planning on flying any time soon, keep fluctuating flight schedules  and these tips for managing them  in mind.

At the center of it all is the disruption to global oil flows from the war on Iran, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, which remains a critical chokepoint for energy shipments. The result has been a sharp spike in jet fuel prices, which have nearly doubled in some regions  including the U.S.  since the conflict began on February 28.

Tightening fuel supplyand the ensuing surge in oil priceshas quickly become one of the most impactful forces reshaping where, when and how people can travel in 2026.

Story Continues

We dont expect any near-term fuel shortages, but the situation is fluid, a Ryanair spokesperson shared with Moneywise. 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, the spokesperson said Ryanair expects all airlines to pass on elevated costs in the form of increased air fares later this summer.

A spokesperson for Scandinavian Airlines told The Wall Street Journal in March that it would cut about 1,000 flights due to the surge in jet fuel costs (5). Around the same time, a spokesperson for Lufthansa told Bloomberg that the airline has put teams in place to develop crisis response plans, which include grounding up to 40 aircrafts (6). Neither Scandinavian Airlines nor Lufthansa immediately responded to Moneywises request for comment.

A growing number of Asian airlines  many of which operate directly within and around the Middle East  are also cutting costs by cutting flights, including Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways.

AirAsia X founder Tony Fernandes told the Qatar Tribune that higher prices are simply unavoidable amid the ongoing conflict, and the airline is cutting capacity on routes where it doesnt believe [it] can cover the cost of the fuel (6).

Back on home soil, United Airlines was among the first to make a public statement regarding the war and its impact on fuel costs and flights.

Chief Executive Scott Kirby said in a staff memo, which was shared with Moneywise, that United is preparing for rising oil prices to inflate the airlines annual fuel bill by about $11 billion  more than twice the profit it earned in its best year ever (7). For that reason, the airline wants to be smart and nimbly manage [its] schedule.

In the short term, that means tactically pruning flying thats temporarily unprofitable in the face of high oil prices, Kirby wrote. Our current plan is to restore the full schedule this fall  But there's no point in burning cash in the near term on flying that just can't absorb these fuel costs.

Delta has also said it would cut capacity by around 3.5 percentage points.

"We are taking actions to protect our margins and cash flow, Chief Executive Ed Bastian said in the airlines first-quarter 2026 earnings report (8). This includes meaningfully reducing capacity growth, with a downward bias until the fuel environment improves, and moving quickly to recapture higher fuel costs."

Read More: How to apply Dave Ramseys 7 Baby Steps to your own life

How to plan your vacation amidst the conflict and cancellations

In December (before the conflict kicked off), a report from the International Air Transport Association predicted there will be strong travel demand in 2026, with 5.2 billion people expected to travel by air (9). That marks a 4.4% increase from last years record-breaking passenger counts. But the wars impact on fuel  and, as such, flights  means less options and more fees for travelers.

Even when flights arent being outright canceled, theyre becoming increasingly more expensive to operate (and take). Flights that are lifting off are fuller, pushing prices higher and diminishing last-minute deals. The cost is being passed on to travelers in the form of fare bumps, baggage fees and pared-back perks.

Its also becoming increasingly difficult to reach different destinations due to restricted airspace. Longer routes that avoid restricted airspace burn more fuel, further compounding costs.

A spokesperson at Ryanair told Moneywise that the airline urges all passengers to book their flights as soon as possible to be insulated from inevitable airfare and accommodation cost increases.

Travelers should also:

Enable price alerts. Tools like Google Flights and Hopper track fares to help you monitor changes and jump on potential dips. Be wary of extra fees. While one flight might appear cheaper, increased baggage fees can it pricier than another flight with a slightly higher fare. What looks like a cheap ticket upfront might still give you stickershock by the time you checkout. Book directly with airlines. If complications do arise, its generally easier to navigate them when youve booked directly with an airline instead of a third-party site with stipulations of its own. Pay with points where possible. Jordan Rozum, Director of Loyalty at point.me, tells Moneywise that point.me data shows two prices right now: the rising cash fare and the awards flights booked with points.

The pricing gap between cash and rewards points exists right now because airlines offer reward seats through their frequent flyer programs that are priced differently than cash tickets, Rozum noted. Cash ticket prices are much more volatile, while reward seats use fixed charts that are less subject to change. It typically takes airlines much longer to adjust reward seat pricing than it does for them to adjust cash pricing.

Rozum recommends that travelers transfer any points from a travel credit card to a loyalty program. Travelers with bank points can also transfer them directly to airlines, which opens up more opportunities to book flights at significantly lower rates than what bank portals may show.

Programs like Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offer exceptional value in economy class, while Air France/KLM Flying Blue offer great premium economy and business class pricing across their wide network, he adds. Many programs also allow you to pool miles across accounts. Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Club, JetBlue TrueBlue, United MileagePlus and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club all let members create groups to pool miles to use towards award flights.

Moreover, flexibility is non-negotiable for travelers during this time. Being open to midweek departures, layovers and alternate airports can also save money.

What to do if an airline cancels a flight you already booked

If an airline cancels a flight you already booked, its also important to know your rights as a traveler.

Under U.S. Department of Transportation rules, if an airline cancels your flight, you are entitled to a full cash refund neven if your ticket was non-refundable  if you ultimately decide not to take another flight.

A consumer is entitled to a refund if the airline canceled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel or accept travel credits, vouchers, or other forms of compensation offered by the airline, according to the US Department of Transportations refund policy (10).

Either way, airlines are required to notify you of your rights to refunds. You do not need to accept an alternate route the airline may offer if you prefer a refund.

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Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

Airlines for America (1); Argus (2); State of Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (3); The Wall Street Journal (4); Bloomberg (5); Qatar Tribune (6); United Airlines (7); Delta Airlines (8); International Air Transport Association (9); US Department of Transportation (10)

This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: The Iran war is spiking jet fuel prices and cutting flights  what American travelers need to do now

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Ibrahim Traore Must Remember  Africas Problem are Weak Institutions, Not Democracy

Burkina Faso or Africas challenge, therefore, is not to reject democracy in favour of ill-defined alternatives, but to undertake the harder task of making it work

On the 2nd of April, 2026 when Ibrahim Traore dismissed democracy as unnecessary for Burkina Faso, he gave a blunt expression to a now-fashionable claim: that liberal democracy is not merely underperforming but fundamentally unsuited to non-Western conditions  African conditions in particular. The appeal of this argument is not difficult to understand. It draws its force from lived frustration with elections that rotate elites without transforming governance, rising youth unemployment despite decades of reform, and states that struggle to guarantee even minimal security outside capital cities.

Yet what gives the claim its persuasive edge is not only the perceived failure of democratic systems, but the absence of equally rigorous scrutiny of what replaces them. Once the question is framed not as is democracy failing? but what has demonstrably worked better?, the confidence of this anti-democratic argument begins to crumble under empirical pressure.

Across Africa, the data on governance outcomes reveals a more complicated picture than the rhetoric of failure suggests. According to Freedom House scores and the Economist Intelligence Units Democracy Index, the continent is overwhelmingly characterised not by robust democracies or stable authoritarianisms, but by hybrid regimes that combine electoral processes with weak institutional constraints. Only a handful of countries consistently rank as free or full democracies, while a larger number fall into categories such as partly free or authoritarian. This distribution is significant because it suggests that Africas problem is not an excess of democracy but its incomplete institutionalisation. Where democratic norms exist without enforcement, outcomes appear chaotic and inconsistent. Where enforcement exists without accountability, outcomes tend toward coercion.

What the Evidence Actually Shows

Nowhere is the cost of weak institutionalisation clearer than in long-running crisis zones. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite vast mineral wealth estimated in the trillions of dollars, has seen GDP per capita remain among the lowest globally, with conflict-related mortality in the millions. Sudan has experienced repeated cycles of military takeover and civil war, with devastating human consequences in its latest conflagration.

In Tigray, the war under Abiy Ahmed led to large-scale civilian casualties and economic contraction in what had previously been one of Africas fastest-growing regions. Somalia, after three decades of state collapse, continues to rank at the bottom of most governance and development indicators. These are not failures produced by too much democracy but by the absence of stable, accountable state structures.

If one turns to the historical record of explicitly non-democratic regimes, the pattern becomes even starker. The regime of Idi Amin in the 1970s saw GDP contract sharply, foreign investment collapse, and an estimated 300,000 people killed. Under Omar al-Bashir, Sudan endured both prolonged economic mismanagement and mass violence in Darfur that resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions displaced. The Rwandan genocide, which resulted in approximately 800,000 deaths in a matter of months, was not the product of excessive democratic pluralism but of its breakdown in a context where institutional safeguards had collapsed. Across these cases, the removal of constraints on power did not produce efficiency or order; it produced volatility, repression, and, in extreme cases, systematic mass violence.

It is true that not all non-democratic systems collapse so dramatically, and variation matters. Morocco has maintained relative macroeconomic stability, with steady growth and infrastructure investment, yet this stability coexists with unresolved political tensions, particularly in Western Sahara. Tunisia, once a democratic success story after 2011, has reversed course, with power consolidating in the presidency. Egypt returned to military-led governance after a brief democratic opening, while Algeria continues in a state of controlled political stagnation. Even high-performing states such as Rwanda, which has sustained strong growth and reduced poverty, do so under tightly managed political systems that limit opposition and media freedom. These cases demonstrate that stability without accountability is possible, but often conditionaldependent on sustained economic performance and vulnerable to disruption.

What Actually Works  and Why

The most instructive comparisons, however, come from within Africas more successful democracies. Ghana has recorded steady growth alongside multiple peaceful transfers of power since the return to constitutional rule in 1992, while Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries at independence into an upper-middle-income economy through prudent resource management and consistent institutional stability. Both cases demonstrate that democratic governance, when paired with sound economic policy and institutional continuity, can produce sustained improvements in living standards. Their success is not rooted in rejecting liberal democratic principles, but in gradually embedding them.

It is often argued that such successes are products of uniquely African traditions rather than liberal democracy itself. These traditions are real and historically grounded. Systems such as the Yoruba councils under the authority of the Ooni, the Asante political system centred around the Asantehene, and various forms of village assemblies and elder councils across East and West Africa embodied consultative practices and mechanisms of accountability rooted in social norms. Philosophical ideas such as ubuntu emphasised interdependence and shared humanity.

However, these systems operated within relatively small, culturally cohesive communities. Modern African states are large, diverse, and administratively complex. The mechanisms that sustained traditional governanceshared norms, social sanction, and limited scaledo not easily translate into bureaucratic systems managing tens of millions of citizens. These traditions can complement liberal democratic institutions by deepening participation and legitimacy, but they cannot replace formal, impersonal structures that constrain power across large populations.

A brief look at Kenya illustrates this tension clearly. Kenya has sustained multiparty elections and steady economic growth, yet its democratic trajectory has been punctuated by moments of acute crisis. The 200708 Kenyan post-election violence exposed how quickly electoral competition can turn violent when institutions are mistrusted and ethnic polarisation deepens. Subsequent reforms, including constitutional change and devolution, have strengthened aspects of governance, but underlying tensions between participation and delivery remain unresolved. Democracy here is not absent, but incompleteand constantly tested.

The Real Question for Africa

Ibrahim Traores Burkina Faso is a contemporary case in point. He is not rejecting democracy because his government has rediscovered some lost model rooted in precolonial African traditions. Years after seizing power, his regime has delivered little in terms of economic transformation or in containing jihadist violence, despite invoking both as justification for restricting freedom. What it has delivered efficiently is the curtailment of basic liberties. Faced with scrutiny, democracy becomes incompatible with African realities. The pattern is familiarand convenient.

In fact, the claim that democracy is Western ultimately obscures more than it reveals. It shifts attention away from outcomes and toward origins, as if the provenance of an idea determined its validity. Yet the real issue is not where democracy comes from, but what it does: whether it provides mechanisms for limiting power, protecting citizens, and enabling course correction when systems fail.

From the perspective of John Rawls and his thought experiment of the veil of ignorance, the stakes become immediate and personal. If one were to choose a political system without knowledge of ones future positiongender, ethnicity, religion, or economic statusthe logic is compelling. Most Africans would imagine themselves not as rulers, but as ordinary citizens, often vulnerable to arbitrary authority. From that position, systems in which power is personalised and unaccountable are inherently unattractive. Liberal democratic institutions, however imperfect, provide protections, avenues of redress, and the possibility of peaceful change that reduce the risk of exploitation.

Africas challenge, therefore, is not to reject democracy in favour of ill-defined alternatives, but to undertake the harder task of making it work. This requires strengthening institutions, improving state capacity, addressing corruption, and grounding governance in both economic reality and social legitimacy. It also requires recognising that while all political systems fail, they do not fail equally. Systems without democratic accountability tend to fail catastrophically or persistently. Systems with accountability fail more visibly, but retain the essential capacity for self-correction. Traditional African practices, in this light, are not substitutes but enhancers: they can deepen legitimacy and ethical grounding, while liberal democratic institutions provide the enforceable constraints necessary to protect citizens from arbitrary power.

[The writer, Sahasranshu Dash, is a research associate at the International Centre for Applied Ethics and Public Affairs (ICAEPA), an independent research organisation based in Sheffield, the United Kingdom.]

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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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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will pay an official visit to China from April 11 to 15. This marks Sanchez's fourth visit to China in a four-year period, and it represents another significant high-level exchange between China and Spain in a short period, following the visits by Spanish King Felipe VI and Sanchez last year.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing that in recent years, China-Spain relations have developed at a high level under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, with solid progress made in cooperation across various fields and benefiting the two peoples.

ChinaSpain economic and trade relations are highly complementary, dynamic, and resilient. 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.


NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE:NRG) is one of the 8 Undervalued Stocks with Huge Upside Potential. NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE:NRG) is one of the undervalued stocks with huge upside potential. On March 4, NRG Energy announced the appointment of Caroline Golin, Ph.D., as Chief Growth and Policy Officer. In this newly created role, Dr. Golin will oversee the strategic execution of business initiatives aimed at addressing rising energy demand, specifically focusing on data center opportunities and residential virtual power plant programs. Additionally, she is tasked with leading the companys Government and Regulatory Affairs functions to ensure reliability and affordability for customers.

Dr. Golin joins NRG with more than 20 years of experience in market development and energy strategy. She most recently served as the Founder and CEO of Envision Energy Advisors, where she managed complex challenges in grid planning and procurement strategy. Previously, she was the Global Head of Energy Market Development and Innovation at Google, where she co-created the companys initiative to operate entirely on carbon-free energy by 2030 and managed strategy for its digital infrastructure needs.

Dr. Golin, who holds a Masters degree and a Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology, expressed her enthusiasm for joining the company at an industry inflection point. She noted that NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE:NRG) is well-positioned to leverage its market-leading platform to deliver innovative solutions and capture future growth as demand increases.

NRG Energy (NRG) Appoints Caroline Golin as Chief Growth and Policy Officer

High-voltage power lines. Electricity distribution station. high voltage electric transmission tower. Distribution electric substation with power lines and transformers.

NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE:NRG) is a utilities company that specializes in energy and home services through its Texas, East, West/Other, Vivint Smart Home, and Corporate Activities segments. The company provides its services to a diverse range of customers, from data centers to wholesale.

While we acknowledge the potential of NRG 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 Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy.

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When University of Michigan engineering dean Karen Thole wrote to her faculty and students about the death of Danhao Wang on March 23, she did not reach for ordinary language. She called Wang "a promising and brilliant young mind" whose research "stands as a landmark, uncovering for the first time the switching and charge compensation mechanisms of emerging ferroelectric nitrides."

To most people, that sentence is opaque. To semiconductor researchers, defense planners, and anyone tracking the U.S.-China technology war, it describes something close to a breakthrough  work that sits squarely at the intersection of the most contested terrain in the global competition for technological supremacy.

Wang was 30 years old. He died on March 20, 2026, in what university police are investigating as a possible act of self-harm, shortly after speaking with federal investigators. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since demanded a full U.S. investigation. The FBI has not commented. No charges were ever filed against Wang, and no public accusation was ever made about his research or conduct.

But to understand why federal agents may have found Wang's work interesting  and why that context matters  you have to understand what he actually built.

A Material That Wasn't Supposed to Work

Wang's most significant contribution was as co-first author on a landmark 2025 paper in Nature titled "Electric-field-induced domain walls in wurtzite ferroelectrics." The work solved a long-standing puzzle: why these ferroelectric nitrides remain stable despite extreme polarization discontinuities that should theoretically tear the crystal apart.

That sentence also needs unpacking. A ferroelectric material is one that can be electrically polarized  and, critically, that polarization can be reversed and will stay reversed even after you remove the electric field. Think of it like a magnet you can flip with electricity. The wurtzite ferroelectric nitrides were, as Wang's supervisor Prof. Zetian Mi explained, "recently discovered and have a broad range of applications in memory electronics, RF (radio frequency) electronics, acousto-electronics, microelectromechanical systems and quantum photonics."

The problem was that no one understood why these materials didn't simply break apart. When you flip the polarization, the material is divided into "domains"  regions pointing in opposite directions. Where two positively charged ends meet, the repulsion should, in theory, fracture the crystal. As Wang himself told Michigan Engineering: "In principle, the polarization discontinuity is not stable. Those interfaces have a unique atomic arrangement that has never been observed before."

What Wang and his team found, using transmission electron microscopy and advanced theoretical calculations, was that the break itself is the glue. At the junction between domains, the crystal fractures at the atomic scale, creating "dangling bonds"  atoms with unattached electrons. Those electrons do two things at once: they neutralize the electrical repulsion that would otherwise shatter the material, and they create something no one expected.

As Compound Semiconductor Magazine reported, those electrons create an adjustable superhighway for electricity along the joint, with about 100 times more charge-carriers than in a normal gallium nitride transistor  a highway that can be turned off and on, moved within the material, and made more or less conductive by adjusting the electric field.

A transistor you can tune by moving the conductive channel with an electric field. A material that stores information and conducts electricity at the same time. Wang and his colleagues recognized immediately what they had.

Why This Matters for AI, Defense, and the Tech War

The breakthrough has sweeping implications across several fronts: ferroelectric field-effect transistors could integrate non-volatile memory and logic in the same material, slashing energy use in AI chips, edge devices, and data centers. Domain-wall transistors promise superior performance in RF devices, power amplifiers, and next-generation power electronics. The materials also support brain-like synaptic behavior and energy-efficient non-volatile memory.

Those aren't abstract possibilities. They map directly onto the most contested areas of the semiconductor arms race between the United States and China.

Gallium nitride  the family of materials Wang was working within  is already central to military electronics. According to ORF America, GaN components are used in the U.S. Navy's AN/SPY-6 radar, the U.S. Marine Corps' AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR radar, as well as Patriot and THAAD missile defense systems. The scramble to develop next-generation variants of these materials is, in a real sense, a scramble for the future of air defense, radar, and high-frequency warfare.

China's growing dominance in gallium nitride semiconductor technology is giving it a strategic advantage that is reshaping the global arms race, according to a report by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Physics. Meanwhile, as Asia Times reported, China controls 98% of global gallium production  and over 11,000 U.S. military components depend on gallium, with 85% involving Chinese suppliers.

That combination  China's raw materials dominance and accelerating domestic semiconductor R&D  is precisely what has driven Washington's escalating scrutiny of Chinese researchers working on advanced materials at American universities.

The Policy Machinery Behind the Knock on the Door

To understand how a postdoctoral researcher working on crystal physics ended up in conversation with federal investigators, it helps to trace the policy architecture that made him visible to them.

Since 2014, China's government has pursued a national semiconductor industrial policy with the stated goal of establishing a world-leading semiconductor industry in all areas of the integrated circuit supply chain by 2030. The U.S. response has been a sustained and escalating campaign of export controls, research restrictions, and counterintelligence activity targeting Chinese researchers in sensitive fields.

In December 2024, China retaliated directly. As CSIS documented, China banned shipments of gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials to the United States  the first time Chinese critical minerals export restrictions were targeted specifically at the U.S., and the first time restrictions on critical minerals were a direct response to restrictions on advanced technologies. The ban was later suspended as part of a broader trade truce, with exports now managed under licensing until November 27, 2026, though the clause banning exports to military end-users remains in effect.

Wang's research on ferroelectric nitrides sits directly inside this battle. The materials he studied could, in principle, reduce dependence on gallium by enabling new architectures for transistors and memory. They could also, depending on how they develop, reshape the power electronics used in radar and weapons systems. Basic research at a university doesn't come with a security clearance  but it doesn't exist in a vacuum either. DARPA has already asked Raytheon to develop synthetic diamond and aluminum nitride semiconductors as a direct response to China's gallium export restrictions  a sign of how urgently Washington is working to find alternatives in exactly the class of materials Wang spent his career studying.

Funded by the Army, Published in Nature, Questioned by the FBI

Wang's Nature paper was funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, Army Research Office, and the University of Michigan College of Engineering. Computational resources were provided by the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, supported by the Department of Energy.

That is a standard funding mix for basic research in advanced semiconductor materials. It is also, in the current political environment, a combination that places researchers squarely within the federal government's field of view  both as recipients of defense-adjacent funding and as potential conduits for technology transfer.

Wang had been at the University of Michigan since 2022, working in the laboratory of Professor Zetian Mi, one of the leading researchers in the field. According to his ResearchGate profile, his work had appeared in 112 publications, and his research had recently broadened to include the study of ferroelectric ScAlN materials and low-dimensional semiconductors. He had just been promoted from postdoctoral researcher to assistant research scientist  an unusual distinction reflecting the quality of his contributions.

No charges were filed against Wang. The FBI has not confirmed what it asked him or why. The university has not said what federal agency contacted Wang, or on what basis. What is known is that he spoke with federal investigators on the evening of March 19 and died in the early hours of March 20.

The Cost of Suspicion

The University of Michigan Postdoctoral Researchers' Organization, which represents approximately 1,500 postdocs of whom roughly 60% are international workers, noted that Wang's death occurs "contextual to a larger climate of fear felt by immigrant workers from all industries, home countries, and walks of life under the current administration." The union advised all researchers not to speak to law enforcement without an attorney present.

The dilemma is real. Wang's research was funded partly by the U.S. Army Research Office. It was published in one of the most prestigious scientific journals in the world. It advanced American scientific knowledge in a field directly relevant to national security. And yet the circumstances of his death have become a focal point for Chinese government accusations of discriminatory targeting, a flashpoint in a diplomatic dispute, and a source of profound fear among international researchers on U.S. campuses.

The federal government's concern about technology transfer from American universities to China is not invented. Espionage cases in semiconductor and defense research have been prosecuted and won. But the logic of suspicion, applied broadly to researchers working in sensitive fields, carries its own costs  costs that are now impossible to separate from the tragedy of Danhao Wang's death.

As University of Michigan researchers noted, what's remarkable about the science is that the charge cancellation mechanism Wang's team discovered is not a lucky accident  it is a direct consequence of the geometry of tetrahedra, making it a universal stabilizing mechanism in all tetrahedral ferroelectrics, a class of materials rapidly gaining attention for next-generation microelectronic devices.

That insight will outlast the circumstances surrounding its author. The question now is whether the institutions built to protect American science can distinguish between the researcher and the research  and whether the cost of failing to do so will be measured only in lives, or also in the innovation those lives might have produced.
By Colleen Howe

BEIJING, April 10 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose in early trading on Friday following attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, and as markets evaluated the risk premium from the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, despite a fragile truce agreed between the U.S. and Iran.

Brent crude futures gained 83 cents, or 0.87%, to $96.75 a barrel as of 0100 GMT. West Texas Intermediate futures were up $1.04, 1.06%, at $98.91 a barrel.

"The initial wave of relief following President Trump's two-week ceasefire announcement has quickly given way to underlying doubts," IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said in a note.

Iran and the U.S. agreed on Tuesday to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, but fighting was still taking place following the announcement.

"All eyes remain firmly on tanker tracker flows through the Strait of Hormuz for any signs of increased activity ahead of peace talks scheduled in Pakistan on Friday," Sycamore said.

Analysts say Pakistan will try to push in the talks for a more durable peace agreement but may lack the leverage needed to compel the reopening of the key Strait of Hormuz.

Iran wants to charge fees for ships passing through the strait under a peace deal, a Tehran official told Reuters on April 7. Western leaders and the U.N.'s shipping agency have pushed back on the idea.

The crucial artery for oil and gas flows has been effectively shut down by the conflict, which began on February 28 when the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran.

Brent prices could reach $190 a barrel if flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain at the current level, said John Paisie, president of energy consultants Stratas Advisors.

"If Iran allows increasing flows the price of oil will be more moderated, but still well above pre-war levels."

Attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil production capacity have cut the kingdom's output by around 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) and reduced throughput on its East-West Pipeline by 700,000 bpd, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The announcement "shifts the narrative from episodic disruption to a measurable supply shock," JPMorgan analysts said in a research note.

Some 50 infrastructure assets in the Gulf have been damaged by drone and missile strikes over the nearly six weeks since the conflict started, and around 2.4 million bpd of oil refining capacity have been taken offline, according to JPMorgan.

(Reporting by Colleen Howe in Beijing; Editing by Sonali Paul)
Petrobras has entered into definitive agreements with Petronas Petroleo Brasil to acquire the Malaysian firms 50% stake in the Tartaruga Verde and Espadarte Module III fields in the Campos Basin. Upon closing, Petrobras will hold 100% ownership while continuing as operator of the assets.

The deal is valued at $450 million, structured with $50 million paid upfront, $350 million due at closing, and up to $50 million in deferred payments tied to performance milestones. Final payments will be adjusted based on asset performance since July 2025. Completion remains subject to regulatory approval from Brazils oil regulator, ANP.

The acquisition marks another step in Petrobras ongoing strategy to consolidate control over high-margin offshore assets, particularly in the mature but still prolific Campos Basin. The company has increasingly prioritized operatorship and equity concentration in core fields, reversing a previous divestment cycle aimed at debt reduction.

Tartaruga Verde and Espadarte Module III are deepwater assets located in water depths ranging from 700 to 1,620 meters and currently produce around 55,000 barrels per day via the FPSO Cidade de Campos dos Goytacazes. By regaining full ownership, Petrobras enhances operational flexibility and captures a larger share of cash flows at a time of relatively supportive oil prices.

The move also reflects a broader industry trend of national oil companies tightening control over strategic upstream assets, particularly in Latin America, where resource nationalism has re-emerged alongside stronger balance sheets.

Petronas exit aligns with its portfolio optimization strategy, as it continues to rebalance its international upstream exposure.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Oilprice Intelligence brings you the signals before they become front-page news. This is the same expert analysis read by veteran traders and political advisors. Get it free, twice a week, and you'll always know why the market is moving before everyone else.

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By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

The Government is to re-enter talks on Saturday aimed at defusing protests which have strangled the distribution of fuel around the country.

A series of protests, which have involved blockades at key fuel distribution sites, are continuing for a fifth consecutive day after a crunch meeting on Friday failed to end with concrete proposals.

Protesters say the Government needs to take urgent action on fuel prices or they will go out of business.

Vehicles take part on the fourth day of a protest against rising fuel prices on OConnell Street in Dublin (Liam McBurney/PA)

There were fears that around a third of Irelands 1,500 filling stations would have run dry by morning as protesters engaged in a blockade of the countrys only oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, as well as key depots in Galway and Foynes, Co Limerick.

There have also been concerns about fuel shortages leading to curtailments on the provision of emergency services and the delivery of vital goods  while the National Emergency Coordination Group urged the public to only buy the fuel they need.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin warned that Ireland is on the precipice of turning oil away from the country, describing the situation as unconscionable, illogical, and difficult to comprehend.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin criticised the protests (Brian Lawless/PA)

The protests, which have also seen slow-moving convoys and outright stoppages on major motorways as well as a blockade on Dublin citys O'Connell St, began on Tuesday over the cost of fuel.

Participants include professional drivers, farmers and hauliers as well as taxi and bus operators.

Many official representative groups recognised by Government have expressed sympathy with the cause but have said they have not been involved in organising the protests.

Ministers engaged with some of these groups on Friday but a spokesman for the protesters expressed devastation that they were excluded from the meeting.

Tanaiste Simon Harris (Brian Lawless/PA)

A commitment from the coalition on Friday night to deliver a substantial package of measures on fuel costs was not enough to dissuade protesters from continuing blockades.

Christopher Duffy, a spokesman for the grouping in Dublin city centre, said the protest would continue until there was a serious reduction in our costs.

Talks between Government departments and representative bodies are set to continue at lunchtime on Saturday, with a view to finalising what Tanaiste Simon Harris said would be substantial and significant measures for affected industries.

Christopher Duffy (Cillian Sherlock/PA)

Meanwhile, the Defence Forces are on standby to help gardai remove blockades at critical infrastructure.

An Garda internally declared an exceptional event, allowing it to designate every member available for duty over the weekend.
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Updated NationalWATragedy Four dead after horror 24 hours on WA roads Rebecca Peppiatt and Yvonne Ardley Updated April 12, 2026  8:10am ,first published April 11, 2026  1:02pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Four people have been killed in two separate crashes in a horror 24 hours on West Australian roads. Three people died after the car they were travelling in crashed into a tree in Perths east on Saturday morning. Loading WA Police said the vehicle was travelling along Stoneville Road near Timbertop Way and La Grange Road when it left the road and hit a tree about 8.55am, fatally injuring the 58-year-old man driving the car and his passengers, both men aged 62. Brent Fuller was at home nearby when he got a message saying there had been an accident at the intersection of his street.

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I came around the corner and saw the car there wedged between two trees, he told 9News Perth. It was pretty serious. The roof was semi ripped open. It was pretty mangled, and its an old car too, so its made out of proper steel. It was wedged inside two trees  only 1.5, maybe 2 metres wide. A tree was on top of it as well. A bobcat was already here getting ready to pull it off, just trying to open it up for the emergency services as best they could for when they got here. Fuller and other passersby tried to help the occupants inside.

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Other neighbours said they heard revving before a loud bang, with no sounds of brakes. Three people died in a single vehicle car accident on Saturday morning in the Perth hills. Another witness said she saw the vehicle careen past her, veering into her lane. I think they over corrected and ended up sideways pinned between two trees, she said. The road was closed as officers from the Major Crash Investigation Section examined the scene but has since opened.

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Meanwhile, a 24-year-old man was killed when he crashed his Harley Davidson motorcycle on Hammersley Street in Toodyay just after midnight. Police said the man was riding near the intersection of Fiennes Street and Duke Street when he lost control and crashed. He died at the scene after sustaining critical injuries. Major crash investigators are urging any witnesses to either crash, or anyone with information, to contact Crime Stoppers.
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PoliticsFederalRoberts-Smith case Ben Roberts-Smith exhibit at Australian War Memorial updated after arrest Nick Newling April 11, 2026  10:12am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

An exhibit dedicated to Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith at the Australian War Memorial has been updated to reflect the criminal charges the soldier is facing over the alleged murders of unarmed Afghan civilians and prisoners. The change was made on Friday  following the arrest of Roberts-Smith on Tuesday  after historians accused the museum of undermining its commitment to historical truth in its refusal to remove or relocate the SAS corporals display in the sites Hall of Valour. The exhibit displayed in the War Memorials Hall of Valour. The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age In April 2026, Roberts-Smith was charged with five counts of the war crime of murder. The legal process is ongoing, a plaque beside the soldiers military suit and helmet in the museum now reads. The plaque previously said the soldier has not been charged with any offence under criminal law. While the descriptive panel still includes information about the unsuccessful defamation case Roberts-Smith brought against this masthead, further minor alterations have been made including the removal of specific detail about his height.

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Memorial director Matt Anderson announced the change at a press conference on Friday, saying: Right now, the memorials commitment throughout this entire process, and the entire legal process, has been to ensure that the panel in the galleries is up-to-date and covers the facts. The most important thing all of us can do now is allow justice to take its course, is to start with the presumption of innocence, he said. The 47-year-old was arrested at Sydney Airport on Tuesday and charged with five counts of war crime  murder after a joint investigation between the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Roberts-Smith remains behind bars after his lawyers declined to apply for release on bail.

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The Australian War Memorial, which features exhibits on Roberts-Smith in both its physical gallery and online, said on Tuesday it would review the wording of the interpretive panel associated with the display. However, the display of his uniform, equipment and medals remains in place. The panel has been updated several times as Roberts-Smith brought and then lost defamation proceedings against this masthead. The memorial was vociferously criticised this week by historians for delays in updating its wording and physical placement in the museum. Michael McKernan, a senior lecturer in Australian history at the University of NSW and a deputy director at the memorial in the 1990s, said Australia should no longer celebrate Roberts-Smith and that his uniform display should be taken from the Hall of Valour. You cant leave it there  its ludicrous. I mean, he is now charged with five murders; lets get real  thats not good, he said, calling for urgent action. He has every right to be considered innocent until found guilty, but the full bench of the Federal Court of Australia upheld that, on the balance of civil probability, he is a war criminal.

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Exclusive PoliticsNSWPolitical leadership Minister Ron Hoenig under fire for wooden spoon remark to female councillor Max Maddison April 11, 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

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.
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.
Resolution Minerals: FAST-41 drives Idaho project - ICYMI Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

Resolution Minerals Ltd (ASX:RML, OTCQB:RLMLF, FRA:NC3) earlier this week reported that its Antimony Ridge project in Idaho has been added to the US Federal FAST-41 Permitting Transparency Program, marking a significant regulatory milestone for the companys critical minerals strategy.

Strategic Advisor Steve Promnitz said the designation effectively places the project on a shortlist of preferred developments being considered by the US government. He noted that the FAST-41 process is designed to streamline permitting timelines and improve coordination between federal agencies, adding that it provides a tick of approval for investors assessing project quality.

Promnitz explained that the inclusion is expected to accelerate development at Antimony Ridge, while also strengthening the companys engagement with US authorities as they seek to secure domestic supply of critical minerals. He said antimony, a key focus for the project, has become increasingly important due to its use in flame retardants and military applications such as munitions.

He stated that antimony has shifted from being an important mineral to becoming supercritical, particularly in light of recent geopolitical developments and the need for the US to replenish supply chains from domestic sources.

The Antimony Ridge asset forms part of the broader Horse Heaven project in central Idaho, which spans more than 50,000 acres and also hosts gold and tungsten mineralisation. Promnitz highlighted Idaho as a supportive mining jurisdiction with established infrastructure, skilled workforce availability, and a history of resource development.

Looking ahead, the company is advancing several near-term catalysts. Promnitz said Resolution Minerals expects to deliver updates on metallurgy and processing options, including plans for a potential antimony processing hub and pilot plant in Idaho. In addition, discussions are ongoing regarding tungsten stockpiles and potential pathways to processing within the US.

The company is also preparing to commence a large-scale gold drilling campaign in May, with two rigs targeting up to 13,500 metres of drilling through to August. Promnitz indicated that the program could support an initial resource of at least 3 million ounces, noting similarities with a neighbouring project.

Overall, the FAST-41 designation represents a key step forward for Resolution Minerals as it positions Antimony Ridge within the US critical minerals supply chain, with multiple development and exploration milestones expected in the coming months.
This story was originally published on Utility Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Utility Dive newsletter.

Terra-Gen agreed to pay $5.6 million to settle allegations that it manipulated the California Independent System Operators market, according to a settlement agreement the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved on Tuesday.

The agencys enforcement office alleged Terra-Gen told CAISO a battery system wasnt working on certain days so it wouldnt have to buy high-priced power on those days.

Terra-Gen also violated FERCs duty of candor rule in a compliance report to the agency related to an earlier settlement agreement. The report failed to disclose that CAISOs market monitor had new concerns about the companys market behavior, according to FERC.

The company admitted that it violated FERCs duty of candor rule, but it neither admitted nor denied that it violated FERCs anti-manipulation rule, according to the settlement.

Under the agreement, Terra-Gen will pay a $4.95 million fine and disgorge $681,007 in profit, plus interest.

The agreement covers a period from July 2020 through April 2022 related to a 58-MW wind facility and a 65-MW battery system in Kern County, California, near Los Angeles.

During that period, Terra-Gen offered the resources into the CAISO day-ahead market to provide ancillary services. Awards that Terra-Gen obtained based on the offers were binding in the real-time market and required the company to place the resources on automatic generation control for the duration of the awards so that CAISO could directly dispatch the resources when needed, FERC said.

However, when CAISO issued regulation-down awards ordering Terra-Gen to buy power and store it in the batteries, but real-time locational marginal prices were high, the company claimed outages for the batteries or removed them from the grid operators control, FERC said. A former vice president of origination, who was fired, devised and oversaw the scheme, according to the settlement agreement.

Terra-Gen didnt claim outages or disconnect from CAISOs automatic generation control when the grid operator asked the company to sell power from the batteries into its market, FERC said.

Although Terra-Gen incurred charges from CAISO when its battery system was unavailable during the award periods, the company still earned $681,007 during the 262 hours that it engaged in the scheme, according to the agency.
James Cox, Sarah Slater and PA reporters

7pm

Transport Minister Darragh OBrien and Minister of State Sean Canney held talks with industry representatives on Friday and Saturday.

The engagements included the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), the Freight Transport Association of Ireland, and the Coach Tourism & Transport Council of Ireland.

IRHA president Ger Hyland said there were the bones of an agreement with the Government, adding that he hoped the substantial package, understood to include the direct payment scheme, would be agreed either late on Saturday or on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters before briefing the Taoiseach on the talks, Mr OBrien said: We want to get an agreement, we want to support businesses and individuals through this difficult time, and we want the protest to end.

Concurrent talks were held online between the Department of Agriculture and groups such as the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association and the Irish Farmers Association.

The recognised bodies in the Government meetings are not responsible for organising the distinct protests around the country but are also working to secure reductions in operating costs.

Protesters had sought their own engagements with the Government and expressed anger at being excluded from the talks.

The protests have also seen slow-moving convoys and outright stoppages on the motorway network as well as the establishment of a large blockade on Dublin citys main thoroughfare, OConnell Street.

The development at Whitegate came after Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan said around 600 of the 1,500 filling stations around the Republic of Ireland had run dry on Saturday morning.

He had predicted that the number would grow quite dramatically if the blockades on Whitegate, Galway and Foynes, Co Limerick, continued.

Elsewhere, Rosslare Europort was expected to hit capacity by Sunday evening or Monday morning.

Operations at the port, run by Irish Rail, have been affected by a blockade of fuel protesters in the nearby town of Kilrane, Co Wexford.

A spokesperson for Irish Rail said the port will soon be at capacity and will not be able to take in any more freight  resulting in ships having to wait on anchor or be diverted to another port if possible.

6.30pm

There have also been concerns about fuel shortages leading to the curtailment of emergency services and the delivery of vital goods, while the National Emergency Co-ordination Group urged people to only buy the fuel they need.

The blockades are part of nationwide protests by hauliers, farmers and agricultural contractors who are urging the Government to take action to reduce fuel costs which they say are at unsustainable levels and will lead to people going out of business.

Participants say the Government needs to take urgent action on fuel prices or they will go out of business.

It is understood the Department of Transport is working on plans for a transport support scheme that would see direct payments to businesses in the sectors affected by high fuel costs.

A senior source said the scheme will be part of a broader package on the fuel crisis.

The operation to secure the Whitegate refinery took approximately an hour and saw some physical clashes between the Public Order Unit and protesters, including instances where pepper spray was used.

6pm

A number of arrests have been made during the Garda operation in Whitegate Oil Refinery, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said.

Mr Kelly said the current blockades are "not a legitimate form of protest" in a statement issued this evening.

"Since Tuesday, An Garda Siochana has worked hard to minimise disruption caused to the citizens of the country.

Despite this, some people have decided to escalate an already difficult situation by blockading critical national infrastructure such as fuel depots and refineries.

"This has resulted in fuel shortages that are directly impacting on emergency services such as hospitals, the ambulance service, and the fire service, as well as businesses and the general public.

"These are blockades. They are not a legitimate form of protest. They are illegal activity that is endangering our State.

"These blockades are also putting at risk supplies that are critical for our country.

"These blockades have put An Garda Siochana in an invidious position of having to deploy public order units in order to ensure that hospitals can function, fires can be responded to, and people can be brought to hospital.

"We never want to do this, but the blockaders have left us with no choice.

"We gave the blockaders fair warning that we were moving to enforcement and they choose to ignore it and continue to hold the country to ransom."

The statement continued: "This morning, An Garda Siochana moved to restore fuel supplies from Whitegate Refinery. We made a number of arrests during this operation.

"In the coming hours and days we will have further such operations.

"I want to commend our Gardai for their work, which has required a significant amount of planning.

"I also want to thank the Defence Forces for their support.

"These operations have required the deployment of a large number of Gardai.

"Gardai who should have been engaged in patrolling cities and towns, community engagement, and investigating crimes such as domestic abuse.

"Instead, because of the illegal actions of a few, much of this valuable work to keep people safe is not taking place. We are aware that there has been intimidation of fuel tanker drivers, these are criminal offences, we will not tolerate this and we will investigate all such reports and prosecute suspects.

"Offences such as threats to kill or cause serious harm carry sentences of up to 10 years.

"My message is clear.

"Blockaders must immediately cease blockades of critical infrastructure and road networks or face the full rigours of the law.

5.22pm

Talks at the Department of Transport end - without agreement. But all sides available for further talks.

4.37pm

Gardai in Wexford are warning motorists to be aware that traffic on the M11 is severely disrupted, with a large portion of traffic entering Gorey town, causing further delays within the town. Expect delays if travelling today.

Rosslare Europort is also heavily affected, with delays to be expected in the Kilrane/Rosslare Harbour area.

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.

3.40pm

Fuel trucks have regained access to an oil refinery that had been subjected to a days-long blockade after gardai cleared protesters from the entrance.

In a major operation involving scores of gardai, large tractors that had been blocking the entrance to the Whitegate oil refinery in Co Cork were moved and fuel tankers were once again able to access the site.

The operation to secure the site took approximately an hour and saw some physical clashes between the Public Order Unit and protesters, including instances where pepper spray was used.

Members of the Defence Forces were also at the scene as An Garda Siochana, had requested the availability of a military heavy-lift recovery truck if it needed to tow any of the large tractors or trucks involved in the blockade.

Gardai escorted the fuel trucks to the premises.

2.45pm

Around 600 of the 1,600 forecourts in the country have now run out of petrol and diesel, according to Fuels for Ireland.

2pm

The blockade at Whitegate oil refinery in County Cork has been broken, with gardai using pepper spray on protestors.

A large number of Public Order gardai are at the scene, along with Defence Force vehicles.

It's the fifth day of nationwide fuel demonstrations, with blockades continuing at Galway and Foynes ports, as well as disruption to the road network.

1pm

Defence Force vehicles and a large number of Public Order gardai have arrived at the Whitegate oil refinery in Cork.

Protestors are continuing their blockade there, on the fifth day of the national fuel protest.

Blockades also remain in place at the ports in Foynes and Galway, while traffic continues to be disrupted across the motorway network.

Fuels for Ireland says it "will not be in a position to guarantee fuel availability at forecourts nationwide by early next week" if the blockades are not lifted by Monday.



12pm

Earlier, a man arrested at the Whitegate oil refinery in Cork on Friday has been charged.

The man, aged in his 50s, was detained on Friday evening.

He has since been charged to appear before the courts at a later date.

10am

Around 600 of the 1,500 filling stations around Ireland have run dry, according to an industry representative.

Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan said he expects the number will grow quite dramatically if ongoing blockades of fuel depots remain in place.

Asked on RTE Radio Ones The Business how that number may grow, he said: If everything remains as it is, that is to say that the three facilities remain blockaded, then I dont think we could guarantee fuel at any forecourt by very early next week, Monday morning or Monday perhaps.

There are fears that around a third of Irelands 1,500 filling stations could run dry by Saturday morning as protesters engaged in a blockade of the countrys only oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, as well as key depots in Galway and Foynes, Co Limerick.

There have also been concerns about fuel shortages leading to curtailments in the provision of emergency services and the delivery of vital goods. At the same time, the National Emergency Coordination Group urged the public to buy only the fuel they need.

Government ministers engaged with some of these groups on Friday, but a spokesman for the protesters expressed devastation that they were excluded from the meeting.

A commitment from the coalition on Friday night to deliver a substantial package of measures on fuel costs was not enough to dissuade protesters from continuing blockades.

Talks between Government departments and representative bodies are set to continue at lunchtime on Saturday, with a view to finalising what Tanaiste Simon Harris said would be substantial and significant measures for affected industries.

Here is the latest information on motorway closures from TII Traffic:

M50:

M50 between J06 - BLANCHARDSTOWN and J05 - FINGLAS Direction northbound

M50 between J05 - FINGLAS and J06 - BLANCHARDSTOWN Direction southbound

N4:

N4 J01 - M50 Interchange Direction eastbound Slip to City and M50 northbound

M7:

M7 between J16 - PORTLAOISE and J17 - PORTLAOISE Direction both

M7 between J29 - M7/N24 and J30 - M7/N18/M20 Direction both

M8:

M8 J09 - CASHEL(SOUTH) Direction northbound

M8 J06- Arbourhill and J09 Owen and Biggs Lot- Direction southbound

M18:

M18/N18 J11 - DROMOLAND Direction both

M18/N18 J13 - TULLA Direction northbound

M18/N18 between J02 - DOCK and J01 - ROSSBRIEN Direction southbound

M18/N18 J14 - BAREFIELD Direction southbound Slip R458 to M18

M18/N18 between J15 - CRUSHEEN and J14 - BAREFIELD Direction southbound

M20:

M20/N20 between J04 - PATRICKSWELL and J03 - RAHEEN Direction northbound

Significant delays to your journey are likely to occur. Please use a different route for your journey.
Now that Easter is over and that (hopefully) a long and miserable winter is behind us and spring is in the air, we have what will (hopefully) be the prospect of a good summer ahead of us. The early Easter this year augurs well for a long season of light and promise before another winter claims its place.

I always feel that Easter, the great Christian feast of the year, is synonymous with the golden daffodils that almost invariably report for annual duty in such glorious profusion at Eastertime. Symbolic of new life and light they insist on claiming their space, blooming determinedly in spite of the prevailing wind and rain.

This year for me the highlight of Easter was the commissioning by Archbishop Francis Duffy of 18 women and men as Lay Leaders and Funeral Ministers in the diocese of Killala at the Mass of Chrism during Holy Week in St Muredachs cathedral in Ballina. At the same Mass last year, 62 Lay Leaders and Funeral Ministers were commissioned and this years new complement is the result of additional requests for such ministries from the remaining few parishes still to have this ministry rolled out.

As Killala waits to merge with Tuam into a new diocese, and with Archbishop Duffy already in place as Bishop of Killala (with his installation to take place on Sunday, April 26 in St Muredachs cathedral), it is a source of diocesan pride that Killala now has 80 Lay Leaders and Funeral Ministers to help co-lead with a declining number of Killala priests in a new leadership partnership of laity and priests.

The Killala 80, as we can describe them, will be badly needed as the number of priests has declined from 64 in 1974 to 25 in 2026 with an ongoing comparative decline in priest numbers expected into the future. The official expectation is that in fifteen years time, there will be very few priests left (in the diocese) and that the future of the Catholic Church in Killala diocese will be mainly driven by Lay Leaders active in a variety of crucial lay ministries.

When back in 2015, Bishop John Fleming and the Killala priests decided  prophetically as it turned out  that the future of the diocese would be in the hands of lay women and men and that this indisputable reality necessitated structures to develop and embed new and necessary lay ministries, what emerged was the Placing Hope in Faith (PHIF) project that provided the ballast for a range of developments in pastoral care in preparation for the critical years ahead.

One such was the decision to train Lay Leaders  with at the time over 60 women and men volunteering for a course in Lay Leadership; Theology, Culture and Ministry of two years and three months duration (2023-2025) and developed and delivered by the Newman Institute, and a more recent course with 18 others also delivered by the Newman Institute. Their commissioning, in 2025 and in 2026, has delivered a huge resource of a total of 80 committed people at the centre of the PHIF project that helped deliver a series of developing lay Ministries, including the election and training of Parish Pastoral Councils, co-led Funeral Ministries, the development of lay-led liturgies, the use of lay Ministers of the Eucharist in bringing Communion to the elderly and housebound, a developing youth focus and so on.

While it might seem that the existence and function of Lay Leaders derived solely from the growing scarcity of priests, thats certainly not the case. As the Second Vatican Council underlined, the baptised  women and men have their inalienable rights to ministry in their church and those rights should not be blocked or sidelined  and by extension to block or sideline or discourage lay ministry is contrary to the now obvious need of our Church.

Out of that key principle has come among priests a deeper understanding of the need to consider in their own present ministry not just the pastoral care of their present parishioners but their responsibility as well to support the development of a scaffolding of lay ministries that will secure the pastoral care of future parishioners.

Priests are now very conscious that theres no guarantee that their present parishes will have a resident priest in the future. And they understand too that, when they retire or become ill or are unable to continue due to ill health or die, part of their legacy to their present parishes includes the steps they took to prepare them for the future challenges that will define their inevitable priestless character.

So front and centre for priests in parishes at present is to resource their present parishes for a priestless future by encouraging and supporting a comprehensive structure of lay ministry and helping to embed it in the lives of the people.

Thats why with this acceptance and understanding, the 80 Lay Leaders and the declining number of priests in Killala parishes going forward are now at the coalface of parish life representing the main ministry in Catholic parishes into the future.

It is instructive that, in his homily at the Chrism Mass during Holy Week at which he commissioned 18 Lay Leaders, Archbishop Francis Duffy placed a clear focus on the importance of the legacy issue and the part commissioned Lay Leaders would play in it. Now taking over a new diocese of 78 parishes  an amalgam of Killala (22) and Tuam (56)  in a clear exposition of the need for a clear focus on what legacy now entails, he placed the 80 Lay Leaders now available from the former Killala diocese as an outstanding resource for the future.

It was too a welcome endorsement of the many who in different ways over the last eleven years had contributed to the project we called Placing Hope in Faith with its promise now unfolding.

Just a note on my new book, For the Record, which traces nine centuries of Killala diocesan history from its inception in 1111 a.d. to the present day. It also celebrates the forthcoming installation on Sunday April, 26, of Archbishop Francis Duffy as Bishop of Killala, and anticipates the impending merger of Killala and Tuam dioceses.

In its 260 A4 pages, For the Record comprises a summary history of Killala diocese, a comprehensive listing of Killala bishops, religious brothers and sisters as well as a listing of Killala diocesan history sources and recent church refurbishments and a foreword by Archbishop Duffy.

For the Record is now on sale in Killala parishes and online from www.mayopbooks.i.e It is published by the diocese in a limited edition, and is on sale @ 20. Proceeds go to the diocese and its parishes.
Tsakos Energy Navigation previously declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of about US$0.59375 per Series F Preferred Share, covering the period from January 30, 2026, through April 29, 2026, and paid on April 30, 2026, to holders of record as of April 27, 2026.

Alongside this dividend, the company highlighted how its modernized fleet and profitsharing charter mix have lifted earnings as tanker market conditions tightened, emphasizing its operational positioning rather than changing guidance.

Well now explore how this focus on fleet renewal and profitsharing charters may influence Tsakos Energy Navigations existing investment narrative.

Invest in the nuclear renaissance through our list of 93 elite nuclear energy infrastructure plays powering the global AI revolution.

Tsakos Energy Navigation Investment Narrative Recap

To own Tsakos Energy Navigation, you need to be comfortable with a traditional tanker business that is leaning on a younger fleet and profit sharing charters to support earnings, while carrying meaningful debt and exposure to fossil fuel demand. The latest preferred dividend declaration mainly reinforces TENs commitment to funding preferred distributions; it does not materially change the near term catalyst of tanker market tightness, or the key risk of high leverage if day rates soften.

The most relevant recent announcement here is TENs Q4 2025 earnings release, which showed continued profitability and highlighted the benefit of its modern fleet and profit sharing charter mix. Together with the steady preferred payouts, this points to a company trying to balance stable contracted cash flows with some exposure to tanker rate swings, a mix that could either cushion or amplify outcomes if freight conditions or financing costs shift.

Yet, against this backdrop of regular dividends and fleet renewal, investors should still be aware that concentrated exposure to fossil fuel transport and significant net debt could...

Read the full narrative on Tsakos Energy Navigation (it's free!)

Tsakos Energy Navigation's narrative projects $680.9 million revenue and $74.5 million earnings by 2029. This implies a 5.2% yearly revenue decline and an earnings decrease of $57.8 million from $132.3 million today.

Uncover how Tsakos Energy Navigation's forecasts yield a $46.00 fair value, a 18% upside to its current price.

Exploring Other Perspectives

TEN 1-Year Stock Price Chart

Some of the most pessimistic analysts, who were assuming earnings of about US$264.3 million by 2028, see far more risk than the recent dividend news alone suggests, so it is worth comparing their assumptions with managements focus on fleet renewal to understand how much your own expectations differ.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

There might be an early shower; otherwise, mostly cloudy. .

Tonight

There might be an early shower; otherwise, mostly cloudy.
Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) currently leads the weight loss market thanks to Zepbound. Given that analysts project this area will gain significant traction in the coming years, that may provide a strong tailwind to the drugmaker. However, the bears will point out that Eli Lilly could run into several problems. First, increased competition will erode some of its market share.

Second, Eli Lilly's newer launches could cannibalize Zepbound's sales and do little to expand the market. So, the company's pipeline won't save it, or so the argument goes. In my view, the second line of reasoning is missing an important point about Eli Lilly's strategy in this market: The company is building a portfolio of differentiated therapies that will help it dominate this space over the next decade.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue 

Image source: Getty Images.

Eli Lilly's weight loss empire in the making

Consider retatrutide, arguably Eli Lilly's most promising pipeline candidate. This medicine mimics the actions of three separate gut hormones, whereas Zepbound mimics only two. Addressing three different pathways could confer retatrutide increased efficacy. And so far, studies have shown evidence of this. Putting aside the difficulty of comparing results across trials, retatrutide posted a mean weight loss of 28.7% at the highest dose in a 68-week phase 3 study.

Zepbound's performance was comparatively unimpressive, with a mean weight loss of 20.2% over 72 weeks in a separate trial. Based on these results, it may seem like a foregone conclusion that retatrutide will simply compete with Zepbound. However, management has said it will primarily target people with very high body mass indexes (BMI) who need more aggressive weight loss options.

Consider that an estimated 9% of U.S. adults aged 20 and older -- or about 22 million people -- have severe obesity (with a BMI greater than or equal to 40). Assuming 30% penetration in this patient group, or about 6.6 million people, and an annual price of about $10,000 (which is more or less in line with other weight loss medicines), the market for anti-obesity therapies in this specific niche could be worth $66 billion at its peak. Eli Lilly would, eventually, encounter competition even in this corner.

Others, like Novo Nordisk, are developing their own triple agonists. But if Eli Lilly can grab 20% to 30% share of this market, retatrutide could peak at about $19 billion in weight management. That's before we account for the fact that it will also target diabetes patients. What does this mean for Eli Lilly? Retatrutide and Zepbound can coexist, as can Foundayo, a new oral GLP-1 pill for which the drugmaker recently earned approval.
Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) is one of the 10 Best Performing Blue Chip Stocks to Buy. On March 26, Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) announced that it has agreed to acquire certain assets from Bioniq, a UK-based company that specializes in personalized supplements.

This agreement supports Herbalife Ltd.s (NYSE:HLF) goal of becoming a tech-enabled, data-driven health and wellness platform. Bioniq creates personalized supplement formulations using its patented product personalization engine, along with an individuals health information and a proprietary database of biomarkers. Its products are designed for a wide range of people, from everyday users to top athletes, including Cristiano Ronaldo.

Herbalife (HLF) Agrees to Acquire Bioniq Assets

This acquisition will build on Herbalife Ltd.s (NYSE:HLF) earlier acquisitions of Pro2col and Link BioSciences. By adding Bioniqs capabilities, the company will be able to expand its range of personalized nutritional supplements across different delivery formats. Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) also expects that combining Bioniqs offering with its own global manufacturing expertise will help it grow personalized nutrition at scale and speed.

According to the report by Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF), this transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2026.

Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) is a premier health and wellness company that offers high-quality, science-backed nutrition products, which are available exclusively through its educated and trained independent distributors.

While we acknowledge the potential of HLF 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: 10 Best Performing Stocks of Q1 2026 to Watch for Q2 and 10 Best Car Stocks to Buy in 2026.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
These communities arent going to replace 3 million students, but they are a new book of business for the schools, said Carle. I think this is the tip of the iceberg; you could easily double or triple the number of university retirement communities.

Andrew Carle, a consultant who runs UniversityRetirementCommunities.com , a database of college retirement communities, notes that colleges have lost 3 million traditional students in the last decade.

The attraction for colleges? The retirement communities are a salve for higher educations financial crunch due to rising costs and the demographic dilemma of a declining number of college-age students and a swelling retiree population that wants to remain active and engaged.

The draw of these university retirement communities? Perks like free tickets to college sports and arts activities; free college classes; time with younger, as well as older, people; and the knowledge that theyll be able to stay there for the rest of their lives if their health declines.

Entry fees often range from $100,000 to over $1 million along with monthly fees of about $5,000 to $12,000. Entry fees are usually 50% to 90% refundable if the resident moves out or dies. Some communities have lower entry fees of $10,000 to $25,000 or so and charge rent. Assisted-living or memory-care units cost extra, though most CCRC residents are in independent living. A few of these CCRCs entice newcomers with health issues; Broadview Senior Living at Purchase College in New York recently offered 50% off care costs for the first six months.

There are now more than 80 university retirement communities on, or near, campuses at schools ranging from mammoth Arizona State to small Goucher College in Baltimore  often with years-long waiting lists. Typically, theyre continuing-care retirement communities (CCRCs) or life-plan communities for people 62-plus and run by senior-housing developers.

One of the thorniest retirement decisions is choosing where to live. But lately, growing numbers of preretirees and retirees are giving it the old college try. Literally.

Story Continues

Valerie Van Hollen, 73, is excited about moving out of her rural western Maryland house thats become too big for her and into the university retirement community planned for a vacant college dorm at nearby Frostburg State University in 2027 or 2028, with a mix of 40 co-ops and rental apartments and an assisted-living apartment (price TBD).

When I started hearing noises about the Frostburg thing, I thought, That sounds really wonderful, said Van Hollen, a single, retired clinical social worker. Frostburg is a nice little town and the idea of living on a college campus is ideal because you have all those opportunities. I really think being with young people keeps you young.

A rendering of Cambridge Residences, planned for Frostburg State University in Maryland. - Frostburg State University and Live Together

Reimagining higher education

The potential multigenerational housing developments at Frostburg State and the small liberal-arts enclave of Bennington College in Vermont were why both schools were winners in the Big Ideas Challenge to Reimagine Higher Education from the CoGenerate nonprofit and Stanford Center on Longevity.

Our assumption is that anyone who purchases into the living space at Frostburg State would automatically receive an ID which automatically counts them as a student, so they could audit classes or decide to take classes for grades and matriculate, said Nancy Giunta, co-lead of the project. There would probably be some requirement to do volunteer work or community activity.

At Bennington, were looking at the traditional model of senior-living homes but also trying to figure out with developers if theres a possibility to do something thats more multigenerational, said Laura Walker, who recently left her job as president of Bennington College to create the first campus redesigned for 100-year lives.

The idea of housing for retirees and students alike makes great sense. We have these places that are embedded all over the country with physical space, arts and learning, said Eunice Lin Nichols, co-CEO of Cogenerate. Instead of a ghost town of property, these campuses could be reused for intergenerational connection and collaboration.

A third of the campus could be retirees

In the next 10 years, Goucher Colleges partnership with Edenwald Senior Living is expected to create a campus that is one-third traditional-age students, one-third midcareer learners and one-third retirees, Nichols said.

While most university retirement communities are within a mile of campuses, a few  like Arizona States 20-story posh Mirabella towers (with penthouse dining) in Tempe and Lasell Universitys 182-apartment Lasell Village in the Boston suburb of Newton, Mass.  are smack dab amid the college students.

In his new book, Longevity Nation, author Michael Clinton calls Mirabella one of my favorite housing models, saying it just might be the template for an entirely new type of living for people over 50. Mirabella is currently 95% occupied; the minimum age to live there is 62, though most are in their 70s, and just 19% are ASU alums.

Mirabella is one is of the buildings where retirees live on the Arizona State campus. Its 95% occupied. - Mirabella at ASU

Three generations at ASU

In general, university retirement communities attract people who are highly educated and had good experiences in college, said Lindsey Beagley, senior director of lifelong university engagement for Mirabella at ASU. Among its residents: the mother, father, grandmother and grandfather of an ASU undergrad.

Lasell Village, which opened in 2000 and has 550 households on its wait list, is unusual because residents are required to commit to 450 hours of learning a year. Thats roughly nine hours a week  the equivalent of an undergraduate course load, said Zehra Abid-Wood, president of Lasell Village and a vice president at the university.

The way they fulfill that is a combination of taking any classes they want on the university campus  pass/fail  and by teaching and volunteering, said Abid-Wood. So they can piece together their 450 hours using their interests to shape what their curriculum looks like.

The cost of classes is part of Lasells entrance fee ($503,000 to $1.56 million) and monthly fee (roughly $5,350 to $12,300). The monthly fee, similar to a condos HOA fee, covers things like maintenance services, dining, utilities and access to campus amenities like the fitness center and indoor swimming pool.

The retirees who cant afford to move in

Experts concede the high cost of buying and living in these developments prevents some retirees from being able to afford them.

I think the developers need to find much more budget-friendly models, said Julie Brown, an Ohio University associate professor of gerontology who teaches courses on the business of aging.

Said Nichols: Affordable options for senior living on college campuses have not largely been cracked before.

The entry fees frequently come straight out of proceeds from the sales of the new residents former homes, Carle noted.

Although the monthly fees may look steep, they often include expenses the residents would have likely had to pay on their own elsewhere, such as food and utility bills. When you get 200 people in a building sharing the cost, its actually a lot cheaper than staying in your home, Carle said.

Walker hopes Benningtons retiree housing  aimed to open in 2028 or so  will offer sliding-scale pricing. There are two competing priorities at Bennington: One is to have a community that is open to many; the other is to bring revenue into a small New England liberal-arts college that needs it.

Many university retirement communities, however, quietly assist residents financially if they one day struggle to afford living there.

Do your homework

If the idea of moving into a university retirement community intrigues you, take these steps before signing a contract:

Visit it and try to spend at least a night there. I highly recommend a weekend stay, if you can arrange it, said Mirabellas Beagley. Carles advice: Id say the same thing I would for any senior-living community: Visit more than one.

Find out which expenses are included in the monthly fee. They can vary from one community to another.

See which school benefits youd be entitled to receive. For example, Carle said, ask: How do I get tickets to the sporting events?

If there is a high entry fee, ask about the refund policy. This also varies from place to place.

Read financial documents about the development and the developer. This will help ensure you wont move into a university retirement community thats shaky and could leave residents stranded one day. Some of them have lengthy contracts, said Carle. You have to read them. Many of the developments are run by nonprofits which must reveal their finances in Form 990s filed with the Internal Revenue Service.

Determine if the retirement community has been certified. UniversityRetirementCommunities.com has a sliding scale for certification. The developments that meet its toughest standards: Arizona States Mirabella and the Woodlands at Furman University in Greenville, S.C. The site shows which communities have received any of its three certification designations.

Beagley said retirees who moved into Arizona States Mirabella found that their whole identity shifted.

The moment when they get the student ID signals, Yes, youre going through a transition, but you now belong on campus. You are as much a campus community member as any student or faculty, Beagley said. I think that has been a pivotal change about what this experience means for folks.

Read next: You have until April 15 to claim this $8,000 Roth IRA freebie  no matter what your income

Most Read from MarketWatch
On X/Twitter Tuesday night, Democratic California Representative Ro Khanna posted a statement thanking far-right politicians and political commentators after Trump announced a two-week ceasefire in the war against Iran.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, R-Ga., and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., speak during a news conference as the House prepares to vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. [AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite]

In a 45-second video, Khanna noted that Congress had done nothing to prevent Trump from waging an illegal war against Iran. After stating that he was relieved Trump had accepted the ceasefire, Khanna said, Lets be clear, this did not happen because of Congress, which barely made a whimper.

Khanna did not mention that Congresss silence was bipartisan. That is because many Democrats support the illegal war against Iran, just as many supported the genocide in Gaza. Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the House, deliberately delayed a war powers resolution Khanna filed jointly with Republican representative Thomas Massie last month.

Khanna claimed the ceasefire happened because of the force of the American people, not just progressives and liberals, but conservatives like Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene and even Ann Coulter spoke out against the horror of threatening genocide against another people.

That some of Trumps biggest backers, including Carlson and Coulter, who still publicly support him, and Greene, a supporter of Trumps January 6 coup and his 2024 presidential campaign, voiced opposition to the illegal war against Iran is not a sign they have become anti-war.

First, Trumps popularity is collapsing among broad layers of the population who are outraged over not only Trumps warmongering, but also over his attacks on immigrants, his corruption, his cover-up of the Epstein Files, his self-dealing and his dictatorial actions. This includes many workers and young people who may have voted for Trump in the 2024 election under the false impression that the billionaire conman was anti-war.

Now that Greene is out of Congress, she joins Carlson and Coulter in offering right-wing commentary and advice to the ruling class, while at the same time keeping the working class divided by promoting nationalism and their own version of America First. In order to keep their audiences, who are increasingly anti-war and questioning those who told them to support Trump, the fascists are obliged to make critical noises.

Second, there are many neo-Nazis and antisemites, such as fascist streamer Nick Fuentes, who object to the genocide in Gaza not because they care about Palestinian life, but because they hate Jewish people and, like the Zionist state itself, falsely conflate the actions of the Israeli government with those of all Jewish people.

Many on the far-right seek to channel popular opposition to the Iran war along antisemitic lines, claiming that the Trump administration has been hoodwinked into fighting Israels war by Netanyahu and the Jewish lobby. They argue that if Jewish influence were excised from Congress and the military, a genuinely American foreign policy would emerge.

While American and Israeli interests are closely linked, and the Zionist state plays a deeply reactionary role in the Middle East and beyond, it is false to claim that Israel dominates in the formulation of American imperialist foreign policy, including the war against Iran. Such claims amount to an alibi for US imperialism, which has been oppressing Iran for more than a century.

The Israeli state has, since its inception, relied on US imperialism for protection and expansion. Through billions in military aid and diplomatic protection, the US government, under both Democratic and Republican administrations, has propped up Israel in pursuit of its own imperialist interests in the region, centered on domination of natural resources and control of strategic waterways.

The phony opposition of Carlson, Greene and Coulter to Trumps threats to destroy Iran is aimed at corralling the mass opposition in the United States to the war back into capitalist politics and the Republican Party.

That Khanna promotes these figures opposition as genuine exposes his progressive pretenses and defines him as an enemy of the working class.

Khannas statement included overtures to the fascist right with a call for a broad populist social movement. He said:

This tells me one thing. The only thing that will save this country, the only thing that will save our democracy, is a broad, populist social movement, anti-Epstein class, anti-war and pro-working class.

Khannas appeal for unity with the far right is aimed at blocking an independent socialist movement in the working class against both capitalist parties. What he is proposing has a definite historical and political character. It is a form of what has long been known as a red-brown alignment: a convergence in which forces speaking in the name of the left seek common cause with the nationalist right and even openly fascistic elements.

Such alliances do not express the interests of the working class. They arise from the politics of privileged middle-class layers, sections of the labor bureaucracy and other petty-bourgeois forces whose essential aim is the preservation of their own social position amid deepening crisis. Terrified by the growth of mass opposition to capitalism from below, they look for ways to channel popular anger into forms compatible with bourgeois rule, even if that means adapting to the language and personnel of extreme reaction.

The classic and most disastrous example was provided in Germany during the final crisis of the Weimar Republic. Following the Stalinist line, the Communist Party of Germany rejected Trotskys call for a united front of the workers parties against Hitler and instead treated the Social Democratic Party (SPD) as the main enemy. This policy led not only to the division and paralysis of the working class, but at key moments to direct political convergence with the Nazis against the SPD, most notoriously in the 1931 Prussian referendum. After Hitlers victory, Stalinism swung to the opposite extreme, promoting the anti-fascist Popular Front, which subordinated workers to alliances with liberal democratic sections of the bourgeoisie.

Leon Trotsky opposed this as another mechanism for disarming the proletariat. In France and Spain, the Popular Front subordinated revolutionary struggles to capitalist governments in the name of defending democracy, strangling the independent movement of workers and opening the way for fascist reaction.

The essential lesson is that the working class cannot fight fascism, war or dictatorship through alliances either with the far right or with liberal sections of the bourgeoisie. Every form of class collaboration serves, in the end, to weaken the workers and strengthen the class enemy.

Khanna is not alone in appealing to, and promoting, the Republican Party as the only political force capable of opposing Trumps warmongering and fascism. In a statement posted on social media on April 7, hours before Trumps deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face annihilation, Senator Bernie Sanders called for REPUBLICANS TO SPEAK UP.

In two other posts, one from April 3 and another from April 8, Sanders falsely presented the war against Iran as an expression of the personalities of Trump and Netanyahu and suggested that they were the only ones capable of ending it.

On April 3, Sanders wrote, Trump and Netanyahu started this war. Now they must end it. On April 8, Sanders posted:

No great surprise. Netanyahu talked Trump into the disastrous war in Iran. We cannot allow Israel to continue shaping US military and foreign policy. Next week I will be offering a resolution to stop US military aid to Israel.

Sanders repeats, in a slightly different form, the same essential falsehood advanced by antisemites when he tries to attribute American war crimes to the Israeli government and its supposed control over US foreign policy.

Khannas appeals to the far right and Sanderss false explanation for the war against Iran both flow from the same class logic. These bourgeois politicians are not telling the truth because they seek to preserve capitalism and American imperialism.

Under conditions in which, less than two weeks ago, some 8 million people marched in opposition to the immigration Gestapo, Trumps budding dictatorship and the illegal war against Iran, the progressive Democrats are doing everything they can to keep this movement trapped within the Democratic Party and subordinated to capitalist politics, rather than developing into a revolutionary class struggle. This includes making alliances with fascists who played an instrumental role in Trumps political ascension.

Appearing Wednesday at Democratic Party politician Al Sharptons National Action Network Convention 2026, Khanna revealed that he is considering a run for president in 2028. Appealing to the crowd, Khanna insisted that his immediate focus was making Hakeem Jeffries, a steadfast supporter of Israel, speaker of the House.

I am a supporter of Hakeem Jeffries. I believe he will be speaker of the House, and he will be the first black speaker of the House, and I believe he will do that with unanimity, Khanna told Sharpton.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer , and Sen. Joni Ernst, Republican-Iowa, joining hands at a rally in support of the Israeli genocide in Gaza. [AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein]

Presaging his own presidential ambitions, Khanna last week published an opinion piece in Jeff Bezoss Washington Post calling for progressive capitalism. The article, titled Progressive capitalism for the post-Trump era, called for making billionaires pay a fair share in taxes, including through Bernie Sanderss proposed 5 percent wealth tax.

The billionaires will not voluntarily allow their unearned wealth to be taxed. It must be expropriated through the independent mass movement of the working class, organized against those whose class function is to save capitalism from its historic crisis, and who are prepared to legitimize fascists in order to do so.
The Socialist Equality Group (SEG) in New Zealand received an email from a representative of the International Bolshevik Tendency (IBT) earlier this year, inviting it to attend and/or promote a rally titled Smash US Imperialism: Hands Off Latin America, ostensibly opposing the assault on Venezuela and threats against Cuba.

The SEG rejected the invitation to promote the event, which was organised by a broad coalition including Peace Action Wellington, the IBT and Unions Wellington, a campaigns group linked to the trade union bureaucracy. These organisations are hostile to the mobilisation of the working class against war. They are consciously seeking to divert growing anti-war sentiment into making futile appeals to the National Party-led government and the bourgeois opposition parties, Labour and the Greens.

Debate Between the International Communist League (Spartacist League of Australia) and the International Bolshevik Tendency in Melbourne, Australia on June 29, 2024. [Photo: YouTube/International Bolshevik Tendency]

The role of the IBT in joining the coalition, and urging the SEG to follow suit, was to provide the unions with anti-imperialist credentials. At the demonstration, a speaker from the IBT called for strike action to shut down the war machine and declared: We all agree the US must be driven out of all Latin America. That is simply false.

New Zealands trade unions have refused to call a single strike or industrial action against the genocide in Gaza, the attack on Venezuela and the expanding war against Iran. These are pro-war organisations. The countrys largest union openly supports increased military spending to build a modern, combat-ready defence force, preparing NZ to join a US-led war against China.

The IBT is well aware of these facts but keeps quiet about them. Its most recent statement on the Gaza genocidepublished on October 17, 2025called for coordinated joint action within the trade unions and across Mediterranean ports to stop weapons getting to Israel. It failed to mention that union leaders internationally have been the central force blocking precisely such actions.

This cover-up stems from the IBTs class orientation. Far from being Marxist or socialist, it is one of several pseudo-left formations that reflect the interests of definite layers of the middle class, including the union bureaucracy, whose aim is not to overthrow capitalism, but to secure a more comfortable position for themselves within the capitalist system.

The IBT opposes the call by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) for workers to rebel against the union bureaucracy by building rank-and-file workplace committees under their own democratic control.

In addition, the IBT seeks to trap workers by fostering illusions that bogus reformist partiessuch as Your Party in Britain and, in an earlier period, NewLabour in New Zealandand the Chinese Stalinist regime can play a progressive and anti-imperialist role.

Clarifying the political role of the IBTwhich has a presence in Europe, North America and New Zealandis part of the ICFIs fight to establish the political independence of the working class from every capitalist party and their middle-class nationalist defenders.

The Spartacist League, the IBT and Stalinism

The middle class nationalist politics of the IBT are deeply rooted in its history. The organisation originated in a series of splits in the early 1980s from the Spartacist League, itself founded in the 1960s in opposition to the ICFI. The current IBT leaders in New Zealand, Bill Logan and Adaire Hannah, previously held leading positions in the Spartacist League in both Australia and Britain until the late 1970s.

The IBT defends the positions advanced by the Spartacists in the 1960s and 1970s, claiming that they upheld the banner of revolutionary Trotskyism.[ 1 ] Nothing could be further from the truth.

Michel Pablo (right) with Ernest Mandel

The Spartacist tendency was an adaptation to Pabloism, a revisionist current that emerged in the Fourth International following World War II, led by Michel Pablo and Ernest Mandel. Pablo repudiated Trotskys conclusion that the Stalinist bureaucracy had become a counter-revolutionary force in the Soviet Union and internationally, which had to be overthrown by the working class in a political revolution in order to preserve and extend the gains of the Russian Revolution. Trotsky had founded the Fourth International in 1938 as the world party of socialist revolution, to lead the working class in an uncompromising struggle against Stalinism, social democracy and bourgeois nationalism.

Drawing deeply pessimistic conclusions from the temporary stabilisation of capitalism after World War II, Pablo claimed it was not possible to build independent Trotskyist parties and that Stalinist regimes, under mass pressure, could carry out revolutionary tasks. He instructed Trotskyists to enter the mass movement as it exists, including Stalinist, social democratic and bourgeois nationalist organisations.

In 1953, the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) was founded to defend orthodox Trotskyism against Pabloisms liquidationist program, which directed national sections to dissolve into Stalinist, reformist and bourgeois nationalist movements on the false premise that such forces could be pushed leftward.

The American Socialist Workers Party (SWP) initially led the international struggle against Pabloism. A decade later, however, the ICFI waged an intense battle against the SWPs opportunist decision to reunite with the Pabloites in the United Secretariat.

Two oppositional groupings arose within the SWP: the American Committee for the Fourth International (ACFI), aligned with the ICFI in defence of orthodox Trotskyism, and the Spartacist League, led by James Robertson, which concentrated on US tactical questions rather than the international struggle against revisionism.

At the ICFIs Third World Congress in London in 1966, Robertson revealed his hostility to the central strategic issue of building a revolutionary leadership through an unrelenting fight against opportunism. He rejected the notion that the present crisis of capitalism is so sharp and deep that Trotskyist revisionism is needed to tame the workers in a way comparable to the degeneration of the Second and Third Internationals. Such an erroneous estimation would have as its point of departure an enormous overestimation of our present significance and would accordingly be disorienting.

As the ICFI later explained, This was nothing less than a repudiation of the entire analysis which Trotsky had made of the significance of the founding of the Fourth International, and an embrace of the Pabloite perspective. Trotsky had insisted that outside of the cadres of the Fourth International, limited in number as they were, there was not a revolutionary tendency on the entire planet worthy of the name.

Notwithstanding Robertsons claim that imperialism did not need revisionism to tame the workers, the Pabloite liquidationist program had already saved capitalist rule by derailing a revolutionary situation in Sri Lanka. In June 1964, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), hailed by the Pabloites as the largest Trotskyist party in the world, had entered the bourgeois coalition government of Sirimavo Bandaranaike in Sri Lanka. This historic betrayal disoriented the working class and paved the way for decades of bloody communal civil war.

Claiming that the Fourth International had been destroyed by Pabloism, and dismissing the ICFIs fight for the continuity of Trotskyism, the Spartacist League stated that the movement would be rebuilt through a process of splits and fusions with other tendencies.

This provided the justification for the Spartacist League (SL) to orient towards Stalinists and the union apparatus. It rejected, in practice, the Trotskyist perspective that the Stalinist bureaucracy posed the greatest danger of capitalist restoration, and that only a political revolution by the working class to overthrow the bureaucracy could defend and extend the gains of the Russian and Chinese revolutions.

As the ICFI explained, the SLs call for unconditional military defence of the Stalinist regimes was not directed to the working class, and this group certainly possessed no means of executing this tactic itself. Instead it amounted to an hysterical appeal to the Stalinist bureaucracy itself to pursue a more confrontational military stance abroad while using violent repression against its political opponents at home, principally the working class.

The International Bolshevik Tendency originated in the External Tendency, formed in 1982 by members in the US, Canada and Germany who had been expelled or who split from the Spartacists during a series of factional crises in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The US-based External Tendency, which had renamed itself the Bolshevik Tendency, fused with the New Zealand Permanent Revolution Groupled by former Spartacists Logan and Hannahto form the IBT in 1991.

The IBT still glorifies the Spartacist League of the 1960s and 1970s but claims that during the 1980s it degenerated in a Stalinophilic direction and Robertsons leadership took on hyper-centralist, paranoid and personalist characteristics.[ 2 ]

The IBTs differences with the SL, however, were limited and tactical, rather than principled. It retained the same pro-Stalinist orientation. The IBT distanced itself from some of the Spartacists crudest apologetics, such as the slogan Hail Red Army! which glorified the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan at the end of 1979. While saying that the slogan was too uncritical of the Soviet bureaucracy, the IBT still called for military support to the Stalinists, backing the invasionwhich was a reactionary response to the US funding of the mujahadeen rebels against the Moscow-aligned regime.

The IBT portrayed the invasion as progressive, based on the Pabloite and Spartacist argument that the Red Army was defending socialized property forms and opposing imperialism. In fact, the warpaid for by the Soviet working class through brutal attacks on living conditions and thousands of deathsaccelerated the economic crisis that culminated in the bureaucracys decision to dissolve the Soviet Union.[ 3 ]

Similarly, the IBT gave its unconditional military support to the Stalinists to crush the mass strike movement of Polish workers in 1981, which it smeared as counter-revolutionary. It merely criticised the Spartacists pledge to take responsibility in advance for whatever idiocies and atrocities the Soviet troops committed.[ 4 ]

As the Soviet bureaucracy under Mikhail Gorbachev was preparing the imminent dissolution of the USSR and restoration of capitalism, the IBT insisted that it was the duty of socialists to back rival Stalinist factions who attempted a military coup in August 1991. The coup plotters agreed that capitalism should be restored, but feared that the rapidity of the transformation would spark an uncontrollable movement in the working class.[ 5 ]

In the case of China, the IBT continues to deny the obvious fact that capitalism has been restored. It refers to China as a deformed workers state and on this basis defends its repression of workers and portrays its military as a progressive force.

The IBT recently urged China to directly confront US forces in the Caribbean. In a Facebook post on February 26, it said China should break the blockade of Cuba by using its powerful naval resources to escort ships carrying oil, renewable energy supplies, and other goods through the US perimeter.

The claim that workers in Cuba, or any oppressed country, can defend themselves by siding with China in a military confrontation with US imperialism is both dangerous and delusional. Insofar as this perspective is taken seriously, it can only undermine the essential task of unifying the international working classincluding workers in the United States and Chinain a socialist, antiwar movement.

In reality, Beijing is responding to Washingtons far-advanced war preparations against China by desperately seeking an accommodation with the imperialist powers. At the same time, in response to provocations by the US and its allies in Taiwan and the South China Sea, China is staging its own military exercises, playing into the hands of the US and heightening the danger of a catastrophic nuclear war.

The overriding fear of the Chinese ruling elite is that the worsening global economic crisis and approaching war could trigger a movement in the working class against its capitalist police-state regime. The IBT has indicated where it will align in such a confrontation: when millions of people protested in Hong Kong in 2019 to demand democratic rights and an end to police brutality, the IBT smeared the demonstrations as pro-imperialist and called for the suppression of the leadership of the movement and its most intransigent adherents.[ 6 ]

The IBT and the NewLabour Party in New Zealand

The restoration of capitalism by the Stalinist regimes was only the most dramatic response to the unprecedented globalisation of production during the 1980s, which fatally undermined the basis for all national-reformist political programs. It was part of a global rightward shift by all the partieswhether Stalinist or social democraticthat workers had previously looked to to defend their interests.

In New Zealand, the 19841990 Labour Party government of Prime Minister David Lange and Finance Minister Roger Douglas abandoned the program of social reform and adopted the same right-wing agenda as Reagan in the US and Thatcher in Britain. It privatised state assets, slashed corporate taxes, and introduced a consumption tax and university fees. These attacks were enforced by the Stalinist-led union bureaucracy, which collaborated with factory closures and the destruction of about 70,000 manufacturing jobs.

As Labours support collapsed, numerous Stalinists and former Pabloites, along with the Permanent Revolution Group (PRG)which became the New Zealand section of the IBT in 1990swung into action to channel discontent back into illusions in reformism and block the emergence of a working class movement in opposition to Labour.

Jim Anderton founded the New Labour Party in 1989 [Photo: Alexander Turnbull Library/Phil Reid]

The PRG joined the NewLabour Party, (NLP) founded in 1989 by senior Labour MP Jim Andertonwho described himself as barely left of centrein a split from the government. The NLP drew in union officials, Labourites, Stalinists, Maoists and former Pabloites from the Socialist Action League.

The PRG fraudulently claimed that the NLP had the potential to become a genuine mass workers party. It had supposedly put working-class politics back on the mainstream political agenda. It promised a focal point for mobilising for some important immediate reforms and a forum for left-wing discussion and debate.[ 7 ]

In fact, Anderton advocated mild welfare reforms alongside a national-protectionist program of import controls to boost the international competitiveness of NZ manufacturing businesses.

NewLabour supported the Compact between the trade unions and the government. This scheme, through which the Stalinist-led union bureaucracy policed the working class and suppressed demands for an industrial and political campaign against the Labour right wing, had been bitterly opposed by workers.

Once they had exhausted their usefulness in providing socialist cover for Andertons con job, the PRG members were expelled from the NLP. Afterwards, the PRG lamented that the party could have been a vital and dynamic gathering place for people with a broad range of viewpoints from the working-class movement. In reality, it brought together middle class tendencies, oriented to the Labour Party, the unions, as well as feminism and Maori identity politicsthe so-called new social movementsto oppose the construction of an independent revolutionary movement in the working class.[ 8 ]

The IBT continues to heavily promote racial and gender identity politics, which serves both to divide workers and to subordinate them to sections of the upper middle class and the capitalist political establishment. In New Zealand, the IBT supports the movement for Maori autonomy based on the Treaty of Waitangi, a colonial document which has been used by successive governments as a mechanism to hand out multi-million dollar settlements to the Maori bourgeoisie.[ 9 ]

It also uses the issue of transgender rights in order to boost the unions, the Green Party and other middle class groups, based on the claim that elements of the progressive bourgeoisie or reformist workers parties can at times be convinced to support access to healthcare for transgender people and anti-discrimination measures, even if these reforms are reversible under capitalism.[ 10 ]

After purging the PRG and other middle class groups, the NLP was renamed the Alliance in 1991. It joined a coalition government with Labour in 1999, and then imploded in 2002 after voting to send New Zealand troops to join the criminal US invasion of Afghanistan.

The IBT is currently carrying out a similar opportunist entry into Your Party in Britain, founded last year by former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and MP Zarah Sultana. In August 2025, the IBT falsely claimed it was far too early to tell what kind of party Your Party will be, but said it could become a party of revolutionary social change.[ 11 ]

In opposition to the many pseudo-left groups that have hailed Your Party, the Socialist Equality Party in Britain warned from the outset that it is a political trap that will lead to betrayal and defeat for working people. It explained Corbyns right-wing record of support for NATO and nuclear weapons; his enforcement of austerity; and his capitulation to the state-orchestrated campaign against antisemitism that aimed to criminalise the left. Corbyns aim is to build a Labour Party Mark II to block, neuter and prevent the growth of a mass socialist movement in the working class.

The IBT and the union bureaucracy

The IBTs promotion of Stalinism and left capitalist parties, and its defence of the union bureaucracy, are two sides of the same nationalist perspective, rooted in the rejection of the fight to mobilise the international working class under the leadership of the Trotskyist movement.

In a March 2025 article, the IBT was forced to admit that the unions have failed to fight, even in limited ways, when workers needed it, but attributed this to mistaken policies that can be corrected through pressure. It called on communists to struggle for a militant pole, for open discussion of strategic differences, and to challenge the leadership.

A February 28 article calling for workers to strike against the US-Israeli war on Iran similarly stated: The current leadership of the organized labor movement is too beholden to their respective ruling classes to launch such actions, but there is hope that the rank-and-file may push for sanity.

This positionthat the union leadership can be pushed to fightechoes that of the Spartacist League, which attributed the wave of working class defeats in the 1980s to the union leaders failure to play hardball to win.

As the ICFI noted, this explained nothing. The corrupt and reactionary character of the union leaders could only be understood as the subjective expression of more fundamental objective processes. Globalisation had undermined the viability of trade unions as nationally-based defensive organizations of the working class. This process is expressed in the decay of these organizations and their transformation into appendages of the employers and the state.

As organisations which arose historically on the soil of the national economy and the growing power of the national state, the unions had no progressive response to globalisation. For more than 40 years their role has been to sabotage strikes, enforce mass redundancies and assist in lowering workers living standards to defend the international competitiveness of the national bourgeoisie.

In response to the Spartacists insistence that what was required was to pressure the unions, the ICFI stated: To tell workers that they must place demands on the unions to do things that these organizations are neither willing nor able to do, is not to enlighten, but rather to confuse, miseducate and, ultimately, demoralize the masses.

Today, subordinating workers to the unions means aiding these organisations in the defence of the bourgeois state and imperialismmost starkly exposed in the unions refusal to call strikes against the Gaza genocide and the war against Iran.

The explosive struggles in the US in January 2026 also demonstrate that any serious mass movement against fascism must develop in opposition to the union apparatus. The demand for a general strike to stop the reign of terror by ICE and Donald Trumps drive to dictatorship gained popularity in the working class independently of the unions, which are deeply hostile to such a strike.

To fight against war and austerity, and defend democratic rights, workers must build rank-and-file committees that they control, independent of the union bureaucracy and all capitalist parties. These committees must fight to unify all workers, including the vast majority who are not union members. The ICFI has initiated the International Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees as a mechanism to link up workers struggles across borders and overcome the national divisions enforced by the unions.

Conclusion

Sharp political lessons must be drawn from the record of the IBT and the Spartacists. All the theories they advanced about the progressive role of Stalinism, and the possibilities of transforming the unions and broad left capitalist parties into revolutionary organisations, have been shattered by events.

The right-wing degeneration of all these nationalist organisations has paved the way for the eruption of imperialist war and the return of fascism. These developments are radicalising millions of people, but this objective process will not automatically produce a conscious socialist movement.

The urgent task facing socialist-minded workers and young people is to build the revolutionary leadership required for the coming mass struggles of the working class. This in turn requires a political fight to differentiate Trotskyismthe program of world socialist revolutionfrom every variety of pseudo-left politics, which seeks to corral workers and young people behind illusions in bourgeois parties and regimes and the unions. As the crisis of the capitalist system continues to deepen, the pseudo-lefts will be brought forward as the last line of defence for bourgeois rule.

The ICFI alone provides the necessary strategic perspective for this fight, due to its principled struggle to defend the Trotskyist program against Stalinism, Pabloite liquidationism, and all forms of nationalist politics.

We call on workers and youth in New Zealand who agree with the analysis advanced in this article to join the Socialist Equality Group and its youth movement, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, which are fighting to build the NZ section of the ICFI.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Fed Chair Jerome Powell reportedly convened Wall Street leaders on Tuesday in an emergency meeting about Anthropics latest AI model, flagging concerns over a greater cybersecurity risk.

Bessent and Powell assembled the group of high-powered execs at the Treasurys headquarters to ensure banks were aware of the cyber risks presented by Anthropics new model, Mythos, and similar future models, reported Bloomberg and the Financial Times. Sources who spoke to Bloomberg said those in attendance included Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser, Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf, and Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon was also invited but was unable to attend, the sources said.

The Federal Reserve declined to comment to Fortune. The Treasury didnt immediately respond to Fortunes request for comment.

The meeting comes just weeks after Fortune exclusively reported Anthropic was developing an unreleased model described by the company as by far the most powerful AI model it had ever developed, the existence of which Anthropic inadvertently made public last month through its content management system. Later, the company acknowledged that model was Claude Mythos.

Anthropic on Tuesday released a report titled Assessing Claude Mythos Previews cybersecurity capabilities, noting how the model was able to find many 10- and 20-year-old vulnerabilities, as well as a 27-year-old vulnerability in OpenBSD, an operating system that has a reputation for being one of the most secure.

Anthropic briefed senior U.S. government officials and industry stakeholders on Mythos Previews capabilities ahead of its release, someone with knowledge of the matter told Fortune. In a blog post, the company said it is willing to work with officials at all levels of government to ensure national security is a priority when rolling out new AI models, and that the U.S. maintains a lead in AI technologies.

Anthropic told Fortune that partnering with the government was the companys plan from the start (the company is currently in a legal battle with the Pentagon after the Defense Department blacklisted it for placing restrictions on use of its AI technologies).

Anthropics new AI model could reshape cybersecurity, so it launched Project Glasswing

In partnership with JPMorgan Chase, Amazon, and Google, along with other key tech companies, Anthropic launched Project Glasswing this week, an initiative aimed to secure critical software amid AI advancements. As part of the partnership, Anthropic said in a blog post, it would share what it learns with the tech and financial services industries.
On April 7, Youhuang Xiang, a 32-year-old postdoctoral fellow at Indiana University (IU), was sentenced to time served and ordered immediately deported to China. After over four months of detention, Xiang was coerced into pleading guilty to trumped-up federal charges of smuggling innocuous E. coli plasmid DNA into the United States.

Youhuang Xiang

Xiang, who holds a PhD from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, arrived at Indiana Universitys Department of Biology in June 2023 on a J-1 visa. In November 2025, he was detained by US Customs and Border Protection at Chicago OHare International Airport upon returning from a research trip. The basis for his arrest was a package he had received at his Bloomington, Indiana home months earlier from a colleague in China. The package included plasmid DNA of E. coli.

Under ordinary circumstances, a lapse in biological materials transfer is handled by the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which typically destroys the material and issues a warning or a fine, depending on the severity. In the cases of Xiang and five Chinese researchers at the University of Michigan (U-M), the Department of Justice transformed this administrative matter into felony charges of conspiracy, smuggling, and lying to federal authorities, carrying a potential sentence of 25 years in prison.

The US government, abetted by a compliant corporate press and IU administration, spun a hysterical narrative that Xiang had smuggled the pathogenic bacteria E. coli. The reality, obvious to any undergraduate biology student, was entirely different. Plasmid DNA are small, circular DNA molecules used by researchers to replicate and study genes. They possess no infectious qualities and cannot cause sickness.

Faced with the threat of a lengthy prison term, Xiang was coerced into a plea agreement in March in which prosecutors recommended a sentence of time served. Nevertheless, Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II delayed sentencing for over four weeks to probe Xiangs modest finances.

Driven by the imperatives of US imperialisms escalating military and economic confrontation with China, the Trump administration is collaborating with universities to frame scientists as agents of espionage and terrorism.

The World Socialist Web Site has documented this state-sponsored terror campaign:

Yunqing Jian: Jian, a 33-year-old U-M postdoctoral researcher, was arrested in June 2025 and charged with smuggling Fusarium graminearum, a common plant fungus. She was held in a county jail for more than five months before being coerced into a plea deal in November, sentenced to time served, and deported to China. At the sentencing hearing, the US attorney admitted, I dont have evidence that she had evil intent, contradicting the entire national security basis of the case.

Chengxuan Han: Han, a 28-year-old visiting doctoral student, was arrested following an unconstitutional interrogation at which she was not read her Miranda rights, was denied counsel, and was given an incompetent translator. She faced severe federal charges for sending packages containing nonhazardous C. elegans roundworms to U-M researchers. After being jailed for three months, the threat of decades in prison forced her into pleading no contest in September 2025, leading to a sentence of time served and swift deportation.

Xu Bai, Fengfan Zhang, and Zhiyong Zhang: These three U-M researchers were fired by the university in October after refusing to participate in an internal investigation related to Hans shipment of C. elegans roundworms to their lab. The three were arrested and jailed for three months. In a humiliating defeat for the Justice Department and the University of Michigan, the government abruptly requested the dismissal of all charges against the trio on February 4, days before the case was set to go to trial.

The IU-Bloomington chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), led by Xiangs supervisor, Professor Roger Innes, issued a statement noting the mischaracterization of a common and routine method of obtaining research samples and condemning IUs complicity with federal agents. The statement declared, When false allegations are raised, it is the responsibility of the university administration to defend the reputation of those wrongly accused. The AAUP at U-M has issued no statement on any of the five victimized U-M researchers in the 10 months since Jians arrest.

This relentless psychological and legal terror has now claimed a life. On the night of March 19, Danhao Wang, a 30-year-old assistant research scientist in the U-M Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Department, jumped to his death from an upper story in the George G. Brown Memorial Laboratories building on the universitys North Campus. He was pronounced dead the following day in what authorities are calling a possible act of self-harm. Wang was a brilliant, world-class scholar with over 110 co-authored publications. He played a critical role in developing breakthrough innovations for advancing the next generation of electronic and optoelectronic devices.

According to statements from the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Consulate in Chicago, Dr. Wang had been subjected to severe and hostile questioning by US federal agents regarding his research shortly before his death.

When the arrests of Jian, Han, Bai, F. Zhang, and Z. Zhang were announced, U-M did not defend its scholars or the integrity of their research. It made no effort to explain the innocuous, standard nature of the biological materials involved. Instead, the administration immediately revoked their research positions, issued statements promising full cooperation with federal law enforcement, and actively aided federal agencies in ruining the lives of these young scientists.

This complicity was further exposed following the tragic suicide of Danhao Wang. For two weeks, the U-M administration suppressed news of the suicide. The university has since refused to comment beyond stating that an investigation is underway.

On March 26, one week after the suicide of Wang, U-M Interim President Domenico Grasso testified at a hearing of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce titled US Universities Under Siege: Foreign Espionage, Stolen Innovation, and the National Security Threat. He told the committee, chaired by far-right Michigan Republican Tim Walberg:

As an engineer and an army veteran, who currently holds a top secret security clearance, Im deeply committed to protecting our nations security.  This commitment is illustrated by our decision to end a relationship with a university in China that is seen as a potential threat to Americas interests. We made this decision after discussion with this committee and the House Select Committee on the CCP (Chinese Communist Party).

He boasted of terminating the visas of accused Chinese researchers, telling the committee:

In isolated but serious incidents, a small number of university students and researchers from China have been arrested for unlawful activities.  Once alerted, we acted swiftly and decisivelyworking with federal law enforcement, promptly terminating student and work visas, and severing all ties with those individuals.

When U-M and IU canceled the Chinese researchers visas, all six were immediately subject to detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Because time spent in an administrative ICE facility would not count toward any potential time served sentence, these scientists were forced to accept federal detention without bail.

The University of Michigan cannot be trusted to investigate its own complicity in the death of Danhao Wang. An administration that boasts of its alignment with the national security state and actively facilitates the deportation of its own researchers will produce nothing but a whitewash designed to protect its lucrative government funding.

The World Socialist Web Site and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality at U-M are calling for an independent investigation into the death of Danhao Wang. This investigation must be completely independent of the corporate-controlled U-M Board of Regents and the university administration. It must be organized, led, and overseen by a committee consisting of representatives of the researchers, students, faculty and campus workers.

We call as well for the dropping of all charges against Youhuang Xiang and the exoneration and offer of repatriation to the five victimized U-M researchers.
Residents gather near charred cars and buildings, at the site of Wednesday's Israeli airstrike, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, April 10, 2026. [AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti]

On Friday, during a phone interview with the New York Post, President Trump said US warships were being reloaded with weapons to be used against Iran in anticipation of a failure of the ceasefire talks taking place in Pakistan.

When asked if he thought the negotiations would be successful, he said, Were going to find out in about 24 hours. Were going to know soon. Trumps remarks are an unmistakable indication that the two-week pause in the US air assault on Iran he announced on Tuesday has resolved nothing and is being used to prepare the next stage of the war.

Trump made clear that the Pentagon is replenishing its weaponry during the pause in the air assault. He said, We have a reset going. Were loading up the ships with the best ammunition, the best weapons ever madeeven better than what we did previously, and we blew them apart.

Emphasizing that a return to warfare was on the agenda, Trump repeated himself, 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. And if we dont have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively.

Reports from multiple outlets since Tuesday show that Iran retains control over the passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with shipping still restricted and, in some accounts, subject to Iranian oversight or tolling arrangements. Disturbed by Irans control of the strait and the fact that this is being reported widely by the corporate media, Trump posted on Truth Social at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, The Iranians are better at handling the Fake News Media, and Public Relations, than they are at fighting!

A report by CBS News said data compiled by MarineTraffic shows that only 22 ships have passed through the strait since Tuesday. Estimates of shipping traffic in the Persian Gulf indicate a significant bottleneck of over 600 total commercial vessels at a standstill, approximately 400 of which are oil tankers, and not moving through the strait.

A few minutes later, Trump escalated his threats against Iran, writing, 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!

There are major conflicts within the US ruling establishment over whether the talks will produce any results because of Israels continued attacks on Lebanon. Iranian officials have warned that time is running out, while US officials are trying to preserve the ceasefire before it expires on April 22.

However, based on Trumps comments to the New York Post, it is likely the Israeli attacks on Lebanon are being used to deliberately sabotage talks that function as a cover for preparations to restart the war on a far higher level.

The truce discussions are taking place in Islamabad, with Pakistan mediating and a large US delegation involved, including Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Marco Rubio and Adm. Brad Cooper, alongside officials from the National Security Council, State Department and Pentagon.

On the Iranian side, reports say the delegation arrived in Islamabad and is headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior officials also included. Reuters described the meeting as make-or-break, and other reports say the two sides remain far apart on core issues.

The official line is that the talks are meant to translate the ceasefire into a longer standing arrangement, but there is no agreement over whether Lebanon is covered. Pakistan and Iran have said that the ceasefire framework includes Lebanon, while the White House and Israel have denied it.

Irans position is tied to Israels continued expansion of the war in Lebanon. Iranian state-linked comments reported in the press have framed the Lebanese front as inseparable from Irans own security, with Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Seyed Majid Mousavi warning that Aggression towards Lebanon is aggression towards Iran, and promising a heavy response.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who previously said there is no cease-fire in Lebanon, agreed on Thursday to start direct negotiations with Lebanon after Trump urged restraint by Israel, and the European imperialist leaders warned that the attacks on Lebanon threatened to collapse the ceasefire with Iran.

Recent reporting says that more than 1.2 million people have been displaced since the beginning of the conflict, with the UN citing evacuation orders covering 14 percent of the country. On Wednesday, Israeli strikes killed at least 303 people and injured more than 1,000, the deadliest day so far in the war that began on March 2.

The scale of destruction is also being measured in infrastructure collapse. Reports cite strikes on roads, bridges, hospitals and commercial districts, with aid delivery badly disrupted and parts of the south rendered non-functional. Like the Gaza genocide, this is not a limited border operation; It is a systematic campaign to make areas of Lebanon uninhabitable.

The correspondence of interests between Washington and Tel Aviv were expressed when Trump said on Wednesday that he had spoken with Netanyahu and that Israel would tone it down in Lebanon. Knowing full well the Iranian position on the Lebanon, Trump added, I just think we need to be a bit more low-key, and claimed Netanyahu would ease up and be totally fine on the Lebanon issue.

Meanwhile, Netanyahus latest statements make clear that Israels objective is not a pause but a political-military restructuring of Lebanon. He has said the talks with Lebanon will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations on Israeli terms, while also insisting that Israel will keep striking until its security conditions are met.

These remarks should be understood alongside the fact that the bombing of Lebanon continues. Israel is using negotiations as a cover to press its military campaign, not as a genuine path to de-escalation. Israeli strikes continued Thursday killing dozens more, with between 17 and 24 killed in specific strikes by Israel.

This is in fact the same modus operandi of the Trump administration itself. The talks in Islamabad are but a respite as the White House considers its next move to militarily impose the requirements of US imperialism onto the Iranian people.

The WSWS has consistently maintained that this war is part of the imperialist effort by Washington to subordinate the region to American interests. The US is pursuing the obliteration of Iran as a state and a campaign of terror against the population, and that the assault on Iran is tied to control over energy resources and preparation for wider a conflict, including against China and Russia.

As an anonymous senior defense official told Politico in March, Iran is not the end. 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.

This analysis identifies the present war as a warning of what is coming next. The aim of US imperialism is the domination of Iran as a major opening act in a broader global escalation. The Middle East war is the sharpest expression of the world crisis of capitalism.

The ceasefire talks in Islamabad cannot resolve a conflict rooted in imperialist strategy, Israeli expansionism and the drive of the US ruling class to redivide the region by force. With these objectives intact, the present truce will be unstable, and the threat of a far broader war will continue to hang over the region and the world.
Participants at the anti-war meeting listen intently to the political report, April 7, 2026.

On April 7, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) and the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) held the second in a series of anti-war public meetings titled Stop the US-Israel illegal war against Iran at the Orient Education Institute in Hindagala, near the University of Peradeniya. Students, workers, university academics and party supporters attended the meeting. The SEP also livestreamed the event on its Facebook page, where, at the time of writing, viewers had shared it more than 325 times and watched it over 4,800 times.

In the lead-up to the meeting, SEP and IYSSE members and supporters conducted an extensive campaign at the University of Peradeniya and in surrounding areas, engaging workers, youth and students on the necessary strategy to stop this criminal war.

Part of the anti-war demonstration against war organized by International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) and the Socialist Equality Party (SEP). The April 7 protest was at the Orient Education Institute at Hindagala.

Most participants in these discussions expressed anger and opposition to the war and sought clarity on how it could be stopped. This demonstrated a strong interest in understanding the root causes of the imperialist war drive and its implications in the context of the deepening global crisis of the capitalist system. More than one hundred copies of the booklet Stop the Criminal US-Israeli War on Iran, containing Sinhala and Tamil translations, were sold during the campaign.

The SEP and IYSSE also held a lunchtime picket prior to the meeting, calling for an end to the war against Iran through the building of a conscious and active international anti-war movement of the working class. The protest was witnessed by thousands of commuters using public transport, and several news websites reported on it favorably.

Sakuntha Hirimuthogoda

Sakuntha Hirimutugoda, a leading member of the IYSSE in Sri Lanka, chaired the meeting, while SEP General Secretary Deepal Jayasekera delivered the main report. In his introductory remarks, Hirimutugoda said that the period following the first US-Israeli attack on Iran had demonstrated the homicidal, brutal and violent character of the war. Every other imperialist power, he noted, was backing the onslaught.

Hirimutugoda referred to the threats by Donald Trump to send Iran back to the Stone Age, declaring that the whole of Iran will be destroyed overnight, and targeting Tehrans energy system. He warned:

If he attacks the energy system, there will be dangerous consequences. Immense destruction has already been caused. Already, 2,000 people in Iran have died. Trump is threatening to destroy a country with a population of 90 million. Such threats can be equated with the actions of the Nazi regime in Germany in the 1930s. However, when they spoke of the Holocaust, it was done secretly, behind the backs of the people. Trump is making such threats in broad daylight, on social media and in press conferences. This exposes the total bankruptcy and advanced stage of collapse of the capitalist system.

Pointing to the international character of the war on Iran, Hirimutugoda said that stopping it is a life-and-death issue for humanity. That responsibility rests with the mobilization of the international working class. Opposition to war in the working class has already developed, but it must be transformed into a conscious movement built on a scientific understanding of the roots of war, Hirimutugoda said.

SEP General Secretary Deepal Jayasekera opened his remarks by condemning the US-Israeli imperialist aggression against a historically oppressed country. The aim, he explained, is to seize Irans oil and gas resources and establish US domination over the Middle East as a whole. He added that the war is also connected to US war preparations against China and Russia and forms part of a broader drive to establish American hegemony over the world.

Explaining that the current war threatens to push the entire planet into a catastrophic world war, he posed the alternative before the working class: Will it act to stop this imperialist barbarism, or will capitalism bring the world to destruction through a third world war?

Deepal Jayasekara

Jayasekera pointed to the fact that the Trump administration and the European governments collaborating with it in the war on Iran are simultaneously waging class war at home by placing the full burden of the capitalist crisisand the costs of waron the working class through sweeping austerity measures. This will intensify the developing class struggle in these countries, he said, and it provides an objective basis for building an international anti-war movement of the working class.

Jayasekera exposed the claim by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National Peoples Power (JVP/NPP) government in Sri Lanka that it is maintaining a neutral position on the war against Iran. The brief statement issued by the JVP/NPP governments External Affairs Ministry did not even name the aggressors, the US and Israel, and merely called on all parties to restrain themselves. He pointed out that President Anura Kumara Dissanayakes government is complicit in the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The speaker also addressed the so-called non-aligned policy promoted by the fake-left Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) and by Kalpa Rajapakshe, a senior lecturer at Peradeniya University and a leader of the Socialist Peoples Forum, the Sri Lankan section of the Pabloite United Secretariat. They have advised the JVP/NPP government to pursue such a policy as the best option in the present situation.

He explained that the non-aligned policy, first advanced in the 1960s by some former colonial countries such as India and Indonesia in an attempt to maneuver between US imperialism and the Soviet Union under the Stalinist bureaucracy during the Cold War, was neither anti-imperialist nor anti-war.

In the concluding part of his speech, Jayasekera elaborated the SEPs position against all parties of the political establishment and their pseudo-left apologists.

Our position is a socialist and internationalist one, he said. This war cannot be stopped by appealing to the imperialist warmongers. Only the independent mobilization of the international working class based on a socialist perspective can stop this brutal war.

He emphasized the urgent task of the working class to build independent action committees in every workplace, factory and neighborhood, organized independently of all bourgeois political parties and their pseudo-left and trade union appendages.

Jayasekera concluded:

The working class, which has the capacity to stop the war machine, must organize strike actions in sectors crucial to sustaining the war effort, such as transport, other services, ports, and oil supplies, through these independent action committees. Students and youth should join the IYSSE to develop the struggle to build an international anti-war movement of the working class. Building the SEP as a mass revolutionary party to lead the working class in this struggle against war, based on socialist policies, is absolutely crucial in this situation.

A lively question-and-answer session followed the speakers presentations.

Questions raised by participants centered on how to transform the SEP into a mass party, how to tackle the suppression of socialist ideas and youth by capitalist governments, and how to organize an international anti-war movement.

In his responses, Jayasekera addressed the issues of how to stop the war and what must be done to achieve this. The SEP, the ICFI and the WSWS, he explained, propose that workers and youth build a movement based on irreconcilable opposition to capitalism and imperialism, which are the root causes of the present barbarism.

War, he explained, arises from the global crisis of the capitalist system. Therefore, to halt war on a progressive basis, an international anti-war movement of the working class must be grounded in the struggle for socialism. The fundamental contradictions of capitalismbetween the globalized economy and the rival nation-state system, and between socialized production and profit-driven private ownershipare behind imperialist war, and therefore the fight against imperialist war is necessarily a fight against capitalism.

The response of the ruling class to these contradictions, he warned, leads to the drive toward a catastrophic world war. The historical experience of the 1917 October Revolution demonstrated in practice that imperialist war can be stopped through the working class taking political power. Its impact contributed to ending World War I. In its aftermath, the European working class advanced its own struggles, deepening the fears of the ruling classes about continuing the war.

Addressing capitalist government crackdowns on workers and youth, the SEP general secretary said that when the SEP and IYSSE confront such conditionssuch as last years ban on a meeting on IMF austerity measures at the University of Peradeniya following the intervention of the prime ministerthey turn to the working class and youth, appealing for their defense. The SEP strengthens itself through such a turn. While the meeting could not ultimately be held, the partys campaign among workers, youth, and students exposed the pseudo-democratic phrase-mongering of the JVP/NPP government.

Responding to a question on the politics of the SEP and the FSP, Jayasekera explained that the SEP and its predecessor, the Revolutionary Communist League, have nothing in common with the FSP in terms of political perspective or class basis. He said that the FSP is hostile to the working class and rooted in the upper middle class, functioning to confuse workers and youth and tie them to capitalism. He pointed to the 2022 mass uprising in Sri Lanka as exposing the treacherous role of this pseudo-left party, which worked to divert the movement back into capitalist parliament and the bourgeois state through calls for an alternative capitalist interim government.
Postal workers at a USPS processing and distribution center. [AP Photo/Ben Margot]

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has suspended payments to its employees pension program, amid a mounting liquidity crisis.

Postmaster General David Steiner told the House Oversight Committee in March: At our current rate we will be out of cash in less than 12 months, Steiner warned. So in about a year from now the Postal Service will be unable to deliver the mail if we continue the status quo.

In response, USPS leadership has initiated an emergency cash conservation plan. Beginning April 10, the agency will temporarily suspend its biweekly employer contributions to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which covers approximately 99 percent of career postal workers.

These payments, typically about $200 million every two weeks, amount to roughly $400 million per month. By halting them, USPS expects to free up approximately $2.5 billion through the end of the fiscal year, providing a temporary buffer to sustain operations.

Chief Financial Officer Luke Grossmann framed the decision as a matter of prioritizing the immediate risk of running out of cash, which he argued, outweighs the longer-term risks to pension funding. He emphasized that current and future retirees are not expected to face immediate impacts.

However, the move effectively converts workers deferred compensation into a financial backstop for the agencys day-to-day operations, raising concerns about precedent and long-term stability. This move likely paves the way for future cuts, privatization of retirement assets, and the speculative investment of remaining funds, all outcomes that align with the broader goals of privatization.

Congressional and management proposals to change pension rules and pensionfund investment authority are already being floated.

What is being presented by officials as a sudden fiscal emergency is, in reality, the culmination of decades of policy decisions that have systematically weakened the public postal system. In 1971, following a massive national wildcat strike against the Nixon administration, the post office was demoted from a cabinet-level department of the federal government to a self-funding independent agency, USPS.

This has been used to justify repeated rounds of cuts, including the most recent Delivering for America restructuring program. This aims to adopt an Amazon-style logistics model prioritized for package delivery while expanding a non-career workforce characterized by low pay and precarious job security.

The program has been a disaster for workers. New and renovated facilities, designed to exploit workers to the limit, are unsafe and have led to a series of workplace fatalities. This includes the deaths of Nick Acker in Michigan and Russell Scruggs in Georgia last November. The USPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee responded to their deaths by launching an independent investigation into workplace conditions at the post office.

At the heart of the funding crisis is a fundamental shift in USPSs revenue model. The agency is legally required to provide universal service to 168 million addresses, six days a week, regardless of profitability. Yet its most core revenue stream, first-class mail, has declined dramatically.

Since 2007, first-class mail volume has fallen by more than 50 percent, driven by the rapid digitization of communication. This collapse has not been offset by growth in package delivery, which, while expanding, operates on thinner margins and faces intense competition from private carriers.

The financial consequences are that USPS reported a $9 billion net loss for fiscal year 2025, continuing a pattern of persistent deficits that management now cites to justify sweeping operational and workforce changes.

To address the impending cash exhaustion, projected for as early as February 2027, the USPS management is considering other schemes, such as a 4-cent increase for first-class mail Forever stamps to 82 cents. It is also courting large corporations for delivery contracts, undermining the agencys universal service mandate.

Furthermore, Steiner has requested Congress to raise the agency's decades-old $15 billion borrowing cap to $34.5 billion to provide the necessary flexibility to execute reforms. He says that without legislative action or significant operational changes, including reducing delivery days, the agency faces a potential stoppage of mail delivery.

The same ruling establishment claims there is no money for public services while funneling trillions into military expenditures, attacks on immigrants and corporate bailouts. Even as the post office is on the brink of insolvency, Trump has requested $200 billion in funding for the Iran war and a 50 percent increase in the next military budget to $1.5 trillion.

Far from mobilizing any genuine opposition to these reactionary measures, the postal union bureaucracies are falling into lockstep with management. The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association (NRLCA) have long functioned as junior partners in the implementation of the Delivering for America restructuring program.

The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) has signaled its alignment with the scorched-earth policies advanced by Steiner and his bipartisan backers in Congress.

In a cynical dispatch to its membership titled US Mail Not For Sale, the APWU leadership explicitly endorsed Steiners so-called commonsense policy fixes, insisting that these reforms, which are nothing more than a blueprint for massive cuts, must happen as soon as possible.

While paying lip service to the threat of privatization, the APWU apparatus promotes the very fiscal framework used to justify the assault on the workforce. Even as it claims to urge workers to get ready for the fight to come, the union bureaucracy offers no concrete strategy to oppose mass layoffs, the suppression of wages, or the relentless expansion of a precarious, non-career workforce.

For rank-and-file workers, getting ready for the fight to come means organizing independently of the union bureaucracy through a network of rank-and-file committees to prepare action from below. Such committees will provide the framework to unite postal workers across facilities, job classifications and appeal to workers across the country for support.

A key objective must also be to link up with postal workers worldwide, where similar cuts are taking place. Workers at Canada Post are preparing to vote on sellout contracts that would pave the way for thousands of job cuts.

The USPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee, in line with postal committees in other countries in the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees, has been founded to advocate and encourage this strategy among postal workers.
Fate performance center in Munro, Buenos Aires [Photo by Fma12 / CC BY-SA 4.0

This Friday, April 10, 2026, marks the critical judicial deadline for Fate, Argentinas sole major producer of truck and bus tires, to begin paying workers salaries they are owed, following the shutdown of the factory.

A determined rank-and-file occupation of the Virreyes plant in Buenos Aires Province has persisted since the companys illegal closure announcement in February 2026resulting in over 900 layoffs. The tire corporation has brazenly declared it will refuse to comply with a court order and instead appeal the ruling.

Last week, the National Chamber of Appeals for Labor issued a binding order mandating Fate to immediately disburse all salaries owed to workers listed in a May 2025 deal. That sellout agreement imposed by the union had granted the firm massive tax exemptions and labor flexibilities in exchange for a commitment to avoid layoffs until July 2026.

Fate executives dismissively retorted: The law is clear: you work, you get paid; you dont work, you dont get paid. The company closed in February.

Rank-and-file workers initiated the occupation amid national outrage as soon as the shutdown was announced, but the National Tire Workers Union (SUTNA) at the plant, led by Alejandro Crespo of the pseudo-leftist Partido Obrero (PO) and integrated into the FIT-U coalition with congressional seats, has channeled the struggle into dead-end appeals to the government of Buenos Aires Province to take over operations.

The struggle at Fate, now over 50 days old, has seen escalating desperation among workers occupying the plant who have gone unpaid since mid-February.

Between February 18 and March 18, the Labor Secretariat of fascistic President Javier Mileis government imposed mandatory conciliation, but it then handed the process over to the Buenos Aires Province. The local government has extended the hearings until April 20, while Fate extensively argued its positiona move SUTNA interprets as tacit provincial endorsement of administrative delays.

Provincial Peronist Governor Axel Kicillof claims his administration cannot absorb the jobs. In response, the union has lobbied Buenos Aires legislators for provincial seizure of Fates board for one year, analogizing it to COVID-era hotel takeovers.

Crespo emphasizes the strategic wartime role of tires, referring to the disruptions caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran: Truck and bus tires are only produced at Fate... if international shipping stops, Argentinas transport would be paralyzed.

SUTNA held private meetings with a majority of blocs in the provincial legislature, including Peronists (UP) and the right-wing Radicals (UCR).

Most recently, SUTNA plans an April 14 demonstration in Plaza de Mayo in downtown Buenos Aires, with Crespo boasting of the support he has received from the Peronist-led Truckers, Public Employees, and Oil workers. The Argentine Workers Central (CTA) has endorsed the protest, and the media reports that SUTNA is now focusing on courting the largest union apparatus, the Confederation of Argentine Workers (CGT)

These maneuvers are all presented within the framework of pressuring Kicillof and national officials to intervene and run the plant.

Nationalist posturing of the PO

In statements to the media and workers, SUTNA, dominated by the Partido Obrero (PO), postures as defenders of national industry. The PO outlet Prensa Obrera announced this week a new stage in the struggle, which it called a symbol of the Argentine workers movement.

This new stage, the PO adds, will involve demanding an urgent national strike and plan from the main union centrals.

The PO defines the reopening of the plant a national demand and, attempting to cover up its appeals to the fascistic Trump ally, it boasts that SUTNA has hit Milei hard, exposing his administrations industrial catastrophe while sharpening clashes within the bourgeoisie. PO also charges that the shutdown makes Argentina hostage to foreign tire production.

While combined with militant phrases, the entire approach to the shutdown by the PO is aimed at using nationalist posturing to appeal not to workers but to rival factions within the ruling class.

The record of SUTNA exposes it as an apparatus used by the pseudo-left elements of the middle class to win favor from the ruling class. In early 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic raged, SUTNA hailed itself as a model for safe reopenings, imposing unscientific protocols that turned deadly. In these complex times, all tire co-workers must keep acting with the greatest responsibility, Crespo claimed at the time, placing the burden of containing the deadly virus on individual workers.

After two Fate workers died days apart, rank-and-file workers denounced the apparatus for serving billionaire owner Javier Madanes Quintanilla at the expense of their health and lives.

Today, PO exploits Peronist riftsprotesting in front of Kicillofs mansion and the Buenos Aires legislature, and pitting La Campora (Maximo Kirchners group within the Peronist camp) against the governor: While La Campora and Frente Renovador lean toward board intervention, Kicillofs wing stays silent. Crespo warns: The entire Argentine working people follow the Fate conflict closely, drawing conclusions about who stands with workers or lets factories closeeven strategic ones.

Crespos statement is correct in one sense: workers are drawing conclusions on the role played by his union and political allies betraying the resistance to the shutdown at Fate and the tens of thousands of jobs lost across industries under Milei.

This frantic lobbying of Peronist leaders and appeals to the CTA and CGT bureaucracies mirrors the role played by Nahuel Morenos Socialist Workers Party (PST) half a century ago in politically disarming workers before the 1976 coup. Behind the cover of opposing coup threats from fascist sectors of the military, the PST joined several meetings with the main bourgeois parties to defend the Peronist government, even as the latter organized death squads against militant workers. The PST also dissolved its industrial work into the Peronist unions, blocking independent action.

The PO and the Morenoite groups within the FIT-U are exploiting the shutdown of Fate to repeat a similar betrayal, courting the Kicillof, the Campora and the union bureaucracies. The question never raised by these forces is the effect of their actions on the consciousness of workers. The only outcome possible is feeding illusions that the capitalist state and its union apparatus can be pressured to defend the interests of the working classa dead end that in turn can only result in political confusion and demoralization.

The Morenoite PTS (also in FIT-U) published a statement of support from Fate workers in solidarity with Tornel tire strikers in Mexico after four workers were shot by company thugs on the picket line. However, despite this sign of a broader interest in expanding the struggle internationally, the publication of this statement was a conscious attempt to conceal the orientation of the entire FIT-U and SUTNA leaderships to the capitalist state and Peronist union bureaucracy. This corresponds with the interests of upper middle-class layers represented by these parties, seeking better social positions at the service of capitalism.

The tires produced in Tornel or Fate are not Mexican or Argentine products, but the result of global chains of production. Only the international coordination of these struggles can defend wages, jobs, safe conditions, not to speak of opposing the emerging third world war disrupting every aspect of life globally. The shutdown of Fate is the result of global processes and harping on the poor quality of Chinese imports like the PO does undermines true internationalism and the ability of workers to fight back against global capital.

The historical background of the PO

PO originated in Silvio Frondizis 1960s MIR-Praxis (Politica Obrera) group. Frondizi was the brother of Radical President Arturo Frondizi and a Guevarist advocate of guerrilla action. Absorbing Yugoslav/Algerian/Cuban influences, the PO worked alongside Nahuel Moreno and other petty-bourgeois nationalist tendencies to subordinate workers to the Peronist union bureaucracy.

A persistent quality shared by all revisionist tendencies that have broken with Trotskyism now in FITU is their portrayal of workers in the United States and the advanced economies more broadly as counter-revolutionary or bystanders at best, orienting instead the fate of workers in Argentina and other less developed and oppressed countries behind the national bourgeoisie. This goes against the entire foundations of Trotskyism.

In 2018, the PO hosted in Buenos Aires a conference calling to refound or reconstruct the Fourth International in alliance with a Stalinist party in Russia, disregarding the river of blood between Trotskyism and Stalinism. As the WSWS explained at the time:

What is actually meant by reconstruction is the amalgamation of politically heterogeneous organizations, without any agreement on essential questions of program and strategy. The only point on which they absolutely agree is the right of each organization to pursue whatever national policy that is deemed to be in its own best interests. This utterly unprincipled approach to politics has absolutely nothing in common with Trotskyism. Its attitude to the experiences and lessons accumulated by the Fourth International since 1938 is defined by a combination of political hostility, theoretical indifference, shortsighted national opportunism and the crudest ignorance.

During the initial stages of World War II, an Emergency Conference of the Fourth International explained in a statement:

If an imperialist solution of the present world conflict is imposed, a still greater rate of exploitation will be forced upon the colonies... The colonies shall be freed, politically, economically, and culturally, only when the workers of the advanced countries put an end to capitalist rule and set out together with the backward peoples to reorganize world economy on a new level, gearing it to social needs and not to monopolist profits. Only in this way will the colonial and semi-colonial countries be enabled to emerge from their varying stages of backwardness and take their places as integral sections of an advancing world socialist commonwealth.

Fate workers must urgently build rank-and-file committees as part of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) to link their fight with the emerging struggles of autoworkers and other workers worldwide. In order to prevent another catastrophic betrayal that disarms workers politically as the ruling class turns to fascism, an Argentine section of the International Committee of the Fourth Internationala genuinely orthodox Trotskyist partymust be formed to lead workers based upon this internationalist and socialist strategy for workers power.
Teamsters President Sean OBrien speaking at a rally in Orange, California on April 15, 2023.

On April 4, UPS reached a deal with the Teamsters union paving the way for thousands of buyouts of package delivery drivers. The Teamsters union has hailed the agreement as a major win, while continuing to ignore the tens of thousands of layoffs UPS is carrying out nationwide.

Under the so-called Drivers Choice Plan (DCP), high seniority drivers can choose to retire early for a buyout capped at $150,000. The number of buyouts will be limited to 7,500 drivers. The company had earlier unilaterally offered a buyout program directly to drivers, drawing the ire of the Teamsters apparatus.

In a press statement, Teamsters General President Sean OBrien stated: Lifelong Teamsters who have given so much of themselves to making UPS the king of parcel delivery will have the right of first refusal on any severance agreements, and UPS will no longer have the chance to go around the union without giving Teamsters the respect they deserve at the bargaining table.

By claiming a victory over the buyouts, the Teamsters apparatus is signaling to UPS that, as long as the bureaucracy is included, the destruction of UPS workers livelihoods can proceed.

For all his claims of respect at the bargaining table, the current UPS contract was passed by the Teamsters apparatus on the basis of massive lies. Only months after the deal was ratified in the fall of 2023, UPS launched its Network of the Future restructuring program to close or automate 200 facilities. Last year alone, the company cut 48,000 jobs and closed 93 facilities and has pledged to eliminate another 30,000 this year.

A statement by the independent UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee from early 2024 warned that the new technology has the potential to replace up to 80 percent of warehouse labor. One hub in Louisville, Kentucky, which opened as early as 2023, handles 350,000 packages a day using 3,000 robots and only 200 humans.

In a period where all of corporate America is carrying out mass layoffslast year alone, more than 1.2 million cuts were announcedUPS leads all private employers in total layoffs. Elsewhere, Oracle has announced plans to cut up to 30,000 jobs, and Amazon has eliminated 30,000 corporate jobs since October.

The contract contained no protections against technology-related job cutsonly requiring management give the Teamsters advance noticeand the union officialdom made no issue of it during talks, in spite of the well advanced character of the plans. Over the summer, the Teamsters apparatus rolled out an empty strike-ready campaign, supported by wide layers of the Democratic Socialists of America and other pseudo-left groups, designed to position the contract as the product of a credible strike threat.

The same playbook was used recently at First Student and DHL, where the Teamsters shut down strikes at the last minute with deals workers had not seen. At First Student, a nationwide strike of 17,000 drivers was called off hours before it was to begin. The union claimed a historic agreement but released no details. Workers were kept on the job without a vote or discussion.

At DHL, the union announced a deal for a national minimum, then began to isolate workers with separate deals site by site. As at UPS, the bureaucracys concern was not workers jobs or conditions but its place at the table as layoffs and restructuring move forward.

The 7,500 driver buyouts are significant because the new contract requires UPS add that same number of full-time positions, converted from part-time jobs. Even assuming this pledge is ever honored in any form, this effectively allows the company to offset its impact to their bottom line.

The mass layoffs and facility closures are part of the companys plan to pivot towards automation and downsizing, or the Network of the Future, as UPS plans to close at least 200 facilities through 2028, anticipating savings of approximately $3 billion.

The bureaucracy is not only in bed with management but with the corporate political establishment. OBrien, a prominent Trump supporter, became notorious after his speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention. Since taking office, Trump has slashed over 300,000 federal jobs in key social and regulatory programs, using immigration raids as the tip of the spear for ripping up the rights of all workers.

UPS workers cannot defend their jobs or fight layoffs through appeals to the bureaucracy. It must be fought for outside of the bureaucracys control. UPS workers should join the UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee to organize the defense of jobs from below, uniting with workers at hubs across the country and with workers in other industries.
NASA's Orion spacecraft carrying four astronauts splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on Friday at 8:07 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, completing the Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight to the vicinity of the Moon since the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972. Recovery teams from NASA and the US Navy retrieved the crew from the capsule and transported them by helicopter to the US Navy vessel John P. Murtha, where they underwent post-mission medical evaluations.

The crew, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), Christina Koch (mission specialist), and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency (mission specialist), launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 1 aboard the Space Launch System rocket. Over the course of just over nine days, the Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, completed a lunar flyby, approaching within approximately 4,067 miles (6,545 kilometers) of the Moon's surface on April 6 before returning to Earth, on a trajectory spanning nearly 695,000 miles (more than 1.1 million km).

In this image from video provided by NASA, the Orion capsule from the Artemis II mission splashes down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10, 2026. [AP Photo/NASA]

The final parts of the mission included a third trajectory correction burn, the separation of the crew module from the European service module, and a last 18-second adjustment burn to set the capsules entry angle at the most optimal position for atmospheric entry. What followed was a six-minute communications blackout as Integrity plowed through Earths atmosphere starting at a speed of approximately 23,864 miles per hour (38,405 km per hour), causing a sheath of flaming plasma around the spacecraft that blocked all telemetry to mission control.

The four astronauts experienced forces of 3.9 times Earths gravity and temperatures on the heat shield reached approximately 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,649 degrees Celsius). They then coasted briefly before deploying the spaceships parachutes and touched down in the Pacific Ocean at a relatively gentle 19 miles per hour.

By the parameters set for it, the mission has been a success. Initial medical reports indicate the astronauts are healthy and will soon be back on land. The various scientific experiments conducted, largely focused on the impacts of radiation on humans beyond low Earth orbit, were completed and will be more carefully studied in the coming months to inform future missions. An international team of thousands of engineers, scientists and other workers across NASA and its contractors, from designing, building and testing the spacecraft to operating it and communicating with it during the past 10 days all contributed to this massive effort.

Yet the Artemis II mission has been conducted largely in the background of US capitalism in terminal crisis. The Trump administration's war against Iran, now in its fifth week, has killed thousands, destroyed historical sites, driven up fuel and commodity prices, and brought the world to the edge of a broader conflict. On April 8, with Orion on its return trajectory, Vice President JD Vance threatened that the US possessed tools in its tool kit it had so far not chosen to use, strongly implying the possible use of nuclear weapons. The following day, Trump issued the genocidal threat that a whole civilization will die tonight. The current two-week ceasefire was almost immediately broken by Israel, which launched a murderous bombardment on Lebanon that has so far cost 303 lives.

Even the bourgeois press has been forced to note this context. Philip Kennicott, writing in the Washington Post during the mission, observed that Artemis II was proceeding without any of that larger framing, or soaring rhetoric that characterized the Apollo era, as the world watched the US president use the language of genocide and apocalypse to threaten a country that posed no imminent danger to the United States. He concluded that Artemis II felt like an echo of a world that has passed as Trump promises to return an entire people to the Stone Age.

From the outset, the mission has been framed in terms of geopolitical competition, above all with China. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, the billionaire entrepreneur appointed by Trump, was present in person at the naval retrieval of the astronauts. He said afterwards that the US is back in the business of sending astronauts to the Moon. And despite the explicit exclusion of China and Russia in future US missions, Isaacman cynically claimed the mission was designed to send ambassadors from humanity to the stars.

As for Trump himself, he claimed in an earlier conversation with the astronauts that, in part because of Artemis II, America is the hottest country in the world right now. He continued that, America will be second to none in space.

The nationalist framing is bound up with the broader context of US space policy. Throughout the presidencies of Bush, Obama, Trumps first term and Biden, US national security documents have placed dominance in space as a strategic necessity to counter the emerging power of China.

In Trumps first term, this involved establishing the US Space Force in 2019, declaring outer space a potential theater of conflict in modern warfare. This has evolved now to Trumps National Space Policy, the centerpiece of which is the plan to establish a permanent base on the surface of the Moon.

The Moon base plan is slated to proceed in three phases. The first uses the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative and a Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) program to build surface infrastructure. The second introduces what NASA terms semi-habitable facilities and incorporates international contributions, including a pressurized rover from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The third envisions continuous human presence, supported by cargo-capable landing systems delivering up to 38 tons of payload per year.

To accomplish this, NASA has formally abandoned the Gateway, the lunar-orbiting space station that was previously the centerpiece of the Artemis architecture, citing delays, cost overruns, corrosion problems in key modules, and the fact that the human landing system contractors, billionaire fascist Elon Musks SpaceX and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezoss Blue Origin, do not require it to reach the lunar surface. Gateway hardware will be repurposed where possible; the rest will be set aside.

The focus, which was laid out in NASAs recent Ignition event, is countering Chinas lunar program, which includes the numerous Change probes, the Queqiao communications satellites and plans for a research base at the Moons southern pole. Water ice existing in parts of craters under permanent shadow is the resource most sought after by competing national interests. Access to that ice would enable in situ production of rocket propellant, as well as water for consumption, hygiene and sanitation, and both the US and China are determined to secure a foothold before the other.

Moreover, the entire National Space Policy is not about scientific research, but to channel billions of dollars into commercial partnersprimarily SpaceX, but also Blue Origin and otherswhich are placed at the center of every phase of building the lunar base. NASA will not be playing a leading role in developing the new technologies needed to build the base, which do not yet exist, but merely a customer in the market the agency is attempting to generate.

In other words, the ultimate goal is extending capitalism and US imperialism to the Moon, and in doing so militarize the entire 240,000-mile-long corridor, which will be justified by the need to protect ships traveling to establish a lunar base. Such plans explicitly involve placing nuclear reactors in space, which are against the principles of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, and inevitably, nuclear weapons.

The logic of the modern space race makes clear that the fight for a progressive expansion by humanity into space is bound up with the fight against war and against capitalism as a whole. There can be no genuine scientific exploration of the Moon and beyond while space travel is subordinated to corporate profiteering and military conflicts. Such efforts will only flourish when the international working class has swept away the current outmoded social order and established society on socialist foundations.
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A drill instructor oversees Marines as they hold a plank during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program endurance course at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, April 3, 2026. [Photo: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nicholas White ]

Late last month, the Trump administration announced that beginning in December 2026 every American male between the ages of 18 and 26 will be automatically registered for the military draft.

The Socialist Equality Party and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality warn workers and young people throughout the United States: the American ruling class is laying the foundations for the reimposition of the draft. The corporate oligarchy wants cannon fodder for its illegal and expanding wars of aggression.

The automatic registration of millions of young people into the Selective Service System, buried in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), is a major step toward conscription. Currently, 46 states automatically register men through their drivers license systems, covering roughly 81 percent of those eligible. The new law federalizes and universalizes this process, using Social Security Administration records to enroll the rest. Registration will no longer be dependent on a drivers license or any individual action. It will be fully automatic, compulsory and tied to federal databases that track every citizen from birth.

This is being implemented as the United States wages war against Iran, prepares for a ground invasion of the Iranian coastline and escalates its confrontation with both Russia and China. Within the framework of a so-called ceasefire, the Trump administration is continuing to send a massive armada of military forces to the Middle East.

The active-duty US military has roughly 1.3 million personnel, with forces committed globally. At its peak, the Iraq war in 2003 involved 170,000 troops, but it strained the entire military through repeated deployments. A sustained ground campaign in Irana country four times larger with three times the populationwould likely require 300,000500,000 troops by most estimates, and potentially far more for a prolonged occupation.

The all-volunteer force simply doesnt have that capacity without either a massive expansion of recruitment (which is already falling short of targets) or conscription. The infrastructure is being quietly modernized at a moment when the gap between military commitments and available manpower is huge.

This is being actively discussed behind the backs of the American people. On March 8, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt refused to rule out a draft, telling Fox News it is not part of the current plan right now, but the president again wisely keeps his options on the table.

The war against Iran is itself part of an escalating global war, including the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine and, in particular, the preparation for war against China. The project of global conquest requires a return to conditions in which tens of thousands of American youth are sent to die to maintain the domination of American capitalism.

Between 1964 and 1973, the US government drafted 2.2 million men to fight in Vietnam. Conscription fueled a mass antiwar movement and provoked resistance inside the armed forces that contributed to the militarys disintegration. Nixon abolished the draft in 1973 because the ruling class could no longer sustain it politically.

For more than 50 years, the United States has relied on an all-volunteer force. The ruling class feared the political consequences of conscription. That system is now breaking down. Recruitment shortfalls have deepened. An NPR report published April 10 notes a surge in calls to military counseling organizations from service members seeking conscientious objector status or early separation, with the Iran war described as a major trigger. Soldiers cited the bombing of a girls school and the broader climate of illegality surrounding the armed forces.

While Trump signed the measure into law, the drive to reimpose conscription is bipartisan. Democratic Representative Chrissy Houlahan sponsored automatic registration in 2024 and reintroduced it in 2025 after it was stripped from the previous years NDAA. The final bill passed the House 312-112 and the Senate 77-20. Democrats sponsored it, shepherded it through committee and voted for it on the floor.

This is part of an international process. Eighty years after the crimes of the Third Reich, Germanys Bundestag approved a new military service law on December 5, 2025, requiring all 18-year-old men to complete a mandatory questionnaire. If conscription is reinstituted, young men will need permission from the German army to leave the country. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius declared: If that is not enough, we will have no choice but to introduce partial conscription.

France announced a voluntary military service scheme in November 2025. General Fabien Mandon, the chief of the defense staff, said the country must be prepared to lose its children in a war with Russia.

The preparations for war are inextricably connected to the assault on social programs. The same youth to be conscripted are already being denied a future. They face impossible rents, student debt, precarious work and the destruction of social services, including public education.

Trump declared earlier this month that social programs must be sacrificed because were fighting wars. He said, We cant take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare. ... We have to take care of one thing: military protection. Trumps fiscal year 2027 budget request devotes $1.5 trillion to the militarythe largest Pentagon request in historywhile driving non-defense spending to its lowest share of GDP since the 1950s.

The return of the draft is also inextricably connected to the assault on democratic rights. The same government building the infrastructure for conscription is expanding the powers of ICE, criminalizing dissent and concentrating power in the executive. The program of total war cannot be implemented and the extreme levels of social inequality defended without a ferocious military-police dictatorship within the United States.

The SEP and the IYSSE advance the following demands:

The immediate repeal of the automatic Selective Service registration provisions and the rejection of any activation of conscription for the war against Iran or any other imperialist conflict.

The immediate withdrawal of US forces from the Middle East and an end to the war against Iran. An end to the bipartisan drive for global domination, the arming of Israel, the escalation against Russia and China, and the use of military violence to offset the crisis of American capitalism.

The abolition of the standing army and the dismantling of the vast military-intelligence apparatus built up to wage endless war abroad and repression at home. The Pentagon, the intelligence agencies, the global network of bases, the system of private military contractors and the machinery of surveillance and covert operations are instruments not of defense, but of imperialist domination.

An end to the economic draft, under which young people are driven into military service by poverty, debt, lack of decent jobs and the impossibility of affording an education. Every young person must have the social right to a decent job, free high-quality education, healthcare and housing. Put an end to coercion into military service.

The redirection of the vast resources squandered on war to meet urgent social needs: universal healthcare, free public education, affordable housing and secure, well-paid jobs for all.

The fight for this program must be developed as an independent movement of the working class, in irreconcilable opposition to both capitalist parties and all their political accomplices. The old and principled slogan of the socialist movement must be revived: Not a man nor a penny for imperialist war! Not one worker, not one student, not one young person sacrificed for the predatory aims of the American ruling class.

This is not a pacifist appeal. It is a class policy. The fight against conscription is not a matter of seeking individual exemption from military service, or avoiding personal involvement in war while leaving untouched the war aims of the ruling class. It means active and uncompromising opposition to imperialist militarism itself. It means the defense of the democratic and social rights of the working class.

Opposition to the draft must therefore be linked to opposition to war, to the entire military-intelligence apparatus, and to the capitalist system that produces war.

This movement must be international. Workers in the United States have no interest in killing workers in Iran, China, Russia or anywhere else. The enemy is not abroad. It is at home: the capitalist ruling class, which subordinates the world to profit, plunder and war. The fight against the restoration of the draft is inseparable from the fight against capitalism.

War is rooted in the contradictions of the capitalist system itself. The alternative is socialism: the reorganization of economic life on the basis of social need, under the democratic control of the working class, on an international scale.
A protest was held on Wednesday outside the Roma Street Magistrates Court in Brisbane against the arrest and prosecution of a Palestine solidarity activist for saying the prohibited anti-genocide slogan from the river to the sea at a pro-Palestine rally on March 1.

Liam Parry speaking to reporters

Liam Parry is the first person to be charged for reciting a banned expression under hate speech lawswhich also proscribe the phrase globalise the intifadaintroduced on March 1 by Queenslands right-wing Liberal National Party (LNP) state government.

He is facing one count of reciting or publicly displaying a prohibited expression that is supposedly reasonably expected to menace, harass or offend a member of the public. If convicted, Parry could face up to two years imprisonment.

Outside the courthouse, protesters chanted free Palestine and Crisafulli you cant hide, protesting is not a crimea reference to state Premier David Crisafulli.

Addressing the media after the court hearing, which was adjourned to a later date, Parry presented the case as a Queensland issue. He said: I think its an important moment in Queensland right now. The government is trying to criminalise pro-Palestine advocacy.

When asked how he felt facing a possible jail term, Parry said: It feels surreal, and I think its a dangerous moment in Queensland politics that you could face two years imprisonment just for saying six words.

In reality, the federal and state Labor governments are spearheading a police-state crackdown on dissent, not just the LNP government in Queensland. That was clearly displayed in the New South Wales (NSW) Labor governments banning of marches in Sydney and the unleashing of police violence on protests against the February 9 visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the invitation of the federal Albanese Labor government.

Since that police rampage at the Sydney Town Hall, the Labor governments in both NSW and Victoria have presided over intimidating police raids to arrest protesters against the ongoing US-Israeli genocide in Gaza and the Albanese governments complicity in the genocide.

On March 26, heavily-armed NSW police commandos stormed the home of a woman who had joined the large anti-Herzog demonstration. She was dragged out of bed at 5 a.m. and handcuffed after the police smashed open her front door. At least four similar raids were mounted across Sydney, with the protest participants charged with serious offences, such as affray and intimidating or assaulting police, some punishable by years of imprisonment.

The next day, on March 27, Victorian riot police in full combat gear conducted eight early morning raids on homes around Melbourne to detain eight women who had taken part in a March 6 anti-genocide protest against the Albanese government outside the Victorian Trades Hall building.

The women were held for hours before being released on anti-democratic bail conditions, also facing serious charges such as criminal damage to property and behaving in a riotous manner in a public place.

One of the most politically revealing features of the Victorian police operation, conducted under Labor Premier Jacinta Allans government, was that Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Luke Hilakari called in the police and supplied them with photos of the women.

These raids are a warning that the Labor governments, state and federal, are escalating their assault on anti-genocide and anti-war opposition as the US-Israeli onslaught extends to Iran and Lebanon, with the political and material backing of the Albanese government.

But no mention of these raids was made at Wednesdays rally, with speakers focused instead on denouncing the LNP state government.

Nor was there any mention of the Albanese governments own prohibited hate group laws, which allow a minister to outlaw political groups based on their support for vaguely defined hate crimes that also falsely equate anti-genocide dissent with antisemitism. Anyone convicted of being a member or supporter of a banned group faces up to 15 years imprisonment, a far lengthier sentence than that set by the LNP in Queensland.

The Albanese governments support for and participation in the Trump administrations criminal war on Iran, including by sending SAS troops, missiles, a war command plane and other military personnel to the Persian Gulf, will lead to more measures to suppress opposition.

A report on Wednesdays rally in the pseudo-left Socialist Alternatives newspaper Red Flag also presented Parrys arrest as a purely Queensland issue, covering up the leading role of Labor governments in the attack on basic democratic rights and support for imperialist war and genocide.

Like the rally organisers, Red Flag advertised protests to be held in Brisbane on the weekend of April 18-19, specifically against the Crisafulli governments laws, again leaving out Labors role.

The only way to defeat these attacks, and stop the US-Israeli barbarism in the Middle East, is through the mobilisation of the working class against all those responsible, including the Labor governments.

As the WSWS has stated: The demand must be raised for the charges against Parry to be dropped, and for the overturning of the Queensland bans and all the hate speech laws imposed in different states and federally. Parrys arrest is a test case: if governments can imprison those who voice slogans against genocide, they will move to criminalise anti-war dissent more broadly.

This fight requires the development of an independent working-class movementin workplaces, throughout industries and across bordersagainst the suppression of democratic rights, the Gaza genocide and the war on Iran and Lebanon, and against the capitalist system that is the root cause of war and repression.
US intelligence indicates that China may provide Iran with new air defence systems in the near future, potentially including shoulder?launched anti?aircraft missiles (MANPADS), AzerNEWS reports, citing Yeni Safak.

The report suggests Tehran may be using the two?week ceasefire to restock certain weapons systems with help from key international partners, and that Beijing may be attempting to channel shipments through third countries to conceal their origin.

MANPADS pose an asymmetric threat to low?flying US military aircraft, a danger that was evident during the five?week conflict and could re?emerge if the ceasefire collapses. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington denied the report, stating: China has never provided weapons to any party to the conflict; the information in question is untrue. The spokesperson added that China consistently fulfils its international obligations and urged the US to refrain from baseless allegations, maliciously drawing connections, and engaging in sensationalism.

The two?week ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan with support from Turkiye, China, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, took effect on Wednesday after weeks of fighting that began on 28 February. Nearly 3,000 Iranians have been killed, along with at least 13 US servicemen, and the conflict has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil?shipping route. Direct US?Iran talks are underway in Islamabad, but allegations of weapons shipments threaten to undermine the fragile truce.
By Diana Novak Jones

CHICAGO, April 9 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms said on Thursday it is pulling ads from Facebook and Instagram aimed at recruiting new plaintiffs for ongoing litigation accusing it and other social media companies of designing their platforms to be addictive to young users.

Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said the company is actively defending itself against the lawsuits, which include thousands of cases in both state and federal courts in California, and is removing the ads.

We will not allow trial lawyers to profit from our platforms while simultaneously claiming they are harmful, Stone said in a statement.

The move follows Meta's loss in two key trials over the allegations.

At the end of March, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Alphabet's Google liable for a young womans depression and suicidal thoughts after she said she became addicted to Instagram and Google's YouTube at a young age, ordering them to pay a combined $6 million in damages.

In a separate New Mexico case that wrapped up just a day earlier, jurors ordered Meta to pay $375 million after finding the company misled users about the safety of its products for young users and enabled the sexual exploitation of children on its platforms.

More than 3,300 lawsuits involving addiction claims are pending in California state court against Meta, Google, Snapchat parent Snap Inc and ByteDance, TikToks parent company. Another 2,400 lawsuits brought by individuals, municipalities, states and school districts have been centralized in California federal court, according to court records.

The companies have denied the allegations and say they take extensive steps to keep teens and young users safe on their platforms.

The state court cases largely involve individuals suing the companies over claims that addiction to social media caused mental health harms. The federal litigation includes more lawsuits filed by public entities such as school districts, states and municipalities, which claim the platforms harmed the mental health of young people, forcing the government entities to spend money to address the fallout.

FINDING PLAINTIFFS

Law firms representing plaintiffs in these types of cases typically work on contingency, so they are only paid if a plaintiff wins damages or receives a settlement. Often, firms in mass cases are seeking to represent as many plaintiffs as possible to make the cases financially viable. Ads on television, radio and online are aimed at recruiting individual plaintiffs, who may not know about the litigation otherwise.
In early 2026, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation was recognized by Clarivate Plc as a Clarivate AI50 2026 organization for its leadership in artificial intelligence inventions and AI-related intellectual property, highlighting the company's emphasis on data- and AI-enhanced digital platforms.

This recognition points to Mitsubishi Electric's deepening capabilities in AI patents, which could influence how investors view its long-term digital transformation efforts.

Well now examine how Mitsubishi Electrics Clarivate AI50 recognition for AI patent leadership interacts with and potentially reframes its existing investment narrative.

The best AI stocks today may lie beyond giants like Nvidia and Microsoft. Find the next big opportunity with these 21 smaller AI-focused companies with strong growth potential through early-stage innovation in machine learning, automation, and data intelligence that could fund your retirement.

Mitsubishi Electric Investment Narrative Recap

To own Mitsubishi Electric, you need to believe it can convert its broad industrial and electronics footprint into steadily improving profits while modernizing beyond legacy hardware. Clarivates AI50 recognition reinforces progress in AI and digital IP, but it does not clearly change the near term focus on executing its digital transformation or the key risk that faster moving, lower cost Asian rivals could pressure margins if Mitsubishi Electrics own AI and software capabilities lag.

The recent memorandum of understanding with IIT Hyderabad on AI, quantum technology and cybersecurity sits closely alongside the Clarivate AI50 recognition. Together, they underline how Mitsubishi Electric is tying its future factory automation, power electronics and energy solutions more tightly to advanced computing and data capabilities, which may be important for keeping its automation and grid related catalysts intact if customers increasingly demand AI rich, software centric offerings.

Yet beneath the AI recognition, investors should be aware of how rising competition and Mitsubishi Electrics pace of digital change could...

Read the full narrative on Mitsubishi Electric (it's free!)

Mitsubishi Electric's narrative projects 6044.2 billion revenue and 423.4 billion earnings by 2028.

Uncover how Mitsubishi Electric's forecasts yield a 5112 fair value, a 12% downside to its current price.

Exploring Other Perspectives

TSE:6503 1-Year Stock Price Chart

Some of the most optimistic analysts already expected earnings of about 564.0 billion on revenue near 6,539.0 billion by 2029, so Mitsubishi Electrics new AI50 status may either strengthen that upbeat view or prompt a rethink if governance and innovation concerns prove harder to resolve than those forecasts assume.
Volkswagen will no longer produce the all-electric ID.4 at its U.S. factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as the German automaker shifts its resources into high-volume vehicles like its upcoming gas-powered Atlas SUV.

The company said Thursday that U.S. customers will be able to buy the ID.4 until the current inventory runs out. VW said it expects U.S. inventory to last into 2027.

Volkswagen, along with other legacy automakers, has pulled back on once-ambitious plans to shift their portfolios from gas-powered vehicles to battery electric cars, trucks, and SUVs. While some EVs have been hits, demand hasnt met the lofty expectations that automakers forecasted. The removal of the $7,500 federal tax credit last year further dampened demand, especially for higher-priced models.

EVs do continue to sell, but price-conscious consumers are either turning to used EVs or lower-priced ones. VW began producing the mid-priced ID.4 in 2020, listing at about $45,000. The vehicle received a warm reception, but then struggled, notably with its software. But a refresh in 2023 gave it new life, and a boost in sales.

Still, overall, the sales results have been a mixed bag. VW ID.4 sales in 2023 surpassed 37,000 and then dropped 55% the following year. Sales recovered in 2025, ticking up 31% to 22,373, but failed to reach the level they hit two years prior.

On a global scale, VW said earlier this year that EV demand is holding up; Volkswagen reported in January it delivered about 382,000 all-electric vehicles worldwide in 2025, down 0.2%. It seems that wasnt quite enough to keep the ID.4, however.

Volkswagen said it does plan to bring future models to the U.S. factory. The launch of the allnew, secondgeneration Atlas for model year 2027, is central to this effort, according to VW. Production of the Atlas is expected to begin this summer and will be available in dealerships this fall.

A company spokesperson told TechCrunch that there are a sufficient number of roles in Atlas areas for ID.4-specific production employees to transfer to. The company is also offering an early retirement buyout to some workers.

The company appears committed to the U.S. market, just not one that includes an EV right now. VW said it is exploring new products for the U.S. plant that would be designed specifically to meet U.S. consumer needs and in line with the new focus on high-volume vehicles. Cutting through the corporate-speak, one could surmise this will be a more affordable compact SUV.

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 United States.

VW claims it will also bring a future version of the ID.4 to the North American market, but didnt provide a timeline or other details. If VW does bring back an electric vehicle for U.S. consumers, it will likely need to be affordable.
Spectators across Central Florida are preparing for the return of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, set to soar over the Space Coast for the Air Dot Show Cocoa Beach this weekend.

Ahead of the highly anticipated event, Sam Martello, weekend morning anchor and reporter for Channel 9, experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunitytaking to the skies with the elite flight demonstration team.

SEE LONGER VIDEO FROM TAKE OFF BELOW:

Martello joined Howard Dorough, who was selected as the events Key Influencer flyer, for the high-speed demonstration flight. The two climbed aboard a Blue Angels jet and launched into a thrilling aerial showcase above the Space Coast.

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Once airborne, the flight quickly intensified. The jet executed a series of sharp turns, steep climbs, and gravity-defying maneuvers, giving a firsthand look at the precision required of the Navys top aviators.

At one point during the flight, the aircraft pulled more than 7 Gsmeaning those onboard experienced forces 7 times their normal body weight.

Martello later described the experience as both exhilarating and unforgettable

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
NEED TO KNOW

On April 11, 1996, Jessica Dubroff, 7, died in a Cessna plane crash while attempting to become the youngest person to fly across the U.S.

The crash, which also killed her father and her pilot-instructor, also raised questions about her parents' judgment and whether children should be flying planes at all

They were a wonderful father and daughter who set out on the journey of their lives," Dave Dubroff tells PEOPLE, "and unfortunately there was an accident"

Dave Dubroff still remembers the moment on April 11, 1996, when he learned that his 7-year-old half sister, Jessica Dubroff, and his 57-year-old father Lloyd were killed in a plane crash that also claimed the life of pilot and flight instructor Joe Reid.

I was at work, Dave, 66, of Concord, Calif., tells PEOPLE, and I heard on the radio that the plane had crashed. I ran out to a payphone and called the Cheyenne Police Department, who told me to call the sheriff's department to find out."

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"I was in denial and thought, I'm sure everybody lived,' " he says. "Then they told me, No, they had all died on the flight.  

At the time, Jessica was attempting to be the youngest person to pilot a plane across the U.S., a feat that drew national media attention  but the crash raised questions about her parents' judgment and whether children should be flying planes at all.

This April 10, 1996 file photo shows Jessica Dubroff, 7 with her dad Lloyd before they take off across North America, in Half Moon Bay, Calif.

Credit: Lacy Atkins/AP

Entrepreneur Lloyd Dubroff moved to the Bay Area in 1968 with his then-wife Lane and their two children, including Dave.

Although Dave says his dad was often busy with work, he was still an attentive father. He wasn't home a lot, he says. But when he was, he was all there.

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In 1984, Lloyd, then divorced, met Lisa Blair Hathaway through a mutual friend. Though they never married, the two lived together for six years and went on to share three children, including Jessica, who was born in 1988.

As reported in PEOPLE's 1996 cover story on the crash, Jessica had an unconventional childhood. Raised by Hathaway, a New Age mother who described herself as a spiritual healer, Jessica was homeschooled and grew up without toys or children's books.

Her mother's philosophy? That children should forge their own way of life.

"Whatever [the kids] wanted, she supported them," Patty Sarabia, a neighbor, told The New York Times in 1996. "She believed they could do anything."

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After his relationship with Hathaway ended (Hathaway later said that she and Lloyd differed over her unorthodox view of child rearing), Lloyd married Melinda Anne Hurst in 1991.

Still, Lloyd and Hathaway remained close and at one point, Hathaway and her two kids, Jessica and her brother Joshua, lived with Lloyd's new family for at least two months. A third child of Lloyd and Hathaway, Jasmine, would later be born in 1992.

Speaking with the Times in 1996, Kelly McKnight, who had a farm where Jessica learned to ride horses, said her interest in aviation appeared to date back to her sixth birthday, when her parents let her take a ride on a plane and the pilot even allowed her to take the controls.

She was a wonderful kid, Dave tells PEOPLE, and of course loved flying. That was her main hobby.

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Dave says his dad was very supportive of Jessica's interest in flying. That's the kind of father he was, he says. Whatever his kids were interested in, he wanted to be involved with them around that activity.

When Hathaway approached pilot Joe Reid, 52, saying that her children wanted to learn how to fly, he formed a quick bond with Jessica, his youngest student.

Lloyd Dubroff

Credit: Courtesy Dave Dubroff

As noted in a 1997 NTSB report on the crash, in an ABC News interview with Jessica and her father before the crash, when asked where the idea for the cross-country flight came from, the girl said it originated with her dad.

I did originally," Lloyd responded. After getting her mother's approval he said he told Jessica she "could think about this a little," but she answered, "No, that's something I'd like to do.' "

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By that point, according to the NTSB report, Jessica had logged 33 hours of flight time. She didn't have an FAA medical or pilot certificate, so officials described her throughout the report as a pilot trainee.

The trio decided they'd depart on April 10 from Half Moon Bay and arrive at Falmouth, Mass., where Jessica was born, on April 12.

I thought it was great, Dave tells PEOPLE about his initial reaction to the trip. I was happy for them that they were going to live that out. She would've been the youngest pilot ever to have flown cross country and back.

Chris Reid, the pilot's son, tells PEOPLE that at the time, he never felt the adventure struck his father as outlandish. He says he believes his dad, a stockbroker who took up flying after his military service in Vietnam, saw the adventure as a way to spotlight something he loved: aviation.

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I think Lloyd was like, Yeah, let's go. Can I be part of this?' " Chris posits. My dad was like, Yeah, great. I've got somebody paying for me to go fly my plane. I got a caregiver for the kid that's bringing the media attention to aviation.' And for Jessica, I know she was like, Hey, I'm just here. I'm doing this and let's have fun.' "

Jessica Dubroff, 7, adjusts the special cushions allowing her to see above the instrument panels before taking off on the first leg of her cross-continent journey from Half Moon Bay, Calif., April 10, 1996.

Credit: Lacy Atkins/AP

The last time Dave saw his half sister was shortly before the voyage, when he took a brief flight with her behind the controls. "I was amazed," he recalls, "[at] how much in command she was."

Chris, who was actually there when the Cessna took off from Half Moon Bay on April 10 for its maiden voyage, remembers there was a lot of media."

"I was able to say goodbye to Dad, Hey, take it easy.' He took off and that was it," he adds.

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Later that day, the Cessna arrived in Cheyenne where the trio stopped for the night.

According to the NTSB report, Lloyd called Jessica's mother at the end of the flight's first day and told her Jessica slept for part of the trip and that Joe assisted her on one of the landings.

The next morning, April 11, the three headed to Cheyenne Airport to resume the flight, even though the forecast was filled with wind, sleet and thunderstorms.

At 8:24 a.m. local time, approximately four minutes after takeoff, the Cessna crashed, killing all three on board.

In this April 11, 1996 file photo, investigators inspect the wreckage of the Cessna 177B aircraft in which Jessica Dubroff, her father, Lloyd, and instructor Joe Reid were killed while trying to take off during bad weather in Cheyenne, Wyo.

Credit: Ed Andrieski/AP

Chris was flipping channels for the latest coverage of the flight when he heard the news, then waited by the phone for officials to call.

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His dad's funeral service was held four days later in Half Moon Bay. When it was over, Chris and his brother Matthew headed to Pescadero to serve as pallbearers for Jessica's interment that same day.

They took her casket on a horse and wagon out to the graveyard, Dave recalls. That was a really hard service. There were a couple people playing guitars and singing songs."

"It got to be too much for me," he adds. "So I walked away before they lowered her all the way into her grave.

The tragedy brought scrutiny upon Jessica's parents.

Before the flight, they were getting positive press, Dave says. But then, he recalls that instead of being portrayed as a "wonderful father" who helped his daughter realize her dreams, he was called a stage dad and a "bunch of stuff that just wasn't true."

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The worst memory Dave has of the media backlash was when he came across a magazine at a newsstand while meeting his uncle (Lloyd's brother) and grandfather at San Francisco International Airport.

I'll never forget the cover of Time was a picture of Jessica and the words Who Killed Jessica?' " he recalls. "I tried to get in between my grandfather and my uncle and the newsstand, so they wouldn't have to see that. I don't think I was successful.

About a year after their deaths, the NTSB issued its official report on the crash.

Officials stated that Reid was handling the plane's controls at the time of impact. The probable cause of the crash was the decision to take off in deteriorating weather conditions, with officials noting the plane was overweight and the density altitude was higher than Reid was accustomed to.

"Contributing to the pilot in command's decision to take off," read the report, "was a desire to adhere to an overly ambitious itinerary, in part, because of media commitments."

Chris says the NTSB findings weren't a surprise to his family. He made a bad decision, he says about his father. He risked it going up and trying to get out and punch out and get out above the storm, and it didn't work out There's nothing to refute.

Lisa Blair Hathaway holds her daughter, Jasmine, as she views a memorial in Cheyenne, Wyo., on Friday, April 12, 1996, near where her daughter, Jessica Dubroff, her former husband, Lloyd Dubroff, and flight instructor Joe Reid were killed in a plane crash

Credit: Ed Andrieski/AP

Dave says it took a while for him to get over the loss of Lloyd and Jessica.

For about the first 20 years, the anniversaries were really hard," Dave shares. "I got very emotional."

Then, around a decade ago, he found peace by focusing on how grateful he was for the time they'd been able to spend together.

They were a wonderful father and daughter who set out on the journey of their lives," he says, "and unfortunately there was an accident."

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.

Dave says he has no doubt that Jessica would have grown up to be an amazing woman," while the memories of his dad's love are something he'll always keep close.

My dad was a very loving, warm, emotional man, and I realized how blessed I was to have had him for 36 years," he says. "So now on the anniversaries, there's just a lot of fond memories."

Read the original article on People
Jenna Hoffman said she spent more than five hours interviewing for a nonprofit job between November and January.

She never received a rejection and learned via social media that the employer had hired someone else.

Instead of quietly moving on, Hoffman explained why she reached out to express how she felt.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jenna Hoffman, a 28-year-old communications professional, graduate-school student, and entrepreneur in Cedar Falls, Iowa. This story has been edited for length and clarity.

Late last year, I applied for a communications and event manager position at a local nonprofit. What happened afterward drove me to quit job hunting.

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I had been on the market for nearly two years by that point, while pursuing a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling. Since my classes are online, I knew I could do a 9-to-5 job during the week and then do school at night and on weekends.

The nonprofit invited me to do a phone interview in late November. They said they expected to fill the role by the start of 2026, but then I was invited to go on two in-person interviews, one in December and the other in early January. The meetings took about five hours in total, and I met with several employees.

I had all the experience necessary for the job. I felt like I was in alignment with the place, and since they interviewed me three times, I thought they must like me and that I was on the right track.

I went to Iowa State for my undergrad, and it was drilled into us that, no matter what, you must send a thank-you note immediately after an interview, so I did. I copied all five people who interviewed me. Their emails were available online, and a few replied saying it was great to meet me.

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After about a week of silence, I sent another email asking for a status update. They said that they still hadn't made their determination. Two more weeks passed, and I didn't hear anything. Then I checked their Facebook page since I knew that's where they're most active online, and where their target audience is.

That's when I found out I didn't get the job. The nonprofit had put up a post a few days earlier announcing that they'd hired someone for the position, along with a photo of the person.

At first, I thought I must be confused. Was I looking at the right organization's Facebook page? I was. Then I thought, oh no, did I miss a phone call or an email? I'm sure that I would have heard something. Yet I couldn't find any evidence of being contacted.

If the expectation is that I should send a thank-you note after a job interview, I should anticipate the courtesy of hearing, "No, thank you, we're not interested." I decided to email everyone whom I interviewed with to let them know how I felt. Here's what I wrote:

Hello, I am following up after learning  through social media  that the Communications and Events Manager position has been filled, as I was not otherwise notified. I appreciated the opportunity to interview and the time your team invested in speaking with me throughout the process. Given the level of interest and time commitment involved, I want to share direct feedback. The extended lack of communication following my application and interviews was disappointing and made it difficult to assess the role and organization in good faith. While I understand that timelines can shift, especially around the holidays, clearer and more consistent updates would have demonstrated respect for candidates' time and maintained transparency throughout the process. I hope this perspective is helpful as you evaluate your hiring and communication practices moving forward. Thank you for your consideration, and I wish you continued success.

I sent the email because I'm in the communications profession. People in my industry are supposed to be able to have hard conversations. If this is the person I want to be, this is the message I should be sharing, and if I have an opportunity to create change, I'm going to. That's just the kind of person I am.

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Two of the nonprofit's leaders wrote back, saying they were sorry about what happened and that they would make changes. I don't know if they have yet or ever will, but at least they're aware.

This experience happened after I'd spent most of 2024 and 2025 applying to jobs  an average of 25 a week  and going on countless interviews without success. I think employers saw my pending graduate degree as a problem. They couldn't understand how someone could do grad school and have a full-time job.

I'm a busy person. In addition to school, I'm flipping a house and building a philanthropy-based housecleaning business to help domestic-abuse survivors earn a living wage. I wear all these different hats because I have high-functioning ADHD. I have no chill. I am go-go-go all the time.

I think most people are afraid to use their voice as I did, but I see that as a strength and a sign of leadership. I'm now done with job hunting. I graduate in May, and my plan is to transition into private practice. I'll serve clients with supervision until I meet the necessary requirements to strike out on my own.

Read the original article on Business Insider
As the days get longer and temperatures rise, many of us are emerging from our winter hibernation and may be more tempted to socialize or say, get drinks with friends.

Thus, its a good time to round up Tacomas cocktail bars, grouped by neighborhood.

While most businesses with a liquor license sell at least a few cocktails, for this list were zeroing in on bars that focus their menu around cocktails, and bars and restaurants that have extensive and inventive cocktail lists.

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Plus, each spot on this list also serves several mocktails, and lots also offer low ABV options.

Vote for your favorite of the bunch in the poll at the bottom of this article, or tell us places that we missed.

North End

Cooks Tavern

3201 N 26th St, Tacoma

253-327-1777

cookstavern.com

This restaurant in Proctor advertises cocktails on its storefront, and its got quite a unique drink menu to back that up. The tavern serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner with a Portuguese flair, and the same goes for the cocktails. There are quite a few brunch cocktails, like the South Sound Spritz with Lo-Fi Gentian Amaro, orange, lemon, hibiscus and soda, and quite a few Portugal Punches like The Bittersweet Goodbye with tequila, mezcal, Campari, passionfruit, ginger, lime, Scrappys Firewater Tincture bitters, IPA and cucumber.

From left: The 50/50, a sessionable gin cocktail; Gimlet made with coconut-washed gin; and Woman in the Dunes, a cocktail with Japanese whiskey washed in beeswax and apple blossom, on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Proof, in Tacoma, Wash.

Proof

2312 N 30th St, Tacoma

prooftacoma.com

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Anthem Coffee in Old Town Tacoma turns into Proof five nights a week. The new cocktail bar after dark is just over a year old, and has a rotating menu of especially unique cocktails. The Boulevardier comes with chocolate milk-washed bourbon, watermelon co-fermented coffee, infused bitter red and Punt e Mes vermouth, while the Gimlet mixes together coconut washed gin, lime, lime leaf, vanilla, coconut and amontillado sherry.

Bordeaux Wine Bar

2208 N 30th St Suite #101, Tacoma

253-212-1327

bordeauxwinebar.com

Just a block away from Proof is Bordeaux Wine Bar, which, despite having wine bar in the name, has quite a long craft cocktail list. The Pink Pony Club has Empress Elderflower Gin, lemon, simple syrup and an egg white, while the Oaxacan Old Fashioned has Peloton Mezcal, Corazon Reposado Tequila, agave and bitters. Theres also quite a few variations of spritzes, sangria and hot drinks.

Corbeau

3819 N 26th St, Tacoma

253-533-4833

corbeautacoma.com

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This French bistro in Proctor has lots of experimental cocktails to sip on alongside dishes like mushroom toast and steak frites. The Scratch Your Head + Wonder has dill aquavit, silver cachaca, carrot juice, habanero and pickle brine, while the Its Corn! has Graciosa Cachaca, Vietnamese corn milk, coconut cream, lime, vanilla, nutmeg and baby corn. Other cocktail ingredients on the drink menu include spicy fish and pickled magnolia petals.

Cactus

2506 N Proctor St, Tacoma

253-458-9900

cactusrestaurants.com

This regional Mexican chain makes quite a few cocktails in both classic and creative varieties. The Hot Spanish Carajillo comes with Licor 43, Gran Centenario Reposado, Cafe Vita Luna blend coffee, orange bitters, whipped cream and orange, while the Hibiscus Chi Chi comes with Titos Vodka, coconut, pineapple, cranberry and a hibiscus tea float. Of course, there are also margaritas  over a dozen different types that come in hand shaken or frozen slushy form.

Sixth Ave

The Boom Boom Room

3016 6th Ave, Tacoma

253-468-3623

tacomasboomboomroom.com

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This craft cocktail lounge boasts a dozen regular cocktails, plus seasonal selections. Some more inventive mixes include the Londons Invasion cocktail with house-infused Earl Grey gin, elderflower, lemon and egg, and The Misty Mountains with marionberry vodka, coconut cream, lemon and guava.

Field Bar and Bottle Shop

2614 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA

253-273-1427

fieldtacoma.com

This cozy, upscale bar and restaurant has a rotating menu, and comes up with new cocktails often. Some recent offerings include the Black Roses cocktail with Singani 63, Aguaviva Cachaca rum, rhubarb syrup, ginger, fresh lime, wonderfoam and black lime spice, and the Open Rhythms cocktail with LAbrunet white wine, Cap Corse rouge, Combier Lorange liqueur, fresh lemon, cucumber bitters and marinated olives (the latter ingredient makes another appearance on the menu as a bar snack).

Busy Body

2717 6th Ave, Tacoma

https://www.busybodytacoma.com/

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This colorful, rock n roll-themed bar on Sixth Ave has nearly a dozen fun cocktails. The Es Knees combines matcha, coconut washed Jamaican rum, overproof Jamaican rum, mango, lemon and allspice dram, while the Shrub Daddy has mezcal, pineapple clove shrub, Ancho Reyes chili liqueur, Scrappys Fire Tincture bitters and lime.

Holy Moly Bar

3013 6th Ave C, Tacoma

253-302-3047

holymolybar.com

This moody, retro style bar has quite a few cocktails, with twists on familiar drinks and some creations of its own. The Proper Mischief Old Fashioned has milk-washed bourbon, Earl Grey, vanilla demerara syrup, Bergamot Ango bitters and smoked sea salt, while the Milk Tea Alexander has Japanese whiskey, toasted rice green tea, amaro, cacao, heavy cream and black walnut bitters.

Side Pony Lounge, 2914 6th Ave., is the new sister bar to The Mule Tavern in Tacoma.

Side Pony Lounge

2914 6th Ave STE A, Tacoma

253-442-0221

sideponytacoma.com

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This bars craft cocktails get an upgrade from its homemade ginger beer, which is featured in eight variations of a Moscow Mule (you can also order the ginger beer by itself, or have added it to any drink on the menu). Other cocktails include the Pink Pony with Rainier Gin, pineapple moonshine, Peychauds Bitters, fresh lemon and a cherry, and the Sweater Weather with 1800 Anejo Tequila, Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth, Amaro liqueur, bitters and cinnamon.

Downtown

Red Star Taco Bar

454 St Helens Ave, Tacoma

253-545-9795

redstartacobar.com/tacoma

Red Star Taco Bar offers quite a few cocktails along with its margarita selections. The Lemon Poppy Seed Old Fashioned comes with poppy seed infused Doc Swinsons Bourbon, Giffard Vanille de Madagascar liqueur, simple syrup and a lemon twist, while the Port of Tacoma comes with Granja Mezcal, pineapple tequila, pineapple infused Angostura bitters, orgeat syrup and lime. Margaritas come in variations like mango habanero, roasted pineapple and passion fruit mezcal.

McMenamins Elks Temple

565 Broadway, Tacoma

253-300-8754

https://www.mcmenamins.com/elks-temple

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Youll find cocktails at nearly every bar in McMenamins, including the Pub, Docs Bar, the Spanish Bar, The Old Hangout and The Vault. Each bar also has different cocktails. At the Spanish Bar, the Pepino Refresco comes with muddled cucumber, lemon and ginger beer, and Mcmenamins own Spar Lemon Vodka, while the Spicy Pink Margarita comes with blanco tequila, McMenamins own Cheshire Orange Liqueur, simple syrup, Scrappys Fire Tincture bitters and grapefruit.

Doyles Public House

208 St Helens Ave, Tacoma

253-272-7468

doylespublichouse.com

You might not immediately think of cocktails when you think of Doyles, but the pub actually has a nice selection alongside its brews. Seasonal cocktails include the Golden Hour, which pairs muddled fresh serrano pepper and ginger with tequila, mango, lime and agave, and the Sunny Side, which comes with house made banana syrup, lime and Hornitos Reposado tequila.

The Voodoo Villager drink at Devils Reef in Tacoma.

Devils Reef

706 Court C, Tacoma

instagram.com/devils_reef

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This speakeasy style tiki bar may be a bit hard to find, but inside youll be directed to an almost overwhelmingly large cocktail list, split up into categories like Punches, Groggs, Forbidden Seas and Barbarous Coasts, The Oaths of Dagon and Eldritch Lore, Astro Exotica and Classics Revised. The Fiji Rum Punch includes bitters, absinthe, lime, pimento, grenadine, Fiji and Old Fashioned Traditional Dark rums, while the Astro Orbiter has lime, passion, vanilla, falernum, apricot brandy, dark and overproof proof rums.

Bar Rosa

1202 S 11th St, Tacoma

https://www.barrosatacoma.com/

This cozy, moody bar in Hilltop serves up quite a few cocktails alongside its wood-fired pizzas. The Lavender Haze has peaflower gin, vanilla lavender syrup and lemon, while the Pancho & Tommy has yerba mate infused tequila, tamarind pepper syrup, pineapple and lime.

The Huckleberry Club

1014 M.L.K. Jr Way, Tacoma

253-300-8340

https://thehuckleberryclub.com/

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Alongside 10 different types of baked potatoes, this Hilltop bar creates lots of cocktails, many of which have notes of huckleberry. The Huckleberry Kiss comes with Wild Roots Huckleberry Vodka, blue curacao, lemon, lime and cranberry, while The Problem Child Margarita comes with tequila, lemon, lime, triple sec, huckleberry syrup and a salt rim.

Bar 960

1320 Broadway, Tacoma

253-238-8000

hotelmuranotacoma.com/dining/bar960

This bar inside the lobby of Hotel Murano offers a good selection of signature cocktails. The French 77 has St-Germain, New Amsterdam gin, cava and a splash of lemon juice, and the Chocolate Martini has Titos vodka, Baileys, chocolate and Disaronno amaretto.

Matador

721 Pacific Ave, Tacoma

253-627-7100

matadorrestaurants.com/locations/tacoma

Along with an impressive tequila list, this Mexican bar chain offers different margaritas, sangrias and other drinks (which you can also take to-go). The Berry Springtime seasonal cocktail comes with Condesa Prickly Pear and Orange Blossom gin, Grand Marnier liqueur, house-made berry preserves, lemon and raspberry, while the Strawberry Mangonada comes with Corralejo Silver tequila, triple sec, mango, strawberry, lime, chamoy and Tajin.

The House Negroni, featuring gin, house bitter blend and punt e mes at en Rama restaurant and bar in downtown, Washington, on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

En Rama

1102 A St #220, Tacoma

253-327-1509

enramatacoma.com

This restaurant with Italian-inspired eats also has 10 thoughtfully-created cocktails. The Cant Catch Me includes vodka, Giffard Vanille de Madagascar liqueur, lemon, Amargo de Chile and gingerbread bitters, while the Motorcycle Diaries includes Novo Fogo Cachaca, Giffard Elderflower liqueur, Faccia Brutto Centerbe liqueur, lime and sage.

Wooden City Tacoma

714 Pacific Ave, Tacoma

253-503-0762

woodencitytacoma.com

This popular downtown restaurant has a mix of classic cocktails and house specialties. The Spritz comes with lychee, ginger, aperol, lime, cardamom and sparkling rose, while the Chaiwalla comes with clarified milk punch, coconut rum, cognac, chai tea, lemon and curacao.

Eastside

Bar Bistro

1718 99th St E, Tacoma

253-537-3655

barbistrotacoma.com

This New American restaurant in Eastside Tacoma has quite a variety of cocktails to go alongside bites like elk sliders and birria flatbread. The Watermelon Heatwave has reposado tequila, house-made watermelon mango puree, house Thai chili agave, coconut cream, fresh lime juice and a Tajin-salt rim, while the Campfire has vodka, Giffard Creme de Cacao, Giffard Framboise, fresh vanilla cream and Ghirardelli chocolate with a graham cracker rim and toasted marshmallow garnish.

South Tacoma

The Lipstick Mez and the Pillow Princess cocktails from Juniper Botanical Bar In Tacoma.

Juniper Botanical Bar

5226 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma

253-212-2358

juniperbotanicalbar.com

This relatively new queer-friendly bar has a cocktail for each color of the rainbow, and the drinks all have some unique ingredients. The Green Flag comes with Outfitters Gin, lemon juice, lemongrass simple syrup and wasabi paste, while the Bear Necessities comes with blanco tequila, Cazcabel Coffee Liqueur, Manifesto cold brew and pandan coconut cream, topped with a chocolate-covered gummy bear.

The Mule Tavern

5227 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma

253-247-6314

themuletavern.com

As the sister bar to Side Pony Lounge, The Mule Tavern uses the same homemade ginger beer in its cocktails. While there are some drinks that overlap between the two bars, The Mule Tavern has lots of craft cocktails of its own. The Purple People Eater has vodka, blueberry shrub, strawberry pucker liqueur, lemon and cherry bitters, while the Man In The Yellow Hat has Rainier Gin, banana puree and lemon.

Lucky Silver Tavern

2605 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma,

253-472-0360

theluckysilver.com

This neighborhood dive bar puts together a solid list of cocktails, grouped by liquor. In the gin category, the Club Milo has aviation gin, lavender extract, orange bitters, Gran Marnier and lime juice. In the vodka column, the Wolf Blood has Alphabet Vodka, Midori liqueur, lime juice, watermelon puree and a Jolly Rancher rim.
The sign proudly announces that the roundabout near Zalaegerszeg in western Hungary was built with 500 million forints (about $1.5 million) of funds from the European Union.

The roundabout was built to service a container terminal on a new railway line that would help provide this landlocked part of central Europe with better access to the sea. Rather than having to pass through Budapest, Hungarys capital, goods arriving from the Adriatic coast would transit quickly through the west of the country into Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and beyond.

But theres a problem. Years after the roundabout was built, theres still no railway. Instead, the roundabout lies unused in a field, waiting for the Hungarian government to build the railway that would make it useful.

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Critics of Prime Minister Viktor Orban say EU-funded construction projects like these are a monument to the economic system his government has built over its 16 years in office. Orbans electoral success, they say, has combined relentlessly demonizing the EU  painting it as a decadent, liberal, corrupting force in Hungary  while happily accepting vast amounts of money from it.

Much of that money came from initiatives intended to help the blocs poorer, more recent members  many of which were once part of the Warsaw Pact  to catch up with their richer neighbors in the West. But, ahead of a pivotal parliamentary election Sunday, opponents are asking what Hungary has to show for all this investment, pointing to a string of what they cast as vanity projects, and unfinished or unnecessary construction projects.

The sign next to the roundabout announces that it was built with 503.37 million forints (about $1.5 million) of EU funds. - Mark Esplin/CNN

Orban was the ultimate rent-seeker in the 2010s of the European Union. That was a conscious strategy, Krisztian Orban (no relation), the founder of Oriens, an investment firm in the region, told CNN. He also highlighted the governments success in drawing down its allocated funding, by comparison with its neighbors, adding that Orban was able to bring in a humongous amount of EU money.

The roundabout near Zalaegerszeg, first reported by the Hungarian investigative site Atlatszo, is one of tens of thousands of projects in Hungary that have received EU funding since Viktor Orban came to power. Tibor Navracsis, the regional development minister, told Hungarys parliament last year that the EU had financed 52,000 projects in the country during the 2014-2020 budget period.

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Istvan Janos Toth, director of the Corruption Research Center Budapest, who is from Zalaegerszeg, said the roundabout was a prime example of a white elephant  a construction project that is expensive to build, and often to maintain, but which provides little value.

Without the European funds, Orban couldnt have established this sort of system, Toth told CNN.

Corruption watchdog Transparency International has ranked Hungary the most corrupt country in the EU. CNN has asked Hungarys foreign ministry and the prime ministers office for comment. The Hungarian government typically denies allegations of corruption or accuses its opponents of being corrupt themselves.

The railway that would make the roundabout useful may not be built until 2029, Atlatszo reported. - Mark Esplin/CNN

Work on the roundabout began during the current EU budget period, which runs until 2027. Having purchased a patch of land, Metrans  a logistics company that operates in the region  was planning to build a container terminal to attach to the new railway, also scheduled for construction.

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At a ceremony in 2021, Hungarys Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto laid the foundation stone of the new terminal. By the end of 2023, the local municipality  with the help of EU funds  had built the roundabout that was to support logistics around the terminal, Zoltan Balaicz, the mayor of Zalaegerszeg, told CNN.

But when CNN visited the site in April, there was no evidence that construction of the planned railway had begun. Balaicz said the project was still in the public procurement phase. Whoever wins the procurement contract will have more than two years to build the track, Atlatszo reported, meaning the railway  if built  may not be ready until 2029.

The roundabout near Zalaegerszeg is not the only unfinished or unhelpful project in Hungary to have received EU funds. David Pressman, the former US ambassador to Hungary, said during his term that construction projects did not always live up to their billing.

Quite a view from another of Hungarys EU-funded forest canopy walkways in Hatvan, he wrote on social media in 2024, posting photos of himself standing on a walkway  with no forest in sight.

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Other examples, reported by Hungarian media, include a lookout tower which is meant to provide a viewpoint for tourists, but stands at less than a meter tall.

Critics say that Hungary is dotted with such projects, often financed by the same institution Orban rails against.

Rather than grappling with an economy that has fallen apart, Orban points to marauding outside forces who supposedly pose threats to Hungarians and Hungarianness, Pressman told CNN.

It is much easier for the leader of the country ranked the most corrupt in the European Union to talk about civilizational struggles than to explain the extraordinary wealth his family has accumulated while his people and his economy suffer, he said.

Interference claims

The issue of EU funds is playing a significant role in campaigning for Sundays parliamentary election.

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Since 2022, the European Commission has withheld funds to Hungary over concerns about its democratic backsliding and judicial independence. As of last year, around 18 billion ($21 billion) of funds remain blocked  representing around 10% of the countrys GDP. Late last year, members of the European Parliament again raised concerns over Hungarys breaches of the rule of law, as well as corruption and misuse of EU funds.

Krisztian Orban, the economist, said the stream of EU funds over the first decade of Orbans term meant he was able to get away with a lot of things, including corruption, including disregard of public services, because he was able to ensure steadily improving livelihoods to people who were not used to that. Now those EU funds are blocked, that bargain is coming apart, he said.

Orban and his allies, including US Vice President JD Vance, who traveled to Budapest this week to endorse the prime minister, have accused the EU of interfering in Hungarys election over the blocs withholding of funding. The Commission maintains that EU members must uphold the rule of law to receive funds.

Peter Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza party, has campaigned heavily against corruption. - Marton Monus/Reuters

Peter Magyar, the leader of the opposition Tisza party, has pledged to free up the EU payouts by allaying the blocs concerns about Hungarys democratic backsliding. He has campaigned heavily against corruption, accusing Orban and his acolytes of enriching themselves while the country has grown poor. Still, Magyar would face a stiff challenge to meet the EUs demands and unlock some funding before an August 31 deadline.

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Tisza has held a double-digit lead over Orbans Fidesz party in most polls for more than a year. Although a victory for Magyar would spell the end of what corruption expert Toth described as Orbans bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you approach to the EU, Hungary will still require financial help from Brussels  including in Zalaegerszeg.

Balaicz, the mayor, said that once the Hungarian government builds the planned railway, his municipality will then be able to build a second roundabout to aid logistics around the container terminal. That will cost another 954 million forints (about $3 million), he told CNN  also from an EU fund.

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This story was originally published on mynorthwest.com.

Two Mexican citizens, both illegally present in the U.S., were sentenced for reentry in recent weeks after they were both arrested in Washington.

Both Jorge Velasquez-Sandoval, 36, and Filadelfo Garcia Garcia, 36, returned to the U.S. after two prior removals, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd stated.

Velasquez-Sandovals case

Velasquez-Sandoval was first ordered to leave the country in February 2009 by an immigration judge. In December 2015, Velasquez-Sandoval was encountered by agents with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in California. Velasquez-Sandoval was again removed from the U.S.

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Nine years later, in October 2024, DHS agents learned that Velasquez-Sandoval was arrested once more in the U.S., this time in Snohomish County for fourth-degree domestic violence assault. But Velasquez-Sandoval was released back into the community. A year later, in September 2025, Velasquez-Sandoval was arrested again for violating a protection order related to the domestic violence assault.

On February 26, Velasquez-Sandoval pleaded guilty.

It is clear that Mr. Velasquez-Sandoval has no respect for the law, U.S. District Judge James Robart said at the sentencing hearing. It looks to me that Ive got somebody whos essentially committing crimes every time hes here.

As Velasquez-Sandoval is being processed for removal to Mexico, he is in custody pending transfer to immigration authorities.

Garcia Garcias case

Garcia Garcia was first removed from the U.S. in August 2018. A year later, he was found in California and removed a second time.
NEW YORK  A fear of losing again is already shaping how Democrats think about 2028.

Chants of run again! reverberated through the packed room as Kamala Harris spoke Friday at the National Action Network convention, a gathering of Black voters, lawmakers and power brokers that saw drop-ins from a steady stream of potential presidential candidates. But several Black attendees openly questioned whether anyone other than a straight, white man can win the White House.

The Democratic Party, they're going to have to consider  who can win? Who can win, Black, white, who can win? the Rev. Kim Williams, 63, a New Yorker and registered independent said in an interview.

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I don't think [the country is] ready for another different type of person, said Annette Wilcox, a 69-year old New Yorker.

Its an open question the party is grappling with in the wake of Harris decisive 2024 loss to President Donald Trump. Conversations with a dozen people on the sidelines of the Rev. Al Sharptons gathering found some lingering concerns that America remains too bigoted  and that as a result, the desire to diversify the highest reaches of government is in tension with the desire to win.

In interviews, several of the prospective 2028 Democrats themselves argued that anyone can win. They poured into the midtown Manhattan ballroom over the week to build their relationships with Black voters for what became a barely-hidden shadow primary.

Sen. Ruben Gallego, a first-term Democrat who won statewide in Arizona despite Harris losing the state, told POLITICO on the sidelines of the convention that the party shouldnt let fear narrow who ultimately runs.

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If you got stuck into this idea of what an ideal character is  you could potentially miss some really great talent, said Gallego, who leaned intohis identity as a Latino veteran in his 2024 campaign.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, another possible 2028 candidate, said that he doesnt know many people back in 2022 who thought that an African American who had never held political office in his life was gonna be the next governor of Maryland.

People want to know, does your message meet a moment, he added.

On stage with Sharpton on Friday, Harris seemed to agree. She made her most explicit overture at running again for the presidency, telling the audience she was thinking about it  to loud cheers and applause. Her appearance at the convention energized an otherwise largely staid event.

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But even Harris, the first Black and South Asian woman to become vice president, has tacitly acknowledged the limitations of the country.

In her latest book, she divulged that former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg  another 2028 contender who also made a pit-stop at NAN  was her top vice presidential pick in 2024. But she didnt select him because she didnt believe the country was ready for both a woman of color and a gay man in the White House.

A spokesperson for Harris declined to comment.

Some women, from former first lady Michelle Obama to various convention attendees disappointed by Harris 2024 loss, have said the U.S. isnt ready for a female president.

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I believe the current climate of this country is not ready for a Black woman as president, Aaliyah Payton, 30, a middle school teacher in the Bronx, said while waiting to see Harris speak on the third day of the convention in a line that spanned far outside the convention room.

If Kamala Harris is running as a Democrat, and there is another white man also running as a Democrat, she would have a tough time winning, said 60-year-old Donna Carr, who lives in New Jersey. Its a mans world.

Im not going to lie, it may be too soon, said 27-year-old New Yorker Justina Pena when asked if Harris should run again.

The same handwringing roiled the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, and voters ultimately selected Joe Biden  a more moderate straight white man  to block Trump from winning a second consecutive term.

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The debate within the Democratic Party over what kind of candidate is electable played out again most recently in Texas, where the Democratic Senate primary was defined by tensions over race and concerns over which candidate could unify enough Democrats, independents and disillusioned Republicans to flip the red state. Voters chose seminarian James Talarico, a white man, over political firebrand Jasmine Crockett, a Black woman, in the end.

We saw it with the race with Crockett, and I saw a woman say she wanted to vote for Crockett, but she knew she could not win against [a] white male Republican, said Williams, the 63-year-old reverend.

Now, those conversations are already emerging for 2028 before a single Democrat has officially announced a bid for the White House. The question over 2028 ambitions hovered over Moore, Gallego, Harris, Buttigieg, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and California Rep. Ro Khanna this week  and while nobody said they officially are, nobody ruled it out. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly are slated to speak on Saturday.

Buttigieg has dismissed concerns over his viability, including in a direct response to Harris revelation of why she didnt choose him as a running mate in 2024.

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My experience in politics has been that the way that you earn trust with voters is based mostly on what they think youre going to do for their lives, not on categories, Buttigieg told POLITICO in a September interview.Politics is about the results we can get for people and not about these other things.

Some of the Black voters at the conference similarly expressed frustration with the idea that candidates identities should be a consideration in the looming 2028 primary.

My concern  biggest concern  is when we get into a crisis like this in this country, people want to go to the center, which usually is right of center in my view. A lot of people get kind of left out, said Wilcox, the 69-year-old New York voter.

In my experience, or history I've had with the Democratic Party, I feel like when that happens, Black people get tossed to the side.
The Brief

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to prepare to respond to impacts from severe weather across the state.

The state faces the risk of severe storms for several days over the next week.

Flooding, hail, damaging wind and tornadoes are possible with any severe storms that develop.

Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott activated emergency response resources Friday as the state faces a stretch of potential severe weather.

The forecast

Various parts of the state are at risk of severe storms through at least Wednesday as a active weather pattern sets up across the southern U.S.

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Storms will carry with them the possibility of heavy rain that leads to flash flooding, as well as hail, damaging winds and even tornadoes.

What they're saying

"The State of Texas stands ready to deploy all necessary resources to help local officials respond to potential severe weather across the state," Abbott said in a statement. "State and local emergency response partners are actively monitoring weather conditions and are on standby to help ensure safety for Texans and our communities. Texans are encouraged to regularly monitor road conditions, make an emergency plan, and heed the guidance of state and local officials."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on Jan. 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas.

The order allows Abbott to deploy resources that can handle everything from swiftwater rescues to roadway clearing to power outage monitoring.

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Abbott encouraged Texans to make a storm plan, build an emergency supply kit and follow directions from local officials.

The Source

Information in this story came from the governors office and FOX Weather.
NEED TO KNOW

Tyler Robinson allegedly left a handwritten letter confessing he intended to "take out" Charlie Kirk before the conservative activist was killed

"I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it," Robinson allegedly wrote in a handwritten letter to his partner

Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at a Turning Point USA event on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10, 2025

New unsealed court documents reportedly reveal that Charlie Kirk's suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson, allegedly said he had the "opportunity" to assassinate the conservative activist.

Authorities accuse Robinson of killing Kirk while the right-wing political activist was speaking at a Turning Point USA event on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10, 2025.

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On the day of the shooting, Robinson's partner allegedly received a message from Robinson to "drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard," according to a search warrant affidavit among the unsealed court documents, ABC News reports.

Robinson's partner told police he found a handwritten letter under the keyboard. Police viewed the partner's photo of the letter, police said.

"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," the letter began, according to ABC News and local outlets KUTV and ABC4.

"I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it," Robinson allegedly wrote. "I don't know if I will/have succeeded, but I had hoped to make it home to you."

Tyler Robinson on December 11, 2025 in Provo, Utah.

Credit: Rick Egan-Pool/Getty

"I wish we could have lived in a world where this did not feel necessary," Robinson allegedly wrote. "I wish I could have stayed for you and lived our lives together. I lack the words to express how much I love you, and how very much you mean to me. Please try and find joy in this life. I love you, always, -Tyler."

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Amid the manhunt for Robinson after he fled the crime scene, he texted his partner that he was growing worried, The Salt Lake Tribune reports, also citing the unsealed search warrant.

I have no intention of being drug through the courts in front of the country, Robinson allegedly wrote.

By the evening of Sept. 11, Robinson surrendered to authorities. He was charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.

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.

Robinson's next court appearance is on April 17, when the defense and prosecution will argue over permission to use cameras in the courtroom throughout his case.

Read the original article on People
Allegheny County leaders came together Friday to learn what could be done to stop SNAP benefit thefts.

According to a report from technology company Propel, SNAP recipients lost an estimated $607 million in benefits to fraud just last year, including nearly $20 million from Pennsylvania families alone.

So, the non-profit Just Harvest brought together a panel to discuss the crisis that leaves people without food and recourse.

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Neighbors say they want to see more security measures, like installing chip technology in EBT cards.

We know what the cost associated with SNAP theft is, State Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said. What we need to recognize is the cost to put these chips in is far less than the loss we are dealing with.

Costa said hes hopeful that legislation to install chips into EBT cards will be passed sometime this year.

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NEED TO KNOW

A 37-year-old American hiker in the French Alps was airlifted to the hospital after being bitten by a snake

The hiker had a severe reaction following the bite and fell unconscious, and he was later admitted to the Grenoble Alpes University Hospital's trauma unit

Experts suspect that he may have been bitten by the venomous asp viper snake, which is found in the Alps

An American hiker had to be airlifted out of the French Alps after being bitten by a snake.

The hiker  who was identified only as a 37-year-old man  had been with two other Americans in the hills above Veurey-Voroize, on the northern edge of the Vercors massif, when he was bitten by a red and black snake, according to Connexion France and local news outlet Le Dauphine Libere.

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The American hiker had a severe reaction to the bite, and his condition deteriorated rapidly, prompting his companions to alert emergency services. It is unclear what led up to the snake bite.

A Compagnies Republicaines de Securite (CRS) Alpes mountain rescue unit and a doctor from Frances emergency medical service SAMU were dispatched to the scene via a Civil Security helicopter, per Le Dauphine Libere.

When they arrived on the scene, they found the hiker unconscious but still breathing, and administered emergency aid. The man was then airlifted to Grenoble Alpes University Hospital, where he was admitted to the trauma unit.

It was unclear what kind of snake could have bitten the hiker, though there are several venomous species across the Alps, including the asp viper and the common adder, per Naturpark Otztal.

Vercors Natural Park

Credit: Getty

Jean Andrieux, a park ranger for Vercors Natural Park who confirmed the incident to Connexion France, said he believed it could have been an asp viper, which can have red and black coloring.

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In France, in the Vercors massif, there are more than 10 species of snakes. Some are quite common, others are rare. There is one species of viper among the four species found in France. That is the asp viper, Andrieux told the outlet, adding that the species is common in the area.

Andrieux noted that asp viper bites are rare and that the chances of a severe reaction from a bite in humans are on the lower side.

Most bites are what we call dry bites, meaning the viper bites but does not inject venom. It is a defensive reaction  it is scared, it bites, but does not release venom, he said.

However, some bites do contain venom, which can be especially dangerous if a person is allergic, Andrieux told Connexion France. The park ranger recommended erring on the side of caution when hiking.

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.

What is also important to know is that a snake will never attack a hiker on its own, Andrieux told the outlet. A snake does not attack people. It only bites in self-defense  for example, if it is touched or accidentally stepped on.

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If you encounter a snake, the best thing to do is to go around it at a safe distance and continue on your way, he added.

PEOPLE has reached out to Compagnies Republicaines de Securite and Vercors Natural Park for comment on the incident.

Read the original article on People
The Brevard County Sheriffs Office announced an arrest in the 2023 Cocoa death case, a development after years of being unsolved.

Investors report 37-year-old Tavery Houston was detained on April 7 and charged with first-degree premeditated murder of Franklin Orwig. The shooting occurred in August 2023 at a home on Burgess Avenue in Cocoa.

The incident started when deputies responded to reports of a shooting at a house on Burgess Avenue. When they arrived, they discovered Orwig with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a nearby hospital but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.

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At the start of the investigation, authorities had minimal details, with witnesses merely noting a masked person leaving the scene. Nevertheless, detectives identified leads suggesting the suspect was also known as Cookie.

Further investigation showed that Cookie was Houstons nickname. Detectives later approached him for questioning while they continued collecting evidence and conducting interviews.

Investigators found evidence indicating that Houston planned and executed the shooting, reportedly due to a financial disagreement.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey praised the detectives, analysts, and crime scene personnel for their persistence in capturing the suspect.

Houston is currently being held without bond as the investigation continues.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Records were set. History was made. All that was left was to get the four Artemis II astronauts home safe.

NASAs Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen made the final run of a nearly 700,000-mile trip that began April 1 when they launched from Kennedy Space Center on the first crewed mission of the Artemis program.

They splashed down at 8:07 p.m. EDT in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego after a 13-minute reentry that slowed the vehicle from nearly 24,000 mph down to a gentle, parachute-assisted, 19-mph landing in calm seas.

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NASA began streaming their broadcast coverage on its YouTube channel at 6:30 p.m. EDT with streams also available on on NASA+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Netflix, HBO Max, Discovery+, Peacock and Roku.

Astronauts made their final course correction burn earlier Friday afternoon and began the final steps to come back to Earth at 7:33 p.m., when the service module separated from the crew module, which the crew had named Integrity.

We have a great view of the moon out window two. Looks a little smaller today, Wiseman said soon after.

Guess well have to go back, replied Artemis II crews chief training officer Jacki Mahaffey, who was CAPCOM for the landing.

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The next big event was entry interface, hitting the first traces of Earths atmosphere at 7:53 p.m. at 400,000 feet altitude about 1,900 miles short of the landing site traveling at 23,742 mph. The spacecraft shortly after went out of contact for six minutes, a blackout period as plasma builds up around the spacecraft.

Houston, Integrity. We have you loud and clear, Wiseman responded when prompted to reestablish contact.

Your trajectory is nominal and recovery teams have visual, Mahaffey said.

The drogue parachute deployed at 22,000 feet at 8:03 p.m. that slowed the craft to 200 mph, followed by three main parachutes at 8:04 p.m. at 136 mph that slowed it to 19 mph for splashdown.

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The return trajectory correction burn went great. They were right on the money, right down the middle of where there should be coming back, said Paul Sierpinski, assistant Artemis recovery director from the deck of the USS John P. Murtha about 200 miles off the California coast. All our boats are launched or will be imminently.

A couple minutes before splashdown, things start happening really, really fast, Sierpinski said. It just takes a whole lot of effort and a lot of updates back and forth between us and Houston keep track of everything thats happening all in real time. And then after splashdown, thats when the recovery team really takes into high gear.

Their descent took about 13 minutes once they reentered the atmosphere coming in at nearly 24,000 mph enduring temperatures close to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Its 13 minutes of things that have to go right, said Artemis II lead flight director Jeff Radigan on Thursday afternoon. I have a whole checklist in my head that were going through of all the things that have to happen.

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Youre really coming straight down and come in and hit the atmosphere a whole lot faster, but that means you go through it a whole lot faster too, Radigan said. Id say it parallels Apollo much more than it does some of our low-Earth-orbit returns and and thats really what were looking forward to. Theyre coming home pretty fast.

Recovery teams will extract the crew from the capsule within two hours and fly the astronauts to the nearby recovery ship with two astronauts per helicopter. Once on board, they will undergo postmission medical evaluations. Then theyll be flown to shore, and board an aircraft flying to Johnson Space Center in Houston on Saturday.

Were not done on this mission. Weve got another day and a half, and you know thats when we can start celebrating, is when we have a crew safely in the med bay of the ship, Radigan said. Thats really when we can allow the emotions to take over and, start talking about success. We need to have the crew home before we do that.

NASA flight surgeon Dr. Rick Scheuring spoke with the crew when they woke up earlier Friday.

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They were very pumped up, very hurried, though, he said They had a lot of cabin configuration, a lot of things to get ready, so theyre excited. ... Theyre also very focused on the job that they had to do. So again, weve trained a long time for this, and were ready.

Hell be one of the point people on the ship when they make it back on board.

Weve trained three years for this nonstop with the U.S. Navy and along with (Exploration Ground Systems) and so look forward to this day, he said, And just by Gods grace, everythings parting, the skies, and everything.

The seas were not too choppy for the landing, so NASA was able to stick with its primary landing recovery site.

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Their health is assessed almost immediately after they splash down, he said.

Earlier this week, the quartet surpassed the record for the Apollo 13 mission in 1970 for farthest distance from Earth ever flown by humans. Glover became the first Black man, Koch the first woman and Hansen the first non-American to ever fly near the moon.

They have now grown the number of humans ever to venture into deep space to 28, and the first since the final flight of the Apollo program in 1972.

Along the way they flew around the far side of the moon, taking in sights never seen before by human eyes, and witnessed a solar eclipse with the moon blocking out the sun from a new perspective.

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The return concludes a 10-day mission that had a primary goal of proving Orion could support humans for NASAs future lunar plans future. It sets up an Artemis III mission that could fly as soon as mid-2027, although that flight will stay close to Earth with a task of testing out Orions ability to dock with one or both of two lunar landers being developed.

It wont be until the Artemis IV mission, targeted for early 2028, that humans would return to the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 more than half a century ago.

In the meantime, the Artemis II astronauts have a lot to talk about.

During a call with press late Wednesday, the quartet weighed in on the highs and lows of the journey so far.

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Among the most poignant moments was the call back to Houston after the quartet had broken Apollo 13s distance record. Hansen announced the crew wanted to name a pair of craters on the moon, one for the ship, named Integrity, and another for Wisemans late wife Carroll.

Wiseman, even though he knew about the idea that was conceived beforehand by his three crewmates, could not help but wipe away tears as Hansen spoke.

That was an emotional moment for me. And I just thought that was just a total treasure that they had thought through this, and they had offered this. And I said, Absolutely, I would love that,  he said, noting he knew he would not have been able to give the speech. And Jeremy, the kind of guy he is, he said he would do it and and it was getting emotional there. And I think when Jeremy spelled Carrolls name, C-A-R-R-O-L-L, I think for me, thats when I was overwhelmed with emotion.

He said he saw Koch crying and he put his hand on Hansen as he was still talking, as he could tell his Canadian crewmate was trembling.

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We all pretty much broke down right there, Wiseman said. And just for me personally, that was, that was kind of the pinnacle moment of the mission for me. That was, I think, where the four of us were the most forged, the most bonded, and we came out of that really focused on that day ahead.

Glover was particularly moved by the eclipse, which in the end made up for the fact that because they had launched on April 1 instead of a launch window, some of the observable far side of the moon would be shrouded in lunar night. And while they had been prepared by the science team, the moment hit hard.

When that actually happened, it just blew us all away, he said, and while the eclipse seemed to be a consolation ... it was one of the greatest gifts of that part of the mission.

Hansen said he had seen extraordinary things, some that he expected, but others he could not have imagined.

But I have to say, it hasnt changed my perspective, or the perspective that I launched with, he said. That we live on a fragile planet in the vacuum, in the void of space. We know this from science. Were very fortunate to live on planet Earth.

Hansen added that another perspective hammered home from space is one hes learned from others through life.

Our purpose on the planet as humans is to find joy and (lift) each other up by creating solutions together, instead of destroying, he said. And when you see it from out here, it doesnt change it. It just absolutely reaffirms that. Its almost like seeing living proof of it.

Koch talked about the path theyve paved for future Artemis crews.

Part of our ethos as a crew and our values from the very beginning were that this is a relay race, she said. In fact, we have batons that we bought to symbolize physically that we plan to hand them to the next crew, and every single thing that we do is with them in mind.

She did weigh in on the difficulties of the mission, such as the toilet not working 100% of the time.

Its actually easier in human spaceflight, especially on a first mission, to accept some of the things that arent working quite right, or the operational work arounds, she said. And we have actually been diligent to try to fix everything. And were always thinking from the perspective, what is the next crew going to think about this? How will this help them to succeed?

Koch said the premium on personal space on board a spacecraft no bigger than a camper van was laughable at times.

We have loved living in Orion, and in fact, weve all said that sometimes you can forget where you really are, because were in this small space that just gives us everything we need, she said. It is bigger in microgravity, and yes, we are bumping into each other 100% of the time.

She said a common phrase you might here in the cabin is, Dont move your foot. Im just going to reach for something right under it.

Everything we do in here is a four-person activity, but its also really fun, she said.

Shes embraced it, and will miss it when theyre done, she said.

I will miss this camaraderie. I will miss being this close with this many people and having a common purpose, a common mission, getting to work on it hard and hard every day, across hundreds of thousands of miles with a team on the ground, she said. This sense of teamwork is something that you dont usually get as an adult. I mean, we are close, like brothers and sisters, and that is a privilege we will never have again.

In the end, theres nothing about the mission she could have done without.

This whole thing is a package. We cant explore deeper unless we are doing a few things that are inconvenient, unless were making a few sacrifices, unless were taking a few risks, and those things are all worth it, she said.

Wiseman noted that the camaraderie among the four spilled out into calls they all had with their families back on Earth.

One of the neatest things being a crewmate on this spacecraft has been, not being in the family conference, but hearing your crewmates giggling and crying and just gasping and listening and loving their families from afar, he said. Family is so important to all four of us, and that has been amazing. And when I got to talk to my daughters, Ellie, Katie, for the first time, like I just couldnt even speak, I was just so overjoyed. I was crying. I mean, its just, it is an amazing experience.

Wiseman also weighed in on the moment Orion dipped behind the moon and the Earth disappeared from view.

When we watched that, Earth eclipse behind the moon, well, Im actually getting chills right now. Just think about  my palms are sweating  but it is amazing to watch your home planet disappear behind the moon, he said. You could see the atmosphere. You could actually see the terrain in the moon projected across the Earth as the Earth was eclipsing behind the moon. It was just an unbelievable sight. And then it was gone. It was out of sight.

He said the quartet took a moment, even shared some maple cookies brought by Hansen, but after a few minutes, the crew got back to work as they had a lot of scientific work to do.

The gravity of the mission he expects will hit even harder after they are back and have time to reflect.

Theres a lot that our brains have to process. Human minds should not go through what these just went through, he said. It is a true gift. And we have a lot that we just need to think about and journal and write, and then well get the full feeling of what we just went through.

_____

---------
The four Artemis II astronauts are back safely on Earth after flying around the moon on NASAs first lunar mission in more than 50 years.

After a fiery trip through Earths atmosphere that lasted nearly 15 minutes, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch and Victor Glover and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego in their Orion capsule at 8:07 p.m. ET.

Yall, we did it, Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator of NASAs Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, said Friday in a post-landing news briefing. We sent four amazing people to the moon and safely returned them to Earth for the first time in more than 50 years.

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It was a picture-perfect splashdown, with the capsule landing upright under three huge parachutes as recovery teams raced to the scene.

Minutes before, a six-minute communications blackout with mission controllers made for a nail-biting finish to the mission as the capsule plunged through Earths atmosphere.

Then, a very welcome callout came over the airwaves.

Houston, Integrity, we have you loud and clear, Wiseman radioed to Mission Control at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston, using the name Integrity that the crew gave to their spacecraft.

NASA's Orion spacecraft lands in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on Friday. (Bill Ingalls / NASA via Getty Images) (Bill Ingalls)

After NASA and U.S. Navy recovery teams checked the area for debris and other hazardous materials, the Artemis II crew members were helped out of the capsule one by one. Wiseman, the missions commander, was last to exit.

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The four astronauts were then flown by helicopter to the USS John P. Murtha, a U.S. Navy transport dock ship. Once on board, they underwent post-mission medical evaluations. Later on Friday, the astronauts are expected to return to shore and fly to NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston, the agency said.

The astronauts return marks the end of the 10-day mission, during which they flew around the moon and became the first humans to see the entire lunar far side with their own eyes. The crew was also the first to launch aboard NASAs Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule.

As they swung around the moon, the astronauts set a new record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth: 252,756 miles. They surpassed the previous record of 248,655 miles set by the Apollo 13 crew in 1970 during their emergency return to Earth.

Earth dips beyond the lunar horizon in this first photo from the far side of the moon captured from Orion on April 6. (NASA) (NASA)

During their lunar flyby, the Artemis II crew members captured breathtaking photos of the moons far side, including never-before-seen features on the lunar surface: rugged topography, countless craters, ridges, mountains and ancient lava plains. The moons far side permanently faces away from Earth, and even most of the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s did not yield views of the far side because of the paths and timing of the flights.

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The Artemis II astronauts recorded observations of impact basins that formed billions of years ago, when large objects smacked into the lunar surface, and studied jagged features along the moons terminator, the dividing line between its illuminated side and the side cloaked in darkness.

NASA said these images will help scientists understand how the moon formed and how its landscape has changed over time.

Over the entirety of the mission, the Artemis II astronauts flew 700,237 miles, according to NASA flight director Rick Henfling. He added that their return to Earth was almost right on target, with the Orion capsule landing within less than a mile of the targeted splashdown site and following a near-perfect flight path.

What a tremendous day, Henfling said.

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The successful end of the Artemis II mission is a major relief for NASA, given prior concerns about Orion capsules heat shield, the layer of thermal protection at the bottom of the spacecraft that protects astronauts from extreme temperatures during atmospheric re-entry.

Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover with their zero-gravity indicator "Rise" inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home. (NASA) (NASA)

Re-entering Earths atmosphere is always a dangerous and risky part of human spaceflight, because a capsule plunging through the atmosphere can be exposed to temperatures of around 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. But the stakes were especially high for the Artemis II mission because the Orion heat shield had a known flaw in its design.

During the uncrewed Artemis I test flight in 2022, NASA found that part of the heat shields material cracked during re-entry, causing some charred material to break off in several locations. To minimize risk to the Artemis II astronauts, NASA modified the capsules entry path so that it descended faster and at a steeper angle to shorten the amount of time it was exposed to the most extreme temperatures.

NASA said a full analysis will be done to assess the performance of the heat shield in the coming days after the Orion capsule arrives at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

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Amit Kshatriya, NASAs associate administrator, said the Artemis II mission was a critical stepping stone for NASAs goal to land on the moon on a future Artemis flight.

NASA aims to launch the next mission, Artemis III, in mid-2027 to conduct technology demonstrations in low-Earth orbit with one or both of the lunar landers being built by SpaceX or Blue Origin. In 2028, the agency plans to launch the Artemis IV mission to land on the moon.

The path to the lunar surface is open, but the work ahead is greater than the work behind us, Kshatriya said. It always will be. Fifty-three years ago, humanity left the moon. This time, we return to stay.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The four astronauts who flew around the moon and back again on the Artemis II mission made their way back to the Johnson Space Center in Houston on April 11 after safely splashing back down on Earth the evening before.

And on Saturday night, they had stories to share during NASA's event welcoming the crew back to Houston.

"Twenty-four hours ago, the Earth was that big outside the window and we were doing Mach 39," Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman told the crowd of family, public officials and NASA personnel, holding his hands up to the size of a basketball. "And here we are, back [at home]," he said, slapping high fives on stage with fellow Artemis crewmembers: Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen.

NASA celebrates the safe return of the Artemis II crew in Houston, Texas, on April 11, 2026, during a welcoming ceremony a day after splashdown from their moon mission.



(L-R) NASA's Artemis II mission astronauts Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist Christina Koch, pilot Victor Glover and commander Reid Wiseman greet attendees to their welcoming ceremony at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base. (L-R) NASA's Artemis II mission astronauts Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen, commander Reid Wiseman, mission specialist Christina Koch and pilot Victor Glover attend a welcoming ceremony at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Texas, on April 11, 2026. An elated NASA late April 10 was celebrating its successful voyage around the Moon, after four astronauts safely returned to Earth having completed the first lunar flyby in more than 50 years. The NASA spacecraft carrying four astronauts -- three Americans and one Canadian -- splashed down without a hitch off the California coast, capping the US space agency's crewed test mission that returned with spectacular images of the Moon. (L-R) NASA's Artemis II mission astronauts Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, Victor Glover and commander Reid Wiseman react during a welcoming ceremony at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Texas, on April 11, 2026. An elated NASA late April 10 was celebrating its successful voyage around the Moon, after four astronauts safely returned to Earth having completed the first lunar flyby in more than 50 years. The NASA spacecraft carrying four astronauts -- three Americans and one Canadian -- splashed down without a hitch off the California coast, capping the US space agency's crewed test mission that returned with spectacular images of the Moon. (L-R) NASA's Artemis II mission astronauts Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, Victor Glover and commander Reid Wiseman react during a welcoming ceremony at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Texas, on April 11, 2026. An elated NASA late April 10 was celebrating its successful voyage around the Moon, after four astronauts safely returned to Earth having completed the first lunar flyby in more than 50 years. The NASA spacecraft carrying four astronauts -- three Americans and one Canadian -- splashed down without a hitch off the California coast, capping the US space agency's crewed test mission that returned with spectacular images of the Moon. (L-R) NASA's Artemis II mission astronauts Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen, commander Reid Wiseman, mission specialist Christina Koch and pilot Victor Glover attend a welcoming ceremony at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Texas, on April 11, 2026. An elated NASA late April 10 was celebrating its successful voyage around the Moon, after four astronauts safely returned to Earth having completed the first lunar flyby in more than 50 years. The NASA spacecraft carrying four astronauts -- three Americans and one Canadian -- splashed down without a hitch off the California coast, capping the US space agency's crewed test mission that returned with spectacular images of the Moon. NASA's Artemis II mission commander Reid Wiseman (R) shakes hands with pilot Victor Glover as Christina Koch looks on during a welcoming ceremony at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Texas, on April 11, 2026. An elated NASA late April 10 was celebrating its successful voyage around the Moon, after four astronauts safely returned to Earth having completed the first lunar flyby in more than 50 years. The NASA spacecraft carrying four astronauts -- three Americans and one Canadian -- splashed down without a hitch off the California coast, capping the US space agency's crewed test mission that returned with spectacular images of the Moon. Artemis II astronauts celebrated at welcome home event after moon mission 1 of 6 NASA celebrates the safe return of the Artemis II crew in Houston, Texas, on April 11, 2026, during a welcoming ceremony a day after splashdown from their moon mission.



(L-R) NASA's Artemis II mission astronauts Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist Christina Koch, pilot Victor Glover and commander Reid Wiseman greet attendees to their welcoming ceremony at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base.

"Victor, Christina and Jeremy, we are bonded forever and no one down here is ever going to know what the four of us just went through and it was the most special thing that will ever happen in my life," Wiseman said.

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Artemis II: How the astronauts captured photos on the mission.

Thanking the families for their support, he added, "no one knows what the families when through. This was not easy, being 200,000-plus miles away from home. Before you launch it feels like it's the greatest dream on Earth. And when you are out there you just want to get back to your families and your friends."

Wiseman closed with the first of what would be several group hugs for the crew.

Next to speak, Glover said, "I have not processed what we just did and I'm afraid to start even trying. When this started on April 3, I wanted to thank God in public and I want to thank God again.  The gratitude of seeing what we saw, doing what we did and being with who I was with, it's too big to just be in one body."

NASA's Artemis II mission astronauts Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Pilot Victor Glover and Commander Reid Wiseman at their welcoming ceremony at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Texas, on April 11, 2026.

For her, Koch said the mission helped define "what makes a crew [and] what is different about a crew than a team."

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A crew, she said, "is willing to sacrifice ..., that gives grace, that holds [each other] accountable. A crew has the same cares and the same needs and a crew is inescapably, beautifully, dutifully linked."

So when the Artemis II crew could see "tiny Earth" from space and were asked what their impressions were, "honestly what struck me wasn't necessarily just Earth, it was all the blackness around it," Koch said. "Earth was just this lifeboat hanging undisturbingly in the universe."

She added, "I may have not learned ... everything this journey has yet to teach me, but there's one new thing I know and that is: Planet Earth, you are a crew."

Hansen, a Canadian Space Agency astronaut, related another lesson for followers of their mission after asking his fellow crew to stand up and lock arms.

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"What you saw was a group of people who loved contributing, having meaningful contribution and extracting joy out of that," Hansen said. "And what we have been hearing is that was something special for you to witness. And the reason I had them form up here with me is because, what I would suggest to you, is when you look up here you are not looking at us, we are a mirror reflecting you. If you like what you see, then just look a little deeper. This is you."

NASA's Artemis II mission astronauts Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Pilot Victor Glover at their welcoming ceremony at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Texas, on April 11, 2026.

Earlier in the day, Wiseman said in social media posts that he was on a helicopter leaving the USS John P. Murtha, the ship where the crew underwent a medical evaluation after their landing off the coast of San Diego.

"This planet is impossibly beautiful from every altitude Ive seen it  surface to 250,000 miles," Wiseman said, sharing a photo of his view from the helicopter on April 11.

After splashing down after 8 p.m. on April 10, the Artemis II crew was taken to the Murtha via HSC-23 helicopter. The astronauts underwent medical evaluations before helicopters transported them back to shore.

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Once they arrived in Houston, the crew was set to be "promptly" reunited with family members, Artemis II Flight Director Rick Henfling said during a news conference on April 10.

"I'm sure each of the crew members has something special planned with their families, and that'll be the priority is for them to take some time and spend with their loved ones," Henfling said.

They have also been invited to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House, though it's not clear when that might happen. Trump told the astronauts he's "pretty busy" but would "absolutely find the time."

On the helicopter leaving the ship right now. This planet is impossibly beautiful from every altitude Ive seen itsurface to 250,000 miles pic.twitter.com/qnyTQQ6OkB  Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid) April 11, 2026

The Orion spacecraft, which shuttled the astronauts a record-breaking 252,756 miles from Earth, will undergo a barrage of testing and analysis. After splashdown, Orion was secured in the well deck of the USS John P. Murtha. It will be returned to the U.S. Naval Base San Diego and eventually to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for inspection.

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NASA scientists will "thoroughly examine the spacecraft, retrieve onboard data, remove payloads, and conduct additional post-flight check."

The Artemis II crew capsule splashes down in the Pacific Ocean in this screengrab from a livestream video after the Artemis II crew's flyby of the Moon, April 10, 2026. The first set of parachutes deploys on the Artemis II crew capsule in this screengrab from a livestream video as it descends toward splashdown following its reentry to Earth after the Artemis II crews flyby of the Moon, April 10, 2026. The Artemis II crew module separates from its service module in this screengrab from a livestream video as it prepares for re-entry to Earth following the Artemis II crew's flyby of the Moon, April 10, 2026. The Artemis II crew capsule is shown at NASAs mission control center during a maneuver ahead of its reentry to Earth, following the Artemis II crews flyby of the Moon, April 10, 2026. The Artemis II crew gets ready for the Orion spacecraft's Integrity module separation in this screengrab from a livestream video as it prepares for re-entry to Earth following the Artemis II crew's flyby of the Moon, April 10, 2026. Earth is seen from a window of the Artemis II crew capsule in this screenshot from a livestream video minutes before its re-entry to Earth, following the Artemis II crew's flyby of the Moon, April 10, 2026. Artemis II crew members are reflected in the window of their capsule in this screenshot from a livestream video minutes before its re-entry to Earth, following the Artemis II crew's flyby of the Moon, April 10, 2026. See Artemis II splashdown after record-breaking trip around the moon 1 of 7 The Artemis II crew capsule splashes down in the Pacific Ocean in this screengrab from a livestream video after the Artemis II crew's flyby of the Moon, April 10, 2026.

Preparations for future lunar missions have already begun, including next year's Artemis III, and Artemis IV, which plans to make a moon landing in 2028 for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

More: What we know about the next Artemis moon missions

"With Artemis II complete, focus now turns confidently toward assembling Artemis III and preparing to return to the lunar surface, build the base, and never give up the moon again," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said.

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Artemis III, slated for a 2027 launch, will send another crew of astronauts on the Orion spacecraft to Earth's orbit, where they will dock with at least one commercial lunar lander. All this will prepare a crew to eventually land on the moon in 2028.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Artemis II crew update. Crew speaks out at welcome home event
With the launch of NASAs Artemis II mission on April 1, 2026, human beings have finally returned to the Moon for the first time in 50 years  since the age of Apollo.

When Apollo 11 first landed on the lunar surface, the astronauts portrayed their accomplishment as the realization of a science fictional dream. In a televised broadcast during their return, Neil Armstrong explicitly evoked Jules Vernes 1865 novel From the Earth to the Moon, calling his spaceship and crew a modern-day Columbia  a direct reference to the spaceship Verne imagined taking off in from Florida and landing in the Pacific Ocean.

Discourse around science fiction coming true often focuses on the gadgets and technologies it predicted. But as sci-fi author Frederik Pohl reputedly said, its not about imagining the car, but the traffic jam.

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As a literature professor who has studied science fiction for a decade and editor of a forthcoming edition of Vernes novel annotated for the spacefaring age, I find that what makes Vernes 1865 novel prescient is that a century before the Moon landing, he understood that a moonshot would not be an act of pure and abstract science. It would exist within a political, social and economic context.

From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne describes a fictional Moon mission and its political, economic and environmental ramifications. Patrice Cartier/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images

In his novel, the moonshot is proposed by the Baltimore Gun Club in the months after the U.S. Civil War, and Verne tells the story of how they make this colossal undertaking happen. Writing before even the age of powered flight, he foresaw that a project to send a small handful of carefully selected, exceptional individuals beyond Earth would have ripple effects throughout the entire world.

And with four astronauts having just circled the Moon as part of the Artemis II mission, the similarities between Vernes vision and Americas current Moon-oriented dreams are striking  and revealing of the realities of the spacefaring age.

NASAs Artemis II crew lifts off from the Kennedy Space Centers Launch Pad 39-B on April 1, 2026. AP Photo/John Raoux

A nationalist and international project

In Vernes novel, the moonshot is explicitly proposed as a nationalist project, even as it also becomes a pinnacle of human achievement that unifies the world. The speech in which it is proposed is one full of celebrations of American engineers, scientists and generals who have come before, and Americanness is key to its realization.

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At one moment, it becomes clear that the launch must occur near the equator to minimize the distance to the Moon. Since this is an American endeavor, however, the protagonists are adamant that it must launch from the United States, and the Gun Club briefly considers invading Mexico to make this happen before remembering that Florida and Texas are both suitable.

The dramatic spacecraft launch in From the Earth to the Moon had widespread environmental effects. Henri de Montaut  National Library of Poland

Later, a Frenchman, Michel Ardan, telegraphs that hed like to make the trip to the Moon. Hes welcomed and celebrated but allowed on the voyage only after hes made an honorary citizen of the United States.

At the same time, the moonshot reaches the entire world. Every soul on the planet follows the news of it via telegraph, and it receives widespread support on the principle that it was both the right and the duty of the entire Earth to intervene in the affairs of its satellite. The worlds nations come together to raise funds for it and breathlessly await the launch.

Comparisons to the space race are obvious: During the 1960s, the Moon was another battleground in the Cold War, an ideological battle to answer the question of which system  communism or capitalism and democracy  can meet the challenge of putting a human being on the Moon first. Yet it was, and still is, also celebrated as a triumph of humananitys willpower, ingenuity and bravery.

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Artemis II is animated by this same tension between nationalism and a unifying vision of humanity. In the moments before launch, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen told NASA and the world, We are going for all humanity. The fact that a Canadian astronaut has joined an American crew, too, is a departure from Cold War days.

Throughout the Artemis II mission, the astronauts and NASAs ground control team repeatedly evoked the idea of a humanity united across international boundaries. After performing the translunar injection burn that committed Orion to its lunar trajectory, astronaut Christina Koch stated, We will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other, to which NASAs Mission Control responded: Integrity from Earth, our single system, fragile and interconnected, we copy. Those that can are looking back.

And yet, Artemis II is an important step in a modern-day space race, this time with the United States and China as opponents. The Artemis program is actively trying to return Americans to the Moon before China gets there. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has been unequivocal that the United States doing so first is crucial to continuing to prove American excellence on the world stage and therefore maintaining its economic and soft power.

Planetary colonization

In Vernes novel, the original motivation for going to the Moon is, in the words of the character Barbicane, to become the Columbuses of this new world. Though they call their project a scientific experiment, the characters see the Moon as a territory to be claimed, which will become the newest American state.

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This perspective sees the natural world and the cosmos as another frontier to be conquered, and it echoes the imperial and colonial practices of Vernes time, which saw populated places such as Africa and the American West as blank slates to claim.

Visions such as Vernes influenced most of the engineers and scientists that made human spaceflight possible, such as Robert Goddard and Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, who believed that humanitys destiny is in the stars.

This perspective, too, has been part of the rhetoric around Artemis II. While this mission has extensive scientific objectives  for the first time, theres a science desk at Mission Control  NASA has also repeatedly billed this mission as a momentous achievement because it took human beings farther from Earth than any human being has ever traveled.

If space is the final frontier, to borrow a phrase from Star Trek, then Artemis II is historic because it has taken American astronauts farther into that frontier.

Environmental effects

In Vernes novel, Tampa, Florida, is chosen as Moon City, from which the moonbound projectile will be launched. It is a profound economic boon for the city, just as real cities in Florida, Texas and elsewhere experienced economic and population growth in the 20th century due to the Apollo program.

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Yet the moonshot also has a devastating and negative effect in the book: The force of the detonation that launches the three explorers to the Moon razes the city and even causes a powerful storm that spreads to the Atlantic Ocean and sinks ships.

Todays space industry, too, offers many economic boons, with companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin employing thousands. But it also often has similarly harmful effects.

SpaceXs Starbase facility has raised environmental concerns, as rocket launches that dont go as planned can pollute the surrounding landscape. AP Photo/Eric Gay

For example, SpaceXs Texas Starbase  the primary facility for developing its Starship, which is intended to help NASA land humans on the Moon  has had detrimental effects on the surrounding landscape and population. Test launches that dont go as planned rain down shrapnel and debris, endangering people and damaging fragile ecosystems. Noise, water and air pollution are equally inconveniences to the local residents and a threat to many endangered species in the area.

The prescience of a work of science fiction such as Vernes lies not in the technologies he dreamed up but in the way he thought through their consequences and repercussions.

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This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Anastasia Klimchynskaya, Illinois Wesleyan University

Read more:



Anastasia Klimchynskaya does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
NASAs Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight around the moon in more than 50 years, has been a feast for the eyes.

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch and Victor Glover and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen concluded their 10-day mission Friday evening with a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean.

The crew launched April 1 on the 10-day journey, which took them around the far side of the moon. They traveled farther from Earth than any humans had before, breaking the distance record set by the Apollo 13 crew in 1970.

NASAs Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (John Kraus / NASA) (John Kraus)

Their photos from the lunar flyby on Monday  when they saw parts of the moon that no humans had ever viewed with their own eyes  have captivated public attention.

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NASA plans to release many more images from the mission now that the crew can hand over its data, rather than beaming it back from space. But for now, here are some of the best photos from Artemis II.

From left to right: Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen of CSA, pilot Victor Glover, commander Reid Wiseman and mission specialist Christina Koch walk out ahead of the launch on April 1. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla)

The mission launched from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis II crew were the first people that NASAs Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket had ever carried into space.

Artemis II was one of the most highly anticipated space events in recent years, since it was the first time people have launched toward the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.

The Artemis II mission lifts off at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images) (Jim Watson)

NASA (NASA)

The launch was delayed several times earlier this year for rocket repairs, but when the day finally arrived, local officials in central Floridas Space Coast estimated that hundreds of thousands of people flocked to the area to watch Artemis II lift off.

NASA/Getty Images (NASA/Getty Images)

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Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images (Jim Watson)

Two solid rocket boosters separate and fall toward Earth. (Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images) (Jim Watson)

Although Wiseman, Koch, Glover and Hansen did not land on the lunar surface, their mission was designed to test the rocket and capsule ahead of a planned moon landing in 2028. After that, NASA hopes to build a base on the moon and establish a long-term presence there.

On the second day of the flight, the Orion capsule performed a key engine burn to put it on a path toward the moon. The maneuver, known as a translunar injection burn, boosted the spacecrafts velocity enough to send it out of Earth orbit.

NASA (NASA)

The astronauts then spent three days journeying to the moon. Early on Monday, their Orion capsule entered a region of space known as the lunar sphere of influence, where the moons gravitational pull is stronger than Earths.

Before going to sleep on Day 5 of the mission, the Artemis II crew snapped a photo of the moon as it drew close in the window of the Orion spacecraft. (NASA) (NASA)

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The most anticipated moment of the mission came on Monday, when the crew spent seven hours taking close-up photos of the lunar surface and observing specific sites on the moon, including impact craters, ridges and vast volcanic plains.

During their flyby around the moons far side, the astronauts reached a distance of 252,756 miles from Earth, which was more than 4,100 miles farther than the Apollo 13 record.

Astronaut Christina Koch is illuminated by a screen inside the darkened Orion spacecraft on the third day of the agency's Artemis II mission. (NASA) (NASA)

One of the first photos from the flyby released publicly showed the Artemis II crews view of Earthset, as Earth disappeared out of view behind the moon.

The photo was a nod to the iconic Earthrise image taken during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968, when astronauts Bill Anders, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell circumnavigated the moon. That archival image, however, captured Earth re-emerging beyond the edge of the moon, rather than dipping below it.

NASA (NASA)

Other photos showed surprisingly rugged topography along the moons terminator, the dividing line between its illuminated side and the side cloaked in darkness.

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Theres just so much magic in the terminator  the islands of light, the valleys that look like black holes, Glover radioed to Mission Control at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston. Youd fall straight to the center of the moon if you stepped in some of those. Its just so visually captivating.

The astronauts focused some of their observations on Orientale basin, a nearly 600-mile-wide crater that straddles the moons near and far sides. The 3.8 billion-year-old basin was formed when a large object smacked into the moons surface.

The crews high-resolution photos of features in and around the moons impact craters could help scientists understand how the moon formed and how its topography changed over time.

The sunlit Orion spacecraft near the moon. The Orientale basin, a 600-mile-wide, mountain-ringed crater, sits on the moon's lower half. (NASA) (NASA)

The astronauts even captured dramatic images of the moons crater-filled south polar region, where NASA is interested in landing astronauts on future Artemis missions.

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The moons south pole is pockmarked with craters that are thought to be filled with water ice. But the area is significantly more challenging to navigate than those near the moons equator, where the Apollo astronauts touched down. NASA has said observations during the Artemis II mission could be used to pinpoint possible landing sites for missions to come.

Toward the end of their lunar flyby, the astronauts became the first to witness a solar eclipse from space. They made detailed observations over the course of about an hour, as the sun slipped behind the moon and re-emerged again on the other side.

During the early stages of the eclipse, the astronauts had to don special glasses (much like the ones worn by people on Earth to view solar eclipses) to protect their eyes until the suns light was fully blocked by the moon.

The Artemis II crew uses eclipse viewers to protect their eyes at key moments of the solar eclipse during their lunar flyby. (NASA ) (NASA)

The eclipse photos show a darkened moon with the suns outermost atmosphere, the corona, glowing around the edges. In one of the images, bright points of light are visible around the edges of the moon. Those spots turned out to be planets, including Saturn, Mars and Venus.

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Wiseman called the eclipse an absolutely spectacular, magnificent experience.

During the eclipse, as the moon was cloaked in darkness, the crew members spotted flashes of light from meteoroids smacking into the lunar surface.

The moon, backlit by the sun, and the Orion spacecraft, left, on Monday. (NASA) (NASA)

While this phenomenon is rarely seen, such impacts are common on the moon because it lacks an atmosphere to protect it from incoming debris. Studying these cosmic crashes can help scientists understand the moons evolutionary history.

Kelsey Young, the Artemis II lunar science lead, said members of the missions science team were jumping up and down literally after the crew reported seeing six impact flashes.

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After the flyby, the astronauts began their three-day journey home to Earth. By Tuesday afternoon, the Orion capsule exited the lunar sphere of influence.

During its high-stakes re-entry through Earths atmosphere, the Orion capsule faced extreme temperatures nearing 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

NASA's Orion spacecraft lands in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on Friday. (Bill Ingalls / NASA via Getty Images) (Bill Ingalls)

After a fiery plunge through the atmosphere, the capsule deployed its parachutes, then splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Another Idaho institution is vanishing from the Boise landscape.

After 88 years, the iconic old barn at 2912 W. Main St. will no longer be Main Auction.

And its been in the same family  for four generations  that whole time.

That was the hardest part of this decision, David Wesely Jr., who has owned the business for the past 18 years, told me in an interview Thursday from his office at Main Auction. When I first started working here, part of the draw was that its a family business. Were such a large part of the community. Weve been here so long and the history of what weve done here. But ultimately, it was a business decision.

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After a lot of thought and a lot of praying, Wesely and his wife, Janet, decided to sell the property to neighbor Eberlestock, an outdoor gear manufacturer that approached them with an offer.

We had not been actively looking at selling it, but when the opportunity presented itself, Janet and I looked at the bigger picture and decided it was the right move for us, Wesely wrote in a note to his customers.

But Main Auction isnt closing; its just moving. Wesely is building a new warehouse south of Boise on property he owns. He figures it will take about a year to get the new building up and running.

In the meantime, online auctions are continuing until all inventory has sold, which he expects to be by the end of April. From there, the business will transition to onsite auction services at the sites of estate and business liquidation sales, until the new warehouse is built.

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With the new building, Wesely said Main Auction will be able to handle more estates and have space for larger items.

We are selling the old barn and going to be building a new facility out south of town, Wesely said. Its going to be exciting for our business to be able to move into the future.

History of Main Auction

The property comes with a long history  and a lot of memories.

Paul Owens started Main Auction in 1938, on the other side of Fairview Avenue in a little lean-to structure. He moved to the current location in 1940 and built the facility thats there today shortly after World War II.

After many years of running the auction, Owens sold the business to his nephew, Robert Wesely.

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In 1976, Robert Wesely, who had six children who all worked at the business over the years, sold Main Auction to his son, Danny Wesely.

Danny Wesely owned and operated the auction the longest: 32 years. David Wesely Jr., Dannys nephew, started working there in 2001, when he was 21. By 2008, he bought the business from his uncle.

Main Auction has been a family-owned auction house in the same location in Boise for over eight decades. The current owner, David Wesely Jr., the fourth generation of owners, is selling the property and moving to a new location. (Sarah A. Miller/smiller@idahostatesman.com)

Saturday tradition at the auction

For as long as Ive lived in Idaho, the past 20 years, Ive heard about people going to the Main Auction on Saturdays. Sure, theyd sometimes buy something or theyd go looking for something specific. But many times, it was just the thing to do. The Idaho Statesman has done at least two feature stories on the business over the past 20 years.

It wasnt just an auction  it was an event, Wesely said. It was time for people to see their friends and make sure their neighbors were doing OK.

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When a Facebook user posted the news about the sale of the property on a Boise history group page Wednesday, hundreds of people reacted, and more than 100 posted comments, many sharing their memories of Saturdays at the Auction.

Wesely said the auction would typically draw 600-800 people, sometimes up to 1,000.

Wed start at 10 oclock in the morning, and our deal was we sold until the building was empty, Wesely said. And, you know, the average was 12 to 14 hours, but there were many auctions that ran till 2 in the morning, if not later. We had auctions that didnt get over till 5 oclock in the morning.

He recalled one auction of an estate from Ketchum that included a dozen or so rifles, which they saved until the end.

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By the time we got to that lot, it was 4 oclock in the morning, he said. And Ill tell you what, I guarantee theres not a place in town that would have that crowd at that time of night. Theres probably 200 people standing here, half tired and groggy, and they were not screwing around. They were here to buy and thats all there was to it. It was some of the best auctioning weve had.

His fondest memory of the old barn, though, is from when he was 5 or 6 years old, and he was going to the auction one Saturday, knowing that he was going to go home with Uncle Danny afterward.

It was really exciting  and we drove the old UHaul truck, and it was a really cool adventure, he said. And I got to spend the night at his house. I just remember Id be up on his knee and wed be auctioning stuff off.

When he made the decision to sell the property, he was most nervous about telling his uncle, afraid of what he might think.

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The hard part was, when we got the official offer, I had to call my uncle, Wesely said. You know, hed done it for 32 years, and I just, I didnt know how he was going to take the news. And when I called him and told him, hes like, Well, its about damn time. He knew it was coming.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 put what everyone thought would be a temporary halt to live auctions, but they never came back. Wesely said they tried to do a live auction again, but the crowds just didnt return.

So the Main Auction has been exclusively online ever since. People still bring their items to the barn, but the items are photographed and posted online for bidding. That will continue in the new location.

West Downtown Boise a hotbed of development

To some extent, the writings been on the wall for a while.

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The area around Main Auction, West Downtown, is a hive of development activity. Once known as dealership row, the area is in transition.

College of Western Idaho is building a Boise campus just down the street, and other residential and commercial developments are planned or underway along the Fairview Avenue and Main Street corridor, near Whitewater Park Boulevard.

A couple of years ago, I wrote about Terry Botkin, who hung up his shears at another Boise icon, Boise Car Upholstery, at 23rd and Fairview, after that business had been around for 70 years.

Pacific Cos. is building a large community housing project on the site.

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The biggest issue here is the growth, Wesely said. And with CWI starting construction on their property, and who knows whats going to happen over here on the other side of Main Street. Were competing for parking spots as employees with our neighboring businesses, and it just makes more sense to move somewhere else.

David Wesely Jr. started working at Main Auction in 2001, when he was 21. He bought the longtime Boise business from his uncle in 2008 and still operates it today. (Sarah A. Miller/smiller@idahostatesman.com)

Going out with a bang

Longtime customers will have one final opportunity to say goodbye.

Main Auction is planning a final live auction on Saturday, May 16, just like old times  including a barbecue so you can get a hamburger, just like you used to at the Main Auction walk-through kitchen.

The celebration will be a nice goodbye for the customers, for sure, but just as much for David Wesely Jr., the employees and the whole family.

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I think by doing the live auction, thats going to give us that feeling of closure thats needed, and being able to bring the community in and sharing those memories with everybody is important, Wesely said. So I think when its all said and done, were going to be able to walk away knowing, Hey, it was a good decision. 

Scott McIntosh is the opinion editor of the Idaho Statesman. You can email him at smcintosh@idahostatesman.com or call him at 208-377-6202. Sign up for the free weekly email newsletter The Idaho Way.
Boston police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run on Mass and Cass that happened early this morning.

According to authorities, it happened around 1:10 a.m. EMS were called to assist with a pedestrian struck in the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard.

The victim was transported to a local hospital where they were pronounced deceased.

The suspects vehicle did not remain on scene.

The incident is still under investigation.

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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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Police issued a warning about business burglaries on Chicago's South and Southwest sides.

Five break-ins happened within a span of less than three hours, starting just after 3:30 a.m. Thursday.

The burglars ransacked businesses in the West Lawn, Archer Heights, Gage Park, and Bridgeport neighborhoods, taking cash and an ATM machine.

Police said in each incident, the suspects broke a front glass door to get inside.

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The burglaries happened at the following times and locations:





4300-block of West Marquette Road on April 9 at 3:34 a.m.

4300-block of West 47th Street on April 9 at 5:40 a.m.

2600-block of West 59th Street on April 9 at 4:54 a.m.

4300-block of West 47th Street on April 9 at 5:42 a.m.

3700-block of South Union Avenue on April 9 at 6:04 a.m.

The suspects are described as four males wearing dark clothing, a black sweater, white gym shoes, a black ski mask, and black gloves. They were last seen driving as silver SUV and a black Kia.

Further information was not immediately available.

INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood
A University of Southern Californias gym will experiment with creating an "inclusive workout space" that excludes men multiple times a week.

"On Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m., the Robinson Room at the Lyon Center may look a little different this month. Instead of being just another corner of the gym, a new inclusive workout space is being tested as a place where women and non-binary students can exercise with a sense of ease," The Daily Trojan reported.

This initiative, launched by the Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment (SAGE) was reportedly inspired "from hearing women and non-binary students experience a common sense of discomfort in the gym."

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Usa Rugby To Introduce 'Open' Gender Category For Trans Athletes

"Ive heard from multiple women and non-binary students perspectives who want to be involved within different workout spaces but dont really feel comfortable being at the gym," SAGEs advocacy liaison, Jana Alnajjar, said.

"Whether that means theyre getting approached regularly or people look them up and down. Over time, that discomfort leads them to stop trying to go to the gym altogether."

Read On The Fox News App

The initiative will be launched as an experimental trial run, because, according to The Daily Trojan, "the room is meant to support women and non-binary student groups, but must also remain open to all under University policy."

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"Because of university constraints [and] current federal constraints on DEI  there was a lot of back and forth on whether this would even be a viable option," Alnajjar told the campus paper. "How can we do it and advertise it in a way that students know its a space for them but is still open to all?"

This trial phase, while small, will initially be about proving that there is sufficient student demand.

Mengze Wu, a senior majoring in neuroscience, told the outlet, "My past experiences with being in enclosed spaces where its very men-dominated has never been super pleasant.

"There tends to be this problem that I face where I dont get to take up a lot of space unless I really declare myself," she continued. "And even with that, I face a lot of hindrance in being able to feel completely comfortable."

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Former Wyoming Volleyball Star Reveals How The Sjsu Trans Scandal Permanently Ruined Friendships On Her Team

People walk on an empty USC campus. (Reuters)

Hannah Lee, a senior majoring in biomedical engineering, argued that the fact this initiative needs to be considered at all speaks about pervasive problems in society.

"The fact that we even think, Oh, this is kind of a good idea, like a space separately for women, just shows systemically how theres a greater issue," Lee told The Daily Trojan. "There shouldnt need to even be a place for women specifically. It should be gender inclusive to everyone."

Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture

People lifting weights at a gym.

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Fox News Digital reached out to USC, and a spokesperson from USC Student Life responded, "This program is sponsored by USCs undergraduate student government and is open to all students consistent with university policy."





Original article source: California college to exclude men from areas to ensure women, non-binary students are comfortable
Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell has strongly denied allegations of sexual misconduct from former staff, as top allies intensify pressure on him to exit the California governor's race.

"These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor," he said in a statement after multiple women made allegations ranging from sexual harassment to rape.

Within hours of the accusations surfacing on Friday, Swalwell - one of the leading candidates to replace outgoing governor Gavin Newsom - lost backing from prominent supporters, including Senator Adam Schiff and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

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Swalwell has vowed to defend himself with "facts".

The first allegation against Swalwell emerged publicly on Friday in the San Francisco Chronicle.

A former staff member told the newspaper that, shortly after being hired to work in his district office in Castro Valley, Swalwell began making inappropriate comments, including soliciting her for sex and sending her sexual messages.

The woman, who has not been named, also said that in September 2019 she woke up naked in the congressman's hotel room with little recollection of what had happened the night before.

Five years later, when she was no longer on his staff, she met him for drinks at a gala. She said she had trouble remembering details of the night, but recalled pushing him away from her and telling him "no".

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She added that she woke up with signs of sexual trauma on her body.

The woman's story was reportedly corroborated by text messages she sent friends at the time and by her former boyfriend, who told the newspaper that he encouraged her to report the incident to the police.

Later on Friday, CNN published accusations from four women who worked for him, who had also made claims of sexual misconduct.

Swalwell's legal team had sent cease-and-desist letters to two of the accusers the day prior, according to the broadcaster.

Swalwell vehemently denied the allegations in his statement on Friday.

"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 said.

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"My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies."

He added in a video message on Facebook that he wanted the public to hear directly from him and again denied the allegations.

"I do not suggest to you that I am perfect or a saint. I've certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past. But those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her, I apologise deeply for putting her in this position."

The calls for Swalwell to exit the race came swiftly on Friday.

A number of prominent California Democrats urged him to drop out, including Senator Adam Schiff and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said in a statement that "this extremely sensitive matter must be appropriately investigated with full transparency and accountability.

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"As I discussed with Congressman Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign."

Swalwell also lost support from prominent labour unions including the California Teachers Association who pulled their endorsement.

Outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom said: "As we continue to learn more, these allegations from multiple sources are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously."

The allegations have emerged at a pivotal moment in the wide-open primary race to lead the nation's most populous state, just weeks before voters receive mail ballots ahead of the 2 June election.

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Among Democratic candidates, Swalwell was projected to be among the leading candidates in a crowded field, according to two polls.

At least 10 candidates are expected to be on the ballot in the non-partisan primary.

Republicans typically struggle to win statewide races in in the heavily Democratic state, but a large group of Democrats have split the state's liberal voters, leaving two Republicans near the top of early primary polls.

The top two vote-getters in the primary move on to the 3 November general election regardless of party preference or whether one candidate receives a majority of all votes cast in the primary election.
Sexual assault allegations have been reported against East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell, one of the top contenders in California's race for governor, following a report by the San Francisco Chronicle detailing accusations from a former female congressional staffer.

The Chronicle reported Friday that a former female congressional staffer has accused Swalwell of two separate non-consensual sexual encounters. The report alleges the interactions occurred beginning in 2019, when the woman was 21 years old and newly hired to work in the Democrat's district office in Castro Valley.

RELATED: CA gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell denies 'false' accusations of inappropriate behavior

"Swalwell messaged her on Snapchat, she said, sending images of his genitals and seeking nude pictures of her in return," the newspaper reported.

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The former staffer also said that in 2019, Swalwell "tried to kiss her in her car when she drove him home" from a donor meeting and asked her to perform a sexual act, which she said she did.

The woman told the Chronicle that "Swalwell invited her out for drinks and she became so severely intoxicated that she does not remember the rest of the night." She said she woke up naked in a hotel bed with the congressman and believes they had sex.

The Chronicle further reported that five years later, and no longer working for Swalwell, the woman said she encountered him again at a charity event.

Sexual assault allegations have been reported against Rep. Eric Swalwell, one of the top contenders in California's race for governor, following a report by the San Francisco Chronicle detailing accusations from a former female congressional staffer.

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"...they met for drinks..." the woman said, "...during which she became so inebriated that she only remembers snippets of the night including pushing Swalwell away and telling him, 'No,' while he allegedly forced himself on her."

ABC7 Eyewitness News has not independently verified the allegations made to the Chronicle.

On a video posted to X Friday night, Swalwell mentioned his record of public service, including prosecuting cases on behalf of sexual assault victims.

VIDEO: Swalwell response to sexual assault allegations: 'Flat false'

On a video posted to X Friday night, Swalwell mentioned his record of public service, including prosecuting cases on behalf of sexual assault victims.

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"I've certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past, but those mistakes are between me and my wife and to her- I apologize deeply for putting her in this position," Swalwell said in the video.

He also said he is spending time with his family and friends this weekend and would share more soon.

When asked by a reporter on Tuesday, "Did you ever behave inappropriately with female staffers?" he responded, "No, no, it's false."

On Friday, Swalwell reiterated his denial in a statement, saying, "These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor. 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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The response to the allegations was swift. Senior campaign staffer Courtni Pugh confirmed to ABC7 Eyewitness News political reporter Monica Madden that she resigned Friday amid the accusations. Los Angeles Congressman Jimmy Gomez, who had also been working on the campaign, resigned as well, calling the accusations "ugly and serious."

RELATED: Rep. Eric Swalwell responds to reports that FBI wants to revive Chinese spy investigation case

Multiple gubernatorial challengers, including Tony Thurmond, Betty Yee and Matt Mahan, have called on Swalwell to drop out of the race as the fallout continues to unfold.

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi also released the following statement in response to the allegations:

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"The young woman who has made serious allegations against Congressman Swalwell must be respected and heard. 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."

Sen. Alex Padilla spoke with political reporter Josh Haskell with ABC7 in Los Angeles, calling the allegations "beyond troubling."

"The allegations, from what I've heard so far, are beyond troubling, beyond serious," he said. "Frist things first, survivors of these types of incidents deserve to be heard and treated with dignity and respect. There has to be accountability. "

Stay with ABC7 News for the latest details on this developing story.

If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live




Flooding is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, causing an average of 90 deaths each year, according to the National Weather Service. More than half of those deaths occur when people walk or drive around barriers and into flooded roadways.

Many people underestimate the force and power of moving water. Just 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock an adult off their feet, while about 12 inches  the height of a cowboy boot  can float most vehicles.

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Because most flood-related deaths are preventable, the National Weather Service launched a flood safety campaign in Texas more than 20 years ago during severe weather season, promoting the now widely recognized slogan: Turn Around, Dont Drown.

TEXAS FLOODING: Whats Flash Flood Alley and why is Austin so prone to flooding?

The lifesaving campaign originated by Hector Guerrero, a warning coordinating meteorologist at the National Weather Service forecast office in Brownsville who became concerned about the safety of hurricane evacuees traveling from the Texas Gulf Coast to Central Texas. He worried that folks might flee from the hurricane, but they would be unfamiliar with the hazards of living in Flash Flood Alley.

He brought the warning idea to a team that included the National Weather Service Southern Region Headquarters, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, the Texas Floodplain Management Association, and the City of Fort Worth Fire Department to develop a broader campaign and safety program.

Mike Stoner gets out of his car after it was flooded along the access road near Interstate 35 and Texas 123 in San Marcos in October 2015. Stoner was trying to get to higher ground before his car stalled and submerged. (Rodolfo Gonzalez)





In 2004, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officially launched the Turn Around, Dont Drown campaign to warn people about the dangers of walking or driving through floodwaters. Since then, hundreds of Turn Around, Dont Drown signs and billboards have gone up along roads prone to flooding.

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Guerreros four simple words have since become widely recognized and used by emergency officials and media outlets across the country. The Turn Around, Dont Drown makes it easy to remember that, when faced with floodwaters, it is always safer to find an alternative route or wait for the water to recede rather than risk ones life by attempting to cross.

We cant control the weather, but we can try and encourage all of our fellow Americans to make the right decisions when they are faced with a flooded roadway, Guerrero said. We wanted to make it very simple and thats why the catchy slogan was very important.

Hector Guerrero, a warning coordinating meteorologist at the National Weather Service forecast office in Brownsville, was the creator of the slogan Turn Around, Dont Drown. (National Weather Service)





Recognizing the dangers of flash flooding across Central Texas roadways, the city of Austin supports a valuable resource for heavy rainfall events called ATXFloods.com. The site provides real-time updates on flooded roads, low water crossings, and closures across Travis, Williamson, Hays and Bastrop counties.

It is operated by the city through its Watershed Protection Department in a partnership with the Capital Area Council of Governments and other emergency management agencies.
Crews appeared to be getting more water moving out from behind the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex Saturday after rising water levels prompted Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to declare a state of emergency a day earlier.

But state officials remain worried that forecasted rain and warmer weather in the next few days threaten to reverse the gains and jeopardize the dam. They have warned residents to be prepared to evacuate if the water level rises to a certain level.

"The DNR is actively engaged with our partners to prevent the failure of the dam to the fullest extent possible, said Mike Janisse, leader of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Incident Management Team, in a Saturday statement.

Crews have installed additional pumps at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex to help move more water through and manage rising water levels. They also have ordered more pumps, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said Saturday, April 11, 2026.

On Saturday, crews added more sandbags in strategic locations around the dam, while large pumps were used to move water around the structure, according to a DNR press release.

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The DNR said Thursday it spent the day placing 1,500 sandbags along the lock. The sandbagging is expected to be a buffer for rising water and help channel the water, the department said.

Crews added on Friday a couple of pumps to move water from behind the dam to the spillway in front, where it can flow out toward Lake Huron, officials said. More pumps have been ordered, said Laurie Abel, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

In addition, crews removed an old wooden debris screen in front of the dam's Gate No. 6 after determining the removal wouldn't damage the dam, Abel said. This is expected to help more water flow out and lower the water level behind the dam, she said.

The U.S. Geological Survey also installed more water level monitoring equipment, the DNR said.

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When the governor declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon, Whitmer said the river was 18 inches below the top of the Cheboygan Dam. It had increased 3 inches overnight, according to the DNR. But on Saturday, the river was 20 inches below the top of the dam, Abel said.

"It's still a wait-and-see situation on the weather that is coming," Abel added.

An aerial photo of the Cheboygan Lock and Dam shows water moving through the system and crews taking flood precautionary measures, including pumps and sandbags, on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

Rain is expected in Cheboygan area, while officials urge readiness for a possible evacuation

Cheboygan is forecast to have a chance for rain showers Saturday night, with a 100% chance of showers on Sunday, a 20%-60% chance of showers on Monday and an 80% chance of showers on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

More public safety measures will be taken if it reaches 12 inches below the top of the dam in an approach that DNR officials called "ready, set, go":

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Ready: When water is 12 inches below the top of the dam with levels rising 3 inches a day or more, people should plan or pack in case an evacuation is ordered.

Set: People should pack and prepare their families and pets for a possible departure when the water reaches 6 inches below the top of the dam, with water levels rising at a rate of 3 inches per day or a prediction that the water will top the dam within 48 hours.

Go: People will be ordered to evacuate when the water level is 1 inch below the top of the dam, with a high probability of topping it and the possibility of the dam failing. Individuals should follow evacuation orders and be aware that roadblocks may be installed around the perimeters, the DNR said.

"Our No. 1 priority in all the coordinated efforts being undertaken is safety," said John Pepin, DNR deputy public information officer. "Preparedness is key. The more informed and prepared people are for potential danger, the safer they will be if it ultimately occurs."

Why water levels are rising and endangering the Cheboygan Dam

The rising water levels at the lock and dam on the Cheboygan River are being caused by recent rainfall and snowmelt following a record snowfall in March. Ice also has been thawing in the lakes above the dam, Abel said.

Officials have warned that the high waters present dangers, including the potential to wash away shorelines and banks and to sweep people and objects away if they get caught in the river's fast-moving currents.

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The emergency declaration authorizes the state to use all available resources to assist in the local response and recovery operations.

"Water levels are below the crest of the dam, but conditions could change quickly with more rain coming," Whitmer said in a Friday statement. "This emergency declaration will help local, state, and federal officials protect Michiganders and property."

Residents should sign up for local alerts, Whitmer and other officials said.

State and federal leaders are seeking ways to increase the outflow, including potentially refiring a previously damaged hydroelectric generator.

mreinhart@detroitnews.com

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Cheboygan dam's high water level prompts emergency steps like more pumps
In a significant display of military diversification, recent exercises in North Korea have confirmed the successful testing of advanced electronic and structural disruption weapons designed to affect targets within an area of up to 7 hectares.

Overseen by high-ranking military officials, these tests signify a move toward integrating non-kinetic "soft-kill" assets alongside traditional ballistic capabilities.

The demonstrations included an electromagnetic weapon system and a specialized carbon fiber bomb, both categorized as strategic assets intended for cross-domain military application.

Neutralizing infrastructure

The electromagnetic weapon system tested represents a departure from traditional explosive-based munitions.

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This technology utilizes concentrated bursts of electromagnetic energy to target and incapacitate electronic infrastructure.

By overloading sensitive circuits, the system can effectively blind radar arrays, disable communication networks, and freeze command centers without leveling buildings.

According to reports, these systems are designed to be combined with other military means to paralyze an opponents digital response capabilities during the opening phases of a conflict.

The "blackout" mechanism

A separate but equally critical demonstration involved a carbon fiber bomb. This weapon is specifically engineered to target electrical power grids.

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Upon detonation, it disperses a dense cloud of highly conductive carbon filaments. When these fibers settle on high-voltage power lines and transformers, they create massive short circuits, leading to immediate electrical failures and widespread blackouts.

These "special assets" provide a way to systematically shut down industrial and military production by removing the energy required to sustain them.

Cluster munition lethality

Parallel to the electronic warfare tests, North Koreas Missile Administration evaluated the combat reliability of a mobile short-range anti-aircraft system and tactical ballistic missile warheads.

A key highlight was the test of a surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile equipped with a cluster bomb warhead.

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The results confirmed that the high-density power of these munitions could effectively "reduce to ashes" any target covering an area of 6.5 to 7 hectares.

This underscores North Korea's continued focus on maximizing the destructive footprint of its tactical arsenal despite ongoing international sanctions.

Geopolitical and regional tensions

These tests occurred during a period of complex regional diplomacy, coinciding with high-level visits from Chinese officials and a strengthening alignment with Moscow.

While North Korea remains banned under UN sanctions from testing ballistic missiles, the recent launches into the waters off its east coast signify a persistent defiance of international restrictions.

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This military activity follows a rare moment of domestic political commentary involving South Korea, yet the continued development of anomalous projectiles and high-power warheads suggests that Pyongyangs primary focus remains its "strategic nature" assets.

Future integration into modern warfare

The integration of these electromagnetic and carbon fiber systems into the broader military framework suggests a sophisticated evolution in North Korea's doctrine.

By developing weapons that target the "nervous system" of a modern stateits electricity and datathe military is creating a multi-tiered threat.

Post-test analysis indicates that these technologies are now being finalized for combat application, ensuring that future operations can simultaneously utilize both kinetic destruction and electronic paralysis to achieve strategic objectives.
While the world watches islands in the Persian Gulf, China has seized an island in the South China Sea without firing a shot. Beijings dredgers have been hard at work developing an artificial island 400 kilometers off Vietnams coast with astonishing speed. Even more shocking is that the world has largely remained silent about Chinas move. Vietnam's first strong formal protest did not come until March, more than five months after dredging began. As it has in the Philippines for years, China is conducting lawfare and rehearsing kinetic warfare in plain sight. The international community should counter China's actions at Antelope Reef to avoid another South China Sea crisisand to stop China from gaining military advantage in a conflict over Taiwan.

Chinas Island-Building Program Returns

Antelope Reef is a maritime feature in the Paracel Islands in the western Crescent Group. The Paracels have been controlled by China since 1974, when it seized them from South Vietnam. Antelope Reef is claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Reports differ as to whether Antelope Reef is a rock or a reef under international law. Either way, it is not an island that would legally generate a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea and a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). China claims Antelope Reef under an unlawful reading of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), known as the Constitution of the oceans. Under UNCLOS, a feature's legal status is frozen at its pre-reclamation state. In other words, China cannot build an island on Antelope Reef and then claim that, because it is now an island, China has sovereign rights to all economic resources in a surrounding EEZ.

The world ignored it when China started working on Antelope Reef three years ago. In February 2023, the Hainan provincial government issued a tender for an environmental capacity assessment of Antelope Reef. Satellite imagery showed that dredging began in October 2025. In January 2026, Newsweek first reported construction on the reef including berths for roll-on/roll-off vessels. By February 2026, 22 cutter-suction dredgers were working at the reef. The activity has already created several square kilometers of new land, with significant reclamation visible across more than 15 square kilometers of the reef. Satellite imagery also shows a straight northwestern edge that could easily house a 9,000-foot airstrip. More than 50 gray-roofed structures are visible, including a helipad, a concrete plant, and a causeway.

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The dredgers violated international law while creating the reef. The fleet had gathered at the Zhujiang River Estuary between Macau and Hong Kong, and then systematically deactivated their automatic identification signal (AIS) transponders before proceeding south. International. Law requires these transponders to maintain maritime safety. Only one dredging vessel sent an AIS transmission during the first three months of construction. Subsidiaries of the China Communications Construction Company, an entity sanctioned by the United States, appear to be doing the construction.

Chinas Artificial Island-Building Program Is Unlawful

Similar island-building activity by China has been found illegal under UNCLOS. Between 2013 and 2015, China engaged in extensive land reclamation in the Spratly Islands, building seven artificial islands, mostly in areas claimed by the Philippines and Vietnam. These outposts have improved Chinas intelligence and surveillance capabilities, advanced its presence and sovereignty claims, and increased it operational advantages. Chinas artificial island-building program has also violated its neighbors sovereign rights in their EEZs. In 2016, in a landmark arbitral ruling between the Philippines and China, an arbitral tribunal held that large-scale dredging caused extensive coral reef destruction violate China's obligations under UNCLOS Part XII on the protection and preservation of the marine environment, including duties to prevent, reduce, and control pollution and ecosystem damage.

China's justification for its construction at Antelope Reef echoes what it said about the Spratlys before and after the arbitration. In 2015, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that construction of the artificial islands was aimed at optimizing their functions, improving the living and working conditions of personnel stationed there, better safeguarding territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. In 2017, a spokesperson said that the purpose of constructing facilities was to improve the living and working conditions for the personnel stationed there and to better defend its sovereignty. Now, in 2026, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on March 23rd that the Paracels are China's inherent territory, over which there is no dispute, and that necessary construction on our own territory is aimed at improving living and working conditions on the islands and growing the local economy. China is reframing its construction as routine domestic governance. It is deflecting questions about sovereignty by focusing on civilian use and establishing civilian presence. China is currently making similar arguments about its recently-built structures in the Yellow Sea.

Why Chinas Antelope Reef Base Matters

China declared the 2016 ruling "null and void" and a piece of "waste paper." For a time, however, it did stop building new islands in the South China Sea  it stopped building in the Spratlys after the arbitration, and the recent construction at Antelope Reef is the first significant island-building since 2017and a major escalation of its island-building campaign. China is showing the world that it can build islands much faster than before, revealing its capabilities for any future contingency. Antelope Reef's reclaimed land puts it on pace to be the largest artificial island in the South China Sea. For a time China maintained that it was not militarizing the Spratlys, but it has made no bones about militarizing Antelope Reef. The size of Antelope Reefs lagoon would make it large enough for large coast guard and maritime militia presences that would give those fleets a formidable base in the Paracels. Antelope Reef is about 300 kilometers from the People's Liberation Army South Sea Fleet's submarine base at Sanya Port. A buildup of forces at Antelope Reef might strengthen China's ability to deter U.S. reconnaissance operations and target submarines around the base.

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As the tenth anniversary of the South China Sea arbitration approaches, the international community must pressure China to abide by international law. U.S. freedom of navigation operations in the Paracels should continue. But sailing around an illegal island will not stop it from being built. Law-abiding states must call out China's illegal behavior. Coordinated diplomatic statements and media campaigns from states neighboring the South China Sea, backed by the United States, Japan, Australia, and Europe, can put China on the defensive. Past transparency initiatives have slowed or stopped China's unlawful acts. They also counter China's narrative in the region, which seeks to portray its actions as lawful. The United States can also lead targeted economic pressure on China Communications Construction Company and other entities involved in China's illegal construction. Ships not broadcasting AIS signals can, under appropriate circumstances, be boarded.

China can also be held legally accountable for its illegal behavior. Vietnam should consider a carefully scoped arbitration under UNCLOS, with international support. Hanoi has engaged in its own dredging in the South China Sea, complicating its case. However, a case focused on China's violations of Vietnam's rights in its EEZ and the reef's environmental destruction would stand on strong legal ground.

The 2016 ruling has deterred some of China's illegal behavior and has shaped state behavior in the South China Sea ever since. Emphasizing the ruling, and reinforcing it with a second lawsuit, would compound its legitimacy and cement China's status as a rogue actor in the region. The world must act to counter Chinas unlawful actions before the concrete cures.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP)  On a recent weekend afternoon, at a Chinese comedy show in northern Virginia, the host asked the audience, What food do you like? The loudest answer echoed through the hall: Chick-fil-A!

You still havent gotten your H-1B lottery, ha? quipped the host, citing the most popular work visa among Chinese students.

It's an easy-to-get joke in the Chinese student community, where those eager for U.S. visas believe their chances at success might hinge upon something unexpected: an American chicken sandwich and the company behind it.

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Chick-fil-A has no branches in China. But the brand has enticed Chinese students in the U.S. for a simple reason: Chick-fil-A sounds like check files. In a culture that puts great stock in soundalike words and numbers, it is believed to bring good luck to those with complicated visa applications.

It feels like I am one step closer to the green card after having a Chick-fil-A meal, says Zhou Yilu, an AI software engineer in his late 30s who lives in Wilmington, Delaware.

Since arriving in the United States as a student 14 years ago, Zhou has had a roller-coaster experience with his visa status. He was repeatedly asked to add paperwork while switching among four types of visas, one of which was approved days ahead of its expiration. That was when Zhou turned to the popular poultry purveyor.

No one can say who originally had the idea, but it has been kicking around the Chinese student community for years, especially for visa applications such as the H-1B, which is based on a lottery system and has become harder to secure.

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Some 3D-print the Chick-fil-A logo on coasters. Some embroider the logo into a small cross-stitch pendant for key chains. Others set Chick-fil-As logo as their profile picture on social media, sometimes converting it from red to green  as in green card.

Chick-fil-A didnt respond to emails seeking comment.

They believe they're one wordplay away from stay

Chinese people, particularly younger ones, have long been enthusiastic about wordplay.

On the night before Christmas, for example, eating apples  pingguo in Mandarin  flourishes because the word echoes pingan ye, which means Christmas Eve. Brides carry lettuce bouquets because lettuce  shengcai  sounds like getting rich. Who doesnt like catching that at a wedding? A much older use of wordplay lies in Chinese peoples aversion to the number four, which sounds like the word for death in Mandarin.

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The Chick-fil-A superstition reflects how difficult it is for immigrants to overcome the obstacles to work legally in the U.S., even for those with prestigious educational backgrounds and high-level job titles.

More than 46,000 Chinese students and workers were approved for H-1B visas in 2024. Approved Chinese applicants account for 11.7%, the second-largest group by country, after India at 70%.

Fan Wu, a data scientist living in Indianapolis, didn't win his H-1B lottery despite changing his social media profile picture to the fast-food chains red logo and traveling to Hawaii to pray at a Japanese Taoist temple.

I was forced to turn to these mysteries, he says. The lottery itself is a matter of chance. It depends on luck, and we need another mystery to echo it.

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It goes beyond chicken. The need for better fortune in visa lotteries has given rise to a new profession  agents who pray in temples across the Pacific on behalf of others.

When the students reach out to 24-year-old Meng Yanqing in Beijing, across the world, through the social media platform Xiaohongshu, Meng lines up to enter and pray at the popular Lama Temple, holding a paper between his palms that expresses his wish for an H-1B visa. That involves precise positioning with their personal information, such as passport numbers and birthdays.

I respect them, they have their demands, and I offer the service, says Meng, who also helps his clients buy consecrated bracelets from the temple and send them across the Pacific to the U.S. I truly hope the best for them.

The visa issue is always looming

The Trump administrations abrupt decision to impose a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas a few months ago stunned Chinese students and workers, created chaos and fostered a more chilling atmosphere. It was later explained that it only applied to the new visas. But the roller-coaster experience added anxiousness to a landscape for Chinese students that already includes language and cultural barriers and a tight job market.

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Some experts believe employers sponsorship of green cards through visas like H-1B is why the United States can attract some of the best and brightest.

A real talent pipeline, says Juliet Gelatt, associate director of U.S. Program under Migration Policy Institute based in Washington, weve really benefited as a country and as an economy from bringing in smart young people from all around the world, including from China.

The air of suspicion surrounding Chinese immigrants, especially in high-tech industries, makes it even harder. Experts warn that it reduces the U.S.s ability to attract international talent.

One manager at a new energy company in his late 20s finally changed his profile picture to the chicken logo after months of waiting for his visa. Like many Chinese, he would give only his surname, Yang, and otherwise spoke anonymously, fearing trouble with his visa status. Of his status in the United States, he says, It feels like living under someone elses roof.

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The United States limits participation in the H-1B visa lottery. STEM majors are eligible for three years of optional practical training under their F-1 student visa, while other majors are eligible for one year. After that, they turn to Chick-fil-A while seeking a work visa to continue their work in the United States.

For Harriet Peng, a data analyst living in northern Virginia, eating a chicken sandwich and having the company's T-shirt on the back of her chair weren't enough. After losing the lottery repeatedly, she went to a temple in upstate New York to pray in person  or, as she puts it, to make some efforts using scientific materialist methods in metaphysics.

The temple contains many sculptures of gods, each representing a particular aspect of life, such as fortune or childbirth. There is, she says, no god for visas.

Nevertheless, Peng jokes, I knelt in front of almost every god and prayed, in case they all know each other.
By David Hood-Nuno

WASHINGTON, April 11 (Reuters) - At 12 years old, Naia Butler-Craig decided she wanted to be an astronaut. Each time she walked into St. Mark AME Church in Orlando, Florida, and saw the framed photo of Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel into space, she knew space was her ultimate goal.

About 16 years later as a NASA aerospace engineer with a PhD in the same field, she shook the hand of Victor Glover, the first Black man who would pilot a spacecraft around the moon, and told him she was following in his footsteps.

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Most people worry about making the right choice, Butler-Craig recalled Glover's response on January 17. Make the choice right.

Almost three months later, Glover launched into space, becoming one https://www.reuters.com/science/artemis-ii-crew-includes-first-woman-black-astronaut-canadian-ever-flown-moon-2026-04-02/ of four people https://www.reuters.com/science/artemis-ii-crew-includes-first-woman-black-astronaut-canadian-ever-flown-moon-2026-04-02/ to travel farther from Earth than any human being https://www.reuters.com/science/artemis-crew-reaches-moon-approaches-record-breaking-distance-earth-2026-04-06/ in history as part of NASAs Artemis II https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-canadian-astronauts-capture-global-attention-with-artemis-ii-moon-flight-2026-04-07/ mission around the moon.

For Butler-Craig, it was an affirmation that her path, and the aspirations for millions of Black Americans who were once denied access to the highest echelons of academic and human achievement because of the color of their skin, are possible.

To see him live all of those facets of identity at the same time when that's exactly the tension and the constant dichotomies I'm facing is incredibly validating, she said of Glover. It just makes me feel like he's paved the exact road for someone like me.

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THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT

As President Donald Trumps https://www.reuters.com/world/us/donald-trump/ administration works to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/corporate-america-faces-dei-reckoning-2026-eeoc-chair-says-2025-12-19/ programs across government and the private sector, Glover's historic flight has sparked an outpouring of support across social media. Many cited its symbolic power and historical weight in a long arc of Black achievement in aviation and space exploration  and proof that not even the sky is the limit.

It's a source of pride and joy because when you look at aerospace and space exploration, yes, we have some representation, but we don't have enough representation, said Tennesse Garvey, a United Airlines Boeing 777 pilot.

Garvey chairs the board of directors of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, a nonprofit group that has trained and encouraged minorities to pursue careers in aerospace and aviation since 1976. Two of Glover's daughters attended the organization's first week-long space academy program in Houston when they were younger, Garvey said.

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"It's really inspirational to many other young children that are actually dreaming that dream," he said.

Glover is among 20 Black astronauts selected by NASA since its first class of seven Mercury astronauts was announced in 1959, representing roughly 6% of all astronauts the agency has chosen.

FIRST OF FIRSTS

Even before Glover's lunar trip, he had spent nearly five and a half months in orbit, beginning in 2020 as pilot of NASA's Crew-1 flight, the first operational International Space Station mission using SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule.

Before joining NASA, he flew more than 40 aircraft during a U.S. Navy career, including combat deployments in Iraq. In his career, he accumulated roughly 3,000 flight hours and completed over 400 aircraft carrier landings and 24 combat missions.

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But even as the first among firsts, Glover, prior to the Artemis launch, said, "I also hope that we are pushing the other direction, that one day we don't have to talk about these firsts."

Glover follows the legacy of earlier Black aviators like Lieutenant Colonel John William Mosley Jr., a member of the storied Tuskegee Airmen, a segregated military unit that helped pave the way for Black Americans in U.S. military aviation.

We're all standing on the shoulders of the previous generation, said William Eric Mosley, Johns son and a former United Airlines pilot. In my case, and I believe also in Captain Glover's case, he would believe the same.

Glover and his crew splashed down on Friday in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, completing a mission that paves the way for the first crewed moon landing since 1972 planned for 2028, and beyond.

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While awaiting the crew's safe return to Earth, Butler-Craig said she would be reciting the Bible verse tattooed on her arm from James 1:12.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because having stood the test, they will receive the crown of life.

(Reporting by David Hood-Nuno; Editing by Kat Stafford and Bill Berkrot)
The Brevard County Sheriffs Office has arrested a high school teacher suspected of having a sexual relationship with a student.

Investigators report that Kirsten Rose, a 37-year-old math teacher at Cocoa Beach Jr/Sr High School, was arrested after an investigation by the agencys Special Victims Unit. She is charged with lewd and indecent conduct by an authority figure and five counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

The case started in March when a male students parents became worried about their sons actions. He came home late from work, leading them to check his location, and they found he was at an unfamiliar house.

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Initially, the student said he was visiting a girlfriend but refused to give her name. After more questions, he revealed he was in a relationship with his teacher.

Investigators state that the relationship started with communication on Instagram outside of school in November 2025. Authorities claim the interactions persisted for several months before turning sexual in February and March 2026.

Based on evidence collected during the investigation, Rose was taken into custody and booked into Brevard County Jail, where she remains held without bond.

Officials state that the investigation is still in progress. They invite anyone with more information to reach out to the Special Victims Unit of the Brevard County Sheriffs Office.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
The chemical company involved in a deadly explosion in Mooresville has a history of inappropriately storing hazardous chemicals.

Our partners at the Charlotte Observer looked at records from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.

The paper found a $66,000 fine for Brenntag last year for being out of compliance with federal rules.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 1 killed, 1 hurt in tanker explosion at Mooresville beverage plant

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The company was cited for failing to label containers, and storing compounds next to each other that inspectors say when mixed, can create deadly gas.

A Brenntag tanker operator was killed Tuesday in an explosion outside Carolina Beverage Group.

The National Transportation Safety Board said the operator reported a sodium hydroxide leak just minutes earlier.

VIDEO: Emergency management officials speak about deadly explosion at Mooresville beverage plant
President Donald Trump on Thursday shared graphic surveillance footage of a fatal attack on his Truth Social account, prompting a top physician to raise concerns about the presidents recent behavior.

Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a cardiologist who treated late former Vice President Dick Cheney and now serves as a CNN medical analyst, said Friday that he was troubled by Trumps increasingly erratic social media posts. He cited the graphic video and Trumps recent threat to kill an entire civilization" as alarming incidents that have occurred over the past week.

Now he posts a video of a woman being beaten to death, Reiner posted on X. To put it mildly, thats concerning behavior. If he was a member of your family you would urge him to see a doctor. He should have a medical evaluation.

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Trumps post included unedited footage of an April 2 attack in which Rolbert Joachin, an undocumented Haitian man, is accused of repeatedly striking a woman with a hammer outside a Florida gas station.

The president used to video to further criticize immigration policies under former President Joe Biden and repeat inflammatory rhetoric linking immigrants to crime.

I dont 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 weve been through, Trump wrote.

Joachin has been charged with murder and is in custody. Local authorities told CNN the attack was targeted and that while the victim did not know Joachin, the two had a prior encounter.

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had shared a longer and partially edited version of the fatal attack on its X account Thursday, a few hours before Trumps Truth Social post.

WARNING GRAPHIC: These are the consequences of importing the third world. Do not look away, Homeland Security posted.

Trump said the attack, as seen in his post, should compel Radical Judges to stop blocking his immigration crackdown.

That post came four days after he threatened on Truth Social to destroy civilian infrastructure in Iran if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, writing on April 5: Open the F---in Strait, you crazy bastards, or youll be living in Hell.

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Following that post, Dr. Vin Gupta, a senior medical analyst at MS NOW, suggested on X that Trump is exhibiting signs of dementia, citing what he described as erratic behavior, difficulty finishing sentences, confusion and disordered thinking.

The President is exhibiting all the signs of dementia, Gupta wrote.

Trump has not been publicly diagnosed with dementia and has repeatedly boasted about passing cognitive tests.

Trump has previously denounced reporting on his mental fitness, calling it seditious, perhaps even treasonous in December and describing outlets including the New York Times as true Enemies of the People for publishing what he called FAKE stories about his health.

The Epstein Files

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Construction on President Donald Trumps new White House ballroom can continue for at least another week, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Saturday , as the administration continues to wage war with the National Trust for Historic Preservation over the future of the now-demolished White House East Wing.

In a 2-1 decision, the appeals court temporarily stayed Judge Richard Leons ruling blocking construction on the ballroom. The George W. Bush appointee in March ordered work stopped because the president had not sought authorization from Congress .

Leon, the panel ordered, must give further consideration to safety and security in a revised decision. The administration has argued that pausing construction would engender national security concerns, leaving the White House vulnerable to attacks.

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The National Trust sued to stop construction of the ballroom in December.

"We appreciate the court of appeals acting quickly and await further clarification from the district court, Carol Quillen, National Trust president and CEO, said in a statement on Saturday. The National Trust remains committed to honoring the historic significance of the White House, advocating for our collective role as stewards, and demonstrating how broad consultation, including with the American people, results in a better overall outcome.

Judges Patricia Millett, an Obama appointee, and Bradley Garcia, an appointee of President Joe Biden, outvoted Trump-tapped Judge Neomi Rao, who argued in her dissent that Leons injunction should be stayed indefinitely while an appeal plays out.

Importantly, the government has presented credible evidence of ongoing security vulnerabilities at the White House that would be prolonged by halting construction, Rao wrote. This constitutes irreparable injury and is clearly a weightier interest than the generalized aesthetic harms identified by a single member of the Trust.

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The appeals court's majority kept Leon's injunction on hold through April 17 to allow the Trump administration the option of continuing construction if it chooses to take the issue to the Supreme Court.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the appeals court ruling.
A wildfire in Gloucester County that prompted evacuations earlier Saturday is now fully contained.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service responded around 11 a.m. to the area of Red Bank and Hessian avenues, near the former Eagle Point Refinery property in West Deptford Township.

Heavy plumes of smoke were seen billowing across the area as crews worked to assess and contain the flames.

By 2 p.m., officials said the fire had grown to 160 acres and was 70% contained, with about 60 structures initially threatened and voluntary evacuations put in place.

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At 6 p.m., crews achieved 100% containment of the wildfire, which burned approximately 160 acres.

Officials say no structures are currently threatened and no evacuations remain in place. Red Bank Avenue has since reopened.

Fire crews will remain on scene for several hours to reinforce containment lines and address any remaining hotspots until significant rainfall occurs.

Smoke is expected to linger in the area until steady rain moves through.

There is no word yet on what sparked the fire. No injuries have been reported.
Several national politicians are withdrawing their support for Congressman Eric Swalwell and urging him to drop out of the California governor's race after two news organizations published claims by an ex-staffer who says she was sexually assaulted while working for him.

Three Democratic House leaders, including minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, whip Katherine Clark, and caucus chair Pete Aguilar, in a statement called on Swalwell to drop his Democratic bid for governor. They are also calling for a probe into the claims by the ex-staffer and three other women.

"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," the Democrats said. "This is unacceptable of anyone  certainly not an elected official  and must be taken seriously."

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The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN reported on the sexual assault claim, while CNN also reported on the claims by the other three women. Those women say that Swalwell, the leading Democratic frontrunner in the polls, was sexually inappropriate with them, sending them unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos.

Swalwell denied the claims. In a statement, he said they come ahead of the California Republican Convention in San Diego this weekend, where two GOP candidates are the overall frontrunners for the June primary. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, will move on to the general election in November.

"These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor," Swalwell 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. My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies."

Swalwell also reiterated that the allegations are false in a late-night video he posted on social media on April 10.

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"They're absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened," Swalwell said. "I do not suggest to you in any way that I'm perfect or that I'm a saint. I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past, but those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position. I also apologize to you if in any way you have doubted your support for me. But I think you know who I am."

The San Francisco Chronicle also reported that Swalwell's attorney, Elias Dabaie, sent a cease-and-desist letter to the ex-staffer. The letter demands that she stop making "false statements accusing Mr. Swalwell of sexual assault and nonconsensual sexual encounters" and threatens to sue her if she does not retract her statement, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democratic stalwart from California, said in a statement that she has advised Swalwell to step aside as a gubernatorial candidate to replace Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who will term out in 2027.

"The young woman who has made serious allegations against Congressman Swalwell must be respected and heard. This extremely sensitive matter must be appropriately investigated with full transparency and accountability," Pelosi said. "As I discussed with Congressman Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign."

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Swalwell, 45, was first elected to Congress in 2012, representing a northern California district just outside of Oakland, where he was a prosecutor in Alameda County. Swalwell was also a long-shot candidate in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries before dropping out and endorsing the eventual winner, Joe Biden.

Gavin Newsom began serving as the Democratic governor of California in January 2019. Newsom has held many political roles in California, including Lt. Governor and mayor of San Francisco. Take a look at his political career in pictures. San Francisco mayoral candidate Gavin Newsom speaks at a rally May 13, 2003 in San Francisco, California. Gavin Newsom smiles during a fundraiser at the Spanish Suite at the Clift Hotel on June 27, 2003 in San Francisco, California. Gavin Newsom speaks to supporters at an election night party on November 4, 2003 in San Francisco. Newsom placed first in the nine-person race, advancing him to a run-off election against Green Party candidate Matt Gonzalez. Gavin Newsom speaks during a media conference at City Hall on August 12, 2004 in San Francisco, California. Newsom spoke about the ruling by the California Supreme Court which invalidated same-sex marriages. Starting early in his career, Newsom served as a voice for the LGBTQ+ community. He gained national attention in 2004 when he ordered the San Francisco county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, which went against the then-current California law. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom talks with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger during a bill signing ceremony at the United Nations World Environment Day June 1, 2005 in San Francisco, California. Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton greets supporters with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom before speaking at a fundraiser event February 1, 2008 at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco, California. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom speaks to reporters following his announcement of his running for governor of California on April 21, 2009 in Palo Alto, California. Gavin Newsom looks around as people cheer for him before speaking at a news conference following a California Supreme Court decision to overturn the ban on same-sex marriage at the California Supreme Court May 15, 2008 in San Francisco, California. The California Supreme Court voted 4-3 to overturn a ban on gay marriage in California making it the second state to allow same-sex marriage. Del Martin, left, and Phyllis Lyon are married by San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom in a private ceremony at San Francisco City Hall on June 16, 2008 in San Francisco, California. Martin and Lyon were the first couples to be married in San Francisco as same-sex marriages become legal in California. US President Barack Obama chats with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom after stepping off Air Force One May 25, 2010 upon arrival at San Francisco International Airport. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi attend Game Two of the 2010 MLB World Series between the Giants and the Texas Rangers at AT&T Park on October 28, 2010 in San Francisco, California. San Francisco mayor and California Lt. Governor-elect Gavin Newsom speaks to reporters after meeting school children at Fairmount Elementary School on November 12, 2010 in San Francisco, California. Newsom had originally run for governor of California in 2009, but suffered low poll numbers throughout the campaign and dropped out in 2010. Later that year, he decided to run in the election for Lt. Governor, which he won and was sworn in on January 10, 2011. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, meets with California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom on February 9, 2018 in San Francisco, California. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom fills out his ballot at the Masonic Temple Fairfax on June 5, 2018 in Larkspur, California. Newsom's campaign was successful, as he later won the election for his first term in office. People march in support for California gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom during the San Francisco gay pride parade in San Francisco, California on June, 24, 2018. California's Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom and his family waves to supporters from stage at his election night watch party in Los Angeles, California on November 6, 2018. Gavin Newsom is sworn in as governor of California by California Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye as Newsom's wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, watches on January 7, 2019 in Sacramento, California. Gavin Newsom began his first term as the 40th governor of California after serving as the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco as well as Lieutenant Governor of California since 2010 alongside outgoing governor Jerry Brown. Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti tour a burned home along Tigertail Road in Brenwood on October 29, 2019 in Brentwood, California. State Assembly Member Richard Bloom, (D-Santa Monica), left, California Gov. Gavin Newsom listen to Superintendent of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Clay Jordan on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021 talk about the protective structure wrap used to protect the welcome sign and giant sequoia trees from the KNP Complex Fire in Sequoia National Park. Newsom signed a $15 billion climate package into law on site that will help bolster the state's response to climate change. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, and President Joe Biden board Air Force One on a visit to Sacramento on Sept., 13, 2021. Gov. Gavin Newsom, takes a selfie with a North Monterey County Unified School District staff member at Elkhorn Elementary School in Castroville, Calif., on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Newsom, listen to students from New College of Florida on Wednesday during Newsom's stop at the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library in Sarasota on April 5, 2023. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks after signing bills to support response and recovery efforts for Los Angeles during a press conference at Willard Elementary School in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 23, 2025. Newsom will sign legislation directing $2.5 billion in relief to support response and recovery efforts for Los Angeles. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) speaks to reporters in the spin room following the CNN Presidential Debate between U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump at the McCamish Pavilion on the Georgia Institute of Technology campus on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Ga. President Biden and former President Trump face off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks to the press in a classroom of Willard Elementary School after he signed bills to support response and recovery efforts for Los Angeles, in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 23, 2025. Newsom signed legislation directing $2.5 billion in relief to support response and recovery efforts for Los Angeles. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during an announcement of "LA Rises," a new public-private philanthropic initiative to support Los Angeles area wildfire recovery during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif. on Jan. 28, 2025. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at East Los Angeles College on Feb. 26, 2025 in Monterey Park, Calif. Newsom announced the California Jobs First Economic Blueprint and additional funding for Los Angeles communities impacted by wildfires today. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tour the downtown business district of Pacific Palisades as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds, the Palisades Fire has grown to over 2,900 acres and 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate while a second major fire continues to burn near Eaton Canyon in Altadena. President Donald Trump followed by First Lady Melania Trump, shakes hands with California Governor Gavin Newsom upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, on January 24, 2025, to visit the region devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires. California Gov. Gavin Newsom rolls up his sleeves whole meeting people at a coffee shop on July 8, 2025 in Florence, South Carolina. The governor, in coordination with the South Carolina Democratic Party, scheduled 8 public events in South Carolina on Tuesday and Wednesday. California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about the Election Rigging Response Act at a news conference on Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. The redistricting effort in California is in response to Texas, where Republican lawmakers are pushing new redistricting maps at President Donald Trump's request. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bills related to redrawing the stateOs congressional maps on August 21, 2025 in Sacramento, California. In a move to counter Texas House RepublicansO plan to redraw the stateOs congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, California Democrats took up a proposed constitutional amendment to temporarily redraw their own congressional maps, potentially creating five additional U.S. House seats for their party. California Governor Gavin Newsom's political career in pictures 1 of 33 Gavin Newsom began serving as the Democratic governor of California in January 2019. Newsom has held many political roles in California, including Lt. Governor and mayor of San Francisco. Take a look at his political career in pictures.

Eric Swalwell accused of assault, abuse: Swalwell, a top candidate for California governor, accused of sexual assault of ex-staffer, abuse of women: reports

Calls for Swalwell to step down came swiftly after assault claim

Swalwell has not said whether he plans to suspend or end his campaign. His team canceled several recent campaign events, and multiple staff members have resigned since the allegations became public.

Despite his denial, a cavalcade of supporters quickly took to social media to publicly withdraw their backing for Swalwell, demanding that he drop out of the California gubernatorial contest.

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Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California, one of two U.S. Senators to back Swalwell, said he was "deeply distressed" after reading reports of the allegations.

"This woman was brave to come forward, and we should take her story seriously," Schiff said in a post on X. "I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately, and believe that he should withdraw from the race."

U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) speaks during a House Judiciary Committee hearing with Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel in the Rayburn House Office Building on Sept. 17, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Patel is facing questions from lawmakers for the second straight day following a contentious hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee where he was criticized for his handling of investigations into the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk and the case related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Democratic California Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who had co-chaired Swalwells campaign, said the allegations were "the ugliest and most serious accusations imaginable," and that he was immediately stepping down from his role within the campaign.

"I cannot in good conscience remain in any role with this campaign," the Los Angeles Congressman wrote on his social media platforms. "The congressman should leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction, or delay."

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Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, the other U.S. senator to endorse Swalwell, said he rescinded his support. Gallego wrote on social media that women who come forward with their accounts "deserved to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed.

"I regret having come to his defense on social media prior to knowing all the information. I am equally as shocked and upset about what has transpired." Gallego said.

Tom Steyer, Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Rep. Katie Porter and Xavier Becerra

Worst case scenario of California dems? California 'jungle' primary could hand governor's race to Republicans

Swalwell's gubernatorial rivals express shock at allegations

Several of Swalwell's rivals in the governor's race also called on him to end his campaign run.

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Seeking to become California's first female governor, former California congresswoman Katie Porter said the allegations against Swalwell are "horrifying" as she expressed solidarity with the women who came forward to share their stories.

"We believe you and we stand with you," Porter wrote on X.

Democratic gubernatorial opponent Betty Yee, on her social media, called the allegations "sickening." Yee said Swalwell needs to withdraw from the governor's race and resign from Congress immediately. "Let the women speak," Yee said.

Gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer commended the brave former Swalwell staffer for coming forward, as he also offered his support to the other alleged victims in a post on X.

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"Speaking out is never easy, and her account must be taken seriously," Steyer wrote. "At a moment like this, we must make sure that women are heard, and justice is pursued."

Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff and one of two Republicans leading in the California gubernatorial race, stated on X in response to Swalwell's video, "This man will never be governor. He shouldn't be in Congress either."

And Steve Hilton, the other Republican candidate leading in the governor's race, mocked Swalwell in a series of posts on X and thought that Swalwells alleged misconduct was reflective of the California Democratic party he referred to as a "corrupt, failing embarrassment."

"For all their endless lectures about gender equality and their 'values,' its obvious that todays California Democratic Party doesnt care about anything except its own power," said Hilton, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump. "That's why we will defeat them in November."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dems urge Swalwell to drop bid for California governor amid sex claims
Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh has won an election with 97.8% of the vote, keeping him at the helm of the strategically-placed Horn of Africa nation for a sixth term, preliminary official results show.

The 78-year-old's sole challenger Mohamed Farah Samatar got 2.19% of the vote, in a poll boycotted by most of the opposition.

In power for 27 years, Guelleh had promised to step down, but ran for re-election after the constitution was amended in November to remove the upper age limit of 75 for presidential candidates.

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Guelleh's campaign focused on the fact that he had maintained stability in Djibouti at a time when other regional states, and the Middle East, had been hit by conflict.

Lying on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Djibouti serves as a gateway to the Suez Canal, one of the world's busiest shipping routes.

The US, China, France, Italy and Japan have military bases in the country.

Guelleh is only Djibouti's second president since it gained its independence from France in 1977.

The leaders of the main opposition parties - including Dahir Ahmed Farah - have boycotted elections since 2016, saying there was no free political activity.

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Guelleh celebrated his victory at his home, saying it was a victory for the entire nation.

Officials said that more than 80% of registered voters cast their ballots in Friday's election.

Samatar, who was the flag-bearer of a small party with no parliamentary seats, has not yet commented.

The results were released by the interior ministry but still need to be validated by judges on the constitutional council before Guelleh can be sworn in for another five-year term.

He won the 2021 election by a similar margin.

In 2010, Djibouti's parliament scrapped term limits, and shortened presidential mandates from six to five years.

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It also set 75 as the age limit for candidates, before changing the constitution in November so that Guelleh could run for office again.

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[Getty Images/BBC]

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

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A driver is facing charges after allegedly killing a bicyclist in a Southwest Side hit-and-run crash back in September, Chicago police said.

Police said 23-year-old Chicago man Jose Cruz is facing first-degree murder charges in connection with the Sept. 20 crash.

Cruz was allegedly driving a Dodge pickup truck in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood's 2300-block of West 21st Place when he hit a 59-year-old man, who was riding a bike, just before 3:15 p.m.

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Investigators say Cruz fled the scene northbound on Western Avenue.

Police later arrested Cruz on Thursday morning. Additional information was not immediately available.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

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Lincoln Countys bid to loosen the selenium standard on Lake Koocanusa was blocked in federal court in Missoula this week.

The April 9 ruling upholds the lake-specific standard of 0.8 micrograms of selenium per liter of water that the state Board of Environmental Review approved in 2020, despite objections from the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, British Columbia-based coal interests and the board itself. While stricter than the national standard of 1.5 micrograms of selenium per liter set by the Environmental Protection Agency, Judge Kathy Seeley wrote that the Lake Koocanusa standard was fully supported by credible evidence.

Were happy to see that the court made the right decision by protecting Montanas waters from upstream Canadian coal mine pollution, said Derf Johnson, deputy director for the Montana Environmental Information Center, a plaintiff in the case. Montanas water quality standards for selenium are based in science. Not only do they protect our water quality, but they also protect wildlife and the outdoor recreation economy that depends on clean water.

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While selenium is considered an essential nutrient, large amounts of the metalloid can lead to neurological and reproductive defects in fish. In humans, excess levels of selenium can cause gastrointestinal distress, organ failure and, in rare cases, death.

Studies have traced elevated levels of selenium in Lake Koocanusa to metallurgical coal mines in British Columbia operated by Elk Valley Resources. Rainwater and runoff flush selenium from the mines waste rock into nearby streams, and the metalloid is then carried downstream, first to the Elk River and then to Lake Koocanusa.

The Board of Environmental Review adopted the 0.8 microgram per liter standard for Lake Koocanusa in 2020 after samples taken from the eggs and ovaries of several fish showed potentially dangerous levels of selenium. At the time, testing showed an average concentration of about 1 microgram of selenium per liter.

Both the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners and Elk Valley Resources, under its former name Teck Coal Limited, filed petitions to invalidate the site-specific standard in 2021, arguing it was more stringent than federal guidelines.

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The Board of Environmental Review appeared inclined to grant the request and even issued an order in April 2022 directing the state to start over in the rulemaking process for the selenium standard. But the groups quickly encountered another hurdle.

In the 16 months since the Lake Koocanusa selenium standard was set, state lawmakers had passed legislation transferring most of the Board of Environmental Reviews rulemaking authority to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. The state agency promptly filed suit to overturn the April 2022 order.

That lawsuit was later consolidated with a similar suit brought by environmental nonprofits Montana Environmental Information Center, Clark Fork Coalition, Idaho Conservation League and Idaho Rivers United. The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners and Elk Valley Resources were named as defendants along with the Board of Environmental Review.

There is no genuine issue of material fact, and the legal issue is clear, wrote Seeley in her summary judgement on the case. The Legislatures statutory change in rulemaking authority effective July 1, 2021, negated any rulemaking action by the Board of Environmental Review after that date. The April 2022 Order is a rulemaking action. The Board of Environmental Review did not have the authority to engage in rulemaking.

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The finding comes as Elk Valley Resources pursues expansions to one of its five mining operations in British Columbia. If approved, the project would expand the mine's footprint by 3,000 acres and excavate about 3 billion cubic meters of waste rock.

Conservationists, tribal nations and some local residents have voiced opposition to the project, arguing it will exacerbate ongoing water quality issues throughout the Kootenai River Basin.

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, meanwhile, submitted a second petition to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality in 2025, once again requesting the that the state raise the selenium standard on Lake Koocanusa to 1.5 micrograms per liter.

[The selenium standard] puts a handcuff on us, Lincoln County Commissioner Noel Duram told attendees at an Aug. 13, 2025, meeting reviewing the petition. It doesnt put a handcuff on anybody else.

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The state environmental agency found the county failed to provide sufficient evidence for the request.

Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at 406-758-4433 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.
Rep. Greg Jamison was flat out wrong. Last November, the Sioux Falls Republican said his colleagues in the Legislature would support reforms to improve prison inmate recidivism and rehabilitation. In a South Dakota Searchlight story, he predicted he could almost assure that every legislator would support the reforms.

Jamison, who is a real estate broker when hes not in the Capitol, should stick with home sales. He has no future as a fortune teller.

Despite his rosy prediction, Jamisons colleagues didnt want to have much to do with recidivism and rehabilitation reforms during the 2026 legislative session. They snubbed reforms, even with the guidance of the Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force. Created by Gov. Larry Rhoden, the task force was formed to get lawmakers who were skeptical about the states prison rehabilitation efforts to endorse the $650 million mens prison project in Sioux Falls.

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In the 2026 session, lawmakers did manage to pass a bill that requires the Department of Corrections to transport released prisoners to their home county, the county where they were sentenced or a location equivalent in distance to the closer of the two options.

What they didnt do was pass House Bill 1086, which would have provided DOC with $2.7 million over five years for leadership training for inmates and prison staff aimed at reducing repeat offenses, known as recidivism. The bill was endorsed by the Joint Committee on Appropriations on a 10-6 vote. It lost in the House on a 42-23 vote, failing to garner the two-thirds majority needed for bills requiring funding.

According to a story in The Dakota Scout, lawmakers who voted against the bill expressed concern about cost, effectiveness and broader government expansion.

Republicans concerns about government expansion are understandable. However, it just makes sense that if the government is going to incarcerate people, it should expand enough to try to ensure that they dont commit more crimes when theyre released.

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Numbers were also a problem according to Rep. Mary Fitzgerald, a St. Onge Republican. We cant really compare our (recidivism) rate to another state because we do calculate that differently, Fitzgerald said.

No matter the method of calculation, theres one thing about South Dakotas recidivism numbers on which we can all agree: theyre too high.

According to the DOCs 2025 annual report, half of the people released from prison in South Dakota return to prison within three years. Thats the states highest recidivism rate in the past eight years. According to a South Dakota News Watch Fact Check, this states recidivism rate puts it in the top 10 compared to other states, no matter how those calculations are made at the state level.

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Heres hoping that the Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force turns out to be more than just a bone thrown to wary legislators in an effort to convince them to endorse the new prison. For the task force to be successful, it must face some daunting challenges:

A majority of inmates are released after a year or less, cutting the time that they can be exposed to rehabilitation programs.

The need for rehabilitation programs is great. In 2024, 91% of male inmates and 97% of female inmates had a substance abuse problem.

The passage of the bill allowing inmates to return to their home county or the county where they were convicted means that rehabilitation programs and services that help released inmates transition back into society must be available statewide.

Once the task force has done the hard work of finding solutions to these problems, lawmakers must be ready to stop playing politics and fund programs that boost rehabilitation and reduce recidivism rates.

If they dont, it looks like all theyre interested in is making sure that there are always going to be plenty of customers for their brand new prison.
California Congressman Eric Swalwell tried Friday night to contain the gravest political crisis of his career with a direct-to-camera denial of sexual assault allegations, posting a video statement shortly before 8 p.m. Pacific as new accusations surfaced in a spectacular fall from grace that has roiled Californias governors race.

A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations, Swalwell said in the video posted to Instagram. These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They are absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened, and I will fight them with everything that I have.

Swalwell called the accusations politically timed, noting that they arrived on the eve of an election where I have been the front-runner candidate for governor in California."

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The statement came after a day of cascading political damage triggered by a San Francisco Chronicle report in which a former Swalwell staffer accused the congressman of sexually assaulting her twice while she was too intoxicated to consent. She said it happened once in 2019 after drinks, when she says she blacked out and awoke naked in his hotel bed, and again in 2024 after a New York charity gala, when she alleges she repeatedly said no.

By Friday evening, the scandal had widened beyond that initial account. CNN reported that additional women had come forward with accusations of sexual misconduct, including allegations that Swalwell sent unsolicited explicit messages and engaged in unwanted sexual behavior, claims he has also denied.

Related: Eric Swalwells governor bid is collapsing as top Democrats turn on him

Related: Watch Eric Swalwell mop the floor with Ben Shapiro over Project 2025 & gay sex

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For over 20 years, I have served the public as a city councilman, as a member of Congress, and as a prosecutor who went to court on behalf of victims, particularly on behalf of sexual assault victims," Swalwell said in the video. Thats who I am and have always been.

The political fallout has been swift and devastating. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, long one of Swalwells most influential patrons, said through spokesperson Ian Krager that the accuser must be respected and heard and that accountability is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign.

Rep. Robert Garcia made it clear in his calls for his California colleague to exit, saying Swalwell must leave the Governors race immediately. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla have also withdrawn their support, while campaign endorsers and labor allies have begun to peel away.

The rupture has also reached Swalwells East Bay base. Mike Kusiak, a Castro Valley Unified School District trustee and longtime Swalwell ally, publicly urged him to end his campaign and resign from Congress.

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In the video, Swalwell admitted to personal failings. I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past, but those mistakes are between me and my wife, he said. And to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position.

Swalwell did not say whether he would remain in the race. He ended by promising another update soon.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Eric Swalwell responds to sexual assault allegations in a to-camera video

RELATED
Investing.com -- The European aviation sector is facing a potential "systemic" jet fuel shortage within three weeks, as the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz begins to sever the continents primary energy arteries.

In a letter obtained by the Associated Press, Olivier Jankovec, head of the Airports Council International-Europe (ACI-Europe), warned that the impending supply crunch could cripple the summer travel season and deliver a significant blow to the European economy.

Summer travel at risk as Middle East tensions bite

The warning underscores the extreme vulnerability of the European transport sector to the Strait of Hormuz blockade currently choking the worlds most vital oil corridor.

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Unlike crude oil or natural gas, where the EUs Energy Union Task Force maintains there is "no immediate risk" due to diverse pipeline sources, jet fuel remains the "primary concern" because of Europes overwhelming reliance on direct maritime imports from Middle Eastern refineries.

Jankovec has urged Brussels to take emergency action, including the organization of collective jet fuel purchases and the identification of alternative supply routes. The timing is particularly acute for airline operators; jet fuel typically accounts for 20% to 30% of carrier operating costs.

The Islamabad peace talks are still in a "make-or-break" phase, and a failure to reopen the Strait within the next 21 days could force mass flight cancellations across major hubs like Heathrow, Frankfurt, and Schiphol just as the peak tourism season commences.

Market volatility and the refined product squeeze

Officially, the EU maintains that there is no immediate need to release additional strategic oil stocks, but energy traders are already pricing in a "refining premium."

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Global jet fuel cracks, the margin between the price of crude and the refined product, have surged to multi-month highs this week.

Market participants have noted that even if the U.S.-Iran conflict reaches a ceasefire, the "haphazard" mining of the Strait means that specialized fuel tankers may face significant delays in resuming normal delivery schedules.

Industry analysts at Wolfe Research point out that a prolonged shortage would not only impact passenger travel but also disrupt the global "just-in-time" air cargo market, which is already reeling from a shift in labor toward AI-specialized logistics.

As the "Hormuz risk" remains unhedged for many smaller European carriers, the next three weeks will determine whether the industry faces a manageable price spike or a full-scale operational paralysis.

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EU airports warn of looming "systemic" jet fuel crunch on Hormuz blockade

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"Without water, there would be no wine," Virginia de Valle says as she takes me around her family's 16-hectare (40-acre) vineyard in Mendoza, nestled below the peaks of the Andes mountain range.

Winemakers in Argentina's wine capital rely on fresh water from the Andes mountains to irrigate their crops. But after Argentine MPs this week passed government reforms to loosen the protection of glaciers, De Valle fears her vineyard's water supply is under threat.

"The Andes mountains, with their winter snow and glaciers, feed the rivers and streams that flow into the valley to irrigate our crops," she explains. "This is also the water we consume in our homes. That is why people say 'Mendoza is the daughter of water'."

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While snow in the Andes mountains is the primary source of water for Mendocinos, in years with especially low rain and snowfall, water from melted glaciers (permanent bodies of dense ice) helps to minimise the impact of droughts - increasingly common in Mendoza - and keep vineyards like De Valle's fruitful.

Virginia's family vineyard and winery, Bodega Gieco, produces 100,000 litres of wine a year [Bodega Gieco]

"Every drop of water counts," she says.

It's not just the semi-arid province of Mendoza that relies on glaciers for water security. There are 16,968 glaciers in Argentina, providing water to 36 river basins across 12 provinces, home to seven million people.

[BBC]

How has the glacier law changed?

Argentina was the first country in the world to have a law that specifically protected its glaciers. Passed in 2010, the law deemed them to be vital water reserves, and so prohibited any damaging commercial activity.

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It also protected what's known as the periglacial environment, which includes things like permafrost - water trapped in frozen soil. Glaciers are recorded on a national inventory by the Argentine Institute of Snow Research, Glaciology and Environmental Sciences (Ianigla).

It will now be the responsibility of the provincial governments to decide whether or not the glaciers in their region are of strategic importance - that is, whether they provide water for human consumption, agriculture, biodiversity, as a source of scientific information, or as a tourist attraction.

If provinces deem that they're not "strategic" water reserves, they can take them off Ianigla's national inventory, meaning they will no longer have those environmental protections.

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Those in favour of the changes say the 2010 law acted as an unnecessary barrier to extraction projects, and that the development of copper and lithium projects will boost regional economies and the country's energy transition.

But those against say large-scale mining could alter the flow of rivers coming from the Andes mountains and threaten water security for millions.

'Hands off the glaciers'

Environmental groups have protested against the law change [BBC]

From the vineyards of Mendoza, to the hiking town of El Chalten in Patagonia, opposition to the modifications is clear, with the campaign slogan: "Los glaciares no se tocan" - hands off the glaciers - sprayed across the country's walls and pavements.

More than 100,000 people signed up to participate in a public hearing on the changes at Argentina's Chamber of Deputies in March, though only a fraction of that - less than 400 - were able to speak over the two-day hearing.

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"It made clear that it's not just environmental organisations who were asking for this law not to be amended; it was the people, the public, who were asking for water to continue to be protected," says Agostina Rossi Serra, a biologist working with environmental group Greenpeace.

An economic opportunity?

President Javier Milei sees the Andes mountains as the key to unlock billions in investment from mining companies, and the governments of mineral-rich provinces say that the previous law stopped them "promoting a sustainable economic development".

"Argentina doesn't export even a single gram of copper, while Chile, which shares the same mountain range with us, exports $20bn [15bn] a year," Milei - keen to take a metaphorical chainsaw to government regulation - told a business forum in November.

De Valle counters that "Milei doesn't care about natural resources or how it's going to end".

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Bosses from mining firms Glencore, Lundin and BHP Group have all visited Milei in the last year and, along with others, are keen to invest around $40bn in Argentina's untapped copper industry, according to a Bloomberg report.

Some of the regional governments that were keen to see the law amended, including those of Mendoza and San Juan, are from arid and semi-arid areas where water is already a scarce resource, Serra says.

"They are provinces that believe mining development is far more important than ecosystems and the communities themselves," she tells the BBC.

'False arguments'

Milei's party, La Libertad Avanza, says the reform means only glaciers and periglacial environments proven to have a water-related significance will be protected, paving the way for development projects on the rest.

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But glaciologist Lucas Ruiz says the amendment is based on "false arguments".

"The most false part of it all is the claim that there are glaciers that do not contribute to rivers. If it's a glacier, it has ice and contributes water. It's very basic," he says.

Ruiz says the reforms to the law are unclear, and so are the consequences.

"We are left not knowing what criteria will be used, not knowing which technical bodies will be involved, and clearly, any glacier and any periglacial environment could be at risk," he says.

'A stark paradox'

But Ruiz, who works as an independent researcher at Ianigla, says there's a "stark paradox" in the scientific community's response to the reforms.

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"We know that at the rate at which glaciers are melting, it is highly likely that by the end of the century Europe will be almost entirely glacier-free, as will the tropical Andes in Peru and large areas of the Southern Andes," he explains.

"And the only way to prevent that is for us to reduce our carbon footprint. And if we do not make the energy transition, which cannot be achieved without more copper and lithium, it will not be possible.

"It is a stark paradox, hard to accept, but it is the reality. Because the message from science is that energy transition is necessary," Ruiz says.

Any mining must be responsible, he adds, where the impact on glaciers and the periglacial environment is thoroughly assessed.

'Race to deregulation'

Protests against modifications to the law have taken place all across Argentina [Getty Images]

But Greenpeace fears the lure of financial investment will incentivise provinces to be more lenient on which glaciers are protected.

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"If I have an international company looking for a place to develop a project, I'll probably choose the province with the fewest environmental restrictions. That's the concern we're going to face," Serra says.

On the other side of the debate, Federico Palavecino, a lawyer in Buenos Aires who advises mining projects on the glacier law, says it's right that the provinces decide how to protect their own glaciers, as they'll be dealing with the consequences if things go wrong.

"Why should we tell them how to live?" he asks.

He argues that removing barriers to multi-million dollar projects could bring vital cash to the communities who need it.

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Meanwhile in Mendoza, Virginia de Valle is making a point of talking to visitors to her family's vineyard about the changes to the law. "It will affect wineries, but first, it will affect life," she says.
A former Frontier Airlines pilot has been convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, who police say was the target of a false bomb threat report about a flight that departed from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Andrew Brenneman, 26, was found guilty April 10 of misdemeanor assault at the end of a one-day trial in Kenton County District Court.

He previously pleaded guilty but withdrew the plea in March after Judge Ken Easterling signaled his intention of jailing Brenneman. He decided to go to trial in a bid to avoid incarceration.

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His decision paid off, despite the jury delivering a guilty verdict. They recommended a $500 fine with no jail time, a sentence the judge imposed immediately.

Andrew Brenneman, a former Frontier pilot, leaves a hearing in Kenton County District Court in August 2025.

Ex-Frontier pilot assaulted flight attendant at couples apartment

Brenneman assaulted Molly Burnam, who then worked as a Frontier flight attendant, on two separate occasions in March 2025, a criminal complaint states. He threw Burnam to the ground, put his hands around her neck and covered her nose and mouth to keep her from speaking.

Burnam recorded video of an assault that happened at the couples apartment in Covington, in which she complained of pain in her arm and not being able to breathe.

Ive never felt pain like that before, she said in court. I just wanted him to stop.

Former Frontier flight attendant Molly Burnam was the target of a false in-flight bomb threat, authorities confirmed.

After the pair's relationship ended in April of that year, the complaint states, Brenneman sent numerous harassing texts and voicemails to intimidate the woman. He left similar voicemails with Burnams father.

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"I genuinely hope you die," one of the messages reads.

The pair met while working together on a flight from Cincinnati to Orlando and immediately started dating, according to trial testimony. They moved in together a short time later in December 2024.

Burnam said it was a traditional relationship that devolved into physical and emotional abuse.

Pilot falsely reported flight attendant for bomb threat, police say

According to a report by airport police in Sarasota, Florida, officers were called in May 2025 to a Frontier Airlines flight at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport after the plane's pilot received a warning that Burnam was planning a bomb attack.

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Brenneman was the person who reported the false threat to Frontier, according to police.

Airline officials did not believe the threat was credible, but still had Burnam removed from the plane. She previously said in court that her return to Greater Cincinnati was delayed because she had to take two flights on a different airline to get home.

Brenneman was suspended from the airline at the time because of a restraining order Burnam obtained against him in Boone County. A court hearing in that case was scheduled for the day after Burnam was removed from the flight and questioned by authorities.

Burnam said that Brenneman fabricated the threat so that she would miss the court hearing.

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The jury did not hear evidence about the bomb threat. Brennemans attorneys asked the court to exclude such evidence from the trial, since none of the individuals in the police report had received a complaint from him directly.

The aircrafts pilot requested that Burnam be removed after Frontiers corporate headquarters relayed information that she was planning an attack, the police record states. An airline regional manager later confirmed to police that Brenneman made the report.

Court filings state Brenneman called a Federal Aviation Administration hotline, saying that he had a letter from Burnam threatening to bomb the flight.

Hes trying to control her, Assistant Kenton County Attorney Alexandra Cardosi said of the abuse Brenneman inflicted on Burnam.

'Never laid my hands on anyone,' former Frontier pilot says

While testifying in his own defense, Brenneman denied causing injuries to the woman.

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He described Burnam as an abusive girlfriend, saying she was frequently jealous of his interactions with other women.

She was convinced that I was gonna leave her for someone else, Brenneman said in court.

Andrew Brenneman completed the aviation program at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana, in 2019.

He admitted to sending the texts and leaving voicemails, but said he did so in response to being falsely accused of domestic violence.

Ive never laid my hands on anyone in my life, Brenneman said.

Before Brenneman withdrew his guilty plea at an earlier hearing, he admitted to the assault, saying, "I lost my temper."

Ex-flight attendant sues airline over alleged hostile work environment

Burnam says she was forced to resign as a result of the fallout from her relationship. She worked as a Frontier flight attendant from May 2024 until July 2025.

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She is suing Frontier and her ex-boyfriend in federal court in Covington. She argues that she faced retaliation and a hostile work environment after reporting her concerns about Brenneman to the airline.

The airline has denied those allegations in court.

"I lost my reputation as a flight attendant," Burnam said at a March 19 hearing. "It got to the point where other pilots did not feel comfortable flying with me."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ex-Frontier pilot at center of false bomb threat convicted of assault
By Parisa Hafezi

DUBAI, April 11 (Reuters) - A senior Iranian source said on Saturday the U.S. had agreed to release Iranian frozen assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks, but a U.S. official swiftly denied FWN40U0B6 the assertion.

The senior Iranian source welcomed the purported U.S. move as a sign of "seriousness" in reaching a deal with Washington in talks in Islamabad nL1N40U01A. The source said it was one of Iran's demands "in messages conveyed to the U.S. side" and that Tehran had received a U.S. agreement to release the assets.

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The source, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters that unfreezing the assets was "directly linked to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz", which is expected to be a key issue in the talks.

The senior source did not give a value for the assets that Washington had agreed to unfreeze. A second Iranian source said the United States had agreed to release $6 billion of frozen Iranian funds held by Qatar.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

FUNDS ORIGINALLY FROZEN EIGHT YEARS AGO

The $6 billion, originally frozen in 2018, had been due for release in 2023 as part of a U.S.-Iranian prisoner swap but the funds were again frozen by the administration of President Joe Biden following the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Iran's ally, the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

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U.S. officials said at the time that Iran would not be able to access the money for the foreseeable future, stressing that Washington retained the right to completely freeze the account.

The funds stem from Iranian oil sales to South Korea and had been blocked in South Korean banks after President Donald Trump reimposed sanctions on Iran in 2018 - during his first term in the White House - and scrapped a deal between world powers and Tehran over its nuclear programme.

Under the September 2023 U.S.Iran prisoner swap mediated by Doha, the money was transferred to Qatari bank accounts. The prisoner swap involved the release of five U.S. citizens detained in Iran in exchange for the funds release and the release of five Iranians held in the United States.

U.S. officials said at that time that the money was restricted to humanitarian use only, to be disbursed to approved vendors for food, medicine, medical equipment and agricultural goods shipped into Iran under U.S. Treasury oversight.

(Additional reporting by Andrew Mills in Doha, Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Jan Harvey and Gareth Jones)
US intelligence indicates that China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks, according to three people familiar with recent intelligence assessments.

It would be a provocative move considering Beijing said it helped broker the fragile ceasefire agreement that paused the war between Iran and the US earlier this week. President Donald Trump is also set to visit China early next month for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The intelligence also underscores how Iran may be using the ceasefire as an opportunity to replenish certain weapons systems with the help of key foreign partners.

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Two of the sources told CNN there are indications that Beijing is working to route the shipments through third countries to mask their true origin.

The systems Beijing is preparing to transfer are shoulder-fired anti-air missile systems known as MANPADs, the sources said, which posed an asymmetric threat to low-flying US military aircraft throughout the course of the five-week war and could again if the ceasefire falls apart.

Asked by CNN on Saturday about the US intelligence and whether he has spoken to Xi about the issue, Trump indicated that Beijing would face consequences if it sent weapons to Tehran.

If China does that, China will have big problems, OK? he said as he left the White House for Florida. Trump did not say whether he has spoken to Xi.

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A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said, China has never provided weapons to any party to the conflict; the information in question is untrue.

As a responsible major country, China consistently fulfills its international obligations. We urge the U.S. side to refrain from making baseless allegations, maliciously drawing connections, and engaging in sensationalism; we hope that relevant parties will do more to help de-escalate tensions.

Earlier this week, an embassy spokesperson told CNN that since the US-Israel-Iran war began, Beijing had been working to help bring about a ceasefire and end to the conflict.

Trump indicated during a press conference on Monday that the F-15 fighter jet shot down over Iran last week was hit by a handheld shoulder missile, [a] heat-seeking missile, and Tehran said it had used a new air defense system to hit the jet without providing more details. Its unclear whether that system was Chinese manufactured.

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Shipping MANPADS to Iran would mark an escalation in Chinas support for the country since the US and Israel launched their joint military campaign in February.

Chinese companies have continued to sell the Iranians sanctioned dual-use technology that enables Tehran to keep building weapons and enhance its navigation systems, sources said, but the Chinese government directly transferring weapons systems would mark a new level of assistance.

Trump is expected to meet with Xi next month in Beijing, and the White House said Wednesday that high-level talks had taken place between the US and China as Iran ceasefire negotiations played out earlier this week.

One of the sources familiar with the intelligence said China sees no real strategic value in overtly entering the conflict and trying to protect Iran against the US and Israel, which they know would be unwinnable. Instead, Beijing is trying to position itself as a continued friend to Iran  whose oil it heavily depends upon  while remaining outwardly neutral so it can maintain deniability after the war is over.

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Sources said the Chinese could also make the argument that air defense systems are defensive rather than offensive in nature, differentiating their support from that of Russia. Moscow has been providing support to the Iranian regime throughout the course of the war in the form of intelligence sharing that has helped Iran proactively target US troops and assets in the Middle East, CNN has reported.

Iran has long had established military and economic relationships with both China and Russia. Iran has aided Russia extensively in its war on Ukraine through the provision of Shahed drones and also sells China the bulk of its sanctioned oil.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

CNNs Betsy Klein contributed to this report.

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Can a charter school pick and choose its students like a private school, or must it, like a public school, accept all students regardless of any special needs? A federal court judge has ruled that at least in Louisiana, the charter school may narrow its pool of applicants.

The student, identified in court documents as O.E., applied for the 2025-2026 school year at The Willow School, a well-regarded arts-based charter school in New Orleans. The nine-year-old boy has profound physical and intellectual disabilities, and had received an Individualized Education Program (IEP) from the district where he previously lived.

NOLA Public Schools are a unique district in the country; only one of their schools is directly run by the board, while the rest are charter schools operated by charter management organizations. The Willow School requires students to pass certain eligibility requirements, including scoring a minimum requirement on the Iowa Assessment. O.E. was unable to meet those requirements. His parents asked the school to waive the testing requirement; the school refused.

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O.E.s parents (his father is a disability attorney) sued the school, claiming that it was using the test to keep out students with disabilities, a violation of state and federal law. They asked that the school either cease using the Iowa Assessment as an admissions requirement or waive it for their son. On March 17, United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion issued a 54 page ruling in favor of the school.

The ruling hangs in part on the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which requires school districts to provide education for each and every student a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). O.E. argued that each charter school is essentially its own mini-district, responsible for providing FAPE for its students, and entrance requirements are an attempt to avoid that responsibility.

But Papillion argues that the charter schools in the NOLA district (unlike charters in other districts) are part of that district, and a charter school has an obligation to provide FAPE only to those students who enroll in that charter. The obligation to provide FAPE, Papillion argues, rests with the district and not the individual schools. The parents may apply to any school or schools within the district.

Theres a bit of circular reasoning here. Willow has no obligation to provide FAPE for a student because they havent enrolled the student, and they will not enroll the student in order to avoid any such obligation. The language also raises a special concern in NOLA, where all schools but one are charter schools; under the ruling every one of those charter schools could have requirements that bar a disabled child, leaving the family with no choice but the single traditional public school. Should that single school ever be turned back into a charter school, New Orleans students with IEPs could find themselves with no educational options at all.

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O.E. also appeals to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but Papillion rejects that claim arguing that O.E. fails to establish that he was excluded by reason of his disability.

Papillion rejects the theory that Willow deliberately bars students with disabilities because they would cost too much to educate and therefor cut into the schools revenue. The family points to other techniques used to weed out certain families, such as refusing to accept applications between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Papillion also argues that the Iowa test is a measure of mastery of academic content and not a measure of cognitive ability or intelligence; he seems to be suggesting that since the Iowa test does not directly measure intelligence, it could not be a tool for discriminating against students with low intelligence, which seems like a distinction without a difference.

Papillion also seems to focus on the idea that discrimination based on disability isnt being shown because the plaintiffs dont establish that O.E. would be otherwise qualified for the school. While this would be clear in other examples, such as an otherwise qualified student being rejected from a Catholic school for not being Catholic, it seems like a trickier distinction to make when it has to do with cognitive abilities which are more central to education itself.

O.E.s parents say they have appealed, arguing that, among other things, federal law as interpreted by the Supreme Court does not forbid only intentional discrimination against students with disabilities, and so its beside the point to require evidence that Willows discrimination is deliberately targeting disabled students. One wonders how the Supreme Court would have handled Brown v. Board of Education, if instead of finding Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal the justices had required the plaintiffs to prove intent to segregate unequally.

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O.E.s extreme difficult-to-accommodate disabilities make this an extreme case, but it addresses some critical issues in a country where many cities have many charter schools that operate with public taxpayer dollars and call themselves public charter schools, but which use a variety of techniques to screen out students. Are there limits to what charter schools can legally do to narrow the application pool? Do they need to operate by the same rules as traditional public schools, or should they be free to control the makeup of their student body? And if its the latter, what accommodations are going to be made for the hard-to-educate students that no charter or private school wants?

This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Maggie was faced with a tough choice in February 2025: quit her job at the US office of personnel management or be unceremoniously fired.

Though she was a few months pregnant at the time, Maggie was offered one of the buyouts that were offered to tens of thousands of federal government employees by the office of personnel management.

I couldnt be without health insurance through the delivering of my baby, said Maggie, who requested to omit her last name for fear of professional repercussions. I was going to have six to seven months of paid parental leave, because Id been on my job for five years and I accrued time.

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She took a buyout offer in May 2025 and, like many federal employees who took buyouts, and was placed on administrative leave until September 2025. She delivered her baby in September, just 10 days before she formally lost her job.

Related: DCs highly qualified workers cant find jobs: What is happening?

Then I lost my insurance at the end of October, she said. I had 10 days after having my baby before I lost my job, technically, and then I lost my insurance at the end of October, Maggie said. My job was to make the government more efficient and work better for the people it served and the people who do the serving. Cutting us is making the government less efficient.

Maggie has been applying to jobs since then, though she is still waiting for her agency to give her an ethics letter that would allow her to start work at another job.

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If they were organized and going back through this in a methodical way, they would have all of our paperwork and everything in order, but this was thoughtless and careless, she said.

Since Trump took office last January, the federal workforce has declined by about 355,000 employees, with 18,000 workers leaving the federal workforce in March 2026. Furloughed workers during the partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security were counted as employed in March job numbers. The Trump administration had attempted even more expansive firings and cuts but was blocked by court decisions and, in some cases, rehired some workers after it realized it had cut too many jobs.

The Guardian spoke to current and former federal government employees who said they were dealing with a difficult job market, flooded with other former government workers. The cuts have also left remaining government workers scrambling to keep important government functions afloat as they absorb the workloads of those who left.

We just got thrown away like garbage

Charles Melton had spent 20 years at the US Department of Agriculture and planned to stay at least another 10 years before he took an early retirement offer in September.

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Though he has found another job outside Washington DC, Melton still helps former colleagues with resume and cover letter writing who are still struggling to find a new job.

Im still mad as hell, said Melton. We never had a chance to make our cases. We just got thrown away like garbage.

One worker had moved from Michigan to Washington DC for a new job at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Because the role was considered probationary, the job was soon cut once Trump took office.

This was that kind of opportunity that [was] hard to get into, but I took the chance, moved and Ive been wholly unable to find something adequate in DC. The job market has just collapsed, the worker, who requested anonymity, said. Ive applied to over 250 jobs.

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Operationally, federal agencies are struggling to keep up with the demand for public services due to the cuts.

Amid staffing losses, customer service at the Social Security Administration has worsened, with staff being reassigned to assist on the agencys national phone line. Healthcare workers at the Department of Veterans Affairs have reported ongoing staffing issues due to cuts and hiring freezes that have reduced services. Federal labor enforcement and inspections have dropped significantly.

Other agencies have been effectively rendered inoperable. The shutdown of USAID has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths around the world due to the spread of infectious diseases and malnutrition. At the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, multiple consumer fraud cases and protections were dropped amid efforts to shut down the agency.

There was not any thought put into what they were doing, Melton said. I dont think its hit home yet. I dont think the American public realizes how much has been lost yet.

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A current US Department of Education worker who requested anonymity said the department was a skeleton of what it used to be.

Its just been really sad to see how our agency was decimated, the worker said. Its our lifes work. For a lot of people, this is 20 to 30 years of work.

Another current federal employee said many government workers had stuck around, despite the hostility toward federal workers, because they deeply care about public service.

They are there because they deeply believe in the mission, and the mission is keeping the public safe, healthy, alive and well-treated. They deeply believe in that and so theyve decided to go down with the ship, even though that ship is not treating them very well, said the worker, who also requested anonymity. Theyre sticking with it because they care, because theyre good people, doing good work and in some cases, keeping extremely important government functions alive by the skin of their teeth.

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The White House declined to comment, deferring to office of personnel management (OPM) and office of management and budget, which did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

In a statement, Scott Kupor, OPMs director, said reshaping the federal workforce is essential to building a government that works for the American people, not the bureaucracy.

By realigning roles, streamlining operations, and modernizing how agencies manage talent, we are strengthening performance and accountability across government, Kupor added. This effort ensures taxpayer dollars support a workforce that delivers efficient, responsive, and high-quality services.
While Govs. Wes Moore and Josh Shapiro, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Ruben Gallego were among the gaggle of potential 2028 presidential contenders to attend this year's National Action Network Convention in New York City, it was former Vice President Kamala Harris who seems to maintain the support of the organization's members as she eyes another presidential run.

The former vice president appeared on Thursday and participated in a conversation with NAN founder and president, the Rev. Al Sharpton. Her appearance received some of the loudest applause of the convention thus far. At one point during her remarks, one attendee shouted "run again!" which led to the greater audience repeatedly chanting the same.

When asked by Sharpton if she plans to run again, Harris said, "Listen, I might. I'm thinking about it."

Former Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during The National Action Network Convention 2026 on April 10, 2026 in New York City. / Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage

"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, in the Situation Room. I know what the job is. And I know what it requires," Harris said.

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Many attendees told CBS News they would support her if she chooses to do so, including Adolphus Lacey, the pastor of Bethany Baptist Church, where Sharpton worships.

"I would support her because I still think that we could use her voice. Her voice is needed for such a time as this, and it shouldn't be a one-and-done," Lacey said. "I mean, some of these people have been running for president all their life. I mean, Donald Trump ran for president three times. I think she did a good job for, what, 101 days running, but if you give her a full time to be able to articulate and earn people's votes, I think she'll do well."

Patricia Felder, an attendee from Philadelphia, told CBS News, "I supported her before and I will support her again. I think those who haven't supported her initially regret it."

Should Harris run again, Felder said she hopes Harris is "bolder" this time around.

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"I would hope that she comes with a lot more audacity  staying intentional and bold in her messaging, especially, should be easier because a lot of naysayers are now feeling the effects of the Trump presidency," she said.

President Trump was, in a way, the focal point of this year's conference, as the speakers and attendees alike repeatedly expressed their concern about the current administration's actions and policies.

"There has been a breach in every area you could think of: breaching laws, breaching human rights, breaching voting rights. Everything has been broken. Everything's been smashed," Dr. Elaine Duvall, an attendee from New York, said about the current state of the country. "I think that we need a time of reparation. A time of repair. A time of rebuilding."

Mr. Trump's handling of the conflict in Iran was a particularly prominent subject. "Trump's war of choice" was the phrase frequently used to describe the war with Iran by these Democratic leaders, from Shapiro to Harris.

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"I think we have to acknowledge this was a war of choice by the president of the United States, a war I did not support, and a war where the president never came to the American people and said, 'this is our objective,'" Shapiro said on Wednesday.

In her remarks, Harris touted her foreign policy experience and the insight she gained while serving as vice president.

"I met with over 150 world leaders, presidents, prime ministers, chancellors and kings, many of them multiple times, and formed relationships. I have traveled the globe many times over," Harris said. "One thing that I realized is that the relationship that we have with allied nations, yes, can be forged and reinforced by the leaders, but I will tell you, the true strength of those relationships is the people of those nations. feeling some level of identity and connection with the people of our country and that includes the people in this room."

Duvall told CBS News that of all the potential '28 contenders that spoke at this year's convention, she thinks Harris has the most experience to be president.

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"I think more than any other presidential candidate, she was prepared," Duvall reasoned. "She was a senator, she was an attorney general of a very large state, she was vice president and as she said here today, she knows the job, she knows what to do. It wouldn't be on-the-job training."

Other attendees said that while they believed the former vice president deserved consideration, they wanted to meet and hear from other potential presidential contenders.

"It is still early," a gentleman from Ohio said in the hallway of the Sheraton Hotel when asked about a possible third Harris presidential bid.

A former senior Harris campaign official who spoke to CBS News on Friday said that while many Democrats were grateful for her historic run in 2024 under a contracted timeframe, many in the party were now ready to move on.

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"People don't like looking in the rearview mirror," the former Harris official said. "She has a steep uphill climb."

Reverend Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network, left, and Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, during the National Action Network (NAN) 35th Anniversary Convention in New York, US, on Friday, April 10, 2026. / Credit: Adam Gray / Bloomberg via Getty Images (Adam Gray / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

When asked by Politico if she thinks the nominee in 2028 should be a Democrat who didn't serve in the Biden administration, mentioning Buttigieg and Harris, Sen. Elissa Slotkin, of Michigan, said, "I think there's a lot of baggage there."

Slotkin, who has also raised speculation that she is considering running in 2028 after a recent trip to Iowa, added, "I don't know if it's insurmountable, but I know that the strongest feeling I get from a room like this, from being in Columbus, being in Iowa, being in Wisconsin, Idaho, Kansas, is that people want something new."

Harris is set to hold events in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia this coming week, bolstering support from the Democratic Party's base of Black voters in the South and fueling further speculation that she's committed to running in 2028.

See the texts a man sent his friend after his wife's disappearance in the Bahamas

Risk on the Road | Sunday on 60 Minutes

Inflation skyrockets as Iran war impacts U.S. economy
Slowed by a trio of large orange parachutes, the four record-breaking Artemis II astronauts and their Orion spacecraft safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10, wrapping up their landmark crewed voyage around the moon and back.

Artemis II was a groundbreaking NASA test flight that is slated to open a new chapter of crewed lunar exploration. If American astronauts do step foot on the moon's surface in early 2028, their success will have hinged on the findings of this mission.

All told, the Artemis II crew traveled more than 694,000 miles during their 10-day trek.

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"They will have seen what no living person has seen," NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya said during a Thursday, April 9, news conference.

"They will have tested every system on the spacecraft in the environment it was built for. And they will have given us 10 days of data that will shape every mission that comes after," Kshatriya said.

Following are five reasons Artemis II will cement its place in the history books.

First crewed trip to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972

NASA: Artemis II astronauts break Apollo 13 spaceflight record, view solar eclipse

On Dec. 19, 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt and Ronald Evans splashed down in the Pacific, concluding humanity's last mission to the moon.

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Artemis II marked the first crewed return trip to the moon in more than 53 years, featuring NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot) and Christina Koch (mission specialist) and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist).

On Monday, April 6, their Orion spacecraft swung around the far side of the moon  and shattered the Apollo 13 record for the farthest distance anyone has ventured from Earth: 248,655 miles. Artemis II went on to set a new human-spaceflight mark of 252,756 miles.

The crew witnessed an "Earthrise" and "Earthset" from behind the moon.

They produced more than 175 gigabytes of imagery, including lunar geological features never seen by man.

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And they watched a nearly hourlong, spectacular solar eclipse when the sun slipped behind the moon from their spacecraft's vantage point.

 Space Reporter Rick Neale.

NASA mission sets stage for Artemis III, IV and V

NASA officials consider Artemis II a test flight that will build a foundation for America's new lunar future. In a January FLORIDA TODAY interview, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said Artemis II would "tee up a series of grand Artemis missions."

First up, next year's Artemis III mission will test integrated operations in low-Earth orbit between an Orion spacecraft and moon landers built by Blue Origin and/or SpaceX. Artemis IV, a crewed landing near the moon's south pole, is slated for early 2028. Artemis V, a second lunar landing, is slated for late 2028.

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Lakiesha Hawkins is acting deputy associate administrator for NASA's Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate. During a Wednesday, April 8, NASA news conference, she said Artemis II's Orion manual-piloting demonstrations are critical to ensuring the spacecraft can dock with human landers in orbit during Artemis III.

Hawkins said Artemis II is also paving the way via human-health experiments, Space Launch System performance, Orion wastewater venting, service-module pressure control, and emergency spacesuit operations.

"Countless hours of people working together behind the scenes have been preparing for these moments. And people are still giving their all to ensure mission success," Hawkins said.

"We continue to improve to make our ultimate goals of going to lunar surface, building the moon base, and eventually sending the first humans to Mars a reality," she said.

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 Space Reporter Rick Neale.

Public interest reignites in NASA, space exploration

As a space reporter, I was surprised at how often people gave me puzzled looks when I talked about the Artemis missions.

That is no longer the case as the world was captivated by Artemis II and humanitys return to the moon. This 10-day mission ignited interest in space travel, astronauts and NASA.

Journalists cried when the giant Space Launch System rocket launched from NASAs historic pad 39B on April 1. Parents posted videos of their children watching the launch in awe, like an Apollo moment.

Moments like this remind us what is possible and inspire the next generation to dream bigger and take us even further, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman wrote on X.

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As the mission progressed from the initial toilet trouble to the stunning views of Earth from behind the moon, from Mission Specialist Christina Kochs floating space curls to the floating jar of Nutella, Americans watched every moment on the live NASA feed. Many later took to social media to share how Artemis II gave them feelings of hope and optimism  and began restoring their faith in humanity.

The mission also played into pop culture. Leading up to Artemis II, science fiction fans were swept up in the hype around the recently released "Project Hail Mary" movie, based on the Andy Weir novel. NASA played into that by stating the astronauts had watched the movie before launch and even made regular references in social media posts, including calling out quotes from the film in Mission Control.

 Space Reporter Brooke Edwards.

Key step in creating Americas permanent moon base

An artist's concept of Phase 3 of NASA's proposed moon base.

In many respects, Artemis II kicked off the prime goal of NASA's new national space policy: Build America's permanent moon base.

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Artemis II's crewed operations were roughly akin to the Apollo 7 and 8 missions, NASA reported. As the manifest increases, Artemis III should parallel Apollo 9 and 10, while Artemis IV is a modern equivalent of Apollo 11. Artemis V will open a period of extended lunar surface operations, and moon-base building will begin.

Last month, Isaacman announced NASA's plan to invest about $20 billion over the next seven years to start constructing the lunar outpost. The agency may target up to 25 missions  chiefly autonomous rovers, hopper drones, and satellites  through 2029. Goal: Achieve semi-permanent crew presence by 2032.

"Located at the lunar South Pole, this long-term effort will strengthen American leadership in space, usher in scientific discoveries, and serve as the proving ground for missions to Mars  and NASA will not undertake this endeavor alone," a NASA fact sheet said.

"This program will be built alongside our commercial innovators and international partners, whose contributions will be essential to achieving a sustained presence on the lunar surface," the sheet said.

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 Space Reporter Rick Neale.

Spectacular imagery captures 'Earthrise,' solar eclipse

The White House and NASA have shared iconic images from the Artemis II seven-hour lunar flyby and in-space solar eclipse that have been seen by millions around the world.

The mission's "Earthrise" images hearken back to the iconic photo taken by Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders on Dec. 24, 1968. What's more, the Artemis II crew spotted six flashes from meteoroids slamming into the moon's darkened surface during the eclipse.

"Scientists already are analyzing the downlinked images, audio, and data to refine the timing and locations of these events and compare them with observations from amateur astronomers," a NASA press release said.

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NASA officials say the Artemis II imagery will help scientists better understand the moons geology while informing future exploration and science missions.

"I just have to say, 'Wow,' when I look at all of those images that were scrolling by. I hope all of you are as inspired as I am," Lori Glaze, NASA's Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate deputy associate administrator, said during a Thursday, April 7, news conference.

"I know as they continue to be downloaded, they're just absolutely stunning. And we really hope that they are inspiring, truly, everyone in the world," Glaze said.

 Space Reporter Rick Neale.

For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space. Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly 321 Launch space newsletter.

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY, where he has covered news since 2004. Contact Neale at Rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Artemis II astronauts' moon mission: 5 reasons why history was made
BARBOURVILLE  A Flat Lick man is facing multiple charges following a domestic disturbance investigation that led to a pursuit and arrest late last month, according to a press release from the Knox County Sheriffs Department.

Deputies responded March 29 to a residence on Sturgis Street in Flat Lick for a reported domestic disturbance. Following an investigation, deputies determined that 45-year-old Shawn Tigue allegedly assaulted a female victim and a young child inside the home.

According to the release, Tigue is accused of choking the female victim and striking a 4-year-old child in the face with food, as well as grabbing the child by the leg, causing visible bruising. Deputies also reported significant damage throughout the residence.

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While deputies were working to find placement for the mother and child, Tigue reportedly returned to the residence but fled in a vehicle upon seeing law enforcement.

Authorities later located Tigue at a cemetery off KY 930 in Flat Lick, where he was apprehended after allegedly striking a deputys patrol vehicle.

Tigue has been charged with two counts of fourth-degree assault, second-degree strangulation, first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, first-degree criminal mischief, first-degree fleeing or evading police, reckless driving and operating a vehicle without a license.

While being transported to the Knox County Detention Center, Tigue became unresponsive due to an apparent drug overdose and was taken to Barbourville ARH Hospital for treatment.

Barbourville City Police and Kentucky State Police assisted the Knox County Sheriffs Department in the arrest.
Tracy Lea Fortson was paroled from prison in March after serving 26 years for a murder conviction that she has battled for more than two decades.

Fortson, now 61, and formerly from Winterville, has always maintained her innocence in one of the most highly publicized homicide cases in northeast Georgia.

Forston, who became the first female deputy for the Oglethorpe County Sheriffs Office, was alleged to have fatally shot her boyfriend, Doug Benton, inside his Colbert home in June 2000. Bentons body was placed in a cattle watering trough, concealed with hundreds of pounds of concrete, and dumped in a pasture, noted authorities at the time.

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Fortson, who graduated from the police academy in the top 10% of her class in 1998, was hired by former Oglethorpe County Sheriff Ray Sanders. She was a deputy when investigators took out warrants charging her with Bentons slaying.

The ensuing two trials  the first overturned by a higher court  catapulted the case into the public eye. What followed were true crime shows on television and podcasts. New York journalist William Phelps wrote a detailed book on the case: Targeted: A Deputy, Her Love Affair, A Brutal Murder.

The book and shows generated a vast array of opinions, including many who concluded that Fortson did not commit the murder.

In a letter years ago to the Athens Banner-Herald, Fortson said a cousin called her on June 19, 2000, to say that an Oglethorpe deputy contacted her and said Bentons body had been found, and they think you did it.

This book was published in 2017 about the Tracy Fortson case.

I felt a roaring in my ears, and I could not speak, she recalled, adding that she knew in the immediate future that what was coming was a runaway freight train.

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Fortson did not testify in her first trial in Madison County, but she did take the stand in the second trial held in 2004 in the change of venue location of Effingham County. She had gained a new trial when Athens attorney Ed Tolley, a highly-regarded criminal defense attorney, represented her on appeal.

However, Tolley was not allowed to represent her at the second trial due to a conflict of interest with a key witness, who was a sister of a law partner in his office.

Doug Benton was slain at his Colbert home and his body found days later in an Oglethorpe County pasture.

I didnt know that at the time we did the appeal, which wouldnt matter because the appeal was strictly on legal grounds, Tolley recalled.

In the second trial, she was again convicted of murder.

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Benton was into bodybuilding, and in the days before his slaying, he and Fortson had a disagreement and parting of ways.

Prosecutors maintained that after the slaying, Fortson was able to load the muscle-bound body of Benton onto her pickup and transport it, the trough and cement to a farm in the Stephens community of Oglethorpe County, where it was dumped. It was later found by a farm worker.

The trial evidence against Fortson was circumstantial. Numerous officers, Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents, and crime scene analysts testified as to various aspects of the case.

Accidental Death: Jackson County man killed after truck hits power lines

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In 2015, Fortson acted as her own lawyer when she filed an appeal in Madison County Superior Court seeking a new trial. The motion was denied, but she brought out a matter that remains a mystery. A warrant was obtained to take her blood for DNA, but she didnt understand why until she said she learned a blood smear was found in Bentons house near a closet door.

The blood did not belong to Benton, nor did it belong to Fortson, she said about the lab results.

The DNA was never identified, and no one ever mentioned it again, she wrote.

A key part of her defense was a known drug dealer. Fortson claimed Benton provided law enforcement information on the man, and that could have resulted in threats on Bentons life and a motive for his murder.

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Another matter that clouds the case is that Fortson filed a sexual harassment claim against Sanders. She dropped the claim following her arrest, telling the Banner-Herald that she hoped her action would result in Sanders not opposing a bond for her as she awaited trial.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Tracy Lea Fortson paroled in infamous murder case
A former aide to Rep. Eric Swalwell, a top Democratic candidate for governor of California, told the San Francisco Chronicle that she had sexual encounters with him when he was her boss and alleged that he twice sexually assaulted her when she was too intoxicated to consent.

The woman worked for Swalwell from 2019 until 2021, NBC News confirmed. The womans lawyer declined to comment and NBC News has not verified her allegations.

Later Friday, CNN reported on sexual misconduct allegations against Swalwell from four women, including one whose story matches the details in the Chronicle account. Another woman told CNN that Swalwell kissed her without her consent in public and that she drank heavily with him before ending up in his hotel room, with no idea how she got there. A third, Ally Sammarco, a Democratic influencer, said Swalwell sent her unsolicited photos of his penis, while a fourth said he sent her unsolicited videos of his penis.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., said the allegations are "false" as he pursues a bid for governor of California. (Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images file) (Anna Moneymaker)

NBC News has not independently corroborated their stories. CNN said it corroborated the womens accounts through interviews with friends and family members, as well as reviewing messages Swalwell exchanged with the women.

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Swalwell did not immediately respond to requests for comment via his campaign, congressional office or his attorney. But in a video posted to social media Friday night, Swalwell said "these allegations of sexual assault are flat false."

"They did not happen, they have never happened. And I will fight them with everything I have," he said.

"I do not suggest to you in any way that I am perfect or that I'm a saint. I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past," he said. "But those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her I apologize deeply for putting her in this position."

Swalwell said he will spend time with his family and friends, adding that he "looks forward to updating you very soon."

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He did not comment on his plans for the campaign.

The video came after Swalwell told the Chronicle and CNN in identical statements that the womens allegations are not true.

These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor, he wrote, later adding: 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.

His lawyer also sent CNN a letter denying that Swalwell has ever had nonconsensual sex with any woman or ever had sexual relations with any member of his staff, the network reported.

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The former staffer told the Chronicle that in September 2019, while she was employed by him, Swalwell invited her out for drinks, and she became so intoxicated that she doesnt remember what happened. She said she woke up naked in his hotel bed and could feel the effect of vaginal intercourse.

In April 2024, after she stopped working for the congressman, she said she met Swalwell for drinks after a charity gala at which he was honored. She again became so inebriated while drinking with him that she only remembers snippets of the evening, she told the paper. One of the flashes she recalled was Swalwell having sex with her in his hotel room and her telling him no.

The Chronicle says it reviewed text messages she sent to a friend about that encounter three days later, which included that she told Swalwell to stop. The paper also interviewed her boyfriend at the time, who confirmed she told him about the alleged assault, and its reporters viewed medical records that showed she sought pregnancy and STD tests afterward.

In the days before the story was published on Friday, rumors bounced around both left-wing and right-wing social media about potential allegations against the congressman related to sexual misconduct. Swalwell was asked about the rumors by a reporter for KTXL in Sacramento, who said she asked whether he had ever had inappropriate relations with a staffer or intern. Its false, he replied.

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Swalwells campaign attempted to get in front of any story, issuing a rare but vehement pre-emptive denial saying that the congressman had not engaged in any inappropriate behavior.

This false, outrageous rumor is being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race, Micah Beasley, a campaign spokesman, said in a statement Wednesday.

The statement did not mention or address any specific allegations but said in response to some online rumors that Swalwell had not asked anyone in his office to sign a nondisclosure agreement. The Chronicles report did not include any allegations related to NDAs.

In 13 years, no one in Eric Swalwells Congressional office has ever been asked to sign an NDA. Ever, Beasley said in his Wednesday statement. In 13 years, not a single ethics complaint by any staff in his office or any other office has ever been lodged. Ever.

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After the Chronicle story published on Friday, several Democrats withdrew their support for Swalwells campaign. Perhaps most notably, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, a fellow Bay Area Democrat who has been a close ally of Swalwells, suggested that he drop out of the race.

This extremely sensitive matter must be appropriately investigated with full transparency and accountability, she said in a statement, adding: As I discussed with Congressman Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign.

Reps. Jimmy Gomez and Adam Gray, both California Democrats, said they were stepping down as co-chairs of Swalwells campaign and called on him to drop his bid.

Todays reports about Eric Swalwells conduct while in office are deeply disturbing. Harassment, abuse, and violence of any sort are unacceptable, Gray said on X.

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Gomez called the allegations shocking and the ugliest and most serious accusations imaginable, adding that Swalwell should leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction, or delay.

The top three House Democrats  Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar of California  issued a joint statement Friday night calling for Swalwell to terminate his campaign.

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, the Democratic leaders said.

Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego, a close friend of Swalwells, said he was withdrawing his endorsement, adding he regretted having come to his defense on social media prior to knowing all the information. I am equally as shocked and upset about what has transpired.

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What is described is indefensible, said Gallego. Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed.

The California Teachers Association also suspended its endorsement of Swalwell, while the California Federation of Labor Unions  which had endorsed Swalwell and three other Democratic candidates in the governors race  said it was acting urgently to determine next steps.

On Friday, all of Swalwells campaign ads for his gubernatorial bid on Facebook and Instagram were listed as inactive, including ads that were running earlier in the day, according to a review of Metas ad archive.

The California primary for governor will take place on June 2, with early voting starting on May 4.

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Swalwell, 45, has served in Congress since 2013 and launched a failed, long-shot bid for the White House in 2020.

Hes been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump in both of his terms. After the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, Pelosi named Swalwell, an attorney, one of Democrats nine impeachment prosecutors.

Swalwells sharp criticism of the president made him a target of Trump allies and the right. At the start of 2023, then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., blocked Swalwell from serving on the House Intelligence Committee, citing his ties to a 2014 campaign volunteer who later was suspected to be a Chinese spy, Christina Fang. That year, the House Ethics Committee took no action against Swalwell after a two-year investigation into the matter.

Swalwell cut ties with Fang in 2015 after the FBI gave him whats known as a defensive briefing that she was working for Beijing and targeting several local rising politicians in the San Francisco Bay Area. Swalwell has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the Fang affair and said he assisted the FBI in its investigation.

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Last month, Swalwell asked the FBI not to release files related to his past association with the suspected Chinese intelligence operative.

When the House is back in session next week, Swalwell could face a censure vote over the sexual misconduct allegations.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., said in a post on X Friday night that she will introduce a privileged resolution, which requires scheduling a floor vote within two legislative days, to censure you for sexually harassing the women who work in your office.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The success of NASA's Artemis II mission, which splashed down off the southern California coast on Friday, launches a new era of space research, German astronaut Alexander Gerst told Deutschlandfunk radio on Saturday.

Gerst, 49, said the aim now is to have a permanent presence on the moon's surface with scientists. Gerst is a European Space Agency astronaut and geophysicist who has been on several space missions.

"This is no longer about planting flags like in the first wave," he said. The second wave of moon exploration is in order to explore space, he said.

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US astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Canadian Jeremy Hansen landed as planned in the Pacific near San Diego after spending around 10 days in space.

"The most important result here is that the spacecraft works," Gerst said. "It was not at all certain beforehand that this would work with people."

He said it would first take "a few test missions" before people could venture out to the moon's surface.

"Planetary scientists tell us very clearly... if you really want to explore a planet or an object like the moon, then you also have to go there with people."

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A remotely controlled vehicle could only cover a relatively small area and take only a few samples, he argued.

The United States remains the only country to have put humans on the moon, with 12 astronauts walking on its surface during the Apollo missions between 1969 and 1972.

The Artemis mission aims to return humans to the moon and establish a US base there, paving the way for missions to Mars, amid intensifying global competition for military, commercial and scientific advantage in space.
The leaders of Germany's coalition government are meeting in Berlin for further talks on the energy price crisis and the coalition's upcoming reform programme, sources in the coalition confirmed on Saturday.

The mass circulation Bild newspaper reported the meeting between Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, the leader of the CDU's Bavarian sister party, Markus Soder of the Christian Social Union and the two Social Democratic Party (SPD) leaders, Lars Klingbeil and Barbel Bas.

The meeting is taking place at Villa Borsig, the Foreign Office's guest house in the north of the capital.

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The coalition talks on energy prices and the planned tax and social reforms are set to continue throughout the weekend with an expanded previously announced top-level round set for Sunday. The coalition parties did not disclose the location and time of that meeting.

It is also unclear whether and in what form any possible results will be announced, but that will probably not happen until Monday.

Dispute between ministries

Earlier on Saturday, Klingbeil, who is both finance minister and vice chancellor, continued to press for state intervention to tackle high energy prices.

"The most effective thing right now is intervention in the market. We can see that in other European countries," Klingbeil told the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper in remarks published on Saturday.

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"And I think we should have the courage to do that too," he added, reiterating his call for a windfall tax, lower energy taxes and a cap on fuel prices.

Those proposals are opposed by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche from the CSU and are also viewed sceptically by the CDU's Merz. The CDU/CSU is the majority party in the coalition.

Reiche had publicly and sharply rejected the SPD leader's proposals on Friday, which in turn angered Merz. The chancellor was "dismayed by the public spat and has urged Minister Reiche to exercise restraint," sources close to Merz told dpa.

Meanwhile prices at the pump have been soaring in Germany in recent weeks after the fighting in Iran all but halted the passage of oil tankers through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

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The government introduced a measure limiting petrol stations to raising prices just once a day, but the policy has failed to bring down costs for motorists, with record highs registered after it took effect last week.

Transport companies warn of catastrophe

Meanwhile several transport industry associations warned Merz in an open letter released on Saturday that the energy crisis is pushing many companies to the brink.

"With the outbreak of the Iran war and the resulting oil crisis, the sectors we represent are facing insurmountable challenges," the letter said.

The groups urged Merz to act quickly on the cost crisis, noting that freight forwarders, logistics companies, road haulage as well as bus, taxi and hire-car operators were particularly badly affected.

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There are already increasing numbers of business closures and insolvencies, they said.

Expert: don't rely on the state to help

Monika Schnitzer, who chairs a council of economic experts that advises the German government, also spoke out against state intervention in fuel prices, saying people should drive less or at least more slowly because oil is scarce.

"Oil is scarce, we have to reduce consumption," she told the Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung daily.

Schnitzer, an economist at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, said most people could cope with higher fuel prices.

"We have to move away from the idea that the state always cushions everything for everyone. You should only help those who really need it," she said.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) issued a radical manifesto for Saxony-Anhalt on Saturday as parties ramp up campaigning for the closely watched state election in September.

The AfD adopted the manifesto at a state party conference in Magdeburg.

On the issue of migration, the manifesto calls hardline policies through a "deportation and remigration offensive."

However, many migration issues in Germany cannot be regulated at the level of individual states.

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That limitation is reflected in the programmes language stating the party would seek to push such measures through the Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament, in Berlin.

The AfD also seeks to terminate state broadcasting agreements. Under the proposal, public funding would be conditional on what the party describes as a "credible commitment to the democratic order and a patriotic mindset."

AfD state deputy leader Hans-Thomas Tillschneider said during the presentation of the programme that children do not need anti-racism training, but self-defence courses.

Several hundred people joined protests against the AfD state party conference across Magdeburg, a police spokeswoman told dpa.

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The party is expected to post big gains in the election in Saxony-Anhalt, with opinion polls recently putting it at around 40%, well ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU party at roughly 25%. The vote is set for September 6.

Ulrich Siegmund, the AfDs candidate to become state premier, struck a confident tone at the conference, calling for an outright majority so the party could govern alone.

"Everything is possible, we just have to do it," Siegmund told the party faithful in Magdeburg, dismissing concerns about an AfD-led government as "nonsense."

"There is no reason for any law-abiding citizen to be afraid. Theres no bulldozer rolling through the country flattening everything," he added.

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Germanys domestic intelligence agency has classified the partys regional branch as a confirmed right-wing extremist organization.

Current state premier Sven Schulze, of the CDU, has ruled out forming a coalition with the AfD  a political taboo in Germany.

If the AfD falls short of an outright majority in Saxony-Anhalt, forming a government could prove complex, with a CDU-led alliance likely requiring three or more parties to exclude the AfD.
German police have launched an investigation after an Israeli flag was allegedly stolen, desecrated and discarded in a central Berlin square.

Police said on Saturday that a 27-year-old man had been carrying the flags of Germany, Iran and Israel at Alexanderplatz  a major transport and tourist hub  on Friday afternoon when he was approached by an unidentified individual.

The suspect allegedly initiated an argument in Arabic before seizing the Israeli flag. He then reportedly stomped on it and fled the scene with the flag, while also making an obscene gesture toward the victim.

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Around 45 minutes later, a woman reported seeing two different men spit on an Israeli flag, pour an unknown liquid over it and throw it into a trash bin.

The woman retrieved the flag and turned it over to police, who confirmed it was the same flag stolen from the 27-year-old earlier that day.

The victim has filed a criminal complaint. Germanys State Security Police, which handles politically motivated offences, has taken over the investigation.
Several thousand people took part in rallies in Germany on Saturday calling for the Constitutional Court to review whether far-right parties should be banned.

Turnout was modest, however, with police saying up to 2,000 people joined a rally in Munich called by the nationwide PRUF campaign.

In Berlin, the figure was around 1,000, in Potsdam 800, though organizers put the figure at 1,100. Rallies were also held elsewhere

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The organizers are calling for an investigation into parties classified by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany'S domestic intelligence agency, as suspected of being far-right or as confirmed far-right.

The federal government and parliament can request such an investigation by the Constitutional Court which then examines whether the party in question is actively pursuing unconstitutional aims, could achieve them and should be banned.

PRUF, which means "check," is also an accronym with the letters standing for Prufung Rettet Ubrigens Freiheit! (Review Saves Freedom, by the way!).

People take part in a protest organised by the Pruef initiative calling for an investigation into far-right parties. Georg Wendt/dpa
The far-right Alternative for Germany's parliamentary group again called for tax cuts, a return to nuclear power, gas supplies from Russia and the abolition of the CO2 levy at a meeting on Saturday that was closed to the public.

Germany is facing its most severe economic crisis in decades, a position paper adopted by lawmakers said.

Skyrocketing energy prices, an excessive tax and levy burden, rampant bureaucracy and a misguided, ideologically driven technology policy are permanently weakening Germanys competitiveness as a business location, said the paper agreed in the eastern city of Cottbus.

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The paper stated that an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment and global trade conflicts were putting German companies under further pressure.

It also referred to the impact of the war in Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The group reiterated calls from its tax policy proposal for an increase in the basic tax-free allowance to 15,000 ($17,580), up from the current 12,348.

The lawmakers also seek an increase in the child allowance to 12,000 from the current 9,756.

The AfD wants to reduce corporation tax to an internationally competitive level, and the paper proposed this be financed initially through spending cuts, including on climate-ideological projects in the budget.

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More than 130 people gathered for an opposition rally opposite the hotel where the meeting was held.

Many held signs calling for a constitutional review of the AfD, as similar rallies were held nationwide.
GOSHEN  The Goshen Municipal Airport began a necessary construction project Monday.

The airport was awarded a federal discretionary grant at roughly $4 million through the Federal Aviation Administration in order to rehabilitate the existing primary runway.

Poor pavement results in a safety issue, explained Airport Manager Randy Sharkey. When you have a corporate jet landing that weighs 50,000 pounds and its touching down at 120 mph, what you dont want is pavement thats deteriorating, that has cracks and could potentially cause the aircraft to lose control.

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Sharkey said hes been lobbying for the federal funds for seven years now, as the runway has continued to deteriorate. The cracks that appear on the surface level have been filled with tar annually in an effort to preserve the runway, but Sharkey calls it a Band-Aid on the situation since the runways surface was well beyond its lifespan. He said the last time any major work was done on the runway was in 1990, but runways only have a lifespan of about 20 to 25 years.

What that tells me is that the runway was constructed very well to have lasted as long as it has, Sharkey said.

Similar to road projects, runway projects vary in scope depending on the needs of the special asphalt. In the case of the airport project, roughly two and a half inches of overlay will be milled from the top, exposing the real cracks underneath. Then, three inches will be added back to the repaired foundation for what Sharkey said will look like a brand new runway from the surface.

What you see is just the surface, he said. What you dont see are the layers of stone and aggregate that create the base, the foundation of the runway. That is actually what takes the brunt of the abuse of landings and takeoffs. That is probably 10-12 inches thick, and because we have such a sandy soil where were at, that creates the perfect base that supports the asphalt that lies on top of it.

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The federal grant will not fund the entirety of the project. Per the terms of the agreement, it covers 95%, leaving 2.5% to be paid by the Indiana Department of Transportation and another 2.5% to be paid by the local municipality or sponsor, in this case, the city of Goshen, which owns Goshen Municipal Airport. Sharkey had to use funds from the airports budget to account for the citys portion, about $100,000 of just over $500,000 of city funding.

The airport relies heavily on federal grants in order to make repairs and changes possible, but for the city, the budgetary costs become worth the economic impact. A 2022 study showed that between employees at the airport and people actually flying in, the small municipal airport brings into the City of Goshen, about $26 million.

People that fly into Goshen, theyre spending money in your community, at the hotels, at the restaurants, at the retail stores, that would not have been here if this airport was not here, Sharkey said. If our budget is $510,000 and the city can realize $26 million in return, who wouldnt do that? Thats a great return on the investment.

However, that also means that the temporary closure of the runway will impact the citys tourism totals, and that means the project needs to be completed as soon as possible.

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Construction of the runway is being completed by Phend & Brown Inc. with administration services provided by Woolpert, a global architectural, engineering and geospatial firm. Sharkey said Goshen is the first airport project that Phend & Brown are completing this year. They are also set to work on Warsaws and Rochesters.

The airport itself will remain open while the runway is closed for an estimated six to seven weeks, as more than just flight takeoffs occur there. The 65 aircraft that are housed there have already been flown from the field.

The citys essential helicopter pad remains open for landing and for EMS at the airport and as a result, the airport has to remain staffed for those landings and takeoffs but Sharkey said staff will be working limited hours.

Employees hired through fixed-based operator Sweet Aviation, which provides flight support services like refueling and aircraft maintenance, will be using their free time to make much needed improvements to the hangars and buildings that have been put off.

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The airport is also home to New Horizons Aviation, one of the largest flight schools in the state. They graduated about 100 students last year alone, with eight full-time flight instructors and nine airplanes in the fleet. The flight school will also keep its offices open at the airport and continue to offer ground classes at Goshen. The airport is also a Professional Service Industries testing center, serving as a proctored testing site for various industries including aviation, cosmetology, construction, real estate, etc.

The current timeline indicates that the runway should be able to reopen May 22.
A fast-spreading Victorian disease rarely associated with the modern era is making a comeback.

Flea-borne typhus, a highly contagious bacterial illness, is raising alarm across Los Angeles County as officials report a sharp rise in cases this year. Typhus is sometimes known as famine fever, jail fever, or war fever because it often proliferates during times of crisis.

In 2025 alone, at least 220 infections were confirmed in L.A., already surpassing the previous years total of 187, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

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The numbers come with an especially troubling detail: roughly 90 percent of infected patients end up hospitalized.

The disease is transmitted through infected fleas, often carried by animals such as rats and opossums. Humans can become infected when flea feces enter the body through small cuts or scrapesor even by rubbing the eyes after contact.

Pets can unknowingly bring infected fleas into the home, acting as a bridge between wildlife and humans.

These cases have been rising year after year. Theyre occurring in all areas of our county, Dr. Aiman Halai, a medical epidemiologist with the county, told ABC News.

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Symptoms dont appear immediately. It can take up to two weeks after exposure for people to start feeling sickoften beginning with fever, chills, body aches, and a rash.

In more serious cases, patients may start to cough, experience gastrointestinal issues, and display neurological symptoms, such as confusion.

For an unfortunate subset of patients, some cases can quickly take a turn for the worse.

Some patients can develop illnesses where multiple organ systems are involved and really can result in death, Halai warned.

California is not the only state experiencing a surge in typhus: In 2025, officials warned that cases were rising in Texas, too.

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One of the more concerning aspects of the outbreak is how easily it can go unnoticed at first. Animals carrying infected fleas typically show no signs of illness, meaning pet owners may not realize theres a risk until its too late.

Health officials are urging residents to take prevention seriouslystarting with their furry companions. Flea control methods such as topical treatments, oral medications, and flea collars can help disrupt the flea life cycle and reduce the risk of transmission.

But the precautions dont stop there for the rapidly spreading disease.

Halai also recommends keeping outdoor spaces tidy to avoid attracting rodents and other wildlife that carry infected fleas. Preventative measures include trimming vegetation, clearing clutter, sealing crawl spaces, and ensuring all trash bins are tightly closed.

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Residents are also advised to avoid contact with stray animals, particularly opossums, skunks, raccoons, and rodents.

Despite the alarming rise in cases, there is some good news: flea-borne typhus is treatable.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says most patients respond well to antibioticsespecially when treatment begins early. However, delays in diagnosis can increase the risk of severe illness, making awareness and early action critical.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is increasingly behaving like a candidate in waiting for the 2028 presidential election.

Harris  who lost the 2024 presidential election to President Trump  is stepping up her public and online presence, frequently weighing in on the war in Iran, and notably declining to shut down speculation on a future run  even as her allies insist no decision has been made.

Her anticipated appearance Friday at the Rev. Al Sharptons National Action Network (NAN) convention is likely to intensify that perception among Democrats already reading the signs.

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Candidates are very good about pushing people off a scent if they dont want you to think about a certain thing, said Democratic strategist Joel Payne. It does seem like theyre comfortable with people speculating about it and thats notable for us political watchers.

At the Sharpton event, where a string of would-be candidates have been testing their messages and courting Black voters this week, Payne said Harris will be the center of gravity.

Behind the scenes, Harriss allies quietly agree shes undergoing a testing of the waters, as one put it, especially as the midterm elections loom large over the party and as a void in party leadership still lingers.

At the same time, one longtime donor said, Shes a smart woman and also isnt going to do something fruitless for no reason if she decides that the support isnt there.

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While Harris has been on a months-long book tour  which began in the fall  NAN will be one of the first big tests to see how she is received again, particularly up against contenders such as former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who were also featured speakers at the conference.

Harris in recent days has also been a vocal critic of the administration, particularly on Iran.

On Tuesday, as Trump threatened to escalate military action in the country, Harris swiped at Trump on the social platform X, saying he started a disastrous war of his own making and no plan and no strategy for how to end it.

A week earlier, before Trump delivered his prime-time speech about the ongoing military conflict in Iran, Harris  who said she would not be watching  was quick to get ahead of it.

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He brought America into a war the people do not want. He has put American troops in harms way. Costs are rising by the day and meanwhile he has done nothing to address the needs of the people of America, she said during a short video posted to her social media accounts.

And I bet you hes going to try and claim victory tonight but the reality is were watching what he does instead of listening to what he says, she continued.

Early polling of 2028 presidential contenders has shown Harris as the front-runner, with the exception of a few polls that show California Gov. Gavin Newsom with more support. And publicly, she has expressed some interest in staying in the political arena.

In an interview with the BBC last fall, Harris said her grandnieces would for sure see a female president in their lifetimes and that it could possibly be her.

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She told the outlet she has lived my entire career as a life of service and that its in my bones.

I am not done, she said.

Democratic strategist Anthony Coley said the moves collectively mean one thing: She appears to be keeping her options open.

But donors and other Democratic operatives have expressed some misgivings about Harris running again for the presidency after a failed primary bid in 2020, and her defeat to Trump in 2024.

Why would we do that? one donor said. You dont get slapped once and turn your head to get slapped again. It makes zero sense.

An added tension in her potential decisionmaking would be whether to compete against Newsom in a primary because she and the California governor share a number of consultants and donors.

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And some are already quietly rallying behind Newsom, one operative in the state said. It would put a serious dent in her plans.

But Harriss appearance at the NAN event is an opportunity for her to reset the narrative and also reintroduce herself to Democrats and the broader electorate, as she considers whether to run.

Shell be very well received, one strategist said. There will be a lot of love and affection for her in that crowd, but its the first time in a long time where well be able to see how far that love will extend.

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.
I am a third generation Californian, so when my wife and I looked into where we would spend our retirement, we considered California. It only took a brief trip there and a little research to determine that it was not a viable choice. The housing was very expensive and the taxes more so.

While the cost of housing can be a major hurdle to retirees, it pales into insignificance when Californias taxes are factored in. We know that states vary in the amount of taxes they place on their citizens. Taxes are necessary, but how much should they be? The best way to measure the relative cost and benefits of taxes in any state is to measure the return on investment, (ROI), a taxpayer receives for the taxes they pay.

My home state of California ranks at the bottom of this calculation, surpassed only by New Mexico. The ROI winners are New Hampshire, Florida, South Dakota, Missouri and Ohio. Low ROIs impact residents in two ways. First higher state and local taxes mean that residents have less to spend adding significantly to the nations affordability problem. Secondly, homes in low ROI states gain less value in the housing market than do their counterparts in low tax states. When buying a home people look at the total cost including annual taxes. Homes located in relatively high tax states are more difficult to sell than are comparable houses in states with relatively higher ROIs due to lower taxes.

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Instead of addressing the issues resulting in high taxes, namely high government expenditures, California and similar low ROI states such as New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and their local government often respond by raising taxes. In California this strategy has taken on draconian measures. Driven primarily by public unions, California is considering imposing a wealth tax on the rich. As initially conceived, California would impose a one-time 5% wealth tax on residents with a net worth above $1 billion.

Californias own nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office says the tax would yield a one-time windfall worth tens of billions of dollars. However, it will cause future revenue to drop by hundreds of millions more each year as wealthy individuals, companies and organizations abandon the state for lower taxes in high ROI states. Even before the introduction of the billionaire tax, California is losing significant tax revenue as rich residents depart including Larry Ellison, Chairman of Oracle Corporation, and Elon Musk. They exit California taking with them millions of tax dollars and additional assets such as philanthropic support for California nonprofits.

The moves of wealthy individuals from a high-tax state to one with lower taxes is a visible affectation of the problem, but it is much greater than where Elon Musk lives. It goes to the very heart of how states and municipalities are governed.

Since its founding in 2024 Estero, Florida has operated under a government light philosophy, hiring few full-time employees and choosing instead to contract for the various functions usually carried out by full-time government employees elsewhere. The result has been that Esteros tax rate is among the lowest in the State of Florida. This combined with an enlightened state government that has shunned a state income tax has increased the ROI of residents in Estero significantly. Local real-estate taxes are based on annual assessments so as the value of homes in Estero increases, so does tax revenues. The ironic result is that Estero receives more tax revenue by keeping taxes lower. The result of Esteros government light approach has been a well-managed city that serves its constituents while investing in parks, recreational facilities and a pending bike path among other accruements. These investments have further increased the ROI of Estero residents homes and others in Southwest Florida.

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If only states like California and its municipalities could learn the obvious lesson that higher taxes only breed discontent and eventually out migration. Taxes, as Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. famously said, . . .are what we pay for a civilized society. That is important, but so too is the value citizens receive for the taxes they pay. Once they see that values decline, they tend to vote with their feet.

Michael A. MacDowell is President Emeritus of Misericordia University and a director of the Calvin K. Kazanjian Economics Foundation. He lives in Estero.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Higher taxes breed discontent and eventually out migration | Opinion
If and when a photograph is taken of US Vice-President JD Vance standing next to Iran's Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in Islamabad this weekend, it will make history.

That moment would mark the highest-level face-to-face talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America since the 1979 Islamic Revolution shattered their strong strategic bond and cast a long shadow which still darkens relations to this day.

The two men may not smile. They may not even shake hands.

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It would not make this troubled relationship any more easy, any less hostile.

But it would send a signal that both sides want to try to end a war sending shocks worldwide, avoid an even riskier escalation, and turn to diplomacy to do a deal.

There's zero chance though of US President Donald Trump's optimistic prediction of a "peace deal" within this shaky two-week ceasefire - its terms were contested and broken since the moment it was announced earlier this week.

Even until the eleventh hour, Iranians kept everyone guessing over whether they would still show up while Israel was insisting there would be no ceasefire in Lebanon.

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But if serious and sustained talks make a start, it would also mark the most significant push since Trump pulled out of the previous landmark nuclear deal in 2018, during his first term. He dismissed what was widely seen as the foreign policy highlight of the Obama administration as the "worst deal in history".

Those talks, in endless rounds stretching over nearly 18 months of breakthroughs and breakdowns, were the last high-level meetings between the then-US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iran's then-Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

In 2015 diplomats including Iran's then FM Javad Zarif (L) and then US Secretary of State John Kerry reached a deal to limit Iranian nuclear activity - which Trump abandoned three years later [Thomas Imo/Photothek via Getty Images]

Efforts since then, including during US President Joe Biden's term, made little headway.

"The dispatch of more senior officials and high stakes of failure for all sides could open possibilities that weren't there before," assesses Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group, who has followed all the twists and turns over many years.

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But, he cautions, this time is still "exponentially harder".

The gaps between the two sides remain very wide and the distrust runs very deep.

That well is especially vast for Tehran after their last two series of negotiations, in June 2025 and February this year, were suddenly whacked by the opening salvos of a US-Israeli war.

Contrasting styles

And, when they do talk, their negotiating styles are poles apart.

Trump boasts he has the best dealmakers in his special envoy Steve Witkoff, a former property developer, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, his go-to person during his first term, when the Abraham Accords normalised relations between Israel and a few Arab states while sidelining the Palestinians.

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But Iran, which now views these envoys as too close to Israel, insisted on raising the level of engagement, specifically to Vance. Not only does he hold a formal position within the US administration, rather than being a friend or family member, he is also seen as the strongest sceptic of this military campaign in Trump's team.

Iran's approach has also imposed limitations, especially in its insistence that the negotiations mainly be conducted indirectly, through Oman, their trusted mediator.

In Geneva in February, behind high walls and away from the world's cameras, some direct conversations did take place in the midst of the indirect exchanges. But Iranian hardliners, deeply distrustful of this track, were said to have tied the hands of negotiators who also wanted to avoid any risk of hostile or humiliating exchanges.

Witkoff's signature style had been to usually arrive on his own. Diplomatic sources involved in this process say he often didn't even take notes - which only heightened Iranian suspicion and meant the talks often went in circles. Then Kushner was added to his team.

US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held indirect talks with Iran facilitated by the Omani FM (R) in Geneva in February - then the US and Israel attacked Iran [Oman Foreign Ministry]

The contrast with the negotiations a decade ago couldn't be starker  the US and Iranian delegations included strong contingents of experienced diplomats and leading physicists. They were also bolstered by senior European diplomats as well as foreign ministers from the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council - the UK, France, China and Russia.

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In the last rounds in February this year, progress is said to have been made when the two delegations were assisted by the technical expertise of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi and seasoned mediators from other countries. They were said to have narrowed some but not all of the gaps, at least on the nuclear file, where Iran offered new concessions including the dilution of its highly enriched uranium. Then war was unleashed again.

Now these hostilities have shifted the security calculus  for all sides. Even before this conflict, hardline voices within Iran's security establishment were arguing for the development of a nuclear bomb. Iran will now insist on keeping its arsenal of ballistic missiles for self-defence, and holding sway over the Strait of Hormuz. It gives Tehran major leverage and a desperately needed economic lifeline.

But most Gulf states, who had opposed the 2015 nuclear deal before later reaching a cautious rapprochement with their neighbour, are now demanding that the missiles which slammed into their countries need to be on the negotiating table.

Israel, and in particular its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is certain to be on the phone, or rushing to the White House, to ensure deep-seated worries about Iran's threats are addressed.

US Vice-President JD Vance is on his way to Islamabad [Reuters]

'Heroic flexibility'

There's an echo of another historic time.

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Thirteen years ago, Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made a reluctant decision to allow his negotiators to intensify nuclear talks with the US to try to reach a deal. It was called "heroic flexibility".

Tehran's top cleric didn't trust the country he scorned as "the Great Satan". But Iran's newly elected reformist president, Hassan Rouhani, convinced him that their dire economic straits gave them no other choice but to do everything they could to lift crippling international sanctions.

Now, his son Mojtaba Khamenei - who rose to power after his father's assassination in the early hours of this war - has given the go-ahead for his negotiators to meet US envoys in Islamabad.

But he was injured in that attack and the extent of his involvement, and authority, is far from clear. The hardliners, most of all the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards, are now calling the shots. Iran's economy is mired in a much deeper crisis. And it's facing more significant dissent at home after January's nation-wide protests were crushed with many thousands of casualties.

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A nation shaken by this grievous war now struggles to hold onto hope for economic and social change, and for some, fundamental change.

Trump insists these six weeks of war achieved "regime change" and he describes Iran's new leaders as "less radical, much more reasonable".

The moment of truth could be approaching  for all sides. And there's another sobering thought.

Thirteen years ago, as talks got under way, their statements spoke of the two sides being "far apart".

Iran demanded that the US recognise its "right" to enrich uranium  which the US rejected, voicing its suspicion that the Islamic Republic was seeking a nuclear weapon.

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For now, the US seems to be saying that right would be recognised - as long as there's no enrichment in Iran.

History may not repeat itself, but it does rhyme.

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On Friday morning, David Gladman was looking at tables in the back of Jimmys Corner, the Times Square dive bar that has served up beers for more than 50 years.

The table tops are covered with photographs, some dating back to the 70s, with yellowing laminate over the top. Gladman used the torch on his phone to scour the pictures.

There it is, he said, triumphantly. He pointed at a photo of himself in the early 1980s, next to his wife. In the image, Gladman, now 73, is smoking a cigarette and his wife is smiling at the camera. He took a photo of the photo, an image which remembers one of many, many Jimmys Corner nights over the years: Gladman, a former executive chef, said he drank at the bar every day from 1988 to 2012.

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My job was very stressful, he said. So I would come here, spend three or four hours here, and go home feeling good.

Its easy to see why he is so attached to the bar, which was opened by Jimmy Glenn, a former boxer, in 1971. Amid the present-day bright lights and tourist cacophony of Times Square, Jimmys Corner remains as a last vestige of an older New York: when things were grittier and, in truth, a bit dirtier. The walls are covered with ageing photos of boxers, the restrooms decorated with stickers representing long broken-up bands and long-shuttered bars. An dust-covered Happy Birthday sign hangs behind the long, narrow bar, where those lucky enough to get a seat are treated to rickety stools; those forced to stand constantly have to tuck in their pints to allow people to pass by.

Its not a swanky bar, but its authentic, and its clear why the regulars are horrified that, after 55 years, Jimmys Corner is facing closure. The buildings landlord, the Durst Organization, has told Adam Glenn  Jimmys son, who took over the bar in 2015  that he is being evicted, and has put the building up for sale.

It has prompted last ditch efforts to keep the bar open. Adam filed a long-shot lawsuit against Durst last year, and on Friday scores of bar patrons, and several local politicians, held a rally in an attempt to save the bar.

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Its a testament to our community, Adam said ahead of the event, as he cast his eye across the bustling bar. He had opened early, and at 10.30am dozens of people were readying themselves for protest, some fortifying themselves with the help of the bars famously cheap beer.

Theyre clamoring to do this, Adam said. I think through adversity a lot of communities get stronger and this threat has made us stronger: people think even more about what they love about this place. Its been humbling, and I appreciate it, and thats a huge part of why Im doing this.

When Jimmy opened the bar, Times Square was known as a hub for prostitution, peep shows and general vice. Jimmy and his bar served as a safe haven  he would often stand outside the bar to keep an eye on the street and it attracted a fiercely loyal clientele. Adam said his father was close to the Durst family for decades, but he believes he was tricked into agreeing to a lease provision which enabled Durst to shut down the bar after Jimmy died, in 2020.

I think my dad would be incredibly hurt and disappointed, because he would have expected better from them, Adam said.

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He would surely have been impressed by the scene on Friday, though, when local TV news flocked to capture the rally outside the Durst headquarters. The bars patrons headed out to a gathering point on the corner, carrying pre-printed signs and blinking in the sunlight.

Im 68, Ive been coming here since I was 14 with my parents, Thomas P Walsh said as he walked to the protest. He was not happy about the prospect of his local bar closing down. The landlord is greedy. Its a small business. And everyone who comes here, its like family. Its like Cheers. Everybody knows everybody.

The bars quest to evade eviction has been picked up by local politicians, and, at the rally they paired the fight against Jimmys closing with promoting legislation which would protect other small businesses from being booted out by landlords.

This is just one example of thousands of businesses being forced to close all over the city due to just unsustainable rent increases, said Julia Salazar, a New York state senator. Small businesses are the beating heart of the city. They represent culture. They also employ more than half of the workers in New York state, and it really has a profound ripple effect when a small business is forced to close due to unsustainable costs.

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Salazars speech was met by chants of Save Jimmys Corner! Some cars honked their horns as they drove by, although it was unclear if they knew what they were honking for.

I love Jimmys Corner, Emily Gallagher, a New York state assembly member, told a cheering crowd. She recalled her first visit to the bar: I met people from all around the world, and then that became a place that I love to go, that I love to bring people, where I knew that we would meet new people.

Gallagher added: So often now, New York just feels like a strip mall in Iowa. And theres nothing wrong with Iowa, but it is not New York. Jimmys is a beloved family-owned bar. Durst Organization is an enormous real estate company, and they are attempting to evict them.

For its part, Durst thinks it has done nothing wrong. In a statement, it said: The building is for sale and is the ideal location for a new housing development. For 50 years, the Durst family maintained a special personal relationship with the bars original owner, Jimmy Glenn. Thats why Durst helped keep the bars doors open for decades, including through below-market rent. In fact, Durst has not raised the bars rent in nearly 20 years. Unfortunately, no good deed goes unpunished.

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Durst said it had offered Adam money to vacate.

We have done our best to be good neighbors, and we regret it has come to this, the company said.

That argument held no water on Friday, when Jimmys regulars spent an hour of metaphorically sticking it to big business. It was tiring work, and after the protest it was time to head back to the bar, where an upbeat atmosphere  aided, no doubt, by $3 beers  belied the sadness at Jimmys potential closure.

Among them was Gladman, who was drinking a beer and reminiscing about old times.

Jimmy was like a dad to me, he said. He was a fantastic counsel. He knew all about my life and everything about me, and they would give me some really great advice.

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Gladman doesnt come to the bar to look at the old photo. It didnt work out between him and his wife. She moved to California, he remarried. He has been with his second wife for 35 years. He comes to Jimmys Corner because, he said, it feels like home.

I dont want this place to go, he said. It holds a lot of memories for me. For everyone.
The landmark HSBC tower in Canary Wharf could house an 180-bedroom hotel, documents handed to Tower Hamlets Council suggest.

The Qatar Investment Authority which owns 8 Canada Square wants to remodel the tower after HSBC moves out from its global headquarters next year, according to Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Although a formal planning application has not yet been submitted, the papers show plans for a new hotel at levels 33 to 41 with levels 42 and 43 used for food, drink and leisure.

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The base, middle and upper levels may also be remodelled into terraces as part of makeover of the 45-level block.

HSBC confirmed in 2023 that it would leave the tower by 2027 when its current lease expires.

The bank moved into the 200m high (656ft) new building in 2002.

At the time the skyscraper designed by Foster + Partners was the second tallest building in the UK and was aimed to cater for 8,500 people.

Canary Wharf Group, which owns the business district, released images in July 2024 of how a remodelled tower might look.

Neither it nor the Qatar Investment Authority have yet applied for planning permission.

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In March, Canary Wharf Group asked the council if an application needed an environmental impact assessment for plans for shopping, leisure and a hotel in the tower, alongside offices.

The request said: "It is anticipated that the ground levels (lower ground and upper ground) will provide retail, the ground floor mezzanine and level 1 will provide lobby and leisure arrival and levels 2  32 will remain as workspace."

The document added that although a hotel is proposed for upper floors they may also be used for offices.

It also suggested that a "detailed planning application" would follow

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Council planning officers said it would not need an environmental impact assessment.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk

More on this story
The Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) has said a cabinet meeting will be held on Sunday where an update on the ongoing fuel crisis talks will be given.

Hundreds of petrol stations in the Republic of Ireland have run out of fuel as the protests and blockades - involving slow-moving convoys made up of vehicles including tractors - continued for a fifth day.

Meetings between government ministers and representatives of farmers and hauliers to finalise a new government funding package have been ongoing since Friday.

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On Saturday, fuel trucks regained access to an oil refinery in County Cork that had been subjected to a days-long blockade.

Protesters who had been blocking trucks leaving the Whitegate Refinery were pushed back by gardai (Irish police) using pepper spray, in an operation supported by the Irish Defence Forces.

The Garda Commissioner said a number of arrests were made during the operation.

He added that blockades are illegal and "not a legitimate form of protest".

"We gave these blockaders fair warning that we were moving to an enforcement phase and they chose to ignore that and continue to hold the country to ransom," Justin Kelly said.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has ordered people to cease their blockades or "face the full rigours of the law" [PA Media]

He added that gardai are aware that there has been intimidation of fuel tanker drivers.

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"Offences such as threats to kill or cause serious harm carry sentences of up to 10 years," he said.

"My message is clear - blockaders must immediately cease blockades of critical infrastructure and road networks or face the full rigours of the law."

Tractors have been used to block routes across the country [Reuters]

The harbour master at Rosslare Europort told Irish broadcaster RTE that they may have to turn away ferries due to a road blockade outside the facility.

Tom Curran said the port will have reached capacity by Sunday afternoon with freight stuck and unable to move.

Protesters have set up a blockade at the nearby village of Kilrane about one mile from the port.

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A spokesperson for Iarnrod Eireann (Irish Rail) said the situation could come to a head late on Sunday night or early on Monday morning.

Public transport has also been affected, with some services suspended and major disruption in Dublin.

Bus Eireann said it would try to serve Dublin Airport passengers where possible, while people travelling to Shannon and Dublin Airports are advised to allow extra time.

An Garda Siochana has declared an "exceptional event" in response to the fuel protests, allowing it to double the number of officers available to work.

Protesters listen to speeches on Dublin's O'Connell Street on Saturday [PA Media]

The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG), which brings together government departments and state agencies to coordinate emergency response, said fuel supplies for emergency response vehicles, including the ambulance service and fire service, are under "increasing pressure".

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Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheal Martin said the blockades meant the country was "on the precipice of turning oil away from the country" during a global oil supply crisis.

Speaking in Dublin on Saturday, Mary Lou McDonald the leader of Sinn Fein, said the Irish Government had allowed a "difficult situation" to escalate and urged it to engage with protesters to negotiate an end to the blockades.

Why are the protests taking place?

The conflict in the Middle East has caused rapid price rises for both petrol and diesel.

Some 20% of the world's oil trade, the raw ingredient for producing both petrol and diesel, has been halted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

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Diesel in the Republic of Ireland has risen from about 1.70 (1.48) a litre to 2.17 (1.89) on many forecourts in recent weeks and petrol is now up to 25 cents more per litre at many pumps.

The protests started on Tuesday morning.
A Town of Clinton police officer has been arrested and charged with stalking and violating a domestic violence restraining order after an investigation by the Hunterdon County Prosecutors Office, authorities said.

Prosecutor Renee M. Robeson said Officer Joseph D. Pietraszewski, 29, of Readington Township, was taken into custody Friday, April 10, without incident after a Hunterdon County SWAT team was dispatched to his residence.

Robeson said Pietraszewski was placed on administrative leave March 27 after he made concerning comments to a co-worker about an ex-girlfriend. Investigators later met with the victim, who reported the officer appeared at locations where the victim was present on multiple occasions, according to the prosecutors office.

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The victim sought and was granted a temporary restraining order, the prosecutor said. After the TRO was issued, detectives learned through the investigation that Pietraszewski allegedly placed a tracking device on the victims vehicle.

Clinton Police Officer Joseph D. Pietraszewski

Pietraszewski was charged with third-degree stalking, fourth-degree stalking and fourth-degree contempt of a TRO, the prosecutors office said.

He is being held at the Warren County Jail pending a pretrial detention hearing scheduled for April 15 before Superior Court Judge Christopher J. Garrenger, authorities said. The investigation remains active and ongoing.

Third-degree charges can carry a prison term of three to five years and a fine of up to $15,000. Fourth-degree charges can carry a prison term of up to 18 months and a fine of up to $10,000, the prosecutors office said.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Clinton NJ police officer charged with stalking, TRO contempt
The soldier was evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment, and his family has been notified of the incident.

One IDF soldier was severely injured during an operational accident in central Gaza, the military announced on Saturday.

The soldier was evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment, and his family has been notified of the incident.

IDF forces operating in southern Lebanon. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

Troops killed in southern Lebanon

The IDF has seen two soldiers killed over the last week, during fighting in southern Lebanon.

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The first, 21-year-old Sgt. First Class Guy Ludar from Yuvalim, was a soldier in the Maglan Unit of the Commando Brigade.

The IDF announced that Ludar had been killed by friendly fire last Friday, while another soldier was heavily injured.

The other soldier, Staff Sergeant Touvel Yosef Lifshiz, a 20-year-old from Beit She'an, served in the 13th Battalion in the Golani Brigade, and was killed on Wednesday.
Governor Jay Robert JB Pritzker (D-IL) on Thursday criticized President Donald Trump and the war with Iran, citing surging gas prices amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Americans Are Struggling

Expressing his criticism of Trump, Pritzker shared his views through a post on the social media platform X. Americans are struggling to afford gas and groceries, the Governor said. Meanwhile Trump calls war an investment, he said.

Pritzker was likely referring to the Presidents earlier address on April 1st when he called the war with Iran a true investment for Americas future generations, calling Iran the bully of the Middle East. That tells you everything you need to know, Pritzker said at the end of the post.

Americans are struggling to afford gas and groceries.



Meanwhile Trump calls war an "investment."



That tells you everything you need to know.  JB Pritzker (@JBPritzker) April 9, 2026

Don't Miss:

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According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average price for a gallon of gasoline on Thursday hit $4.166 at the pump. California and Hawaii commanded the highest price for a gallon of gasoline at $5.929 and $5.633, respectively.

Grocery Prices Hit Highs

The war in Iran has also affected the price of groceries, with economists warning that the cost of everyday items could go higher as the situation in the Middle East continues to escalate. The price of food at home was already up 3% in February from a year earlier.

JB Pritzkers Earlier Criticism

The Governor has been voicing his criticism of Trump and the war since it began more than a month ago. Recently, Pritzker lamented the rising gas prices, criticizing Trumps tariffs and the spike in reported measles cases across the U.S. Where is Donald Trump? the governor asked.

See Also: Caught With Nothing Saved for Retirement? These 5 GameChanging Tips Could Still Save You

He had also delivered sharp criticism of Trump as the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced it was levying an 8% surcharge on all packages for the first time in its history, as surging fuel costs affected operating costs of the service.

Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets.

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This is part of a series of stories on the candidates running in the May 19 primary election. Ballots will be mailed to voters April 29.

Former Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries investigator Chris Lynch is challenging BOLI leader Christina Stephenson in the May 19 election.

The agency is tasked with enforcing the state's labor laws, registering and supporting state apprenticeship programs and investigating civil rights violations in access to things like housing.

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Stephenson says she is focused on continuing to address a yearslong backlog in investigations and restoring trust in the agency.

Lynch says he is focused on shifting how the agency is run to reduce its scope and the number of investigations.

The nonpartisan position was previously held by U.S Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Oregon, and Brad Avakian. It's been led by Stephenson since 2023.

The agency has been plagued by a backlog of cases. It implemented a threshold in October 2024 and stopped investigating wage claims for workers earning more than $25.34 per hour or $52,710 per year, for a year.

The race will be decided in the May primary, unless neither candidate secures more than 50% of the vote. In that case, the election will head to a runoff.

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Here's what to know about the candidates.

BOLI Commissioner Christina Stephenson is seeking a second term leading the agency. She was first elected in 2022 and faces a challenge from former BOLI employee Chris Lynch.

Incumbent BOLI leader Christina Stephenson commits to more work ahead

Stephenson was elected in 2022 after a November runoff against Cheri Helt, winning 60.74% of the vote.

Born and raised in Oregon, Stephenson received a bachelor's degree from American University and later graduated from the University of Oregon's School of Law. Before becoming commissioner, she owned and operated Meyer Stephenson, a law firm representing employees.

In an interview with the Statesman Journal, Stephenson said she's running for a second term to continue the progress she's made at the agency.

"I've been pouring my heart and soul into this agency for the last three years, and we have some really amazing outcomes to show for that," Stephenson said.

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She touted a "historic investment" in BOLI during the 2025 legislative session, when lawmakers approved a 30% increase in BOLI's budget that helped reduce the backlog in wage and hour claims intake by 20% and the civil rights intake backlog by 38%.

Stephenson also celebrated operational improvements, like reducing the time it takes employees to process wage complaints. Stephenson said those wins have not changed the scale of the challenge facing BOLI.

"The mandate is huge, the demand is huge and we've started down a path that I think will get the agency to where Oregonians expect and deserve this agency to be," Stephenson said. "But we're not there yet, and I want to see it through."

Stephenson said her priorities center on continuing to reduce backlogs while improving the quality and consistency of BOLI's work. She was "really" proud, she said, of having been "vulnerable" during her term, including reaching out to the Secretary of State and requesting an audit of the agency.

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That audit, released in November 2025, found longstanding structural problems and management gaps that contributed to backlogs. Recommendations included developing and implementing a new strategic plan that Stephenson said is underway to modernize internal systems, standardize training and update procedures.

"I have never said that more money is the panacea. I have worked on technology. I have worked on morale at the agency. I have worked on spending years with a complicated Department of Administrative Services process about reclassification in order to get this agency right-sized," she said.

House Bill 5015, the 2025-2027 budget bill, reclassified 34 positions across the agency and added 15 positions in the Civil Rights Division, 21 positions in the Wage and Hour Division, and 14 business operations positions. The budget authorized 217 positions in the agency.

Chris Lynch, a former employee for the Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries, is running for commissioner against incumbent Christina Stephenson. Lynch said he believes a new leader is necessary to address challenges at the agency.

Former BOLI employee, Oregon OSHA officer Chris Lynch vies for seat

Lynch was also born and raised in Oregon.

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He spent more than a decade at BOLI, starting as an intern, then as a civil rights investigator, and eventually as manager of the division overseeing Portland-based staff. He later worked for Oregon's Occupational Safety and Health Division.

He has since retired to focus on running for BOLI commissioner.

Lynch told the Statesman Journal he considered running for BOLI commissioner in 2022 but had faith in Stephenson. He returned to work briefly in her administration in October of 2023, he said, with optimism.

He left after seeing a demoralized staff and is running, he said, because he believes a different direction is needed.

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"I think it's important for employers to know that there's someone out there that will enforce what the community has agreed are our values," Lynch said. "And I think one of the challenges with BOLI's current condition is that employers aren't afraid of BOLI."

Lynch said the issues at the agency are less about the mission and more about execution.

"I think we're pretty closely aligned on a lot of big policy issues," Lynch said of Stephenson. "I think it's more of a management style."

Lynch said he'd commit to a collaborative work environment at BOLI and to listening to frontline staff's input.

Another criticism he had was how caseloads are handled, arguing that current expectations are unrealistic. He's sent letters to the Senate Interim Committee on Labor and Business and the House Interim Committee on Labor and Workforce Development proposing changes, such as reducing the five-year statute of limitations for filing certain cases with BOLI to one year. Additionally, he's proposed amending another statue to say that if BOLI finds substantial evidence of violations and cannot reach a settlement, the commissioner may prepare formal charges rather than shall.

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Lynch said his aim is to reduce the number and scope of cases under BOLIs jurisdiction for "much-needed breathing room in which to reassert itself as an effective agency."

How much money have the candidates for BOLI Commissioner raised?

Lynch has raised $4,270.00 in 2026, according to campaign finance records. He had $3,227.30 cash in hand as of April 7.

Stephenson has received $7,176.00 in campaign contributions in 2026. She had an ending cash balance of $63,416 as of April 7, thanks to a beginning balance of $76,723.

Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.comon X @DianneLugoor Bluesky @diannelugo.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Chris Lynch challenges Christina Stephenson for Oregon BOLI leader
The woman accused of killing the father of her children and his parents in Crete Township pleaded not guilty in court Friday, according to court documents.

Jenna Strouble is accused of shooting and killing all three. She's currently being held in Will County Jail.

Strouble has been charged with first-degree murder in what officials said were the targeted deaths of Jacob Q. Lambert, whom she shared a relationship and children with, and his parents, Stacy and Patrick Forde.

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Police said Lambert was found dead in a car in the driveway last month, and his parents were found dead inside the home, on the first floor, near the front door, in the 3400-block of East Norway Trail in Crete Township.

The sheriff's office said Strouble made incriminating statements after the murders, and police recovered a gun that matched the one used in the incident.

Prosecutors previously accused Strouble of murdering Lambert because she didn't like how he parented their two children.

They said Strouble and Lambert were in his truck, when she offered to give him a massage.

Prosecutors say she then shot him in the head while he was face down.

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Prosecutors claim she then drove to his mom and stepdad's home, where she started shooting when they opened the door.

Patrick Forde was shot 17 times. Stacy Forde was shot three times.

Strouble was arrested at her parents' Saint John, Indiana home.

She's next due in court April 20.

You can contact the Illinois domestic violence hotline at 1-877-863-6338 click here for more information.
PROVO, Utah (ABC4)  Opposition has grown at Utah Valley University in the days since the school announced the chosen commencement speaker for the class of 2026.

Utah Valley University (UVU) announced New York Times bestselling author, Sharon McMahon, as the 2026 commencement speaker. She has been selected as the keynote speaker for the annual commencement ceremony and is also set to receive an honorary Doctor of Education degree.

Sharon McMahon is an original. She is a force of nature and a force for good Sharons work reminds us of the power we each hold, and that every individual is mighty in some way, UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez said in a statement.

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McMahon is widely known for her newsletter and podcast titled The Preamble, which shares fact-based, nonpartisan insights on history, government, and current events.

The eagle has landed: Utahns react after historic Artemis II splashdown

The universitys announcement was met with strong opposition from UVU students, all who drew attention to a set of posts made by McMahon in the days after the assassination of prominent republican political activist Charlie Kirk.

Students allege that some of the threads have been taken down, however, one of the thread responses was a series of Charlie Kirk quotes and is still up on McMahons account.

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She framed the post as an explanation for why there is so much backlash to posts eulogizing his death. The posts list quotes that Kirk allegedly said followed by McMahons interpretation of the quotes.

These arent sound bites taken out of context. Millions of people feel they were harmed, and the murder that was horrific and should never have happened does not magically erase what was said or done, McMahons post reads.

Caleb Chilcutt, President of Turning Point USA at UVU, issued a statement opposing the universitys decision.

(Courtesy: Turning Point USA at UVU)

How to make ABC4 your preferred news source on Google

The UVU College Republicans issued a similar statement, also speaking out in opposition of McMahons presence on campus.

(Courtesy: UVU College Republicans)

ABC4 reached out to McMahons office for a comment, to which they responded, pointing us towards posts where she has deemed Kirks death a tragedy.

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This isnt the America I want to live in. I am sure Charlie Kirk and I would not agree on many things. And my heart is still broken for his family, the post read.

Latest headlines:

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 ABC4 Utah.
On March 31, the Department of the Interior proposed to revoke a 2023 public land order that prevented mining within a 10-mile radius of Chaco Culture National Historic Park in New Mexico.

In the announcement, the Bureau of Land Management gave the public, tribes and others a short, seven-day window to submit comments on whether hundreds of thousands of acres should be opened for mining.

The Secretary of the Interior proposes to revoke the withdrawal of up to approximately 336,425 acres of public lands located within a radius of approximately 10 miles surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park, reads the BLMs project description.

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Revocation of the PLO No. 7923 withdrawal would restore discretion over mineral leasing to the Bureau of Land Management and would re-open that public land to location and entry under the United States mining laws.

The protections were implemented in 2023, and required a two-and-a-half year assessment to finalize. Some stakeholders, like the Navajo Nation, wanted a smaller range  five miles instead of 10  but many were pleased with the protections as the broader region is rich with archaeological sites.

New Mexico delegation reacts to the proposal

After the announcement last week, however, local elected officials, tribes and their advocates and conservationists were incensed by the BLMs proposal. Those who were opposed were especially angry over the short comment period that ended April 7.

Allowing just seven days for public comment on the fate of a 1,000-year-old sacred site is inadequate and disgraceful, Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., said in a statement.

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Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., said that Chaco Canyon is sacred and that the short comment period on reducing protections for such an important place was unconscionable.

This administrations attempt to push leasing without comprehensive tribal consultation and meaningful community engagement threatens a landscape that has been home to Pueblo and Dine people for thousands of years, since time immemorial, she said in a statement.

With the comment period closed, the BLM will weigh three options: keep the public land order as is; revoke the order to remove the protections within the 10-mile radius; or reduce the protections to a five-mile radius.

After reviewing the comments, the BLM will propose a new draft on its environmental assessment. That will have its own public comment period.

What is Chaco Canyon?

The Chacoan people lived more than 1,100 years ago in what is today part of the northwest corner of New Mexico in the Four Corners area. Archaeological evidence shows it was inhabited as far back as 900 B.C., but the ancestors of at least 24 indigenous tribes called that stretch of desert home.

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Within the Greater Chaco region is a 33,000-acre alluvial canyon filled with the preserved structures and architectural remnants of a Puebloan culture showcasing a complex, thriving society. It is that section of the desert that Theodore Roosevelt established initially as a national monument in 1907. It became a national historical park in 1980.

An additional 13,000 acres were included in the 1980 designation and it was named a UNESCO World Heritage site  one of just 26 in the United States  in 1987.

Much of the land that surrounds the park is public as well, managed by the BLM. More than 90% of the tracts available for mineral leasing near the site are already contracted for oil and gas drilling.

According to a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum from the five members of the New Mexico congressional delegation, the idea of a buffer zone around Chaco Canyon is a long-standing tradition.

How did we get here?

For a full decade before the first Trump administration, there was an informal mineral leasing buffer around the sacred, historical site. They point out, too, that it wasnt a Democratic administration that first put protections in place.

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In the late 2010s, it was Trumps second Interior secretary, David Bernhardt, who established a one-year moratorium on mineral leasing around Chaco Canyon. The New Mexico congressional delegation suggested that one-year rule became the basis of the public land order.

In 2020, the Society of American Archaeology reported that a reconnaissance flight found more than 4,200 sites of archaeological, cultural and historic significance within a 300,000-acre, 10-mile radius around Chaco Canyon.

A year later, the Interior Department started what became a two-and-half year long process to determine if the broader region around the park should also be protected from oil and gas mining.

That initial public comment period was 120 days and then-Interior Secretary Deb Haaland met in person with tribes to discuss the proposal.

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According to both the New Mexico delegations letter and the archaeological society, that kind of consideration was necessary because of the sovereignty of the tribes and the fact that Chaco Canyon is more than a historic site.

For descendant communities, Chaco is not full of abandoned sites  it is a living cultural landscape and is frequently visited by Pueblo people to reconnect with their ancestors and history," the society wrote to Burgum last fall.

At the end of the Biden administrations assessment period in 2023, the BLM issued a Public Land Order No. 7923, establishing a 10-mile radius of protection that prevented oil and gas leasing anywhere near Chaco Canyon. It was to be in place for 20 years.

Navajo Nation has a different take

The order was not universally accepted, including from an unexpected source.

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The Navajo Nation has long taken a narrower position, wrote By Donovan Quintero, in The Navajo Times on April 3. While not seeking full revocation, Navajo leaders have opposed the full 10-mile buffer, arguing it harms Navajo allottees who rely on royalty income from oil and gas development. The Navajo Nation has instead supported a smaller five-mile buffer.

The Navajo Nation then sued the federal government in 2025, alleging that Haaland failed to adhere to her statutory obligations, as well as her fiduciary duty to the Navajo Nation and its citizens, and acted without adequate consultation on faulty assumptions.

According to the Navajo Times, that case was dismissed this week after the parties reached an out-of-court settlement.

By last fall, efforts to rescind the public land order were in motion. The Interior Department notified the 24 associated tribes and pueblos on October 31 that it was considering revoking the buffer rule and it would be reaching out for consultation. In those letters it said the comment period would be open for two weeks.

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It is outrageous that your department would elect to completely reverse this process with only 14 days planned for public comment, the New Mexico delegation wrote at the time.

Five months later, the Interior gave the public seven days to weigh in.
United Airlines headlines today's earnings calendar, along with a big swath of corporate results across industries. We've also got a very close eye on retail sales, expected to come in strong as the consumer "does it again" despite some blustering headwinds.
Some three-quarters of the airstrikes during the Middle East war targeted sites in Iran or Lebanon, according to an AFP analysis of data from ACLED, a nonprofit that tracks political violence worldwide.

At least 7,700 strikes or series of strikes by missiles, drones, rockets or bombs, were recorded by the US-based conflict research group between the start of the war on February 28 up to April 8, when a fragile ceasefire concluded between Tehran and Washington came into effect.

ACLED collected and vetted its data from sources that it considers reliable, such as news reports, social networks, institutions, and other NGOs.

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This count, which includes attacks that were intercepted, cannot be considered an exhaustive list from the conflict.

- Iran -

Approximately four out of 10 recorded attacks targeted Iran, mostly attributed to the Israeli military, According to AFP's analysis, in only a third of the cases could the target be identified as military or linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the regime's ideological army.

A third of the attacks had no identified target. April 6 and 7 -- the two days preceding the ceasefire -- saw the highest number of strikes.

- Lebanon -

Lebanon, where Israel has been conducting a campaign triggered by the pro-Iranian movement Hezbollah on March 2 launching an offensive, accounted for a third of the attacks, according to ACLED data as of April 3.

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The vast majority were carried out by Israeli forces, while nearly 10 percent were Hezbollah attacks against Israeli positions in the south of Lebanon.

Israel asserts the two-week ceasefire agreed between the United States and Iran does not apply to Lebanon and it has continued to bombard the country.

- Israel -

One in seven attacks targeted Israel, most of which were intercepted. The attacks were in almost equal proportions from Iran and Hezbollah.

- Other countries -

The main countries targeted by Iran were Gulf states, primarily the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. In Iraq, 40 percent of the attacks were against Kurdish groups and 20 percent against US interests.

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Qatar and Oman were targeted to a lesser extent.

In Syria, ACLED recorded approximately one hundred incidents, but these were mainly the result of Iranian missiles and drones being intercepted by Israel. Several dozen similar incidents were recorded in the West Bank and Jordan.

In Turkey, four missile launches were intercepted by NATO to protect its Incirlik airbase, where US troops are stationed.

- Most common targets -

Israel targeted 15 bridges or their approaches in Lebanon and around 20 in Iran.

Attacks against energy infrastructure in Iran were most intense during the second and third weeks of the conflict, as well as during the week of the ceasefire announcement.

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Iran's key petrochemical complex at Assalouyeh, already targeted in mid-March, was struck again on April 6 by Israel. Numerous Iranian fuel depots were also hit.

ACLED reported four strikes near Iran's only nuclear power plant, in Bushehr.

Among the Gulf oil monarchies, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were the countries whose oil infrastructure was most frequently attacked, followed by Kuwait.

Across all countries, strikes against energy infrastructure resulted in damage in approximately 40 percent of cases, according to AFP's analysis.

Military bases housing US personnel were targeted around 50 times in total, primarily during the first two weeks of the conflict.

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After floods devastated their village, Indrani Ravichandran and her family are back in their house, living in the only section that is still standing.

They are among the many victims of Cyclone Ditwah that ravaged the country last November.

The scale of the storm - and the destruction it wreaked - was unprecedented.

Over just three days, parts of Sri Lanka's central uplands saw up to 500mm of rain - roughly the average of two months - causing catastrophic floods and landslides that swept away homes, businesses and entire settlements.

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The human cost was devastating  643 people were killed and another 173 went missing.

Indrani describes how she and her family ran for their lives in the dark as raging flood waters swept away parts of her home in Kudugalhena village in Kandy district.

"The water level rose swiftly. We rushed out and hardly had any time to pick up anything from the house.

"It was pitch dark and the rain was lashing down, the slopes were slippery and we were also terrified of treading on any poisonous animals as we ran. But we were lucky to survive."

"It was the first time in 30 years we witnessed such ferocious floods," Indrani's husband Ravichandran added.

Indrani and Ravichandran were lucky to escape - now they're back in what's left of their house [BBC/ Ranjan Arun Prasad]

The floods are reported to have caused more destruction in Sri Lanka than the 2004 tsunami, one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.

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"Compared to the 2004 tsunami, the loss of human lives was not that much. But in terms of damage to infrastructure, Ditwah caused even more harm than the tsunami," Dr Ganeshan Wignaraja, a visiting senior fellow at ODI Global Institute in London, told the BBC.

'A triple shock'

The US and Israel's war against Iran - and its impact on the global economy - could not have come at a worse time for Sri Lanka, which is already reeling from these devastating floods and an unprecedented economic crisis from 2022.

This picturesque South Asian island, once celebrated for its economic development and high ratings on human development indices, has found itself in dire straits once again.

"It's a triple shock. First, the devastating floods late last year, now soaring fuel prices and then there's an impending drought in some areas," Wignaraja said.

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In the last few weeks alone, the government has had to ration fuel and raise prices, introduce a four-day working week, increase electricity costs by up to 40% and impose water and power cuts to compensate for dwindling resources.

Fuel and cooking gas shortages have resulted in panic buying across the country, raising memories from 2022 when it ran out of foreign currency and defaulted on its foreign debt, leading to shortages of essential items like cooking gas, medicine and food items as well as crippling power cuts of up to 13 hours.

The resulting widespread protests led to then president Gotabaya Rajapaksa being ousted.

Now, concerns have grown that the country may not be able to stave off another economic crisis.

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The cash-strapped Sri Lankan government had taken a number of measures to try to get the economy back on track, including removing subsidies on electricity and hiking income tax rates to as much as 36%.

Things seemed to be getting better - until Ditwah struck.

Cyclone Ditwah swept away houses and entombed vehicles in metres of mud [AFP via Getty Images]

The World Bank said the cyclone, among the most intense and destructive in Sri Lanka's recent history, severely affected close to two million people and 500,000 families across all 25 districts, disrupting livelihoods, essential services and the broader economy.

The UN and other agencies estimate the total damage at around $4bn  equivalent to 4% of Sri Lanka's GDP.

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called it the country's worst-ever economic disaster. Soon after the calamity, he announced wide-ranging financial help to those who had lost their loved ones, properties and businesses.

Indrani's family said they had received the government's promised 50,000 rupees ($325; 240) help to carry out repairs in a part of the house that's still standing. They were also given additional financial help for those with young children.

The government also promised to provide up to five million rupees for homes that were completely destroyed. It has also announced about a million rupees for the families of those killed.

However, months after the cyclone, more than 165,000 people still remain displaced, living with their relatives, host families or in temporary shelters waiting for the government to provide alternative housing and livelihoods.

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And now the strain on the economy brought about by the Iran war has made their prospects even bleaker.

'Friend across the sea'

The government has altogether received barely a fifth of the funds it needs for reconstruction and rehabilitation  around $750m in total.

Although the cyclone's devastation surpassed the impact of the 2004 tsunami, international assistance was not immediately forthcoming. In 2004, horrified at the disaster, donors pledged billions of dollars of aid. But this time the response was muted.

Sri Lanka's closest neighbour India was the only country that responded immediately. It launched a rapid humanitarian assistance and relief mission named Operation Sagar Bandhu, translating from Hindi as "friend across the sea".

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It deployed two warships, including an aircraft carrier, for relief operations. Indian air force helicopters flew several sorties rescuing hundreds of people, including foreign nationals.

Indian rescue teams set up field hospitals, helped to restore essential infrastructure, and delivered more than 1,000 tonnes of critical supplies. It also provided $450m in grants and aid to Sri Lanka - making it by far the largest contributor.

In contrast China, one of Sri Lanka's major investors and a long-standing ally, offered only minimal support, providing less than $2m in aid and around 100 tonnes of supplies.

In January, the Sri Lankan government formally requested Beijing to help rebuild key infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Ditwah.

India's disaster response force was quick to respond to Sri Lanka's floods [AFP via Getty Images]

The Sri Lankan government says it has provided relief to most residents whose houses were partially damaged, enabling them to carry out repairs.

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However, it acknowledges delays in compensating families who lost their entire homes or businesses in the cyclone.

"We are in the process of identifying suitable and safe land to build new houses. Once the areas are identified, the government will provide the aid," said KG Dharmathilake, a senior official in the disaster management division.

Officials argue that rather than rushing through relief efforts, the priority is to "build back better" so that new homes and businesses are resilient enough to withstand future disasters.

Responding to criticism over delays in providing financial assistance to those affected, Dharmathilake insisted that more than 80% of affected residents had already received financial help to repair damaged houses.

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Sri Lanka's current foreign reserves stand at around $7bn. Economists like Wignaraja say the government should just about be able to tide over the flood crisis and the fuel price hike with effective fiscal management.

"But they will be in difficulty if the fallout of the Middle East crisis continues for a while," he says.

With the financial situation already strained, the government is also worried that they will lose foreign exchange inflows due to the Gulf war.

Sri Lanka last year received about $7bn in remittances from workers abroad  mainly from Gulf countries. Though there haven't been any massive layoffs in those countries yet, there are concerns over new employment opportunities for Sri Lankans.

How the government confronts the enormous reconstruction work and the economic challenges due to the Gulf war may ultimately become the defining test of President Dissanayake's leadership.

Additional reporting by Ranjan Arun Prasad, BBC Tamil Service in Kandy
Both sides are claiming victory. The Strait of Hormuz waterway was once teeming with commercial ships. Now it isnt, and Iran has new political and military leaders. Oil prices have jumped by a third. Its hard to find American allies who support the war. The state of Irans nuclear materials is shrouded in mystery.

After more than 20 hours of negotiations, the United States and Iran failed to reach an agreement in high-stakes peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 12. Negotiators for the two countries were trying to turn a fragile, two-week ceasefire into a lasting peace plan.

Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation, said, We could not get to a situation where the Iranians would accept our terms. Irans foreign ministry said the U.S. demands were excessive. It wasnt immediately clear what happens next. What is clear is that the war has reshaped the world.

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JD Vance: 'No agreement reached' in US and Iran peace talks

Heres a closer look at whats changed  and what hasnt  as the war enters its seventh week.

Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. People gather at the site of a destroyed building at a school where, as the state media reports, several people were killed in an Israeli airstrike, following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, in Minab, Iran in this screengrab obtained from a social media video released on February 28, 2026. Iranian state media reported on February 28 that Israel struck a school in southern Iran, resulting in 40 deaths. Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel had launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran February 28, 2026 in this screen grab taken from video. Iranian people run for cover in Tehran, Iran, on February 28, 2026, as explosions are heard after a reported strike and Israel announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran, with sirens sounding in Jerusalem and phone alerts warning of an "extremely serious" threat. Smoke rises following an explosion after the U.S. and Israel reportedly launched an attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026, in this screen grab taken from video. A graffiti on a wall reads" Down with the U.S.A", after Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. People run for cover following an explosion, after Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran February 28, 2026. A plume of smoke rises after an explosion on February 28, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. After explosions were seen in the Iranian capital, the office of the Israeli Defense Minister issued a statement saying it had launched a preemptive strike against the country. A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on February 28 morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital.



Israel's defence ministry announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat. U.S. President Donald Trump pumps his fist after disembarking Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., February 27, 2026. Hours later, Trump made live comments about the military strikes he launched against Iran. A plume of smoke rises over Tehran after a reported explosion on February 28, 2026, after Israel said it carried out a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and phone alerts warned of an "extremely serious" threat. A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on February 28 morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital. Israel's defence ministry announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat. Buildings inin Tehran stand after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, February 28, 2026. Iranians try to clear a street amid heavy traffic in Tehran, Iran, on February 28, 2026, as explosions are heard following a reported strike and Israel announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran, with sirens sounding in Jerusalem and phone alerts warning of an "extremely serious" threat. Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese area of al-Qatrani on February 28, 2026. Lebanon's foreign minister said on February 24 his country feared its infrastructure could be hit by Israeli strikes if the situation with Iran escalates, after Israel intensified its attacks on Tehran-backed Hezbollah Anti-riot police stand in front of state building that is covered with a giant anti-U.S. billboard depicting the destruction of a US aircraft carrier in downtown Tehran on a main street in Tehran on February 21, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. In recent weeks, the United States had moved vast numbers of military vessels and aircraft to Europe and the Middle East. The US and Israel proceeded to launched strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, Latest photos capture US and Israeli strikes against Iran 1 of 16 Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026.

No straight passage through the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow, 100-mile-long waterway. It is the primary channel through which 20% of the worlds oil and natural gas supply must pass. By deciding which ships can travel through the passageway  and which cant  Iran has the power to disrupt global energy markets and inflict pain on its adversaries across the world.

Before the war, oil tankers and cargo ships passed freely through the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. But days after the start of the war, Iran effectively blocked the strait, restricting the number of ships that could travel through the channel and reportedly charging fees of up to $2 million per ship for those vessels that did.

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Irans blockage of the passageway caused a major disruption in global energy markets, causing a spike in oil and gas prices.

Strait of Hormuz: Why is it so important?

A cargo ship in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Omans Musandam governance, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026.

Reopening the passageway was one of the key U.S. conditions for the two-week ceasefire announced April 7. But Iran has allowed only a trickle of ships to continue through the channel since the pause in fighting. As a condition for ending the war, Iran is demanding the right to collect tolls from ships that traverse the strait.

President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals on the tolls. He has called them illegal and a violation of the ceasefire and said Iran should stop charging them. But in an interview with ABC News, he suggested the tolls could possibly continue as part of a joint venture between Iran and the United States. Tolls could be a way to secure the passageway, he said.

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Strait of Hormuz. You may pay more for gas after Iran closes oil route

Iran's closure of the strait has shifted the focus of the peace talks away from ending its nuclear program, which had been one of Trump's justifications for the war, to the need to get ships moving through the channel unimpeded once again.

Brent Crude oil, a global benchmark, was trading at about $72 per barrel on Feb. 28. Prices surged to almost $120 per barrel in late March before dropping to just under $100 per barrel on April 10 after the United States and Iran reached a conditional two-week ceasefire agreement.

All eyes are on the Strait of Hormuz, closed again by Iran a day after the ceasefire. How oil and gas prices may be affected.

While the United States is far less reliant on foreign oil compared with countries in Europe and elsewhere, the elevated global prices have impacted domestic gasoline prices. On April 12, the average cost in the United States for a gallon of regular gasoline was $4.12, according to AAA Gas Prices, which tracks retail gasoline prices. That's up from $3.45 a month ago and less than $3 at the start of the year, according to AAA Gas Prices.

A changed Iranian regime?

Iranians hold portraits of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, the new supreme leader, during a memorial in Tehran on April 9, 2026. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, 2026.

The war has severely weakened Iran's clerical, military and political leadership. Many of its top intelligence and security officials and its longtime supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have been killed in the U.S. and Israeli bombing campaign.

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Trump has asserted that Iran's new rulers are more moderate. There's little evidence of that. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Irans newly appointed supreme leader, has not appeared publicly since taking over from his father, and many analysts believe the country may move toward stronger ideological rigidity and increased control by hardline military forces within the government.

"There is a lot of focus on whether figures like the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei or the ascendent parliament speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf will be more moderate or reasonable. But we ought to consider that Iran's leaders find themselves in an extreme and unreasonable situation," said Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, a dual American Iranian citizen who founded Bourse & Bazaar, a London-based think tank focused on Iranian politics and economics. "The tenor of Iranian politics will most likely be shaped by the realities of the crisis the country is facing, not the personal beliefs of its leaders."

Exclusive: Israel decided to kill Irans leader after Oct. 7 attack

Iranian military degraded but still functioning

U.S. forces have inflicted serious damage on Irans military during six weeks of bombing. Irans navy is gone, lying at the bottom of the ocean, Trump boasted. Irans ability to build and stockpile ballistic missiles and long-range drones has been set back for years, according to the White House. And War Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that Irans military had been so degraded following more than 13,000 strikes by U.S. forces that it had essentially been wiped out and would be ineffective for years.

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Defense analysts say theres no question Irans military has been weakened by the U.S. attacks. Yet it has continued to operate, using medium- and short-range missiles to strike Israel and neighboring Arab countries, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Iranian forces shot down two American military planes  an F-15E fighter jet and an A-10 Warthog  on April 3, prompting a massive search and rescue mission for a weapon systems officer who had been in the F-15E. Airmen in both planes ejected from the aircraft and were quickly rescued. Trump said the F-15E had been shot down by a shoulder-mounted, heat-seeking missile.

'No friends but the mountains.' Kurds want Trump's help for Iran ground war

Accounting for Iran's nuclear materials

A combination of satellite images showing tunnel entrances at the Isfahan nuclear complex, in Isfahan, Iran, before they were buried with soil, November 11, 2024 (top), and after, February 10, 2026

Prior to the start of the war, Iran possessed approximately 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nation's nuclear watchdog. That material is theoretically a short technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%, according to the IAEA. While Iran insists that its nuclear program is for civilian energy purposes only, few in the West believe that.

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Highly-enriched uranium can be used for nuclear-armed bombs and missiles. Most of Iran's enriched uranium is thought to be stored at a nuclear site deep underground near the city of Isfahan, one of three nuclear sites U.S. bombers targeted last year.

Trita Parsi, an Iran expert who is the cofounder of the Washington, DC-based Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said there are conflicting reports about the current state of Iran's nuclear materials. "It appears the U.S. government believes it knows where it is and that the Iranians have not accessed it," he said.

Iranian security expert Ali Vaez of the Brussels-headquartered Crisis Group think tank said Iran's nuclear materials are unaccounted for and probably buried in deep tunnels. He said that, as it stands, the war has "set back Irans nuclear program, but hasn't fully blocked its pathway to nuclear weapons."

Iran's mega-MAGA impact

Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, left, and Tucker Carlson.

While polls show most Republicans support the war in Iran, Trump has gotten pushback from an unexpected place: his MAGA supporters.

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Grassroots activists and high-profile media figures in the MAGA world have publicly slammed the war, saying it runs counter to his America First campaign promise. They also have taken issue with Trumps use of profanity in his wartime social media posts, his apocalyptic threat to wipe out the Iranian civilization and the whopping cost of the conflict. (The price tag is $29 billion so far, according to the nonprofit Center for Strategic and International Studies.)

"He has gone insane," former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a Trump supporter turned critic, wrote in a message on X.

Trump has fired back, calling his critics losers and accusing conservative media influencers such as Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and Alex Jones of digging for cheap publicity.

But the MAGA rift could have serious consequences for Trump and Republicans heading into this falls midterm elections, when the GOP will try to hold onto its slim majorities in the House and the Senate.

Reluctant allies and NATO future

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discusses strengthen the alliance and sharing responsibility for global security.

The war appears to have deepened divisions between the United States and some of its traditional allies. France, Spain, Germany and Britain have in particular been reluctant to always heed calls by the Trump administration for air support and use of their military bases. Non-U.S. NATO members have also been resistant to help the U.S. militarily as Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz.

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Trump, in turn, has called U.S. allies "cowards." He has characterized NATO as "a paper tiger" and re-upped his threats to leave the military alliance formed in the wake of World War II. He has also compared British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Neville Chamberlain, now widely known as the British leader who pursued a policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany.

U.S. allies have struggled to understand Trump's strategy, motivations and regular contradictory statements about the reasons for the war, even as they have agreed with him that's Iran regime is a menace for the wider Middle East region and that Tehran should not be permitted to advance its nuclear program.

"This war violates international law," German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in late March, echoing comments from other European leaders. "There is little doubt that, in any case, the justification of an imminent attack on the U.S. does not hold water."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amid stalled US-Iran peace talks, whats changed since war's start
The annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank for 2029 will be held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

AzerNEWS reports that the decision was made following a vote by the executive boards of the two international financial institutions.

The selection of Abu Dhabi highlights the UAEs growing role in hosting major global economic events and underscores its position as a key financial hub in the region.

It is worth noting that another UAE city, Dubai, previously hosted the annual meetings of these institutions in 2003.
Israel has criticised South Koreas president for sharing video of violence against Palestinians by the Israeli army. Thats after Lee Jae Myung raised concerns about documented abuses committed by Israeli forces.

Lee provoked Israeli anger on Friday by sharing video showing Israeli soldiers abusing Palestinians.

If true, we must investigate what measures were taken. Forced comfort women, Jewish massacres, and wartime killings are no different. I need to look into whether this is true, and if so, what measures have been taken, the president posted on X.

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The video, verified by Al Jazeera, shows Israeli soldiers pushing an apparently lifeless Palestinian man from a rooftop in the occupied West Bank town of Qabatiya in September 2024. One soldier appears to kick a body before it falls.

Three Palestinians were thrown from the roof that day, sparking widespread outrage. The Palestinian ministry of foreign affairs said it was a crime that exposes the Israeli armys brutality. Under international law, armed forces must treat the dead with dignity.

Israels foreign ministry responded by saying the case had been investigated and addressed, without providing details or indicating whether any soldiers faced punishment. Israeli forces rarely face accountability for abuses against Palestinians.

Data from Action on Armed Violence shows that Israel has closed 88 per cent of investigations into abuses by its forces in Gaza and the occupied West Bank without charges or findings of wrongdoing.

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Lees sharing of the video triggered a public row with Israels foreign ministry, criticising the president directly.

President Lee Jae Myung, for some strange reason, chose to dig up a story from 2024, a ministry statement on Saturday said, accusing those sharing the footage of spreading anti-Israeli news.

South Koreas foreign ministry attempted to ease tensions, saying Lees comments reflected a broader appeal for universal human rights rather than an opinion on any specific issue.

Lee doubled down on Saturday, responding to Israels criticism with a pointed reply.

Its disappointing that you dont even once reflect on the criticisms from people around the world who are suffering and struggling due to relentless anti-human rights and anti-international law actions, he said.

When I am in pain, others feel that pain just as deeply.




The Israel Defense Forces dropped around 18,000 bombs on Iran during more than five weeks of war, according to figures published in Israeli media and confirmed by a military spokesman on Saturday.

The data, first reported by The Times of Israel newspaper and other media, show that Israel carried out more than 1,000 waves of airstrikes. Further details on the types and sizes of the munitions were not immediately available.

Iran, in turn, fired around 650 ballistic missiles at Israel, the reports said, adding that more than half were equipped with cluster munition warheads designed to disperse multiple smaller explosives over wide areas.

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According to Israeli figures, 20 civilians were killed in Israel in the attacks, along with four Palestinians in the West Bank. More than 7,000 people were injured, the Israeli Health Ministry said.

The Israeli military said it conducted more than 10,800 individual strikes on over 4,000 targets in Iran, including air defence systems, missile launchers, weapons production sites, nuclear facilities, headquarters and command structures.

At least 16 missiles with conventional warheads  each carrying several hundred kilograms of explosives  struck residential areas in Israel, causing significant damage, the Times of Israel reported. In around 50 incidents, Iranian missiles with cluster munitions hit populated areas, resulting in hundreds of separate impact sites.

Israel said it had destroyed or disabled about 60% of Irans estimated 470 ballistic missile launchers. At the start of the war, Iran was believed to possess around 2,500 ballistic missiles; intelligence estimates now suggest about 1,000 remain capable of reaching Israel.

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Iran has reported more than 3,000 deaths from the conflict that erupted on February 28.

The Norway-based human rights group Hengaw put the death toll at at least 7,650, including 1,030 civilians.

More than 125,000 civilian facilities in Iran have been damaged or destroyed in Israeli and US strikes, according to the Red Crescent.

Claims by the warring sides could not be independently verified.

Iran, the US and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire starting on April 8.
CAIRO, April 11 (Reuters) - Two Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza on Saturday, killing at least seven people and injuring several others, officials from Gaza's health ministry said.

An airstrike hit a police checkpoint in Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip early on Saturday, killing at least six, while a second airstrike hit Beit Lahiya, killing at least one, said the officials.

It was not immediately clear how many of those killed in the first strike were police members.

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The Israeli military said that the strike in Bureij had been carried out after members of the militant group Hamas approached the yellow line nL1N3YO0RL demarcating the half of Gaza occupied by Israel. It did not immediately comment on the strike in Beit Lahiya.

Israel has repeatedly shot at people in areas around the yellow line since the ceasefire deal was struck in October, often accusing militants of trying to cross the line or attack troops.

A series of Israeli strikes has killed dozens of Hamas-led police force members since October, according to medics and police sources. Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 25 people in Gaza this week.

Israel and Hamas reached a U.S.-brokered deal last October that was meant to halt violence in the Palestinian territory.

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Since then, Israeli attacks have killed at least 700 people in Gaza, according to health officials there. Militant attacks have killed four soldiers there, according to Israel.

(Reporting by Nidal Al-Mughrabi, Hatem Maher, and Pesha Magid; Editing by Sam Holmes)
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) went on Fox News and trashed people in his own party for not giving their unequivocal support to Israel.

The senator has become something of a regular on the network, where he typically rails against Democrats. Last month, Fetterman even acknowledged, I am more popular with Republicans.

Fetterman appeared on Thursdays Jesse Watters Primetime and urged Democrats to support President Donald Trumps (currently paused) Operation Epic Fury against Iran and to pick Israel.

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I think more Democrats should listen to me and be on the right side of history in holding Iran accountable, the senator said. And if you have to pick a side, pick our side. Pick civilization, pick Israel.

He then pivoted to a recent Pew poll showing that 80% of Democrats have a somewhat or very negative view of Israel. The same poll also shows 60% of Americans overall have a somewhat or very negative view of Israel, up 18 points since 2022:

Pew pointed out 80% of Democrats view Israel negative[ly]. Thats insane. You know, thats our special ally. Thats the only place in the region that has the kind of values and the kinds of way that we live and what we want here as a Democrat. How is that possible that 8 out of 10 view Israel in a negative thing as Democrats, you know? And I know its even more unpopular about standing and agreeing about Epic Fury. But I will be the only Democrat, you know, in my caucus that is proud to stand with Israel and I also think Epic Fury was necessary.

The senator has been a staunch advocate for Israel in Congress since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. While U.S. public support for Israel initially rose, it fell amid Israels subsequent invasion of Gaza.

Watch above via Fox News.

The post John Fetterman Says He Cant Understand Why Most Democrats View Israel Negatively: Thats Our Special Ally first appeared on Mediaite.
A federal judge in Boston dismissed a lawsuit from the Department of Justice (DOJ) that sought access to Massachusetts state voter rolls amid the Trump administrations push for registration lists from nearly every state.

U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin wrote in his Thursday ruling that the DOJs request fails for the simple reason that the Attorney Generals demand did not comply with Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960, the statute on which it purports to rely.

This law dictates that the U.S. attorney general can request state voter records as long as they offer a statement detailing why it is being requested and how the data  which includes birth dates, names and partial Social Security numbers  will be used.

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The Attorney Generals demand for the Massachusetts statewide voter registration list was facially deficient, the judge concluded. It failed to satisfy a simple requirement imposed by Congress as one precondition to obtaining documents under the authority of the Civil Rights Act of 1960.

Sorokin, an appointee of former President Obama, added that the Trump administration failed to provide a basis or identify a plausible purpose for its demand, citing Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvins (D) argument against the DOJ. The department sued Galvin after he did not provide the administration with the Bay States voter data.

The DOJ argued that it had sweeping powers to access the voter data and that, if states fail to comply, courts have a limited, albeit vital, role in directing election officers on behalf of the administration to produce the records, according to the filings. The department also said the Civil Rights Act was intended to be tool to scope out any election law violations.

Sorokin determined that those arguments miss the point.

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The Hill has reached out to the DOJ for comment.

I am very pleased that the court has recognized that the Department of Justices demand for unfettered access to personal voter data was completely without any stated basis or purpose, Galvin said in a joint statement with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell (D). Private voter information should never be the subject of a fishing expedition.

Campbell called the ruling a decisive win for Massachusetts voters and the rule of law.

The privacy of our voters is not up for negotiation, and I will continue to defend the integrity and security of our elections from the Trump Administrations cruel and harmful agenda, she said in the statement.

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At least 12 states have given or said they will give the DOJ their voter registration lists: Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming, according to a tracker operated by the Brennan Center for Justice.

Twenty-four states, along with Washington, D.C., are in the midst of legal battles with the DOJ over its demand for voter registration lists.

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was tasked with acquiring the voter registration lists, previously argued that clean voter rolls are the foundation of free and fair elections.

Her office also previously stated that it can use the Civil Rights Act at its disposal to demand the production, inspection, and analysis of the statewide voter registration lists.

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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.
At the first major cattle call of potential Democratic presidential contenders in the 2028 White House race, former Vice President Kamala Harris dropped a tantalizing comment.

At the National Action Networks 35th Anniversary Convention on Friday, when asked by the event founder Rev. Al Sharpton if she would seek the presidency in 2028, Harris answered, "I might. I might. Im thinking about it Ill keep you posted."

Harris, who replaced then-President Joe Biden as the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee but who later lost the election to President Donald Trump, was greeted by the crowd with chants of "run again."

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Kamala Harris' Travels And Comments Clearly Point To 2028

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. (AP Newsroom)

Also speaking on Friday is another veteran of former President Joe Biden's administration: former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Buttigieg, who went from a longshot to being a major contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, also hinted towards another White House bid in 2028.

Read On The Fox News App

Harris and Buttigieg are among eight likely or potential Democratic presidential contenders speaking at the confab.

Govs. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, JB Pritzker of Illinois and Wes Moore of Maryland, along with Rep. Ro Khanna of California, spoke over the past two days, while Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Cory Booker of New Jersey are scheduled to appear Saturday.

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The civil rights organization's gathering founder gives White House hopefuls an opportunity to speak directly to an influential group of Black leaders and activists who are key players in the Democratic Party's base.

Then-Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a meeting with Pete Buttigieg, then-secretary of transportation, left, during the U.S. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) special summit at the State Department in Washington on Friday, May 13, 2022.

The preseason moves in the next race for the Democratic presidential nomination have been underway for a year, with the potential contenders making stops in the early voting nominating states, such as New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada and Iowa, as well as in other key electoral battlegrounds.

The showdown for the 2028 Democratic nomination is expected to draw a crowded and competitive field.

"We have a pretty good bench. In fact, youve invited so many of them to come right here, theyve been on this stage, or theyre going to be," Pritzker told Sharpton on Thursday.

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Harris, Newsom, Stir 2028 Speculation At Major Democratic Party Meeting

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at the National Action Network Convention, accompanied by the Rev. Al Sharpton, in New York, Thursday, April 9, 2026.

Sharpton said earlier this week that when it comes to the potential contenders, he wants to "know what their vision is now, and what theyre doing now. So Ive invited all of the people that could run."

Black voters have long played a very influential role in Democratic Party presidential politics.

Case in point: the 2020 White House race.

After fourth and fifth place finishes in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, a battered and bruised Joe Biden finished a distant second to Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Nevada caucuses.

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21 Democrats Who May Run For The White House In 2028

Then-former Vice President Joe Biden is flanked by his wife Jill and Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, as Biden gives his victory speech following a landslide victory in the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary on Feb. 29, 2020.

But a major backing from Black voters fueled Biden's landslide victory in the next contest, the South Carolina primary, which launched him towards the Democratic nomination and eventually the White House.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

The Republican National Committee (RNC) is giving thumbs down to the White House hopefuls appearing at Sharpton's confab.

"Democrats are kicking off the 2028 primary by parading Kamala Harris and a roster of failed governors trying to outrun their own records," RNC national press secretary Kiersten Pels told Fox News.

Fox News' Alexis McAdams contributed to this report





Original article source: Kamala Harris drops biggest hint yet on 2028 White House run
TOPEKA  Kansas public school students raising their voices in protest during school hours will need parental permission to leave school grounds to attend a rally or protest event after legislative action Friday.

The House and Senate overrode Gov. Laura Kellys line-item veto in the budget bill to enact a proviso that will punish youth for skipping school to attend a protest.

In early March, both chambers passed legislation to clamp down on public school protests by requiring students to receive parental permission before participating and hitting school districts with penalties as high as $100,000 per day if theyre complicit in organizing or encouraging the events or if they dont enforce restrictions. Fines would go to the state general fund.

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In addition, students must make up an instructional day if they walk out for a protest.

Sen. Silas Miller, D-Wichita, said he had concerns that people who didnt agree with the reason for the protest might file complaints, which could result in bounty-like situations in which schools are fined.

The next thing you know, theres a bunch of money being spent on investigations and people getting in trouble, even if the students did get their parental consent, he said.

Many legislators spoke about freedom of speech rights and the importance of protest in the United States history.

Both Kelly in her veto and Democratic lawmakers on the House floor noted it was ironic that Republicans uniformly supported a bill honoring slain activist Charlie Kirk and students rights to free speech, then penalized school districts and students if they exercise those rights.

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Sen. Pat Pettey, D-Kansas City, said the legislature was giving mixed signals in its treatment.

We, on one hand, are passing legislation to protect the freedom of our students, whether at the university level and our public schools, and on the other hand, saying, But no, we dont like the way youre talking right now or how youre behaving right now, so were going to do just the opposite, she said.

Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park Democrat who is running for governor, said a student called to ask her if this bill would have been introduced if students had walked out to protest Kirks death. Instead, several school walk-outs protested Immigrations and Customs Enforcement activities.

I hope people ponder that question. Who are we protecting free speech for and who are we penalizing? she said. Free speech rights do not end at the schoolhouse door.

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Rep. Rui Xu, a Westwood Democrat, spoke directly to any students who might be listening.

They want you to just sit down and be quiet, he said. You are not troublemakers. Like our forefathers, you are being engaged citizens. The moment that the government starts writing laws that silence the youngest voices is the moment that your voices become the most important ones in the room.

Proponents agreed that Kansas students have the right to free speech, but said they need to express themselves outside school hours.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into the University of North Texas and whether it is continuing to teach diversity, equity and inclusion topics that go against state law.

The investigation comes after a video circulated on social media that showed a faculty member in the Social Work Department explaining how DEI concepts are still taught in classes at the university. The video was recorded discreetly by what Paxton described as an undercover investigator.

The staff member says in the video that professors still teach DEI topics at UNT, but do so under different keywords and titles. The person then implies that university staff are able to get around the law to continue teaching DEI topics, Paxton said.

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The DEI ideology has been a calamitous way that radical leftists have pushed a woke agenda in our educational institutions, Paxton wrote in a statement. Texas law is clear that these DEI policies have no place in our state-funded institutions. This should result in immediate termination. Texas deserves better than a UNT leadership that systematically allows the worst elements of the radical Left to run its campus.

A spokesperson for UNT told the Star-Telegram the university is aware of the investigation and the staff members comments were not in line with state law.

The views expressed by a UNT staff member in June are inconsistent with the universitys commitments and practices as a public institution to comply with state and federal laws and regulations, the spokesperson wrote.

Paxton sent a letter to UNTs dean of the College of Public Affairs and Human Sciences about the video. He highlighted in the letter that Texas law prohibits universities from engaging in DEI topics and activities. Paxton wrote that he is demanding an explanation about the contents of the video.

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All DEI policies and guidance from UNT, details about its DEI accreditation standards and all communication between UNT leadership and staff about DEI have been requested by Paxton as part of the investigation.

Paxton also investigated UNT last year after he said the school did not take disciplinary action against students who celebrated the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, who was killed in Utah in September.
The family of a Kentucky woman, who was killed after a garbage truck accidentally picked her up, plans to pursue legal action against the city after the county coroner confirmed the womans cause of death was blunt force and compressional trauma.

For weeks, Louisville police asserted that 35-year-old Tyrah Adams died after having come into contact with a garbage truck during a routine cleanup in an alley.

Adams, who was living as an unhoused woman, was picked up by a garbage truck that used a hydraulic claw on Feb. 12 while it was trying to clear debris, Louisville Public Media reported. Truck operators reportedly did not see Adams and later released her from the claw.

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Adams family believes that she then walked to a nearby convenience store, where a worker and a customer called 911. After being transported to the hospital, Adams died of her injuries.

She didnt walk into this truck. They physically picked her up with that claw, squeezed her, compressed her, and dropped her. And left her there to find her own help, Stephanie Rivas, the familys attorney, told Fox19.

Tyrah Adams was in a trash-ridden alleyway when a Louisville Public Works garbage truck picked her up, causing lethal blunt-force and compressional trauma (Wave3)

The Jefferson County Coroners Office determined Adams died of blunt force trauma and compressional trauma from the garbage truck. Her death was listed as accidental, according to the Courier-Journal.

A spokesperson for the Public Works said the two garbage truck workers had been placed on leave, Wave3 reported.

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The Independent has asked the Louisville Metro Public Works, the Jefferson County Coroners Office and Stephanie Rivas office for comment.

But Adams family wants more answers about why the 35-year-old hadnt been seen in the first place.

A police report, obtained by Wave3, found that the person operating the trucks crane picked up the pile of trash, set it back down and got out of their seat to look at the pile. However, the operator then returned to the drivers seat and pulled the truck forward.

Knowing that they did not help her at all  thats where most of my anger comes from, Sandra Akers, Adams sister, told Fox19.

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Knowing what he had did and what he saw, he didnt even have the decency to just help, Akers added.

After Adams went to the convenience store, she collapsed in the doorway, according to reports.

Rivas said she believes Adams family has not been given all the available information.

A garbage crane, similar to the one used in the Louisville incident, picked up a 35-year-old woman by accident, according to the city (Getty Images)

Rivas told Louisville Public Media that Adams family had not seen footage from an outward-facing camera attached to the truck or from nearby surveillance cameras. She also claimed that her investigators inspected the truck and found that one internal camera had been covered up.

They had to get out of the truck to operate that equipment, but had they done the extra step that they were required to do and inspected the area, they would have found Tyrah, Rivas told Louisville Public Media. This was completely preventable on their part.
Knox County Board of Education District 4 is west of downtown and includes Bearden Hill, Bluegrass, Rocky Hill and West Hills neighborhoods.

Here are the candidates in the May 5 primary.

Katherine Bike (incumbent)

Party affiliation: Democratic

Age: 43

Occupation: University of Tennessee at Knoxville employee and Community Health councilmember

Katherine Bike

ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

What is your top priority for improving Knox County Schools?

Student supports, facilities and funding - no need to pick just one.

Knox County Schools is improving academically but has a vast gap in achievement between its top and bottom schools. How can a board member push to change that?

Funding is a blaring issue but it's not exactly the difference. More so it's access to networks, volunteers and community support (re: communities that have the time and resources). I'd push for more intentional partnerships between schools. Some PTA/PTO/foundations raise more than six figures. Others struggle to cover field trip costs. That's not anyone's fault, but we can build bridges  connecting schools, sharing best practices and creating district-supported ways for foundations to lift each other up.

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Strong public schools shouldn't depend on your zip code. And in a handful of cases some of the orgs are already doing this  I'd love to see it happen more!The toxicity and divisiveness of the national political conversation is more frequently appearing in local politics. What will you do to encourage a local focus and a healthy civic conversation?

I vote for my community  not a party. And sometimes my party members aren't delighted. I've advocated for parents across the political spectrum because the question I ask isn't "who did you vote for?" It's "what does your kid need?"

National talking points don't belong in local school board decisions. My job is to keep the focus where it belongs: on our students, our teachers and our schools. I do my best to shield our district from fights that belong in Washington, not Knox County. I'm not here for the cable news cycle.What personal or professional experience do you have that qualifies you for the school board?

I bring both lived experience and professional skills to this work. As an autistic person who has struggled to navigate systems that weren't built for me, and now as a parent of a child who's needed school-based supports, I understand how hard it is to access what your kid needs.

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Professionally, I've been a community organizer, led small organizations, nonprofits, worked in courtrooms and spent years advocating for stronger communities. That combination  personal experience navigating complex systems plus professional experience building coalitions and holding institutions accountable  is exactly what school board work requires.

Since being on the board from September 2022, I've brought numerous resolutions  most of which have been passed  to advocate for students and safe public schools. I've been through many policy reviews, amended policy when it needed to be, helped orgs bring new policies, and helped families access supports/navigate the systems which sometimes resulted in those systems being changed.What is your responsibility to work with other branches of Knox Countys government? With the city of Knoxville? With state legislators? How will you navigate those relationships?

Technically, school board members aren't required to coordinate directly with county or city officials  especially now that our Joint Education Committee no longer exists. But "not required" isn't the same as "not important."

I show up to county commission when our students need an advocate. I observe city council when decisions affect our schools. I co-host "Meet Your Reps" events so constituents can hear from me and their overlapping elected officials in one room. The issues people raise  housing, safety, resources  often impact the school district.

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Knox County, city of Knoxville and town of Farragut contribute to our funding. If I'm not building those relationships, I'm not doing the job well.

In addition to local connections, the board of education hosts a legislative breakfast for our state legislators each year to present and discuss our legislative priorities. I always request leg priorities and believe I've had at least one each year since being on the board. I'm always happy to call up a legislator and chat about what's going on in Nashville that may impact us. And when needed  I'll go to Nashville to discuss and advocate.

Does a board member who oversees public schools have an obligation to oppose efforts to shift control of any schools or taxpayer funding from Knox County Schools? If not, under what circumstances do you support the shift of taxpayer funding or the oversight of individual schools?

YES! In my opinion, my job is to advocate for Knox County Schools! I serve on other boards, and in every case, the expectation is clear: you fight for the organization you represent. Public schools deserve that same commitment.

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I will never support shifting taxpayer dollars or oversight away from our district. I'll push for more funding, not less. I recently testified at the General Assembly regarding funding and efforts that would require us to focus on things outside of educating children that would deeply cut into our budget. Our schools need facilities investment across the boardwe're still relying on portables when we should be building additions and new schools. That takes money!Did you use AI assistance to help write your answer? If not, please write "n/a." If so, please elaborate.

N/a.

IN-PERSON INTERVIEW ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

What inspired you to run for the school board?

Certainly, my work on the board for the last four years. Initially what inspired me was that Ive always been a community organizer. Im a person that asks why. I think looking at my familys history of lack of access to education, looking at some of my struggles with education and going back to asking, Why did this happen? I think Im also a very considerate person. I dont want to just blame a person and move on. I have two middle school kids and just being in that parental age group, I have a lot of parents who are friends and also teachers. There is no way I have the capacity to be a teacher but a way I can help is being on the board of education.

What are the values that guide your thinking about public education?

Community access is the top one. I think education is so very important because of all the ways that its helped me expand my mind. If we have a deeper understanding of things, we can be kinder to other people.

What will be your leadership style within KCS? With the public?

I like to lead with kindness and consideration, but when I see a problem, Im going to name a problem. Ill try to be kind but Im not going to beat around the bush. My leadership style has high expectations but being realistic about the fact that five, ten percent progress is good. Its looking at what we have and putting it so were heading in the right direction. I come from a very disenfranchised family of third-party and nonvoters. Lets get down to the actual work and not involve party lines. I like to get a lot of information, and I like to provide a lot of information. Our agendas can be so long and when you look at the agenda, its very technical. Ive been wanting to figure out how to translate our agendas for the public.

Who is someone in a leadership position that you think is doing a good job?

Im going to pick two. (School board member) Anne Templeton and (KCS Superintendent) Jon Rysewyk. I think Anne Templeton is doing a great job because shes picking the things that mean a lot to her and her community and shes doing the work to network and be in the places to make sure she has good information and then bringing up the questions to the board. Shes very clear and concise about her questions. She has a kindness in her direct questions that I dont think I have. As for Jon Rysewyk, I think he has a really difficult job. Our board is split and he cant just appease one side. He does a great job of always bringing the focus back to education.

Ashley Sartelle

Party affiliation: Republican

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Age: 48

Occupation: Finance director at Trinity Health Foundation of East Tennessee

Ashley Sartelle did not participate in the Knox News voter's guide interview or fill out the candidate questionnaire.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County Board of Education District 4 primary election voter's guide
The sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the county and the Knox County jails. The sheriff oversees a staff of over 1,000 employees.

Here are the candidates in the May 5 primary.

David Amburn

Party affiliation: Republican

Age: 59

Occupation: Knox County Sheriff's Office chief

David Amburn

ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

What are specific priorities will you have as sheriff?

Conduct a full agency assessment of personnel, available positions, agency liabilities and upcoming capital projects. Reviewing and updating the agencys policies and procedures. Establishing a new Administrative Division to replace all the retiring members of Sheriff (Tom) Spanglers administration.

What improvements need to be made at the sheriffs office?

Communication both within the agency, administration and the public. Establishing a career path for all employees of the agencies within each perspective division that gives employees career goals based on experience, education and a financial scale that is easy to understand, provides clear objectives, and reduces complexity for admin and commission when planning and developing the upcoming budget.

Do you support changes to the retirement package for sheriffs office employees and, if so, lay out specifically what changes you would support.

Unfortunately, losing the Uniformed Officers Pension Plan that the Knox County Sheriffs Office has hurt the agency's recruiting. Non-UOPP employees are presently enrolled in the STAR (Sheriff's Total Accumulation Retirement Plan) program. Some have suggested that, as an agency, we should convert to the TCRS program, which is used across the state in many municipalities, including in Knox County Schools. This present administration did, in fact, inquire to TCRS previously over the last few years and was told that the only way we would be accepted was if all Knox County departments were converted to the program. Secondly, TCRS has transformed over the last few years and is now referred to as a hybrid program, which has significantly reduced many of the previous versions' benefits for participants.

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As your next sheriff, I will continue to search and inquire about any other programs that may become available that would benefit the men and women of the agency.

How will you work to improve relationships with those who are critical of the Knox County Sheriffs Office?

Sometimes, the nature of our men and women carrying out their daily duties puts us at odds with some of the community. For other citizens with concerns, I would like to reduce some misconceptions by fostering strong communication with citizens and utilizing programs like the Citizens Academy we used before COVID struck our nation. This program gives our citizens an unparalleled opportunity to learn first-hand about the obstacles and dangers the men and women of this agency face every day. It also provides insight into the sheer number of problems, requirements, training and logistics it takes to operate our agency on a daily basis across Admin, patrol, corrections and all divisions within the agency. I feel very strongly that this is an incredible tool to educate our community on what we do each day and at the same time build relationships with the public that all of us at the sheriffs office are humans also that face a lot of the same issues and obstacles, and we can all weather these storms working together to keep our community safe.

What role should the Knox County Sheriffs Office play in carrying out federal objectives, particularly in immigration enforcement?

Local law enforcement should cooperate with federal partners when dealing with individuals who commit crimes in our community. Public safety is always the priority. At the same time, the sheriffs office must ensure that resources remain focused on calls for service, criminal activity and threats to the community.

Did you use AI assistance to help write your answer? If not, please write "n/a." If so, please elaborate.

n/a

IN-PERSON INTERVIEW ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

What motivated you to pursue a career in law enforcement?

When I was a teenager, I worked at a 24-hour market in West Knoxville. The deputies, including back to Tim Hutchison, Sheriff (Tom) Spangler, Bernie Lyon  that was their place to have coffee. I met those gentlemen and started doing some ride-alongs and just found my passion. Bernie was my mentor and when Sheriff Hutchison started in 1992, I started to work here.

Whats the most satisfying part of being a law enforcement officer? What's the most frustrating part?

Helping others, serving the community that you and your own family grow up in. Im born and raised here. Ive raised both my kids here and now I have five grandkids that Im helping raise.

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Probably lack of communication. I think thats crucial in any business and in the sheriffs office. Sometimes taking that chance and extending that arm, talking to others inside and outside the agency means all the difference in the world to the success of ideas and things to move the agency forward. I see that both internally and externally. Over my 34 years of serving the sheriffs office and being a police officer, it just becomes part of who you are. A lot of things I speak of are inside and outside the agency because they pretty much intertwine.

Whats your leadership style, both within the sheriffs department and with the public?

I will definitely not do or ask my people to do anything that I havent done myself. I have a very diverse background across the agency that I have proven that is exactly what I do. I am hands-on still to this day and I intend on being that way if Im fortunate enough to become sheriff. Im big about listening to the men and women that I supervise. I strongly believe in speaking to supervisors who work for me and even the actual employee. I never want to get lost in that administrative role. If youre in an administrative role you have a lot of experience, but I dont think that should be a one-sided conversation. I never want to get to a point where I lose the perspective of what it feels like to be right now in the heat of the moment and how rule changes would affect how they do their job.

How will you effectively communicate with the public? With the media?

I have worked closely with our communications director. Theres a lot that goes into that role that can make the men and women of the agency feel appreciated. I think with media its always a hard line. I dont underestimate that its difficult. I know and respect that members of the media are just trying to do a job. Along with that, like officers, we all have different personalities. I try my best to professionally have those relationships. Its a two-way respect thing. The media should understand some of our constraints. We want the media to understand whats going on instead of sensationalizing or being overly negative. One of the biggest things that the shows like "On Patrol Live" bring is that it gives the citizens an unfiltered way to see what an officer does on a daily basis. Were all human beings as officers.

Who is someone in a leadership role that you think is doing a good job?

Ive served under many different sheriffs and many other supervisors. Ive taken things from each sheriff that Ive learned from. Ive always respected just how difficult it was to have that kind of responsibility, to be the sheriff. Theres a lot of challenges, everything from logistics to managing that many individuals.

Mike Davis

Party affiliation: Republican

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Age: 61

Occupation: Former Drug Enforcement Administration agent

Mike Davis

ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE ANSWERSc FROM THE CANDIDATE

What are specific priorities will you have as sheriff?

As the sheriff of the Knox County Sheriff's Office, public safety and security are the paramount objectives. We must stay ahead of crime trends with the explosive growth in Knox County. By maximizing our collective law enforcement efforts in targeting drug trafficking and organized criminal activity we can fight this scourge, which destroys lives and our community.

My background in narcotics enforcement, as a former Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent, gives me insight into how these networks operate and how to dismantle them. This sets me apart from the other candidates. I have the knowledge, experience and a record of putting criminals in prison to keep our community safe. I will also enforce our laws as to criminal illegal aliens and address our homeless challenges. Public safety also means visibility.

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Deputies would be present in neighborhoods and schools. We must strengthen proactive policing while maintaining professionalism and respect for citizens.

What improvements need to be made at the sheriffs office?

Leadership starts at the top and integrity is the foundation. If the public does not trust the sheriffs office, our community suffers. As your sheriff, professionalism, integrity, transparency and accountability are the foundational standards by which I have adhered to throughout my career and how KCSO will be defined. I will develop a strategic operational plan for KCSO with a succinct chain of command, defined mission, goals and strategies to achieve our objectives. If the sheriff serves with professionalism, discipline, integrity and passion, a culture will establish throughout the ranks where KCSO employees will passionately reflect these tenets.

I pledge to treat every employee with respect, free of favoritism and factionalism. Employees will be rewarded based on merit and achievement.

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I am not a part of any faction. As sheriff, with my broad and varied training and experience as a federal agent with DEA and as a former officer with KCSO, I will bring more objectivity and discernment in my decisions. I am beholden to no one and can unify the office. Ongoing training, mentorship and leadership development will be at the core of strengthening KCSO employees. When employees feel valued and respected, they serve the public more effectively. The badge represents public trust. That trust must be earned every day.

Do you support changes to the retirement package for sheriffs office employees and, if so, lay out specifically what changes you would support.

I would propose that the employees of KCSO have a structured career path with step raises or grade increases based on years of service. Presently, KCSO employees only receive raises via county commission or promotion. Additionally, members of KCSO do not have a pension plan.

I will have discussions with KCSO employees to determine a retirement package that would most effectively meet their needs. I would strive to have positive dialogue with county commission, the chief financial officer, and the mayor to meet these pay and retirement objectives.

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Editor's note: KCSO employees can also receive raises if they're in a tired position based on years of service and training. Employees hired after 2013 are on either KCSO's Sheriffs Total Accumulation Retirement Plan or its asset accumulation plan. Neither are pension plans.

How will you work to improve relationships with those who are critical of the Knox County Sheriffs Office?

I will set foundational standards that reflect professionalism, transparency, integrity and accountability, as these are the tenets by which the KCSO will be defined when I am elected sheriff. Through these standards, KCSO will build upon it's relationship with the community.Additionally, by working together with the mayor, Knox County Commission, area law enforcement, partnering with neighborhoods, civic and religious leaders, and local businesses will create channels of communication to address concerns that may arise. KCSO will strive to be transparent and have open dialogue with the various news and media outlets unless investigative protocols warrant limitations.

What role should the Knox County Sheriffs Office play in carrying out federal objectives, particularly in immigration enforcement?

In my 26 years of service as a federal agent, I have overseen investigative operations, coordinated with multi-jurisdictional task forces in planning and enforcement operations with federal, state, and local partners. These partnerships are essential to dismantle drug trafficking organizations, and target additional offenders that have committed crimes to include acts of violence, child neglect and property crimes. I have seen first-hand how joint efforts in law enforcement can have a tremendous impact in maintaining safety in our community by building on lines of communications and the sharing of information.These collective efforts can have a tremendous effect in identifying and locating criminal activity in our area. As Sheriff, KCSO will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners. Specifically, KCSO will work with ICE in the 287(g) program to remove criminal illegal aliens that are a risk to our community.

Did you use AI assistance to help write your answer? If not, please write "n/a." If so, please elaborate.

N/a.

IN-PERSON INTERVIEW ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

What motivated you to pursue a career in law enforcement?

I was born and raised in Knox County. I began my career with the Knox County Sheriffs Office and after about five or six years, I was hired as a federal agent with the DEA. I worked with DEA for 26 years. We would work with state, federal and local officials identifying what the problems were. That really had an impact, and it was a learning career for me. The dynamic and what I was able to see with how narcotics destroy lives and communities. It had an impact. I can be effective in the community and in the lives of people. My motivating factor is keeping the people safe and secure in our community because thats what Ive done for over 30 years. Im at a point in my career, in my life, where I can still have a significant impact on the people of Knox County.

Whats the most satisfying part of being a law enforcement officer? What's the most frustrating part?

Just knowing that what youre doing has an impact on the lives of the people in the community. I was also a victim-witness coordinator where I would follow up with victims of a violent act or narcotic trafficking, or one of their families and try to provide them with information where they can get assistance. A lot of times, its a criminal element outside of our area that is shipping narcotics in. That was another element of my job that I had satisfaction in. We would go get these sources of supply and cut the head of the snake off.

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(The most frustrating part) is knowing theres so much more you can do. Knowing the sheer volume of narcotics and violence and that theres always another challenge. You have to do the best you can with the resources you have.

Whats your leadership style, both within the sheriffs department and with the public?

The key to being the sheriff of Knox County is leadership. That person must reflect integrity, transparency, professionalism and accountability. I hold myself to those standards and its what I expect of the men and women of the Knox County Sheriffs Office. It will permeate through the various departments and individuals within the office. Im going to surround myself with people that also have that same drive and passion. I want smart, driven officers that have common sense. I want to have a strategic plan of operation. Whats our mission statement? Whats our goals? We are having unprecedented growth in Knox County, unprecedented issues with immigration and the homeless situation. I dont have any particular faction behind me. Im an independent and Im going to be a unifier. Ill reach out to community leaders, civic and religious leaders and see what their concerns are.

How will you effectively communicate with the public? With the media?

When I win the election, during the transitional period Im going to reach out to community groups, civic groups, religious groups in the area and see what their concerns are and their thoughts of how we can improve the office. The dynamics in one part county are often different from that of the other part. (Ill have) an open dialogue with the news media, having someone thats a communication professional who can interact with the media and the media can draw upon when they have questions. It is not going to be theres no comment from the sheriffs office. Were going to get the facts out there. If theres an event that happens of significance as long as it doesnt compromise the investigation, were going to be forthwith on the information. A lot of times homicides or robberies are solved with having that open dialogue.

Who is someone in a leadership role that you think is doing a good job?

You know what? Ill say my wife, (state Rep. Elaine Davis). Weve been married for 30 years. Ive seen the passion that she has to serve. Everyone matters with her and the safety of our community matters to her. Shes been on county commission, shes a state representative now, shes been on the ethics committee. Shes incredible. I see the dynamic of the family thats trying to make it. I have empathy for those officers who are there.

Brent Gibson

Party affiliation: Republican

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Age: 52

Occupation: Former Knox County Sheriff's Office assistant chief deputy

Brent Gibson

ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

What are specific priorities will you have as sheriff?

Protecting our communities by proactive policing. I will make it my utmost priority to serve and protect the citizens who make up the various communities of Knox County. This includes a strong emphasis on ensuring our Knox County Schools are protected. I will do this by ensuring our deputies are visible, proactive and focused on preventing crime rather than just reacting to it. A strong presence and smart policing help keep our neighborhoods safer.

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Supporting and equipping deputies. I believe the sheriffs office works best when deputies are well-trained, properly equipped and fully supported by leadership. I want to make sure the men and women serving our communities have everything they need to do their jobs safely and effectively and feel well-compensated and appreciated.

Strengthening relationships with the community. Public trust is essential. That means building relationships with churches, schools, businesses and neighborhoods so the sheriffs office is seen as a partner, not just an enforcement agency.

Transparency and accountability. Citizens want to know their sheriffs office is open, honest and responsible. I believe the sheriffs office should operate with transparency and accountability. The public deserves to know their department is being led with integrity and professionalism. This means clear policies, public communication and accountable leadership.

Running an efficient and responsible department. Citizens expect tax dollars to be used wisely. A good sheriff focuses on efficiency, strong leadership and responsible budgeting, while providing the highest level of service to the public.

At the end of the day, my goal is simple: to lead a sheriffs office that protects our citizens, supports our deputies and earns the trust of the community every single day.

What improvements need to be made at the sheriffs office?

Our sheriffs office has a lot of good people serving our county, but like any organization, there is always room to improve. I believe in bringing fresh vision and leadership that focuses on professionalism, transparency and fairness. Positions should be earned based on qualifications and performance, not relationships, who you know, or favors. I also want to continue strengthening training, supporting our deputies and building stronger relationships with the community. My goal is to lead a department that operates with integrity, promotes the best people into leadership, and provides the highest level of service to the citizens we protect.

Do you support changes to the retirement package for sheriffs office employees and, if so, lay out specifically what changes you would support.

Yes, absolutely. I strongly support improving the retirement package for sheriffs office employees. The men and women who serve across our agency in law enforcement dedicate their careers to protecting the people of Knox County, often at great personal sacrifice. They deserve to know that when their service is complete, they and their families will be taken care of.

As sheriff, I would be willing to work with county leadership and retirement officials to explore any changes that provide all our employees with the strongest retirement and insurance benefits possible. My goal would be to ensure deputies and staff have a retirement system that is competitive, sustainable and worthy of the work they do every day.

Supporting our employees doesnt stop while theyre on the job, it means making sure they have security and stability when their years of service to the citizens of Knox County come to an end. If we expect the very best from the people who protect our community, we should also make sure they receive the very best support when their career of service is finished.

How will you work to improve relationships with those who are critical of the Knox County Sheriffs Office?

Any law enforcement agency that serves a large county is going to have people who are supportive and people who are critical. We live in a great place that is generally supportive, but for those who are critical my approach is simple: You cant build trust if youre not willing to listen. As sheriff, I will be accessible and open to conversations with everyone in our community, including those who disagree with us. I believe relationships improve when people feel heard and when the sheriffs office is transparent about how it operates. That means meeting with community groups, faith leaders, neighborhood organizations and citizens who have concerns. It also means being willing to evaluate policies, improve training and make adjustments when something can be done better. At the end of the day, my goal is to lead a sheriffs office that treats every citizen with professionalism and respect. When people see fairness, consistency and integrity in how we serve the public, trust begins to grow even among those who may have been critical.

What role should the Knox County Sheriffs Office play in carrying out federal objectives, particularly in immigration enforcement?

As sheriff, my first duty is to protect the citizens of Knox County. It is also my responsibility to uphold and defend the United States Constitution and the constitution of the state of Tennessee. Part of that responsibility includes upholding immigration laws. Public safety must always remain a priority, and we will continue working to ensure that individuals who commit crimes in our community are held accountable regardless of their immigration status. I believe in strong cooperation with federal immigration authorities so that individuals who are in our county illegally are properly identified and processed through the appropriate legal channels. Currently, much of that cooperation occurs through the jail intake system, but I would also explore strengthening those efforts through a task force model that allows our office to work more closely with federal partners to address criminal activity tied to illegal immigration. At the same time, I believe strongly that every person should be treated with professionalism, dignity and civility. Our focus will always be on enforcing the law and holding criminals accountable while maintaining the professionalism and respect that the citizens of Knox County expect from their sheriffs office.

Did you use AI assistance to help write your answer? If not, please write "n/a." If so, please elaborate.

N/a.

IN-PERSON INTERVIEW ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

What motivated you to pursue a career in law enforcement?

I always wanted to be in law enforcement. I got on at the local level and fell in love. Youre involved with the local community. Theres no more satisfaction than helping those people. Thats what this job is all about. I think weve forgotten that along the way. People running for this position are about, Whats my next step? I dont want to do anything else. I want to help the people that work for the sheriff be the best officers.Whats the most satisfying part of being a law enforcement officer? What's the most frustrating part?

When you help somebody, its the satisfaction of looking at yourself in the mirror and thinking, I did a good job today. Thats more valuable than any kind of money they pay you. Theres a lot of frustrating parts. Every now and again you get a case of people just dont like the police. Why would you make a tough job tougher? The frustrating part is putting up with people who dont appreciate, dont understand what we do for a living. Theres some aspects of our job where sometimes were a little gruff. You dont know whats going on with that officer, but we need to step out of that and become a better officer to everybody. Not everybody you deal with is having the worst day of their lives, but they dont call us to eat cookies and drink milk. They call us because somethings going on.

Whats your leadership style, both within the sheriffs department and with the public?

Im a hands-on guy. For a long time, Ive been over people. Cops respond better if, My chief doesnt mind getting out there and do the things that hes telling me to do. I show them from example, This is the way you deal with people. Im going to be at work every day and theyll see me in all aspects. Ill be at the corrections division walking around, you might see the sheriff more than once or twice a year.

How will you effectively communicate with the public? With the media?

Transparency is key. Body cameras, they shouldnt be a secret. If we mess up, its always been a, Lets see what we can do to lessen the public opinion about it. Im the opposite. Listen, I messed up, I said something I shouldnt have said or did something I shouldnt have done. This is what I did, this is why I did it, lets move on lets correct that action, but lets be open with it. You have to have a good public information officer. That PIO needs to be knowledgeable  not only about our department and the general orders but also has to have a great relationship with the media. Theres always an open door at the Knox County Sheriffs Office, as long as everyone stays in their lanes. We should have orders on what happens when the media shows up.

Who is someone in a leadership role that you think is doing a good job?

You can pick a lot of CEOs. I think Trump does a great job of getting his voice across. I dont think its so much Trump as it is Trumps team. They do a great job of, Hey this is what were about and sticking to the issues. It works for him. Im a show guy, Im going to do it and then I want you to do it. Its not the final say so. If youve got a better idea on how to do this, lets explore that. The most frustrating thing that Ive been told as a supervisor at the Knox County Sheriffs Office is because thats the way weve always done it. Thats not good enough for me.

Jimmy "J.J." Jones

Party affiliation: Republican

Age: 67

Occupation: Former Knox County sheriff

Jimmy "J.J." Jones

ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

What are specific priorities will you have as sheriff?

My top priorities will be response times, school safety, staff retention and building public trust in the Knox County Sheriffs Office. Public safety is built on preparation and visibility. This means that we need to make sure that we are adequately staffed in our shifts, we need to support our school resource officers, we need to implement the 287(g) Task Force Model, we need to address overcrowding in the jail, and we need to support our deputies and corrections officers to be successful in their positions. I will also prioritize transparency and performance standards so that the public can see how we are doing and where we need to improve.

What improvements need to be made at the sheriffs office?

My goal will be to focus on efficiency, morale and operational consistency. Retention and recruitment need immediate attention. Experienced deputies and correction officers are critical to maintaining safety and stability.

I believe improvements can be made in internal communication, supervision structure and resource allocation. We must also continually evaluate response times, training standards and jail operations to ensure we are operating at a high professional standard. Strong leadership and clear expectations will improve performance across the board.

Do you support changes to the retirement package for sheriffs office employees and, if so, lay out specifically what changes you would support.

I believe our deputies and correction officers deserve competitive and sustainable retirement benefits that reflect the demanding and often dangerous nature of their work. Any proposed changes should be carefully reviewed to ensure long-term fiscal responsibility while improving retention and recruitment.

How will you work to improve relationships with those who are critical of the Knox County Sheriffs Office?

Public trust is built through communication and consistency. I believe in open dialogue. That includes community meetings, clear explanations of policy decisions and transparency in critical incidents when legally permissible. Not everyone will always agree with law enforcement decisions, but they deserve to be heard respectfully. I will lead with professionalism and clear communication. Accountability and accessibility are key to improving relationships across the county.

What role should the Knox County Sheriffs Office play in carrying out federal objectives, particularly in immigration enforcement?

The primary responsibility of the Knox County Sheriffs Office is to protect the people of Knox County while upholding the law. When we participate in federal programs like 287(g), it should be through a structured task force model where Knox County deputies receive federal training and credentials. Enforcement should remain under the direction of the sheriffs office, not outside agencies operating independently in the field. The focus must always remain on lawful public safety operations while respecting constitutional boundaries and local accountability.

Did you use AI assistance to help write your answer? If not, please write "n/a." If so, please elaborate.

N/a.

IN-PERSON INTERVIEW ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

What motivated you to pursue a career in law enforcement?

When I was young, I was around city police officers. I just listened to them talk and tell stories. I just became intrigued with it. There was something different every day. You could tell they enjoyed their job. Most of them were motorcycle policemen with the city. You could tell they really enjoyed the job they did. They were all really happy  they enjoyed their job.

Whats the most satisfying part of being a law enforcement officer? What's the most frustrating part?

Helping people. Thats another reason you get into this. Thats 75% of your job. Most people when they have an interaction with a police officer, theyre getting stopped for traffic violation, their house is getting broken into. Its a negative incident when you get to meet someone and help them with that problem, thats the best part of this job.

The most frustrating part is some people, you cant help. Because of the system or because of whatever the obstacle is you cant get over it. You try as hard as you can, and it kinda makes you feel like you failed. You think, I ought to be able to do something and you just cant. Sometimes theres hurdles you just cant climb. It becomes frustrating and what happens when its frustrating is they dont follow up.

Whats your leadership style, both within the sheriffs department and with the public?

Im a hands-on person. When I was sheriff, my people knew they could talk about anything they wanted to. Every morning, we would all meet in my office, and it was just open for discussion. A lot of things got solved. People knew that they could say anything they wanted to. If they came up with a better idea than I did, we would go with that. You have to communicate with the mayor, with county commission. Its not got much to do with active law enforcement. You have to be able to get along with people to make sure you get the things that we have to have. You cant compromise what your outcome is, but you have to work with and get along with the people. Any time I meet the public, I always give them my cell phone number.

How will you effectively communicate with the public? With the media?

Any opportunity I get to speak with groups that are community-oriented, I always take that opportunity. Ive always said people in Knox County are lucky because they have a great sheriffs office and a great police department. I always got along with the media. Weve been open and transparent. My administration was the first to get body-worn cameras, to release those to the media. Were gonna make mistakes. When we make mistakes, we own up to them and fix them. Were not going to be perfect.

Who is someone in a leadership role that you think is doing a good job?

I think Tim Burchetts doing a good job, I think Mayor (Glenn) Jacobs is doing a good job. Those are tough jobs. Theyre public people. They make sure their constituents and the people who live in Knox County are taken care of.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County sheriff primary election voter's guide: Meet the candidates
The trustee is responsible for collecting residential, commercial and personal property taxes, accounting for and disbursing county funds, and investing money that isn't being used to earn interest and investment profits.

Here are the candidates in the May 5 primary.

Justin Biggs (incumbent)

Party affiliation: Republican

Age: 42

Occupation: Knox County trustee

Justin Biggs

ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

The state watchdog agency has said the Trustees Office has not been a good steward of taxpayer resources. What specifically will you do to ensure county residents trust the office is meeting high ethical standards?

We already have the policies and procedures in place to ensure we meet high ethical standards, and we will continue to review and update them as needed. I, as the trustee, can now review the GPS and check the routes to ensure no misuse.How would you change the Trustees Office? What works well and what doesnt?

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I will continue to bring government to the people and move the office forward through sound investing. We have had our best investment numbers ever during my first term, with over $40 million in interest earned for our Knox County taxpayers. During my first term, I will have held the top three tax sales in Knox County history, and as of today, I have collected over $26 million in delinquent accounts, which has helped provide one of the highest collection rates in the state of Tennessee. Weve also provided the best customer service our county has ever seen by helping our disabled veterans, senior citizens, and all Knox County residents.

How will you ensure taxpayers know what resources are available to them from your office?

We will continue sharing information through media releases, social media and community events at senior centers across Knox County. Additionally, every tax statement will include helpful details for residents. Our website has been updated with all the information you need, and soon youll be able to conveniently pay your taxes by scanning a QR code.

What professional experience do you have that sets you apart from your opponents?

I am the most qualified candidate to be reelected trustee because I bring over 20 years of hands-on experience within the Trustees Office, having worked in every position it offers. That experience has given me a deep, practical understanding of how the office operates and what it takes to serve our community effectively.

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In my first term as trustee, I didnt just learn the role; I delivered results, achieving record-breaking numbers each year. I understand what it takes to make government accessible, to serve our disabled veterans and senior citizens with the care and respect they deserve, and to ensure every Knox County resident is served with integrity and efficiency. Thats something you learn through hard work, dedication, and putting the community first in the Trustees Office.

Did you use AI assistance to help write your answer? If not, please write "n/a." If so, please elaborate.

N/a.

IN-PERSON INTERVIEW ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

Whats your leadership style within the Trustees Office and as a member of the Knox County government in general?

The number one thing I noticed when I became trustee was the lack of bringing government to the people. One of the things we did, we started the mobile operations program. Our leadership is proactive because Ive been in the office for two decades. One of the things were most proud of is investing. That goes back into the general fund to help do things like road projects, pay the schools budget, pay the sheriffs departments budget. That means when you look at stuff like that, the Trustees Office is actually the one thats carrying the county on our back. My team, my administration, always put the Knox County taxpayer first and fulfill the need that they have.

The Trustee's Office was at the center of a state investigation into officeholders' ethics compliance. How will you ensure you and your staff are adhering to ethics guidelines and how will you work to build trust with residents?

Unfortunately, there was some reporting that was overly biased. Weve put the proper safeguards in place to make sure that nothing like that happens. One of the things that I would say has been such a huge help is people realizing, Hey, were here. We have to be a good steward of taxpayers money. We have to do everything we can to fulfill what they need. At the same time, we have to do it responsibly. Thats come through with team meetings, administration meetings, making sure everyones doing everything they have to do and keep pushing the Trustees Office in the right direction. Unfortunately, an incident like that makes you have to take a different route. Whenever I was in that seat being asked questions, Ive answered honestly and told them what was going on and being upfront. Ive humbly apologized multiple times and were headed in the right direction.

Who is someone in a leadership position who you think is doing a good job?

Theres so many people I admire. The number one person that comes to mind is Mike Frazier, who owns Knox Rail Salvage, Old City Kitchens. He owns property across Knox County where hes brought goods and services to the citizens of Knox County who cant afford the big box stores. They started a company called Angelic Ministries, where they help people who are in financial hardships. His people love him, his team members love him. Hes a staple in our community of what leadership should be. He has a servants heart.

Barry Hawkins

Party affiliation: Republican

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Age: 60

Occupation: Property assessor's office employee and former Trustee's Office employee

Barry Hawkins

ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

The state watchdog agency has said the Trustees Office has not been a good steward of taxpayer resources. What specifically will you do to ensure county residents trust the office is meeting high ethical standards?

Being a good steward means you spend/use money for only what is necessary to accomplish your mission and nothing more. There are no style points in being efficient. Just the satisfaction of a job well done. Oftentimes, office holders treat the office resources/money as their own personal funds. They spend these funds on things which are not necessary. Sometimes officeholders use the money to hire friends who were beneficial to his/her election efforts. This should not happen, it does but it shouldnt.

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I will not hire any friends or anyone who contributed to my election. The headcount and the budget will go down. The Trustees Office will be staffed with only enough personnel to get the job done, nothing more. We will prove that you can spend less money and still collect property taxes for Knox County at the same rate it is being collected now. I will stay in touch with the state of Tennessee auditors, Knox County auditors, Knox County finance and Knox County Commission to inspect and audit the Trustees Office. I will do the right thing. I invite anyone who has a question to ask me. I will remember that they elected me and I work for them. Im not here to prepare for my next job.

How would you change the Trustees Office? What works well and what doesnt?

HOW WOULD I CHANGE THE TRUSTEE'S OFFICE:

Evaluate the office. The things that work well  we would not change. The things that do not work well  we would change.

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WHAT WORKS WELL:

The State Tax Relief Program

The State Tax Freeze Program

The C-Pacer Program

Mortgage Collections

Online Tax Payments

WHAT DOESN'T WORK WELL:

Tax Sale Program Service of Summons Notice, personally done by the Trustee's Office, necessitated leasing of vehicles, adding additional personnel, when services could be done by the Knox County Sheriff's. Reducing headcount and eliminating vehicle expenses.

Tax Sale Program: Adding properties to the Tax Sale which are not desirable and no one will purchase. The result is Knox County is the new owner, and also resumes all responsibility for any injuries on said property.

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Tax Sale Program: Trustee employee(s) misled/scared homeowners to sell their land to them to get it out of the tax sale so they could use it for their own personal financial gain.

How will you ensure taxpayers know what resources are available to them from your office?

Put information notices in tax statements, website, and contact the media to help spread the word about various resources available.

What professional experience do you have that sets you apart from your opponents?

(1994-2011) Knox County Trustees office. I learned the office from the ground up. I learned what to do, when to do it, and why you do it. I have experience in almost every area of the office.

(2011-2020) Licensed Commercial Real Estate Agent: Sold and negotiated sales of commercial properties throughout the state of Tennessee.

(2020-present) Knox County Property Assessor's Office - assess properties for fair market value.

Did you use AI assistance to help write your answer? If not, please write "n/a." If so, please elaborate.

N/a.

IN-PERSON INTERVIEW ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

What's your leadership style within the office and as a member of Knox County's government in general?

Right now, Im working for the property assessor, but from 94 to 2011, I was in the trustee office. I worked from pretty much opening mail all the way to pretty much the top. When we opened the satellite (office), I would go out because I was familiar with everything and Id train the people that were going to work there. Accountability is important to me. Integrity, thats pretty important. Thats why I have two ears and one mouth. When you listen to your employees and get a better feeling, they can give you better ideas. When youre out in the field, you can answer a whole lot of questions. Customer service is good.

The Trustee's Office was at the center of a state investigation into officeholders' ethics compliance. How will you ensure you and your staff are adhering to ethics guidelines and how will you work to build trust with residents?

Spend and use the money only for what we need it for. Nothing more, nothing less. You dont need to go out and spend it on vehicles, hotel rooms, giving your friends big raises. Accountability and integrity, thats big for me. Youre going to be responsible for your actions and Im going to be responsible for your actions. Youve got to institute guidelines. The current trustee, its obvious theres no accountability for what was going on. You have these, pretty much PACs that want to control these offices. Thats what term limits were about. When youre term-limited, you move on. You dont move to another office. When you do that, youre just trying to advance your political career.

Who is someone in a leadership position that you think is doing a good job?

Ill go back to my faith. My lord and savior. Im going to follow his role. Do the right thing, thats what it all leads to. Be accountable for yourself and know when to always do the right thing.

Stephen Hood

Party affiliation: Democrat

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Age: 48

Occupation: University of Tennessee at Knoxville Health Science Center internet technology director

Stephen Hood

ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

The state watchdog agency has said the Trustees Office has not been a good steward of taxpayer resources. What specifically will you do to ensure county residents trust the office is meeting high ethical standards?

Under my leadership, the Trustees Office will practice fiscal responsibility and accountability to taxpayers. I will thoroughly review all findings from the recent investigations into the office to identify the most problematic areas. Ill seek recommendations from the auditors and others for how we can implement additional safeguards or training to ensure the past problematic behavior does not recur. Ill also examine past spending and actions, looking for any concerning items and opportunities to improve.

How would you change the Trustees Office? What works well and what doesnt?

There have been multiple problems brought to light that span several Republican administrations. The culture of the office needs to change. I want to work with the staff to determine where we can do better and how we can show the county that we can be good stewards of taxpayer resources. There are several programs that the department is facilitating to help taxpayers who need some grace that I would continue and hopefully expand. There also needs to be more transparency in how the office works. I plan to share as much information as possible with the public and make myself available for questions and concerns.

How will you ensure taxpayers know what resources are available to them from your office?

We have many ways of sharing resources today. I would ensure the office has a presence in resource fairs and other public events to spread information on programs and opportunities that would benefit the taxpayer. Social media is a great outlet, and advertising and mailers could also be leveraged to reach those who prefer a less digital approach. I would also attend public county meetings to be available to constituents who might have questions or need information.

What professional experience do you have that sets you apart from your opponents?

I have three decades of public service under my belt at the federal, state and local level. Ive worked in offices where Ive had to implement changes to ensure taxpayer funded resources were properly managed and tracked. Im ready to do that again in the Trustees Office and for the county as a whole. The Courthouse Crowd has had over a decade of control of our county government and it is time for a change that can help Knox County move forward.

Did you use AI assistance to help write your answer? If not, please write "n/a." If so, please elaborate.

N/a.

IN-PERSON INTERVIEW ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

What's your leadership style within the office and as a member of Knox County's government in general?

I definitely believe in leading from the front. I want to make sure that everyone understands the goals and why were trying to do what were trying to do. That theres no ambiguity or any questions about why were doing the work, or somebody doesnt understand what theyre doing. I want to make sure they have the training or the knowledge they need to succeed in their role. I would definitely be open to input from the public about issues they may be having or improvements they may have in mind. A lot of people have an open-door policy, I would have that as well. I would try to attend as many events as I could to make sure Im available.

The Trustee's Office was at the center of a state investigation into officeholders' ethics compliance. How will you ensure you and your staff are adhering to ethics guidelines and how will you work to build trust with residents?

I definitely want to review the findings of the reports from that investigation and work with the auditors and the department to make sure were in compliance with all the rules, any training that might be deficient can be augmented to cover issues. Just helping to instill a culture thats focused on following the rules and being the best stewards we can with the money for taxpayers. Making sure everyone is in agreement that this is not our money to deal with as we see fit. Help them understand the gravity of the role were in, the trust the public has placed in us and the problems that occur when were not responsible with equipment and how that hurts the county.

Who is someone in a leadership position that you think is doing a good job?

My parents love Gov. Andy Beshear since theyre up in Kentucky. I think its impressive what hes been able to do as a Democrat in a red state, getting bipartisan support, focusing on the day-to-day issues that impact the citizens of Kentucky and not getting bogged down in culture wars.

Nick McBride

Party affiliation: Republican

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Age: 56

Occupation: Knox County register of deeds

Nick McBride

ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

The state watchdog agency has said the Trustees Office has not been a good steward of taxpayer resources. What specifically will you do to ensure county residents trust the office is meeting high ethical standards?

I agree that the trustee has not been a responsible steward of taxpayer resources. Leadership begins with setting the right example, and that means following the laws and rules ensuring that every member of the staff does the same.

If elected, I will uphold these standards. I will continue to serve taxpayers with the same conservative approach, honesty and integrity that my record already reflects. My commitment is simple: follow the laws and rules, protect public resources, and put the taxpayers first with great customer service.

How would you change the Trustees Office? What works well and what doesnt?

There are several changes I would make in the Trustee's Office. First and foremost, I want to restore trust. Citizens deserve confidence that the person they elected is acting responsibly and safeguarding taxpayer dollars.

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I would put an end to the reckless spending by returning the expensive trucks and reducing unnecessary payroll costs. I would also reevaluate the office's operating systems to ensure they are efficient, cost-effective and aligned with conservative principles.

My goal is simple: make sound decisions, eliminate waste, and manage taxpayer resources with the seriousness and integrity they deserve.

Begin using AI to process tax payments and look at other effective uses of AI in the office and begin having multiple tax sales yearly.

How will you ensure taxpayers know what resources are available to them from your office?

I believe there are several effective ways to ensure taxpayers understand the resources available through the Trustee's Office. Social media has changed how we communicate, and it can be a valuable tool, but it shouldn't stand alone. A clear, user-friendly website gives citizens an easy way to see what each office provides and how those services benefit the community.

Partnerships also matter. Working with other county offices and engaging community organizations when new programs or information becomes available helps broaden awareness and ensures people hear about services from multiple trusted sources. A well-trained, friendly staff is essential as well  they are often the first point of contact and play a major role in how the public experiences the office.

Traditional communication still has value, too. Sending information through the mail, meeting with veteran's groups, community associations and keeping local media and print outlets informed, helps reach residents who may not use digital platforms. It all about maintaining transparency, being consistent, and communicating in ways that meet people where they are.

What professional experience do you have that sets you apart from your opponents?

I believe what truly sets me apart is the combination of my professional experience, educational background and deep institutional knowledge. I hold a bachelor's degree in business administration from Tusculum University. I have also completed the Certified Public Manager Program and the Local Government Leadership program through the University of Tennessee Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership. In addition, I am a Certified Public Administrator through the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service and a Certified Finance Officer through the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury.

For the past 7 1/2 years, I have served faithfully as your register of deeds, and I have been a dedicated steward of Knox County for more than 35 years. I have also participated in the FBI Citizens Academy, Leadership Knoxville 2024, the Knoxville Fire Department Citizens Academy, the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority Aviation Academy to name a few.

Throughout my career in local government, I have focused on expanding my knowledge, strengthening my leadership skills and investing in the community I proudly call home.

Did you use AI assistance to help write your answer? If not, please write "n/a." If so, please elaborate.

ChatGPT to help with punctuation and grammar.

IN-PERSON INTERVIEW ANSWERS FROM THE CANDIDATE

How do you describe your leadership style within the office and within the government in general?

I let my employees grow. I keep them informed of decisions and I get their input. I try to carry myself well in the building. I try to get along with other officials. If Im elected as trustee, theres a lot of interaction with other elected officials. Ive taken tons of leadership classes. We are there to serve the public. Thats what Ive done for over 35 years. I love being a public servant. People come into our office with a problem. Working with other officials to solve that problem is key to me.

The Trustees Office was at the center of a state investigation into officeholders ethics compliance. How will you ensure you and your staff are adhering to ethics guidelines, and how will you work to build trust with residents?

I think my track record speaks for itself. Ive been in and around (local government) for over 35 years. I take extensive training. I just finished the certified financial officer program thats administered by the comptrollers office. I take ethics classes. Ive been involved in government classes through the University of Tennessee. When we have one official that loses the trust of the public, it hurts all of us. I think my years of being register of deeds these past 7.5 years  the ability to pivot during COVID-19 to make sure the real estate market didnt slow down, the ability to have separation of duties. You have to have separation of duties. The comptroller drills that into our minds. One person will do the timecards and then theres another employee that signs off on that. When you go to the county government, its the peoples money. Its not ours.

Who is someone in a leadership position that you think is doing a good job?

Trent Clagg. He is the program manager at the UT Navy Center for Effective Leadership. (I admire) the way he carries himself, the way he communicates with people, how he makes everyone feel welcome. Hes just a good Christian man, good morals.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County trustee primary election voter's guide: Meet the candidates
A developers bid to clean up a contaminated property on Eighth Avenue Southeast and build 168 apartments under the Live Local Act stirred up hard feelings among Largo city commissioners March 17.

Despite their concerns, commissioners said the environmental benefits of designating the property a Brownfield area outweighed the potential for added traffic and congestion, and they voted 4-2 in favor of the move. Commissioners Michael Smith and Mike DiBrizzi voted against; Vice Mayor Chris Johnson, who ran the meeting in Mayor Woody Browns absence, joined Commissioners Curtis Holmes, John Lauser and Donna Holck in voting yes.

When Florida legislators passed the Live Local Act in 2023, it was designed to spur affordable housing development statewide by giving developers tax breaks and other incentives to build in commercial, industrial and mixed-use areas. It also stripped local commissions and councils of the power to block such projects.

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In 2025, despite objections from some neighbors and commissioners, a developer used the act to build a 240-unit apartment complex adjacent to Largo Middle School on Eighth Avenue Southeast.

A developer now wants to use it again for a trio of vacant adjoining lots to the northwest of that recently opened complex, known as Caspia. The lots sit adjacent to a railroad line that is the likely source of the contamination, city staff said.

Staff recommended approval of a resolution designating the 5.7-acre site as a Brownfield area  defined by the state as an abandoned, idle or underused industrial or commercial property  which, following an environmental survey and cleanup, would allow a developer to build on the repurposed land.

Assistant Community Development Director Christopher Tillett, a newly installed official, repeatedly stated the Brownfield designation was separate from any potential future development of the site. But commissioners used the opportunity to air their frustrations with the constraints the state has placed on them.

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The Live Local Act took the power from this commission to be the direct representatives to the citizens, Smith said, noting he voted against the Caspia project. Now Tallahassee has approved developments to be in areas that are zoned limited industrial, which is why the decision was taken away from us with the other development.

Smith also lamented the lost prospect of possibly leaving part of the area vacant for passive park space.

And now were going to be putting 168 affordable housing units on the area, he said.

Tillett acknowledged there was a proposed development for the property under review, a 168-unit, three-building complex called The Station that would also feature a clubhouse and multiuse path. But he and other staff members repeatedly noted the Brownfield designation was separate from the proposal, which he said has not been approved yet.

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Lauser summed up the boards position.

All of these things are separate, he said. But this is our only opportunity to actually weigh in on the plans that are happening at this site.

Lauser added that the developer could build without us designating it a Brownfield site. It would just cost more because theyre not going to have the state funds. So, this is our only leverage point.

Holmes said traffic on Eighth Avenue Southeast has already increased sharply since the Caspia project opened, a situation he said would grow much worse if The Station receives approval.

That Eighth Avenue Southeast is not designed for the traffic its got now, he said. And ultimately, its going to get considerably worse. Youre going to have gridlock 24 hours a day.

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City Manager John Curp said the primary benefit of the Brownfield designation is getting the site cleaned up. Tillett said the property was found to have limited soil and groundwater contamination.

The benefits of the cleanup outweigh what could happen, Curp said.

He added that denying the designation simply adds cost to The Station, which he said is being designed for residents at or below 80% of the area median income.

Its been our goal as a community to provide more affordable housing to that demographic group, Curp said. Adding cost to this project reduces the quality of housing that will come on that project.

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He noted that the Live Local Act preempts the city from controlling whether housing goes on the site. But this instead at least is a contribution to making that housing as good as it could be for our community, he said.

After further discussion among the board, staff and an attorney for the developer, Johnson said the environmental benefits had won him over.

The fact that were going to get better cleanup with the Brownfield designation than without helps make the decision for me, he said.
At least one person was injured after shots were fired at a CTA bus Friday afternoon on the city's South Side.

Witnesses say it appeared the gunman was firing at someone else on the bus, but instead shot another passenger. Video shows the daring shooting in broad daylight right as the bus was pulling into the bus stop while a nearby high school was being let out.

Chopper 7 was over intersection of East 39th Street and South King Drive in Bronzeville. A CTA bus was parked at the location with crime tape surrounding it.

Chicago police confirmed a person on the street fired shots at the CTA bus around 3:30 p.m. in the 3900 block of South King Drive, right across the street from a Mariano's grocery store.

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Gunfire was aimed at a CTA bus as video shows people running away and ducking for cover after a brazen shooting, prompting nearby Wendell Phillips High School to briefly go on lock down.

"As I'm hearing the shooting, because I was about to go get my kids, and I had ducked down," an anonymous witness said.

A 37-year-old woman on the CTA bus was shot in the leg. She was taken taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition, according to CPD.

"I heard a 'clap, clap' and we thought it was a car crash," said Andre Anthony, the owner of a nearby barbershop. "Just a week, two weeks ago, something had happened at the parking lot of the LA Fitness."

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RELATED | 8-year-old girl among 3 shot on South Side, Chicago police say

"So, all of these different escalations of activity, of crime, of shooting, it plagues us," Anthony said.

Citizen App video showed the conscious 37-year-old passenger being wheeled off the CTA bus after she was shot. She is expected to survive.

Police say the gunman shot from outside the bus, right next door to Eric Lewis, a former Marine who saw the violence unfold.

"I don't think the lady was the target. I think it was probably somebody else... On the bus," Lewis said.

His military training then kicked in.

"I seen the young man with the gun in his hand, and I was trying to chase him," Lewis said. "He cut through the alley, through the gangway and cut through this alley, ran diagonally."

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Lewis says the shooter was able to run away.

Multiple CPD squad car's could be seen rerouting traffic at the scene. Police had King Drive between Pershing and 40th Street closed off to traffic as they investigated.

So far, no arrests have been made.

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A bill to establish a commemorative month for both the Jewish and Muslim communities is headed to the governor for his signature, after lawmakers rejected calls to add a Christian month to the mix.

The Senate voted 33-10 Friday to give final approval to House Bill 661.

The bill adds two new commemorative months to the state calendar. January would be set aside as Muslim American Heritage month while Jewish American Heritage month would be celebrated in May.

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The bill sparked debate on the Senate floor this week when some criticized the effort for excluding Christian religions. An attempt to add a Christian heritage month in April was blocked Tuesday.

On Friday, the Senate blocked another proposed amendment that would set aside April as a month for all religions.

Proponents of the bill defended its focus on Judaism and Islam, saying the commemorative months were needed to combat the sharp rise of hate crimes against the two groups.

Currently, the state recognizes 20 commemorative days, seven months and a week. Muslim American Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month would be the first to include a religious component.

A second No Kings

Two months after it was first approved by the House, House Bill 351 got final approval from delegates Friday, but in a slightly different form.

The bill, sponsored by House Majority Leader David Moon (D-Montgomery), originally sought to give the attorney general, a state prosecutor or a states attorney the ability to get information about federal officials, who are often masked or unidentified. A response to federal immigration enforcement efforts over the past year, the bill would have allowed state and local prosecutors to use cellphone or GPS data, or other standard police surveillance tactics, to identify such federal agents if someone filed a misconduct claim against the official.

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It also added language from a bill sponsored by Del. Lorig Charkoudian (D-Montgomery) that would have allowed a civil claim against federal official who violated anothers constitutional rights under color of law.

But the Senate amended Moons bill to conform to Senate Bill 346 sponsored by Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery), vice chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. The House approved SB 346 on Thursday.

House Republicans fought hard against SB 346 Thursday. When House Minority Leader Jason Buckel (R-Allegany) was told Friday that the changes to Moons bill had put it in the same posture as Waldstreichers, it was all he needed to hear, and it was easy for him to predict how his GOP colleagues would vote.

Until the cows come home, until Sine Dies over, were against it, Buckel said.

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The Republicans did vote against it, but the Democratic majority carried it on a 97-35 vote. Both HB 351 and SB 346 now head to the governors desk for his signature.

Taxes on captives might continue

The House nixed a proposal for a two-year pause on the collection of taxes on off-shore captive insurance accounts held by some nonprofit hospitals in the state.

The pause was proposed in Senate Bill 890 to give the Maryland Insurance Administration time to study the issue. Some nonprofits have been paying tax on the accounts, while others have not. But the pause in tax collections was stripped out this week by the House Ways and Means Committee, and the amended bill was given a preliminary OK by the full House Friday.

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The amended bill could come up for a final vote in the House as early as Saturday and be sent back to the Senate  which would have until midnight Monday to accept the House changes, work out a compromise, or let the bill die and leave the tax situation as is.

Captive insurance is when a organization forms its own insurance company  a captive  to help cover claims that may not be covered by commercial insurance. For hospitals, that may be the costs of medical malpractice claims or cybersecurity risks, for example.

Maryland does not have a regulatory framework to let companies establish captives within the state. So decades ago, Maryland nonprofit hospitals set up captives in offshore locations such as the Cayman Islands. The hospitals believe those captives are not subject to a 3% state tax on out-of-state insurance premiums, but state insurance officials arent so sure.

The first version of SB 890 would have flat-out exempted hospitals from the tax, then it was amended to have hospitals pay the tax going forward, but not retroactively. The final Senate version included the two-year pause while MIA studied the issue.

Ways and Means stripped the tax holiday after a lively hearing between lawmakers. The current House version of the bill does not take a stance on whether hospitals are required to pay the tax on their captives, but leaves that to the MIA.
More than a year after London police shot and killed a man in his Laurel County home, Kentucky State Police have released their investigation confirming that officers arrived at the wrong address.

On Dec. 23, 2024, London Police officers arrived at Douglas Harless' home in Laurel County, where they attempted to execute a search warrant for an investigation involving stolen property. Officers had probable cause to search 489 Vanzant Road, but mistakenly arrived at 511 Vanzant Road  Harless' residence, according to State Police.

According to the investigation, Harless was asleep upon their arrival and did not answer the door within "a reasonable amount of time." Officers broke down the front door, where they encountered Harless standing with a gun aimed at police and shot him five times. He was later pronounced dead at the scene by the Laurel County Coroner's Office.

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London Police "believed they were at the correct address," according to the investigation. Photos obtained earlier that day from Google and Apple Maps, as well as the Laurel County Property Valuation Administration, incorrectly identified 489 Vanzant Road as Harless' house. Harless' residence was at 511 Vanzant.

Harless was not involved in the stolen property case.

More: London man files defamation lawsuit against mayor after accusations of being in 'pedo clan'

In February, a Laurel County grand jury declined to indict any of the officers involved in the shooting. Normally, that leads to the release of records related to the investigation, but Kentucky State Police said they received notice that 13 elected officials in Laurel County submitted a request that the incident be reviewed by the FBI and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

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Until this week, federal law enforcement had asked Kentucky State Police to "not release the records," according to KSP.

State Police responded to open records requests by saying they needed more time to review the large investigative file. In March, the Harless family sued Kentucky State Police for records related to the investigation.

The more than 1,000-page file includes the original search warrant officers were executing when they shot Harless. Police were authorized to search a doublewide trailer with a covered front porch at 489 Vanzant Road, where they were looking for stolen power tools, leaf blowers, weedeaters, pole saws and other hand tools.

Officers "erroneously arrived" at Harless' residence, they "learned after the shooting," Kentucky State Police Sgt. Les Moses wrote in a report hours after the incident.

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Harless sustained gunshot wounds in the upper torso, neck, head and extremities, according to an autopsy report.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: London Kentucky police shooting death Douglas Harless investigation
One Indigenous community in Mexico is grappling with the challenges of a necessary relocation due to the unrelenting advance of the sea.

What's happening?

Mongabay profiled the community of Cuauhtemoc in San Mateo del Mar, on the Pacific coast, near the mouth of the Tehuantepec River. Sea-level rise has been gradually impacting Cuauhtemoc, with around 28 feet of land swallowed up annually since 1967.

For the approximately 900 individuals living in the Ikoots community, the changes have radically impacted life through wiping out homes and displacing residents.

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"I can clearly see how it was before: the houses, the streets, the people who lived there," 51-year-old police officer Gabriel Pinzon Leyva told Mongabay.

The impacts go beyond lost buildings. Severe flooding events occur twice annually, and the community's well is now contaminated with saltwater, with the nearby river proving insufficient as a water source.

The decision to move the community to a new settlement about three miles away was made last May. Progress to that resolution, though, is slow and uncertain.

"Many people are still here, but there's no way for them to relocate because of money," 74-year-old resident Gualteria Leyva said, per Mongabay. "People can't leave."

Why are Cuauhtemoc's struggles important?

While viral posts often show costly properties succumbing to the sea, many long-term residents lose their livelihoods in these events. For Indigenous communities, this forced relocation is nothing short of devastating because of their attachment to the land.

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Cuauhtemoc is an especially interesting case, as the root causes of the rapidly encroaching sea are in dispute. Undoubtedly, overall changes to the climate are contributing, as is seen around the world. Still, there's a belief that there is more to it.

Jose Antonio Avalos, an investigator at the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi, theorizes that the nearby Benito Juarez Dam is trapping sediment that could slow erosion on the beach.

Locals point to the construction of the breakwater as a contributor to the sea's unusual behavior. That move was made to increase commerce in nearby waters, which they said is upsetting currents.

Whatever the case, it's becoming apparent that the residents of Cuauhtemoc will have to move, and human-induced factors are weighing heavily in the mix.

What's being done to relocate Cuauhtemoc's residents?

The pace of relocation is frustrating residents. There's the complication that the new settlement features landowners from outside the community.

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Even if relocation comes to pass and federal funds come through, it's a painful situation for residents who don't want to leave and are unsure about the future.

"We're almost going now, we've already lived our time here," Camilo Pinzon Edison, 48, told Mongabay. "What worries us are our children, the ones who are coming after us."

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
The new academic semester kicked off in Gaza in late March. But the mornings no longer carry the familiar vibrance of students waiting for buses, crossing cities towards universities and colleges.

That feeling has instead been replaced by the hardship of displacement.

Israels destructive campaign has reduced Gazas academic institutions to rubble, many now repurposed as crowded shelters for displaced families. With campuses gone, in-person education has largely disappeared, forcing universities to shift to online learning. But for students living in tents, struggling to secure food, water, electricity, and internet, attending a lecture, even online, has become a privilege.

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Amid this chaos, a glimmer of hope has materialised.

In the densely crowded area of al-Mawasi in southern Gazas Khan Younis, a new academic initiative is taking shape. Scholars Without Borders, a US nongovernmental organisation, has established what it calls University City, a makeshift academic space designed to bring students back into lecture halls.

Built from wood, metal sheets, and whatever materials could be sourced locally, the site stands as a modest reconstruction of what Gazas academic life once looked like.

Despite the hardships, our mission is to bring education closer to students in a better environment, said Hamza Abu Daqqa, the organisations representative in Gaza.

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We designed this space to serve multiple academic institutions and as many students as possible, he added. There are six halls here, accommodating up to 600 students a day. It may look simple, but it creates a sense of normal academic life, something students have been deprived of.

The space includes internet access powered by solar panels, improvised green areas, and even a small business incubator aimed at helping students engage on their own prospects.

According to the organisation, University City operates on a rotating weekly schedule, with each day allocated to a different academic institution. This system allows multiple institutions to share the limited space, ensuring the widest possible access for students.

Given the constraints, universities prioritise courses that require in-person instruction the most, such as practical and discussion-based classes.

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Gazas prominent universities, such as the Islamic University and Al-Azhar University, have begun using the site, alongside other colleges like the Palestine College of Nursing.

But behind this modest structure lies a far heavier reality.

Dr Essam Mughari, a professor at the Palestine College of Nursing, gives a lecture at Gazas University City [Courtesy of Scholars Without Borders]

A glimpse of what was lost

Across Gaza, universities have been systematically damaged or destroyed since Israel began its genocidal war in October 2023. In the south, all institutions have been rendered inoperable. A limited number of campuses in northern Gaza have been partially restored, but their capacity remains extremely restricted.

The Palestine College of Nursing, for example, has been surrounded by ruins after falling within the yellow line where the Israeli military continues to be based since the October ceasefire, cutting off students from their classrooms entirely.

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For a generation of students, university life has simply not existed, as they instead battled to survive.

Each academic year is usually marked by new beginnings, especially for freshmen stepping into a new phase of independence and discovery. But for two consecutive years, thousands of Gazas students have been denied that experience.

Now, inside University City, they are encountering it for the first time.

It feels like a real university

Mariam Nasr, 20, a first-year nursing student displaced from Rafah, sat in one of the makeshift halls, reflecting on what the space meant to her.

Before the genocide, everything we needed to study was available; our homes, electricity, materials, and most importantly, safety, she said. But for more than two years, our lives have been completely disrupted.

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Mariam began her final year of high school just as the war started. It took more than a year to complete her exams under difficult conditions before she could finally enrol in the university.

I always dreamed of studying medicine, she said. But the circumstances affected my results. My late grandfather told me that healing people isnt limited to one path, so I chose nursing.

Still, her degree requires in-person courses, something she had never experienced until now.

When I saw this place, I was amazed, she said. It was the first time I attended classes in a space that actually feels like a university. We are all excited. It feels different; it feels real.

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For students like Mariam, their first year was spent behind screens, if they were lucky to have one in their tents, disconnected from the academic environment they had hoped for.

Amr Muhammad, 20, another first-year nursing student from al-Magahzi Camp in central Gaza, shared a similar reaction.

I expected something much simpler, just tents and basic setups, he said. But this was different. Being here with other students, discussing and engaging in class makes a huge difference.

Amr Muhammad, a 20-year-old first-year nursing student at Gazas Palestinian College of Nursing [Courtesy of Scholars Without Borders]

Academia under fire and siege

The experience faced by students in this small space reflects a much larger tragedy.

Israels destruction of Gazas academic sector has been described by UN experts as scholasticide; the systematic dismantling of education through the targeting of institutions, students, and academic life itself. Universities have been destroyed, professors and students killed, and reconstruction efforts obstructed.

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More than 7,000 university students and academics have been killed or injured by Israeli attacks, while more than 60 university buildings were completely demolished by Israeli aerial attacks or ground detonations, according to the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor and information shared by Palestinian officials.

As a result, hundreds of thousands of students have been cut off from formal education, forced into alternatives that are not able to match their former experiences.

And those alternatives, such as University City, face enormous difficulties in just getting their work started.

All the materials you see here were sourced from inside the Gaza Strip, Abu Daqqa said, gesturing around the site. We had to work within what was available, with rising costs and scarcity of resources. But we were determined to create something that gives students a sense of normalcy.

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Under the October ceasefire, Israel is obliged to allow reconstruction materials to help restore shelter, essential services for Palestinians. But Israel has not adhered to that stipulation and has continued to impose restrictions, while carrying out deadly attacks across Gaza.

And for many students, reaching the University City is itself a challenge.

I am displaced in al-Mawasi, so Im supposed to be relatively close, but even getting here is difficult, Mariam said. My classes start at 9am, and I wake up at 5 just to find transportation.

With roads damaged and fuel scarce, options for students are limited to worn-out vehicles and donkey or horse carts.

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Getting cash is frustrating. Taxis and carts only accept coins. My father barely got me eight shekels [$2.64] today, but I couldnt find a ride, she said. So I walked nearly four kilometres[2.5 miles] with my friends.

For Amr, the journey is even longer.

I left at 6am and waited for two hours before finding a crowded vehicle, he said. It was the only way to get here.

And once the day ends, the challenges resume.

This space is only for a few hours, he added. The rest of the week, we go back to struggling with electricity, internet, and basic needs. We cant even print materials or access online lectures properly.

Students rely on shared or damaged devices, unstable connections, and limited resources, making consistent learning difficult.

Back in the tent, I rely on my fathers old phone just to follow lectures when I can, Mariam said. Most days, theres no stable internet or power. I try to hold on and keep going, but I often wish for something as simple as a steady power source and a better device like an iPad to study properly and not fall behind.





Holding on to education

Despite everything, a scene of resilience unfolds as students continue.

Inside the halls, discussions resume, notes are taken, and a sense of academic life slowly returns, even if temporarily.

For medical education, in-person learning is essential, said Dr Essam Mughari, a professor at the Palestine College of Nursing. Its quite hard for online education to replace practical engagement.

He described the emotional significance of meeting students again.

After everything theyve been through, being able to gather, interact, and learn together, it restores something vital, he said. We have a responsibility to support them, despite the circumstances, because tomorrow they will be in our place

For Mariam, that determination is deeply personal.

Some people might think its impossible to study in these conditions, she said. But I want to continue. My cousin was a nurse. An Israeli air strike levelled her familys three-storey house in Gaza City, killing her and several others. I remember her to remind myself why I hold onto this path to heal others and serve my people.

The University City now serves hundreds of students each day. But thousands more remain without access to similar spaces.

Scholars Without Borders says the initiative is only the beginning of a mission that is still crippled by the Israeli siege.

Our work is ongoing, Abu Daqqa said. We have established dozens of makeshift schools and established this university city, but the need is far greater. This is what we were able to build under blockade, he said. Imagine what could be done if the truly needed resources are allowed.




NEW YORK  Mayor Zohran Mamdani is scrambling to shore up support for a key appointment whose fate rests with the New York City Council  another twist in the mounting tensions between the mayor and the body of lawmakers meant to be a check on his power.

Mamdanis team has been working behind the scenes to set up one-on-one meetings between Council members and his pick to lead the Department of Investigation, Nadia Shihata, according to four people with knowledge of the outreach granted anonymity to discuss private conversations.

The hope is the meetings will assuage lawmakers' concerns about her past political support for the mayor.

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The administrations overtures  which come just days before lawmakers are set to vote on the nomination next week  indicated to at least one Council member that the mayor and his staff are worried about Shihatas path to confirmation for the DOI commissioner post.

Otherwise they dont call, said Councilmember Gale Brewer, who was among at least four lawmakers who received offers to meet with Shihata.

The sudden obstacle for Shihatas nomination lands in Mamdanis lap amid a broader and increasingly pitched budget feud between Mamdani and Council Speaker Julie Menin, as the mayor grapples with a $5.4 billion funding gap with few palatable options to close it. The tug of war over Shihata also comes as the Department of Investigation is probing allegations that a city employee was unlawfully fired for blowing the whistle on a romantic relationship between a high-ranking Mamdani appointee and her subordinate, an inquiry first reported by POLITICO.

The DOI commissioner plays a crucial role in probing city government by conducting audits and pursuing corruption cases against city employees suspected of graft  the latter kept the office especially busy during the tenure of former Mayor Eric Adams.

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In February, Mamdani nominated Shihata, a former federal prosecutor whose experience at the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New Yorks public integrity section made her a logical pick for the job. However, the Mamdani teams lobbying push comes after Shihatas appearance at a Monday confirmation hearing where Council members grilled her on her independence from the administration.

Shihata donated $700 to Mamdanis 2025 mayoral run and spent a day canvassing for his campaign. In addition, she has maintained a friendship with the mayors top legal aide, Ramzi Kassem, for more than two decades  and applied for the job after Kassem asked if shed be interested.

Because the Department of Investigation is tasked with rooting out corruption in city government, including in the mayors office, Council members questioned Shihata on whether she could, as the agencys commissioner, maintain independence from Mamdani given her political involvement and relationship with one of his top aides.

Shihata pushed back, saying she and Kassem are not close friends  and that her long experience in law enforcement has shown she pursues cases without regard for the subject of a particular probe.

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I have investigated people I have supported in the past, she said at Mondays hearing. That has not affected my ability to investigate them and reach conclusions driven by the evidence of the law.

The Council is expected to vote on Shihatas nomination Thursday, giving Mamdanis team a tight window to whip support for her. Its unclear how widespread pushback to Shihatas nomination is and whether it could seriously jeopardize her confirmation.

But overall, it is an unusual dynamic.

The Department of Investigation commissioner is one of the few top officials in city government whose hire requires Council approval. Typically, a DOI nominee sails through the confirmation process with little opposition.

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The battle over Shihatas confirmation is playing out against the broader backdrop of deteriorating relations between Mamdani and Menin. Earlier this week, the mayor accused the Council speaker of misleading New Yorkers by arguing his favored tax increases arent necessary to address a multibillion-dollar budget deficit this year. Mamdani even released a social media video in which he called out Menin by name for being unrealistic, a move that unnerved members of the body, including Council Finance Committee Chair Linda Lee, who called his jab inappropriate.

Menin, in turn, has been highlighting Mamdanis threat to increase property taxes, which would soak middle-class homeowners across the city, including in politically potent Black communities in Brooklyn and Queens.

All of it together makes the DOI confirmation process just one more headache Mamdani has to deal with at a time when hes scrambling to address a budget gap that has thrown a major wrench into his expensive policy agenda.

The Department of Investigation has gone without a permanent head since its former commissioner, Jocelyn Strauber, resigned in mid-January after she learned Mamdani was considering replacing her.

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Brewer, who said she hasnt made up her mind yet about whether to meet with Shihata or support her nomination, told POLITICO she remains frustrated that Mamdani didnt retain Strauber  though its common for mayors to nominate their own pick for the job.

Shes the only one who should be having this job, said Brewer, a member of the Councils Progressive Caucus who previously served as chair of the committee with jurisdiction over DOI. This is a really important job, with all due respect to other jobs.

A spokesperson for Mamdani declined to comment on the pushback against Shihatas nomination and referred POLITICO to the mayors comments about Shihata and his confidence in her integrity, in her independence and, frankly, in her track record where she has served for years holding those accountable who have flouted the law.

In addition to Brewer, Councilmembers Oswald Feliz, Kamillah Hanks and Lynn Schulman were among the lawmakers approached by Mamdanis staff about a meeting with Shihata, according to two people with direct knowledge of the entreaties. Feliz and Schulman declined to comment Friday, while Hanks confirmed she plans to meet with the nominee in the coming days.

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Everyone deserves to be heard, Hanks said.

In a potentially worrisome sign for Mamdanis team, Councilmember Tiffany Caban, a fellow democratic socialist, said at a private conference meeting after Mondays hearing that she understands why there is concern about Shihatas nomination, according to two people with knowledge of her remarks granted anonymity to discuss the closed-door session. Caban, a former public defender, said during the conference that she would ultimately vote to confirm Shihata, though, telling colleagues she believes she has the chops for the job. Caban declined to comment for this article.

Councilmember Elsie Encarnacion, a Progressive Caucus member, also voiced concern about Shihatas nomination during the conference meeting, according to one of the people with knowledge of her remarks.

Encarnacion could not immediately be reached for comment. A spokesperson for Menin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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A Council member, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about Mamdanis strategy, said its not unusual for a mayor to set up meetings between nominees and Council members. However, the member said such meetings usually take place before a confirmation hearing, not after, and suggested the timing indicates Mamdanis team was caught off guard by the blowback.

Doing this post-hearing is weird, the member said.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office says it has launched an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell.

Four women have accused him of misconduct ranging from sexual harassment to rape, including an alleged incident in New York. Swalwell, a leading contender in California's governor race, denies the claims, vowing to defend himself with "facts".

"We urge survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations to contact our Special Victims Division," said the New York City prosecutor's office.

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Representatives for Swalwell - who was elected in 2012 to a district near San Francisco - did not immediately respond to the BBC's request for comment.

In urging accusers to come forwards, the distict attorney's office said on Saturday: "Our specially trained prosecutors, investigators and counsellors are well-equipped to help you in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner."

The investigation comes a day after Swalwell said the allegations were "false".

"For nearly 20 years, I have served the public - as a prosecutor and a congressman, and have always protected women," the married father-of-three added. "I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action."

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The first allegation against Swalwell emerged publicly on Friday in the San Francisco Chronicle.

A former staff member told the newspaper that shortly after being hired to work in his district office in Castro Valley, Swalwell began making inappropriate comments, including soliciting her for sex and sending her sexual messages.

The woman alleged to the Chronicle that she had been assaulted twice by Swalwell.

She told the newspaper the first alleged incident happened in September 2019 after they had gone out for drinks.

She said the second alleged assault occurred in 2024, when she said she met Swalwell after a charity gala in New York. On both occasions, she said she was too intoxicated to consent.

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The BBC has not been able to independently verify her account or identity, but has contacted her attorney for comment.

CNN then published accusations from four women of sexual misconduct against Swalwell.

His legal team has sent cease-and-desist letters to two of the accusers, according to the broadcaster.

Swalwell said in a video message on Facebook that he wanted the public to hear directly from him and again denied the allegations.

"I do not suggest to you that I am perfect or a saint," he said. "I've certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past. But those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her, I apologise deeply for putting her in this position."

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Within hours of the accusations surfacing, Swalwell's bid for California governor had lost the backing of prominent supporters, including Senator Adam Schiff and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

California's outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom said the allegations were "deeply troubling", while former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it was "best" they were investigated "outside of a gubernatorial campaign".

Swalwell's congressional and campaign aides said in an unsigned statement on Saturday that they were "horrified" by the allegations, US media report.

"We stand with our former colleague and the other women who have come forward," the statement read. "We believe you should stand with them, too.

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"The behaviour detailed in these reports is abhorrent, beneath the dignity of those serving in public office and betrays the trust of all Californians."

The allegations surface at a crucial moment in the wide-open Democratic primary race to replace Newsom and lead the nation's most populous state - which has elected a Democrat to the role for the past 20 years - just weeks before voters receive postal ballots.

Among Democratic candidates, Swalwell has been projected to be one of the frontrunners, according to two opinion polls.

But no clear leader has yet emerged from the crowded Democratic field, which risks splitting the vote for the party in the liberal state.

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That has raised a terrible prospect for Democrats: they could be frozen out of November's general election if the two Republican candidates finish ahead of them in June's primary.

The top two vote-getters in the primary move on to the 3 November general election regardless of party preference.
The decline of pay phones in every state

There were over 2.1 million pay phones in the U.S. at their peak in 1999, but now the technology is mostly relegated to nostalgia. Few wall-mounted pay phones linger in strip malls, and the silver and blue phone booths are mostly gone from the busy streets they once dotted in many parts of the U.S. Pay phones have become so rare that the FCC stopped requiring audits of them in 2018.

Spokeo used data from the Federal Communications Commission to explore the fall of pay phones across the United States. States are ranked by the percentage decline in the number of pay phones between 2000 and 2016. For ties, the number of pay phones remaining in the state was next used to rank.

Though no longer updated, the available data paints a picture of the pay phone's sharp decline.

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The disappearance of this once-ubiquitous technology makes sense. According to the Pew Research Center, about 98% of U.S. adults own a cellphone today, most of whom specifically own smartphones.

Pay phones can be especially useful in areas where cell service falls short. These include national parks, certain hospitals, and around the U.S. border. Pay phone connections can also hold steady when natural disasters disrupt cell service, and operators report increased usage during disasters.

Most states saw the number of pay phones decline by over 90% between 2000 and 2016, but one outlier stood out: Hawai'i. The island state saw the number of pay phones drop by about 60%. A spokesperson for Hawaiian Telcom, the leading pay phone operator in the state, told the Honolulu Civil Beat that national trends may simply be taking longer to play out.

Other telecommunications experts think tourism plays a role as international travelers visiting the state may find it cheaper to make a pay phone call than pay mobile fees for calling from the U.S. Based on International Trade Association data, and relative to its residential population, Hawai'i has the highest number of international travelers, receiving about 67 global visitors for every 100 residents in 2022.

A chart showing that under 100,000 payphones remain as of 2016, declining from over 2 million in 2000. -

A national look

As of 2016, under 100,000 pay phones remained in the U.S., a 95% decline from 2000, when there were over 2 million. This number has likely shrunk significantly since the FCC last collected the data.

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In 2016, New York state accounted for 1 in 5 of the country's remaining pay phones, but many have since been converted for new purposes. New York City removed its last public pay phone in May 2022. The boxy enclosures were once an iconic symbol across the city, but the rise of cellphones made them obsolete. Many of the city's former phone booth locations have since been transformed into LinkNYC kiosks, which offer free phone calls, Wi-Fi and device charging.

Read on to find out how pay phones have declined in every state and Washington D.C. during the 2000s and 2010s.

Public payphones in Waikiki. -

#51. Hawai'i

- 59.6% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 3,615 (253.2 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 8,943 in 2000 (736.9 phones per 100K people)

Charleston skyline on the Kanawha River. -

#50. West Virginia

- 85.7% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,678 (91.6 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 11,704 in 2000 (647.7 phones per 100K people)

New York City subway station entrance at 14th Street with pay phone. -

#49. New York

- 87.9% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 20,716 (105.5 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 171,098 in 2000 (900.4 phones per 100K people)

Aerial view Omaha in summer. -

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#48. Nebraska

- 88.1% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,150 (60.3 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 9,668 in 2000 (564.1 phones per 100K people)

Sourdough Dru's Alaskan cabin with telephone booth. -

#47. Alaska

- 90.4% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 440 (59.3 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 4,583 in 2000 (729.8 phones per 100K people)

Aerial view of Reno. -

#46. Nevada

- 92.9% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,235 (42.3 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 17,504 in 2000 (867.1 phones per 100K people)

Pittsburgh cityscape over the Allegheny River. -

#45. Pennsylvania

- 93.1% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 6,224 (48.7 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 90,603 in 2000 (737.6 phones per 100K people)

Duluth skyline from lake. -

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#44. Minnesota

- 93.6% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,073 (19.4 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 16,831 in 2000 (341.1 phones per 100K people)

Des Moines cityscape and sculpture park. -

#43. Iowa

- 93.7% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 700 (22.4 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 11,183 in 2000 (381.8 phones per 100K people)

Phone booth at a stop in the Mojave desert. -

#42. California

- 93.8% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 16,683 (42.6 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 267,956 in 2000 (788.4 phones per 100K people)

Rural telephone along railroad tracks on sunny day. -

#41. Idaho

- 93.9% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 418 (24.8 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 6,854 in 2000 (527.5 phones per 100K people)

Burlington waterfront. -

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#40. Vermont

- 94.6% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 204 (32.7 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 3,761 in 2000 (616.9 phones per 100K people)

City of Jackson Hole and surrounding landscape. -

#39. Wyoming

- 94.8% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 201 (34.4 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 3,868 in 2000 (782.5 phones per 100K people)

Payphone on Route 66 in desert. -

#38. Arizona

- 94.9% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,695 (24.4 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 33,363 in 2000 (646.5 phones per 100K people)

Abandoned payphone in Olympic National Park. -

#37. Washington

- 95% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,730 (23.7 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 34,368 in 2000 (581.5 phones per 100K people)

Portland cityscape from Pittock Mansion. -

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#36. Oregon

- 95% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,076 (26.3 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 21,659 in 2000 (631.5 phones per 100K people)

Rural barn painted with Texas flag. -

#35. Texas

- 95.3% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 7,006 (25.1 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 147,720 in 2000 (705.3 phones per 100K people)

Aerial view of the Salt Lake City downtown in autumn. -

#34. Utah

- 95.3% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 542 (17.8 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 11,466 in 2000 (510.8 phones per 100K people)

Telephone booth in forest. -

#33. Colorado

- 95.4% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,246 (22.5 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 27,035 in 2000 (624.8 phones per 100K people)

Louisville cityscape. -

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#32. Kentucky

- 95.4% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 880 (19.8 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 19,233 in 2000 (475 phones per 100K people)

Aerial view of Grand Forks. -

#31. North Dakota

- 95.5% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 113 (15 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 2,507 in 2000 (390.5 phones per 100K people)

Aerial view of Market Square and North Church in Portsmouth. -

#30. New Hampshire

- 95.5% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 364 (27.1 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 8,132 in 2000 (655.9 phones per 100K people)

Aerial view of Boston. -

#29. Massachusetts

- 95.7% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 2,268 (33.2 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 53,034 in 2000 (833.7 phones per 100K people)

Portland Head Lighthouse and coastline. -

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#28. Maine

- 95.8% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 317 (23.8 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 7,496 in 2000 (587 phones per 100K people)

View of Missoula from Mount Sentinel. -

#27. Montana

- 95.8% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 245 (23.5 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 5,884 in 2000 (651 phones per 100K people)

Jersey Shore coastline aerial view. -

#26. New Jersey

- 96.3% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 3,517 (39.6 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 95,781 in 2000 (1136.1 phones per 100K people)

Red telephone box in front of downtown shops. -

#25. Ohio

- 96.4% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 2,540 (21.8 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 71,266 in 2000 (627.1 phones per 100K people)

Payphones and Chicago skyline. -

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#24. Illinois

- 96.8% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 3,423 (26.7 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 106,368 in 2000 (855.4 phones per 100K people)

Vintage blue phone booth in a grassy park. -

#23. Arkansas

- 96.9% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 530 (17.7 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 16,954 in 2000 (632.9 phones per 100K people)

Milwaukee cityscape with Art Museum with the Northwestern Mutual building. -

#22. Wisconsin

- 96.9% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,104 (19.1 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 35,383 in 2000 (658.4 phones per 100K people)

Wilmington waterfront and skyline. -

#21. Delaware

- 96.9% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 175 (18.4 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 5,694 in 2000 (724.1 phones per 100K people)

Aerial view of Winston-Salem. -

#20. North Carolina

- 97% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,401 (13.8 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 45,943 in 2000 (568.5 phones per 100K people)

Canal walkway in Indianapolis during summer. -

#19. Indiana

- 97% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,286 (19.4 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 42,429 in 2000 (696.5 phones per 100K people)

Payphone near Gulfport Municipal Marina. -

#18. Florida

- 97% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 3,605 (17.5 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 119,207 in 2000 (742.8 phones per 100K people)

Pay phones in Keystone, South Dakota. -

#17. South Dakota

- 97.2% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 119 (13.8 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 4,326 in 2000 (572.3 phones per 100K people)

Newspapers and phone booth outside a cafe in Santa Fe. -

#16. New Mexico

- 97.3% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 306 (14.6 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 11,374 in 2000 (624.5 phones per 100K people)

Aerial view downtown Wichita. -

#15. Kansas

- 97.4% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 446 (15.3 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 16,949 in 2000 (629.2 phones per 100K people)

Providence cityscape. -

#14. Rhode Island

- 97.4% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 235 (22.2 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 8,935 in 2000 (850.7 phones per 100K people)

Aerial view of Annapolis and Statehouse. -

#13. Maryland

- 97.5% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,074 (17.9 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 43,336 in 2000 (816 phones per 100K people)

Pennsylvania Avenue and the U.S. Capitol. -

#12. Washington DC

- 97.6% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 257 (37.5 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 10,505 in 2000 (1836.4 phones per 100K people)

Wide view of Alexandria along the Potomac River. -

#11. Virginia

- 97.6% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,405 (16.7 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 57,621 in 2000 (810.9 phones per 100K people)

Payphone near parking lot. -

#10. Alabama

- 97.7% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 546 (11.2 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 24,237 in 2000 (544.4 phones per 100K people)

Old payphone stand at rest area. -

#9. South Carolina

- 97.9% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 611 (12.3 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 28,444 in 2000 (706.8 phones per 100K people)

Courthouse and Gateway Arch in St Louis. -

#8. Missouri

- 98% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 861 (14.1 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 42,510 in 2000 (758.1 phones per 100K people)

Skyline of downtown Hartford from above Charter Oak Landing. -

#7. Connecticut

- 98% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 515 (14.4 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 25,941 in 2000 (760.3 phones per 100K people)

Red telephone box in front of building at University of Oklahoma. -

#6. Oklahoma

- 98% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 511 (13 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 26,164 in 2000 (757.4 phones per 100K people)

Red streetcar on Canal Street in New Orleans. -

#5. Louisiana

- 98.1% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 539 (11.5 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 27,835 in 2000 (622.4 phones per 100K people)

Downtown Nashville in autumn. -

#4. Tennessee

- 98.4% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 637 (9.6 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 38,929 in 2000 (682.5 phones per 100K people)

Two vintage pay phones in Augusta. -

#3. Georgia

- 98.4% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 995 (9.7 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 61,519 in 2000 (747.7 phones per 100K people)

Park and skyscrapers in downtown Detroit. -

#2. Michigan

- 98.6% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,187 (11.9 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 83,159 in 2000 (835.6 phones per 100K people)

Jackson downtown cityscape at the Capitol. -

#1. Mississippi

- 98.8% decline in number of pay phones

- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 188 (6.3 phones per 100K people)

--- Down from 16,201 in 2000 (568.8 phones per 100K people)

Story editing by Alizah Salario. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn.

This story was produced by Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker.
Once again, the Orlando Sentinel had to sue the state of Florida to get public records the state shouldve disclosed immediately and voluntarily.

Once again, we prevailed and got the documents.

And once again, the state is paying our legal bills, reimbursing the Orlando Sentinel for attorneys we never shouldve been forced to engage.

This past Monday, a judge in Tallahassee approved a settlement where the Florida Department of Transportation agreed to pay the Sentinel $5,119. That covers our legal costs in the fight to see records related to the states middle-of-the-night erasure of the rainbow-colored crosswalk painted in honor of the 49 people slaughtered at the Pulse nightclub.

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The state also enlisted its own external counsel to defend secret-keeping for which there was no legitimate defense. One filing in the case was prepared by a politically connected law firm that has billed taxpayers $495 an hour in the past.

How much of your money did the state pay that firm in this case? We dont know yet, because Gov. Ron DeSantis transportation department has yet to answer that question. If it doesnt provide that information quickly and voluntarily  as the law demands  we will enlist legal help again.

Ive never covered an administration like this. Past governors honored Floridas Sunshine Law. Whether it was Bob Graham, Bob Martinez, Charlie Crist or Jeb Bush, Democrat or Republican, they readily turned over public documents.

That has changed in recent years as the DeSantis administration has been repeatedly caught hiding public information.

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You paid $152k for DeSantis latest legal loss, another attempt to keep public info hidden | Commentary

In the case of the crosswalks, we just wanted basic information about the states dark-of-night erasure operation last summer.

We know the governor has reveled in using LGBTQ issues to stir up division. And frankly, hes allowed to dislike or be triggered by rainbows.

What neither he nor any of his staffers are legally allowed to do, with rare exceptions, is hide public information about spending, public policy or governmental actions.

So right after the rainbow tribute to murder victims was erased last August, we asked for some basic information, including how much money the state spent painting over the crosswalk, as well as work orders and invoices that might show whether the job was competitively bid.

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We also asked for emails and texts that might show who ordered the removal and for any studies, memos or notes that might show whether the state had conducted any safety studies on the impact of this erasure.

That last part about safety was important  arguably most important.

See, the governor and his administration claimed they were erasing colorful crosswalks throughout the state for safety reasons. But that appeared provably untrue.

Maxwell: Orlandos Pulse rainbow crosswalk erasure  lies, bigotry and danger

First of all, study after study has shown that drivers pay more heed to colorful warnings. (And come on, do you really need a study to tell you that? Theres a reason stop signs arent black and white.)

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Second, the state itself had previously touted colorful crosswalks for their safety. In 2021, DeSantis transportation division specifically cited improved school safety when giving the city of Tampa an award for a colorful crosswalk there.

And an FDOT report from 2024 cited the decorative sidewalk and crosswalk features in conjunction with the Pulse Memorial as part of an overall plan to improve safety and driver experience.

Id also read that the state had deleted a Facebook post that had previously touted colorful crosswalks as safer for pedestrians. So I also asked for copies of all social-media posts that have been deleted or removed from public view from the FDOTs Facebook and Instagram accounts during 2025.

Keep in mind: Its supremely suspect for government officials to delete any public posts.

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Well, six weeks after requesting all this information, the state hadnt turned over a single public record specifically related to the crosswalk. So our attorney sent notice that the state was in violation of the Public Records Act.

Suddenly, we got a response. But an attorney for the state asked if wed consider narrowing down our records request to more efficiently locate potentially responsive records and may help reduce the time and cost associated with processing the requests.

We shouldnt have had to do so. But in a good-faith gesture, we complied, significantly narrowing down our requests.

Yet, two more months passed  four in total  and we still received nothing, proving wed agreed to a good-faith compromise with people who werent acting in good faith. So we sued.

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After we did, the state finally turned over a batch of social media posts the FDOT had deleted, doing so later the same day.

FDOT deleted social post touting decorative crosswalks near Pulse amid street art crackdown, records show

One of posts had indeed touted the newly painted intersection near the Pulse nightclub as enhancing safety for pedestrians with new lighting and decorative crosswalk features.

So you had FDOT admitting the colorful crosswalk was installed for safety. Yet the department painted over it  and deleted the social media post that showed it had previously touted the safety benefits it was erasing.

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It took us four months and a lawsuit to get that public information.

As part of the settlement, in addition to paying our legal fees of $5,119, the state also attested that no other documents exist related to our request. If state officials are to be believed, that means they conducted no studies about the public safety impacts of their crosswalk crusade. And that there are no documents to suggest the painting project was competitively bid.

Which brings us back to the emails.

You may recall above that we agreed to delay our request for emails and texts in exchange for getting the other records more quickly, which did not happen. So we may request those as well.

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But a local resident, Bryce Maschino, already did. And his case is just as brow-raising.

After Maschino requested emails from FDOT officials related to the crosswalk coverup, FDOT told him that it had found 115 emails responsive to his request and that he would have to pay $34.62 to see them.

Well, Maschino paid the money the state requested  back on October 22, 2025. Yet the state hasnt turned over a single public record, despite saying it had identified them half a year ago.

So now, the First Amendment Foundation of Florida is preparing to help Maschino sue as well  while we wait for answers about how many tax dollars the state may have spent on lawyers defending this nonsense. We will not rest until we get that public information, too.

None of this is normal. Nor OK. This is government hiding information from the citizens it serves and spending their tax dollars to do so. All for a zealous crusade to erase rainbows that this administration seems to know it cant justify from a public policy or safety standpoint, since it keeps trying to hide the evidence.
(The Center Square)  During an annual gathering of conservatives in the suburbs of Harrisburg on Friday, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon urged Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to opt the state into a federal school choice program.

It couldn't be more of a win-win for students in all states, McMahon said of the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit.

This program, enacted as a result of the President Donald Trump-backed Working Families Tax Cuts Act, established a new federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for contributions made to a Scholarship Granting Organization, or SGO. The Department of Education describes SGOs as nonprofits that accept qualified contributions from individuals and use the funds to provide scholarships for education-related services at private or public schools, including tuition, fees, academic tutoring, and classroom supplies.

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States can decide whether to opt in to become a covered state under this program.

According to the Commonwealth Foundation, a conservative think-tank that supports school choice, 29 states have decided to participate.

A majority of the states that have opted in to the federal school choice program are led by Republican governors, although McMahon said that a couple Democratic governors have come on board with it.

Prior to her appearance at the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference, she joined Republican lawmakers for a rally on the steps of the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg.

McMahon said that Shapiro has done some good things in Pennsylvania with regard to school choice, saying that there is a very similar state tax provision in place in the commonwealth.

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That provision, the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Scholarship, uses personal and business donations to give financial aid to students at private schools. A second program, the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit, further targets the donations to students living in low-performing districts.

In the most recent budget, the programs will provide up to $590 million in assistance.

So, Im surprised, actually, that he hasnt opted in, and so we were there to encourage him to do just that, McMahon said.

States that opt in must provide a list of SGOs that meet the statutory requirements by January 1 of each calendar year, according to the Department of Education. Students eligible to enroll in a public elementary or secondary school and from a household with income not greater than 300% of the areas median gross income qualify for a scholarship through the Education Freedom Tax Credit.

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The topic of school choice has become an issue of intense debate during Shapiros tenure in office, particularly during his first budget negotiations.

In August 2023, Shapiro signed a state budget that was set to include a state-funded school choice program, titled Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program, or PASS, but instead decided to deliver a line-item veto of the statewide $100 million voucher program.

The decision fractured negotiations between Senate Republicans, who back the program as an option for children living in under-resourced districts, and House Democrats, who believe PASS and other credits like it siphon taxpayer money to private schools.

Shapiro hasnt ruled out support for expanded school choice programs in Pennsylvania, but has said it's up to the legislature to figure out and send a bill to his desk.

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Outside the halls of the Capitol in Harrisburg and on the campaign trail in 2024, Republican Dave McCormick said he supported a national school choice program during his bid for U.S. Senate.

After winning the seat, he became a co-sponsor of the federal proposal.

McCormick, also in attendance for the annual conservative gathering at the Penn Harris Hotel on Friday, described school choice as an example of giving people the opportunity to live the American dream.

It gives parents and kids an opportunity to pick a school thats best for them, he said.

McCormick said hes talked to Shapiro about it and has encouraged him to opt-in. He also penned an op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer on the matter.

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But this is an example of an opportunity where Pennsylvania needs to lead. Our governor needs to lead, McCormick said. The federal government and President Trump already led to create this opportunity.

But if we really care about kids having opportunity and prospering, and being able to compete in this world, thats changing so quickly, this is the best way to do it, and I'm excited about it, he added. But man, what a disgrace if all of us donate money or people donate money and Pennsylvania kids dont get to take advantage of it. So it's a real opportunity moment, but we haven't seized it yet.

Shapiro hasnt ruled out opting in, according to WGAL, with a spokesperson saying that the administration is waiting for federal guidance to address key questions about the program, including student eligibility, how the initiative will interact with existing programs, and other details.
As Melania Trump walked up to the White House podium on Thursday, standing where US President Donald Trump had just over a week ago made his address to the nation on Iran, there was absolutely no indication that this would be a jaw-dropping appearance.

There was curiosity, yes, but no one guessed it would be must-see viewing. Not even those most plugged into the administration had any forewarning of the topic, according to officials.

Flanked by US flags, her first sentence jolted those listening. "The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today."

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With those words, the Epstein crisis that had plagued the president was once again front and centre thanks to his wife.

Immediately, US cable channels broke away from their coverage on Iran, given the gravity of what was unfolding.

The first lady has always maintained a relatively low profile, strategically selecting her few public events. She hardly shares the same flair for the dramatic - or the desire to shock and awe the press - as her husband.

Reading from a prepared statement, she said she never had a relationship with Epstein or Maxwell, was not introduced to her husband by Epstein, and was unaware of Epstein's crimes. She ended by calling for public congressional hearings for Epstein survivors to testify to uncover the truth.

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If she had stayed to answer any questions, surely the first one would have been: why did she feel the need now, seemingly out of the blue, to distance herself from the convicted sex offender and go on the record for the first time?

Rumours swirled that perhaps she was trying to get ahead of something new, given the general claims she referenced have circulated for years and she's usually relied on her lawyers to respond.

Investigative journalist Vicky Ward, who has reported on Epstein for decades, says the timing of the news conference is confusing.

"I think if Melania Trump had done this at the start of the Epstein crisis a year ago and called on Congress to put the victims on record and hear their stories, we'd feel quite different about it."

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The context of her remarks also don't make sense, she adds. "There isn't really much of Melania Trump in the Epstein files besides that one email, friendly email to Ghislaine Maxwell. I'm baffled by it. I don't think anyone ever believed she was a victim."

Adding to the intrigue, President Trump said he didn't know that she was going to give that statement, even though a spokesperson for the first lady had initially said he did.

[Reuters]

Reaction to Melania Trump's announcement came swiftly.

Several survivors reached out to each other, sharing their incredulity at what had just unfolded, and began co-ordinating how they would respond. Thirteen of them, along with the family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, put out a statement saying that asking more of survivors was a deflection of responsibility, not justice.

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"First Lady Melania Trump is now shifting the burden onto survivors under politicised 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."

Democrats continue to argue that the Department of Justice has withheld too many documents without proper justification. Out of six million documents, the Department of Justice released 3.5 million and said there are legal limits on releasing the rest.

Marina Lacerda, who was just 14 years old when she was abused by Epstein, as detailed in the 2019 federal indictment against the disgraced financier, was one of the survivors to sign that statement. But she went even further in a separate video shared on social media, slamming the first lady's suggestion.

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"It sounds like you're just trying to shift attention from something to something else. So how does this benefit the Trump family, is my question," Lacerda said.

But survivor Lisa Phillips praised Melania Trump for countering the Department of Justice's narrative that they were closing the chapter on the Epstein files.

An image of an email from Melania Trump to Ghislaine Maxwell [US Department of Justice]

Phillips told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that her call to have survivors telling their stories was a "bold move". But she also challenged the first lady to follow her words with actions.

"What I would do is I would call her bluff and I would, you know, push her a little bit and say: 'okay, now that you've said that, what can you do? What can you do to help us? And what can you do to move us along?'"

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The chairman of the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the Epstein files, told Fox News on Friday that he always planned to hold hearings with survivors of Epstein's crimes once the committee finishes its investigation.

"I agree with the first lady and appreciate what she said," Republican James Comer said. "We will have hearings."

Barry Levine, author of The Spider: Inside the Tangled Web of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, says the fact that Melania Trump included and acknowledged the victims is very significant because she's chosen to go against her husband's stance.

He says President Trump has always turned a cold shoulder to the victims.

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"He had been given many opportunities to say something supportive of the survivors in terms of getting accountability for them and he has continually said the files are nothing but a hoax."

His wife, says Levine, is very much her own person who speaks her own mind. "Even the president has previously acknowledged this."

Tammy Vigil, author of Melania and Michelle: First Ladies in a New Era, tells the BBC that the fact that her statement didn't include her husband shows a fissure in the White House between the president and first lady and the agendas they're forwarding.

"She's pushing an agenda that by all outward appearances he doesn't want to push. So she's helping her own agenda. It's a very independent statement and we've seen her do that a few times before."

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Democrats, meanwhile, see this as a political gift.

Melania Trump has now placed herself squarely into the Epstein story and put herself at odds with the administration, which wants to end the investigation.

The highest-ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Robert Garcia, has said that he was stunned by the speech and the Trump administration must now follow the first lady's lead.

"If Melania Trump wants real justice, she should ask her husband to release the rest of the Epstein files and ensure that Pam Bondi testifies," he said.

President Trump, who socialised with Epstein in the 1990s and appears in the files many times but has denied any knowledge of his crimes, has called the Epstein files uproar a politically motivated hoax.

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But this time he cannot accuse the person putting the story back into the headlines of having malicious intentions.

It is the enduring crisis that the administration cannot get past, and Melania Trump's announcement has just breathed fresh life into it.
Former Vice President Mike Pence has weighed in on the endorsement wars in an Indiana state Senate race, putting himself once again at odds with his former boss, President Donald Trump.

Pence endorsed incumbent state Sen. Jim Buck, R-Kokomo, for reelection to his seat, where he faces competition from Trump-endorsed candidate Tracey Powell. This is one of eight state senate races in which Trump has backed a newcomer in retribution for the office holder's decision to vote against his push for mid-decade redistricting last year.

(L-R) Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Lt. Gen. James Adams III, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Army Lt. Gen. William Hartman and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe testify during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats on March 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. A closed session immediately followed the hearing. (L-R) Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Lt. Gen. James Adams III, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Army Lt. Gen. William Hartman arrive to testify during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats to U.S. national security in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2026. Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe greets Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) before testiying at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats to U.S. national security in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2026. Mar 18, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Chairman Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) speaks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats to U.S. national security in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2026. Senate Intelligence Vice Chairman Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) speaks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats to U.S. national security in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2026. CIA Director John L. Ratcliffe (R) testifies alongside (L-R) Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Lt. Gen. James Adam, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Army Lt. Gen. Lieutenant General William Hartman during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats on March 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) holds up a document for a Trump administration fundraising effort as he makes a statement during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats on March 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, speaks as the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence holds their annual hearing on the assessment of worldwide threats to U.S. national security in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2026. FBI Director Kash Patel looks down as he testifies during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats on March 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) makes a statement during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats on March 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. John Ratcliffe,Central Intelligence Agency director, speaks as the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence holds their annual hearing on the assessment of worldwide threats to U.S. national security in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2026. Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, speaks as the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence holds their annual hearing on the assessment of worldwide threats to U.S. national security in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2026. FBI Director Kash Patel testifies during a Senate Committee on Intelligence hearing to examine worldwide threats, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2026. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) questions intelligence leaders during the Senate Select Committee on Intelligences annual hearing examining the annual assessment of worldwide threats to U.S. national security in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2026. Senate grills intel chiefs on Iran and global threats 1 of 14 (L-R) Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Lt. Gen. James Adams III, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Army Lt. Gen. William Hartman and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe testify during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats on March 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. A closed session immediately followed the hearing.

I have known State Senator Jim Buck throughout my years serving Indiana from the State House to the White House, and I have always seen him as a man of integrity and one of Indianas most conservative state legislators," Pence said in a statement April 10.

Former Indiana Governor and Vice President Mike Pence thanks various members of INDOT, his staff and others Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, that made the completion of the I-69 interchange project happen while speaking at a ceremony marking the completion of the I-69 interchange project on the south side of Indianapolis.

More: Inside the Indiana GOP's unprecedented 'civil war' over the primary election

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Pence called Buck a "committed Christian" and "principled conservative" who's always stood for anti-abortion causes, tax cuts, gun rights and a balanced budget.

Buck's is a seat he's held comfortably, without primary competition, since 2008. Before that, Buck was a state representative since 1994.

On the May 5 ballot, he'll face Powell, a chiropractor, Tipton County commissioner since 2020 and a member of the Indiana County Commissioners Association.

Trump's involvement in these low-level races has elevated them to the national stage and attracted millions in investments from outside groups like Turning Point Action and Club For Growth. Other heavy hitters, like former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and now Pence, have rallied to the other side, defending incumbents.

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More: This is a problem. Iran war puts JD Vance in a bind ahead of 2028

Daniels was and is unequivocally against redistricting, but Pence hadn't made clear his position on it, saying publicly only that he thinks the decision should be up to the states.

Buck told IndyStar he doesn't see this endorsement as signifying any change in that positioning. Pence simply called him up and asked if there was anything he could do to help, Buck said. The two have known each other since before Pence was elected to any office.

"That endorsement didnt come with the yes or no vote (on redistricting)," Buck said. "He just knows me."

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"Friends stick together, and friends know each other," he added. "Im just tickled that he chose to get on board."

Contact Statehouse reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on X @kayla_dwyer17.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Mike Pence endorses Indiana Senate candidate, breaking with Trump
A man accused of orchestrating an $11 million Medicaid fraud scheme in Minnesota skipped a scheduled court appearance this week, prompting a warrant for his arrest, authorities said.

Abdirashid Ismail Said, 50, failed to appear for a pretrial hearing in Hennepin County, forfeiting his bond, according Fox 9, citing the Minnesota Attorney Generals Office.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement that his office is working with federal authorities to locate Said.

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Minnesota Fraud Scandal: Sixth Family Member Who Met With Ag Ellison Set To Plead Guilty

"A warrant has been issued for Said's arrest after he failed to appear for a pretrial hearing," Ellison told the outlet. "My Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is working with federal law enforcement to locate Said and ensure he faces justice for the fraud he committed.

"This is a deeply frustrating setback. However, I remain committed to doing everything I can to hold Said and other Medicaid fraudsters accountable."

Read On The Fox News App

Said posted a $150,000 unconditional bond to avoid stricter conditions, including surrendering his passport, while a $50,000 conditional bond would have required it, according to FOX 9. Investigators also raised concerns about Saids potential to flee, citing family ties abroad, according to FOX 9.

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Prosecutors charged Said with racketeering and multiple counts of aiding and abetting theft by swindle in an alleged scheme that defrauded Minnesotas Medicaid program of nearly $11 million, according to a criminal complaint.

The complaint alleges Said carried out the scheme from 2019 through 2023 by secretly operating multiple Medicaid-funded home health care agencies despite being barred from working with such programs after a prior fraud conviction.

Trump Admin Scores Minnesota Court Win In Medicaid Fraud Crackdown

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz fields questions during a news conference about federal detention of children at the Capitol Feb. 3, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (Getty Images)

Authorities said Said and his co-conspirators billed Medicaid for services that were never provided, werent properly recorded or were backed by fake paperwork. Investigators also allege the group billed for services that werent eligible for payment and charged more than they should have.

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According to court documents, the scheme involved millions of dollars in fraudulent billing, including more than $4.6 million paid to one agency based on falsified documentation. Investigators also found nearly $1 million was billed for clients who denied receiving services, along with more than $300,000 in overbilling and more than $5.8 million in claims that were not documented or were fraudulently documented.

Court records show Said was convicted of Medicaid fraud in 2022, ordered to pay $77,000 and barred from working with any Medicaid-funded agency, a restriction prosecutors allege he later violated.

Joe Thompson was the lead prosecutor who helped uncover the massive $250 million Feeding Our Future food fraud case tied to the state's Somali community.

The case has raised new concerns about oversight of taxpayer-funded programs, as state leaders, including Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, have faced mounting criticism over their handling of fraud in Minnesota.

The development comes amid broader concerns over fraud in Minnesota, including the sprawling Feeding Our Future case, in which prosecutors allege defendants created fake meal programs and fraudulently claimed more than $250 million in federal funds.

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Former acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson has suggested fraud across some programs could total billions of dollars, potentially reaching $9 billion.

State officials have faced ongoing questions about oversight of taxpayer-funded programs, with critics pointing to additional fraud cases involving Medicaid and welfare spending.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Ellison, whose office has prosecuted multiple fraud cases, appeared before Congress earlier this year to address concerns about enforcement and oversight.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Minnesota Attorney Generals Office and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Minnesota for additional comment.

Original article source: Minnesota fraud suspect skips court, forfeits bond, throwing $11M Medicaid case into doubt
AFCADDE, Ethiopia (AP)  The critical note in some of the worlds most well-known perfumes is myrrh, a tree resin from the Horn of Africa that is under pressure from what experts say has been a historic drought.

Threatened by the lack of water and nibbled by starving livestock, the trees that once formed a dense forest in the Somali region of Ethiopia are in danger, locals say.

Earlier this year, researchers supported by the American Herbal Products Association, a trade group, and Born Global, a nonprofit, visited a source of the prized resin that makes its way to global markets from some of the most vulnerable places on earth.

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Their goal was to ensure that those who harvest the resin get more of the direct profits instead of middlemen along the opaque supply chain.

Ethiopia is a major source of myrrh, which has been used in beauty, health and religious practices since at least ancient Egypt. Traditional harvesting in the region has not changed, which helps to protect the trees and produces the highest quality resin.

Myrrhs hand-harvested nature raises its price, but those doing the work see little of the profit. Collecting a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of the resin brings as little as $3.50 and as much as $10.

Thats far from the prices for the perfumes it helps to create, which are marketed by well-known fashion brands like Tom Ford, Comme des Garcons and Jo Malone, and sold at prices as high as $500 a bottle.

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Meanwhile, curiosity about myrrhs other potential uses is growing with increased global interest in natural remedies.

For now, most myrrh from this part of eastern Ethiopia is purchased by traders from neighboring Somalia. Ethiopia collects no taxes on the goods.

Local residents hope more visibility will help them as the climate crisis threatens their ways of life.

They expressed hope that a direct market would enable them to secure better prices, ensuring sustainable livelihoods, said Abdinasir Abdikadir Aweys, senior researcher with the Somali Regional Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Research Institute and a member of the research team.

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The researchers were led by Anjanette DeCarlo, an expert in sustainable supply chains and resins at the University of Vermont, and Stephen Johnson, resin expert and owner of FairSource Botanicals. They found that communities practice traditional harvesting by collecting resin from trees naturally occurring wounds instead of by making intentional cuts, which makes trees more vulnerable to pests and disease.

Traditional practice is in balance and protects trees. It should be celebrated, DeCarlo said.

But the drought worried the team. The annual rains have been failing over the past several years, interrupted in 2023 by devastating flooding.

The arid region has long seen droughts, but this one has been historic. Experts have blamed the changing climate.

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Myrrh harvesting is threatened. While adult trees are generally healthy, they are producing less resin. And fewer young trees are surviving.

Unfortunately, many seedlings are uprooted by children who graze their livestock nearby, and the animals often eat the buds of the young trees, said a local elder, Mohamed Osman Miyir, adding: We are deeply worried about the declining population of myrrh trees.

Without proper rain, other young trees are likely to fail. DeCarlo worried that eventually even the adult trees will die.

Villagers days are spent hauling water for themselves and their livestock. Herders travel over the parched, cracked earth as far as 200 kilometers (125 miles) to Sanqotor village, which has a rare well with water.

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Guests water animals first, then the villagers, said local headman Ali Mohamed, watching hundreds of livestock crowd around the well.

But not everyone has livestock  the poorest residents rely solely on tree resin like myrrh for their survival.

___

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
A new and not immediately recognizable launcher has emerged on the U.S. Navys Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Carl M. Levin. Last year, launchers for Coyote counter-drone interceptors appeared in the same general location on two other Burkes, the USS Bainbridge and the USS Winston S. Churchill. The Navy is currently known to be exploring several other options for integrating lower-cost anti-drone interceptors on various warships to bolster their defenses against this ever-growing threat. The new launcher could also be for deploying other kinds of munitions, drones, and/or decoys.

The Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Carl M. Levin (DDG-120) is seen here in a picture taken on March 29, 2026, from the deck of the Whidbey Island class amphibious warfare ship USS Comstock. USMC Sgt. Trent A. Henry

The Carl M. Levin and its new launcher can be seen in the background of a picture that the U.S. Marine Corps released on April 8, which is seen in parts throughout this story. The image was taken on March 29 at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The Levin, also known by the hull number DDG-120, is homeported there. A Japanese-language blog called OSINFO was the first to notice the launcher in the image and posted it to social media.

USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) got a new Hellfire/JAGM launcher improving C-UAS capability.





DDGC-UASHellfire/JAGM  OSINFO https://t.co/R8hyf4B6L6#   (@hone_hone_bone_) April 8, 2026

The new launcher is seen installed on the deck at the aft end of the Levins superstructure, between the destroyers port-side torpedo tubes and its rear Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) array. From what we can see of the launcher itself, it appears to have multiple cells. Whether or not it can rotate or is fixed in place is not perfectly clear, but the latter seems likely, especially given what appears to be a circular mount. It looks like it would swivel upwards for firing.

A close-up look at where the launcher, seen at center, is installed at the Levins aft end. USMC

An even closer look at the launcher itself. USMC

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What the launcher fires and what purpose it serves are unknown. It was not seen on Levin at least as of December 2025. A cursory search at the time of writing does not now show it on any other Burkes, and it is not known whether the Navy currently plans to field it more widely on that class or any others. TWZ has reached out to the Navy for more information.

One distinct possibility is that this is a launcher for the White Spike counter-drone interceptor from Zone 5 Technologies. The launcher that Zone 5 has shown so far for White Spike is a four-cell design that is different from the one now installed on the USS Carl M. Levin. At the same time, it is also very similar in many respects, both in terms of form and likely function. The trapezoidal shape of its front is an especially prominent similarity as well as its overall configuration.

A side-by-side comparison of the launcher on the USS Carl M. Levin, at left, and the launcher Zone 5 has so far shown for the White Spike interceptor. USN/Zone 5 Technologies

White Spike has been under evaluation as part of a project called Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems  NEXT, or Counter-NEXT, which the Pentagons Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has been running since 2024. Its appearance on a Navy destroyer now would make sense given that Counter-NEXT has had a particular eye toward naval applications.

Andurils Roadrunner-M counter-drone interceptor has also been under evaluation as part of Counter-NEXT. However, the launchers that Anduril has publicly shown so far for those interceptors do not align with what is seen on the Levin. Furthermore, Roadrunner-M is designed to be launched vertically and recovered in the same way for reuse if it does not actually prosecute a target in the course of a mission, as you can read more about here.

Roadrunner successfully deploys from prototype launch enclosure.



In 2024, @DIU_x selected Anduril to develop cUAS for the @DeptofWars Counter NEXT program. Today, weve been awarded additional funding to move into the next phase of development and ultimately deliver these pic.twitter.com/PAScfvIRHZ  Anduril Industries (@anduriltech) September 29, 2025

Last year, the U.S. Navy had said that it planned to integrate launchers for Andurils Roadrunner-M counter-drone interceptors, as well as Raytheons Coyote, on an unspecified number of Arleigh Burke class destroyers. As already noted, the launcher on Levin is in the same general spot as the Coyote launchers that have been installed on the USS Bainbridge and the USS Winston S. Churchill.

A look at the launcher for Coyote counter-drone interceptors on the USS Bainbridge. USN

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There is certainly demand from the Navy for more counter-drone capabilities for its ships, in general, which grew substantially in the wake of the services experiences during operations in and around the Red Sea in recent years. The latest conflict with Iran has only further underscored the still-expanding scope and scale of uncrewed aerial threats.

Lockheed Martin has also previously shown a concept for installing four-cell launchers capable of firing AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGM) in the same general location at the aft end of an Arleigh Burke class destroyer. As its name indicates, JAGM was originally developed for use against surface targets, but Lockheed Martin has been looking to evolve it into the counter-drone space. JAGM is derived from the AGM-114 Hellfire. The millimeter-wave radar-guided AGM-114L variant, in particular, has already emerged as a counter-drone weapon in recent years, including for shipboard use. JAGMs fired from warships could also be used for close-in defense against other targets, including swarms of small crewed or uncrewed boats.

Lockheed Martin has previously displayed this model of an Arleigh Burke class destroyer with several four-cell launchers for AGM-179 JAGMs installed at the aft end. Joseph Trevithick

A test of JAGM Quad Launcher (JQL; pronounced jackal) at a site on land. Lockheed Martin

There is still a possibility that the launcher now integrated on the USS Carl M. Levin could have other purposes beyond the counter-drone role.

A launcher for drones, including types configured as loitering munitions or decoys, could be another possibility. In recent years, the Navy has notably been experimenting with long-endurance drone-like decoys to help lure incoming anti-ship cruise missiles away from friendly ships and otherwise confuse opponents. In February, DIU put out a call for containerized drone launcher designs that could be employed at sea or on land. TWZ has previously laid out a detailed case for the many benefits that could come along with integrating launchers for swarms of drones configured to perform a variety of different tasks onto Navy ships.

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Levins new launcher could be used to fire shorter-range decoys and/or other kinds of countermeasures, as well.

Broadly speaking, the Navy has a long history of integrating new and improved capabilities, including weapon systems and countermeasures, on small numbers of Burkes. In some cases, those modifications have then begun to make their way onto more ships of the class, or have otherwise informed larger upgrade programs. The Arleigh Burke class is set to be the workhorse of the Navys surface fleets for years to come, and the ships will require continual updating as new threats and other developments emerge.

Whatever its purpose, the new launcher at the aft end of the USS Carl M. Levin is the latest example of how the capabilities of the Navys Burkes continue to evolve.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
Only some drivers licenses would be usable for voter registration under the proposed SAVE America Act.

New Jersey is not one of them.

As the Senate debates the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, misleading claims about the bills impact on voter registration have been spreading on social media, with elected officials on both sides of the aisle putting their own spin on it.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, wrote in an X post: Under the SAVE Act, you cannot use your drivers license to register to vote. Republicans want you to buy a passport instead. If you can afford one. This is a modern-day poll tax.

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Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, replied in his own X post, which included Duckworths, this is a lie and cited a section of the legislation that requires states to establish their own processes for voter registration applicants who cannot provide the required proof of U.S. citizenship.

But the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

Heres a closer look at the facts.

CLAIM: People would not be allowed to use their drivers license when registering to vote under the SAVE America Act.

THE FACTS: This is missing context. Drivers licenses that include verification of citizenship, such as an Enhanced Drivers License (EDL), could be used for voter registration in a limited number of states if the SAVE America Act passes. It has passed the House and is now in the Senate. However, those without such a license or who live in states or territories that dont issue them would need to provide additional documentation.

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Most drivers licenses, the purpose of it is to license you to drive, said Pamela Smith, president and CEO of Verified Voting, a nonpartisan organization. Its not designed to prove your citizenship. And so the requirement to prove your citizenship is sort of separate and beyond.

The SAVE America Act requires that when registering to vote in federal elections people provide documentary proof of United States citizenship. This can include REAL ID-compliant identification that confirms citizenship, a valid U.S. passport or a form of government-issued photo identification that states the applicants place of birth. Military IDs and other government-issued photo IDs that do not state place of birth or otherwise confirm citizenship would need to be presented with additional documentation.

People who are legal U.S. residents but not citizens also can obtain a REAL ID. According to the Department of Homeland Security, only five states  Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington  issue enhanced drivers licenses, which are REAL ID-compliant and prove citizenship as well as identity. Other states, such as Montana, South Dakota, Florida, and Iowa,have passed or are considering legislation that requires licenses to include citizenship markers.

In New Jersey, non-citizens, including undocumented immigrants, can obtain a drivers license

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For the vast majority of Americans, a REAL ID would not be sufficient to register to vote under the SAVE Act, said Eliza Sweren-Becker, deputy director of the voting rights and elections program at the Brennan Center for Justice. Thats because most REAL IDs do not have any affirmative indication of U.S. citizenship, which is a part of what the bill would require if a REAL ID were to be used for registration.

Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have argued that the SAVE America Act is needed to eliminate instances of noncitizen voting, which is already illegal in federal elections and can lead to felony charges and deportation. Cases where it occurs are rare. Opponents stress that the bills proof of citizenship requirements would create an undue burden for many voters due to obstacles such as the costs associated with obtaining a passport and processing times for government documents, including birth or marriage certificates. A recent surveyfound that more than 9% of voting-age Americans  21.3 million people  cannot readily access documents proving they are citizens.

Neither Duckworth nor Lee responded to a request for comment.

The SAVE America Act was passed by the House in April 2025 and is currently being debated by the Senate. Efforts to end a Homeland Security shutdown that has caused severe travel disruptions stalled when Trump linked any deal to his push to pass the act.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Theres no set amount of time for what we consider to be a cold case, or a set guideline of what happens when the case has indeed gone cold. Savannah Guthries mom, Nancy, was taken from her home over two months ago, though, and there hasnt really been too much movement on the case for a while. Sure, surveillance photos and videos were released, but no suspect was identified, and no motive was disclosed.

What does that mean for the chances of the case being solved? Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is clear: the case is far from being cold.

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Related: Who are Savannah Guthries siblings?

In an interview with News 4 Tucsons Monica Garcia, Nanos stated that investigators are going over thousands of pieces of evidence. This [case] is by far from being cold. We have a lot of work ahead of us, Nanos said. Its going to take some time.

A lot of that is DNA evidence, but more than 30,000 tips have come in about the case, which have to be analyzed.

Despite Nanos saying its going to take some time, reportedly, he has something of a deadline. Pima County Supervisor Matt Heinz said the board has given Nanos 10 days to respond to an investigation that started due to issues with Nanos resume. The resume had mistakes about his past work with El Paso Police Department.

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At the time, a spokesperson said, The Pima County Sheriffs Department recently identified two clerical errors in Sheriff Chris Nanos publicly posted resume. Both date discrepancies were administrative in nature and were not intended to mislead or misrepresent Sheriff Nanos work history.

Supervisor Heinz disagreed, and he told Irish Star that, When you start a four-decade career in a community from a basis of fraud, withholding information to get that position, that changes the entire thing. Nanos reportedly has to answer for earlier disciplinary records that were not disclosed, including allegations of excessive force, insubordination, and a resignation instead of termination in 1982.

Nanos reportedly has until April 21 to respond, with Heinz saying, I believe that this board would be well within our legal rights to vacate that office and remove him if he doesnt comply with the statute.

And even a response might not be enough. Even if a response is provided, the board could still pursue a resolution of lack of confidence if they are dissatisfied with the answers, he said.

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It all comes as Nanos is leading the high-profile search for Nancy Guthrie, which has only exacerbated the questions about his leadership. Guthrie was taken from her house sometime between the night of January 31 and the early hours of February 1 by what law enforcement believes was a masked assailant. Multiple ransom notes were sent to several news outlets, but no ransom was ever paid, presumably because police did not believe the notes were authentic or because no proof of life was provided.

The reward for information about Nancy Guthries disappearance is up to $1 million.

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The Artemis II crew has already done the hard part ... or so it seemed. They survived liftoff, passed through radiation fields, broke the all-time record for how far humans have traveled from Earth, and watched a solar eclipse from behind the Moon. Now they're almost home.

And a former NASA astronaut says coming home might be the most dangerous part of all.

The Artemis II spacecraft is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego on Friday at approximately 8:07 p.m. ET. But before that, the crew  commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen  must survive reentry: the phase of flight in which their capsule plunges back into Earth's atmosphere at more than 25,000 miles per hour, heating the exterior of the spacecraft to more than 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Standing between the crew and that heat is a shield that was badly damaged on the last mission.

What Happened to the Artemis II Heat Shield?

When the uncrewed Artemis I capsule returned from its test flight around the Moon in 2022, mission teams found the heat shield had come back with concerning pockmarks and cracking. An investigation determined that gases generated inside the shield's outer material couldn't vent properly during reentry, causing pressure to build, cracks to form and charred material to break off in multiple locations.

The problem: by the time those findings were complete, the heat shield was already installed on the Artemis II capsule, and it was too late to change it. NASA's solution was not to replace the shield, but to alter the spacecraft's reentry trajectory, using what's called a "loft" approach rather than the "skip" reentry used on Artemis I, in hopes of creating more favorable heating conditions and limiting further cracking.

Why Reentry is the Most Dangerous Part

Former NASA astronaut Charlie Camarda  a heat shield expert who flew on the first Space Shuttle mission after the 2003 Columbia disaster  does not believe that fix is sufficient. He was invited to a NASA headquarters meeting in January to review the agency's investigation data and walked away unconvinced.

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Camarda claims the tools NASA used to analyze the problem are inadequate, comparing them to the tools that failed to catch the issues behind both the Challenger and Columbia disasters. He believes the root cause of the Artemis I heat shield damage was an inherent structural failure  not simply a matter of reentry angle  and that NASA's modified trajectory does not solve the underlying problem.

"The fact that we decided to fly crew on a vehicle with a known defective heat shield is irresponsible," Camarda said. "We are trying to prevent the loss of the Artemis II crew. History does not repeat because engineers forget equations. It repeats because organizations forget how to listen to them."

Camarda emphasized he is not predicting a catastrophic failure. He thinks the mission will likely return home safely. His deeper fear is that a safe landing will be treated as validation that NASA's decision-making is sound, setting the stage for a more serious failure down the road.

NASA Officials Weigh In

NASA officials have repeatedly maintained that safety is the top priority and that the agency fully understands the heat shield's limitations. Former NASA Associate Administrator James Free said engineers determined the crew is "well within" safety parameters under the modified trajectory.

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"It's all how you enter the atmosphere," Free said. "If you limit the angle at which it comes in, that limits how far downrange you can go, which limits your landing attempts  but you still stay within the temperature limits you need for Artemis II, and that's what they have planned."

Pilot Victor Glover acknowledged the weight of the moment from aboard the spacecraft this week.

"I'll be honest and say, I've actually been thinking about entry since April 3, 2023, when we got assigned to this mission," Glover said. "We have to get back. There's so much data that you've seen already, but all the good stuff is coming back with us."

Splashdown is scheduled for approximately 8:07 p.m. ET Friday off the coast of San Diego. A diver will immediately photograph the heat shield from below upon recovery  providing the first evidence of how it performed.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Apr 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Magen David Adom teams responded to reports of minor damage to a building in Shlomi after five drones entered Israeli airspace.

An apartment building in Shlomi was damaged on Saturday afternoon following a series of rocket and drone launches from Hezbollah in southern Lebanon to northern Israel.

Magen David Adom teams responded to reports of minor damage to a building in Shlomi after five drones entered Israeli airspace.

A fragment of an Israeli interceptor rocket that was found near Karmiel on April 11, 2026. (credit: Karmiel Municipality)

The IDF stated that most of them were intercepted and that no one was injured.

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Separately, fragments of Israeli interceptor munitions fell in an open area of Karmiel.

Acre announces that schools will remain closed through Sunday

After the incident, the city of Acre announced that its schools will remain closed on Sunday as a result of the heavy rocket and drone barrages from Hezbollah.

The attack comes as representatives from Iran and the United States met to discuss a ceasefire after nearly six weeks of war in the Middle East.

Though Pakistani and Iranian sources expressed that Lebanon should be included in the ceasefire, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump stated that Lebanon was a separate issue.
Police are searching for the suspect who shot and killed a man outside a church in Jamaica, Queens, on Friday.

It happened near a park outside a church at Merrick Boulevard and Sayres Avenue around 2:20 p.m.

The 49-year-old victim, identified by police as Richard Carter, was shot multiple times in the torso by a man who fled the scene on a CitiBike.

Witnesses say there was a funeral service just wrapping up, and about 25 people coming out of the church at the time of the shooting.

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Eyewitness News spoke to a limo driver who was sitting in his vehicle two cars behind the hearse. He said he was waiting for family of the deceased to exit the church, and that's when gun shots went off.

"I was on my way inside the church and I was taking my coat off to throw inside the limo - and soon as I took my coat I heard pow! Pow, pow, pow, pow! I was like what the heck? And I looked and I looked at the hearse and I saw a guy laying on the ground bouncing from side to side. And I was like oh my God! I ran behind the limo to go inside the church," driver Eric Fairchild said.

Fairchild was supposed to drive the family of the deceased home. His limo was parked only a couple of cars behind the hearse.

The bullets were fired just as the funeral service wrapped up and crowds began exiting the church.

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The driver said he doesn't know if the victim was part of the service.

"My heart was pounding because of the fact I'm saying I hope a stray bullet doesn't come my way I didn't know which way they were shooting him from. I just saw him on the ground. I didn't know where that was coming from so I was just panicking trying to get off the sidewalk," Fairchild said.

The victim was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Police say the suspect was last seen wearing a DKNY jacket, a colorful sweatshirt, orange sneakers and fled northbound on 170th Street.

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The family did not even have a chance to bury their loved one before another life was taken.

"As I'm trying to help take care of one family member that's already gone - and a friend of his gets killed here at his service. That was crazy," a family member said.

It's not clear if the victim was the intended target.

No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.

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A well-known beach music performer was killed early Saturday morning in a crash on Interstate 95 in Dunn that shut down traffic for several hours.

North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the wreck happened around 2:16 a.m. near Pope Road in Harnett County.

Howard Douglas Winstead Jr., 67, of Concord, was driving a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica northbound when he crashed into a 2025 Peterbilt tanker truck that had slowed because of traffic ahead. The truck was driven by Justin Broderick, 35, of Angier.

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Winstead died at the scene, troopers confirmed with ABC11.

Winstead was a member of the Band of Oz and was returning home from a Friday night performance in Lexington, South Carolina, when the crash occurred. He was also formerly a member of The Fantastic Shakers and The Blackwater Band.

Northbound lanes of I-95 were closed for several hours as first responders cleared the wreckage and investigators examined the scene. Traffic backups stretched for miles during the closure.

The highway reopened at 5:47 a.m. The crash remains under investigation.


Some car restorations take time. This one seems to have taken patience, money, and a strong tolerance for disappointment.

A felony case involving Tennessee shop owner Corey Miller is now inching through court, but the story behind it reads less like a restoration success and more like a cautionary tale told in rust, missing parts, and mounting frustration.

The hearing in Sevier County was expected to bring a plea from Miller. Instead, it delivered a delay. Prosecutors say more alleged victims have surfaced, and they want to hear every story before moving forward. That decision left several car owners standing outside the courtroom, comparing notes on how their dream projects turned into long, expensive limbos.

Two Years Later, His Mustang Was "Unrecognizable"

Take Larry Scans and his 1965 Mustang GT. Back in March 2023, he handed over his car and a stack of cash with a simple goal: bring the classic back to life. He paid more than $12,000 for parts, followed by another $5,000 for labor. The full restoration was expected to land around $31,000. Not cheap, but for a vintage Mustang, not outrageous either.

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Nearly two years later, he got the car back.

Image Credit: WATE 6 On Your Side/YouTube.

Calling it unrecognizable was not a compliment.

During those 23 months, the shop moved locations without telling him. Communication was scarce. When he did catch a glimpse of his Mustang, it was tucked away in a corner, buried behind other vehicles like a project that time forgot. When he finally retrieved it, he had to tow it away. Not exactly the triumphant drive home he had imagined.

He is just one case.

John Ward handed over his 1966 Mustang Fastback GT in July 2024 along with $22,000 for restoration work. Months passed. Then more months. Communication faded. Excuses grew. Eventually, he says he did not even know where his car was or what condition it was in. The money, however, was definitely gone.

Image Credit: WATE 6 On Your Side/YouTube.

By the time the case reached court, a grand jury had already indicted Miller on five counts related to unlawfully controlling other peoples property. The charges stem from multiple complaints involving vehicles that owners say were taken in, paid for, and not properly returned.

Felony Charges, a Quiet Courtroom, and a Growing Case

Miller was arrested in October 2023 on felony theft charges.

Image Credit: WATE 6 On Your Side/YouTube.

When the recent hearing rolled around, he was present but kept a low profile, sitting in the gallery with his head in his hands. He did not address the judge directly. Instead, attorneys on both sides debated the path forward.

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Prosecutors argued the case is growing in complexity as more potential victims come forward. Millers defense pushed back, suggesting the matter belongs in civil court rather than criminal court, framing it as a business dispute rather than a felony.

The judge decided more time is needed. A status hearing is set for mid-July, with a potential trial penciled in for November.

Meanwhile, the stories continue.

Kevin Bickley says he dropped off his Mustang in 2020 and paid more than $24,000 over the years. Five years later, he finally picked it up. The car, he says, was in pieces. Some parts were missing entirely. Imagine waiting half a decade only to receive a puzzle with pieces gone.

Denials, Lawsuits, and Unanswered Questions

Miller, for his part, has denied wrongdoing in at least one instance, arguing that certain mechanical issues were not his responsibility. That defense has not stopped a wave of civil lawsuits. Records show multiple customers have taken him to court and won, often because Miller did not appear to contest the cases.

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Back outside the courtroom, the mood among car owners is a mix of relief and disbelief. Some have their vehicles back, though not in the condition they expected. Others are still searching for answers.

For enthusiasts, a restoration project is trust, nostalgia, and often a significant financial gamble. In this case, that gamble has left several owners holding invoices, unanswered questions, and cars that tell a very different story than the one they signed up for.

If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you dont miss whats coming next.
Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif briefly posted a message on X accusing Israel of carrying out genocide and using language Israeli officials condemned as inflammatory and offensive.

Pakistans defense minister deleted a sharply worded social media post about Israel on Wednesday after it triggered a diplomatic backlash at a sensitive moment for Islamabad, which has been trying to help facilitate indirect US-Iran contacts linked to a newly announced two-week ceasefire and broader regional tensions involving Lebanon.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif briefly posted a message on X, accusing Israel of carrying out genocide and using language Israeli officials condemned as inflammatory and offensive. The post also referred to European Jews in terms that critics said carried antisemitic overtones. Although the message was later removed, it drew an unusually direct response from Israel, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between the two countries.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office called the remarks outrageous and said they amounted to rhetoric questioning Israels right to exist. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and other officials also condemned the post, with several focusing on the phrase European Jews, which they said crossed a line.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif's original post/. (credit: SCREENSHOT/X)

Controversy lands awkwardly in Pakistan

The controversy landed awkwardly for Pakistan. Islamabad has long supported the Palestinian cause, but it has also been trying to present itself as a credible intermediary in high-stakes regional diplomacy. Asifs post ran counter to that effort and invited new scrutiny of Pakistans claim to neutrality.

Within hours, Asif removed the message from X without public explanation. As of April 10, 2026, the same content remained on his Facebook account, fueling speculation that the deletion may have been prompted by pressure from Pakistans political or military leadership, though no official confirmation has been provided.

Pakistani officials have continued to criticize Israeli military action in Gaza and Lebanon, but sources said the language in Asifs deleted post was unusually severe at a time when Islamabad was trying to project diplomatic restraint.
From undercover police to panic buttons, bus drivers in Peru's capital Lima are pulling out all the stops to protect themselves from attack by extortion gangs, a key theme in Sunday's presidential election.

Racketeering has taken on epic proportions in Peru in recent years, with bus companies among the most common targets of gangs who demand huge sums of money in return for protection from attack.

Failure to pay can spell mortal danger for the vehicle operators.

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At least 75 bus drivers were murdered in 2025 in the South American nation, primarily in Lima, according to police data.

Some were gunned down in front of their passengers.

In the low-income Lima district of San Juan de Lurigancho, one of the areas hardest hit by the crime wave, 58-year-old Zacarias Lopez slid nervously behind the wheel to start his work day.

He spent the next 15 hours crisscrossing the dusty avenues of eastern Lima, passing walls plastered with campaign posters.

Most of the record 35 candidates vying to become president have promised a crackdown on crime.

"They promise and never deliver. They play with our feelings, and we keep getting shot," said Lopez, who said he fears "not returning home alive."

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Extortionists also shake down private schools and small businesses of all kinds, from hairdressers to grocery stores.

Peru is experiencing its worst security crisis since a bloody conflict between 1980 and 2000 that pitted the state against Maoist guerrillas.

From 2018 to 2025, the number of reported murders rose from 1,000 to 2,600 a year, while reported extortion cases jumped more than eightfold to 26,500.

The surge in crime has coincided with the arrival of transnational criminal syndicates who compete with local gangs for control of cocaine trafficking routes, illegal gold mines and extortion rings, among other rackets.

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- Broken promises -

The situation has forced bus companies like Lopez's employer Santa Catalina transport company to boost their defenses.

A video surveillance center was inaugurated on Wednesday at Santa Catalina's depot to monitor buses in real time using closed circuit TV cameras.

The drivers now also have panic buttons at their fingertips and sometimes backup from police officers, who come aboard, either in uniform or plainclothes, for the most dangerous stretches of the journey.

But some drivers and passengers say the measures fall short.

A banner with black ribbons erected in the Santa Catalina terminal in memory of a murdered driver serves as a reminder of the dangers.

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"If the criminal comes up behind me... I won't even have time to press the button," said Lopez as he collected fares from passengers.

"There's no security anywhere," said 70-year-old Maruja Castillo, who took the bus to go to the doctor.

Many of Santa Catalina's drivers have quit out of fear of attack from any one of the six extortion gangs that have targeted the business in recent months.

Posters on the vehicles advertise for new drivers.

"We've seen promises that have never been kept, but we haven't lost hope that an incoming government will improve" the situation, said Eiffel Calla, 38, the company's head of security.

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The violence has led to a race to the right on the campaign trial, with candidates vying to outdo each other with hardline proposals to crack down on crime.

Former Lima mayor Rafael "Porky" Lopez Aliaga has vowed to build prison colonies in the jungle, ringed by deadly snakes.

TV comedian Carlos Alvarez said he would bring back the death penalty for hitmen.

"All the candidates are going to say what the people want to hear, but whether they'll actually deliver on their promises is another story," said passenger Victoria Perez, 49.

On the eve of the election, she was among the 16 percent of Peruvians still undecided about which way to vote, according to an Ipsos poll.

cm-sf/gta/cb/mjf/mlm
Physicists have measured the mass of one of the universes basic building blocks, the W boson particle. The new calculation, made at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) near Geneva, could help solve a niggling mystery about this particles mass.

About 80 times heavier than protons, W bosons are among the heaviest of natures fundamental particles, which cant be broken down into smaller bits. They carry the weak force, which allows other particles to morph from one type to another in processes such as the radioactive decay of uranium to lead and the nuclear fusion of hydrogen to helium.

A 2022 measurement of the W bosons mass made by the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) experiment at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratorys (Fermilabs) Tevatron collider was the most precise to date. And it suggested that the mass differed significantly from the prediction of the Standard Modelthe ruling theory of particle physics. If correct, that meant that something strange was going on with the particles governing radioactivity and with the rules of physics.

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The 2022 measurement had been the most precise to date. The new measurement, however, nearly matches its precisionbut agrees with the Standard Model. Leaders of the new study, which was conducted at the LHCs Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment, say it reassures them that their basic understanding of the W boson is likely on track. While it would have been thrilling to confirm the CDF result, what I really wanted was to publish a result that will stand the test of time, says Massachusetts Institute of Technology physicist Kenneth Long, a co-author of the new study. I think most physicists today will be placing their bets on the standard model, and I think our measurement is a big reason for that.

The puzzle isnt fully solved yet, though. While I congratulate CMS on their valiant effort, any conclusions at this stage are certainly premature, says Duke University physicist Ashutosh Kotwal, who co-authored the CDF analysis. Clearly, both CDF and CMS cannot be correct. The CDF team derived its mass measurement using six different methods and studied various ways the W boson might decay to smaller particles. CMS, on the other hand, is just getting started, with their first publication containing only one of these six methods, Kotwal says.

The Standard Model has been enormously successful in describing the world of fundamental particles, but scientists know it isnt complete. It doesnt include, for instance, the mysterious dark matter that physicists believe is ubiquitous in the cosmos or the dark energy that seems to be accelerating the universes expansion. If researchers can find a discrepancy between the models predictions and reality, it could point the way toward expanding the theory to more fully describe nature.

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I think we all expect the Standard Model to truly break one day, Long says. But this measurement means that one of the more enticing (and striking) hints that the Standard Model wasnt working now seems more like an experimental anomaly than a theoretical insufficiency. It means we have to keep looking harder and perhaps in different places to find these cracks.

According to the LHCs new measurement, the W boson weighs 80,360.2  9.9 mega-electron-volts (MeV), roughly 160,000 times the mass of the electron, which has about 0.5 MeV. That figure is squarely within Standard Models predictions.

The LHC speeds up protons to nearly the speed of light and then crashes them together. The energy of the collision spawns many new particles, includingsometimesW bosons. The experiment cant measure W bosons directly because they disappear after only 10 24 seconds of existence. But they often decay into a pair of particles called a neutrino and a muon (a heftier version of an electron).

The neutrino is nearly as elusive as the W boson, but CMS can study muons very precisely. By carefully measuring the energy and momentum of muons produced in about 100 million collisions thought to have created W bosons, the physicists arrived at their new mass estimate. The finding was published on April 8 in the journal Nature.
A man in his 30s died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver Friday night in the San Fernando Valley's Winnetka neighborhood, authorities said.

The collision occurred about 10 p.m. on Winnetka Avenue, between Sherman Way and Gault Street, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department said.

The vehicle was heading southbound on Winnetka when it hit the pedestrian, who was crossing the street outside of a crosswalk, an LAPD spokesperson told ABC7. Descriptions of the vehicle and suspect were not available.

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The victim was transported to a hospital, where he died. His name was not immediately released.

Investigators were working to confirm a witness's report that the man was struck by a second vehicle.
A person has died the day after being stabbed on Ohio State Universitys Lincoln Tower turf fields April 10, according to OSU police.

The stabbing occurred during an altercation between two groups of people on the turf fields, which are east of Cannon Drive and north of John H. Herrick Drive. One person was stabbed at about 7:45 p.m. during the fight.

The victim was transported to Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, where he died. He was identified on April 13 as 19-year-old Guilliani Olguin Jacinto.

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Police responded to the scene and detained the suspect, according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, from Ohio State University police.

The suspect was still in custody and the investigation was ongoing. OSU police are not releasing the name of the suspect because they are a juvenile, said Dan Hedman, an OSU police spokesperson.

Neither the victim nor the suspect were OSU students and are not affiliated with the university, Hedman said, adding that there is no ongoing threat to the campus.

Ohio State police are encouraging anyone who witnessed the altercation or was in the area at the time to come froward with any information by calling 614-292-2121, Hedman said.

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Delaware County and eastern Columbus suburbs reporter Maria DeVito can be reached at mdevito@dispatch.com and @mariadevito13.dispatch.com on Bluesky and @MariaDeVito13 on X.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: One dead, one in custody after stabbing at OSU turf fields
Law enforcement shot and killed an armed man just after midnight on April 11 in Clermont County, according to a news release.

Officers from the Pierce Township Police Department and Clermont County Sheriff's Office both responded to the Eastgate Mobile Home Park at around 12:10 a.m. after receiving a 911 call about a man with a gun. A person in the background of the call said the man was "intoxicated and suicidal," the sheriff's office stated in the release.

Officers located the armed man once on scene and after "the subject refused multiple orders to drop the firearm," he was shot, the release said. The number of shots fired was not provided.

EMS requested medical air transport. The man was pronounced dead once the helicopter landed about an hour after he'd been shot. His identity has not been released.

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No officers were injured. The release did not provide information about whether the officers were placed on leave amid the investigation.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has been notified to investigate the shooting.

Anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts can call or text the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or 800-273-8255 any time day or night, or chat online at https://988lifeline.org/chat/.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Police shoot, kill man at mobile home park in Pierce Township
Romanian police fined a driver for speeding who explained she had to hurry or her cake would burn.

The woman in Romania had left the cake in the oven, she said on the day before Orthodox Easter.

Police noted she was driving at 176 kilometres per hour, far too fast on a narrow country road in the south-east of the country.

The driver had tested the limits of physics at that speed and tried to justify it with a culinary drama, the Constanta County Police Inspectorate said in a Facebook post.

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She said she was baking the traditional Cozonac, a Romanian yeast cake made with raisins or nuts at Easter.

The predominantly Orthodox Christians in Romania are celebrating Easter this weekend, a week after the Catholics and Protestants.

The woman was fined more than 1,800 lei ($410), which the police said would be enough for 20 ready-baked premium-quality Cozonacs."

Furthermore, her driving licence has been suspended for four months, so that she now has enough time as a pedestrian to learn all the secrets of baking, the officers said.
GOSHEN  The Elkhart County Prosecutors Office has charged a Goshen man with five felony counts of possession of child sex abuse material after the Elkhart Police Department arrested him as part of an Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigation.

On April 8, Elkhart and Goshen police officers executed a search warrant for electronic devices at a home in the 1800 block of Amberwood Drive where they arrested John P. Hussey, 65, of Goshen.

An Elkhart Police Department officer and member of the Elkhart Police Department Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force had received and reviewed an ICAC tip of possible child sex abuse material connected with an IP address in the city of Goshen.

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Hussey was booked him into the Elkhart County Jail on the preliminary charges, each a Level 6 felony.

ARRESTS

 A 26-year-old man was arrested and jailed by Goshen police at 5:51 p.m. Thursday on charges of operating while intoxicated, driving as a habitual traffic violator and in the possession of marijuana after police were made aware of a reckless driver traveling northwest on Elkhart Road, eventually making his way to Handy Spot Liquor, 1827 Lincolnway East.

 A 33-year-old man was arrested and jailed by Elkhart County deputies at 4:55 a.m. Thursday on charges of operating a vehicle while never receiving a license and making false identity statements after he was stopped at U.S. 33 and Greene Road.

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CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

A 46-year-old man reported to Elkhart County deputies that around midnight April 7 someone drove through his yard in the 26000 block of Woodridge Drive.

ANIMAL OFFENSE

A 56-year-old woman reported to Elkhart County deputies at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday chickens were roaming in her yard in the 66000 block of C.R. 3 in Wakarusa.

THEFT

 Peddlers Village Auction, 2909 Peddlers Village Road, reported to Goshen police at 11:09 a.m. Thursday the theft from a business by someone known to the owners.

 A 23-year-old woman reported to Elkhart County deputies that between 9 p.m. Tuesday and 4 a.m. Wednesday someone entered three vehicles in the 29000 block of Driftwood Drive and stole a tool box.

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 Elkhart County deputies received a report that between midnight and 1 a.m. Wednesday someone stole a MM80 Mini Bike Frame from the 58000 block of C.R. 115 in Elkhart

 Elkhart city police officers at 2 a.m. Friday received a report that someone stole highway signage out from near C.R. 22 and C.R. 11.

FRAUD

An 82-year-old man reported to Elkhart County deputies at 8:52 p.m. Wednesday being the victim of a fraud where a man impersonated McAfee Security via email and phone led him to believe he owed $29,700.


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



Heres what youll learn when you read this story:

For more than a decade and a half, Germans lived in fear of a serial killer who seemed to have literally gotten away with murder.

Known as the Phantom of Heilbronn, this suspected killer left behind the same DNA at every crime scene.

When investigators eventually tracked down the source of the genetic material, they received what was likely the shock of their careers.

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Between 1993 and 2009, tremors of fear swept through Germany as an elusive serial killer rose to prominence and remained at large. The killer was thought to be behind a string of 40 crimessix of them murdersand proved impossible to identify despite the best efforts of police. The only definitive evidence cumulatively recovered from the crime scenes was DNA that indicated the killer was a woman of Eastern European descent.

The Phantom of Heilbronn, as she came to be known, was seemingly suited to her name, able to commit horrible crimes and leave with barely a trace. But the mystery was not destined to remain unsolved forever. The beginning of the end of the Phantoms saga took the form of the brutal murder of police officer Michele Kiesewetter, who had been taking a lunch break with her colleague (who later identified himself as Martin A.) on the afternoon of April 25, 2007. Neither saw the two figures stealthily approaching them from behind. Gunshots pierced the air, and both Michele and Martin fell unconscious. Martin was rushed to the hospital and put into a medically induced coma. When he awoke, he was told by another colleague that he had been shot in the head and barely survived. Michele, however, had not been so lucky.

Initially, the murder of Michele Kiesewetter was added to the list of unsolved crimes thought to have been perpetrated by the Phantom of Heilbronnwho had seemingly vanished once again, this time in possession of the slain policewomans gun. But this time, a few things simply didnt seem to add up. For one, both of the suspects present at Kiesewetters shooting were eventually identified as male, and the one piece of conclusive knowledge the authorities had about the Phantom at the time was that she was genetically female. For another, the Phantom's DNA was found to match that on documents belonging to a person who had died in a fire  yet subsequent retesting of those same documents revealed no trace of it.

It wasnt until two years after Kiesewetters murder, however, that anomalies in the DNA found at the Phantoms supposed crime scenes finally led to a specific person. But when authorities tracked their target down, they found not a terrifying serial killer, but an everyday, average worker at a cotton swab factory. Granted, theres no guarantee that factory workers cant be serial killers, but in this particular case, the workers job was basically enough on its own to not only exonerate her, but to unravel the entire mystery of the Phantom of Heilbronn.

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The 1990s and early 2000s were still the very early days of DNA evidence being used in a forensic capacity, and as such, some hiccups were still being worked through. In this particular case, the hiccup was clearthe cotton swabs that were produced by the factory employing the Phantom were incorporated into DNA collection and testing kits, and the companies that manufactured these swabs had not been ensuring that the kits were sterile enough to be reliable. The companies behind the production of the cotton swabs insisted their swabs were never meant to be used for forensic investigations, and while they were sterile and free of harmful pathogens (which made them safe for medical use), sterilization doesnt eliminate DNA. The Phantom of Heilbronns DNA really had been at every crime scene attributed to herbut it had been brought in on the testing swabs rather than left behind by an elusive criminal mastermind.

So, in the end, years of following leads that pointed to nowhere amounted to the pursuit of a serial killer who didnt exist. The discovery of the real DNA source also revealed why thered been male gunmen at the scene of Michele Kiesewetters murder when previously, the suspect had been genetically confirmed as female. Micheles gun was later found at a scene where two members of the neofascist organization Nationalsozialistischer Untergrund (NSU) had taken their own lives, and further evidence confirmed theyd been the ones who shot Martin and Michele.

Once the contamination of the testing swabs was discovered, the Phantom of Heilbronn went from a national menace to a national embarrassment for the German authorities whod been invested in capturing her. Someone thought to be operating in multiple countriesand potentially as part of a larger crime ringturned out to be nothing more than a manufacturing error. But while the investigation didnt turn up a serial killer, it did spark concern about integrity in forensic science. It became abundantly clear that contamination could mislead investigators and possibly implicate the wrong person.

DNA evidence transfer can occur during forensic product manufacturing, the fingerprinting process, or even autopsy and crime lab examinations, researchers said in a 2010 study that was something of a postmortem on the Phantom and similar cases. These vital areas of the forensic investigation are vulnerable to contaminationunderstanding the origins of contamination events provides the greatest insight into preventing their occurrence and maintaining the integrity of forensic evidence.

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Members of the Upper Makefield Fire Co. announced April 9 that their annual spring carnival has been canceled after Pennsylvania officials denied a request to host it in a state park.

Fire company members have held the spring carnival at Washington Crossing State Park since the 1980s, according to a fire company release. Organizers said they couldn't identify another venue with the space and road access to accommodate the event, which has featured classic carnival rides and concessions.

The volunteer firefighters said they're disappointed by the decision from officials with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

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More: 'Crisis looming in Bucks County': Why volunteer firefighters are being pushed to the brink

Melange on Sycamore, which opened April 8 in Newtown Township, delivers a menu inspired by Cajun, Creole and Italian cooking styles through dishes such as the 10-ounce Berkshire Porkchop grilled and glazed with a maple ginger sauce, and served with sweet mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables. Chef Joe Brown plates an order of Pan-seared Scallops during the soft opening of Melange on Sycamore in Newtown Township, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Melange on Sycamore, which opened April 8 in Newtown Township, delivers a menu inspired by Cajun, Creole and Italian cooking styles through dishes such as the Louisiana BBQ Shrimp with Mini Cheese Biscuits. Melange on Sycamore, which opened April 8 in Newtown Township, delivers a menu inspired by Cajun, Creole and Italian cooking styles through dishes such as the Duck Gumbo, featuring a crispy roasted half duck in a rich, spicy stew with wild mushrooms, green peppers, onions, tomatoes and andouille sausage, served over rice. Three orders of filet mignon line the expo station during the soft opening of Melange on Sycamore in Newtown Township, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Melange on Sycamore blends southern Louisiana flavors and Italian cooking to bring a new upscale dining experience to Newtown Township. Melange on Sycamore, which opened April 8 in Newtown Township, delivers a menu inspired by Cajun, Creole and Italian cooking styles through dishes such as the Dirty Rice & Clams, featuring sauteed littleneck clams with green peppers, onions, and Cajun spices, served over dirty rice with chicken livers and andouille sausage. Melange on Sycamore blends southern Louisiana flavors and Italian cooking to bring a new upscale dining experience to Newtown Township. An order of bread pudding receives a drizzling of caramel sauce before heading out of the kitchen during the soft opening of Melange on Sycamore in Newtown Township, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Sous chef Oshane Powell plates a mustard and herb-crusted Rack of Lamb during the soft opening of Melange on Sycamore in Newtown Township, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Melange on Sycamore, which opened April 8 in Newtown Township, delivers a menu inspired by Cajun, Creole and Italian cooking styles through dishes such as the Roast Rack of Lamb mustard and herb-crusted, served with Dijon mustard sauce, roasted potatoes, and sauteed green beans. Melange on Sycamore, which opened April 8 in Newtown Township, delivers a menu inspired by Cajun, Creole and Italian cooking styles through dishes such as the Crabmeat Cheesecake, featuring a savory blend of Creole cream cheese and lump crab baked in a pecan crust, topped with caramelized onions, mushrooms, jumbo lump crab, and a rich cream reduction. Melange on Sycamore, which opened April 8 in Newtown Township, delivers a menu inspired by Cajun, Creole and Italian cooking styles through dishes such as the Grilled Barramundi served over sauteed spinach and lump crab, and topped with lemon-caper tomato butter. Invited guests attend the soft opening of Melange on Sycamore in Newtown Township, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Melange on Sycamore, which opened April 8, 2026 in Newtown Township offers indoor and outdoor seating. Melange on Sycamore blends southern Louisiana flavors and Italian cooking to bring a new upscale dining experience to Newtown Township. A look at Melange on Sycamore, Newtown's newest restaurant 1 of 16 Melange on Sycamore, which opened April 8 in Newtown Township, delivers a menu inspired by Cajun, Creole and Italian cooking styles through dishes such as the 10-ounce Berkshire Porkchop grilled and glazed with a maple ginger sauce, and served with sweet mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables.

"It was an event that was anticipated by many in the community, and proceeds from the event contributed significantly to our annual operating budget," they wrote.

DCNR representatives did not immediately return a request for comment on the fire company's announcement.

Jess Rohan can be reached at jrohan@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Firefighters say DCNR decision canceled Upper Makefield carnival
Russia and Ukraine each released 175 prisoners of war before the start of a planned Easter ceasefire, the Defence Ministry in Moscow said on Saturday.

"In addition, seven citizens of the Russian Federation who were unlawfully held by the Kiev regime were returned," the ministry said, thanking the United Arab Emirates for mediating the prisoner exchange.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the exchange shortly afterwards.

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"175 soldiers. Soldiers of the armed forces, members of the National Guard, border guards. Soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers. And seven civilians," he said on Telegram.

"Our soldiers defended Ukraine on various fronts: in Mariupol, at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Sumy, Kiev and Kursk regions," Zelensky said.

"Among them are wounded. Most have been in captivity since 2022. And finally - at home."

A 32-hour ceasefire is due to begin at 4 pm (1300 GMT) so that Christians in Ukraine and Russia can celebrate Orthodox Easter.

The two sides have regularly exchanged prisoners as well as the bodies of killed soldiers during the course of the war, which has lasted over four years.
Republican Paul Dans, who oversaw the conservative policy blueprint known as Project 2025, announced Friday that he is ending his primary campaign against Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and backing another candidate in the race.

Dans, noting he was recently endorsed by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, wrote in a post on X that he was dropping out of the race because we cannot Make America Great Again until Lady Graham is taken out of office. @MarkLynchSC has the resources to make that happen.

Dans launched his campaign last year, telling NBC News that he was running because "we need to have a government of, by and for the people, again. Not by swamp critters like Lindsey Graham.

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But Dans struggled to raise money for his campaign, pulling in nearly $630,000 last year as Graham, who is seeking a fifth Senate term, raised more than $19 million. Mark Lynch, a businessman, has been self-funding his run, loaning his campaign $5 million last year.

President Donald Trump slammed Lynch in a Truth Social post on Friday as a lunatic, saying that Lynch backs Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who frequently clashes with Trump.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has President Trump's endorsement as he runs for a fifth term. (Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images ) (Michael M. Santiago)

"I dont have to go into great detail, but needless to say, Mark Lynch would be a DISASTER for the Republican Party, and Lindsey Graham just, GETS THE JOB DONE," wrote Trump.

Although Trump has endorsed Graham in the primary, Lynch argues that he is more closely aligned with Trump's "America First" movement.

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"South Carolinians deserve a God-fearing, conservative businessman to fight alongside President Trump against the powers of evil that have such a tight grip on career politicians, not a traitorous, back-stabbing flimsy flip flopper like Lindsey Graham who pretends to put America first when the next election comes around," Lynch said when he launched his campaign last year.

Graham, meanwhile, shared Trump's Truth Social posts about the race on Friday, writing on X, "Thank you for your support, President @realDonaldTrump. With your endorsement, I will not let the great people of South Carolina down!"

The South Carolina primary is set for June 9.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Russias attempts to surveil and hack into Britains undersea cables stretch back to the Cold War.

The most recent episode, revealed on Thursday, involved two submarines roaming British territorial waters carrying specialist divers known as hydronauts.

The hydronaut detachments, from Gugi, Russias directorate of deep-sea research, were part of an elaborate attempt to target the data and power cables in British waters over the past month.

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Although hydronaut divers can sometimes be deployed outside a submarine, they are unable to operate at the bottom of the North Sea.

Instead, two small Gugi submarines, with retractable arms that allow the hydronauts to manipulate cables, were deployed while a large battle submarine was used as a decoy.

The flotilla of three submarines utilised techniques honed in the Soviet era.

They would have mapped out the cables locations and attempted to tamper with them to steal data, experts suggested.

John Healey, the Defence Secretary, said on Thursday: 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.

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The Royal Navy and RAF were deployed to see off the threat using defences including sonobuoys to track the Russian vessels.

Sonobuoys are devices about the size of a dustbin that emit sonar pings. By dropping several sonobuoys into the sea, the location of submarines can be precisely determined.

On this occasion, they were used alongside a Type 23 frigate, HMS St Albans, which is the Royal Navys on-duty Towed Array Patrol Ship (Taps).

HMS St Albans tows a long cable of underwater microphones to locate submarines precisely - MoD/Dave Jenkins

She is fitted with a long cable that has a series of hydrophones  underwater microphones  attached for extra precision in detecting enemy submarines.

The advantage of the Taps system is that with the microphones at a distance from the ship, they pick up less background noise from its engines.

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Merlin helicopters were also deployed alongside the RFA Tidespring support tanker and the RAFs P8 aircraft.

The Merlins are equipped with dipping sonar, a set of hydrophones on a cable that is lowered into the sea. This can be winched back up and immediately reused, unlike sonobuoys, which are dropped and discarded.

The RAFs P8 aircraft was deployed to monitor the Russian submarine flotilla - Peter Jolly/Northpix

Prof Alan Woodward, of the University of Surrey, who began his career tracking Soviet naval vessels, explained what the Russians were likely to be doing.

What theyll be doing is just mapping where they all are, and its the cables and the pipelines and all those sort of things, because theres obviously lots of data cabling  internet cabling, particularly  that goes across [the North Sea] between the US, France and the Low Countries, he said.

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But theres also quite a lot that go across to Denmark and Norway, as well as the electricity interconnectors, he added, referring to cables that import gigawatts of power to the UK.

It is likely that Gugi was using the submarine Losharik to examine the British cables, said Prof Woodward. Displacing less than 1,000 tons, the 70m boat is typically carried below a submarine mother ship.

Sub

1004 GUGI-class submarine

Prof Woodward said it was likely the hydronauts were practising to cut cables, as well as mapping them.

Losharik has a specialised mechanical arm, according to illustrations painstakingly researched by HI Sutton, a naval analyst. The arm can be fitted with tools to take hold of and lift cables from the seabed so they can be examined.

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It is probable that a cutter for severing cables can be attached to the arm, although that is unlikely to happen outside wartime.

Mr Sutton noted on his website, Covert Shores, that Losharik had had a chequered, accident-prone history.

As well as mapping the undersea locations of cables, Losharik and other Gugi submarines probably carry surveillance equipment, Prof Woodward added.

This might include devices to steal the information carried by undersea cables, including cable splices to record data.

The US navy used this technology on a cable linking two naval bases in eastern Russia during the Cold War. Weighing several tons, it nonetheless went undetected for years, even though American submarines visited to change the tapes every few months.

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Undersea cables are also vulnerable to undetectable devices which sit on top of them and use sensors to read their data.

1004 Cables in the north sea

The devices can bend fibre-optic cables and capture information as it leaks out the sides.

Britain relies on undersea cables, even though their vulnerabilities have been exposed in recent years.

It is understood that several have inadvertently been damaged by commercial vessels dragging anchors. Experts suggest that a number break every year for a variety of reasons, but this rarely has lasting impact.

Until now, security sources have suggested that Russia preferred more opaque sabotage, such as cyber-attacks, which gave a layer of plausible deniability to cable interventions.

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Dr Sidharth Kaushal, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told The Telegraph that to affect the UKs telecom cable networks as a whole, an opponent would have to conduct sabotage on a sustained basis in a way that would not be deniable.

Energy pipelines under the North Sea are more fragile, however. The Langeled pipeline and others carry a significant proportion of Britains gas supply.

1004 AKULA-class submarine

And Dr Kaushal pointed out that more secure cable networks, which carry military data, are also more susceptible.

He continued: Gugi submarines such as the Belgorod, as well as specialised assets such as the Paltus, X-Ray and Losharik, are complex targets but are detectable by the same means used to track other more conventionally military Russian submarines.

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However, in peacetime there are limited avenues with which to constrain their activity beyond attribution. The challenge is compounded by the fact that Russia is increasingly likely to use smaller uncrewed systems for tasks such as surveillance and potentially sabotage, and tracking these systems can prove challenging.

It is likely that these assets can have still gathered data  something which navies and organisations like Gugi can legally do in peacetime as long as they are in international waters.

However, by monitoring activity, the Royal Navy can both build a level of awareness about what infrastructure is being mapped and potentially recover any surveillance assets left behind by Russian submarines.

It can also build a degree of awareness regarding Russian tactics  for example, the apparent use of an Akula attack submarine to draw attention away from Gugi submarines in this most recent incident.

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The indictment, which was filed by attorneys at the Southern District Attorney's Office, indicated that 34-year-old Nasser Mustafa smuggled products in coordination with an IDF reserve officer.

The State Attorneys Office filed an indictment on Friday against a Rahat resident for smuggling goods into the Gaza Strip and aiding the enemy during wartime.

The indictment, which was filed by attorneys at the Southern District Attorney's Office, indicated that 34-year-old Nasser Mustafa smuggled products, mainly cartons of cigarettes, in coordination with an IDF reserve officer.

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Mustafa was charged with aiding the enemy during wartime, dealing in property for terrorist purposes, giving bribes, and receiving something by fraud under aggravated circumstances after an investigation conducted by the Northern Police Department, the Shin Bet, and the Israeli Intelligence Service.

He developed a friendly relationship with the officer during April and June 2025. The two then conspired to smuggle the goods from Israel into Gaza before roping an additional officer into the scheme, according to the indictment.

Mustafa posed as an aid truck repairman, taking advantage of the officers authority and sneaking the goods onto the trucks before they were transported to the Gaza Strip. Once the trucks arrived in Gaza, the smuggled goods were collected by local officials.

Trucks carrying aid wait at the Israeli side of the Kerem Shalom border crossing to southern Gaza, amid a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in southern Israel, October 20, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/HANNAH MCKAY)

The smuggling scheme was repeated on several occasions, with Mustafa receiving cash sums of hundreds of thousands of shekels in exchange for the goods. Some of Mustafas profits were transferred to officers in exchange for their participation.

Smuggling operation benefited Hamas

According to the indictment, Mustafa engaged in the smuggling while knowing that the goods could reach Hamas or provide it with financial assistance, materially contributing to Hamas efforts against the State of Israel.

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The State Attorneys Office emphasized that controlling goods coming into the Gaza Strip is of central importance to Hamas, which imposes taxation on smuggled goods as an effort to maintain power and control of Gaza while strengthening its economic capabilities.

Mustafa also allegedly made false statements and misled security officials, circumventing restrictions on goods entering the Gaza Strip.
Content warning: This article contains information about child sexual abuse. Reader discretion is advised. Report child sexual abuse to local law enforcement and contact the DCFS 24/7 hotline: 855-323-3237. For more information, visit dcfs.utah.gov.

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah (ABC4)  A religious bishop from Texas has been arrested for allegedly raping and sexually abusing his minor relative in Utah.

The 53-year-old man, who ABC4 is not identifying in order to protect the victim, has been arrested on one count of object rape of a child (first-degree felony), and one count of sexual abuse of a child (second-degree felony).

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According to court documents, he is from Texas, where he is a religious bishop.

It is alleged that on March 9, the man raped and sexually abused his minor relative while at a family members home in South Jordan, Utah. The victim reported that the two were lying side-by-side on a bunk bed when he began sexually assaulting her. She stated that she felt scared and wanted to tell him no. The man was eventually called by someone else in the home and left the room.

Following the assault, the victim recalled feeling uncomfortable around the man. She also told law enforcement that she experienced mental health difficulties.

How to make ABC4 your preferred news source on Google

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On April 9, the man traveled back to Utah to attend a grandchilds blessing. He was taken into custody without incident at the Salt Lake City Airport.

Court documents state that a few weeks prior to his arrest in Utah, he was arrested in Texas for a similar crime. ABC4 does not have further details on the arrest.

At this time, the suspect is being held without bail in the Salt Lake County Jail.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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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 ABC4 Utah.
Ukraine's military command accused Russia of repeatedly violating a truce to mark the Orthodox Easter Saturday with nearly 470 incidents ranging from air strikes and drone attacks to shelling.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the ceasefire on Thursday, more than a week after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky first made the proposal.

Both sides had agreed to observe it.

The ceasefire had been due to last for 32 hours, from 4:00 pm (1300 GMT) on Saturday until the end of the day on Sunday, according to the Kremlin.

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Yet by late Saturday, Ukraine's military said in a Facebook post that "469 ceasefire violations were recorded, namely: 22 enemy assault actions, 153 shelling attacks, 19 strikes by attack drones... and 275 strikes by FPV drones."

In total, the Ukrainian military said Saturday had seen Russia carry out 57 air strikes and drop 182 guided aerial bombs, along with deploying 3,928 drones and conducting 2,454 shelling attacks "on populated areas and positions of our troops".

In Russias Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, Governor Alexander Khinshtein also accused Kyiv of breaking the truce by attacking a gas station in the town of Lgov with a drone, injuring three people, including a baby.

In his evening address on Saturday, Zelensky called for a longer ceasefire.

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"We have put this proposal to Russia, and if Russia again chooses war instead of peace, this will once again demonstrate to the world, and to the United States, who really wants what."

Residents of Kharkiv, a city near the Russian border and targeted by daily attacks, had been wary of the truce.

"It's not for long, a day and a half, so maybe it will hold," hoped Oleg Polyskin, 65.

"But even if you're going to church, there is no 100-percent guarantee that everything will be peaceful... you shouldn't trust Putin and his government," he added.

"It would be nice if nothing happened tonight and it was quiet, without air-raid alerts," said 16-year-old Sofiia Liapina.

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"But we can't know -- because our neighbours can't be trusted," she added.

- Last-minute strikes -

Hours before the truce was due to start, Russia launched at least 160 drones at Ukraine, killing four people in the country's east and south and wounding dozens of others, Ukrainian authorities said.

A wave of Ukrainian drones meanwhile sparked a fire at an oil depot and damaged apartment buildings in Russia's southern Krasnodar region, authorities said.

The two sides held a ceasefire for Orthodox Easter last year, but both accused the other of hundreds of violations.

Despite tensions over the truce, the warring sides exchanged 175 prisoners of war each on Saturday, according to officials.

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"I still haven't really realised that I'm finally here -- that now I can make my dreams reality, that I am finally free," said Maksym, a Ukrainian soldier freed after four years as a prisoner.

Fourteen civilians were also exchanged: seven on each side.

- Stalled diplomacy -

US-led talks aimed at ending the four-year conflict have stalled in recent weeks because of the war in the Middle East.

Even before the Iran war, progress towards a peace deal in Ukraine had been slow, due to differences over the issue of territory.

Ukraine has proposed freezing the conflict along the current front lines.

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But Russia has rejected this, saying it wants Ukraine to give up all the territory in the Donetsk region that it currently controls -- a demand Kyiv says is unacceptable.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Russia had discussed the ceasefire with Ukraine or the United States in advance and said it was not linked to negotiations to end the war.

The war has cost hundreds of thousands of lives and forced millions to flee their homes, making it Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

Russia has made small territorial gains at a high cost.

Kyiv recently managed to push back in the southeast and Russian advances have been slowing since late 2025, according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Moscow occupies just over 19 percent of Ukraine, most of which was seized during the first weeks of the conflict.

bur-cad/giv/ach
April 11 (Reuters) - A new Russian launch vehicle, Soyuz-5, is undergoing its final tests and is "absolutely ready" for use in space projects, Russia's top space official said on Saturday.

Dmitry Bakanov, head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, was presenting details of the rocket to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the eve of the 65th anniversary of the first flight in space by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

Bakanov said the Soyuz-5 would be the first new launch vehicle developed in Russia since 2014.

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"The new Soyuz-5 launch vehicle is absolutely ready. This is our joint project with our partners in Kazakhstan known as Baiterek," Russian news agencies quoted Bakanov as saying.

"Currently, tests of all units and assemblies are underway."

Bakanov said the rocket had already been placed during tests in a vertical position as preparations proceeded.

Plans call for the new two-stage rocket, capable of placing payloads of up to 17 metric tonnes in orbit, to be used in place of Zenit rockets.

Launches will be conducted at the Baikonur space centre dating from Soviet times and now located in Kazakhstan.

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Putin, quoted by Russian news agencies, said Russia's space industry was now "feeling more confident. I know that many problems had accumulated there over a long period of time."

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Paul Simao)
We have all seen drivers drift a little on the highway. Maybe they are distracted. Maybe they are tired. Maybe they correct it before anything happens. Most of the time, it is a moment that passes without consequence.

This was not that.

A newly released video from the Florida Highway Patrol shows a tractor-trailer weaving across lanes on Interstate 75, a movement that immediately stands out to anyone sharing the road. It was enough that multiple drivers picked up the phone and called it in before troopers ever saw it themselves.

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What followed turned into a DUI arrest with alcohol levels that are hard to ignore. Authorities also noted a language barrier during the stop, a detail that has become part of the broader conversation as the video spreads.

Like many incidents like this, it is now picking up traction well beyond the initial stop, as it moves across social media and into a much wider debate.

The Stop Started With Calls About a Swerving Semi

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According to WFLA, troopers began receiving calls around 1 p.m. Tuesday about a semi failing to stay in its lane on northbound I-75 near the Sumter and Hernando County line. Multiple motorists reported the truck drifting and nearly hitting other vehicles.

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At 1:28 p.m., a trooper located the semi and observed it drift into the inside lane, where a black SUV was already traveling. The SUV driver was forced to brake abruptly and take evasive action to avoid a collision.

The driver was identified as a 36-year-old Numon Azimov of Rego Park, New York.

Not Too Much and BuzzBallz in the Cab

According to FOX 35 Orlando, the trooper noted signs of impairment during the stop, including bloodshot, watery eyes and the odor of alcohol. When asked if he had been drinking, Azimov admitted that he had.

When asked how much, he reportedly replied, Not too much. He then retrieved a nearly empty 200 milliliter BuzzBallz container with a straw still in it from the cab.

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Additional empty containers were also found inside the truck.

What Are BuzzBallz?

A lot of the reaction to this video has focused on one specific detail: the drink itself. Many of the commenters on the Florida Highway Patrols Facebook post were asking the same question: What are BuzzBallz?

We were not familiar with them either, so we looked it up. BuzzBallz are small, ready-to-drink cocktails sold in round 200-milliliter containers.

They typically contain between 13.5% and 15% alcohol by volume, which is significantly higher than that of standard beer. In a case like this, that matters a lot more than the branding or packaging.

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The concern here is simple. Alcohol at that level can impair a driver quickly, and when the driver is operating a commercial vehicle, the margin for error is basically gone.

Breath Tests Registered Far Above the Legal Limit

According to Villages-News, Azimov performed poorly on field sobriety exercises and later agreed to provide breath samples.

Those samples reportedly came back at 0.259 and 0.273. For a commercial driver, the legal limit is 0.04, putting those results at roughly six to nearly seven times the allowable level.

Booking records show the charge falls under Florida statute 316.193 for DUI involving a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher. At that level, this is not a borderline case. It raises serious questions about basic vehicle control and how long this had been going on before troopers stopped him.

The Video Makes the Risk Easy to See

The FHP video is brief, but it lines up with what callers and troopers described. The semi can be seen drifting across lanes, leaving very little margin for error.

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The near miss with the SUV is what stands out. One delayed reaction or one slightly different angle, and this could have ended in a much different kind of story.

The Comments Went Exactly Where You Would Expect

The Florida Highway Patrols Facebook post has racked up nearly 400,000 views and clearly struck a nerve.

The reaction is coming directly from that post, and it is split in familiar ways.

Some commenters focused on the danger, with one calling the truck an 80,000-pound missile and others pointing out how easily this could have turned into serious injuries or worse.

Others pushed back on attempts to turn the story into something broader. Its not a New York state of mind, it was the drivers state of mind, one comment read.

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Like many Facebook posts involving a commercial driver, alcohol, and a near crash, the discussion did not stay limited to the facts of the stop for long.

Why This Was Always Going to Get Political

It did not take long for the conversation to move beyond the incident itself. Stories involving CDL standards, language proficiency, and immigration are already part of larger national debates.

When all those elements show up in one case, especially one involving a near crash and a very high BAC, it almost guarantees people will start arguing about more than just the arrest.

What we actually know here is much narrower than the comment section suggests. The driver admitted to drinking, showed signs of impairment, and tested far above the legal limit. Authorities also noted a language barrier, but provided little additional detail beyond that.

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We do not have information about immigration status, and nothing in the available reporting changes the central issue. Drinking and driving is dangerous. Doing it in a semi makes the stakes exponentially worse.

This Could Have Ended Much Worse

Azimov was arrested on a DUI charge and later released on bond. The case now moves forward through the legal process.

The bigger takeaway is not the drink, the branding, or the comment war that followed the FHP post. It is how close this came to ending differently.

Because when a vehicle that large starts drifting across lanes at highway speed, there is no harmless version of the story. There is only the version where everyone gets lucky, and the one where they do not.
After a quiet week of spring weather, Oklahoma is preparing for a run of increasingly severe weather days through the weekend. Storms crossing the state could result in hail, flooding, damaging winds, and potentially tornadoes.

Nationally, the widespread storm will dampen weekend plans from Texas to Michigan, AccuWeather reports. A general 1-4 inches of rain is expected from Friday through Wednesday, but some areas of the U.S. could see totals of 6-8 inches.

According to the National Weather Service, the risk of storms kicked off Friday night in the northern half of the state, with rain and flash flooding being the primary concerns for Oklahoma residents.

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On Saturday, April 11, the weather service expects a risk of severe thunderstorms to cross portions of northwestern Texas and the western half of Oklahoma late in the afternoon through Saturday night.

The potential hazards are large hail and damaging wind gusts.

On Sunday, April 12, the severe weather threat increases slightly. Much of the central portion of Oklahoma should expect large hail, damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and possibly tornadoes.

The slight risk of severe thunderstorms will continue into next week, with afternoon and evening storms the most likely through Wednesday, April15.

 Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location

Weather alerts: See where tornado watch, tornado warnings have been issued

What to do when there's a tornado watch

Be prepared  tornadoes are possible in and around the area mentioned in the watch. Be ready to act quickly.

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NWS:How to prepare for a tornado

What to do when there's a tornado warning

Take action now. A warning means someone saw a tornado or one was indicated by weather radar. Under a tornado warning, there's imminent danger to life and property. Everyone should move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.

Lightning strikes late Monday night near Lake Hefner as storms moved through the area. Photo by Hugh Scott, The Oklahoman Storm clouds are pictured before the Women's College World Series game between the Alabama and Florida at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Sunday, June, 2, 2024. Clouds are pictured around the stadium during a weather delay of Game 2 of the NCAA softball tournament Stillwater Super Regional between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona Wildcats in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, May, 25, 2024. Supercells, hail, tornadoes: See incredible weather photos from across Oklahoma 1 of 3 Lightning strikes late Monday night near Lake Hefner as storms moved through the area. Photo by Hugh Scott, The Oklahoman

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Severe storms to hammer Oklahoma with rain, hail through next week
A nonprofit contracted by the state to provide in-home care for older adults in Eastern Massachusetts could cut dozens of jobs this year, according to state officials.

South Shore Elder Services (SSES) is one of 24 Aging Service Access Points (ASAP) contracted by the Executive Office of Aging and Independence (AGE) to provide services for adults 60 and older, particularly those who are low-income or from minority communities.

The Braintree-based organization filed a public Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act Notification (WARN) stating that up to 52 workers could be laid off between June 1 and 30 after it said state officials plan to "redesignate" its role as a state-contracted ASAP.

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"We are very sad to share this news with you as South Shore Elder Services has served elders in the greater Braintree area for 48 years," the nonprofit's human resources office wrote in a letter to employees.

However, SSES said the exact number of layoffs had not been finalized.

South Shore Elder Services, of Braintree, filed a WARN notice with the state regarding upcoming layoffs.

SSES serves residents of Braintree, Cohasset, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Milton, Norwell, Quincy, Randolph, Scituate, and Weymouth, per its website. It is headquartered at 350 Granite St., Suite 2303, in Braintree.

On March 18, the nonprofit announced it had signed a letter of intent to "explore a strategic partnership" with Old Colony Elder Services in Brockton. Old Colony confirmed this in its own press release.

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"The organizations are now working together to develop the details of this potential partnership and will share additional information as those plans are finalized," SSES said. "Throughout this process, the priority for both organizations is to maintain continuity of services and provide lasting stability for consumers, families, providers, and the broader community."

In its letter to employees, SSES wrote it had met with local lawmakers to seek additional funding for its programming, saying that if approved, the nonprofit may be able to continue services as a subsidiary partner of Old Colony Elder Services.

South Shore Elder Services and Old Colony Elder Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Neither did SEIU Local 509, the union named in the letter to employees.

What is a WARN notice?

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, passed in 1988, ensures workers have ample time to prepare for job transitions.

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A WARN filing is required when a worksite closing or mass layoffs affect at least 50 employees and a third of the site's total workforce.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Braintree elder care nonprofit could lay off more than 50 workers
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Credit: NASA

Artemis 2 has come home.

The four Artemis 2 astronauts splashed down off the coast of San Diego this evening (April 10), wrapping up an epic mission that broke spaceflight records , caught the attention of the world and set the stage for even more ambitious moonshots to come.

"From the pages of Jules Verne to a modern-day mission to the moon , a new chapter of the exploration of our celestial neighbor is complete. Integrity's astronauts are back on Earth," NASA spokesperson Rob Navias said just after splashdown, referring to the name of Artemis 2's Orion capsule.

NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA's Artemis 2 Orion capsule Integrity returns from the moon with its four astronauts in a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026. NASA/Joel Kowsky

Recovery boats head out to the Artemis 2 Orion spacecraft after splashdown. NASA/Joel Kowsky

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NASA's Artemis 2 Orion capsule Integrity returns from the moon with its four astronauts in a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026. NASA/Joel Kowsky

NASA's Artemis 2 Orion capsule Integrity returns from the moon with its four astronauts in a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026. NASA/Joel Kowsky

A mission of firsts

Artemis 2 launched on April 1 , sending four explorers  NASA's Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch and the Canadian Space Agency 's Jeremy Hansen  toward the moon inside Integrity.

It was the second-ever liftoff for NASA's huge Space Launch System rocket and the first crewed flight for both SLS and Orion .

Artemis 2 was a mission of firsts in many other ways as well. For starters, it launched humanity back to the moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in December 1972. Glover was the first person of color ever to leave Earth orbit, and Koch and Hansen were the first woman and first non-American, respectively, to do so. (The Apollo astronauts had been the only people to achieve this feat, and they were all white American men.)

"We sent four amazing people to the moon and safely returned them to Earth for the first time in more than 50 years," Lori Glaze, NASA's Artemis program manager, said after the splashdown. "To the generation that now knows what we're capable of, 'Welcome to our moonshot.'"

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NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman , who watched the Artemis 2 astronauts return to Earth from the deck of their recovery ship, the USS John P. Murtha, seemed in awe of the entire mission.

"Honestly, I'm still at a loss for words," Isaacman said after splashdown during NASA's televised commentary. "The childhood Jared, right now, can't believe what I just saw. I mean, I've almost been waiting my whole lifetime to see to see this, and then it's as NASA administrator. I just couldn't be more proud of the entire workforce, the years, the effort, the late nights, all the hard work from across the country that contributed to this incredible moment right now."

Artemis 2 astronaut Christina Koch waves after arriving on a U.S. Navy recovery ship following the splashdown of her Orion moonship Integrity. NASA

Artemis 2 commander Reid Wiseman is airlifted clear of the Orion capsule during recovery efforts after splashdown. NASA

The Artemis 2 Orion spacecraft splashes down in the Pacific Ocean. NASA

The Artemis 2 Orion spacecraft under parachutes just before splashdown. NASA

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Artemis 2 also took a unique path to Earth's nearest neighbor  a "free-return" trajectory that featured a single loop around the far side . The Apollo moon missions, by contrast, targeted lunar orbit, after which some of them touched down on the gray dirt.

Apollo 13 ended up flying a free-return trajectory in April 1970, but that wasn't by design; that mission was supposed to orbit and then land on the moon, but it suffered an explosion en route that scuttled that plan and forced its astronauts into survival mode.

Apollo 13's unplanned lunar loop sent it 248,655 miles (400,171 kilometers) from Earth, farther than any humans had ever gone before. Artemis 2 broke that record during its own flyby on Monday (April 6), which took the crewmates 252,756 miles (406,771 km) from their home planet. (From liftoff to landing, the Artemis 2 crew flew a total of 700,237 miles, or 1.1 million km.)

They don't want to hold this record for half a century, though, for that would signal a disappointing stagnation in human spaceflight.

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"We, most importantly, choose this moment to challenge this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived," Hansen said shortly after Artemis 2 surpassed Apollo 13.

The Apollo capsules held a maximum of three astronauts. So Artemis 2 was the first mission to fly four people to deep space, as well as the first to send a bona fide toilet beyond Earth orbit. Artemis 2's space toilet had some issues , but it was still a giant leap for deep-space hygiene; the Apollo astronauts did their business into handheld bags .

The moon up close  and a solar eclipse, too!

But Artemis 2 wasn't about setting records. It was primarily a shakeout cruise, designed to show that SLS and Orion can fly crewed missions beyond Earth orbit.

There were some science objectives, too. After all, the Artemis 2 astronauts were getting humanity's first up-close looks at the moon in more than 50 years.

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And their free-return trajectory, which featured a lunar close-approach distance of 4,067 miles (6,545 km), gave them different, more zoomed-out views than those of the Apollo astronauts, who mostly observed the moon from a tight orbit. Indeed, during their flyby, the Artemis 2 astronauts saw parts of the far side never before seen with human eyes, which are incredibly capable instruments.

"Human eyes and brains are highly sensitive to subtle changes in color, texture and other surface characteristics," NASA officials wrote in an Artemis 2 explainer .

"Having astronaut eyes observe the lunar surface directly, in combination with the context of all the advances that scientists have made about the moon over the last several decades, may uncover new discoveries and a more nuanced appreciation for the features on the surface of the moon," they added.

So NASA scientists prepped the Artemis 2 crewmates extensively, giving them a long list of viewing targets and instructions on how to observe them.

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One of the highest-priority landforms was Orientale Basin . This 600-mile-wide (965 km) crater, known as the "Grand Canyon of the moon," had never been seen in sunlight before, so the science team was keen to get Artemis 2's eyes on it.

The astronauts obliged, returning detailed observations of Orientale. They reported back effusively about many other features as well. Glover, for example, was particularly taken with the terminator, the boundary between day and night on the moon.

"There's just so much magic in the terminator  the islands of light, the valleys that look like black holes; you'd fall straight to the center of the moon if you stepped in some of those," he radioed to Mission Control during the flyby. "It's just so visually captivating." The crew reported seeing colors on the moon as well, describing some regions as green and brown.

On April 6, 2026, external cameras attached to the Artemis 2 Orion spacecraft's solar array wings captured the moon backlit by the sun during a solar eclipse. | Credit: NASA

The Artemis 2 astronauts also got to see a total solar eclipse during Monday's flyby, a happy accident of orbital dynamics locked in by the fact that they launched on April 1. (The eclipse wasn't visible to us here on Earth.)

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Because the moon loomed so large in Artemis 2's view, it blocked the sun for a whopping 54 minutes  far longer than totality lasts during solar eclipses seen from Earth.

The astronauts dutifully recorded details of the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona , during the epic event. But they took some time to appreciate it on an emotional level as well.

"When that actually happened, it just blew us all away," Glover said in a call with reporters on Wednesday (April 8). He called it "unreal" when he watched it in real-time.

The Artemis 2 Orion spacecraft Integrity separates from its European Service Module just ahead of reentry on April 10, 2026. | Credit: NASA

There were many such human moments on this mission, and we got to see them thanks to NASA's 24/7 livestream. For instance, just after Artemis 2 broke Apollo 13's distance record, Hansen radioed Mission Control asking for permission to name two heretofore anonymous craters on the moon  one after Integrity and one after Wiseman's late wife Carroll , who died of cancer in 2020.

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As Hansen made the case for Carroll Crater, his crewmates fought off tears, without much success.

"For me personally, that was kind of the pinnacle moment of the mission ," Wiseman said in Wednesday's call. "That was, I think, where the four of us were the most forged, the most bonded, and we came out of that really focused on that day ahead."

Mission Control agreed to both name proposals, by the way, though they won't get onto official moon maps until the International Astronomical Union gives the thumbs-up as well.

Coming home

Monday's lunar flyby did more than break a spaceflight record and enable unprecedented science observations; it also charted Integrity's course back to Earth . Indeed, that was the main reason NASA picked the free-return trajectory for Artemis 2: Relying on lunar gravity to send Orion home eliminated the need for a major engine burn, reducing risks for this test mission.

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So there wasn't a lot of drama over the past few days as Integrity made its way back toward Earth. But that was just as well, for today's homecoming had plenty of drama  and a fair bit of danger.

Spacecraft returning from the moon hit Earth's atmosphere at tremendous speeds  24,000 mph (38,600 kph) or thereabouts. This generates huge amounts of frictional heating; temperatures around the vehicle can hit 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,800 degrees Celsius).

Orion has a heat shield to deal with such temperatures  the biggest one ever built for crewed flight, in fact, at 16.5 feet (5 meters) wide. But that heat shield showed some cracks on the lone previous Artemis mission  Artemis 1, which successfully sent an uncrewed Orion to lunar orbit and back in late 2022.

Because of that unexpected damage, NASA tweaked Artemis 2's reentry profile, bringing Integrity in on a steeper angle to limit the amount of time its heat shield was exposed to extreme conditions in the atmosphere. But the agency didn't modify the heat shield itself, stressing that the hardware was up to the challenge.

Artemis 2's Orion capsule, named Integrity, splashes down on April 10, 2026. | Credit: NASA

Still, when Orion hit the Earth's atmosphere and went radio silent for six minutes due to the interference from plasma during descent, there was some nervousness in Mission Control.

"Certainly, there's anxiety," Artemis 2 entry flight director Rick Henfling said after splashdown in a press conference. "If you didn't have anxiety bringing the spacecraft home, you probably didn't have a pulse."

But he and his team had extreme confidence in Orion's heat shield and performance, as did the rest of Mission Control and the astronauts themselves.

That confidence was well placed, for Integrity survived its trial by fire today. The capsule hit the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean southeast of Hawaii at 7:53 p.m. (2353 GMT). Ten minutes later, the capsule's drogue parachutes deployed as planned, followed in short succession by its three big main chutes.

The mains helped slow Integrity's descent to 19 mph (31 kph)  the speed it was traveling when it hit the water at 8:07 p.m. EDT (0007 GMT on April 11) off the coast of San Diego, about 2,000 miles (3,200 km) from the spot where it first slammed into the atmosphere.

"A perfect bulls-eye splashdown for Integrity and its four astronauts," Navias said. "It was, for all intents and purposes, a textbook mission."

The USS John P. Murtha, from Naval Base San Diego  was waiting in the area to welcome the astronauts home, and to get them to shore for medical checks. All four were reported to be in good health and good spirits.

Bigger things coming

Artemis 2 was a big deal, but it will lead to even more ambitious missions in the next few years, if all goes according to plan.

It's a step toward the chief goal of the Artemis program : establishing a crewed outpost near the moon's south pole by the early 2030s. This region is thought to be rich in water ice, which can be used for life support and also processed into rocket fuel. NASA believes that building such a base will help it map out an even grander project  landing astronauts on Mars , which the agency aims to do in the late 2030s or early 2040s.

With Artemis 2 in the books, NASA can now turn its attention to Artemis 3 , which is scheduled to send astronauts to Earth orbit in mid-2027. They'll test docking procedures up there using Orion and one or both of the Artemis program's contracted lunar landers  SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin 's Blue Moon.

After that will come Artemis 4, which will use one of those privately developed vehicles to put astronauts down near the lunar south pole in late 2028. The timeline is aggressive by design: China aims to pull off its own crewed lunar landing by 2030 , and the U.S. wants to win this new space race .

"The path to the lunar surface is open, but the work ahead is greater than the work behind us. It always will be," NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya said in the briefing. "Fifty-three years ago, humanity left the moon . This time, we return to stay."

Editor's note: This story was updated at 12:30 a.m. ET on April 11 to include additional details and comments from NASA's post Artemis 2 splashdown briefing. Space.com Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik contributed to this report.
After a grueling descent through Earth's atmosphere, NASA will strap the Artemis II astronauts into bulky spacesuits for an obstacle course.

Within mere hours of the Orion spacecraft's splashdown on Friday, April 10, the crew  Commander Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen  won't be afforded much time to rest and relax. Instead, the four will be bounced around from one research group to the next before they've fully acclimated to Earth gravity.

One of those studies will include putting their "right stuff" to the test. The gauntlet, far less flashy than an episode of American Gladiators, will unfold back at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. There, a giant robotic crane and a heavy test suit will help a small team answer a crucial question: After 10 days of weightlessness in space, how soon can humans safely get back to work in another world?

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The experiment grows out of a longerrunning study with astronauts returning from sixmonth missions on the International Space Station. Those crews spend about as long in orbit as a trip to Mars might take  and they come home pallid and wobbly.

Scientists worry that in a weakened state, astronauts might not be ready for moonwalks or Marswalks, which require strength and agility.

"We don't want to put the astronauts in a position where theyre going to be stranded in a spacesuit, asking them to do tasks that are probably above what their physiologic capabilities are going to be in," said Jason Norcross, a senior scientist leading the effort. "This helps us really with planning, more than anything else."

Without gravity, muscles atrophy and aerobic fitness fades. The brain and inner ear systems that tell us which way is up and help us stay balanced also need time to readjust.

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To investigate that, Norcross' team has used the Active Response Gravity Offload System, or ARGOS, at Johnson. Picture a crane that holds part of a person's weight. By lifting just the right amount, ARGOS lets a suited astronaut feel as if he or she is in a different gravity environment.

For space station astronauts, ARGOS is tuned to Martian gravity, and the obstacle course is framed with that in mind: Can someone who has spent six months in orbit step into a 400pound suit and, within about a day of landing, safely make their way through a mock Mars spacewalk?

Faking lunar gravity

For Artemis II, the team will reuse the same basic setup but dial ARGOS to lunar gravity instead  onesixth Earth's pull  and tweak the tasks to echo the type of work astronauts will need to do on the moon.

Within one to four hours of landing, the Artemis II astronauts will first tackle a capsule escape drill using a mock spacecraft. Lying on their backs, they'll have to sit up, deploy a ladder, climb up and over it, shoulder a pack, and walk a set distance. This exercise seeks to understand whether a crew can open a hatch if a landing goes awry.

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That's a question shared by many space physiologists, said Marie Mortreux, an assistant professor at the University of Rhode Island. She studies how muscles and bones cope with different levels of gravity.

"When they come back home from space, you're familiar with those images," said Mortreux, who isn't involved in the Artemis II EVA simulations. "They can't walk  and I'm like, 'What's going to happen if they can't make it out?'"

NASA astronaut Kayla Barron gets assistance out of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule after splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico on May 6, 2022.

Mortreux's research in rodents suggests that lower-body, weightbearing muscles take the biggest hit in space. Arm muscles  the ones people need for latches and handles  hold up better because astronauts use them constantly to pull themselves around in weightlessness. That's reassuring, she told Mashable, but it's not a reason to be complacent, underscoring the need for more research like this.

Despite being tired and uncomfortable, all space station astronauts who have been subjected to the experiments so far have managed to complete them.

Inside the spacesuit challenge

The test will continue with a simulated lunar EVA in moonlike gravity the next day. Each of the four crewmates will change into liquid cooling garments, closefitting layers threaded with thin water tubes to keep them from overheating. Then, they'll climb into heavy-duty EVA spacesuits that require entering through a back hatch. Just getting into them is physically taxing.

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Once the astronauts stand up, the team will connect their suits to ARGOS. From that point forward, the test compresses the most challenging parts of a moonwalk into a 30 to 40minute obstacle course: down a ladder on a mock lander platform, across unstable ground, through geology drills, and onto a steep treadmill hike. The ladder is deceptively difficult: Any task that forces crew to turn their heads, look down, or rely on their inner sense of orientation, could trigger vertigo.

"You'll often see [returning astronauts] keep their head in line with their body," Norcross said, "which is why, when we've designed a lot of our tasks, we've designed them with a lot of turning, a lot of head movement up and down."

Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover dodges rocks and carries a loaded bag during a moonwalk simulation while attached to the ARGOS system to get baseline data ahead of his post-landing obstacle course.

Next, the astronauts will have to bend and squat through tasks meant to rehearse making electrical and fluid connections. In a real mission, that kind of work might power up a lander or connect lifesupport lines  unglamorous but essential chores.

From there, the experiment will shift to the most punishing part. In a trailer filled with sand and rocks, the astronauts will carry several 30pound bags back and forth over uneven footing. The ground tends to shift, visibility is limited by the helmet, and the suit resists every stride.

"Most treadmills don't even go up to 20 percent."

Then, for the science activity: The astronauts will have to hold a tool steady for about a minute to mimic using an instrument, swing a hammer to chip off a rock fragment, and dig a trench with a scoop. Those moves echo what future crews might need to do to collect samples on the lunar surface.

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The test will finish on a treadmill. Still attached to the crane, the astronauts will walk roughly half a mile over slopes, including a steep uphill climb.

"Most treadmills don't even go up to 20 percent," Norcross said, explaining how high they'll set the inclination, "and sometimes it requires them to slow down pretty significantly. But they still put one foot in front of the other."

Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch climbs down the ladder of a mockup lander while attached to the ARGOS system to get baseline data ahead of her post-landing obstacle course.

A safety check for future moonwalks

Each Artemis II astronaut will endure the obstacle course, which will take about 1.5 hours to complete, one at a time. Norcross' team will track how long each task takes, how much energy the astronauts use, and how their heart rates respond. The whole experiment repeats three days later to measure how their performance changes over time.

From the space station study, Norcross already sees a pattern: Astronauts look and feel far better by the fourth day after landing, and close to normal within a week, even after half a year in orbit.

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Because Artemis II was short, these tests give NASA a cautious baseline. The data should help mission planners decide how aggressive to make the first lunar excursions, how far to let astronauts roam, and which jobs to push to later days after their bodies have had time to adapt.

So even though the Wiseman, Koch, Glover, and Hansen didn't set foot on the moon, they're going to at least feel like they did.

"For this Artemis II crew, it'll be, 'Congratulations, you've done your lunar EVA,'" Norcross said.

Mashable and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.
Donald Trump didnt plan for a ticking time bomb at the Strait of Hormuz because he was convinced that his war with Iran would be over in a matter of days, or even hours, the Daily Beast has learned.

The president was warned by his Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, and other advisors that Tehran would almost certainly plug the Strait if the U.S. attacked them.

He was also told Americas Middle East allies might come under fire.

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But intelligence sources with knowledge of the war planning said the president ultimately dismissed the concerns because he believed Iranians opposed to the repressive fundamentalist regime would take to the streets and overcome the ayatollahs henchmen once the bombing began.

The White House / via REUTERS

It was never supposed to go on this long. A few hours. A few days. A week at most. Then the Iranian people would do the rest.

But the revolution never happened.

The CIA even launched a covert mission to arm one of the biggest groups of Iranian dissidents in the weeks before Operation Epic Fury was launched. The guns didnt make it to their destination, Trump later disclosed.

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The president was unbowed. He was absolutely certain there would be an uprising. Hed seen footage of people out in the streets and how it spread across the country before the security forces cracked down, said the official, who requested not to be named because they feared losing their job.

There is no question the president knew the repercussions. He just thought it would all be over very quickly and that these other factors would not come into play. He thought it would be a little like Venezuelatheyd take out the leadership and that would be it."

When we are finished, take over your government, Trump said in his Truth Social video announcement that the bombings had begun. It will be yours to take. America is backing you with overwhelming strength. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach.

This is the moment for action, he added. Do not let it pass.

The Iranian regime killed thousands of protesters. / AGHASHT / Middle East Images/AFP via Getty

Despite strikes taking out the Iranian leadership, the moment did, indeed, pass, and there were no repeats of the demonstrations that brought the country to a standstill at the beginning of the year.

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This massive miscalculation by Donald Trump is the reason the U.S. had zero advance planning to prevent the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz or to foresee rising gas prices.

Trump himself admitted the gun-running operation went awry. You know we sent some guns, the president said in an off-guard moment at Mondays White House Easter Egg Roll. But the group that was supposed to give, which I said would happen to my people, I said it, I called it exactly.

We sent guns, a lot of guns, Trump continued. They were supposed to go to the people, so they could fight back against these thugs. Know what happened? The people that they sent them to kept them. Because they said, What a beautiful gun. I think Ill keep it. So Im very upset with a certain group of people, and theyre going to pay a big price for that.

The White House has been contacted for comment.

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Trump is no great student of history, but his military advisors would undoubtedly know how Britain lost control of the Suez Canal in the 1956 Suez Crisis. The British government was forced to withdraw its troopsunder immense diplomatic pressure from the U.S.after Egypts President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the canal.

A vessel passes 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. Photo by Shady Alassar/Anadolu via Getty Images. / Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images

There was a run on the pound, and Britain agreed to a ceasefire, only to later lose control of the waterway to Egypt. The saga effectively ended the UKs status as a global superpower.

Any emergency modeling for a potential World War Three would include a study of the implications of any conflict on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow chokepoint through Iran and Oman that carries almost a quarter of the worlds oil.

If Trump dismissed the specter of the Strait, Iran did not.

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For many decades, Iran has worked to develop asymmetric naval capabilities for precisely this sort of scenario, said MIT professor and Brookings senior fellow Professor Caitlin Talmadge.

This includes an arsenal of probably 5,000 to 6,000 mines of different types and varying levels of sophistication, along with numerous platforms that could deliver those mines.

The concern is that Iran also potentially has hundreds of smaller vessels: midget submarines, fast attack craft, even civilian boats of a certain type that could be used to lay small numbers of mines, and that potentially are very hard to find because theyre in all these small ports all along the coast.

Some of them may be in an extensive tunnel network Iran built along the coast that hides them until right when they enter the water. So, its not very hard to tell a story about how, if it chooses to, Iran could conduct a significant mine-laying campaign in the Strait. Just the possibility of thisor at least the inability of the United States to confirm that there are no minesis a deterrent for tanker traffic."

US President Donald Trump speaks about the conflict in Iran in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on April 6, 2026, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) / Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Now the worlds attention is focused on a waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Not the human rights abuses of a hateful regime.

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The uprising never happened.

Instead, the Iranian people were told by the U.S. president over the weekend that their entire civilization would be sent back to the Stone Age.

And now they have to worry about their own government and the Americans who were supposed to save them.

As War Secretary Pete Hegseth said at his Pentagon press briefing on Tuesday, We wish them the best.
Suspended Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Gagnon has been arrested and charged again.

The Essex County District Attorneys Office tells Boston 25s Ted Daniel that Gagnon was arrested on charges stemming from an incident that occurred on March 10.

Courtesy: Plympton Police Department

Gagnon was charged with unlawful wiretap and violation of an abuse prevention order. Gagnon will be arraigned in Plymouth District Court on Monday, April 13.

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Boston 25 also reached out to the Massachusetts State Police for details on the matter, who provided the following comment.

The Massachusetts State Police stands firmly against all forms of domestic violence and took definitive action in this case to relieve the Trooper of duty and suspended him without pay in December 2025. We will follow the court proceedings as part of our ongoing personnel investigation and await the outcome of that process. Massachusetts State Police Spokesperson

Gagnon was initially arrested on November 25, 2025, after an investigation determined that he had assaulted his child. He was charged with domestic assault and battery on a child under 14. He was taken into custody by Plympton police and released the following day after posting a $1000 bail.

Court documents reported that the juvenile victim had told authorities that Gagnon would strike him in the face with a closed fist, injuring his eye and face area.

The Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (POST) announced that Gagnon was suspended on December 3.

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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.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
(The headlines on this story were updated.)

Rep. Eric Swalwell, a leading candidate in California's gubernatorial race, faced sexual assault allegations by a former staff member in a report published Friday, April 10, by the San Francisco Chronicle.

The former staff member alleged sexual encounters with Swalwell while working for him and that he sexually assaulted her twice while "she was too intoxicated to consent," according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Swalwell denied the allegations.

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These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor, Swalwell 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. My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.

The San Francisco Chronicle also reported that Swalwell's attorney, Elias Dabaie, sent a cease-and-desist letter to the woman. The letter demands that she stop making "false statements accusing Mr. Swalwell of sexual assault and nonconsensual sexual encounters," and threatens to sue her if she does not retract her statement, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) speaks during a House Judiciary Committee hearing with Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel in the Rayburn House Office Building on Sept. 17, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Patel is facing questions from lawmakers for the second straight day following a contentious hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee where he was criticized for his handling of investigations into the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk and the case related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Since the publication of the article, some of Swalwell's opponents on the campaign trail have called for him to step out of the race.

For weeks, Swalwell had been the focus of online allegations of inappropriate behavior. His campaign denied the allegations, stating that he was being targeted because he was a leading candidate in California's gubernatorial race.

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"It's false," Swalwell told reporters at a campaign town hall in Sacramento on April 8. "There's never been an allegation, and there's never been a settlement."

Swalwell was set to host another town hall event in Palm Desert on April 9, but it was canceled at the last minute "due to illness," according to KESQ 3.

The allegation against Eric Swalwell

The former staff member told the San Francisco Chronicle that Swalwell pursued her weeks after she was hired by the Democrat's district office in Castro Valley in 2019. She alleges sexual advancements started when she was 21 years old, after he sent photos of his genitals and asked for nude photos in return.

The woman was not named in the report because she is the alleged victim of sexual assault.

U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) attends a House Judiciary Committee hearing with FBI Director Kash Patel (not pictured), on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 17, 2025. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon

She told the San Francisco Chronicle that in September 2019, Swalwell invited her out for drinks, where she became "severely intoxicated" and later woke up naked in Swalwells hotel bed, according to the report. She said she could not remember what happened the night before, but could "feel the effect of vaginal intercourse," according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

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In April 2024, she alleges Swalwell "forced himself on her" after a charity gala where he was honored, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The woman told the Chronicle she was not working as a staff member for Swalwell at the time and met with him for drinks after the event.

A few days later, she told her friend and then-boyfriend about the alleged sexual assault, noting that she woke up once during it and even told him to stop at one point, according to text messages reviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Her then-boyfriend encouraged her to report Swalwell to the police, but she said she was afraid to go to the authorities, believing the police would not take her claims seriously, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. She provided the newspaper with medical records showing she obtained pregnancy and STD tests a week after the incident, according to the report.

The cease-and-desist letter sent out by Dabaie claims that the woman was a "loyal and supportive colleague, not a victim and that the credibility of your accusations is fatally undermined by your voluntary and cooperative relationship with Mr. Swalwell over the course of many years following the period in question," according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

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Gerald Singleton, an attorney representing the woman, told the San Francisco Chronicle that the statements are 100% factually accurate, and she will not be withdrawing them.

Calls for Swalwell to drop out of the race

Several of Swalwell's opponents on the campaign trail have called for him to drop out of the California governor's race, including Katie Porter, Matt Mahan and Tony Thurmond.

Porter called the allegations against Swalwell "horrifying" and affirmed the courage of the women stepping forward by saying in a social media post, "We believe you and we stand with you."

Im calling on Eric Swalwell to drop out of the Governors race and resign from Congress immediately. pic.twitter.com/KMc7YegHKl  Tony Thurmond (@TonyThurmond) April 10, 2026

To the survivor who risked everything to come forward  I believe you.



To the Democratic Party  youd better hold him accountable. If we dont, we have no credibility asking anyone else to do the same.



To @ericswalwell  drop out. https://t.co/AiqEmWEuAP  Mayor Matt Mahan (@MattMahanSJ) April 10, 2026

In light of the allegations of sexual assault, Eric Swalwell should resign from Congress and end his campaign for public office. But those decisions do not absolve him of taking responsibility for his misconduct, especially when he has attempted to silence and retaliate against  Katie Porter (@katieporterca) April 10, 2026

Additionally, several organizations and politicians who have endorsed Swalwell are withdrawing their endorsement of the congressman.

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U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna called for law enforcement and the House Ethics Committee to investigate the allegations against Swalwell. "He must be held accountable," Khanna said on X.

Meeting with Epstein survivors has taught me how much trauma survivors endure and how much courage it takes for them to speak up. No one in a position of power should be allowed to act above the law or with impunity. It doesnt matter what office you hold, how wealthy you are, or  Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) April 10, 2026

U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff announced he will withdraw his endorsement of Swalwell, saying he is "deeply distressed" by the allegations.

I have read the San Francisco Chronicles account and I am deeply distressed by its allegations. 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. https://t.co/tdXgfl0OAt  Adam Schiff (@AdamSchiff) April 10, 2026

The California Teachers' Association, which endorsed Swalwell in March, announced that it would be "immediately suspending our support" for his campaign, calling the allegation against the congressman "incredibly disturbing and unacceptable."

The allegations are incredibly disturbing and unacceptable against Rep. Swalwell. We are immediately suspending our support. Our elected board will be meeting as soon as possible to follow our unions democratic process to determine next steps.  California Teachers Association (@WeAreCTA) April 10, 2026

Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow us on Facebook at TODAY Californian.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Swalwell faces sexual assault allegations, calls to drop out of race
GUEST INTERVIEW: Okta's Ariel Kadyshevitch says visibility is the single most important thing a CISO can do right now to get non-human identities under control, and his company is building the tools to make it happen.

88% of organisations report suspected or confirmed AI agent security incidents. Only 22% treat those agents as independent identity-bearing entities. That gap should terrify anyone responsible for enterprise security. And it's exactly the problem Ariel Kadyshevitch, senior director of engineering at Okta, flew to Sydney to talk about.

Kadyshevitch, who co-founded identity security posture management startup Spera Security (acquired by Okta for a reported US$100 million-plus in late 2023), took to the stage at the Sydney Identity, Authentication and Access Management Summit 2026 by Clutch Events, alongside Analisa Barretto, director for cyber at Deloitte Technology and Transformation, for a keynote panel titled "Managing non-human identities in the age of AI agents."

The panel sat alongside a live audience poll, and both panellists nailed the result before the votes came in: the single biggest challenge organisations face with non-human identities is simply discovering where they all are.

Kadyshevitch joined me after the keynote for a deeper conversation. What emerged was a picture of an identity problem that's growing faster than most security teams can track, and an industry scrambling to build standards before the damage becomes irreversible.

The video interview upon which this article is based can be seen full, embedded immediately below, please watch, and read on!

Identity went from utility to the only perimeter that matters

Kadyshevitch has watched identity shift through several eras. 25 years ago, cybersecurity was all about the network. Guard the perimeter, throw up a firewall, let people do whatever they wanted inside.

Then the focus shifted to the device. Then COVID happened. And now, with AI agents multiplying across enterprise environments, identity is the only security perimeter that's always present.

"You can't assume anymore that it's about device or it's about the network. Identity is the only thing that can govern every digital access," Kadyshevitch told the summit audience.

Barretto echoed the sentiment, framing identity as something that's graduated from IT control to business strategy. "Trust is the new currency because organisations have to safeguard and secure the customer's data," she told the audience. "Identity security is not just a part of your security strategy. It's actually a part of your business strategy."

That reframing matters. When identity was an IT utility, it got IT budgets and IT attention. When it's a business lever tied to customer retention and revenue, it gets boardroom visibility.

This infographic independently created by iTWire using Gemini Nano Banana 2, after which this article continues, please read on!

Shadow AI is hitting the crown jewels, and the old playbook won't work

Everyone serious about identity and security is talking about shadow AI: unsanctioned agents and automation tools that employees spin up without IT knowing. Okta presented a session on exactly this topic at RSAC 2026 in San Francisco, running concurrently with the Sydney summit.

It shares a family resemblance with the shadow IT headache from a decade ago. But Kadyshevitch says the scale and the risk are in a completely different category.

"In the era of shadow IT, you thought that okay, maybe I have my crown jewels, but then I have something that are not crown jewels, where I have risk. The shadow AI is already happening on your crown jewels," Kadyshevitch told me.

His example: a Salesforce instance that used to have strong guardrails around it. An AI agent can now move data out of that system in ways the security team never anticipated. The agents aren't targeting peripheral systems; they're already operating inside the most sensitive ones.

Non-human identities outnumber us, and it's only accelerating

Service accounts, API tokens, automation scripts. These non-human identities already outnumber human users in most enterprise environments, with ratios estimated between 5:1 and 200:1.

Stack AI agents on top of that, and the discovery problem becomes enormous.

Kadyshevitch described Okta's approach during our interview: "Starting very strong on visibility, but not visibility to crown jewels alone. Understanding that every department in the company is going to start using it."

The discovery methods span integrating directly with systems, browser plugins, device and network monitoring. Multiple angles because no single scan catches everything.

"Identity can discover all of those interactions, all of those digital interactions, which I think is super exciting," Kadyshevitch said.

During the keynote, Barretto reinforced the practical side: many organisations don't even realise tools exist to bring human and non-human identities under a single umbrella. "People just think of like, oh, I have control over my human identities, I'm done," she told the audience. "But then you need that tool that gives you all-around visibility."

Here is one of Oktas most recent videos from its YouTube channel, the article continues thereafter, please read on!

The kill switch: planning for when agents go rogue

Okta recently announced a universal logout capability for AI agents: a kill switch that can revoke all access tokens instantly. That feature's existence tells you something about Okta's threat model. They're planning for the moment an agent goes off-script.

How do you balance agent autonomy with that emergency brake?

"It's having the ability to set policies," Kadyshevitch explained. "For example, you're okay with spawning as many agents as you want, but you don't want them to have a scope to the PII of a customer."

The key, he said, is that Okta acts as the intermediary between different access points, enforcing whatever rules the organisation defines, then providing visibility into whether those rules are actually being followed. And in the future, actively blocking and revoking when they're not.

The industry needs to build secure foundations before it's too late

One of the most interesting threads from both the keynote and the interview was Kadyshevitch's push for industry-wide standards. Okta and partners across the industry are driving Cross App Access (XAA), a new open protocol for secure agent-to-app and app-to-app access. It's an extension of OAuth designed specifically for the AI agent era, centralising authorisation decisions at the identity provider rather than leaving them scattered across individual applications.

There's also IPSIE (Interoperability Profile for Secure Identity in the Enterprise), a unified identity security standard being developed through the OpenID Foundation with signatories including Microsoft, Ping Identity, Capital One, and Beyond Identity.

"Fifteen years ago, not every application had SSO coverage," Kadyshevitch told the summit audience. "Today, we all understand it's a basic security standard. We have to push that we'll build those connections from security guardrails in the beginning and not run after it."

The lesson from SSO adoption is clear: the industry spent years retrofitting security that should have been there from the start. With AI agents, there's a narrow window to get it right this time.

This delightful AI agents video is from Oktas YouTube channel - the article continues thereafter, please read on!

Partnerships for a multi-cloud reality

For Australian organisations running hybrid and multi-cloud setups (which is most of them), Okta's Showcase 2026 announcements in March included partnerships with Boomi, DataRobot, and Google Vertex AI. The Boomi collaboration combines Boomi's AgentStudio and Agent Control Tower with Okta for AI Agents, delivering a unified security and governance layer for agent deployment.

These integrations matter because AI agents don't respect cloud boundaries. An agent built on one platform will reach into systems on another. Without centralised identity governance across all of them, the visibility problem just multiplies.

The maturity model: first grade to twelfth grade

Kadyshevitch used a school analogy during the keynote that stuck with me. He described the industry as being "in the first grade" of visibility around AI and security.

"In the twelfth grade, we all know that we want to govern them and have all the different guardrails. But we have to start from first grade to the third grade, which is visibility," Kadyshevitch said.

The maturity progression runs: visibility, then lifecycle management, then governance, then ongoing management. This model is well understood for human identities, but Kadyshevitch acknowledged it needs adaptation for non-human ones. They're not people, and the processes can't be identical.

Barretto laid out three practical steps for any CISO looking to accelerate: get visibility across all human and non-human identities. Eliminate what you don't need and remove standing privileges (a quick win that shrinks the attack surface immediately). Then move from identities to applications, doing risk assessments on the top 2 or 3 crown jewels and ensuring proper IAM controls are actually deployed.

This video is from Oktas YouTube channel, the article continues thereafter, please read on!

Proactive beats reactive: think like an attacker

One quote from keynote moderator, Brad Howarth, respected technology journalist and now also a communications and storytelling trainer and strategist, landed hard: "Attackers don't break in, they log in."

With 89% of web application attacks now stemming from credential abuse, the old model of catching breaches after they happen is dead. Kadyshevitch pushed hard on proactive defence.

"Assume that your organisation is going to have attackers and adversaries trying everything from MFA bombing to credential stuffing, and understand that that's the reality," Kadyshevitch said during the panel. "Now we have to be proactive from the beginning."

That means thinking like an attacker from an identity perspective: where are the weakest entry points? Where are the weakest locks? The shift from reactive monitoring to proactive posture management is exactly what Spera was built to do, and what Okta's ISPM platform now delivers.

The Pentium II and the virtual employees

I always ask my interview subjects about their first computer. Kadyshevitch's was a Pentium II desktop, complete with the dial-up modem that would get disconnected every time someone picked up the phone.

"I can't believe that today, I'm going to have virtual employees doing things that I used to do when it was still like, you can use your phone or the internet but not both," Kadyshevitch said with a laugh.

From dial-up modems to governing fleets of autonomous AI agents. That's quite the career arc.

Best life advice: listen and innovate simultaneously

When I asked Kadyshevitch for the best advice he's received, his answer was deceptively simple: be humble and listen, but also understand how you want to innovate. Doing both at the same time is hard, he said, but the combination is what drives real impact.

It's advice that applies just as well to the identity security challenge ahead. Listen to what's actually happening across your organisation (the visibility piece). Then innovate on how to secure it without strangling the business.

What to do right now

Okta for AI Agents becomes generally available on 30 April 2026. For CISOs and identity teams who watched the keynote, read this article, or are simply staring at an exploding inventory of non-human identities, Kadyshevitch's prescription is clear.

Start with visibility. Understand what you have. Understand where the gaps are. Then prioritise.

Because the agents are already inside the building. The question is whether you know who they are, what they can access, and what they're doing with it.

Heres my video interview again with Ariel, after which a detailed infographic, independently created by iTWire using Gemini, concludes this article:
TAIPEI, April 11 (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry said on Saturday that it spotted 16 Chinese warplanes operating near the island the previous day, around the same time China's president was meeting the Taiwanese opposition leader.

Late on Friday morning, Chinese President Xi Jinping met Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan's largest opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT) in Beijing, where Xi said he "absolutely would not tolerate" independence for Taiwan, which China views as its own territory.

Cheng has portrayed her visit as a reconciliation mission to lessen tensions, and told Xi she looked forward to the KMT and Communist Party advancing the "institutionalisation" of peace across the Taiwan Strait.

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Taiwan's defence ministry, in its daily report on Chinese military activity in the previous 24 hours, said that 16 Chinese warplanes flew near the island from mid-morning to mid-afternoon on Friday. Xi and Cheng met at 11 am (0300GMT).

Shen Yu-chung, a deputy minister at Taiwan's China-policy-making Mainland Affairs Council, told reporters in Taipei on Saturday that using military coercion against Taiwan as a means of applying pressure for political negotiations has always been China's "go-to tactic".

"So on one hand we see them sending out messages of peace, while on the other hand they continue to use military force to pressure Taiwan without letup," he added.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment.

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In Beijing, KMT Vice Chairman Chang Jung-kung said that the key to promoting peace lies in offering Taiwan's people a choice between peace and reconciliation, or war.

Engaging with China and promoting cross-strait peace yields "peace with dignity," not the bowing of one's head to "shake hands" like Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has said, Chang added, according to a KMT statement.

Lai's office said on Friday night that what the Xi-Cheng meeting sought to highlight was that "Taiwan is part of the People's Republic of China" and to advance "the annexation of Taiwan".

"Taiwan's future can only be decided by the Taiwanese people themselves," Lai's spokesperson Karen Kuo said in a statement.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
NEED TO KNOW

A Houston couple discovered a man stuck in their chimney after their dog alerted them to strange noises

Firefighters knocked down the wall to rescue the man, who claimed he was being chased and tried to hide in the chimney

Edwin Leonel Salmeron Granados faces a burglary of a habitation charge, according to a Harris County District Attorneys Office court document obtained by PEOPLE

A Texas couple called 911 on Easter morning after discovering a man was stuck in their homes chimney.

Joni Mitchell woke up at 12:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, April 5, in their Houston home after their dog, Ellie, began barking due to hearing noises.

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I was like, Whats going on, Ellie? And I did hear some noises, Joni recalled to local news outlet KHOU 11. All of a sudden, I started hearing [groaning], and it was coming out of the fireplace.

She then shook her husband, Curt, awake, but he didn't fully know what was going on at first. Maybe a raccoon or something got in, he said.

I come down and open the flue inside the fireplace ... and this guy was ... freaking out," Curt added.

Firefighters showed up and broke the fireplace down to remove the man, who told a firefighter he was being chased and was trying to get away from something, Curt explained to KHOU 11. He continued, When they broke it in, the front fell off, and there was his face and his shoulders."

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The suspect was identified as 33-year-old Edwin Leonel Salmeron Granados, according to a Harris County District Attorneys Office court document obtained by PEOPLE.

The Houston Police Department arrested the suspect at 1:35 a.m., per the document, which states that Granados faces a burglary of a habitation charge. His next court date is April 10, the DAs office told PEOPLE.

The couple believes the suspect climbed a fence onto their roof and tried to go down the chimney, getting trapped in the process.

Ive never ever heard anything like this before. It was crazy, Joni said.

A chimney (stock image)

Credit: Getty

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.

I hope we dont have to pay for it because that looks really expensive, Curt added about the damage in their house.



Read the original article on People
OKLAHOMA CITY  Over 13,000 Oklahomans have changed their party affiliation this year ahead of the closed June primary elections, according to a state report.

Since Jan. 1, independent voters comprised the largest shift in party affiliation with more than 6,100 selecting a party, according to data from the State Election Board, which allows them to participate in Oklahomas partisan primaries in June and August.

Nearly 2,400 independent voters became registered Republicans while over 3,600 joined the Democratic party, an Election Board report shows.

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While no recognized political party in Oklahoma filed paperwork to allow independent voters to participate in their primaries this year, it was not clear if the affiliation changes were higher than normal. The State Election Board said it could not run a report on party affiliation changes during the same period in 2022.

Records show nearly 3,000 Republican voters changed their party affiliation since Jan. 1. Over 1,700 of these became independent voters and 1,100 switched to the Democrat party.

Over 3,700 Democrats switched parties, with over 2,300 changing to Republican and nearly 1,400 becoming independents.

About 100 Libertarians became registered Republicans, 150 switched to the Democratic party and another 150 became independent voters.

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Voters had until March 31 to change their party affiliation ahead of a blackout period stretching from April 1 to Aug. 31.

There are nearly 2.42 million registered voters in Oklahoma.

About 53% are registered Republicans, 25% are Democrats, over 20% are independent and nearly 1% are Libertarians.

Primary elections are June 16. The runoff primary is Aug. 25. and the general election is Nov. 3. First-time voters must register by May 22 to participate in the primary elections.

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LIMA  Jeffrey Reed will have to hang up his robe at the end of his current term as Allen County Common Pleas Court judge.

So will Mark Spees, the probate and juvenile court judge in Auglaize County.

Both still think they have the mental capacity to rule on their caseloads, but Ohio law says they cant run for another term after they turn 70. Reed is 68, and Spees is 72. Even at his age, Spees thinks he could serve another six-year term.

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I think that the current age limit is probably too low, and I dont have an objection to age limits, Spees said. But in this day and age, 70 is not as old as it used to be, so I think the constitution needs to be amended. Federal judges dont have a limit as we do in Ohio, and some of them can serve for a lifetime, so I think the current number should go to 75. I also believe we need age limits for all public offices  senators, governors, and the president  because I feel as though I could have served another term.

Its particularly vexing since judges are the only elected position with an age limit, Reed noted.

I have thought about this for a long time, and I have known a lot of judges who have been forced to leave the bench because of the age requirement, said Reed, who cant run for re-election in two years. But even before my final term, I always questioned the rationale for that because I know a lot of judges who are great but have had to leave the bench because of age. I have always asked myself why judges, and not all elected officials, because you can be the president of the United States, a governor of Ohio and legislature can all serve beyond that age limit.

The topic of age limits for elected officials has always been a point of discussion. It wont slow down anytime soon, but even Ohios Supreme Court is now questioning why judges have a set age limit.

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Supreme Court survey

Justice Patrick Fisher of the Ohio Supreme Court wrote an article that dives into that very issue, titled In Ohio, How Old is Too Old to be a Judge? The article was published in the University of Cincinnati Law Review and explores data-driven research on the topic.

The current age limit in Ohio for judges is 70 years old, which was established by a constitutional overhaul of the court system in 1968, which included a provision making the age limit 70.

Fisher based his article on surveys and research he conducted as part of his Masters of Law degree, which included sending a survey to 25,000 lawyers in 2024, with 1,200 responses.

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The survey revealed that a majority of lawyers agreed that judges should be subjected to age limits, but only 46% said the limit should remain at 70. The other 54% responded that it should be higher. Of all the respondents, 22% believed no age limit is necessary, while 19% thought 75 would be an appropriate limit. Only 6% favored a lower limit of 65.

The local reaction

Few local judges said they were in favor of the current system, as a lot of them believe that all elected officials should be held to the same limits. As with Fisher, they question why specifically judges have limits for how long they can serve. The U.S. Supreme Court is an exception, as Clarence Thomas is 77 years old and still serves.

One concern advocates for the current system have is about the cognitive ability of older judges and how that may impact views. Reed said he didnt know how people can decide whether their age is affecting what decisions they make, and that it is hard to determine if a judge made a bad decision because he or she is too old.

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A statewide constitutional amendment proposed in 2011 to raise the age to 75 was rejected by a 62%-38% margin.

In 2011, the change from 70 to 75 probably would have passed if it had been on the ballot alone, said Richard Warren, a retired Allen County Common Pleas Court judge who went on to serve as a magistrate. Issue 2, which dealt with collective bargaining and limits thereon, was strongly opposed by labor and unions, and it can be argued that this negative vote bled over to the negative vote on the judge issue.

This would have affected me, but I have no regrets. I was fortunate to be hired as a magistrate in the Lima Municipal Court at the end of my last term and served in that capacity for 11 additional years.

Warren added he has no problem with increasing the limit to 75, with cognitive tests required and regulated by the Ohio Supreme Court. He also said that those in the legislature, state and national governments should have a limit of up to 75 years old as well.

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Putnam County Common Pleas Court Judge Keith Schierloh didnt have a strong take on Fishers article.

I have no specific thoughts on the article. I have been in a few sessions where the topic was brought up, but only to indicate that it was being considered. I believe that age limits are appropriate, said Schierloh, who is 55. My personal opinion is that we need good, competent judges, and age is truly just a number.

Kevin Taylor, former juvenile and probate judge in Van Wert, also spoke from the perspective of having to retire due to his age.

I am in favor of removing the age cap on judges, Taylor said. I have always wondered why judges were the only position subject to the age restriction. The benefit would be that you could retain well-experienced judges on the bench for a longer period of time.

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What the stats say by state

According to research by News From The States, 33 states have a mandatory retirement age for judges, meaning 34% of states do not have age limits for judges. The state with the highest age limit for judges is Vermont at 90.

In Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, judges are appointed for life, but in Massachusetts and New Hampshire they must retire at 70. According to the National Center for State Courts, in 2024, an amendment to the state constitution for New Hampshire was submitted to increase the age limit to 75, but it failed to reach the 66.7% of the vote to pass.

Before 2025, the age limit in Iowa was 72, but the Iowa legislature approved a bill that increased the age limit to 78. Next month, voters in Louisiana will decide whether to increase the age limit from 70 to 75, much like what Ohio voters voted on in 2011.

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The age of 70 is the most common age limit in a large portion of states with age limits, with 54% of the 34 states that have a limit setting the age to 70. A few of the notable differences are Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Florida, setting the limit at 75. States setting the age requirement at 70 include 36% of states. North Carolina and South Carolina set their limits to 72, and North Dakota and Virginia set it to 73.

Although many judges believe they could serve beyond the age limit, they dont have to completely give up on being a judge. The Ohio Supreme Court Judicial Assignment Program gives retired judges a chance to serve in any Ohio court in the absence of a sitting judge due to circumstances that are subject to constitutional, statutory and rule limitations.
President Trumps proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 offers one of the clearest signals yet about where his administration wants federal environmental and energy policy to go. The blueprint calls for a 10 percent cut to non-defense discretionary spending compared with 2026 levels, while boosting defense funding and directing domestic agencies to narrow their missions. In practice, that means less money for climate research, environmental grants and clean energy programs, and more emphasis on permitting, fossil fuel development and selected infrastructure priorities.

How Trumps 2027 budget cuts EPA, NOAA and clean energy programs

The environmental implications are especially visible at the Environmental Protection Agency. The White House budget requests $4.2 billion for EPA in 2027, which it describes as enough to carry out the agencys core mission and statutory responsibilities. That figure is also a $4.6 billion, or 52 percent, reduction from the 2026 enacted level. The administration says it wants to eliminate what it calls wasteful climate spending and redirect attention to faster permitting and a narrower interpretation of federal environmental obligations.

That approach extends beyond EPA. The budget proposes cutting NOAAs Operations, Research, and Grants account by $1.6 billion, while targeting climate programs, education grants and resilience work. It also calls for ending or sharply reducing programs tied to renewable energy, offshore wind and climate-related science across several departments. At the Department of Energy, the budget would pull back support for energy efficiency, renewable energy and some climate-related research, while preserving or increasing investment in areas the administration views as strategically tied to artificial intelligence, critical minerals and energy dominance.

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Supporters of the budget will argue that this is exactly the point. The document frames the shift as a return to common sense environmental policy and a rejection of programs the administration says are outside agencies core responsibilities. In that telling, federal policy should prioritize domestic production, critical infrastructure and streamlining approvals rather than subsidizing what the White House sees as ideological or duplicative projects. The budget also proposes more money for EPA permitting tools and for selected NOAA shipbuilding and unmanned systems programs, showing that the administration is not withdrawing from every part of environmental governance, only changing what it wants government to do.

Critics, however, see a different pattern. Inside Climate News reported that the proposal would cut EPA spending roughly in half and trim grants by about $1 billion, while again testing whether Congress is willing to reject cuts similar to those lawmakers pushed back on last year. The concern is less about a single agency than about cumulative capacity. NOAAs weather data, EPA enforcement, clean energy research and disaster resilience planning do not operate in isolation. When several of those systems are reduced at once, states, municipalities, utilities, researchers and businesses may have to absorb more of the cost and uncertainty themselves.

That broader economic argument is already surfacing outside government. In a statement responding to the budget request, Pamitha Weerasinghe of Knowledge for a Competitive America said the proposed cuts target programs that are the backbone of industries that millions of Americans depend on every day. The group argues that weather and earth science programs support sectors such as agriculture, aviation and housing, and that weakening them does not eliminate risk so much as transfer it to workers, firms and communities. Those concerns are echoed in background materials shared with reporters that stress NOAAs role in forecasting, coastal management, navigation and environmental monitoring.

Why LIHEAP, CDBG and CDFI cuts could affect households and local economies

The energy side of the budget may matter just as much to ordinary households. The proposal would eliminate the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, which helps low-income households pay heating and cooling bills. It also takes aim at the Community Development Block Grant program and the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, both of which often help local communities finance housing, infrastructure and neighborhood investment. Seen together, those eliminations suggest a budget that treats affordability and local resilience less as federal obligations and more as matters for states, markets and local institutions to solve.

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There are also indirect effects on the energy transition. The budget targets renewable energy and offshore wind programs while aligning more explicitly with fossil fuel development and critical mineral extraction. That could slow some federal support for decarbonization even as electricity demand rises, especially from data centers, advanced manufacturing and extreme weather-related grid stress. The administration appears to be betting that deregulation, conventional energy development and selected industrial investments will produce a cheaper and more secure energy future. Whether that proves true will depend on energy prices, private investment and how states respond.

What Congress may do next with the 2027 environment and energy budget

The important caveat is that this is still a request, not a final appropriations law. Congress has previously rejected or softened some of the administrations proposed cuts, including at NOAA and other science agencies. That means the 2027 budget may end up functioning as a statement of priorities more than a final map of federal spending . Even so, it offers a sharp preview of the policy direction the administration wants: a smaller federal role in climate and environmental investment, a larger role for defense and energy production, and a narrower definition of what counts as the governments job.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com
The political alliance that once defined the modern MAGA movement has officially imploded. In a series of escalating volleys on Truth Social and X, President Donald Trump and conservative firebrand Candace Owens have transitioned from mutual admirers to bitter enemies.

The fracture, which has been simmering for over a year, reached a boiling point on 9th April 2026. The exchange culminated in Owens now-viral retort, suggesting the 45th and 47th Presidents recent behavior is a sign of cognitive decline: "It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home."

The Truth Social "Nuclear" Post

The catalyst for this specific fallout was a late-night Truth Social tirade on April 9, 2026. President Trump, clearly agitated by growing dissent from the "Anti-War" faction of his base, unleashed a broadside against four prominent media figures: Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Alex Jones, and Candace Owens.

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In a post that many described as "bonkers," Trump labeled the group as "low IQ losers" and "nut jobs" who are "troublemakers" only seeking "free and cheap publicity." He went further, accusing them of being secret sympathizers of the Iranian regime, claiming they "think its great for Iran to have nuclear weapons."

Regarding Owens specifically, Trump took a deeply personal swipe, referencing her widely criticized theories about French First Lady Brigitte Macron. He wrote: "Shes a crazy person who claims the respected French First Lady is a man. The French First Lady is far more beautiful than Owens."

The Road to the Rupture

While the April 9 post was the "kaboom," the fuse was lit years ago. The divorce between Owens and Trump didn't happen overnight; it was a slow-motion car crash fueled by three major points of contention: COVID-19 vaccines, Middle East foreign policy, and the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

The first public crack appeared in December 2021, when Trump corrected Owens during an interview, defending the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines. Owens later told her followers that Trump was "old" and didn't understand how to use the internet to find "alternative" information, a subtle hint at the age-related insults to come.

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In March 2024, Owens parted ways with The Daily Wire following a public feud with Ben Shapiro over her rhetoric regarding Israel. While many expected Trump to defend her, he remained largely silent, prioritizing his alliance with traditional conservative donors and Israeli leadership.

The true breaking point arrived in June 2025. Following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites authorized by Trump, Owens appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored and declared herself "embarrassed" to have campaigned for him. She accused the President of being a "chronic disappointment" who had abandoned his "America First" anti-war promises to do the bidding of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Piers Morgan: "Are you done with Donald Trump?" Candace Owens: "He's been a chronic disappointment, and I feel embarrassed that I told people to go vote for him... This is not the candidate that I voted for." pic.twitter.com/fD5sI8Sgb7  Censored Humans (@CensoredHumans) April 4, 2026

The "Grandpa" Retort and the 25th Amendment

Owens did not take Trumps "low IQ" insults lying down. Responding on her podcast and social media on April 10, 2026, she pivoted from political disagreement to a clinical critique of his fitness for office.

"When someone starts attacking your physical appearance and screaming about nuclear weapons in all-caps at 3 AM because you don't want a third World War, its not a policy debate anymore," Owens told her audience. "Its a health concern. It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home."

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This wasn't just a witty comeback; it was part of a coordinated effort by the "dissident right." Owens and Alex Jones have recently begun discussing the 25th Amendment, the legal mechanism for removing a president deemed "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office."

In a move that would have been unthinkable in 2020, Owens suggested that Trumps recent aggression toward his own supporters is evidence that he is no longer in control of his faculties or his administration.

It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home. pic.twitter.com/ruBJFA3RZw  Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) April 9, 2026

The Charlie Kirk Conspiracy

Adding a darker layer to this feud is the tragic death of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on September 10, 2025, in Utah.

In the vacuum of information following the tragedy, Owens has promoted widely circulated but unproven theories that "foreign intervention" played a role in Kirk's death because of his growing skepticism toward a war with Iran. On April 8, 2026, Owens posted on X that Trump was "willing to sacrifice Charlie Kirk and every American life... for Greater Israel."

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This specific accusation, that Trump was somehow complicit in the loss of a MAGA luminary, is what reportedly triggered Trumps "bonkers" Truth Social response. By attacking Kirks legacy and Owens loyalty, Trump was attempting to cauterize a wound in his base that is now hemorrhaging support.

The Iranian President tweets that he is willing sacrifice his own life for his people. Donald Trump was willing to sacrifice Charlie Kirk and is willing to sacrifice every American life and livelihood for Greater Israel.

Who is the animal again? https://t.co/rFTBrRIoq2  Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) April 7, 2026

A Movement Divided

The data suggests this isn't just a "Twitter spat." For the first time since 2016, the MAGA base is statistically fractured.

The Manhattan Institutes survey on todays GOP coalition shows that the Republican Party today is a mix of its traditional conservative base and a newer, more diverse group drawn in by Trump. The challenge is that these newer members dont always share the partys core values, making the coalition both stronger in numbers and shakier in stability.

Since her exit from The Daily Wire, Owens independent platform has seen a significant surge in engagement during her segments criticizing the administration, indicating a significant audience for her "post-Trump" conservative vision.

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As of today, April 10, 2026, the silence from the White House press office is deafening. While the President continues to post about "traitors" within his movement, Owens has doubled down, moving her operations to a new, independent studio and promising a "full exposure" of the influencers she claims have "sold out" the American worker for foreign interests.

The "Grandpa" comment may have been a joke, but for the Trump administration, the loss of its most effective young communicator is a serious problem they can't simply "Truth" away.
SAN FRANCISCO  On the surface, it appeared innocent enough. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump endorsed former Fox News host Steve Hilton to be the Republican candidate for California governor.

Yet Trump's stamp of approval also affects Hilton's GOP gubernatorial opponent, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who, like Hilton, is also a big Trump backer.

Hilton, who supports Trump's election overhaul, including ending mail-in voting, and Bianco, known for seizing more than 650,000 ballots in California's special redistricting election last year, have surprisingly emerged as the top candidates in the deep blue state that the redistricting vote just made bluer.

Gavin Newsom began serving as the Democratic governor of California in January 2019. Newsom has held many political roles in California, including Lt. Governor and mayor of San Francisco. Take a look at his political career in pictures. San Francisco mayoral candidate Gavin Newsom speaks at a rally May 13, 2003 in San Francisco, California. Gavin Newsom smiles during a fundraiser at the Spanish Suite at the Clift Hotel on June 27, 2003 in San Francisco, California. Gavin Newsom speaks to supporters at an election night party on November 4, 2003 in San Francisco. Newsom placed first in the nine-person race, advancing him to a run-off election against Green Party candidate Matt Gonzalez. Gavin Newsom speaks during a media conference at City Hall on August 12, 2004 in San Francisco, California. Newsom spoke about the ruling by the California Supreme Court which invalidated same-sex marriages. Starting early in his career, Newsom served as a voice for the LGBTQ+ community. He gained national attention in 2004 when he ordered the San Francisco county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, which went against the then-current California law. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom talks with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger during a bill signing ceremony at the United Nations World Environment Day June 1, 2005 in San Francisco, California. Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton greets supporters with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom before speaking at a fundraiser event February 1, 2008 at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco, California. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom speaks to reporters following his announcement of his running for governor of California on April 21, 2009 in Palo Alto, California. Gavin Newsom looks around as people cheer for him before speaking at a news conference following a California Supreme Court decision to overturn the ban on same-sex marriage at the California Supreme Court May 15, 2008 in San Francisco, California. The California Supreme Court voted 4-3 to overturn a ban on gay marriage in California making it the second state to allow same-sex marriage. Del Martin, left, and Phyllis Lyon are married by San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom in a private ceremony at San Francisco City Hall on June 16, 2008 in San Francisco, California. Martin and Lyon were the first couples to be married in San Francisco as same-sex marriages become legal in California. US President Barack Obama chats with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom after stepping off Air Force One May 25, 2010 upon arrival at San Francisco International Airport. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi attend Game Two of the 2010 MLB World Series between the Giants and the Texas Rangers at AT&T Park on October 28, 2010 in San Francisco, California. San Francisco mayor and California Lt. Governor-elect Gavin Newsom speaks to reporters after meeting school children at Fairmount Elementary School on November 12, 2010 in San Francisco, California. Newsom had originally run for governor of California in 2009, but suffered low poll numbers throughout the campaign and dropped out in 2010. Later that year, he decided to run in the election for Lt. Governor, which he won and was sworn in on January 10, 2011. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, meets with California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom on February 9, 2018 in San Francisco, California. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom fills out his ballot at the Masonic Temple Fairfax on June 5, 2018 in Larkspur, California. Newsom's campaign was successful, as he later won the election for his first term in office. People march in support for California gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom during the San Francisco gay pride parade in San Francisco, California on June, 24, 2018. California's Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom and his family waves to supporters from stage at his election night watch party in Los Angeles, California on November 6, 2018. Gavin Newsom is sworn in as governor of California by California Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye as Newsom's wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, watches on January 7, 2019 in Sacramento, California. Gavin Newsom began his first term as the 40th governor of California after serving as the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco as well as Lieutenant Governor of California since 2010 alongside outgoing governor Jerry Brown. Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti tour a burned home along Tigertail Road in Brenwood on October 29, 2019 in Brentwood, California. State Assembly Member Richard Bloom, (D-Santa Monica), left, California Gov. Gavin Newsom listen to Superintendent of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Clay Jordan on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021 talk about the protective structure wrap used to protect the welcome sign and giant sequoia trees from the KNP Complex Fire in Sequoia National Park. Newsom signed a $15 billion climate package into law on site that will help bolster the state's response to climate change. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, and President Joe Biden board Air Force One on a visit to Sacramento on Sept., 13, 2021. Gov. Gavin Newsom, takes a selfie with a North Monterey County Unified School District staff member at Elkhorn Elementary School in Castroville, Calif., on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Newsom, listen to students from New College of Florida on Wednesday during Newsom's stop at the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library in Sarasota on April 5, 2023. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks after signing bills to support response and recovery efforts for Los Angeles during a press conference at Willard Elementary School in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 23, 2025. Newsom will sign legislation directing $2.5 billion in relief to support response and recovery efforts for Los Angeles. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) speaks to reporters in the spin room following the CNN Presidential Debate between U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump at the McCamish Pavilion on the Georgia Institute of Technology campus on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Ga. President Biden and former President Trump face off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks to the press in a classroom of Willard Elementary School after he signed bills to support response and recovery efforts for Los Angeles, in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 23, 2025. Newsom signed legislation directing $2.5 billion in relief to support response and recovery efforts for Los Angeles. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during an announcement of "LA Rises," a new public-private philanthropic initiative to support Los Angeles area wildfire recovery during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif. on Jan. 28, 2025. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at East Los Angeles College on Feb. 26, 2025 in Monterey Park, Calif. Newsom announced the California Jobs First Economic Blueprint and additional funding for Los Angeles communities impacted by wildfires today. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tour the downtown business district of Pacific Palisades as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds, the Palisades Fire has grown to over 2,900 acres and 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate while a second major fire continues to burn near Eaton Canyon in Altadena. President Donald Trump followed by First Lady Melania Trump, shakes hands with California Governor Gavin Newsom upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, on January 24, 2025, to visit the region devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires. California Gov. Gavin Newsom rolls up his sleeves whole meeting people at a coffee shop on July 8, 2025 in Florence, South Carolina. The governor, in coordination with the South Carolina Democratic Party, scheduled 8 public events in South Carolina on Tuesday and Wednesday. California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about the Election Rigging Response Act at a news conference on Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. The redistricting effort in California is in response to Texas, where Republican lawmakers are pushing new redistricting maps at President Donald Trump's request. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bills related to redrawing the stateOs congressional maps on August 21, 2025 in Sacramento, California. In a move to counter Texas House RepublicansO plan to redraw the stateOs congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, California Democrats took up a proposed constitutional amendment to temporarily redraw their own congressional maps, potentially creating five additional U.S. House seats for their party. California Governor Gavin Newsom's political career in pictures 1 of 33 Gavin Newsom began serving as the Democratic governor of California in January 2019. Newsom has held many political roles in California, including Lt. Governor and mayor of San Francisco. Take a look at his political career in pictures.

They have taken a slight lead in polls about Californias June 2 nonpartisan primary, including one conducted this week by the state Democratic Party. This is an astonishing early feat in the widely Democratic state, which is arguably America's most influential, where the primary's top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, could advance to the general election in November.

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Meanwhile, Trump has not endorsed a Republican candidate in the contentious runoff between incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, causing significant uncertainty. Though the president teased an endorsement was imminent in early March and was leaning toward Cornyn, Trump put his decision into a "holding pattern" to see if candidates supported the SAVE America Act, a GOP bill that requires proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in elections.

More: Massie leads challenger endorsed by Trump in Republican primary poll

The president frequently uses his endorsements to rid the GOP of contenders he doesn't like, especially within Congress. His endorsement is especially coveted in primaries where candidates are vying for the GOP spot on their party ticket.

He's been successful: 95% of primary candidates he backed won their 2018 races, 97% in 2020, and 93% in 2022 when he'd been out of office for two years, according to a Washington Post analysis. However, Trump's success rate isnt as high in general elections as his choices have sometimes raised concerns in Republican circles.

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Trump's endorsement failures include 2022 Senate candidates Blake Masters in Arizona, Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania, and Herschel Walker in Georgia. There are also gubernatorial candidates Kari Lake in Arizona and Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania, all of whom lost to Democrats. Trump endorsed Lake again during her 2024 Senate run, but she was defeated.

But some political experts believe Trump's decision to endorse Hilton might backfire, given the president's ongoing war of words with Gov. Gavin Newsom and his literal war with Israel against Iran. With the GOP state convention starting April 10 in San Diego, election observers are beginning to weigh in on whether Trump's involvement could shift the balance for several Democratic challengers desperately seeking one of those two spots  in an already crowded and contentious race  to run the nation's most populous state.

"This may have ruined the best chances of a Republican becoming governor by picking one candidate over the other," said GOP consultant Rob Stutzman, a former communications director for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the last Republican to hold the position. "We haven't had one in over 15 years, and it may very well be another 15. Maybe longer."

The president's endorsement precedes a convention where, amid the pageantry and celebration, the proverbial elephant in the room might be hushed chatter over whether Trump's backing of Hilton helps or hurts the party's chances of controlling the top job, governing more than 39 million Californians, along with overseeing the world's fourth-largest economy.

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Melissa Michelson, a political science professor at Menlo College in Silicon Valley who has researched the state's political scene for decades, says Trump  whose approval ratings have tanked in recent months  may have opened the door for a Democrat to make the final cut and win the midterm election.

"Given the unique primary system here in California, I think Trump sank Hilton's chances for governor," Michelson said. "The odds for Hilton have likely dropped dramatically."

California 'jungle' primary: Crowded candidate field of Democrats could split the vote and possibly hand governor's race to Republicans

Trump's endorsement may have sparked an unenthusiastic governor's race

Citing high crime rates and taxes, Trump said in a Truth Social post on April 6 announcing his endorsement for Hilton that he would help the candidate turn California around "before it's too late."

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"With Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before! Steve Hilton has my COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT. He will be a GREAT Governor and, importantly, WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!!!" Trump wrote.

Hilton said he was "deeply honored" to have the president's endorsement. In addition to calls to slash poverty and unemployment rates, the former cable news host wants to make the state "Califordable" by cutting current gasoline prices and electric bills in half and making buying a house less burdensome.

"As I said to the president last night after he made his endorsement public, I will fight like you've never seen before to save our beautiful state of California," Hilton said in a video posted on his social media.

"Trump and Hilton have a relationship that goes back for years," said Brian Sobel, a veteran San Francisco Bay Area-based political analyst. "That endorsement should give Hilton a bulk of the Republican votes in the primary."

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The GOP winning the governor's race is seen as almost inconceivable, Sobel contends. He said Schwarzenegger, a well-known actor and moderate Republican who led the state from 2003 to 2011, was considered an exception. As a current Democratic stronghold, California is "more blue than ever," said David McCuan, a veteran political science professor at Sonoma State University.

One of every two registered voters in the state is a Democrat, compared with the 1 in 4 Republicans and the 1 in 5 voters who don't check a party preference, "the purple ones," McCuan said.

"California Republicans have been in the political wilderness for almost two decades," McCuan said. "I don't see that changing anytime soon."

Although Hilton embraces Trump's backing, McCaun said the irony is that he believes that in debates the candidate "tries to push himself towards the middle on issues, probably keeping that purple voter in mind."

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Stutzman, the GOP consultant who worked with Schwartznegger, said with Trump endorsing a single candidate, he's probably let Democrats out of their "big panic" mode that Republicans would finish in the top two.

"You figure 38 to 40% of the votes in June are going to go to a Republican. If there are two of them, they can split that in that 19-20% range, and they kind of come in that close to one another," Stutzman said. "That could give a reasonable chance that there would be two Republicans in the runoff."

Who is Steve Hilton?: What to know about the California governor candidate

Trump's endorsement likely elevates Hilton while giving a Democrat space to get into that second spot, Strutzman believes. The strategist hopes that Trump might reconsider and endorse both candidates so they have a chance to grab the top two slots in the nonpartisan primary.

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But, Trump is not popular overall with most California voters, who are angry with him for sending federal troops and immigration officers to the state, and not sending enough federal funding to help wildfire victims in Los Angeles, said McCuan, the Sonoma State professor.

"That's going to hurt Hilton in the general election, if he gets there," McCaun said. "I think this is about a president trying to pick a winner in June, not in November."

Yet, Trump's endorsement might ignite a primary race that California voters traditionally aren't engaged in, Sobel said. In a University of California, Berkeley ISG survey of more than 5,000 registered voters on March 18, Hilton received 17% of the vote, and Bianco 16%.

Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell was third with 14%, then former Rep. Katie Porter got 13%, followed by billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer with10%. The five other Democratic candidates each received 5% or less.

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"Until the Democrats decide who their frontrunner is going to be, the Republicans are going to be problematic," Sobel said.

California's Democratic Party chair, Rusty Hicks, wrote an open letter last month urging any long-shot Dems to drop out of the race, warning the scenario of two Republicans contending for the governor's race was "implausible" but "not impossible."

A 'condensed period of time': California governor candidates face messaging battle, Newsom says

California is critical to national politics

California is an essential state for the Democratic Party, the experts say. Besides its Democratic leanings, it is home to the party's last presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, and potentially a future nominee, Newsom, whose final term as governor ends next year.

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"Look, the California voter is a Jekyll and Hyde voter," McCuan said, citing the high voter turnout for last year's Proposition 50, a redistricting initiative, a vote in an off-year election. "They want to be asked to dance and tell their potential partner no, but they still expect to be asked to dance."

Before Trump's endorsement, the Democrats' splintering of the gubernatorial vote couldve worked to the Republicans' advantage, said Michelson, the Silicon Valley academic.

"It was absolutely possible, I'm not the only political scientist to say this, either," Michelson said.

Michelson said now that Trump has endorsed Hilton, many Republican voters will now support him to Bianco's detriment and rally Democratic voters to the polls seven months from now.

"And that Democratic candidate will almost certainly become California's next governor," Michelson said.

President Donald Trump attends a news conference at the White House on April 6, 2026, in Washington, DC.

GOPers Hilton, Bianco atop Calif. poll: Republicans lead California governor poll; endorsement may jolt primary

Owning up to mistakes

In the end, Trump will think he did his part to influence the race and will come away unscathed, Michelson said.

"He will say, Look at what I did: they were split, and my endorsement makes a difference, and Steve Hilton will go before the voters in November,'" Michelson said. "And when Hilton loses, he will say, 'It is such a Blue state with those coastal elites, and of course, they elected another Democrat.'"

In that scenario, Michelson said she didn't think Trump would admit he'd made a mistake, and it would be "odd if he did."

"Im not under the impression that Trump will admit he made a mistake; it will be odd if he did."

Contributing: Zac Anderson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump endorsed Fox News host Steve Hilton. Could it tip this CA race?
In the middle of an Easter lunch at the White House, President Donald Trump went off script to address speculation about JD Vance's role in securing a deal to end the war in Iran.

"If it doesn't happen, I'm blaming JD Vance," Trump joked, drawing laughter at last week's East Room event attended by senior administration officials including the vice-president, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. And "if it does happen," Trump added, "I'm taking full credit."

The remarks perfectly captured Vance's predicament as he leads a US delegation holding talks with Iran in Pakistan. It is the most challenging assignment of Vance's vice-presidency so far - one with a limited upside and plenty to lose if negotiations fail.

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Vance's diplomatic mission to Islamabad is a political minefield. To make progress in reaching a permanent agreement to end the war, he will have to satisfy several stakeholders with competing interests, and who all distrust each other after a six-week military campaign that has engulfed the Middle East and roiled the global economy.

US allies are watching Vance closely to see how he'll perform, one European official said. Vance "needs to step into the room and deliver something," added the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "Otherwise he will be diminished."

The US president says he's delivering peace through strength [Inc via Getty Images]

Any deal must win the support first and foremost of Trump, who has vacillated between calling for peace and threatening to destroy Iran's civilisation. It will also need the backing of a weakened but still-standing regime in Tehran that has tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, and an ally in Israel that is wary of a region-wide ceasefire. US allies in Europe that oppose the war and have been reluctant to come to America's aid in reopening the strait will also have to be convinced.

As if that's not enough, Vance will also face pressure to somehow satisfy Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) base. Many are opposed to interventions abroad so will be watching his trip closely for clues about how he might handle foreign policy if he runs for president in 2028.

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A former Marine who served in Iraq, Vance has been a vocal opponent of US entanglements in the past, and reportedly expressed deep scepticism about launching strikes on Iran in private meetings with Trump, according to a New York Times report.

"Vance has signalled a desire for restraint in American foreign policy. That's pretty hard to square with the American war against Iran," said Jeff Rathke, the president of the American-German Institute, a Washington-based think tank.

Satisfying a demanding boss

In Islamabad the question for Vance is: can he make everyone happy? And what does success in these negotiations look like - a fully-formed peace deal, or just productive initial talks that don't scuttle the temporary ceasefire?

A White House official told the BBC that Trump had tasked the vice-president to lead the negotiations. And spokeswoman Anna Kelly confirmed that Vance had already been collaborating with special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner, both of whom will be with him in Pakistan.

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Vance tamped down expectations before leaving Washington on Friday morning.

"If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we are certainly willing to extend an open hand," Vance told reporters. He also warned Iran not to "play us," and said Trump gave the US negotiating team "some pretty clear guidelines".

But even if he laid out clear goalposts ahead of time, the president has a propensity to change his mind. In the talks with Iran, Vance and the rest of the US team will face the added challenge of representing a mercurial boss in Trump who has given a range of rationales for the war since launching the conflict in late February.

On Friday afternoon, when asked what he told Vance before he left for Islamabad, Trump told reporters: "I wish him luck. He's got a big thing." The president said he was sending a "good team" and "we'll see how it all turns out."

Control of the Strait of Hormuz means the weakened Iranian regime still has leverage [AFP via Getty Images]

Trump's volatile negotiating style was on full display this week, in the whirlwind period leading up to the ceasefire deal reached on Tuesday. In a single 36-hour span, Trump gave Iran one day to strike a deal, warned in social media posts on Truth Social that "a whole civilisation will die" if Iran refused to cooperate, and then finally announced a ceasefire with less than two hours left before his deadline for escalating the war.

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The tense hours on Tuesday were as nervewracking as any moments in Trump's second term, said a second senior European diplomat.

"I went home from work, put on the news, and started refreshing Truth Social," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Serving as Trump's vice-president can't be easy under normal conditions, the diplomat added, but must be especially difficult for Vance right now given his misgivings about foreign wars.

"Vance has tried to distance himself from the Iran campaign," the source said. "This war is absolutely not in his playbook."

Ambassador for 'America First'

Representing Trump in high-stakes negotiations may be a challenge, but Vance has been working toward this moment since taking office. He has earned Trump's trust and been given a seat at the table in high-profile meetings and events with foreign policy leaders in the Oval Office and across Europe and Asia.

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Vance made waves with a speech at the Munich Security Conference last year, where he issued a blistering critique of Europe's handling of immigration and free speech. Soon after, he accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of not being grateful enough for US aid during an explosive Oval Office meeting that descended into a shouting match. Just this week, the vice-president travelled to Hungary to make an unprecedented re-election push for the current prime minister and close Trump ally Viktor Orban.

At each step, Vance has positioned himself as a loyal lieutenant to Trump who's willing to crisscross the globe serving as a sharp-elbowed ambassador of "America First".

The vice-president is the "perfect surrogate" in these high-stakes negotiations because of "his firm understanding of President Trump's goals", said Mark Bednar, who worked on the Trump-Vance transition team. "To also have the trust of the president the way he does, that is a really great combination."

But Vance reportedly hasn't always agreed with the president. And Trump's own foreign policy has sometimes put Vance in the awkward position of publicly backing the type of interventions abroad that he has argued against in the past - Iran being the prime example.

Trump's supporters are devoted - but not all support the war in Iran [Reuters]

As a US senator Vance published a Wall Street Journal op-ed in 2023 saying he backed Trump because he didn't start foreign wars. On the eve of the Iran war, Vance told the Washington Post that Trump wouldn't let the US get dragged into another so-called forever war in the Middle East.

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During the current conflict, he has publicly echoed Trump's argument that war was needed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. But Vance has not been as vocal in backing the war effort as other administration officials, in particular Defence Secretary Hegseth. Vance's rhetoric has also sometimes diverged from Trump's, as happened this week when Vance called the temporary ceasefire a "fragile truce".

Despite this, Trump tapped Vance to lead the US delegation to Islamabad. The choice raised questions of whether Trump purposely handed Vance a no-win assignment. The vice-president's office declined to comment for this story, but a US official who asked not to be named said Vance was chosen to send Iran a signal that the Trump administration was serious about reaching a deal.

No easy fix

US allies in the region welcomed Vance's inclusion on the team as a sign the administration wants a durable peace to end the war. "It shows that America is seriously coming to the table," said Assaf Orion, a retired Israeli brigadier general.

Vance will have to tune out the chatter back in Washington to deliver in negotiations with Iran.

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The Oval Office confrontation with Zelensky and trips to Munich and Budapest all showcased Vance's ability to play the role of attack dog.

"If he feels the need to be argumentative, he's not going to shy away from that. If he feels that something is not going right for the United States, he will not shy away from that either," said Mark Bednar, the Republican strategist.

But in Pakistan he's playing a different diplomatic role, which will require navigating tense relations between adversaries in a volatile region. Vance and his team will also have to address a complex set of problems - including reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending Iran's nuclear programme - that are highly technical and have no easy fix.

Vance has had a prominent place for Oval Office encounters with world leaders [Getty Images]

Vance was not involved at a detailed level in the indirect talks between the US and Iran before the ceasefire. Negotiations in recent weeks were led by Witkoff and Kushner, according to a US official. The pair also spearheaded other peace talks during Trump's second term. The success of the talks will rely in part on who handles technical aspects of Iran's nuclear programme, Orion said.

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"Kushner and Witkoff did Ukraine, Iran and Gaza. I think it's very challenging to be a detailed expert in all three issues at the same time," Orion said. In Islamabad, "the question is who else, who is on the bench?"

Still Vance will command the most attention, regardless of whoever else is in the room.

The vice-president won't be able to rely on a deep well of personal relationships with foreign leaders built up over years. It can be easy to forget Vance is still just 41 years old, and only recently launched himself onto the national political stage when he ran for the US Senate. For all of his polish and shrewd instincts, he is still a relative newcomer to the world of international relations.

Nevertheless, Trump threw him into the deep end this week, and now Vance is under pressure to deliver a victory for the president while not damaging his own political future.

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"He's not negotiating JD Vance's agreement with the Iranians. He's there in Islamabad to try to get the best deal the president can agree to," said Rathke. "But that has some risks for the vice-president, in case Trump agrees to something and then later loses his enthusiasm for it. Trump may try to blame the negotiator."

Additional reporting by Grace Eliza Goodwin

More from InDepth

Top picture credits: Reuters and Getty Images

[BBC]

BBC InDepth is the home on the website and app for the best analysis, with fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and deep reporting on the biggest issues of the day. Emma Barnett and John Simpson bring their pick of the most thought-provoking deep reads and analysis, every Saturday. Sign up for the newsletter here
More than a dozen survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins abuse have accused Melania Trump of shifting the burden on to them after she called on Congress to hold public hearings with victims of Epsteins abuse.

Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports, and giving testimony, said a group of 13 people and the brother and sister of the late Virginia Giuffre, who was one of the most vocal Epstein accusers, in a statement. Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility not justice.

Their response came after the first lady delivered a surprise statement in which she denied she ever had a relationship with Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. She also said that she was not a victim of Epstein, had no knowledge of his crimes, and that the late convicted sex offender did not introduce her to her husband, Donald Trump.

Survivors of Epsteins abuse accuse Melania Trump of shifting burden on to victims

It remains unclear what specific accusations prompted the first ladys remarks. Her senior adviser, Marc Beckman, told Reuters that she spoke out now because enough is enough. The lies must stop.

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In an interview with the New York Times on Friday, the president said he hadnt known what the first lady was planning to speak about in her statement, but said that she had wanted to address questions about her connections with Epstein. I didnt know what the statement was, he said, adding she had a right to talk about it.

Read the full story

Hes mentally unstable: Iranian American in Congress condemns Trumps war and pushes for his removal

Donald Trump is an evil human being who wants to be an emperor and should be removed from office over the war in Iran, Yassamin Ansari, an Iranian American member of the US Congress, has told the Guardian.

Ansari, the daughter of Iranian immigrants who decades ago fled the regime, spoke out after the president threatened to wipe out Irans civilisation before backing down and announcing an uncertain two-week ceasefire.

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Read the full story

Trump administration releases new renderings of Arc de Trump

The Trump administration on Friday released new renderings of the triumphal arch the president wants to install in Memorial Circle at the foot of the Arlington Memorial Bridge.

Read the full story

Vance warns Iran against trying to play the US in peace talks

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 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.

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Read the full story

War has given Iran new leverage for nuclear programme, say US former envoys

Former US envoys who dealt with Iran have said that the US-Israeli attack on Iran and Tehrans subsequent closure of the strait of Hormuz have given Iran new tools and resolve to resist pressure to shutter its nuclear programme.

Read the full story

Trump posts graphic video of womans killing in Florida

Besieged by questions about his war on Iran and his wifes statement on Jeffrey Epstein, Donald Trump tried to shift the national conversation back to his immigration crackdown by posting a graphic and distressing video of a woman in Florida being killed last week by a man he described as an illegal immigrant from Haiti.

Read the full story

What else happened today:

Catching up? Heres what happened Thursday 9 April
Donald Trump has reportedly said he will issue pardons en masse to his closest advisers at the end of his second presidency, promising them in casual conversations over the last year.

Ill pardon everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval [Office], the president reportedly said in a recent meeting, garnering laughs from the room, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing an anonymous source.

The publication reported that another source had said Trump used the line in an earlier conversation, but with a smaller radius: he said he would pardon anyone who came within 10ft of the presidential office. Other sources claim Trump has floated hosting a news conference at the end of his term where he will announce mass pardons.

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In response to the report, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said: The Wall Street Journal should learn to take a joke. However, the presidents pardon power is absolute.

Since starting his second presidency, Trump has granted clemency to more than 1,800 people. On his first day in office, Trump gave unconditional pardons to 1,500 people who had participated in the 6 January 2021 US Capitol attack carried out by his supporters, including those charged or convicted with assaulting or resisting law enforcement during the riot.

A Trump-appointed federal prosecutor recently had to ask a judge to deny a dismissal request from a man who is accused of planting two pipe bombs near the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national committees the night before the Capitol attack.

The man said his charges should be cleared because of Trumps widespread pardons of those involved in the attack  and that his charges are inextricably and demonstrably tethered to the riots. The judge overseeing the case has not responded to the mans request.

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Many of Trumps acts of clemency so far have been framed as rebukes to the justice system after Joe Biden defeated Trump in 2020 to end his first presidency. The Biden administration sought to prosecute Trump for various alleged offenses before he returned to power, including for illicitly seeking to overturn his defeat in the 2020 election.

Trump in October pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, who had been sentenced to four months in prison after he pleaded guilty for not maintaining an anti-money laundering program.

Earlier in the year, Binance accepted a $2bn transaction from the Emirati investment fund through World Liberty Financial, the crypto enterprise run by Trumps family. The transaction helped legitimize the familys digital currency.

In a statement at the time, the White House said that Zhao had been prosecuted by the Biden administration in their war on cryptocurrency.

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Trump also granted clemency to the former US representative George Santos, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft. The president commuted Santoss seven-year prison sentence, allowing him to be released after three months behind bars.

He lied like hell, Trump said at the time. But he was 100% for Trump.
President Donald Trump has undermined his vice president while he is in the middle of peace talks with a Truth Social rant invoking Allah to brag about killing Iranian leaders.

The Fake News Media has lost total credibility, not that they had any to begin with, Trump, 79, wrote in a Saturday morning rant. Because of their massive Trump Derangement Syndrome (Sometimes referred to as TDS!), they love saying that Iran is winning when, in fact, everyone knows that they are LOSING, and LOSING BIG!

Trump went on to claim that Irans Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft apparatus is nonexistent, Radar is dead, their Missile and Drone Factories have been largely obliterated along with the Missiles and Drones themselves and, most importantly, their longtime Leaders are no longer with us, praise be to Allah!

The president kicked off peace talks with a Truth Social tirade on Saturday morning. / @realDonaldTrump/Truth Social

The presidents post came just as talks between Iranian and U.S. officials began in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday. Trumps post made no mention of the negotiations that Vice President JD Vance is spearheading along with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner.

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Vances demands have been different from those pushed by Kushner and Witkoff ahead of the negotiations.

The vice president has been adamant that Iran must have no uranium enrichment capacity, the material used to make nuclear weapons, while Kushner and Witkoff have floated a softer deal in which the U.S. would actually supply Iran with uranium for civilian use.

Kushner and Witkoff had been leading negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, but those efforts were presumably going nowhere when Trump launched his unauthorized war with the country on Feb. 28.

Vance has sought to position himself as the sole voice of reason in negotiations to end the war. / Jacquelyn Martin / via REUTERS

Iran has since said it would prefer not to deal with the presidents son-in-law, or Witkoff, as regime officials said they viewed negotiations with Kushner and Witkoff as a front by the Trump administration to trick Iran into thinking they were negotiating in good faith, when the U.S. really just wanted to launch an attack.

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Iran has said it would prefer to negotiate only with Vance, who has long expressed opposition to U.S. military interventions in the Middle East.

The presidents post also claimed that the U.S. was working to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to the countrys allies and adversariesnot because average U.S. gas prices spiked more in March than in any other month since 1967.

Were now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others. Incredibly, they dont have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves, Trump wrote.

Its unclear exactly what clearing out the Strait entails.

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Iran effectively closed the all-important shipping lane as a result of Trumps war. It has emerged as a key lever for Tehran as gas and oil prices continue to rocket worldwide.

The president added, Very interestingly, however, empty Oil carrying ships from many Nations are all heading to the United States of America to LOAD UP with Oil.

Trump has been begging U.S. allies to help him open the Strait, but they have largely been reluctant to do so. As a result, his administration is reportedly weighing punishments for NATO allies that do not give their full support to the presidents war in Iran.

The Strait has been such a headache for Trump that he threatened to kill off the entire Iranian civilization if it did not open back up, a threat he later walked back as the U.S. and Iran came to a ceasefire agreement of sorts.

The president launched into a full-blown genocide level threat against Iran in his Truth Social Post. / Truth Social/ Donald Trump

In another post on Truth Social Saturday morning, Trump made a pitch for sweet American crude oil.

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Massive numbers of completely empty oil tankers, some of the largest anywhere in the World, are heading, right now, to the United States to load up with the best and sweetest oil (and gas!) anywhere in the World, he said.
In launching his attack on four conservative commentators who have been critical of the joint US-Israeli war against Iran, Donald Trump wrote that they were "stupid people" and that "nobody cares about them".

He then spent the next 372 words of a Truth Social post on Thursday afternoon talking about them.

The US president singled out two former popular Fox News evening-programme hosts, Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly, and right-wing conspiracy theorists Alex Jones and Candace Owens, for criticism. He ticked through each, using derisive language to highlight what he viewed as their past failings and deficiencies.

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All four have vocally supported Trump in the past  and comprised part of the president's effort to court right-wing podcasters and social media influencers during his 2024 presidential campaign.

But the president wrote that their views are now the opposite of his "Make America Great Again" movement.

"They're not MAGA, they're losers," he said. "As president, I could get them on my side anytime I want to, but when they call, I don't return their calls because I'm too busy on world and country affairs."

Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump were once friendly [Icon Sportswire via Getty Images]

Prior to parting ways with Fox News in 2023, Carlson helmed the network's highest-rated evening programme, averaging more than four million viewers a night. He has since moved to X, where he has built a sizeable audience by advocating a populist strain of conservativism that has at times diverged from Trump's. He has also been accused of spreading misinformation and drifting into conspiracy theories.

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Carlson opposed the Iran war from its early days and recently stepped up his criticism, calling Trump's obscenity-laced Easter Sunday message to Iran "vile on every level" and labelling his threats to bomb civilian energy and transportation infrastructure a war crime.

After Trump's latest Truth Social post, Carlson said he still loved the president but he feels "sorry for him".

He also echoed a growing sentiment among some on the right that Trump's decision to go to war was a result of undue influence by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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"The Israelis have him in a hammerlock," he said.

Owens, who recently alleged without providing evidence that conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated last year because of his anti-Israel views, provided a more blunt assessment of the president.

"It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home," she wrote.

Former Congresswomen Marjorie Taylor Greene, whom Trump mentioned in passing in his post, responded to his comments on X.

"President Trump has gone mad as he wages war against Iran, a broken campaign promise," she wrote. "I fought alongside Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens and Alex Jones to help get Trump elected."

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"We never changed," she concluded. "Trump did."

Greene, who dramatically broke with Trump last year over what she said was his lack of transparency in handling government files connected to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has stepped up her attacks on the president after resigning from Congress in January.

Her criticism of the Iran war, along with that of Carlson, Kelly and others, reflects some of the cracks that have formed in Trump's conservative coalition since the conflict began.

That raises the already high stakes for Trump, as Vice-President JD Vance leads a US delegation to Pakistan to engage in face-to-face negotiations with the Iranians on Saturday.

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For the moment, a tenuous two-week ceasefire with Iran is in place. On Friday, however, Trump told the New York Post that the US military was rearming and resupplying in preparation for renewed hostilities with Iran if the talks break down.

If that happens, the likes of Carlson and Greene may have company, as opposition from within Trump's party grows.

[BBC]

Follow the twists and turns of Trump's second term with North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher's weekly US Politics Unspun newsletter.

Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.
I grew up in Beaver, left to earn my doctorate and teach higher education, then moved back to the borough to contribute to my hometown. Now, seeing firsthand the daily anxiety of living near Shell Polymers Monaca (a.k.a. the Beaver Cracker Plant), I regret returning.

My perspective on the Beaver Cracker Plant seeking a Title V permit is summed up in a common platitude: actions speak louder than words, meaning you can measure the integrity of an industry by what it does, more so than by what it says.

First, projections claimed the Beaver Cracker Plant would generate $14 billion. But in fact, it has yet to yield even $1 billion, according to the September 2025 report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). Actions speak louder than words.

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Next, according to a 2014 study financed by Shell, the Beaver Cracker Plant promised to create between five and six thousand new, indirect, and induced jobs. But Shell's own fact sheet reveals the Beaver Cracker Plant employs only 409 people. During the April 7 public testimony hearing before the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, a line of politicians and their associates, including Josh Kail, Jim Christiana and Elder Vogel, touted lines about economic prosperity and the 30,000 jobs created during the cracker plants construction. But anyone who lived here during that time will recall the fleet of trucks bearing Texas license plates, begging the questions: who got all those jobs, and where did they go? Rather than invigorating job opportunities, Beavers economy and population are both in steep decline following the regions investments in petrochemicals. Actions speak louder than words.

Finally, the Beaver Cracker Plant has been cited for numerous violations, including the discharge of industrial waste that potentially polluted water sources and emissions of gases associated with health issues, including methane, particulate matter, and benzene. Benzene has been linked to higher rates of cancer. Shell also submitted 80 malfunction reports to the PADEP. And industrial accidents, including a fire, continue at this location, putting workers and the people who live near these facilities in danger. Actions speak louder than words.

The same lens of words versus actions may be applied to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, whose mission is to protect Pennsylvanias air, land, and water resources while ensuring the health and safety of all residents and visitors to the commonwealth. And yet, despite this mission, the PADEP has not issued any fines to Shell Polymers for the past 3 years. Actions speak louder than words.

Now, Shell Polymers is seeking a Title V permit that will increase limitations on its pollution levels. Pollution increases risks of health consequences, including fatigue, migraines, high blood pressure, asthma-related hospitalizations and cancers. Considering the over-abundance of examples demonstrating that Shell Polymers Monaca does not fulfill promises, fails to meet minimum standards, and continues to endanger the health and safety of nearby communities, I am reminded of another common platitude: those who do not heed history are doomed to repeat it. If Shell consistently fails to comply with the standards set by current permits, there is no guarantee that Shell will operate within the newly expanded limitations thatguarantee greater pollution and thus greater health risks.

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History repeats. The PADEP is encouraged to measure the history of Shells violations against the integrity of the petrochemical industry.

Actions over words. The PADEP should act in accordance with the words of its espoused mission statement. Stop protecting polluters. Start protecting Pennsylvanians.

Concerned community members are encouraged to submit written testimony via email to Emily Green at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection before April 17.

Elan Justice Pavlinich of Beaver is communications manager for the nonprofit Environmental Health Project.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Beaver County Shell plant has history of unfulfilled promises
By Suban Abdulla and William Schomberg

LONDON, April 11 (Reuters) - Britain's government said on Saturday it had put on hold its deal to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands - home to the U.S.-British Diego Garcia air base - which has been criticised by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The planned legislation underpinning the deal to cede the islands to Mauritius, which needs the backing of Washington, would not be included in the government's next parliamentary agenda, The Times newspaper said.

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office said London would try to persuade Washington to give its formal approval.

Trump said in February that the deal was a "big mistake" nL1N3ZE0XS, having previously said it was the best that Starmer would get.

Under the deal, Britain would retain control of the strategically important military base on Diego Garcia on a 99-year lease that preserves U.S. operations there.

A British government spokesperson said ensuring the long-term operational security of Diego Garcia would remain a priority.

"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 U.S. support. We are continuing to engage with the U.S. and Mauritius," the spokesperson said.

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Britain forcibly displaced up to 2,000 indigenous Chagossians in the late 1960s and 1970s to establish the base https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/uks-starmer-discussed-ukraine-call-with-trump-british-government-says-2026-02-03/ on the Diego Garcia atoll.

UK-U.S. RELATIONS STRAINED

The alliance between Washington and London has come under strain in recent weeks over Starmer's reluctance to get involved in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran https://www.reuters.com/world/iran/ and his refusal at the start of the conflict to allow Trump to use British air bases to launch attacks.

U.S. forces have since been permitted to carry out what the prime minister calls defensive strikes.

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Trump has also repeatedly criticised the British leader, saying he was "not Winston Churchill L8N3ZR0JI" and had ruined what is often called a "special relationship" between Britain and the U.S.

Mauritius Attorney General Gavin Glover told local media on Saturday that the UK and the U.S. would need to find "common ground" to reach an agreement.

"The information that the agreement has been put on hold does not come as a surprise to us," Glover added.

"The deterioration in relations between Keir Starmer and Donald Trump is at the root of the problem, as the United Kingdom needs the United States to be aligned with the treaty."

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Glover said that the country will hold discussions with Britain later this month in Mauritius.

Toby Noskwith, a spokesperson for Indigenous Chagossian People, a campaign group, said there had been some hesitation about the deal from the start from senior people in the Trump administration, perhaps even the President himself.

"We are astonished to have come to this point. This has been framed mainly as a state-to-state issue but the people who have been lost throughout the process are the Chagossians, particularly elders and survivors," Noskwith said.

He said questions needed to be asked about "the enormous sums of money which have been wasted on a collapsed negotiation, and the legality of conceiving a plan which denied the Chagossians their right to self-determination." He also said Starmer had to facilitate the dignified resettlement of the Chagossian people.

(Reporting by William Schomberg and Suban Abdulla in London; Additional reporting by Jean Paul Arouff in Port Louis; Editing by Gareth Jones and Jane Merriman)
By Daniel Flynn

KYIV, April 11 (Reuters) - Ukraine can play a useful role in international efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, Britain's armed services minister said, praising its drone technology as among the best in the world.

Britain has organized discussions this month among more than 30 nations nL1N40L0A8 on how to reopen the strait, amid an Iranian blockade that has choked oil supplies to the global economy following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran https://www.reuters.com/world/iran/.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said this week Kyiv had participated in consultations https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/ukrayinski-vijskovi-berut-uchast-u-konsultaciyah-shodo-togo-103761#:~:text=Second%2C%20we%20are%20currently%20preparing,this%20is%20a%20security%20interest on safeguarding navigation, drawing on expertise nL1N40L0WM from four years of war with Russia. Ukraine has already deployed more than 200 experts to the Middle East, where they have downed nL8N40S140 Iran's long-range Shahed drones.

"Ukraine has some of the best technology in the world that it's developed here in the war. I think that could provide utility in the Middle East, as we're seeing already against Shahed drones, all the way through to the Strait of Hormuz," Al Carns said during a visit to Kyiv on Friday.

Carns, who served as a colonel in Britain's armed forces before being elected to parliament two years ago, said his visit was intended to reassure Kyiv that the war in Ukraine https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraine-russia-war/ remained Britain's top defence and security priority.

He played down tensions within the NATO military alliance following U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism of European allies for not joining the Iran war, saying NATO was still the "backbone of our security".

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'REVOLUTION IN MILITARY AFFAIRS'

While Britain is providing funding, training and military capability to Ukraine, Carns said there was also much the UK could learn from Kyiv's battlefield innovations, particularly in drone technology, the use of data and AI.

"It's a revolution in military affairs, and we need to move faster," Carns said.

Incorporating advances in warfare into Britain's 10-year defence investment plan - due late last year - is taking time but the report will be ready this spring, Carns said.

Carns urged Ukraine to accelerate exports of its cutting-edge technology to capture a corner of the global market before other nations catch up, and to facilitate learning and development with NATO allies.

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Ukraine issued its first export licences in February. Kyiv hopes to raise funds to expand its defence industry while using its weapons as diplomatic leverage with allies.

However, some industry executives have complained nL8N40D0T6 Kyiv is dragging its heels in approving licences and risks missing the opportunity presented by the Iran war.

"Ukraine needs to speed up its capacity to export," Carns said. "I still believe the best systems sit in Ukraine, but the rest of the world is catching up."

Britain is home to a plant making Ukrainian interceptor drones that started production in February nL8N3ZL171. Another UK-headquartered Ukrainian military tech company, UForce, produces the Magura sea drone.

(Reporting by Daniel FlynnEditing by Gareth Jones)
By Jonathan Stempel

April 10 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Friday declared unconstitutional a nearly 158-year-old federal ban on home distilling, calling it an unnecessary and improper means for Congress to exercise its power to tax.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled in favor of the nonprofit Hobby Distillers Association and four of its 1,300 members.

They argued that people should be free to distill spirits at home, whether as a hobby or for personal consumption including, in one instance, to create an apple-pie-vodka recipe.

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The ban was part of a law passed during Reconstruction in July 1868, in part to thwart liquor tax evasion, and subjected violators to up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Writing for a three-judge panel, Circuit Judge Edith Hollan Jones said the ban actually reduced tax revenue by preventing distilling in the first place, unlike laws that regulated the manufacture and labeling of distilled spirits on which the government could collect taxes.

She also said that under the government's logic, Congress could criminalize virtually any in-home activity that might escape notice from tax collectors, including remote work and home-based businesses.

"Without any limiting principle, the governments theory would violate this courts obligation to read the Constitution carefully to avoid creating a general federal authority akin to the police power," Jones wrote.

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The U.S. Department of Justice had no immediate comment. Another defendant, the Treasury Department's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Devin Watkins, a lawyer representing the Hobby Distillers Association, in an interview called the ruling an important decision about the limits of federal power.

Andrew Grossman, who argued the nonprofit's appeal, called the decision "an important victory for individual liberty" that lets the plaintiffs "pursue their passion to distill fine beverages in their homes."

"I look forward to sampling their output," he said.

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The decision upheld a July 2024 ruling by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman in Fort Worth, Texas. He put his ruling on hold so the government could appeal.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
Conservative campaigners are targeting a decades-old federal scholarship program designed to provide Native Hawaiian students with funding to pursue healthcare careers and place practitioners in the states most medically underserved communities.

Do No Harm, a Virginia-based advocacy group for healthcare clinicians focused on keeping identity politics out of medical education, research, and clinical practice, filed its federal lawsuit challenging the US health departments Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP) last week.

The lawsuit represents several members of Do Not Harm, including a white woman entering a nursing program in the fall and two other non-Native Hawaiian individuals who expressed interest in the scholarship, according to the suit.

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In a press release about the lawsuit, Do No Harm said the scholarships requirement that applicants be Native Hawaiians was a violation of federal law and tantamount to racial discrimination.

That this program still exists even after the efforts by this administration to course correct proves just how widespread institutional race discrimination has become, read the release. Our complaint challenging the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program is aimed at ensuring well-deserving applicants can qualify to compete for the financial relief the scholarship provides.

Papa Ola Lokahi, the non-profit that administers the scholarship, said it would continue its work despite the legal challenge. Efforts to dismantle programs like this ignore both the historical context and the ongoing need to safeguard equitable access to care throughout Hawaii, said Dr Sheri Daniels, CEO of the organization. These scholars represent the next generation of healers for our communities, a presence that uplifts the health of all.

The program was established in 1988 under the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act, which provided funding to improve healthcare outcomes for Native Hawaiians. As part of the scholarship, recipients are required to work for at least two years in medically underprivileged communities in Hawaii.

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So far, the NHHSP has awarded more than 330 scholarships to applicants in 20 medical professions, according to the Papa Ola Lokahis website.

In an interview with the local media outlet Honolulu Civil Beat, Daniels spoke about the importance of having Native Hawaiian clinicians treating Native Hawaiians. It makes a difference, when you can see yourself in that person in the white coat or sitting across from you in therapy, that matters, she said.

The lawsuit against NHHSP is the most recent legal case Do No Harm has brought against healthcare programs. In March, the group filed a complaint with the US health department, arguing that Corewell Health, Texas Tech and HCA Healthcare [favored] foreign-trained physicians in their internal medicine residency programs over American-trained doctors.

Other Hawaiian educational initiatives have been targeted through legal challenges aimed at diversity programs. The Kamehameha Schools, a private school system established with the inheritance of Hawaiian princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, was specifically created to boost educational outcomes of Native Hawaiians.

In October, Students for Fair Admissions, the rightwing non-profit that brought the supreme court lawsuit that led to race-based admission being overturned, sued the school system alleging that the admissions policy expressly prefers students with Native Hawaiian ancestry over non-Native Hawaiian students.
By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON, April 10 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland told fellow House Democrats on Friday that he will introduce legislation creating a commission to facilitate the removal of any president deemed unable to carry out their duties, according to a House Judiciary Committee spokeswoman.

A "Commission on Presidential Capacity to Discharge the Powers and Duties of the Office" bill was first introduced by Raskin, now the senior Democrat on the committee, in 2020, when Donald Trump was in his first presidential term.

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In recent days, Democrats in Congress have begun talking about pushing for the impeachment of Trump, now in his second term, or trying to trigger the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which provides the bare-bones process for taking away a president's power in a procedure separate from impeachment.

Trump earlier this week caused widespread alarm and anger after he said "a whole civilization will die" in Iran unless its government agreed to allow ships to freely pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping there has been interrupted following Trump's decision to launch, along with Israel, a military attack on Iran that began on February 28.

The Raskin legislation is unlikely to advance in the Republican-controlled House, where Speaker Mike Johnson is a strong defender of Trump.

Republicans in the House and Senate have blocked Democrats' moves to pass a separate resolution to end the Iran war that was never authorized by Congress.

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The Raskin bill would create a 17-member bipartisan commission if it is determined that the president cannot perform the duties of the office because of physical disability or mental deficiency or because of drug or alcohol use or other conditions.

Trump was subjected to two impeachment proceedings during his first term, each of which ended with acquittal by the Republican-controlled Senate.

Since then, most Democrats have shied away from talking about impeachment. But Trump's latest military foray in Iran and his failure to lay out clear objectives have emboldened many Democrats to begin talking about removing Trump from power - a strategy that is not necessarily embraced by all in the party caucus.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
April 11 (Reuters) - U.S. intelligence indicates China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks, CNN reported late on Friday, citing three people familiar with recent intelligence assessments.

The network said there are indications Beijing is working to route the shipments through third countries to mask their origin.

U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to a group of reporters on Saturday afternoon as he departed the White House to fly to Miami, said that "if China does that, China can have big problems."

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He did not elaborate.

The U.S. State Department, the Chinese embassy in Washington and China's foreign ministry did not respond to Reuters requests for comment earlier on Saturday.

Beijing is preparing to transfer shoulder-fired anti-air missile systems known as MANPADs, CNN said, citing sources it did not name.

The U.S. and Iran held high-level negotiations nL1N40U01A on Saturday in Pakistan's capital Islamabad, seeking ways to end their six week-old war.

(Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru and Jonathan Landay in Washington; Editing by William Mallard, Jan Harvey and Paul Simao)
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The USS John P. Murtha returned to Naval Base San Diego Saturday morning following a historic mission supporting NASAs Artemis II program, bringing with it the Orion spacecraft after its successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

The U.S. Navy ship, named in honor of the late and long-serving Pennsylvania Congressman John P. Murtha, played a critical role in Fridays Artemis II recovery operation, serving as the primary vessel tasked with retrieving the Orion capsule and its crew after reentry.

It is a fitting tribute to Congressman Murtha, who dedicated his life to serving our nation, that the ship bearing his name will be integral to this historic moment in space exploration, said Capt. Erik Kenny, commanding officer of John P. Murtha. He was a champion for our military and a visionary. We are honored to carry on his legacy by supporting NASA and the Artemis II mission.

The USS John P. Murtha returns to San Diego carrying Orion spacecraft. (KSWB) The USS John P. Murtha returns to San Diego carrying Orion spacecraft. (KSWB) The USS John P. Murtha returns to San Diego carrying Orion spacecraft. (KSWB)

The carefully coordinated effort involved Navy sailors and NASA engineers who worked together to safely secure the spacecraft shortly after splashdown. Officials say the recovery operation went smoothly, marking a major milestone for NASAs Artemis II program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface and eventually pave the way for missions to Mars.

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Artemis II: Key moments in NASAs historic moon mission

Once secured aboard the ship, Orion underwent initial inspections before being transported back to San Diego. The spacecraft will now be offloaded and prepared for further evaluation by NASA teams.

The Orion spacecraft is seen aboard the USS John P. Murtha in San Diego. (KSWB) The Orion spacecraft is seen aboard the USS John P. Murtha in San Diego. (KSWB) The Orion spacecraft is seen aboard the USS John P. Murtha in San Diego. (KSWB)

The Artemis II mission marks NASAs first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years, and its successful recovery represents a significant step forward in the next era of human space exploration.

Governor Gavin Newsom praised the Golden States crucial role in the mission, highlighting the contributions of thousands of workers, hundreds of companies and multiple NASA centers across the state.

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The crew splashing down off the California coast is a full-circle moment and point of immense pride, Newsom stated. Artemis II is a unifying moment for all of us here on Earth that we can shoot for the stars and strive for a brighter future, for all.

For many in San Diego, the ships return serves as a reminder of the regions vital role in both national defense and space travel.

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.
The Trump Administration via the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) issued a Memorandum Opinion on January 15, 2026, pertaining to the general ban on the mailing of handguns by use of the Postal Service. The Memorandum declared the federal ban on mailing handguns to be unconstitutional. This was a significant step to restore rights traditionally protected by the Second Amendment.

Our history is full of famous figures ordering firearms by mail, from Bat Masterson to President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1927 a federal law banning the sending of handguns through the mail was put into effect. It is widely regarded as the first federal firearms law. The Congressional record of the debate shows the purpose was to prevent black people from circumventing existing state and local handgun bans on the carry of concealed weapons by black men. The Congressional record of the debate was found by esteemed historian Clayton Cramer. From the debate:

Here we have laid bare the principal cause for the high murder rate in Memphis--the carrying by colored people of a concealed deadly weapon, most often a pistol. Can we not cope with this situation?

The quote above is from Senator Shields (D-TN), in 1924. It took time for the act to be passed and become law. 
Iran and the United States failed to reach an agreement to end the war in the Middle East, US Vice President JD Vance said Sunday after marathon talks in Islamabad, adding that he was leaving after giving Tehran the "final and best offer".

Vance said Washington was seeking a "fundamental commitment" from Iran that it would not develop a nuclear weapon, but that "we haven't seen that" after holding the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

However, he signalled that he was still giving Iran time to consider the offer from the United States, which on Tuesday said it would pause attacks with Israel for two weeks pending negotiations.

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Pakistan, which hosted the talks and whose leadership had ushered the rival sides to the table, said it would keep facilitating dialogue and urged both countries to continue respecting the temporary truce.

Iran's state broadcaster IRIB said negotiations stalled over "unreasonable demands of the American side", though the country's foreign ministry spokesman later noted that "no one" could have expected that after 40 days of war, they would reach an agreement within one session.

The United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, sparking retaliation from Tehran that has plunged the Middle East into conflict and the global economy into tumult.

Iran and the US had entered the talks mediated by Pakistan with maximalist positions, with Washington piling pressure by saying it had sent minesweeping ships through the vital Strait of Hormuz maritime route.

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Signs of strain in the negotiations appeared when Iranian media accused the United States of making "excessive demands" over the strait, through which one-fifth of the world's oil transited before its effective closure by Iran during the war.

US President Donald Trump had also insisted several hours into the talks on Saturday that the United States had already triumphed on the battlefield by killing Iranian leaders and destroying key military infrastructure.

"Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me. The reason is because we've won," Trump said.

After 21 hours of talks in the Pakistani capital, Vance told reporters that no deal could yet be struck.

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"We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We'll see if the Iranians accept it," Vance said, before departing for a nearby airport and flying out of Pakistan.

- Leverage -

Suggesting efforts to keep the sides talking would continue, Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said his government would "continue to play its role to facilitate engagement and dialogue between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America in the days to come".

"It is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to ceasefire," he added.

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The high-stakes meeting had unfolded in Islamabad with intense mistrust by both sides.

Iran was in the middle of negotiations on its nuclear programme in February with Trump's real-estate friend Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner when the United States and Israel launched their attack. The first salvos of the war killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Both Kushner and Witkoff were part of Vance's team in Pakistan. The 70-strong Iranian delegation was led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the powerful speaker of parliament, and included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Iranian demands for any agreement to end the war include unfreezing sanctioned Iranian assets and ending Israel's war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, which Vance has said would not be up for discussion in Islamabad.

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The opening of the Strait of Hormuz has also presented a key friction point.

Iran throughout the war exercised its global economic leverage by asserting control of the important maritime route, sending oil prices soaring and piling political pressure on Trump as Americans complained of rising costs at the pump.

The US military said Saturday that two Navy warships transited through the strait to begin clearing it of mines and ensure it is a "safe pathway" for tankers.

The Iranian military denied that any American warships had entered the waterway and threatened to respond if they do so.

The Revolutionary Guards' Naval Command said Iranian promises of safe passage during a two-week ceasefire applied only to "civilian vessels under specific conditions".

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The United States is heavily impacted by soaring oil prices on global markets but imports less directly from the Gulf than many of its European allies -- which Trump has berated for not joining a war that they were not consulted about beforehand.

"We'll open up the strait even though we don't use it, because we have a lot of other countries in the world that do use it that are either afraid or weak or cheap," Trump said.

- Lebanon violence -

Ghalibaf, speaking shortly after landing in Pakistan, made clear that Iran remained highly suspicious of the United States.

"Our experience in negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and broken promises," Ghalibaf said.

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Vance said before leaving for Pakistan that if Iran was willing, the United States would "negotiate in good faith" but would not be receptive "if they're going to try to play us".

A major complicating factor has been Israel's assertion that the ceasefire does not affect Lebanon, where the Israeli military has launched massive strikes and a ground invasion in response to fire from Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shia Muslim movement.

Lebanese authorities said Israeli strikes on the country's south on Saturday killed 18 people, bringing the death toll from Israel's operations since the war broke out past 2,000.

Israel and Lebanon will hold their own talks next week in Washington. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that he wanted a peace deal with Lebanon that "will last for generations".

But Israel has ruled out a ceasefire with Hezbollah, signalling it will instead seek to pressure the historically weak central government in Beirut.

burs/hmn/ceg/axn
Lawmakers gave final approval Friday to part of Gov. Wes Moores (D) package of housing reform bills, but another ran into a last-minute snag between chambers while a third languished in committee without a vote, all but dead with the end of the legislative session looming Monday.

The House on Friday approved Senate Bill 325, the Maryland Housing Certainty Act, on a 106-29 vote. Not long after, the Senate voted 34-12 for a companion version of the bill, House Bill 548.

The bills, which are now on the governors desk awaiting his signature, delay the payment of certain fees to county officials for the development of new housing and create vesting rights for developers: The assurance that a project would be subject to the local regulations in place at time of its completed application and not subject to later changes.

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A similar vesting rights bill died last year as time ran out on the session.

Lots have been written about our housing affordability and supply challenge caused by a shortage of 100,000 units, said Sen. Brian J. Feldman (D-Montgomery), the chair of the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, during a news conference Friday morning.

One of the biggest issues identified is the need in our state for more regulatory certainty, Feldman said, referencing the Housing Certainty Act. Developers need to know that the laws and regulations governing permitting arent going to be changed years after the project gets started.

The Housing Certainty Act is just one piece of the 3-pronged housing package in Moores legislative priorities this year. But the other parts arent progressing as smoothly: one piece hit an unexpected snag in the final days of session, while the other has languished in committee for weeks.

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Housing officials say developers are often deterred or unable to finish housing projects because they have to adapt to new building requirements in the middle of construction.

In 2025, the governors vesting rights proposal was aimed to tie housing development to areas with high job growth. That came under fire from the Maryland Association of Counties, because it limited county government say over some housing decisions. MACo Executive Director Michael Sanderson said conversations on vesting rights fell apart in the waning days of the 2025 legislative session.

This year, the administration got out ahead of the issue, with Housing Secretary Jake Day and state officials increasing efforts to coordinate with counties on the legislation. Those efforts appeared to pay off: Sanderson said that in listening to early discussion on the bill this year, he was more certain that any disagreements were going to get worked out quickly this year.

Its done and were fine, Sanderson said.

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Other components of Moores package arent faring as well.

Road bumps for transit-oriented bill

A Moore proposal to encourage development around areas of high transit had been progressing smoothly  until recently, when lawmakers differed over labor language in the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act.

The administration bill included language calling for project labor agreements, or PLAs, collective bargaining agreements between a project developer and labor unions to establish the terms for employment on a project. Developers looking to apply for the states Transit-Oriented Development Capital Grant and Revolving Loan Fund would get a boost if the project included a PLA, under Moores proposed legislation.

The Senate stripped the PLA language out of Senate Bill 389 and passed the amended version unanimously back in March, just days after the House approved House Bill 894 with the PLA language intact.

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Otherwise, the bills are largely the same and would encourage new housing development around transit-oriented locations by restricting parking minimums and other local decisions in specific situations. The bills also prohibit the collection of certain county taxes until a project is close to completion.

But neither chamber has yielded on its position the PLA language, with each amending the others bill to conform to its own.

The House could approve the Senate bill, with PLA language, on Saturday. The Senate will likely vote on the House bill, with the PLA language stripped out, on Monday, the last day of session.

Silver and Starter Homes a non-starter

A part of the governors package aimed at encouraging the development of smaller homes by prohibiting local jurisdictions from placing restrictions on how small a lot or house could be, has languished in committee since February in both chambers, where they are expected to die.

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The Starter and Silver Homes Act  House Bill 239 and Senate Bill 36  both had committee hearings in February, but have not moved since.

Of the governors three housing proposals, the Silver and Starter Homes act brought out the most testimony from the public, many of whom opposed the matter.

It really served as a lightning rod, Sanderson said.

Sanderson noted its the first year for the Starter/Silver Homes proposal, and many bills do not pass in the first year they are introduced.

While its not impossible for the bill to make great strides between now and Monday, Feldman previously said that his committee focused on passing Moores other two housing bills, and was not prioritizing the Silver and Starter Homes bill.

This story was updated Monday to remove an imprecise statement from Sanderson.

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The latest developments in the Middle East war:

- Talks 'ongoing' -

The White House said high-level in-person trilateral talks with Iran and Pakistan were "ongoing" in Islamabad late on Saturday.

The trilateral direct negotiations were taking place with host Pakistan, a senior White House official said. Iranian state media earlier reported that two rounds had taken place and a third was expected.

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- Lebanon death toll past 2,000 -

Lebanon's health ministry said the death toll since the start of the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah is now 2,020.

The new toll from the Lebanese health ministry includes 248 women, 165 children and 85 medical and emergency personnel killed, along with 6,436 people wounded since Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2.

Earlier Saturday, Lebanon said Israeli strikes on a village near Sidon in the south killed eight people, after earlier strikes killed 10 people including three emergency workers.

Israel's military said it had struck more than 200 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in the last 24 hours.

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- US ships clearing mines -

Two US Navy warships have transited the Strait of Hormuz at the start of an operation to clear the strategic waterway of mines laid by Iran, US Central Command said.

The announcement -- the first such transit since the US-Israeli war with Iran began -- came shortly after President Donald Trump said Washington had started "clearing out" the strait, through which a fifth of the world's crude oil passes.

- Pope denounces warmongers -

Pope Leo lashed out against warmongers while calling on billions of people around the globe to embrace peace and "believe once again in love, moderation and good politics".

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In one of his most passionate entreaties yet to end the raging conflict in the Middle East, the American pope said faith was needed "in order to face this dramatic hour in history together".

- Macron appeal -

French President Emmanuel Macron said he had urged his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian to use the talks to achieve "a lasting de-escalation."

"I urged him to seize the opportunity presented by the talks launched in Islamabad to pave the way for a lasting de-escalation and a robust agreement that provides solid guarantees for security in the region," Macron said on X.

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- Pakistan PM meets delegations -

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met US Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad, the former's office said, having earlier received an Iranian delegation.

Iran's state broadcaster reported then that "arrangements for the Iran-US will be defined at the conclusion of this meeting".

- Pakistan calls to 'engage' -

Pakistan's foreign minister called for the United States and Iran to "engage constructively" at the Islamabad talks.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar "expressed the hope that parties would engage constructively, and reiterated Pakistan's desire to continue facilitating the parties towards reaching lasting and durable solution to the conflict."

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- Iran says lacks 'trust' with US -

Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said shortly after arriving in Pakistan's capital that previous experiences negotiating with the United States had led to a lack of trust.

"Our experience in negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and broken promises," Iranian state media quoted him as saying.

- Israel won't discuss ceasefire -

Israel's US ambassador Yechiel Leiter told his Lebanese counterpart in Washington that he "refused to discuss a ceasefire with the Hezbollah terrorist organisation", according to a statement after a meeting.

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Israel "agreed to begin formal peace negotiations" with the Lebanese government, with which it has no diplomatic relations, the Israeli ambassador said.

Lebanon's presidency said a meeting would be held at the US State Department on Tuesday "to discuss declaring a ceasefire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices."

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Warren Jeffs was arrested in 2006 and his crimes continue to be examined two decades later.

As the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), a radical polygamist organization that is separate from the Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Jeffs became notorious for forcing members of the cult to wed, including those who were underage.

He also claimed to have 80 spiritual wives, 24 of whom were minors when he symbolically married them. But in the time before he was considered a prophet in 2002, Jeffs allegedly abused his own family members, including his two children. Both of whom have previously spoken about about their disgraced father and leader.

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Jeffs was eventually arrested in 2006 and five years later, he was charged with child rape against a 12-year-old and a 15-year-old, with whom he was accused of having fathered a child. That same year, in 2011, he was convicted of both charges and sentenced to life in prison.

Now, the Netflix docuseries Trust Me: The False Prophet is revisiting how he devastated lives around him, even after being sent away.

So, where is Warren Jeffs today? Here's everything to know about what happened to the cult leader after he was put behind bars.

Jeffs served as the president of FLDS

Rulon Jeffs and Warren Jeffs in 'Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey'

Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

From 2002 to 2007, Jeffs served as the leader of FLDS.

Jeffs succeeded his father, Rulon Jeffs, who was the head of the organization from 1986 until his death in 2002, per CNN.

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As the churchs leader, Jeffs was responsible for assigning wives to their future husbands. He was also the only person permitted to perform marriages within the organization.

Jeffs resigned from his post in 2007 amid charges of accomplice to rape after coercing an underage girl to marry her first cousin with a statement that read, "Mr. Jeffs resigned as President of the Corporation of the President of The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Inc., on November 20, 2007.

Despite stepping down from his official post, however, ABC News reported that Jeffs continued to wield influence over the organization as its prophet for years after his resignation and following the abrupt departure of his replacement, according to NBC News.

He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault against two minors

'Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey'

Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

On Aug. 4, 2011, Jeffs was found guilty of one count of felony aggravated sexual assault and one count of second-degree felony sexual assault after a DNA match between Jeffs and a 15-year-old mother per ABC News.

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Audio recording of Jeffs sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl were also played for the jury.

Prior to his 2011 conviction, Jeffs was charged and convicted of being an accomplice to rape in September 2007 after coercing a 14-year-old to marry her 19-year-old cousin, though the ruling was later overturned by the Utah Supreme Court over faulty jury instructions, according to CBS News.

Reuters reported that the accomplice charges were later dropped in light of his subsequent sexual assault convictions.

Jeffs claimed his religious freedom was violated

In the opening statement of his 2011 trial, Jeffs, who fired his attorneys to act as his own legal representation, claimed that the hearing was a violation of his religious freedom.

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According to NBC News, members of the FLDC believe that polygamy is necessary in order to be exalted to heaven.

His children have accused him of sexual abuse

Roy Jeffs in Salt Lake City

Credit: Rick Bowmer/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Three of Jeffs' five children have accused the religious leader of sexually assaulting them, along with his nephew Brent Jeffs, who filed a 2004 lawsuit alleging that his uncle had raped him, PEOPLE previously reported.

In September 2015, Jeffs daughter, Becky Jeffs, and his son, Roy Jeffs, alleged that their father had sexually abused them before becoming a prophet during an episode of This Is Life on CNN.

Becky recalled opening up about the abuse to her sister, whom Jeffs also allegedly abused. I thought, Im not the only one molested, hes done it to her, it must be something that was in his nature, she said.

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She continued, I kept telling myself it was an accident. I just thought that was a mistake. I didnt allow myself to dwell on it.

Jeffs' son Roy, who left his fathers church in 2014, claimed that he was sexually abused by his father from as early as age 4 or 5. I always felt like he was perfect. I never held him accountable at all, he said.

In November 2017, Jeffs' daughter Rachel Jeffs made similar claims during an episode of Megyn Kelly Today, alleging that her dad began to molest her at the age of 8. I remember thinking, If my father is doing this and the world is wickeder, are the worlds fathers even worse than this?' I remember thinking that I should be grateful that it is only this bad.

Rachel left the church in 2015 after being forced into a polygamist marriage.

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She confirmed the death of her brother Roy by suicide to PEOPLE in June 2019.

Jeffs documentation of his crimes helped put him behind bars

Warren Jeffs in a booking photo taken on September 5, 2006 in Utah

Credit: Washington County Sheriff via Getty

Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey director Rachel Dretzin told Tudum in July 2025 that Jeffs' tendency to document his crimes ultimately led to his 2011 conviction.

Warren Jeffs documented everything, she said. Every crime he committed, he recorded on tape, or audio or journals.

NBC News reported that a thumb drive of audio, including evidence of Jeffs' sexual assault crimes, was acquired by police during a traffic stop in August 2006.

More incriminating recordings were reportedly recovered during a raid of a FLDS church compound in Eldorado, Texas, in April 2008.

He was sentenced to life in prison in 2011

Warren Jeffs on August 31, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty

On Aug. 9, 2011, Jeffs' was sentenced to life in prison for sexual assault.

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According to BBC News, the jury deliberated for just 30 minutes before sentencing Jeffs to a life in prison.

The New York Times reported that Jeffs received an additional 20-year sentence for sexual assault of a minor and that his sentences would be served consecutively.

Jeffs has been hospitalized several times over the years

Jeffs has experienced severe mental and physical issues since being incarcerated.

In January 2007, he attempted suicide by hanging while awaiting trial in a Utah jail, per court documents obtained by CNN.

The AP reported in August 2019 that Jeffs had to be force-fed while being held at an Arizona prison in 2009.

In August 2011, Jeffs was hospitalized after being placed into a medically induced coma for fasting, at which point he was listed as being in "critical but stable condition per ABC News.

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A spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice told the outlet at the time that Jeffs was also being treated for other medical ailments and conditions.

Where is Warren Jeffs now?

Warren Jeffs on November 15, 2010 in a Salt Lake City courtroom

Credit: AP Photo/Trent Nelson, Pool, File

According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Jeffs is currently incarcerated at the Louis C. Powledge unit prison for men in Palestine, Texas.

He will be eligible for parole on July 22, 2038.



If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.

Read the original article on People
White House officials and their allies sought to pressure an Indiana Republican to drop out of a state Senate primary earlier this year, floating job opportunities and warning of the personal attacks she could face as they worked to pave the way for President Donald Trumps preferred candidate.

Trump is seeking to unseat seven Indiana lawmakers in the May 5 primaries who broke with him last year and opposed a redistricting plan. In one of those races, he has endorsed Brenda Wilson, a Vigo County Council member, against state Sen. Greg Goode, who voted against Trumps wishes.

But her supporters fear a third candidate, Alexandra Wilson  a 34-year-old network engineer who isnt related  could confuse voters since they share a last name, thus dividing the opposition to Goode.

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Over several days in February before the deadline for primary candidates to withdraw, White House officials peppered Alexandra Wilson with phone calls, text messages and voicemails that she recorded and shared exclusively with NBC News. In the calls, White House aides first tried to entice her to leave the race with possible job options. On another call, they later warned her about the money and attacks that would follow if she didnt.

Wilson, a longtime Trump supporter, said she was contacted by three White House aides  political director Matt Brasseaux, deputy chief of staff James Blair and Midwest regional political director Marshall Moreau  as well as Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith; Gov. Mike Brauns chief of staff, Joshua Kelley; and a staffer for the conservative group Club for Growth, Evan Oudekerk.

The effort shows how deeply senior White House staff members and their allies have been involved in trying to oust the Indiana Republican state senators who delivered a rare and stunning rebuke to Trump over a congressional map that was designed to net the party two seats in this years midterm elections. It also offers a rare glimpse of the type of pressure campaign that can happen behind the scenes in elections.

This is what the political team does. They talk to candidates across the country. And its not, you know, again, its not coming from a place of malice, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told NBC News. It is coming from a place of doing their jobs to report back to the president whats going on in these races.

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Leavitt said Trump is intimately aware of all races up and down the ballot  not just those in which he is seeking political retribution.

Ultimately, President Trump is the decision-maker in these races, and its incumbent upon his team that hes empowered to find out the facts about all of these races across the country, she said. His team is again doing their jobs to ensure the best outcome and as many wins across the board as we can get.

'Kill two birds with one stone'

In a Feb. 11 phone call  the first she answered  Brasseaux told Wilson he could contact the White House Presidential Personnel Office to find her an administration job in Indiana. Im going to ask the point-blank question here: Is there a pathway to where you would put some thought into another route to making an impact in your community? Brasseaux asked.

Im just trying to think outside the box to where we can kill two birds with one stone, and you have the ability to effect change and do exactly what youre talking about doing, but also we have the ability to take out Greg Goode and move on, he continued.

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Wilson said she didnt think Brasseaux could find her a job better than the one she has as a network engineer and asked whether he had any other suggestions. Brasseaux said it wouldnt have to be a job.

I think that we can think outside the box here, Brasseaux said. I am absolutely, unequivocally open to any ideas that you have to entertain to try and get us to a yes or try and get us there. I just dont know what all that looks like, but I can 100% put my head down to the grind and figure out what that may look like.

This is not something that Im just trying to blow smoke and just to try and get you out of the race, he continued.

Toward the end of the call, Wilson said, Im not envisioning anything else but continuing in the race at this very moment.

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In an interview, Alexandra Wilson said her motivation for running for the state Senate was a major renovation plan for Terre Haute, Indiana, schools that she expected would raise taxes.

I got tired of people making decisions without the reality of how hard it is to live day to day, she said. I have three stepchildren. We have a kid on the way. Lifes expensive. Buying dinner is astronomical.

The call with Brasseaux was insulting, she said.

I had a hard time not feeling insulted the entire call, she said. The admin position  I have a career, my job  that was a fraction of what I make a year. Let alone I had been adamant during that call of these are the local issues going on and this is what Im passionate about.

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Minutes after their phone call, Brasseaux texted Wilson that hed spoken with the governors office and that there were some boards and commissions she might be interested in. In a statement, a spokesperson for Braun said the governors office receives hundreds of referrals for Hoosiers interested in serving our state and it is standard practice that we follow up on those leads. Mrs. Wilson was one of many who have been referred to our office. The spokesperson added that Kelley, Brauns chief of staff, reached out and she did not respond.

Later that night, Beckwith, the lieutenant governor, called and left a message. Beckwith said in an interview that he hadnt talked to the White House about Wilson, though he had spoken with the conservative group Turning Point Action  which is backing Brenda Wilson  about Alexandra Wilsons candidacy. He said he hoped to urge her to withdraw from the race and called some local Republicans to push for that.

I just said I dont know if you guys really thought this one through, because this probably could end poorly for this woman, Beckwith said, noting her political inexperience.

'This is going to be really ugly'

With just one day left for candidates to withdraw from primary races, the pressure escalated the morning of Feb. 12.

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They were very, very pushy, Wilson recalled.

Brasseaux asked in a text message whether she could talk with him again and Blair, Trumps deputy chief of staff. Kelley, Brauns chief of staff, texted 45 minutes later. Blair called seven minutes after that and left a message.

Wilson texted Brasseaux and said she couldnt speak until the evening. Later that afternoon, she got a call from Steve Ellis, the Vigo County Council president, who told her Blair had called to try to get her to talk sooner. That night, she finally got on the phone with Blair, who said he was on a plane to Germany with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

In the call, which was shared with NBC News, Blair said that when he was researching her candidacy, her past charge of resisting arrest and her husbands DUI arrest came up. He also said he expected Goodes allies to spend millions of dollars to defend him and the other state senators facing primary challengers.

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I think that theyre going to run television ads on it. I think theyre going to run mail pieces on it, Blair said of her past arrest. Theyre going to tell every voter in the district about this kind of stuff. Because they dont have to tell your side of the story. They will tell the side of the story they want people to hear.

During the call, Wilson explained the circumstances around her arrest, which was resolved with a plea deal for a misdemeanor charge. I was a child. I made a mistake. It was right after my mother passed away suddenly, I made a poor choice, she said. Everybody makes mistakes. I have been a law-abiding citizen since then.

At another point in the call, Blair said: I just wanted to talk about that brass-tacks reality that I think is going to be really ugly. And I think were sort of working at cross purposes with two people with the same last name on the ballot.

They discussed Trumps potentially switching his endorsement to her, though Blair made it clear that was a tall order. Wilson said she was pregnant and wasnt eager to start a new job.

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By the end of the call, which Wilson characterized as a little threatening, she made it clear she wasnt leaving the race, which Blair seemed to acknowledge. She didnt return the other phone calls and texts from Moreau, Beckwith, Club for Growth and Brauns chief of staff, Kelley.

Joe Kildea, a spokesperson for Club for Growth, confirmed its call to urge Wilson to withdraw, saying the group has urged any Indiana state Senate candidate without Trumps backing to get out of their races. He didnt respond to questions about whether the group was working with the White House.

That was the last time Wilson heard from the White House, she said.

The next morning  Feb. 13, the final day candidates could withdraw from the primary  conservative attorney Jim Bopp, a Braun ally, filed a petition with the states Election Commission to disqualify Wilson from the ballot.

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Bopp said in an interview Thursday that he wasnt aware of the broader pressure campaign and that the state Republican Party asked him to challenge Wilsons candidacy. After this article was published, Bopp called Friday to say he had "mispoken" and the challenge was his idea, as a supporter of Brenda Wilson. He declined to say if he was being paid for the work.

The Indiana Republican Party maintains a position of neutrality in Republican primary elections," Indiana Republican Party spokesman Gage Hoekstra said in a statement Friday. "We are in no way involved in this legal matter."

Bopp alleged that Alexandra Wilsons candidacy was a trick designed to help Democrats. He claimed she wasnt eligible to run for office because shed been arrested when she was 19 on a felony charge of resisting arrest, even though it had been plead down to a misdemeanor. The Election Commission deadlocked on the issue, leaving Wilson on the ballot. Bopp then went to court to try to overrule the commission.

Wilson got her criminal record expunged March 23, and the court referred the case back to the Election Commission. On Wednesday, the commission again deadlocked with a 2-2 vote, Wilson said, leaving her on the May 5 primary ballot. Bopp told NBC News on Thursday he plans to appeal the move in court next week.

I have been accused of dirty tricks, political dirty tricks. This is exactly what is a political dirty trick," Wilson said. "Im a legitimate candidate with concerns for my district that would like to represent my district, and I have every right to be involved as anybody else on the ballot.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
In 2011, Wisconsin made national news headlines when then-Gov. Scott Walker attempted to reform public sector collective bargaining as a part of his push for fiscal responsibility. At the height of the Tea Party movement, what became known as Act 10which restricted the areas public sector employees could collectively bargain overquickly transformed into a political hornet's nest.

Democratic state lawmakers infamously fled the state for Chicago in an effort to block a vote on the bill as it was winding its way through the legislature, and Walker eventually faced a recall election.

He survived. This year, Act 10 turns 15. By all available evidence, it has worked exactly as intended. But despite the law's positive impact for Wisconsin taxpayers and the state fisc, it is facing a questionable legal challenge that may finally doom it.

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When Walker took office in 2010, Wisconsin was staring down the barrel of a $3.6 billion budget deficit. One of Walker's primary responses was to push Act 10; the law allowed bargaining over wages but not things like pensions and health insurance. It also put state government employees on the hook for covering 12 percent of the premium costs for their government-provided health insurance plans, in addition to mandating more employee contributions to pensions.

While it's difficult to calculate the exact cost savings to Wisconsin from Act 10, the MacIver Institute has estimated $35.6 billion in savings through 2025. But beyond dollars and cents, Act 10 also succeeded in cutting back on union power in Wisconsinthus helping the government run more efficiently.

According to a recent analysis by the Center for Economic Policy and Research (CEPR), Wisconsin has seen the sharpest decline in union membership rates of any state in the country over the past 40 years. While the number of union members has declined nationwide in recent decades as America has transitioned to a more service-based economy, Wisconsin's decrease has been particularly notable, especially since it historically had been one of America's most unionized states.

Act 10 played a large role in the drop. Wisconsin's public sector union membership rates saw "by far" the largest declineat close to 29 percentof any state, according to CEPR's report. "Wisconsin's steepest losses," the report notes, "coincided with the 2011 passage of Wisconsin Act 10."

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"There was definitely a national trend of gradual union decline, but Wisconsin fell faster and further than almost anywhere else, and it had further to fall," said Hayley Brown, the author of the report, in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio. The law's success has also prompted other states to follow suit with collective bargaining reforms in recent years.

Yet its future is far from certain. In December 2024, a county judge declared the law unconstitutional for allegedly violating the state constitution's equal protection clause. The judge's reasoning was based on the fact that public safety employees (like police and firefighters) were exempt from the law's reach, while other government employees (like teachers) were not.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit effectively rejected this argument in a 2013 casealbeit one that involved an equal protection claim under the federal constitution, rather than Wisconsin's constitution. Because collective bargaining does not involve a "fundamental right," the court said, the law withstood scrutiny since it "further[ed] a legitimate government objective." Other legal challenges to Act 10including another 7th Circuit case and a 2014 decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Courthave also upheld the law.

But this most recent litigation poses the gravest threat yet. The December 2024 decision is now pending before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Once that court issues its ruling, the case will make its way back to the state's highest court. Recent judicial elections swung the Wisconsin Supreme Court to a liberal majority, leading many to predict the law's demise.

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Act 10's potential death would come at a real cost. The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) has estimated that striking it down would cost school districts in the state $1.6 billion annually, on top of $440 million annually in new costs to local government units. Meanwhile, for the average taxpayer who owns a $300,000 homethe average cost of a house in Wisconsinoverturning the law would result in a $624 hike in annual property taxes, according to WILL.

Both budgetary math and declining union power show that Act 10 worked exactly as Walker promised. Unfortunately, Wisconsinites may not be able to enjoy the law's benefits for very much longer.

The post Wisconsin Reined in Public Sector Unions. Now Those Reforms Are in Jeopardy. appeared first on Reason.com.
Law enforcement officials are saying a Chicago-area woman's claims of being detained for two days were a hoax.

A Wisconsin sheriff is now suing Sundas "Sunny" Naqvi for defamation, claiming she lied to the public last month, when she said she was held in the Broadview U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility and transferred to Dodge County, Wisconsin.

"Sundas Naqvi was not detained by ICE at anytime. She was not transported to Broadview detention facility. She was not transported across state lines to Dodge County, by law enforcement anyway. She was not in the custody of the Dodge County Sheriff's Office," Sheriff Dale Schmidt said Friday.

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Schmidt, in his lawsuit, outlined what he calls a hoax allegedly carried out by 28-year-old Naqvi.

Naqvi's supporters spoke out last month, after the Evanston native claimed she was detained at O'Hare airport by Customs and Border Protection for 30 hours.

Her family said she was then sent to the ICE detention facility in Broadview and later taken to a facility in Dodge County, where they said she was released Saturday, March 7.

According to the lawsuit, Sheriff Schmidt says Naqvi was actually staying at a hotel near O'Hare and allegedly sending text messages from her room.

"She checked into the Hampton Inn and Suites in Rosemont, Illinois for the entire duration of this alleged event, traveled from the Hampton Inn and Suites in Illinois to the Holiday Express in Beaver Dam, (Wisconsin), was done to complete this hoax. She scammed a victim out of thousands of dollars in pursuit of this hoax against the federal government and the Dodge County Sheriff's Office," Schmidt said.

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During the sheriff's news conference, he displayed what he says are messages from Naqvi at the time she claimed she was in custody.

One message said, "going to look into this hotel" and "in the room now."

There was also an image shown at the press conference, in which the sheriff says Naqvi was spotted at a store in Wisconsin during the time she says she was being held by Dodge County officials.

Sheriff Schmidt says this isn't Naqvi's first time lying to law enforcement. Court records confirm a 2019 case in which Naqvi filed a false police report with Skokie police, claiming she was sexually assaulted in a park. She pleaded guilty and did two years of probation, and the case was then dismissed

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The sheriff is also suing Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morisson for defamation. Morisson held a press conference on behalf of Naqvi last month.

"Allegations of an illegal detention of a US citizen, allegations of a government cover up by federal authorities and the Dodge County Sheriff's Office, coordinated messaging designed to generate outrage and media attention. Misuse of the system will not go unanswered. This is Dodge County, Wisconsin, not Cook County, and we will hold them accountable," Schmidt said.

The Dodge County sheriff said while the situation is disturbing and defamatory, no laws were broken in Wisconsin. So they cannot file criminal charges.

Neither Naqvi nor her family replied to requests for comment.

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Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison said, "It is my understanding that a lawsuit has been filed. I have not seen it. And if a suit has in fact been filed, I cannot comment on pending litigation."

The Dodge County sheriff said Naqvi was detained at O'Hare by Customs and Border Protection, but for a little over an hour, not 30 hours as she claimed.

Customs and Border Protection said she was flagged for additional inspection based on law enforcement checks.




A Yolo County deputy sheriff's officer helped to cover up a conspiracy that led to the deadly fireworks warehouse explosion that killed seven people in Esparto last year, authorities said Friday.

Deputy District Attorney Clara Nabity said during a press conference that former Sheriff's Lt. Samuel Machado was charged with murder for his role in the deadly explosion, which happened at his warehouse in the town of Esparto.



The explosion was captured in videos that went viral on social media, and the incident brought massive attention to the small town, igniting an investigation that this week led to the arrest of eight people, including Machado. They face more than 30 charges, according to authorities.

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Machado was charged with murder in the case along with four others, but he stood out in using his role "as a trusted lieutenant to help shield the conspiracy as it expanded," Nabity said. Also charged with murder is Kenneth Chee, of San Francisco, who owned Devastating Pyrotechnics, the company storing fireworks in an unsafe manner at Machado's warehouse.



Chee was arrested at Disney World in Florida and appeared via video call from a Florida courtroom on Friday as he awaits extradition to California, according to KCRA.

Jack Lee, operations manager for Devastating Pyrotechnics, Gary Chan Jr., of San Francisco, and Douglas Tollefson were also arrested and charged with murder. Also arrested were volunteer firefighter Craig Curtright, owner of Blackstar Fireworks, which stored materials at Machado's warehouse. Curtright's employee Ronald Botelho III was arrested in December.



Machado's wife, Tammy Machado, is also facing charges and was arrested Thursday in a separate case. Tammy Machado worked in the Yolo County Sheriff's Office in a non-sworn administrative capacity. She is facing charges of false tax returns, child endangerment and mortgage fraud.



The alleged conspiracy to store explosives at the Esparto warehouse ballooned in the past 10 years, starting with just a handful of containers of fireworks in 2015 to more than 50 in 2025, according to authorities. Over time, the group hoarded more than 11 million pounds of explosives, according to authorities.



"Not one storage container on the Machado property was licensed by the ATF," Nabity said, though she made clear "there is no license that permits the storage of explosives near homes and public roadways."

Two of the seven victims were brothers who lived in San Pablo.

This article originally published at Yolo County sheriff's deputy helped shield the conspiracy' in deadly fireworks explosion, officials say.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Russia against any potential breaches of the planned ceasefire on Saturday, shortly before the pause in fighting was due to begin.

He and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi set out the conditions for Ukraines response to any violation of the ceasefire, Zelensky said in a Telegram post.

As long as there are no Russian attacks in the air, on land or at sea, there will be no response from our side, he said.

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The ceasefire is due to enter force at 4 pm (1300 GMT), as stipulated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow also said it would respond to any potential violations by Ukrainian troops.

During previous ceasefires, both sides have repeatedly complained of violations.

The Ukrainian army is prepared for any developments on the front line, said Zelensky. He also reiterated his proposal to turn the ceasefire into a permanent one.

A ceasefire at Easter could also mark the start of a genuine move towards peace  we have put forward a proposal to that effect, he said. The initiative to extend the ceasefire had been handed over to the Russian side, he said.

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However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a day earlier that hostilities would resume after the ceasefire expired at midnight on Sunday if Zelensky refused to accept Russias conditions for peace.

Peskov said that Russia wanted peace, not a ceasefire - meaning Kiev should withdraw its troops from the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine. Moscow currently controls most of the region, but is demanding the final few kilometres  including the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, both of which are of strategic importance to Kiev  in exchange for an end to the war.

Zelensky has categorically refused to make such territorial concessions, viewing these as a gift to the Russian occupiers.
NASAs Artemis II  the first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years  returned to Earth on Friday after completing its historic trip around the moon.

The four-member crew  NASA commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency mission specialist Jeremy Hansen  successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 8:07 p.m. ET in what NASA mission control called "a perfect bull's-eye."

A new chapter of the exploration of our celestial neighbor is complete, NASA mission control announced on its live broadcast. Integritys astronauts, back on Earth.

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To get there, the Artemis II crew had to endure one of the most harrowing parts of their journey: a reentry that heated the outside of their capsule (and its problematic heat shield) to more than 5,000F.

In a mission accomplished post on social media, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised the Artemis II crew for doing an outstanding job as humanitys ambassadors to the stars.

This was a test mission, the first crewed flight of SLS and Orion, pushing farther into the unforgiving environment of space than ever before, and it carried real risk, Isaacman wrote. They accepted that risk for all we stood to learn and for the exciting missions that follow, as we return to the lunar surface, build a Moon base, and prepare for what comes next.

President Trump also congratulated the Great and Very Talented Crew of Artemis II on social media.

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The entire trip was spectacular, the landing was perfect and, as President of the United States, I could not be more proud! Trump wrote. I look forward to seeing you all at the White House soon. Well be doing it again and then, next step, Mars!

During Mondays seven-hour lunar flyby, the Artemis II astronauts set a new record for the farthest distance from Earth traveled by humans  252,756 miles, surpassing the previous mark set by Apollo 13 in 1970.

After completing medical evaluations, the crew will head to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston on Saturday, where they will be reunited with their families.
Contact Alexander Banks by email at abanks@yakimaherald.com, or by phone at 509-577-7654.

Alexander Banks reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and Yakima community members. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com. To support local journalism, click here.
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data.
The US military has suffered significant unmanned aircraft losses in its war with Iran, with eight MQ?9 Reaper drones lost since the beginning of April alone, AzerNEWS reports, citing Yeni Safak.

The latest losses bring the total number of Reapers downed in the conflict since 28 February to 24, representing a financial impact of approximately $720 million, given that each drone costs $30 million or more depending on the model. The MQ?9 Reaper, built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, is used for intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance and precision strike missions.

Data compiled by CBS News indicates that the US and Israel have carried out strikes on more than 13,000 targets across Iran since launching their joint offensive. In response, Iran has hit targets in 12 countries throughout the region. Although a two?week ceasefire was announced on Tuesday, Israeli strikes have continued in Lebanon, highlighting the fragile nature of the truce.

The conflict, which began on 28 February, has killed thousands, disrupted global energy markets and paralysed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan, together with Turkiye, China, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, brokered a temporary ceasefire and is hosting direct US?Iran talks in Islamabad aimed at securing a lasting peace. The heavy loss of Reaper drones underscores the intensity of the aerial war and the effectiveness of Iranian air defences.
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Clinical director at Franklin Park Family Dental in Dorchester and Tremont Family Dentistry in Boston, Charan Teja Bobba, discusses his article Treating methamphetamine-associated dental disease in safety-net clinics. Charan reflects on the profound human reality behind treating patients with severe addiction, noting that a ruined smile often represents a lifetime of being let down by the health care system. He explains the physical devastation of meth mouth, where acidity, dry mouth, and teeth grinding create a perfect storm of enamel erosion and decay. The conversation emphasizes why safety-net practices are vital for restoring not just oral health, but a persons identity and self-esteem. By prioritizing patience and trust over rushed clinical work, dentists can help vulnerable populations feel human again. Discover how providing full dental care to those in recovery is a fundamental step toward restoring true medical equity and wholeness.

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Transcript

Kevin Pho: Hi and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today we welcome Charan Tej Bobba. He is a dentist and a clinical director at Franklin Park Family Dental in Dorchester, Massachusetts. His KevinMD article is Treating methamphetamine-associated dental disease in safety-net clinics. Charan, welcome to the show.

Charan Tej Bobba: All right, thank you, Dr. Pho. Thank you for the warm introduction.

Kevin Pho: I dont have very many dentists come on the show, but I found your article fascinating. Why did you decide to write it and share it on KevinMD?

Charan Tej Bobba: The pleasure is all mine because KevinMD is known to reach a massive audience of mostly physicians and clinicians. These are the ones who treat patients with methamphetamine-associated diseases and things like that. So I thought of reaching out to you personally because this is a case I have done recently. That is why I reached out to you.

Kevin Pho: All right. For those who didnt get a chance to read your article, tell us what it is about.

Charan Tej Bobba: This is a case related to a patient who came into my clinic because he had been addicted to methamphetamine for the last seven years or so. He came in with rampant decay in all his teeth. There was a thick calculus that was structurally built and hard to remove. When I saw his teeth, the last thing he expected from me was to judge him. I assured him that I was going to bring his smile back. After that, he felt so happy. He came here because he had been failed by the systems before. After treating that patient and giving his smile back, the way he saw it and the way he looked at me showed that he can never bring back what happened to him, but we can always give him a new smile. I believe a smile is the front line for every person. So I thought of sharing it with a lot of clinicians and physicians who are willing to treat these kinds of people.

Kevin Pho: Tell us about some of the symptoms associated with methamphetamine that can affect the mouth and the teeth.

Charan Tej Bobba: With severe methamphetamine usage, it can rot your teeth. I have seen far worse cases where I couldnt even save them because the teeth were so far gone. When you see them, you either make it or break it, but this patient was at the final stage of breaking it. So he came to me at the right time. When you see the teeth, they are all decayed with a brownish color. For most of those teeth, I treated them with root canals and then put crowns on them. The back gums are swollen and bleeding on contact. We need to do a lot of tissue management and a lot of root canals and crowns to save these patients teeth.

Kevin Pho: Is that because of the drug itself that causes that decay?

Charan Tej Bobba: Yes. With the use of methamphetamine, the main issue is dry mouth. I believe saliva is the key factor in our mouth that prevents 90 percent of cavities. With dry mouth, there is no saliva, creating a playground for bacteria where they can wear down and attack any teeth, doing as much damage as possible.

Kevin Pho: When you told that patient that despite years of addiction and failure from our health care systemhe clearly fell through the cracksthat you were going to bring his smile back, tell us the impact those words had on that particular patient.

Charan Tej Bobba: I think those are the golden words that he had heard in a long time. Wherever you go with rotten teeth, when you need to smile and find yourself hiding your face under a mask, that brings a kind of shame. But when I told him those golden words, he felt so happy. He thought that I had actually helped him. He went out, spoke to his family, and showed his smile to everyone after the treatment was done. Giving assurance to the patient before we start the treatment is a kind of positive attitude where you build trust with the patient as well.

Kevin Pho: What percentage of methamphetamine-addicted patients can have their teeth saved? You said that there is a proportion where you cant do anything. Can the majority be saved if they come to a dentist soon enough, or is there a period of time where nothing can be done?

Charan Tej Bobba: Dont take me wrong, but most of the methamphetamine patients are usually people who are in underserved areas. The problem with this U.S. dental system is it is structurally designed in a way not to serve these underserved areas. In schools, no one is going to teach you to go treat the underserved areas and help these patients. They dont have health care access or dental access. If we dont recognize them at the earliest stages, we cant actually save them. I would say connecting schools to camps in rural areas of the United States can prevent most of this, or at least identify the people who are associated with these kinds of diseases and prevent the future possible harm that can happen to their teeth.

Kevin Pho: Now you practice at a safety-net clinic among some of the other things that you do. Tell us about some of the variety of dental and mouth conditions that you see in patients from safety-net clinics.

Charan Tej Bobba: Safety-net clinics are mainly facilities that take most of the Medicaid patients. Medicaid patients may not be able to access health care as much as normal people. I have seen a lot of patients not only with methamphetamine issues but also with other chronic drug addictions and a lot of HIV-positive individuals. I am not saying this is something we should not treat, but I am saying safety-net clinics are the first place where we can help the majority of the people who actually need treatment. Rather than doing cosmetics and implants, we also need to consider taking care of these patients in the safety-net clinics now.

Kevin Pho: A lot of times when patients come to a dental clinic, especially a safety-net clinic, it is obviously a situation where their disease has reached such a severe point that they have no choice but to go to a dentist. Are you saying that these Medicaid patients have very little coverage for routine preventative dental care?

Charan Tej Bobba: I am not saying they have very little coverage. But if I am a clinician and I am hoping to treat safety-net people with Medicaid, I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars going to dental school and getting my degree. Treating these patients is a service to the nation and the people of the country. On the other hand, I need to survive, as do other clinicians. I am talking about the Medicare reimbursement rates, which are very, very low. That is why a lot of dentists and clinicians are not getting credentialed with Medicaid insurance, so they are not able to treat these patients. The problem with these Medicaid patients is they are not aware of the need to visit a dentist every six months to get their teeth cleaned and examined. Since they are not aware of all these problems, there are lots and lots of cases where the possibility of damage has already happened.

Kevin Pho: In the Boston area where you practice, how difficult is it for Medicaid patients to even find a dentist to take Medicaid?

Charan Tej Bobba: Exclusively in Massachusetts, only about 30 percent of dentists right now are treating Medicaid patients. If you compare the population of underserved people who are on Medicaid, 30 percent is very low. It is like having one clinician for every 500 to 1,000 people, which means a lot of Medicaid people are underserved in that dental care, I believe.

Kevin Pho: In dental training, do you have a lot of experience or exposure to patients specifically like this with methamphetamine addictions? Do you get that type of training?

Charan Tej Bobba: There is one thing I need to talk about. In dental school, they are going to talk about a lot of things, but there is no particular case where they show you a meth-related patient or some other disease-related patient. It is all something you need to learn from experience.

Kevin Pho: So how did you learn? Did you literally learn outside of dental school and after you graduated, and just learned on the fly?

Charan Tej Bobba: Yes, I did learn outside of dental school. I learned it actually from the chairside, doing a lot of research, looking for articles on how to treat these patients, and coming up with a good treatment plan that meets the needs of both the patient and us. I learned everything from the chairside.

Kevin Pho: Now, what was going through your mind when you realized you were talking to this patient and it was really the first time that patient had felt seen and heard? When you had that realization, tell us what was going through your mind.

Charan Tej Bobba: The first thing that happened was a surprise, wondering what had happened to his teeth. When I spoke to the patient and when he got comfortable, like I said, first we need to build trust with the patient. That is how he can open up and say things that no one wants to hear. When I got to know he was a patient and he told his story, and when I looked at his mouth, I felt pity. But I also thought of all the possible treatments that I could give him to bring his smile back. With a lot of discussion with the patient, deciding the treatment plan, doing the treatment, and giving his smile back, that is when you realize your hard work has paid off and the patient is happy.

Kevin Pho: For those patients who may be listening to you on this podcast and maybe struggling with addiction, tell us about the symptoms and signs they need to look out for and realize they need to see a dentist sooner rather than later.

Charan Tej Bobba: First things first, I would say irrespective of the symptoms, everyone should visit the dentist. Everyone should visit the dentist every six months. That is how we catch a lot of problems hiding behind the scenes that we dont even notice if there is no pain. Most patients think that nothing is happening, but that is not true. A lot of symptoms are dormant in the mouth and only show up suddenly, leading to a rush to the ER where there will be no dentist available to diagnose or treat them. So I would say irrespective of the symptoms, you should get examined by a dentist every six months no matter what.

Kevin Pho: From a policy standpoint, is there anything our policymakers can do to improve dental access for Medicaid patients?

Charan Tej Bobba: I would say for underserved patients, yes. Regarding policy, there are a lot of foreign-trained dentists who are actually an untapped source. In my journey, I came here, went to dental school, and got my degree here. There are a lot of internationally trained dentists who can go to underserved areas. By this means, I think we can manage patients who are on Medicaid and living in rural communities so they get the accessible care they wish for.

Kevin Pho: We are talking with Charan Tej Bobba. He is a dentist, and todays KevinMD article is Treating methamphetamine-associated dental disease in safety-net clinics. Charan, lets end with some take-home messages that you want to leave with the KevinMD audience.

Charan Tej Bobba: First, before you treat the patient, you have to meet the patient. You have to get comfortable with them, and they need to trust us. The second thing is for clinicians outside of dentistry to look for oral cavity symptoms in their patients teeth. As dentists, we always look at the entire body, but I notice a lot of clinicians skip the mouth and only check the rest of the body. So people who are outside of dentistry should start looking at the teeth and identifying symptoms. Also, a smile is not a luxury. It is a front line for everyone. If you see anyone suffering from hiding their smile, just go give them the confidence and treat them as much as you can.

Kevin Pho: Charan, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight. Thanks again for coming on the show.

Charan Tej Bobba: All right, thank you, Dr. Pho.
You open the chart. You start clicking. Labs here. Imaging there. Notes in four different tabs, none of them organized in any order a clinician would have chosen. Prior hospitalizations buried three levels down behind a menu that requires two clicks just to find the menu. Medication reconciliation on a screen you have to navigate to separately. Problem list in one place, active diagnoses in another, allergies somewhere a third party decided made sense in 2009 when the system was built and nobody has moved since.

Five minutes pass. You still do not know who this patient is.

That is not a hypothetical. It is the daily reality of inpatient medicine. And it has a cost that most of us have stopped measuring because we have stopped being surprised by it.

The overwhelming burden of pajama time

Here is what we do measure. Physicians now spend an average of nearly six hours in the electronic health record (EHR) for every eight hours of scheduled patient care. Almost half that time, close to three hours, goes to documentation and clerical tasks. Another hour and a half goes to inbox management: results, messages, refill requests, portal communications, the relentless low-level noise of a system designed to push work toward whoever is available to receive it.

By the time the clinic day ends, 22 percent of physicians spend more than eight additional hours per week in the EHR after hours, nights, weekends, before the family is awake. The research calls it pajama time. The rest of us call it the reason we went into medicine.

Fifty percent of physicians report symptoms of burnout. Of those, 75 percent identify the EHR as a primary cause. That is not a complaint about learning curves or software preferences. It is a structural indictment of systems designed, by their own design teams admission, around billing and documentation compliance rather than patient care.

Passive data costs time and safety

But the documentation burden is only part of the problem. The other part is what the system does, and does not do, with the data it collects. EHRs are passive. Results come back and sit there. A critical lab value returns at 11 p.m. and waits in a queue until someone looks. The system knows the potassium is 2.8. It flags it abnormal in red. It does not call anyone. It does not find the covering physician and route the information to them. It does not connect the result to the medication list, the patients rhythm strip from two hours ago, and the bowel prep ordered for the procedure tomorrow morning. It sits.

The system is a storage vessel, not a clinical intelligence. The information is there. Whether anyone knows it is there, and knows it in time to act, depends entirely on whether the right person happened to open the right tab at the right time.

This is not a small problem. Published research has documented that delay in reviewing laboratory results directly prolongs hospital length of stay. Results ordered after 2 p.m. take substantially longer to be reviewed than those ordered in the morning, not because the clinicians are less diligent, but because the system makes no effort to surface them at the moment they matter. A notification system study at Brigham and Womens Hospital found that simply pushing real-time flu results to the right person reduced median patient transfer time by 27 percent, from four hours to three hours, for a single test category. One test. One notification. An hour saved per patient. Scale that across every result type, every patient, every floor, every day, and you begin to understand what passive data architecture actually costs.

The rise of note bloat

Then there is the chart itself, what has been done to it in the name of documentation and billing compliance. Note length in the U.S. grew 60 percent between 2009 and 2018. Redundancy in notes grew 11 percent. An analysis of more than 23,000 physician notes found that only 18 percent of the text was entered manually. Forty-six percent was copied from another note. Thirty-six percent was auto-imported from other sources. More than half the text in a typical chart, 54 percent by a 2020 analysis, is copied forward from prior documentation. Not updated. Not reviewed for accuracy. Copied.

A physician seeing 10 patients in a single day may need to navigate 85 pages of chart documentation just to find what is new and clinically relevant. Most of it is not new. Most of it is not clinically relevant. It is the sediment of a billing system that rewards documentation volume rather than documentation clarity, a system that has taught clinicians to write long notes in the hope of hitting a higher medical decision making (MDM) level, to copy forward yesterdays physical exam rather than document todays, to pull in every data element the template offers because the coding engine will count them and the auditor might look.

The American Medical Associations (AMA) own vice president of professional satisfaction described it plainly: There is significant sludge in the system, overdocumentation, too much note bloat to read through. That is not a technology critic speaking. That is the physician voice of the countrys largest professional medical organization.

Building a chart that works for clinicians

What we have built is a system in which data accumulates faster than it can be read, results return to a chart nobody is watching, notes grow longer while communicating less, and the people responsible for patient care spend more time documenting that care than delivering it. The chart is full. The patient is still a mystery.

That is the problem worth solving. Not the cosmetic version, not faster voice recognition for the same templates, not AI trained on research abstracts generating the same bloated paragraphs with fewer keystrokes. The actual problem: A system built around compliance and billing rather than clinical intelligence, dressed up in successive layers of technology without anyone changing what it was fundamentally designed to do.

The chart needs to work for the clinician. The data needs to find the person who needs it. The note needs to communicate, not perform. None of that is impossible. All of it is overdue.

Brian Hudes is a board-certified gastroenterologist with more than 30 years of clinical experience, serving as chief of gastroenterology and medical director of GI and endoscopy at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, a 550-bed Level I trauma center, and as assistant professor of medicine at Florida State University College of Medicine. A recipient of his specialty boards 30-year certification award, he has spent his career at the intersection of complex clinical care and the structural forces that shape how medicine is practiced, financed, and delivered.

Dr. Hudes brings a rare dual perspective to health care commentary: that of a frontline proceduralist who has navigated decades of declining reimbursement, rising administrative burden, and accelerating system consolidation, and that of a health care technology entrepreneur who has spent years studying why the systems around medicine so often fail the people practicing it. His health care IT work began during his GI fellowship in 1995, when he co-developed one of the first Windows-based endoscopy reporting systems in the United States.

Having practiced through every era of modern health care technology, from paper charts and handwritten orders to early electronic health records and todays enterprise systems, Dr. Hudes writes with a grounded perspective on administrative cost growth, physician workforce shortages, end-of-life ethics, and the widening gap between what clinicians need and what the industry builds. Professional updates are available on LinkedIn.
Nurses are constantly told that burnout can be prevented through self-care: rest, nutrition, mindfulness, and learning to assert healthy boundaries. I followed that advice. I asserted professional boundaries. I tried to maintain reasonable limits around my time and energy. I attempted to follow the guidance nurses are routinely given about protecting our well-being. Within one year, I was fired from three jobs. This is the contradiction at the center of nursing today. Professional organizations encourage nurses to protect themselves from burnout, yet many nurses who attempt to set even basic boundaries in the workplace are met with punishment, retaliation, or termination.

When the responsibility for surviving dysfunctional systems is placed on individual nurses, without holding organizations accountable for the conditions that produce burnout, the message begins to resemble victim blaming. Burnout is not caused by nurses failing to meditate enough or eat healthy meals between shifts. Burnout is the predictable result of health care systems that deliberately operate with chronic understaffing while demanding ever-increasing productivity. Nurses are expected to carry overwhelming patient loads while navigating layers of documentation that multiply endlessly. Forms become quadruple forms. Administrative tasks grow while bedside care time shrinks. The profession also carries the weight of systemic misogyny. Nursing, a historically female-dominated field, is structured around expectations of emotional labor, obedience, and self-sacrifice. Nurses are expected to absorb impossible workloads while maintaining compassion and composure.

At the same time, the system exploits the very instinct that draws many nurses to the profession: the desire to protect patients. Hospitals know nurses will push themselves beyond human limits because they do not want patients to suffer. That moral commitment becomes a tool of exploitation. Nurses are placed in positions where protecting patients often means sacrificing their own health, licenses, and livelihoods. When nurses speak up about unsafe conditions, they are frequently labeled difficult, not a team player, or negative. In many cases, retaliation follows. The result is a profession where the people most committed to protecting patients are often the ones pushed out of the system. Meanwhile, the public narrative continues to frame burnout as an individual resilience problem. It is not.

Burnout is a structural problem created by staffing models, administrative burdens, and financial incentives that reward doing more with fewer nurses. Telling nurses to take better care of themselves will not solve a system designed to extract maximum labor from a workforce already stretched beyond its limits. If the American Nurses Association is serious about addressing burnout, the conversation must shift away from individual coping strategies and toward systemic accountability. This means:

Meaningful safe staffing standards

Protection against retaliation when nurses speak up

Confronting the structural drivers of burnout within health care organizations

Until organizations are held accountable, advice about self-care will continue to ring hollow for the nurses living this reality every day. Burnout will not be solved by teaching nurses how to endure the system more gracefully. It will be solved by changing the system itself.

The author is an anonymous nurse.
(Illustration by Savannah Cook/Humphreys Central Elementary School)



Month of the Military Child Submissions by Humphreys Central ES 3rd graders.

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Connor Cook

Hi everyone. My name is Connor, and I am a military kid. Being a military kid means you get to go on some adventures but also some things are kind of tough. One cool thing about being a military kid is that you get to travel A LOT. Right now Im in Korea. My grade is 3rd grade and I really like Korea. Ive even tried new foods like kimchi (thats like spicy garbage I mean spicy cabbage! Not exactly chick-fil-A, but it is okay.

One bad thing about being a military kid is that one of your parents may have to go away 3 or 4 months ago. My Dad was on a trip for 3-5 months. Im sad when my Dad goes away it is like a puzzle with one piece missing. But I could not wait until he came. I am still working on some new jokes to tell him when he comes back like what the ocean says to the sand, nothing it just waved.

That is why sometimes being a military kid is sometimes hard. Im really glad to be a military kid because we get to be strong, brave, and flexible. And Im ready for the next adventure whether its a new country or a new school. Thanks for reading or listening.

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Savannah Cook

(Illustration by Savannah Cook/Humphreys Central Elementary School)



Hi, My name is Savannah Cook and today I will share my life as a military child with you. Today, both of my parents still serve in the military.And my parents have been in the army for 20 years. It is so fun being a military child because you get to see some places that other people do not get to see. But, one sad thing is that you have to leave a lot of your friends.

But, if you are a military child you probably feel the same way as me.

My mom is a commander that works at a field hospital. And part of being in the military means you get to meet some really cool people like my dads boss in Germany, General Carter. I think he was the best boss ever. But, as a military child you should be proud to have a parent that serves in the military. Like I have been to Korea, the United States, and Germany.

Have fun being in the military!!! Thank you for your service! Go Army!!!

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Kyler Kim

Life as a military kid. My dad must go to military to help the country sometimes its boring without my dad but he helps the country soon on I might join the army just like my dad. My dad is a good farther thank you dad.

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Oliver Martin

Hi, my name is Oliver and today I will tell you how life is as a military child. My dad works as a military soldier. I like being a military child because I get to see cool places. I moved to different places like America and South Korea. South Korea is a fun place! I like to go to school!!!!

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Liam Sostre

Hi! My name is Liam and I will tell you about life as a military kid! First because you must travel a lot you can see all the world and do more fun things! Also, it could be sad because your dad might go to war, but my dad did not go to war. And lastly your mom or dad helps the country out and gives essential services.

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Naila Vendrell-Mas

To be a military child is fun but sad because when your dad goes to a military school it is hard without him. I am also glad my dad is in the military. He also works very hard. Sometimes it is hard to move to other places, but you also meet new friends. I am also grateful because I can travel to different places and we learn their culture. Sometimes you can miss your family, but we try to see them and that makes me feel happy. Military kids are strong, brave and hard working. Thank you for your service.

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Tristan Vest

Being a Military child is a little hard because you must move every 2-3 years and you have to leave your friends. Also, your dad or mom will have to go to war and they might die and you will never see them again. But you can also see new places because you will have to move a lot. So being a Military child is hard but also can be fun.

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Kailyn Sabi Villigran

What I like about my dad being in the military is that we can move to different countries and explore the world, also soldiers like my dad protect us, and it is a very important job. I really appreciate what he does, it makes me feel very proud to be his daughter. Soldiers work so hard, thank you all for your service!

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Sebastian Vivian

Hi, I am going to tell you about one event that happened to me each year.

When I was 1, I was at a private school. When I was 2, I was in California to visit family. When I was 3, I moved to Washington. At the age of 4, I moved to Texas what short time in Washington, right ?When I was 5 I went to kindergarten in a school called Las Lomas. When I was 7, I went to Hawaii. Now i am 8. In south Korea right here in camp Humphreys living in a housing on the 8th floor learning at a school called central Humphreys elementary.

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Emmanuel Zapata

Hello, my name is Emmanuel, and this is how I feel about being a military child. First, I get to go into a helicopter. But the sad thing is I must see my parents leave most of the time.

Also, I soon get to go on a trip to Alaska. Lastly, my dad sometimes brings me stuff and its cool.

So that is my life of a military child.

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Rylan Felsh

Life as a military child can be hard because you must leave family, leave friends, be brave and go to places youve never heard of. It can be hard saying goodbye to people youve known what seems to you like forever. We miss big moments with people we love and sometimes feel everyone weve moved away from forgot us even though we miss them so much. My dad is in the military and its hard to say goodbye when he leaves sometimes because whenever he takes a work trip, Ive been wanting to come with him every time, but I couldnt. I miss him a lot when hes gone because hes a great dad. It made me sad, but I was brave. We must be brave and strong even though we are little. Sometimes you get lucky and somebody you know gets to move to the same place as you, it can be exciting! You make new friends then leave them and make more new friends then leave them again, its like the circle of life! Life may be good though because you see all types of pretty places like Seoul in South Korea or all the cherry blossoms in South Korea too! That is my life as a military child.

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Bently Council

As a military child I can go visit other countries. For example, the USA, Japan, Hawaii, Philippines & South Korea. I can go to the park sometimes in the USA. Sometimes I go to St. Louis. In Rolla I used to have a bigger home. I used to go to different restaurants around Rolla and St. Louis. I get to visit other military installations and meet new people! It is fun to be a military child.
(File photo)



Month of the Military Child

By: Liam A.

Being a military child is hard and comes with hard times. And I left some good friends but its all a part of life and we all have to move on. My family is the best - even when my sister yells at me and does mean stuff to me, I still love her with all my heart. And I have gotten to travel to a lot of places, such as Maryland, Texas, and so many more. And now I am in Korea!

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Military Child

By: Kathryn B.

To start, I moved to Korea from Honolulu. I have to admit that its alright. At first, I was like NERVOUS until. I met my best friend for life. Then a few weeks passed by and one of my besties said they were moving to Germany. Then the day came with my bestie leaving I was sad, but I realized I still have two more besties. Then time flew away fast, faster than I imagined! I feel happier with all my friends around. It is fun but homework is hard. But enough of that  lets talk about food!! I enjoy musubi, pancit, Canton, Popeyes, McDonalds, and ramen.

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Military Child

By: Mayumi B.

As a military child its actually not that bad but you have to move to different countries and different states. You might miss your friends, cousins and even your grandma. I had never heard of Korea before I moved here but I get to experience Korea thanks to my mom.

I dont get to spend that much time with my mom because I dont want to interrupt her work. But its better to move and meet new friends, and learn new languages, history and stories. Its better to be social with other people. And this is what it feels like to be a military child, and I am proud of it.

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Living the Life of a Military Child

By: Zion C.

I am a military child. It can be hard at times because my family or my dad gets stationed at a lot of places or we move a lot. I like being a military child because the schools on base are way better because where I used to live back in the states outside the base my school was, lets just say, not as good as this school, HCES. The people here in the base are nicer than outside the base back in the states. It can be hard because when my dad gets deployed. He missed my 9th birthday. Its hard and easy, the hard part is moving, the easy part is making new friends. But at the end of the day Im proud to be a military child.

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Month of the Military Child!

By: Izyk C.

Since Im a military child, some really good places I have gone to are the Philippines, the United States (obviously), South Korea, Tokyo, Germany (because I was born there), and Peru.

Some really hard things and stuff that I am glad I did are jumping from the second floor of a boat into the water, playing Roblox DOORS only 2 months after it released (DOORS released in August 2022, and I started playing it in October 2022), having my own YouTube channel, getting straight As for most of my time in school, and being at Humphreys Central Elementary School.

For me, I kind of like moving places every 2-3 years, but also, Im excited that I might have a permanent home in a couple of years. This way, I dont have to keep losing friends but rather keep them. Another thing is that if we find a permanent home, hopefully it is near where a lot of the members in my family live. But overall, with all this, I still prefer living a crazy, military life than a boring, safe life.

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Life as a Military Child

By: Kenia C.

My experience as a military child has been good. But the best thing about it was meeting a new friend. She was a sweet kid and she ended up becoming my best friend. This is how we met. When I first moved to Texas, I didnt know much English, so I didnt understand people that much. One day, I was walking outside, and I saw her walking her dog the first word I said was, Uh, like your dog? She understood!! But she started talking to me A LOT so I couldnt understand everything. Well, she kind of FORCED me to speak English, because if I didnt, I wouldnt be able to understand or speak to her. So, after a while, we did EVERYTHING TOGETHER, sleepovers, we changed as people together, went to Comic Cons together, and more. But a little later, I had to move to South Korea. We still talk and she is still my best friend. Here I made more friends so Im happy.

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Korea as a Military Child

By: Hadrian C.

Korea is warm in summer so come to Korea and have some fun. I moved to Korea a year ago and I liked it in 3rd grade. I liked my teacher a lot. I liked it and we needed tickets then you could buy stuff like nerf guns. Then after a year, I got to 4th grade and had another teacher like my 3rd grade teacher. And I like the Minecraft projects.

I wish that I could play in the snow every day, but it only happens in winter, so I have to wait for next year. Thats why I like to be a military child. I had bad times, too, when my dad was in the military but he would always help me and my mom, too.

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Month of the Military Child

By: Addison C.

Being a military child presents a unique blend of experiences that can be both enjoyable and challenging. Leaving friends behind can be difficult, but each move has allowed me to encounter wonderful teachers, make new friends, and attend exceptional schools. Currently, I am in the fourth grade, and I am preparing for the transition to middle school.

Its hard and entering middle school can be hard. I often worry about encountering strict teachers or unkind classmates. Nevertheless, I remain hopeful that I will find at least one friend.

Recently, my family experienced relocation to Korea due to my fathers monthly assignments there. He has a lot of work to do, which often causes him to miss important occasions, including my birthday, my brothers birthday, and even some holidays such as Halloween and Christmas. That part is challenging, but I enjoy my life as a military child.

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Being a Military Child

By: Penelope C.

When it was my first time moving, I was a little scared to move. Some of my friends said I betrayed them, but I had to move. My mom told me that we were going to move to South Korea when I was in first grade during summer break. Then my mom said we were pushing it back to the middle of third grade. We packed all our stuff. and then moved from Florida to Korea. So when my family and I moved, it took us 16 hours to go to Korea. I was sad and a little bit scared but happy to go. It was my second time flying on an airplane. We took two planes to go to Korea. Being a military child means you can make new friends. Being a military child means you have to move to different places, and you can barely see your parents. Then I met my good friends, and we talked at lunch about our little siblings being so sassy and very mean to us. I like living in Korea because I like their noodles and the convenience stores. I like eating pizza. I like going to new places and I love going to Seoul and I like eating watermelon. Some of my friends have left Korea but I still have some and will make more.

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Month of the Military Child

By: Williams G.

My name is Williams, and I have been a military child for seven years. People often ask me what its like to grow up in the Army, and I always tell them it is a mix of big adventures and some tough challenges.

One of the best parts of my journey has been living in two very different places. I remember my time in Kentucky with its wide-open spaces and the feeling of home. Now I am living an INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE here in South Korea!!! Not every kid gets to live on the other side of the world, try new food and see how people live in a different culture. These seven years have taught me how to be brave and how to make new friends quickly, no matter where we are. Living here is exciting because everything is so different. I love exploring the big cities with their tall buildings and bright neon lights. I have discovered amazing new foods like ramen, Korean BBQ, and Korean fried chicken. Another GREAT thing is the technology - the internet is super-fast here, and there are many cool places like huge malls and arcade rooms. And I love the cafe places to play with my friends.

But being a military child also means facing tough challenges. The hardest part of these seven years was the big move from Kentucky to Korea. I had to say goodbye to my house, my school and my friends that I grew up with. Starting over in a foreign country can be difficult and sometimes a little sad, but it has also made me much stronger and more resilient. I LOVE the Army.

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How It Feels Like to Be a Half Military Child

By: Liam G.

Even though I was born here in Korea and not in the U.S.A., my dad served the U.S. military for about 20 years. I was still born after my dad retired but he works for the U.S. military in another way. And because of that I live a life similar to a military childs life. I dont really change my house much, but I do go on vacation. First there was Hawaii, then Thailand, Guam, and Florida. Because my dad works for the military, I get free education here in Humphreys Central Elementary School.

But some things are bad about being a half military child. Sometimes, my dad will have to work longer than his normal 9-hour shift. Also, I get very busy with the on post and off post things I need to get done. Although that and some other problems, being a half military child is quite nice. Also, why I am a half military child is a different story. It is because my mom is Korean but my dad has lots of experience in the military and how it works and he still works for the military in a different way.

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Being a Military Child

By: Grace H.

Being a military child is sometimes a hard and a tough time especially when I have to leave my friends and others. Sometimes there are different tough times to go through too. I hated losing my friends but now Im thankful that I can go to different places and meet new people and friends. I thought that being a military child is always bad but after all nothing is actually that bad. But still, there are hard times. Having a military family that protects me and the country is the proudest thing about being a military child.

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Month of the Military Child

By: Cole K.

Military kids get a sense of freedom. We get to go and experience a lot of places other kids cant go. Military kids get to live life as a normal kid like going to school. We go to an American school, even in a foreign country, and I like making friends here. So, the conclusion is that being a military kid is great.

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Being a Military Child

By: Tean M.

Im a Military Child. Being one is super fun! Before I moved to Korea, I was in Ohio. I made lots of good friends there. But after four years, it was time to move. I didnt want to leave because I would leave all my friends behind. But when I got to Korea, I quickly made some friends. Even at the airport, I made a friend in the landing check-in line. I love being a Military Child. From as far back as I can remember, Ive always been a Military Child. From Georgia to South Korea, to Ohio, and back to Korea. Ive had many adventures. Ive been to Germany, Thailand, and Im going to Japan for a visit soon.

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My Life as a Military Child!

By: Zoey P.

As a military child, Ive had my fair share of my ups and downs. I have never had to move, but when my family first got to Korea my dad got a lot of job offers. When I first got to Korea, I was 2 years old! It was very hard because my dads job was very far away so I barely got to see him.

At first, I was unsure if I would like it here in Korea because of all of the changes. For example, none of my family members were here, we had never lived in an apartment before, and I couldnt understand their language.

Nowadays I have adapted to their culture and language, and I have more friends! So now you know my life as a military child from my ups and downs. All around, life is still fun because Im with my friends that wont leave until the very end and Im in Korea with these amazing teachers! So altogether you and I cant say being a military child is hard nor is it easy.

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Military Child

By: Keilianys

Being a military child is fun, and you can wear whatever you want. Also, you can wear a shirt that represents the school, like on Fridays wear an HCES eagles shirt. Next, you can have clubs like dance, drama, ukulele, cooking, and student council. Also, you can make friends so fast and you can be Student of the Month and be in the honor roll. Next, you can be nice to parents and kids but most important is to be proud that you are a military child. In conclusion, this is all that you can do being a military student.

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Month of the Military Child

By: Emelia S.

Being a military child is a great accomplishment. You can move around the globe and see new places. If you move to a new country with its own language, you can learn some of that language while youre there! For example, if you move to Italy, you can learn some Italian words like hi and goodbye (Ciao; Pronounced: Ch-ow). My dad is in the Army. Sometimes he goes on work trips for about a week and I miss him. But I know hell come back and I always greet him with a big hug.

But being a military child isnt always that great. Youre forced to leave your best friends and your favorite teachers. Before I moved to Korea, I wasnt that sure. But eventually, we moved, and now I have a lot of friends at HCES. When I was in Italy, about 6 or 7 years ago, my dad went on long work trips for almost 1, 2, or 3 months. I missed him SOOO much. But he gave me and my older brother a daddy doll that looks like him so I could hug it when I missed him.

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Military Child

By: Isabella S.

I am a military child which means my mom or dad works in the military. I like being a military child because then I am able to go to different places and meet new friends too! I like being a military child because then I can go live somewhere new like in my new neighborhood or in my new apartment. Also, I can make new friends at my bus stop. I like being a Military child because I can go to a new school and make awesome new friends. Also, I will have nice new teachers, principal and vice principal. And that is why I like being a military child.

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My Amazing Life as a Military Child

By: Aimer S.

My life as a military child is fun but sometimes its sad because you are leaving your friends in the states and sometimes you wish you could go back to them. I miss them but when I get to my new school I will make lots of friends. When you get home from school you will tell your parents about your first day at your new school, then you will spend the rest of the day with your parents. Then I wake up in the morning for school - I love school very much.

What I like about being a military child is that I get to wear whatever I want and eat whatever I want. I love how my father works really hard and helps me and my three sisters. Sometimes your siblings can be annoying and rude, but you just have to get along with them and spend time with them - it works for me and it will probably work for others.

Korea is the best place I have been to. Its a nice place to visit and I have the best teacher. Hes really nice but sometimes people get in trouble. I love my friends and they are really nice. I hope when youre in the military you get to go to Korea because its the best place EVER. I hope you like my story about my life as a military child.

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Being a Military Child

By: Traynor T.

Being a Military Child comes with its ups and downs but sometimes you just have to accept some things, and it isnt always easy. For me, the U.S. Army makes us move every 2 to 4 years. Because of the Army, my dad has been in Korea for almost 3 years now, and he works away from home. At least my dad said he would retire when Im in middle school. Korea is my 5th duty station so far.

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Proud to be a Military Child

By: Noah W.

Being a military child has challenges and good things. The challenge of being a military child is moving and if you move, the consequence will be that you have to forget something like friends and move on. The good things about being a military child are you get to meet new people and eat new food. In my experience, I think moving and meeting new people isnt so bad. Im proud that my family is a part of this base and also serves the U.S.A. so Im proud to be a military child.
Iran has formally conveyed a set of ten proposals outlining its position on ongoing negotiations with the United States, sharing the details with Pakistani officials, AzerNEWS reports, citing Irans Foreign Ministry.

Speaking to Iranian media in Islamabad, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the proposals reflect Tehrans core demands as diplomatic efforts intensify. He noted that the visit of a delegation led by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to the Pakistani capital effectively marked the beginning of a new phase of discussions.

Baghaei emphasized that talks between Iran and Pakistan are ongoing, with both sides engaged in active consultations and exchanges of views. He added that it is crucial for Iran to clearly articulate its position without ambiguity as the diplomatic process unfolds.

The developments come in the aftermath of a 41-day conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Following the escalation, a two-week ceasefire was brokered with Pakistans mediation, creating space for renewed diplomatic engagement.

Negotiations between Washington and Tehran are expected to take place in Islamabad in the coming hours, signaling a potentially significant step toward de-escalation and dialogue.
The long-awaited peace talks between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan, are set to begin in Islamabad today, and they are expected to address issues not only crucial to the two countries but also to the broader Middle East, AzerNEWS reports.

These discussions, taking place in a highly secure "red zone" where only authorized personnel are allowed entry, could determine the region's future stability.

Ahead of the talks, intense security measures have been implemented in the capital. However, despite the diplomatic preparations, there are significant concerns about the fragility of the ceasefire and ongoing developments on the ground that may affect the outcome.

The talks will be led by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and US Vice President JD Vance, who will head their delegations.
22:56 Asha Bhosle admitted to hospital due to chest infection Legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle was admitted to a private hospital here on Saturday evening due to chest infection and exhaustion, her granddaughter Zanai Bhosle said.The 92-year-old singer was admitted to Breach Candy hospital in South Mumbai. Sources had earlier said she suffered... Read more >

21:03 US warships cross Hormuz for 1st time since Iran war In a first since the Iran war began, two US Navy destroyers crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, US media outlet Axios said.The warships' passage was not coordinated with authorities in Tehran, the report said.We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said on... Read more >

20:25 Israel says it struck 200 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon As direct talks between the United States and Iran take place in Pakistan, Israel said it is continuing strikes on targets in Lebanon.The Israeli military said its air force hit infrastructure of the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon in the past 24 hours.The statement came as Teheran was... Read more >

20:03 Govt hikes windfall tax on diesel to Rs 55.5/litre, ATF to Rs 42/litre The government on Saturday hiked export duty, or windfall tax, on diesel to Rs 55.5 per litre and on aviation fuel ATF to Rs 42 a litre. The duty hikes would be applicable with immediate effect, the finance ministry said in a notification. The government had, on March 26, imposed an... Read more >

19:50 'Paapi' Pakistan will disintegrate further: UP CM Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday termed Pakistan as 'paapi' (sinner) and asserted that it will 'disintegrate' further. While speaking at an event in Miyanpur, Adityanath distributed land ownership rights certificates to Hindu families displaced from... Read more >

19:20 Iran 'LOSING BIG', says Trump in middle of peace talks United States President Donald Trump has taken to social media to address the conflict with Iran, even as the two sides were holding talks in Pakistan.In a post on Truth Social, Trump fired a claim of Iran losing big on his Truth Social account.The President's post was apparently triggered by... Read more >

18:57 US-Iran peace talks begin in Islamabad via Pak mediators The peace talks between Iran and the United States have begun in Islamabad, according to several media reports.According to BBC, the talks have now started between the US and Iran, but for the moment are still indirect through Pakistani mediators.The Fars and Tasnim news agencies said it was... Read more >

18:56 Maha minister Bhujbal's chopper lands a kilometre away from helipad A helicopter ferrying Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal missed the designated helipad and touched down at a location about 1,300 metres away in Pune district on Saturday, though he downplayed the incident by insisting it was a smooth landing and not an accident scare.Additional Superintendent... Read more >

18:21 Iranian delegation meets Pak PM, Army chief An Iranian delegation held meetings with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir on Saturday to discuss issues related to the peace talks with the US and bilateral matters.The delegation, which includes Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign... Read more >

18:18 Iranian negotiating team holds meeting Photograph: Reuters Iranian negotiating team holds meeting in Islamabad ahead of peace talks with the US. The delegation, which includes Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other hold a meeting. Read more >

17:44 Trump offers 'best' and 'sweetest' oil' amid Iran stalemate Amid US-Iran talks in Islamabad, President Donald Trump claimed that a large number of empty oil tankers, including some of the world's biggest, are currently heading to the United States to load what he described as the best and sweetest oil and gas. Trump also said that the US has... Read more >

17:33 India-flagged LPG tanker crosses Hormuz after US-Iran ceasefire An India-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker, Jag Vikram, has crossed the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such transit by an Indian vessel since a temporary two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran was announced, according to ship-tracking data. The tanker moved... Read more >

17:00 Shehbaz Sharif meets JD Vance, hopes US-Iran talks yield peace Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday expressed hope that talks between the United States and Iran being held in Islamabad would lead to durable peace in West Asia. Sharif conveyed this during a meeting with a visiting US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance, which arrived... Read more >

16:41 5-year-old girl raped, stuffed inside sack, dumped near well in Chhattisgarh A five-year-old girl was kidnapped and raped allegedly by a man who later put her in a sack and dumped her near a well in Chhattisgarh's Durg district, a police official said on Saturday.The incident took place under Utai police station limits on Friday afternoon when the victim, after returning... Read more >

16:15 Mojtaba Khamenei's face 'disfigured', legs injured: Report Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei is still recovering from severe injuries to his face and leg caused by the US-Israeli airstrike at the beginning of the war that killed his father, Ali Khamenei.According to a report in Reuters, Khamenei's face was disfigured in the attack on the... Read more >

15:56 Bharat cannot become $10 trillion economy by capital or policy alone: CJI Calling for an overhaul of legal architecture to meet the demands of an evolving economy, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said that the country's transformation into a USD 10 trillion economy cannot be achieved through capital or policy alone and that the quality of the legal system... Read more >

15:53 Pak handler expanding network in India via social media: 2 arrested men told UP Two men arrested in Bijnor for allegedly being in touch with a Pakistan-linked handler based in Saudi Arabia told police that the Pakistani handler was expanding his network in India via social media. Circle Officer Najibabad, Anjani Kumar Chaturvedi, said on Saturday that police... Read more >

15:09 Women's reservation law amendment should not be used as political tool: Tharoor Ahead of the special three-day Parliament session when the women's reservation law is expected to be amended, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said the proposed amendments should not be a political tool that undermines federalism and vitiates the vitality of Parliament. In a post... Read more >

15:05 EC replaces TN Home Secretary ahead of polls The ECI on Saturday ordered the transfer of Tamil Nadu Home Secretary Dheeraj Kumar and appointed K Manivasan in his place.The 1993 batch IAS officer Manivasan has been directed to join immediately.Further, the release from the Election Commission of India said Kumar should not be posted in any... Read more >

14:21 Iran unable to reopen Hormuz as it fails to find mines Four days after Iran and the United States announced a two-week ceasefire, Tehran is still unable to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Why?According to a New York Times report, Iran is unable to locate all the mines it laid in the waterway to block passage during the war.Citing US officials, the... Read more >

14:19 BJP, with EC's help, tried to invalidate my candidature : Mamata West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday claimed that the BJP, with the help of the Election Commission, tried to get her candidature from Bhabanipur seat in south Kolkata cancelled by attempting to file false cases against her, but the bid was foiled by TMC workers and the... Read more >

14:16 Infiltrators would have to leave Bengal once BJP forms govt: Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sharpened the BJP's pitch on infiltration and welfare in poll-bound West Bengal and promised that the process of granting citizenship to Matua and Namasudra refugee families will speed up once the party comes to power. Addressing a rally at Katwa in... Read more >

13:13 Even after Howdy Modi...: Cong slams govt over US-Iran talks The Congress on Saturday questioned the government's failure to prevent Washington from according Islamabad the role of a mediator between the two warring countries despite New Delhi's diplomatic outreach to isolate it following the April 2025 Pahalgam attack.This raises serious questions about... Read more >

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12:23 JD Vance arrives in Islamabad; Munir receives him at airport United States Vice President J D Vance has arrived in Pakistan to hold crucial peace talks with Iran aimed at ending the Middle East conflict. Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir and Deputy PM Ishaq Dar received Vance at the airport. Vance was accompanied by the US... Read more >

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11:08 Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri heads to Paris, Berlin amid West Asia crisis Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will undertake a three-day visit to Paris and Berlin beginning Sunday for high-level talks on energy, trade and defence against the backdrop of the West Asia conflict.Misri's visit to France and Germany comes at the end of his trip to the US, where he met Secretary... Read more >

11:07 Parts of Hingoli jolted by 4.7-magnitude earthquake An earthquake of 4.7 magnitude struck parts of Hingoli district in Marathwada region of Maharashtra on Saturday morning, while tremors were also felt in parts of neighbouring Nanded and Parbhani districts, officials said. There are no reports of immediate loss to life, they said. Some houses and... Read more >

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09:48 Iranian delegation carries memories of Minab victims The Iranian delegation that arrived in Islamabad for crucial talks with the United States, also carried pictures of victims from the Minab school attack on the official flight.The delegation, led by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and accompanied by Foreign Minister Abbas... Read more >

09:39 EU slams Israel over 30+ West Bank settlements The European Union issued a sharp condemnation following Israel's recent decision to establish more than 30 new settlements in the occupied West Bank.In a formal statement released on Friday, the EU labeled the expansion a 'flagrant violation' of international law and a direct threat to the... Read more >

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09:20 Next step, Mars! syas Trump post Artemis II success United States President Donald Trump on Friday unveiled an ambitious plan for NASA exploration of Mars after the Artemis II crew was extracted from their spacecraft.Trump said that the lunar mission was successful and called the crew to the White House.In a post on Truth Social, he said,... Read more >

08:51 Artemis II crew extracted from spacecraft after safe return All the Artemis II crew have now been extracted after the splashdown, and will then be escorted to the medical bay, NASA stated on Friday.As of now, they are on the USS John P Murtha and will go through post-mission medical evaluations.In a post on X, NASA stated, 'All four of the Artemis II... Read more >
Xi meets KMT leader, urges joint efforts to promote cross-Strait peace, oppose "Taiwan independence" secession

Xinhua) 09:03, April 11, 2026

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.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has arrived in Uzbekistan on a working visit, AzerNEWS reports via the government of Kazakhstan.

Tokayev was welcomed at Bukhara International Airport by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

A formal reception ceremony was held, featuring national songs and dances in honor of the Kazakh leader.

During the visit, the two leaders will hold an informal meeting to discuss various aspects of bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest. In addition, they are scheduled to visit several historical and industrial landmarks in Bukhara, a city known for its deep historical and cultural significance.
The Airline Association plays a pivotal role in strengthening national and regional aviation. By coordinating member airlines, it ensures seamless connectivity, supports tourism and trade, and contributes significantly to economic growth. The Associations efforts not only enhance the competitiveness of airlines but also reinforce the countrys position as a hub for commerce and tourism. 

It acts as a unified voice for airlines in discussions with government, airport operators, and other stakeholders, promoting a safe, efficient, and sustainable aviation industry.

Providing a single concerted voice on policy and other matters in relation to government and other industry stakeholders

Informing and educating international, regional and local airlines operating to, from and within Mauritius on common industry issues

 We are pleased to announce that the new Office Bearers of the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR) for the mandate period April 2026  March 2028, as elected at the Annual General Meeting held on 31st March 2026, are as follows:

President Mrs Priscille Tuher Air Austral

Vice  President Mr Sailesh Kunkun Air Mauritius

Treasurer Mrs Soorya Ramchurn  Oogarah Air Seychelles

Secretary Mrs Annick Leung Wing Heng Air France

Members

Mrs Angelique Narain Corsair

Mr Oomar Ramtoola Emirates

Mr Menon Ramasawmy South African Airways

Mr Salim Mohungoo Kenya Airways

Mr Ahmet Tursun Turkish Airlines
Voters in Djibouti are heading to the polls on Friday, April 10, to elect a President in a race widely seen as lacking suspense, with incumbent Ismail Omar Guelleh seeking a sixth term in office.

The 78-year-old leader, who has ruled since 1999, is contesting the election following a 2025 constitutional reform that removed the age limit of 75 for presidential candidates. His only challenger, Mohamed Farah Samatar, represents a party with no seats in parliament.

Observers and opposition figures have criticized the contest as largely symbolic, arguing it is designed to avoid an uncontested race. Prominent opposition leader Daher Ahmed Farah was barred from running, while several opposition parties lack legal recognition and have called for a boycott.

The election follows years of entrenched political control, reinforced by earlier constitutional changes in 2010 that removed term limits, enabling Guelleh to extend his rule through successive re-election. On the campaign trail, Guelleh has emphasized stability amid regional tensions, while Samatar has focused on reform, particularly in education and the economy.

Economically, Djibouti remains heavily reliant on its strategic location along one of the worlds busiest maritime trade routes. The countrys port-driven economyanchored by the Doraleh portaccounts for around 70 per cent of GDP and handles about 92 per cent of neighbouring Ethiopias trade.

However, this growth has been underpinned by significant borrowing. Since 2022, the International Monetary Fund has classified Djibouti as a high-debt country, with China holding more than half of its public debt and maintaining a military presence in the country as part of its broader Belt and Road Initiative.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Thursday, April 9, welcomed President Evariste Ndayishimiye to Addis Ababa for an official working visit, signalling renewed momentum in relations between Ethiopia and Burundi.

In a statement shared on social media, Abiy extended a warm reception, highlighting Ethiopias hospitality and shared aspirations for growth and prosperity. It is with great honour that I welcome you to a nation that receives you with open arms and warm hospitality, alongside its remarkable people, rich culture, and immense potential, he said.

Ndayishimiye, who currently chairs the African Union, is expected to engage in a series of high-level meetings with Ethiopian officials aimed at strengthening political, economic and regional cooperation.

Abiy underscored the longstanding relationship between the two countries, describing it as one grounded in brotherhood and mutual respect, and emphasized the importance of deepening collaboration to advance shared development goals.

I am confident that your visit will further consolidate our relations as we work together to turn our shared vision for the future into reality. Welcome home again, he added. The visit builds on existing diplomatic frameworks, including the Joint Ministerial Commission, which continues to facilitate cooperation across key sectors. Talks are expected to focus on elevating bilateral relations and reinforcing commitments to regional integration, reflecting a shared ambition to strengthen partnerships within East Africa.
Voters in Benin are set to head to the polls on Sunday, April 12, to elect a new President, as incumbent Patrice Talon prepares to step down after a decade marked by economic gains and mounting political tensions.

Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, widely seen as Talons preferred successor, is the frontrunner in the race. He faces Paul Hounkpe, the sole opposition candidate, in a contest critics say lacks genuine competitiveness.

The first round of voting is scheduled for April 12, with a run-off slated for May 10 if no candidate secures more than 50 per cent of the vote. Nearly eight million people are eligible to participate.

The election follows a parliamentary vote in January in which opposition parties failed to meet the 20 per cent threshold required to gain representation, leaving Talons allies in full control of the legislature.

Critics argue that electoral rules have been tightened to sideline challengers, with key opposition figures barred from contesting. Despite these concerns, Wadagni has campaigned on a strong economic record, with Benins economy growing by about 7 per cent last year, according to international estimates. However, the benefits of this growth have not been evenly distributed, with poverty persisting in rural and northern regions.

Rights groups have accused the government of restricting dissent, citing arrests, limits on public demonstrations and pressure on independent media. Recent constitutional reforms extending presidential terms and raising barriers for opposition participation have further deepened these concerns.

Security remains a pressing issue, particularly in the north, where extremist violence spilling over from neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger has intensified. Last year, an attack on military posts killed 54 soldiers.

The fragile security climate has also been underscored by a failed coup attempt in December, reflecting broader instability across parts of West Africa.

While some voters credit Talon with driving development, others remain sceptical about the credibility of the electoral process. Key concerns among the electorate include inequality, democratic freedoms and access to basic services such as healthcare, education and jobs. Analysts suggest that in a climate of uncertainty, many voters may favour continuity, potentially strengthening the governing partys position as the country navigates a delicate political and security landscape.
South African Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, has called for stronger collaboration between Government and business to advance reindustrialization, describing partnerships as central to economic growth and job creation.

Speaking at the Gauteng Investment Conference 2026 in Johannesburg on Thursday, April 9, Mashatile said rebuilding industrial capacity must be anchored in long-term cooperation, skills development and support for local enterprises.

Re-industrialization is a practical, forward-looking strategy. It recognizes that productive capacity is the foundation of sustained growth, he said, adding that it should deliver technology-driven factories, expanded output and dignified jobs at scale.

He stressed that Government must play a catalytic role by reducing investment risks through policy certainty, regulatory efficiency and improved coordination, while mobilising private capital alongside development finance institutions.

Mashatile highlighted infrastructure as a critical enabler, noting that reliable energy, efficient logistics, water security and digital systems are essential for industrial expansion. Without reliable energy, efficient logistics, water security, and modern digital infrastructure, industrialization cannot take place, he said. He also pointed to the growing importance of digital industries, including data centres, artificial intelligence and fintech, positioning Gauteng as a potential leader in this evolving space.

On regional trade, Mashatile said the African Continental Free Trade Area offers an opportunity to strengthen intra-African trade and develop regional value chains across the continent. Africa remains resource-rich but value-chain poor. We export raw materials and import finished goods, he said, urging a shift towards production and innovation.

The conference, which brings together global investors, African governments and financial institutions, forms part of South Africas broader strategy to attract investment and drive inclusive economic growth.

Organizers say the initiative builds on the inaugural 2025 event, which secured R312 billion in pledges, and aims to attract R800 billion in new investments over three years, reinforcing Gautengs ambition to position itself as Africas leading investment hub.
The March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group has announced that a new round of dialogue with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will soon take place in Switzerland, raising cautious hopes for renewed diplomatic engagement.

In a statement issued on Thursday, April 9, M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said the groups delegation was en route to Switzerland to take part in a new round of dialogue, in a spirit of responsibility and commitment to a peaceful solution. He, however, did not provide further details. The DRC Government is yet to respond to the announcement.

Diplomatic sources indicate that a series of meetings between both parties is scheduled for next week in Switzerland, as part of ongoing efforts to revive negotiations. The talks are expected to continue under the framework of the Doha process.

Since March 2025, Qatar has facilitated multiple rounds of discussions between the Congolese government and the M23 rebels. However, the process has recently stalled. In March, DRC Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner told diplomats that the Doha peace process was in a state of paralysis, citing shifting geopolitical dynamics and worsening regional security conditions.

Despite the diplomatic overtures, tensions remain elevated on the ground. Clashes have continued in recent days across North Kivu and South Kivu, with both sides trading accusations of breaching ceasefire agreements.
Posing as a CBI officer, a conman carried out multiple raids on hoteliers across Thane district, mopping up lakhs that he extorted from at least 10 victims. Additionally, he recruited over 50 youngsters to be part of his team on the fake raids after he promised them jobs in the CBI  and took lakhs from them as well.



Fraudster Raju Patekars ingenious game plan  which closely resembles the storyline of the Bollywood hit Special 26  finally unravelled on Thursday when some of his victims caught up with him and handed him over to the police.



But here again, lady luck was on his side. The cops let him go after questioning, ostensibly because no formal complaint had been lodged against Patekar.



Played a CBI officer to perfection



Patekars act was so convincing  he carried out raids on at least three-four hotels over a period of six months and is alleged to have been operating for at least two years  that no one got a whiff of the racket. He would stride in donning a khaki uniform, a revolver (which turned out to be an airgun) holstered at his waist, and bark commands to his raid team.



He would then inspect staff, question employees, and conduct the raid in full public view  leaving hoteliers stunned and convinced they were witnessing a genuine operation. His team of 10-15 youngsters on each operation followed his commands like trained officers.



After he was nabbed, multiple fake government IDs, including CBI cards, forged official stamps and the airgun were recovered from him.



Those who joined his team and were conned



The 50-plus victims of his recruitment drive were so impressed by his con act that they paid lakhs, hoping for a job in the CBI. He reportedly took candidates to government offices and staged fake official meetings, which helped convince them to pay up. Among them were domestic helps, rickshaw drivers and others, who scraped together large sums in the hope of central government jobs.



Rutuja Dinesh Maske, 30, said, He took Rs 23 lakh from each of us. We were eager to join the police and CBI and dreamed of becoming officers. But after joining him for so-called raids and police training, he would call us to his house and make us look after his one-year-old baby and do household chores like washing utensils and cleaning floors. He claimed this was part of getting into character to become a spy.



How the con job was caught



Patekars cover got blown when some of his recruitment victims approached members of the Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi, who called Patekar to their office. There, he was confronted by one of his victims, who allegedly allegedly tore his clothes and thrashed him before handing him over to Vitthalwadi police.



During preliminary inquiry, he reportedly confessed and even promised to return the money. However, in a twist, he was let go because police did not receive any complaint against him and no FIR was lodged. We cannot register a case against him as the complainant is not ready to come forward, said enior police inspector Ashok Koli from Vitthalwadi Police Station. This, despite the seizure of several documents, an airgun and fake stamps from his house.



In such cases, the police can register a suo motu FIR upon receiving credible information about the commission of a cognisable offence  in fact, it is mandatory in such cases. An FIR enables the police to initiate an investigation. The concerned officer who receives such information may himself act as the complainant. thereby ensuring the protection of the original informant can be cited as a witness rather than being named as the complainant, said lawyer Trivankumar Karnani.



According to advocate Trupti Patil: The police should take suo motu cognizance of such cases. Even if the complainant is poor or unwilling, the police can still start an investigation once they have sufficient material regarding impersonation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, Section 319, which covers pretending to be someone else to deceive or gain an advantage. The offence is punishable with imprisonment up to three years, or fine, or both.



BOX: CONNED VICTIMS SPEAK OUT



He took 1.5 lakh from me and claimed there was no exam or process, assuring me of a good job. Once, he took us along for a raid at a restaurant, made us wait outside, and settled the matter himself, allegedly collecting over 1 lakh, but didnt give us a single rupee. A woman named Rani, who claimed to be a senior government officer, used to conduct our interviews, though we never knew what discussions took place. She would instruct us to conduct raids wherever children were working. He was also a womaniserhe sent inappropriate messages to some of us and demanded sexual favors, saying we needed to be prepared for honey trap operations -- Namrata Gopal, 32



Some of us were working as maids in the building where he stayed. He approached us there, asking us to join his team as CBI officers to serve the country, promising high earnings after every raid. I paid Rs 1.5 lakh by selling my gold and my childrens jewellery to join him. Over time, we realised he was fake, but we had no proof. We later gathered his photographs and documents and exposed the scam to the police, but no action was taken -- Rupali Hirale, 35



I am from Mulund. He called me to join the CBI, and I approached him. After paying Rs 2.5 lakh, he put me in a team with 1015 others. He took us to the Mahila Kalyan office in Thane, where we met Rani Baisane madam, who told us we had a good team and should do good work. We then started working with him. In January 2025, we conducted a raid at a place where child labour was allegedly taking place, but he later settled the matter. He promised to send me to Delhi for a government mission, but for six months he neither did anything nor returned our money -- Dhiraj Shewale, 26




Patients across Maharashtra have faced fresh trouble in recent days as mandatory PMJAY Ayushman Card registration under the new TMS 2.0 system slowed down, leaving many unable to secure timely admission for treatment. Hospitals and patient facilitators said registration was taking five to seven days, forcing patients into a harsh choice: wait in pain or pay out of pocket.



The problem has affected not only Mumbai residents, but also patients travelling from across the state for treatment under public insurance schemes. Many arrived believing the ABHA card would be enough to access cashless care, only to find themselves stranded in a lengthy registration process. Rugnamitra (patient facilitators) and hospital coordinators said they lodged complaints on the portal and with the central government, but received no satisfactory response. Public hospitals, already under rising patient load, said they could not keep patients waiting for five to seven days while card registration remained incomplete. Doctors often had to begin urgent treatment based on a patients condition, but without scheme approval, patients were denied benefits. In several hospitals, Rugnamitra and doctors then had to face the anger of patients and their relatives.



Ration card KYC adds another hurdle



Patients in many districts also reported problems with the KYC process. In several cases, the names of patients who came to Mumbai for treatment did not appear on their ration cards. To correct this, they had to return home for name registration on the ration card and Aadhaar linking with a mobile number. But that process, too, was reportedly delayed by server issues, leaving KYC incomplete and the paperwork stuck.



Pay first, get treated



Sonubai Patil (name changed), 60, travelled from Jalgaon to Mumbai for treatment for a stomach ailment. She did not have an ABHA card and said she was unaware of the requirement. When Rugnamitra tried to help her register, the process did not move smoothly. Unwilling to remain in pain for five to seven days, she chose to begin treatment by paying from her own pocket.



Coordinators at a public hospital said they had raised complaints on the portal, but did not receive a satisfactory response. Helpline calls also failed to resolve the issue. Staff said the move to a single card system appeared promising in principle, but lacked transparency and speed in execution.



Demand for phased



rollout



Rugnamitra also pointed out that the earlier Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana process had been shut down completely. While hospitals cleared old claims, they were unable to process new registrations under the earlier system. Facilitators said the transition should have been phased, rather than abruptly halting the old system before the new one became fully functional.




Women residents of the Central Government Staff (CGS) Colony in Ghatkopar West staged a sit-in protest at the CGS Maintenance Office on Friday, demanding urgent action over crumbling infrastructure, acute water shortage, and a rehabilitation process that has stalled for eight years.



The protesters  families of officers from the Enforcement Directorate, Excise, Income Tax, Army and Navy  alleged that despite repeated complaints to authorities, including the BMC, the colonys maintenance office and elected representatives, none of their core grievances have been addressed.



The situation has become unlivable. There is water scarcity, safety concerns and no clarity on rehabilitation. We had no option but to protest, a resident said.



The crisis has its roots in a decision taken nearly eight years ago, when the administration demolished buildings in Pockets 15 to 20 of the colony. No new construction has come up on that land since, and no alternative accommodation was offered to displaced residents. Last month, a structural audit of the remaining buildings declared them unfit for habitation.



My husband has 25 years left before retirement. We dont own a house in Mumbai. So where do we go? said Anuja Karangutkar, a resident and member of the colonys joint committee.



What has sharpened residents anger is the sequence of official decisions. A previous colony engineer, identified as Militho Kondo, authorised Rs 10 crore worth of waterproofing work on the terraces of these same buildings. During a residents meeting, he had assured them that the buildings had a remaining life of at least 10 years.



The very next month after saying that, he was transferred, Anuja said. A new engineer arrived and immediately issued a notice to demolish. If the buildings were already so weak, what was the Rs 10 crore waterproofing for? That money could have funded an entirely new tower.



Water scarcity has compounded the crisis. Each household has been allocated a storage tank of just 100 litres  residents say this is wholly inadequate.



The safety hazards extend beyond the buildings themselves. Around 15 days ago, a fire broke out when a street vendors illegal electrical connection  tapped from a roadside pole  short-circuited and exploded.



The blast occurred next to the community hall, where 15 LPG cylinders were stored.



Residents say Fridays protest was a last resort after exhausting every formal channel. They have written to the BMC, met the mayor, approached the BMCs zonal officer, and held a meeting with DZP corporator Giri Darvesh Giri. Direct representations have also been made to central government officials at the colony administration level.



They know that Central Government employees here are on postings. They come for a year or two and then get transferred. Supporting us gives politicians nothing, Anuja said. The junk dealers and vendors encroaching on our colony are their vote bank. We are not.




Mumbai has always known how to grow things in unlikely places. But perhaps none of its experiments in cultivation has been stranger, or more consequential, than the one that began in a corridor at Grant Medical College in the winter of 1896, when a Ukrainian Jewish bacteriologist named Waldemar Haffkine  recently summoned by the governor of Bombay to tackle a bubonic plague epidemic tearing through the citys chawls  set up a makeshift laboratory and got to work.



Three months later, with one assistant having suffered a nervous breakdown and two others having quit, Haffkine injected himself with the vaccine he had developed. He survived. The plague, eventually, did not.



That laboratory is now the Haffkine Institute for Training, Research and Testing, housed in Sans Pareil  without compare  a building that has lived several lives. It began as a Jesuit chapel on the island of Parel in 1673, became the governor of Bombays official residence in the 18th century, hosted crystal chandeliers and Durbar-hall gala dinners before the mill smoke of Parel drove the elite towards Malabar Hill, passed through the hands of the Bombay Presidency Recorders, and finally became, in 1899, a plague research laboratory. Today it stands on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road in Parel, still producing vaccines, still housing biological assets that are, by any measure, without compare.



Among them: A DPT seed strain (for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) with an estimated market value of Rs 1,500 crore. It is this strain that Maharashtra opposition leader Jayant Patil has raised concerns about in a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, rejecting a proposed expression of interest that would transfer it to a private company. Patil put it plainly: Waldemar Haffkine developed vaccines for the welfare of humanity, prioritising public good without taking any patents on them. In honour of his ideals, the government should immediately cancel this sales process.



It is a sentiment that cuts to the heart of what makes the proposal so disquieting. To understand why, you need to understand the man whose name the institute bears.



Haffkine was, by any measure, an extraordinary figure. Born in Odessa to a Jewish schoolmaster, barred from a professorship in his own country for being a Jew, he made his way to the Pasteur Institute in Paris, where the only post available to him was librarian. In his free time, he experimented in the bacteriology lab  and produced the worlds first cholera vaccine. When plague arrived in Bombay, he built a vaccine from scratch in under three months and tested it on himself first.



He was knighted by Queen Victoria. He was then, in 1902, accused of causing the deaths of 19 villagers in Punjab from a contaminated vaccine batch  a charge later shown to be the result of an assistant dropping a forceps and failing to sterilise it before using it to open a bottle. Historians have since compared the episode to the Dreyfus Affair. He was exonerated in 1907 but never fully reinstated. He left India in 1914, dejected, and died alone in Lausanne in 1930.



In 1925, five years before his death, the Indian government renamed the Parel laboratory after him, a belated tribute to a man who had, crucially, never patented a single discovery, believing that medical research should benefit mankind. When he received the letter informing him of the change, he wrote back with no trace of bitterness: The work at Bombay absorbed the best years of my life.



A man who gave everything is remembered today in a building that has, in recent years, had to rent itself to Bollywood film units to make ends meet. The main staircase and vacant corridors of Sans Pareil have doubled as hospitals, courtrooms and police commissioners offices in productions including Taare Zameen Par, A Wednesday, and Shaitan. In 2009, the institute made Rs 10 lakh this way. It is an ingenious solution to a genuine problem: An institute of this scale and heritage requires funds that a state allocation of Rs 3.5 crore annually simply cannot meet.



No one begrudges Haffkine its resourcefulness. The institute needs money, and film shoots are a reasonable way to raise it. But the sale of a seed strain is not a film shoot. It is not a weekend rental. It is, in all likelihood, permanent  and with permanence comes the real risk that vaccines currently available at affordable rates become the exclusive province of private profit.



This column has, on occasion, made the case for protecting Mumbais cultures, from its Art Deco buildings to its street food vendors to its informal economies of care. Perhaps it is time to make the same case for a different kind of culture entirely: The bacteriological kind. The DPT seed strain sitting in Parel is not merely a commercial asset. It is a public good, developed in a public institution, by a man who believed that science belonged to everyone.



The right response to Haffkines financial difficulties is not the liquidation of its most valuable assets but sustained government investment: In infrastructure, in research capacity, in the revival of an institution that was, not long ago, exporting healthcare products to 45 countries. That would be good public policy. It would also be the only way to truly honour a man who, when offered the chance to profit from his discoveries, chose instead to give them away.



Anish Gawande is a



writer and translator




Hail about the size of a penny came down in Downtown SonoraPhoto taken by Tracey Petersen

Sonora, CA  A heavy but brief hail storm hit Tuolumne County this afternoon, notably in downtown Sonora.

The pictures in the image box, taken from right outside the Central Sierra Broadcasting radio stations along South Washington Street, show that the hail was about the size of a penny and fell during a heavy downpour. Click the video button under the photo box to watch how the rain overwhelmed the drainage system and created a torrent of water down the street sides.

As surprised as people were in downtown Sonora to see the hail, as we reported earlier here, last evening, the NWS stated that a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near South Dos Palos, or 25 miles west of Madera. Luckily, the storm had weakened by 6:15 p.m., and it was downgraded to a severe thunderstorm warning.

Additionally, more stormy weather will blow through the region. As reported here, 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 National Park, above the Valley floor, from 5 PM this afternoon until 11 PM Sunday.
Angels Camp, CA  A Bret Harte student wins one of five top honors at the 98th Annual California FFA State Leadership Conference.

The conference, recently held in Ontario, near Los Angeles, awarded recipients of the State Star Awards, which reward extraordinary FFA members who have shown remarkable accomplishment in their supervised agricultural experiences (SAE). Beyond regular class time, the program allows students to use the professional and life skills learned in agriculture education courses on an individual basis. They were chosen from six regions: the Superior, North Coast, Central, San Joaquin, South Coast, and Southern after an extensive application process, finalists demonstrating outstanding management abilities in production, agribusiness, agricultural placement, and agriscience.

State FFA officials provided these details about the Bret Harte student who took home the Star in Agricultural Placement and also won another title last year:

Star in Agricultural Placement:

The Star in Agricultural Placement Award celebrates a student who has excelled in an employment-based SAE, including work-based learning opportunities. The awardee should gain real-world experience throughout his or her SAE, all while contributing to the greater agricultural workforce. The 2026 recipient of the Star in Agricultural Placement Award is Peyton Heermance of Bret Harte FFA. For the past four years, Heermance has worked for the Angels Camp Veterinary Hospital, where he is responsible for many tasks, including rooming patients, taking vitals, assisting with surgical procedures, and running in-house animal lab samples. Heermance also won the 2025 National FFA Proficiency title in the area of veterinary scienceentrepreneurship/placement.

The other Star award categories include Star Farmer, Star Small Farmer, Star in Agribusiness, and Star in Agriscience. State FFA officials noted, These FFA members represent the best of the best, exhibiting excellence in all aspects of their agricultural endeavors, demonstrating strong leadership skills, and participating in their local FFA chapter.
LONDON (AP)  London police arrested more than 200 people on Saturday during a protest against a ban on the group Palestine Action that the government has labeled a terrorist organization.

Metropolitan Police said they had detained 212 protesters between the ages of 27 and 82 for supporting the group.

Britains High Court ruled in February that the governments decision to outlaw the protest group as a terrorist organization was unlawful, but it kept the ban in place while the government appeals.

Police had warned in advance of the protest organized by the group Defend Our Juries that it would make arrests.

Hundreds gathered in Trafalgar Square to show their support for the group, with some holding signs reading, I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.

Musician Robert Del Naja of the trip hop group Massive Attack said he held a sign in support of the group despite the possibility that an arrest could jeopardize his ability to travel.

I thought this is ridiculous and then the police making that U-turn to arrest people again, I thought that is even more ridiculous, he said. So Im going to hold a sign today.

Protesters yelled shame on you at police carrying away protesters and mocked them for arresting the elderly.

Yeah, she looks like a terrorist, doesnt she mate? a woman yelled as police led a protester with a walking stick to a police van.
PRNewswire Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 11: Some healthcare initiatives treat a condition. Others try to change the way we live with it. And then there are those rare efforts that bring people, purpose, and possibility together, all in one room. On 22nd March 2026, Manipal Hospital Yelahanka, in collaboration with the Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society of Bangalore, hosted a comprehensive patient-centric programme titled 'Building an Ecosystem of Thalassemia Care.' The programme was led by a multidisciplinary team of eminent doctors at Manipal Hospital Yelahanka, including Dr. Chetan Ginigeri, Director - Paediatric and Paediatric Superspeciality Services (Organising Chairperson); Dr. Aarthi N, Consultant - Paediatric Haematology Oncology and BMT (Organising Secretary); Dr. Sagar Bhattad, Lead Consultant - Paediatric Immunology, Rheumatology and BMT (Joint Secretary); Dr. Vinay Munikoty, Lead Consultant - Paediatric Haematology Oncology and BMT; and Dr. Ramitha Bhat, Consultant - Paediatric Haematology Oncology and BMT; along with Mr. Gagandeep Singh Chandok, President - Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society of Bangalore, and Chief Guests including Shri Das Suryavamshi, Ex commissioner PWD, Karnataka, and Dr. Deepa Bhat, Professor of Anatomy and Genetic Counsellor, JSS Medical College Mysore. Alongside multidisciplinary scientific sessions spanning prevention, management, and curative care, what truly anchored the programme was its ability to translate clinical intent into tangible patient support. Emphasizing the need for integrated care, Dr. Chetan Ginigeri noted, "When we bring diagnostics, treatment planning, and counselling together in one place, we reduce the burden on families. This programme is about making care more coordinated, more accessible, and ultimately more humane. It's about ensuring that no patient feels like they are navigating this journey alone." Building on this, Dr. Aarthi N highlighted, "This programme was designed as a comprehensive care platform -- bringing together clinical evaluations, endocrine assessments, HLA typing, and advanced imaging like MRI T2. More importantly, it focused on continuity, guiding families through long-term monitoring, treatment planning, and follow-up. Structured, accessible care not only improves outcomes but also gives families clarity and reassurance." By integrating diagnostics, counselling, and clinical expertise, the initiative reflected a shift from isolated interventions to a more cohesive, patient-centric care ecosystem. The sessions also reinforced that thalassemia care today extends beyond management, with curative pathways such as bone marrow transplantation becoming increasingly accessible. Speaking in this regard, Dr. Sagar Bhattad said, "Bone marrow transplantation offers a definitive cure for many children with thalassemia. However, the window for optimal outcomes is early in life. Timely diagnosis and referral, before complications set in can be life-changing. Awareness among families and primary care providers is therefore absolutely critical." Dr. Vinay Munikoty added to the perspective and highlighted the evolving role BMT stating, "Bone marrow transplantation is a transformative option across blood disorders -- including thalassemia, cancers, and sickle cell disease. What is crucial is identifying the right patients at the right time and guiding families through this journey with clarity and confidence. With advancements in transplant protocols and supportive care, outcomes continue to improve, offering many patients not just treatment, but a real chance at cure." Delving into the critical aspect of day-to-day management of thalassemia, Dr. Ramitha Bhat said, "For patients with thalassemia, regular blood transfusions are essential to sustain life, but they come with their own set of challenges. It is important that families understand when to initiate transfusions, how frequently they are needed, and the precautions required to minimise risks. Equally important is iron chelation therapy, because with repeated transfusions, iron accumulates in the body and can lead to serious complications if not managed well. Through sessions like these, our goal is to simplify these concepts for families, so they feel more confident and involved in the care process." Dr. Deepa Bhat steered the conversation towards prevention, genetic counselling and early screening. "Thalassemia is preventable with the right awareness. When individuals understand their carrier status before starting a family, they can make informed choices. Genetic counselling is not just about information -- it is about giving families the power to prevent future suffering," she stated. Over 40 patients with thalassemia major underwent detailed evaluations, supported by active participation from caregivers. What stood out was not just the scale, but the depth of care delivered. The programme also focused on accessibility, offering: - Free HLA typing camps with Bal Ayush Foundation and DKMS- Subsidised MRI T2* scans for iron overload assessment- Comprehensive blood investigations and health summaries- UDID registration support- Leukocyte filters for early registrants Advocacy That Translates into Action Another key highlight of the day was the discussion on PWD rights in Karnataka, where policy and implementation gaps remain. Mr. Gagandeep Singh Chandok said, "Recognition of blood disorders under PWD is an important step, but implementation is where the real change must happen. Patients need access to benefits, education, and social support systems. Building awareness, encouraging UDID registration, and creating a strong patient registry are essential to shaping better policies." The event also saw the presence of Mr. Praveen Kumar TM, State Coordinator, State Blood Cell, National Health Mission, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services, Arogya Soudha, Bengaluru, 2026 Padma Shri Awardee Dr. Suresh Hanagavadi, Founder President, Karnataka Hemophilia society, Retd. As Professor of Pathology at JJM Medical College, Davanagere, Karnataka, Ms Aishwarya S, UDID State Co-ordinator DEPWD, Department of Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizen, Govt. Of Karnataka, Sri Kanagasabhapathi, Rehabilitation officer, CRC (central govt), and Dr Meera, Consultant - Haematology, Victoria Hospital, all contributing meaningfully to the cause with their valuable insights. This initiative marks an important step in Manipal Hospital Yelahanka's commitment to building a structured, inclusive, and future-ready thalassemia care ecosystem, one that supports patients across every stage of life. For more information, please visit: https://www.manipalhospitals.com/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2953787/Thalassemia_Care_Manipal_Hospitals.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
'Lords of War', the sequel to the 2005 crime thriller Lord of War, is set for a 2027 theatrical release after being acquired by Vertical, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Written and directed by Andrew Niccol, the film will see Nicolas Cage reprise his role as arms dealer Yuri Orlov. The sequel introduces a new conflict as Orlov discovers he has a son, Anton, played by Bill Skarsgard, who is building a powerful mercenary army to rival his father's operations. Set against the backdrop of America's wars in the Middle East, the narrative explores a tense father-son rivalry within the global arms trade and mercenary networks. The film is produced and financed by Vendome Pictures, with additional production support from Saturn Films. Producers include Philippe Rousselet and Fabrice Gianfermi, who also worked on the original film, along with Niccol and Cage, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The cast also features Laura Harrier, Sylvia Hoeks and Greg Tarzan Davis. The film recently wrapped production in Morocco. According to Niccol, the sequel expands on the character of Yuri Orlov while introducing a formidable new rival in his son. He noted that Anton is not seeking redemption but aims to surpass his father in the arms trade. "As a storyteller, I always felt there was so much more to explore with the 'merchant of death' that is Nicolas Cage's charming devil, Yuri Orlov. This latest chapter gave me the chance to introduce his ultimate rival: his illegitimate son, Anton -- illegitimate in every sense of the word -- played by the equally roguish Bill Skarsgard. Set against the largely unseen world of mercenaries, the film quickly reveals that Anton isn't out to right his father's wrongs; he's out to top them," said Niccol, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. Vertical is expected to showcase footage from the film at CinemaCon 2026 for exhibitors. (ANI)
Rapper-actor Kid Cudi has revealed that he once auditioned for a lead role in 'Get Out', which eventually went to Daniel Kaluuya, according to People. Speaking on his podcast Big Bro with Kid Cudi, the artist opened up about the experience and his initial disappointment after not being selected for the part in the critically acclaimed film directed by Jordan Peele. "I auditioned for Get Out and I really... I read the script and I knew it was about to go," he said. "So I really wanted it and I did the audition in front of Jordan Peele and he was showing me so much love and said I did great. And when I didn't get it, I was so bitter," as quoted by People. Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, said his perspective changed after watching the film and witnessing Kaluuya's performance. "But then I finally saw the movie and I was like, you know, Daniel was the best option. I get it. When a role is for you, it's for you. When you don't get it, it wasn't meant for you. He killed it. Daniel was a master at his craft and that's how I became a fan of his, through that movie, and we became homies. That's my guy now," he added, according to People. Kaluuya's performance in 'Get Out' earned him an Academy Award nomination and helped elevate his career in Hollywood. Cudi has since built a diverse career across music and acting, appearing in films such as Don't Look Up and X, as well as television series including How to Make It in America. Meanwhile, in a 2022 interview, Peele addressed speculation about a potential sequel to 'Get Out'. "I do get asked that a lot," Peele said. "Never say never." He added, "There's certainly a lot to talk about left. We'll see," according to People. (ANI)
Social worker and Padma Shri awardee Phoolbasan Bai Yadav on Saturday welcomed the Centre's approval of draft amendment bills to operationalise the Women's Reservation Act, saying it marks a transformative step towards women's empowerment and will allow women to directly participate in national decision-making. Expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister and his government, she said the legislation would significantly expand opportunities for women to raise their voices at the highest level. "On behalf of lakhs of women in Chhattisgarh, I express gratitude to the PM and his team, who have taken such a massive step towards women's empowerment. This will benefit women a lot directly. Sometimes, our thoughts remain confined to just here due to a lack of opportunities, but today, we can go to Parliament and voice our thoughts. I am happy that we can speak up now even in Delhi," Yadav told ANI. Her remarks come amid intensified political debate over the proposed constitutional amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam ahead of the special session of Parliament scheduled to begin on April 16. The Congress on Friday held discussions on the proposed legislation during its Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Delhi, where senior leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, raised concerns over the government's intent, timing, and the proposed delimitation-linked changes. Kharge has alleged that the government is pushing the legislation with political motives ahead of elections and warned that the proposed expansion of parliamentary seats could have far-reaching consequences on India's electoral structure. The Parliament is set to meet for a three-day special session from April 16, with a focus on the Women's Reservation Amendment Bill. The Government has planned two major amendments. 2023's Nari Shakti Vandan Act ties women's reservation to the new census and delimitation. Due to census delays, the plan is to proceed with the 2011 census data. The 2011 census is to be the basis for delimitation and seat redistribution. Lok Sabha seats may increase from 543 to 816 post-amendment. A bill will be introduced in Parliament to amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Act. A separate Delimitation Bill will be introduced. Both bills need to be passed as Constitutional amendments for women's reservation. The new Lok Sabha is likely to have more than 800 seats. Keeping up with the status quo, there is no provision for OBC reservation, and SC/ST reservation will continue. However, states won't have a role; the bill passed by Parliament will apply to them. Currently, the Lok Sabha has 543 seats. With a proposed 50% increase, the number of seats will rise to 816, with 273 (about a third) reserved for women. The government's key point is that they won't wait for a new census to give women, comprising half the country's population, fair representation in Parliament. Instead, delimitation will be done using the 2011 census data. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday paid a floral tribute to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on his 200th birth anniversary at Prerna Sthal on the Parliament premises. Among other leaders, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Union Ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and JP Nadda, and former Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh also paid tribute to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. Mahatma Jyotirao Phule was a renowned Indian social activist, reformer, and writer from Maharashtra. Born on April 11, 1827, in Satara, Maharashtra, he's best known for his tireless efforts to eradicate the caste system, promote women's education, and empower the oppressed. He, along with his followers, formed the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth) to attain equal rights for peasants and people from lower castes. Phule is regarded as an important figure in Maharashtra's social reform movement. He and his wife, Savitribai Phule, were pioneers of women's education in India. Paying tribute to the social reformer, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla wrote on X, "On the 200th birth anniversary of the great social reformer, visionary of the era, and revolutionary sun Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Ji, I offer millions of salutations. Mahatma Phule transformed education into the most powerful medium for positive change in society, thereby opening new doors of opportunity for the deprived, the exploited, and women." "His struggle against social evils, caste discrimination, and inequalities was not merely a movement, but a comprehensive social awakening that gave a new direction to India's consciousness. His vision of a society based on the values of equality, justice, and human dignity continues to serve as an inspiration for us even today. The thoughts, struggles, and ideals of Mahatma Phule Ji will continue to inspire future generations ceaselessly," the X post read. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation on Independence Day, announced that the 200th birth anniversary of social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule would be commemorated with events aimed at transforming lives. Emphasising Phule's principles, PM Modi stated, "In the very near future, the 200th birth anniversary of great social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule is coming up. We are going to kickstart events for the anniversary. In the principles of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, the mantras he gave, lie inspiration for us - priority to the backwards. Giving priority to the poor, we want to scale the heights of transformation, and with transparent strategies, we want to bring forth the backward and poor." (ANI)
With the West Bengal Assembly elections just weeks away, the BJP has launched a scathing verbal offensive against the Congress party, labeling it a politically spent force in the state. Speaking with ANI, BJP spokesperson NV Subhash, speaking from Hyderabad, dismissed recent allegations of polarisation made by the Congress and asserted that the upcoming electoral battle is strictly a two-way contest between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). Subhash ridiculed the Congress's attempt to remain relevant in Bengal, highlighting their long absence from power and dwindling seat count. While dismissing the Congress as a "media hype" creation, Subhash made it clear that the BJP's sights are set squarely on unseating Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "The BJP asks, where is the Congress in West Bengal? It has been ages since you formed a govt. Even the Left parties are nowhere to be seen. The BJP is very clear in the development of West Bengal. We have clearly given several issues in the manifesto which can be implemented. Whereas the Congress party's manifesto is a bunch of lies and a pack of completely false manifesto. Congress cannot even win a single seat in West Bengal but it wanted to create some kind of a divisive politics to at least get deposit. We are very sure that we will definitely a very good result in West Bengal along with Assam and other 3 states. Congress is nowhere to be seen in West Bengal. It is nothing but only media hype so that they can at least get deposit. The main opponent for the BJP is TMC. Mamata Banerjee's days are numbered. We are 100% sure that in the upcoming Assembly elections, the BJP will have a very good number so that it can form the Govt," said NV Subhash. The remarks follow criticisms from West Bengal Congress President Subhankar Sarkar, who accused the BJP and TMC of collaborating to polarize the electorate for mutual political gain. "West Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar claims that the BJP, along with TMC, is playing politics, dividing the state and polarising - thus getting the benefit on that," said NV Subhash. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the BJP's manifesto, "Sankalp Patra", on Friday for the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026. The BJP's 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. Amit Shah pitched it as a roadmap to transform Bengal from "despair to development" in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India. Shah also slammed the TMC government, alleging that 15 years of its rule had led to a breakdown of law and order and widespread public discontent. Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Friday called the BJP's manifesto a "recycled catalogue of jumlas, broken promises, and deception." The remarks come as high-stakes campaigning intensifies for the polling of the 294-member West Bengal Assembly, which will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4. (ANI)
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday met a delegation of Mahila Congress, assuring "enhanced opportunities," after the party opposed the proposed amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. "I want to repeat that we are firmly committed to Women's Reservation. In fact, on my way in and out, I was approached by a delegation of Mahila Congress colleagues expressing hope that their opportunities would soon be enhanced. I assured them that we stood with them all the way," Tharoor wrote on X. The Congress Working Committee, following a meeting on Friday, opposed the Bill to amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, although the party stated that it supports 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha. The party criticised the delimitation exercise, alleging "dangerous consequences" for the states in South and Northeast India. Congress alleged that the Centre wants to convene a special Parliamentary session to derive political mileage out of women's reservation in the Lok Sabha. Shashi Tharoor wrote in an X post, "The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met today at Indira Bhawan, New Delhi, to take a decisive stand on the proposed amendments to the Women's Reservation Bill. While the Congress has always championed the 33 per cent quota, and the first to introduce a Bill and pass it in the Rajya Sabha in 2013, the current government's approach raises serious alarms." Tharoor added, "The CWC condemned the government's unilateral and opaque push for amendments without consulting Opposition parties. The party flagged that rushing a delimitation exercise alongside the bill could have dangerous consequences for the democratic balance of our states, particularly in the South and Northeast. Many Congress leaders highlighted that the government originally delayed implementation until after the Census. Now, a 'special session' is being used for political mileage ahead of state polls and with an eye on delimitation before the 2029 general election." "Congress remains committed to one-third reservation for women, but it must be inclusive and fair. The Amendment Bill should not be a political tool that undermines federalism and vitiates the vitality of Parliament as a deliberative body," the X post read. Tharoor's assurance to Mahila Congress workers also comes after Tamil Nadu Mahila Congress President Hazeena Syed alleged that the party has neglected its women's wing while distributing the tickets for the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Assembly elections, saying that they have been deceived in the name of 33 per cent reservation. Mahil Congress has expelled Hazeena Syed from her post in the party, alleging "anti-party" activities. The Centre plans to introduce amendments aimed at increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816, with a proposal to reserve at least 273 seats for women. 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 one third) reserved for women. The Union Cabinet has already approved a draft amendment bill to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, paving the way for its implementation in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. The proposed amendment guarantees 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies. The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, including reserved quotas for SC/ST women, marking a significant step towards greater gender representation in Indian politics. (ANI)
Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday paid tribute to social reformer Jyotiba Phule on his birth anniversary. In an 'X' post, the Congress MP said that Phule dedicated his life to protecting the rights and entitlements of marginalised people, adding that his struggle against discrimination and inequality showed the path to the nation for equality and justice. "On the birth anniversary of the great social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, I offer my humble salutations to him. He dedicated his entire life to protecting the rights and entitlements of the marginalised. His struggle against discrimination and inequality showed the nation the path to equality and justice. His ideals and thoughts will forever continue to inspire us to move forward towards social justice," said Gandhi. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tribute to social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule on his 200th birth anniversary, lauding him for championing the rights of women and the marginalised. "On the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, paying tributes to a visionary social reformer who dedicated his life to the ideals of equality, justice and education. He was also a pioneer in championing the rights of women and the marginalised. Through his efforts, education became a powerful instrument of empowerment. This year, we mark the start of his 200th birth anniversary celebrations. May his thoughts continue to guide everyone in the pursuit of societal progress," PM Modi wrote on X. The Prime Minister also paid floral tribute to Phule along with President Droupadi Murmu at Prerna Sthal in the Parliament premises. Among other leaders, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Union Ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and JP Nadda, and former Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh also paid tribute to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. Mahatma Jyotirao Phule was a renowned Indian social activist, reformer, and writer from Maharashtra. Born on April 11, 1827, in Satara, Maharashtra, he's best known for his tireless efforts to eradicate the caste system, promote women's education, and empower the oppressed. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule at the Parliament complex, saying that his ideals continue to inspire and guide generations. In a post shared on X, the Prime Minister shared his message after offering homage. "Paid homage to Mahatma Phule in the Parliament complex. May his ideals continue to give strength and hope to countless people," PM Modi wrote on X. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2042844717113819637 Earlier in the day, PM Modi lauded him for championing the rights of women and the marginalised. "On the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, paying tributes to a visionary social reformer who dedicated his life to the ideals of equality, justice and education. He was also a pioneer in championing the rights of women and the marginalised. Through his efforts, education became a powerful instrument of empowerment. This year, we mark the start of his 200th birth anniversary celebrations. May his thoughts continue to guide everyone in the pursuit of societal progress," PM Modi wrote on X. The Prime Minister paid floral tribute to Phule along with President Droupadi Murmu at Prerna Sthal in the Parliament premises. Among other leaders, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Union Ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and JP Nadda, and former Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh also paid tribute to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. Mahatma Jyotirao Phule was a renowned Indian social activist, reformer, and writer from Maharashtra. Born on April 11, 1827, in Satara, Maharashtra, he's best known for his tireless efforts to eradicate the caste system, promote women's education, and empower the oppressed. He, along with his followers, formed the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth) to attain equal rights for peasants and people from lower castes. Phule is regarded as an important figure in Maharashtra's social reform movement. He and his wife, Savitribai Phule, were pioneers of women's education in India. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation on Independence Day, announced that the 200th birth anniversary of social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule would be commemorated with events aimed at transforming lives. Emphasising Phule's principles, PM Modi had stated, "In the principles of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, the mantras he gave, lie inspiration for us - priority to the backwards. Giving priority to the poor, we want to scale the heights of transformation, and with transparent strategies, we want to bring forth the backward and poor." (ANI)
The 33 per cent reservation for women legislators in the Lok Sabha is in line with the ideals of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, BJP national president Nitin Nabin said as he paid tribute to the social reformer on his 200th birth anniversary on Saturday. Along with Nabin, the BJP's national general secretaries Arun Singh, Dushyant Kumar Gautam and Tarun Chugh paid floral tributes to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule in New Delhi. Mahatma Jyotirao Phule was a renowned Indian social activist, reformer, and writer from Maharashtra. Born on April 11, 1827, in Satara, Maharashtra, he's best known for his tireless efforts to eradicate the caste system, promote women's education, and empower the oppressed. He, along with his followers, formed the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth) to attain equal rights for peasants and people from lower castes. Speaking to the media, Nitin Nabin said, "For the role played by him in social reformation, the nation remembers him even today. From the first girls' school to his role in abolishing the Sati system, we believe it is relevant to this day. From the 'Beti Bacho Beti Padhao' campaign to making them self-dependent to bringing them forward in the field of education and securing women's representation through Nari Vandan Adhiniyam, PM Modi is doing all of these...The 33 per cent reservation will be in line with the ideals of Jyotiba Phule." The Centre plans to introduce amendments aimed at increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816, with a proposal to reserve at least 273 seats for women. 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 one third) reserved for women. The Union Cabinet has already approved a draft amendment bill to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, paving the way for its implementation in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. The proposed amendment guarantees 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies. The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, including reserved quotas for SC/ST women, marking a significant step towards greater gender representation in Indian politics. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court has granted bail to one Pravesh Rathee, who is accused in the Rajmandir Hyper Market firing for the extortion case of November 2024. He is accused in a case against members of the Nandu Gang. It is alleged that 10 rounds were fired at the gate by two co-accused. It is alleged that a protection money of Rs 5 crore was demanded in the name of Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu Gang from the owner of the shop. An FIR was lodged at Paschim Vihar West Police Station on November 6, 2024. Justice Prateek Jalan on Friday granted bail to Pravesh Rathee alias Pulkit. He has been granted bail subject to furnishing a bail bond of Rs 50,000 and one surety in the like amount, including other conditions. The court noted that Pravesh Rathee has been in custody since November 29, 2024. "Having regard to the above factors, I am of the view that his continued incarceration pending trial is not appropriate," Justice Jalan said in the order of April 10. The court also noted that the Accused was identified on the basis of a CCTV camera installed five kilometres away from the place of the incident. "The CCTV footage upon which the prosecution relies merely shows the applicant and two co-accused riding a motorcycle. The Investigating officer confirmed that the said CCTV footage was recorded at a location approximately five kilometres from the place of the incident," Justice Jalan observed. On November 3, 2024, the owners of Rajmandir Hypermarket, namely Suresh Mittal and Pradeep Mittal, lodged a complaint stating that they had received an extortion call on their mobile phones and WhatsApp demanded a sum of Rs 5 crores as protection money and threatened attacks on their residence and workplace. An FIR was lodged on their complaint. The present FIR was registered on November 6, 2024, at the instance of Mohd. Sirtaz, Manager of Rajmandir Hypermarket. He stated that on November 6, 2024, at about 2:15 pm, three people came to the store on a black motorcycle and fired several gunshots at the store while he was sitting at the counter. When he came out, he saw that unknown persons had fired at the glass door of the store. Two people committed the offence by firing at the store, while one of them remained with the motorcycle on the other side of the road. The police recovered ten empty cartridges and two fired leads from the spot. (ANI)
A Youth Congress leader was hacked to death by unidentified assailants who allegedly barged into his residence in Karnataka's Dharwad district late Friday night, police said on Saturday. The deceased has been identified as 28-year-old Fairoz Khan Pathan, a resident of Mehboob Nagar in Dharwad. According to police, a group of four to five assailants entered his house and attacked him with lethal weapons. He sustained severe injuries and died on the spot. No family members were present at the residence at the time of the incident. Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner N Shashikumar said the incident took place under the jurisdiction of Dharwad Suburban Police Station, and a murder case has been registered. "Yesterday, in Dharwad sub-urban police station limits, there was an incident wherein one person by the name Fairoz Pathan was assaulted by a group of four to five people at his residence. In the process, he has sustained injuries and succumbed to death," he told ANI. He further said the body has been shifted for post-mortem examination. "The body is kept for post-mortem in KIMS, Hubballi. We will quickly arrest the accused who are involved in the crime," he added. On the motive behind the killing, the Commissioner said it is yet to be established. "That is yet to be ascertained. But the complainant and the family members of the deceased say that they had a rivalry with the accused. We'll ascertain the exact cause," he said. Police have launched an investigation, and efforts are underway to trace and arrest the assailants. (ANI)
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday congratulated Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit for promotion to the rank of Brigadier. Recalling his acquittal in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, Shinde said that Lt Col Purohit's promotion serves as a "measure of solace". "Heartfelt congratulations to Colonel Purohit, who was implicated in the Malegaon blast case during the Congress era through doctored evidence, on receiving his promotion to Brigadier. Colonel Purohit is a true patriot, and the court has acquitted him as innocent in the Malegaon case due to lack of evidence. This promotion serves as some measure of solace for the mental agony he has endured," the Shiv Sena leader wrote. Lt Col Purohit's promotion came after the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) stayed his retirement, which was due on March 31, 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. (ANI)
In a major success for Indian law enforcement, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), successfully facilitated the return of wanted fugitive Sahil Chauhan from Thailand on Friday. "The subject, Sahil Chauhan, is wanted by Haryana Police in multiple criminal cases involving murder, attempt to murder, dacoity, and the use of illegal firearms/weapons. He is a key member of the Bhuppi Rana Gang operating in Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh areas," read CBI press release. Chauhan, a high-profile criminal wanted by the Haryana Police, was apprehended in Bangkok and deported to India, where he was taken into custody at the Delhi International Airport. His criminal record includes multiple charges of murder, attempt to murder, dacoity, and the illegal use of firearms. The most brazen of his crimes occurred on January 4, 2017, during an escalation of gang rivalry. "On 04.01.2017, the subject had opened fire at Monu Rana in gang rivalry at the Jagadhari Court Complex, Yamunanagar, Haryana, when Monu Rana was brought to the court for a hearing in pending criminal cases. A chargesheet was filed against him, and he was subsequently sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. However, after being released on bail, the subject absconded and fled abroad," added the release. The return was made possible through the NCB-New Delhi (CBI), which published an Interpol Red Notice against Chauhan at the request of the Haryana Police. "On the request of Haryana Police, NCB-New Delhi got published a Red Notice against the subject Sahil Chauhan. The subject was geo-lacated and deported from Bangkok and arrived in India at Delhi International Airport on 10.04.2026, where he was taken into custody by a team of Haryana Police," read the release. The CBI, acting as the National Central Bureau for INTERPOL in India, utilizes the BHARATPOL platform to bridge the gap between local law enforcement and international agencies. "The CBI, acting as the National Central Bureau for INTERPOL in India, utilizes the BHARATPOL platform to bridge the gap between local law enforcement and international agencies," added the release. (ANI)
Special Task Force (STF), Haryana, on Friday successfully deported gangster Sahil Chauhan alias Sahil Rana, a notorious and dreaded criminal operating with inter-state linkages from Thailand, police said. This is the fifth deportation secured by STF (H) in 2026. Earlier, Ankit Shokeen, Aman Bhainswal, Sombir Motta and Shilu Dahar were deported. STF Haryana chief Satish Balan said Sahil Rana is a criminal who has been on the run since 2024. He has a very strong criminal background. Rana joined the Bhupi gang when he was a youngster and committed several crimes such as attempt to murders and murder. He was convicted in a court-martial case and served 10 years in prison. When he got the bail in 2024, he fled to Bangalore and has been on the run since then. "He has been in the crime world since 2016 with 16 cases registered agaisnt him. His name is Sahil Chauhan, alias Sahil Rana. He belongs to Shahzadpur in Ambala. He joined the Bhupi gang when he was in 12th standard and committed several crimes incuding attempt to murders, murders, He was released on bail in 2024 after serving a 10-year sentence for a conviction related to opening fire at Monu Rana (member of the same gang) in the court," he said. "He fled to Bangalore, created fake documents for a passport and fled to Dhaka. From there, he kept running to various countries in Southeast Asia like Bali, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Angola," he added. The STF Haryana chief noted that when Rana failed to go to Portugal, he turned back and was captured at the Thailand Airport based on the Redress Control Number (RCN) and deported back to New Delhi. "He also tried to go to Portugal but failed and turned back. While he was returning, he was caught at the Thailand Airport based on an RCN and was deported back to New Delhi," he said. The STF Haryana chief said that the investigation is ongoing right now, and further details will be given once the investigation is completed. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of corruption, saying a BJP government in the state will not spare any corrupt person. Addressing a campaign rally here, the Union Home Minister said a BJP government will include the Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule. He said a BJP government will implement the Uniform Civil Code in the state. "Mamata Banerjee has put the entire Bengal in the fire of corruption. Teacher recruitment scam, municipal corporation recruitment scam, cow smuggling scam, ration scam, MGNREGA scam, PM Awas scam, coal smuggling scam... numerous such scams have been carried out by the TMC government. After the BJP government comes to power, not a single corrupt person will be spared; everyone will be held accountable," he said. "Bring a BJP government, and we will implement a Uniform Civil Code with one law for both Hindu and Muslims. Nobody will be able to marry 4 times," he added. Amit Shah said the BJP has decided that "as soon as its government is formed, we will include the Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule". "Both Rajbanshi and Kurmali languages are major languages of Bengal, Assam, and Jharkhand, and the task of bringing them into the Eighth Schedule will be done by the BJP government," he said. "Employees in West Bengal will also receive the benefits of the 7th Pay Commission as soon as the BJP Govt is formed in the state. BJP will also make major announcements for unemployed youth. Those who became overage for government jobs due to TMC's misgovernance will also be given relaxation. Employees in West Bengal will also receive the benefits of the 7th Pay Commission as soon as the BJP Govt is formed in the state," he added. The Union Home Minister alleged that farmers in Bankura are being forced to resort to distress sale of patato due to policies of the Trinamool government. "In Bankura, there is surplus potato production, yet Mamata Didi's decisions have restricted supply to Odisha and Jharkhand, forcing farmers to sell potatoes worth Rs 20 for just Rs 2. I say this clearly, on the very evening a BJP Chief Minister takes oath, the movement of potatoes to Jharkhand and Odisha will be allowed," he said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was campaigning in Keshiary, attacked BJP over some promises in its manifesto. She alleged that "free and fair elections are not possible" under the BJP's rule. "They have spoken about UCC (Uniform Civil Code) in the manifesto...I will vehemently oppose this. They are in the majority today so they will pass the Bill. When they won't be in the majority tomorrow, we will revoke the Bill...Free and fair elections are not possible as long as they remain," she said. "Our fight is with 'Vanish Kumar' (referring to CEC Gyanesh Kumar)...SIR is a huge scam. This is not SIR but an attempt to bring BJP to power. This is a scam to delete names. 90 lakh names have been deleted," she added. West Bengal will go to the polls on April 23 and 29 and the results will be declared on May 4. In 2021, TMC secured a landslide 213 seats. BJP won 77 seats. (ANI)
The Patiala House Court on Saturday granted anticipatory bail to Manish Sharma, Incharge of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) in the AI Summit protest case. He has sought anticipatory bail after Delhi Police issued him a notice of arrest. Earlier, he was granted interim protection from arrest. The court said that custodial interrogation is not required. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Amit Bansal granted anticipatory bail to Manish Sharma and directed that he shall continue to join the investigation as and when directed by the Investigation Officer (IO). He has been granted anticipatory bail on a bond of Rs One lakh and one surety in the like amount. The anticipatory bail has been granted subject to certain conditions. While granting anticipatory bail, the court said that no reasonable apprehension has been shown that there is a possibility of the applicant fleeing from justice. It has also not been alleged that the applicant has misused the liberty of interim protection given by this court vide order dated March 20. The court observed, "In view of the above said discussion, totality of the facts and circumstances of the case and above said settled law, it is held that the custodial interrogation of the applicant is not required and the applicant has therefore, made out a case for grant of anticipatory bail in this case." " It is accordingly directed that in the event of arrest, the applicant shall be released on bail on furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs 1 Lakh with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the concerned IO/SHO," ASJ Amit Bansal ordered on April 11. Manish Sharma filed an anticipatory bail plea in view of 7 days notice issued to him on April 2 by the Delhi police in the AI Summit Protest case of February 20. Earlier, he was granted interim Anticipatory bail and directed to join and cooperate in the investigation carried out by the Delhi Police Crime Branch. The police have said that Manish Sharma is not cooperating in the investigation. Advocates Roopesh Singh Bhadauria, Chitwan Godara and Sumit Rawat appeared for Manish Sharma. Patiala House Court on March 20 granted interim anticipatory bail to Manish Sharma in the AI summit protest case.He is directed to join the investigation tomorrow. In case of his arrest, Delhi police will give him a 7-day notice, the court had said. He is seeking anticipatory bail after the Delhi Police issued a notice to him. He is alleged key conspirator of the protest carried out at AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam on February 20. While opposing the bail plea, ASG DP Singh had argued that Manish Sharma is the Incharge of the Indian Youth Congress. He is the key conspirator who had a meeting with other co-accused persons. This protest, which brought bad name to the country and it was organised in the presence of Foreign dignitaries. ASG D P Singh had submitted that the AI summit was for the signing of a declaration by more than 100 countries, including the EU, on AI. ASG had submitted that in this case, there was a restriction as foreign dignitaries were present during the Summit. He further submitted that there are 3 conditions under which protests can be organised with permission, at a designated place, and only a peaceful protest can be carried. It was also submitted that a protest cannot be carried out where a restriction is imposed. Protests are organised where restrictions are not imposed, ASG argued. They were organised at a designated place where a restriction is not imposed. It was further submitted that a recce was carried out on February 16, 17 and 18, and a protest was carried out on February 20. ASG had also referred to CCTV footage of a restaurant where 4 accused were having a meeting. Manish Sharma called Siddharth Avdhoot. " There is a Conspiracy of disrespecting and maligning the country," ASG had said. He also submitted that custody of Manish Sharma was required, as the other accused persons mentioned his name in their statements. There were 16 people at the spot, 12 people were protesting, and 4 were taking photographs. Police had arrested 4 people from the spot, ASG had submitted. Manish Sharma had a meeting with the accused persons, he added. ASG had further submitted that custodial interrogation of Manish Sharma is required to confront him with the material collected during the investigation and to unearth the larger Conspiracy. He is the key conspirator. He had also submitted that protests are not allowed at the place and the route where foreign dignitaries are passing through. Foreign dignitaries were present at the AI Summit. There is also an order of the court that a protest cannot be carried out at any other place except Jantar Mantar, the Prosecution had said. (ANI)
A fire broke out at a chemical company in the Kavi Nagar industrial area of Ghaziabad on Sunday evening, as per officials. Fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot after the incident was reported and firefighting operations were carried out to bring the blaze under control. Speaking to ANI, Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Rahul Kumar said that the fire call was received at 8.09 pm, following which multiple fire engines were deployed to the location without delay. "At 8.09 pm, we received information about a fire in the Kavinagar Industrial Area. Three of our vehicles immediately reached the spot... The fire was completely extinguished within an hour. There were no casualties," he said. Further details regarding the cause of the fire are awaited. In a separate incident earlier in the day, a fire broke out at a Vishal Mega Mart outlet near Sector 76 metro station in Noida under Police Station 49 area, officials said. Speaking to ANI, Chief Fire Officer (CFO) of Noida, Pradeep Kumar, said that fire broke out at approximately 4:30 AM, and the entire building was severely gutted by the flames."At around 4.30 am, a fire broke out at the Vishal Mega Mart near Sector 76 metro station under the Sector 49 police station area. The fire has now been brought under control. No injuries or casualties have been reported," he said. Meanwhile, a week ago, a fire broke out in a cloth warehouse in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, due to a short circuit, officials said. The fire broke out around 3 pm on Tuesday at Fazil Enterprises under the Kundarki police station. Six fire tenders reached the incident site to douse the fire. Speaking with ANI, Chief Fire Officer Rajiv Kumar Pandey said, "Our 4 fire trucks reached the spot... We are carrying out firefighting operations... All people are safe, and firefighting operations are ongoing. At this time, a total of 6 fire trucks are engaged in extinguishing the fire. Prima facie, the cause of the fire appears to be a short circuit."(ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense on Saturday detected the presence of 17 sorties of Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels and an official ship operating around its territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Saturday. Of the 17, 15 crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern part ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, "17 sorties of PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 15 out of 17 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern part ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/2042769603839905864?s=20 Earlier on Friday, the MND detected seven sorties of Chinese military aircraft, seven military vessels and an official ship operating around itself. All seven sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern part ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, "7 sorties of PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 7 out of 7 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern part ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/2042407212413505556?s=20 China's claim over Taiwan is a complex issue rooted in historical, political, and legal arguments. Beijing asserts that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, a viewpoint embedded in national policy and upheld by domestic laws and international statements. Taiwan, however, maintains a distinct identity, functioning independently with its own government, military, and economy. Taiwan's status remains a significant point of international debate, testing the principles of sovereignty, self-determination, and non-interference in international law, as per the United Service Institution of India. China's claim to Taiwan originates from the Qing Dynasty's annexation of the island in 1683 after defeating the Ming loyalist Koxinga. However, Taiwan remained a peripheral region under limited Qing control. The key shift came in 1895, when the Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan after the First Sino-Japanese War, marking Taiwan as a Japanese colony for 50 years. After Japan's defeat in World War II, Taiwan was returned to Chinese control, but the sovereignty transfer was not formalised. In 1949, the Chinese Civil War resulted in the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland, while the Republic of China (ROC) retreated to Taiwan, asserting its claim to govern all of China. This led to dual sovereignty claims: the PRC over the mainland and the ROC over Taiwan. Taiwan has operated as a de facto independent state but has avoided declaring formal independence to prevent military conflict with the PRC, United Service Institution of India. (ANI)
The European Union issued a sharp condemnation following Israel's recent decision to establish more than 30 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. In a formal statement released on Friday, the EU labeled the expansion a "flagrant violation" of international law and a direct threat to the long-standing goal of a two-state solution. "The recent Israeli decision to establish over 30 new settlements in the occupied West Bank is illegal under international law and severely undermines prospects for peace and the two-state solution," the statement read. "The European Union strongly condemns Israel's unilateral actions aiming to expand its presence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion of 19 July 2024 declared to be unlawful, and urges the Government of Israel to reverse these decisions, to abide by its obligations under international law and to protect the Palestinian population of the occupied territories," it added. The EU also condemned the violence against Palestinian civilians. "We equally condemn the continued and growing settler violence against Palestinian civilians. The European Union reaffirms its commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution in accordance with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace within secure and recognised borders," he said. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Friday condemned Israel's approval of 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying the decision violates international law, as reported by Al Jazeera. Israeli rights group Peace Now reported late on Thursday that the government had taken the decision "secretly" in early April. The Palestinian Presidency's office condemned the plan as a "flagrant violation of international law". There was no immediate comment from the Israeli government, as per Al Jazeera. The 34 settlements approved on Thursday come on top of 68 approved since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government came to power in 2022, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Friday (local time) hosted Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at Mar-a-Lago. Gor affirmed US' vision to work with India years ahead. In a post on X, Gor said, "It was a pleasure to host Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri tonight at Mar a Lago! From trade and defence to energy, India and the United States stand ready to work closely together in the months and years ahead." https://x.com/USAmbIndia/status/2042811877638500416?s=20 Misri held talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on upcoming high-level India-US engagements earlier in the day. Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said that Misri and Landau reviewed the full bilateral agenda for the coming year. In a post on X, he said, "Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had a productive meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau at Department of State. They reviewed the full bilateral agenda for the coming year, including trade, tech, energy, defence and upcoming high-level India-US engagements and ongoing regional developments." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2042794148517085618?s=20 US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg expressed pleasure over his meeting with Misri, highlighting discussions on trade, energy cooperation and advancing pro-innovation policies in artificial intelligence. In a post on X, Helberg said, "It was a pleasure meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to discuss trade and energy cooperation. India is an important member of Pax Silica, and we look forward to working with them to promote pro-innovation policy frameworks while addressing regulatory challenges and the rapid buildout of secure and trusted AI infrastructure in our countries." https://x.com/UnderSecE/status/2042661929072664997?s=20 Meanwhile, Misri, who was on a three-day visit to Washington, had a "productive" meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was scheduled to visit India the following month. 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 region, while also reviewing key aspects of strategic defence and trade relations between the two countries. 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. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday landed at Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Jaishankar will be in the UAE from April 11-12 as a part of an official visit and will be meeting the leadership of the UAE to review close cooperation and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said that the visits by 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 Sri 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. (ANI)
A reported quadcopter drone strike in Balochistan's Mastung district has allegedly resulted in the death of a young man and injuries to several women, intensifying concerns over civilian safety during ongoing military operations. The incident occurred in the Kardigap area, where security forces are said to be conducting operations following recent attacks attributed to Baloch armed groups, as reported by The Balochistan Post. According to The Balochistan Post, local sources stated that the strike targeted a residential property in Gargina, Killi Musa Khan. The victim, identified as Abdul Samad, son of Abdul Wahid Sarparah, sustained severe injuries in the attack. He was reportedly being transported to Quetta for urgent medical treatment, but succumbed to his wounds on the way. Several women present inside the house were also injured in the strike and were shifted to nearby medical facilities, with some later referred to Quetta for advanced care. The incident comes at a time of heightened military activity in Mastung, where Pakistani forces have intensified operations in response to recent militant attacks that reportedly claimed the lives of security personnel. While authorities have consistently maintained that such operations are aimed at targeting militants, allegations of civilian harm continue to surface from affected areas. There has been no official confirmation from Pakistani authorities regarding the reported drone strike. However, rights organisations, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), have repeatedly expressed concern over the increasing reports of civilian casualties linked to such operations, as highlighted by The Balochistan Post. Similar claims have emerged in the past from districts like Khuzdar, where previous military actions allegedly resulted in the deaths and injuries of non-combatants, including women and children. These recurring incidents have raised serious questions about the conduct and accountability of security operations in the region, as reported by The Balochistan Post. (ANI)
Eylon Levy, Former Spokesman for Israel, said that Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif's statement calling Israel "evil and a curse for humanity" was unacceptable. Levy, in conversation with ANI on Friday, said that Pakistan is an aggressive state that systematically supports terrorism. "The Pakistani Defence Minister's statement is outrageous and completely unacceptable. Israel is interpreting it rightly as a call for the annihilation of our country by a nuclear-armed state. This reminds a lot of Israelis of what most Indians know, which is that Pakistan is not a good-faith actor. It is an aggressive state that systematically supports terrorism," he said. Levy said that Pakistan is trying to build a radical Islamic axis that will threaten Israel and India alike. "It is not a good-faith mediator in these negotiations with Iran. It is an ally of Iran that is trying to build a radical Islamic axis that will threaten Israel and India alike. I think Indians should be deeply concerned about the increased role that Pakistan is getting internationally from the mediation of the talks with Iran," he said. Levy further said that Pakistan, being a global power broker, sets a dangerous precedent that dismisses India's security concerns. "It is setting a very dangerous precedent that is turning Pakistan into a global power broker and peacemaker in a way that is going to lead countries to throw their support behind Pakistan and dismiss India's own security concerns. Now the mask has come off. This is a country with nuclear weapons that is openly calling for the destruction of Israel and, of course, has subjected India to so much support for terrorism and aggression in the past," he said. Levy said that Pakistan is an ally of Iran and helped the Iranian regime begin its nuclear weapons program. "Pakistan is not a good-faith mediator in these talks. It is an ally of Iran. I'll remind you, it was a Pakistani who helped the Iranian regime begin its nuclear weapons program in the first place. Pakistan is trying to build a radical Islamic axis that brings together not only Iran but also Turkey, and ideally Saudi Arabia, in this regard, as a counterweight to the forces that want security, prosperity, and stability in West Asia," he said. Levy said that Pakistan continues to be a fundamental destabilising actor around the world. "Pakistan's role as a mediator, while having threatened the destruction of Israel, not only shows that it is an out-and-out supporter of the Islamic Republic in this conflict, but it also shows that it continues to be a fundamental destabilising actor around the world. A country that is a source of so much regional instability cannot possibly be a source of global stability," he said. Meanwhile, security is tightened across Islamabad ahead of US-Iran talks. The Iranian and American delegations have landed in the Pakistani capital city. (ANI)
Former Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy has warned that the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is on the verge of collapse due to Tehran's refusal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking with ANI, Levy characterized Iran's actions as "maritime piracy," accusing the Islamic Republic of holding the global economy hostage to blackmail the international community. According to Levy, the cornerstone of the diplomatic agreement was the unhindered passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz--a promise he claims Iran has already broken. "The US-Iran ceasefire is fragile because the Islamic Republic is refusing to open the Strait of Hormuz like it has promised. It is continuing to act like a pirate on the high seas, trapping ships in the Strait of Hormuz, not letting them in or out, and holding the whole global economy hostage to try to subject the United States and the whole world to blackmail. Iran must open the Strait of Hormuz. That blockade is a violation of international law and completely unacceptable," he said. Levy was emphatic that the current US-Iran understanding does not protect Hezbollah in Lebanon. He asserted that Israel remains a sovereign state and will not allow others to negotiate its security. Following a month in which Hezbollah fired 7,000 missiles, rockets, and drones--including a ballistic missile targeting Tel Aviv--Levy maintained that military action is necessary to protect northern Israeli villages. "Lebanon is not covered by this ceasefire. The United States has been absolutely clear; it didn't promise that Israel would leave Hezbollah alone. Indians will appreciate that Israel is a sovereign state. No one is going to negotiate matters of war and peace on our behalf. Israel is fighting Hezbollah now because Iran's proxy army in Lebanon has fired 7,000 missiles, rockets, and drones at Israel in the last month. I woke up at two o'clock in the morning because they fired a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv. Israel is determined to push away the threat of Hezbollah from our villages on the northern border where our families are sitting ducks," he said. In a significant diplomatic shift, Levy revealed that Israel has signaled a desire for direct peace talks with the Lebanese government, aiming to dismantle Hezbollah together rather than accepting a "simple ceasefire" that leaves the militia intact. "I'm sure that India would not tolerate a foreign-backed terrorist organization on its borders firing missiles and drones, forcing people out of their homes. Israel won't accept it either. It has signaled it wants direct peace talks with Lebanon. That is a very big development. Israel is saying no to a simple ceasefire that leaves Hezbollah in place and condemns us to more conflict, but yes to full peace talks that allow us to dismantle Hezbollah together," he said. The ultimate goal, per Levy, is for Lebanon to follow the path of the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco by normalizing relations and ending the "proxy army" era. "Israel and Lebanon should have peace. Every world leader should be demanding that Lebanon recognize Israel, recognize the border, join the Abraham Accords, and stop allowing Hezbollah, Iran's terrorist proxy army, to attack Israeli families from its soil. Israel is determined to push away the threat of Hezbollah. It will not allow Lebanon to use the promise of talks to buy time, to drag its feet, or to allow Hezbollah to keep attacking Israeli families," he said. Levy further said, "It wants a peace framework that will allow us to tackle Hezbollah together. It is Israel's military action against Hezbollah that is giving the Lebanese government both the urgency and the opportunity to confront Hezbollah, which is something that it has been chickening out of doing for the last 20 years. I hope the Lebanese government will take up Israel's offer for direct peace talks, establish direct normal relations, and then work together with Israel to dismantle this proxy army that is the common enemy of both of us." Levy said that Israel wants normalization with Lebanon and the neutralization of Hezbollah at any cost. It wants peaceful relations with its neighbour. "Israel wants normal, peaceful relations with a neighbor that doesn't allow its territory to be used for attacks against us. We want a peaceful border, normal relations with the Lebanese government, and no rocket attacks from Lebanese territory. The endgame is to expand the circle of peace in the whole region. Israel has already normalized relations with Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco as part of the Abraham Accords. It wants the whole Arab world to join those agreements and make peace," he said. Israel is seeking a comprehensive framework to address Iran's nuclear program, missile technology, and proxy armies. "That will require the Lebanese government to stop the armed attacks from its territory. Israel cannot allow the families in the villages on the border to be sitting ducks for missile attacks where they have zero warning time to run for shelter because Iran's terrorist proxies keep firing missiles and drones at their homes," he said. Levy said that things have reached this point because Lebanese government has failed to tackle the Hezbollah. "Israel is fighting against Hezbollah because Hezbollah is firing missiles, drones, and rockets at Israeli families, and Lebanon has done nothing to stop it. It's really not that complicated. Israel wants security for the people of northern Israel so families can sleep safely in their homes without having Iranian-backed jihadists attacking us. It is a tragedy that we have reached this point because the Lebanese government, for a quarter of a century, has failed to confront Hezbollah," he said. Levy recounted that a UN resolution from 2006 required Lebanon to dismantle the Hezbollah. "The 2006 war ended with a UN resolution requiring Lebanon to dismantle Hezbollah. It didn't do that, and Hezbollah built a NATO-sized invasion force on Israel's border. After the October 7 massacre, it joined Hamas's war against Israel. The 2024 war ended with a commitment that Lebanon would dismantle Hezbollah. It didn't do that, and Hezbollah went back to attacking Israeli families. Now Israelis are having to send our finest sons into battle against Hezbollah to clean up Lebanon's mess because Lebanon allowed its territory to be used by a terrorist militia for attacks against our families," he said. Levy framed the current conflict as a "tragic" necessity caused by the Lebanese government's 20-year failure to comply with UN resolutions to disarm Hezbollah. "The situation in Lebanon is very sad and tragic. It's a shame we've come to this because the UN has so completely failed to address the threat of Hezbollah. I hope that the Lebanese government takes this issue seriously and dismantles Hezbollah immediately so that it stops threatening Israeli families and we can finally move forward towards peace in the region," he said. Levy noted that Israel stands ready as a "firm American ally" to stop Iranian aggression, which he claims now threatens the safety of cities across the entire Middle East, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. "Israel says that it supports efforts to reach a deal that will address the triple threat from the Islamic Republic of Iran: the missiles, the nuclear program, and the terrorist proxies. That is a top priority, not just for Israel, but for all the Gulf countries that have been attacked with drones and ballistic missiles in the last month and do not want a simple ceasefire that leaves the Iranian regime free to bomb Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and all the cities in the Middle East," he said. As delegations prepare to meet in Islamabad for ceasefire talks, Levy urged the United States to maintain a "credible military threat." "If these peace talks collapse because the Iranian regime is committed to being the world's number one state sponsor of terror and an aggressor in the region, it's important that the United States keep the threat of renewed military action on the table to fight Iranian aggression. Israel will, of course, be willing to act as a firm American ally in doing its part to stop those Iranian attacks against the whole of West Asia," he said. (ANI)
Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong on saturday highlighted a significant rebound in international mobility, noting that China's borders have become increasingly busy as foreign travel continues to accelerate. According to the latest data for the first quarter of 2026, the country has seen a double-digit surge in both inbound and outbound traffic. The figures underscore a robust recovery in global exchanges, driven by simplified visa policies and a renewed interest in cross-border trade and tourism. Xu said in a post on X, "More foreign friends are traveling to and from China. Q1 2026 saw 185 million inbound and outbound trips (+13.5% from the previous year), including 21.33 million by foreign visitors (+22.3% YoY)." https://x.com/China_Amb_India/status/2042850873202872681?s=20 Earlier on March 30, Indian Consul General Pratik Mathur held talks with IndiGo team as the direct flight connecting Shanghai to Kolkata started operations. Mathur appreciated the growing confidence and enthusiasm being expressed through the booming air connectivity between both nations. In a post on X, Indian Consulate in Shanghai said, "New Beginnings. Chalo Kolkata. Consul General Pratik Mathur was happy to meet the top management team of IndiGo team in Shanghai as the direct flight connecting Shanghai to Kolkata started operations. Underlining the positive momentum, CG appreciated the growing confidence and enthusiasm being expressed through the booming air connectivity and the resurgent economic links between India and the region, as Indian Airlines such as Indigo and Air India have started connecting Shanghai with Indian metros- New Delhi and Kolkata. Next up- Mumbai. Jai Hind Jai Bharat." https://x.com/IndiaInShanghai/status/2038439733760802913?s=20 IndiGo commenced its inaugural daily, nonstop service between Kolkata and Shanghai, marking another significant milestone in strengthening air connectivity between India and People's Republic of China. This launch builds on IndiGo's recent expansion in China, including the successful reinstatement of flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou and the subsequent start of operations from Delhi. The service is being operated using IndiGo's state-of-the-art A320neo aircraft, offering customers a comfortable and fuel-efficient flying experience, an official statement said. With the addition of Shanghai to its network, IndiGo continues to enhance travel options and address the growing demand for trade and tourism between two of the world's most populous nations. Now several Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Jaipur, Bhubaneswar, and more, will be able to conveniently connect to and from Shanghai via Kolkata. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Saturday announced that 312 Indian fishermen were safely evacuated from Iran to India through Armenia. Jaishankar thanked Armenian officials for making the safe evacuation possible. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Another 312 Indian fishermen safely evacuated from Iran to India through Armenia. Thank the Government of Armenia and my friend Ararat Mirzoyan for making it possible." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2042870924458992096?s=20 Earlier on April 4, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal welcomed the Indian fishermen who arrived in Chennai after being repatriated from Iran via Armenia, following a significant diplomatic effort by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Speaking to reporters, Piyush Goyal described the return as a "Joyous day" for the families of the fishermen, who had been stranded in Iran amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. "Today is a joyous day where our brothers and sisters who are suffering in Iran are coming back home to their families, motherland. We warmly welcome all our fishermen brothers and sisters. It was a difficult journey for them. They had to go 20 hours to Armenia and other countries," Goyal said. "The MEA Officials worked day and night to bring them to Armenia. Today they are flying back from Armenia. We are very happy to receive them, welcome them back home," he added. Armenia has been facilitating the evacuation of Indian nationals in Iran. On April 2, the MEA said that more than 1,200 Indian nationals have been safely evacuated from Iran, out of which 996 moved to Armenia. Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing in the national capital, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the evacuation is being carried out through Armenia and Azerbaijan with the Centre closely coordinating efforts on the ground. According to Jaiswal, "Some 1,200 Indian nationals have been evacuated, of which 845 are students." He added, "996 moved to Armenia and 204 to Azerbaijan, from where they are being helped by the MEA." (ANI)
A high-level delegations from Iran and the United States arrived for what Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has termed "make or break" negotiations. The summit, held under intense security, aims to stabilize a fragile ceasefire and navigate the future of regional security. On Saturday morning, the Iranian delegation departed their residence for the Prime Minister's Office to commence formal discussions. The meeting follows a week of global anticipation after the ceasefire announcement on April 8. Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai said in a post on X, "The Iranian delegation has departed from their residence en route to the Prime Minister's Office for a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif." https://x.com/IRANinMumbai/status/2042867224558588226?s=20 Vice-President of Iran, Mohammad Reza Aref said that if the Iranian representatives meet with representatives of 'America First,' an agreement beneficial to both sides and the world is probable. However, if they face representatives of 'Israel First,' there will be no deal. In a post on X, he said, "If we negotiate in Islamabad with representatives of 'America First,' an agreement beneficial to both sides and the world is probable. However, if we face representatives of 'Israel First,' there will be no deal; we will inevitably continue our defense even more vigorously than before, and the world will face greater costs." https://x.com/fvpresidentiran/status/2042864701210587513?s=20 As the world watches with bated breath the slippery ceasefire talks, a US aircraft carrying a team for negotiations with Iran landed in Pakistan's Islamabad, earlier in the day. The level of representation underscores the gravity of the encounter. The Iranian team is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, the team arrived in Islamabad after midnight under an unprecedented security detail. The US taem comprises Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump. According to Iran's Supreme National Security Council, the window for these discussions is limited to 15 days. With the world watching with "bated breath," the next 48 hours in Islamabad are expected to determine whether the regional ceasefire evolves into a lasting diplomatic resolution or a return to intensified conflict. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the talks between the US and Iran as "make or break," Al Jazeera reported. When the Iranian team's aircraft entered Pakistani airspace, it was provided with a full circle of protection that included AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) early warning aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft, as well as fighter jets, which escorted the Iranian team to Islamabad. (ANI)
On April 1, 2026, Oliver Stirbock raised questions in the Hesse State Parliament about the use of surveillance systems from Hikvision and Dahua by local authorities. He called for clarity on guidelines addressing human rights risks linked to these technologies, which have already faced restrictions in countries like the United States. WUC welcomed the move, reiterating longstanding concerns that such tools are tied to the mass surveillance of Uyghurs in China.

Meanwhile, April 5 marked 36 years since the Baren Uprising, a pivotal moment of Uyghur resistance against Chinese rule. In 1990, around 200 Uyghurs protested in Akto County against coercive population control policies, including forced abortions.

The protest was met with a brutal military response, reportedly involving thousands of troops and resulting in widespread killings. No independent probe into the incident has ever been conducted. Commemorative demonstrations were held in Munich and Berlin, with activists demanding justice and remembrance for those killed.

At the international level, WUC Executive Committee Chair Rushan Abbas participated in the Global Counterterrorism Forum cybersecurity conference in Guatemala on April 7.

She highlighted how surveillance practices associated with the Chinese Communist Party extend beyond China's borders, warning of a growing digital authoritarian model. Alongside Abdulhakim Idris, she also engaged students at Galileo University on what they described as technology-enabled repression.

Adding to global unease, China recently implemented a sweeping 18-point framework to secure its industrial and supply chains. Effective March 31, the policy enhances state authority over key sectors, allowing countermeasures against foreign entities deemed threatening to China's economic stability. Measures may include restrictions, penalties, and export controls. (ANI)
Khattar said that as one of the oldest dzongs in the country, Simtokha Dzong stands as a testament to Bhutan's rich architectural heritage and enduring Buddhist traditions.

In a post on X, he said, "The historical Simtokha Dzong occupies a special place in Bhutan's cultural and spiritual landscape. As one of the oldest dzongs in the country, it stands as a testament to Bhutan's rich architectural heritage and enduring Buddhist traditions."

https://x.com/mlkhattar/status/2042881265146433872?s=20

"During my visit to this revered site, I had the privilege of offering prayers and experiencing the deep sense of peace and reverence that it embodies. Simtokha Dzong continues to inspire generations, reflecting the timeless values and spiritual ethos that define Bhutan," he said.

Earlier on Friday, Khattar 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?s=20

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?s=20

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." (ANI)
Ahead of the talks with the United States, the Iranian negotiating team held a strategic meeting in the Pakistani capital. The delegation, which arrived in Islamabad to participate in high-stakes discussions, fine-tuned its agenda before the formal commencement of the "peace talks" with the US.

Prior to this engagement, US Vice President JD Vance also held a high-level meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to a statement from the White House.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, also met the Pakistani Prime Minister.

The Serena Hotel has emerged as the focal point of the diplomatic activity, with both the Iranian and American delegations arriving to participate in talks.

Visuals from outside the luxury hotel showed tight security and a flurry of movement as international representatives convened at the venue.

The American delegation, led by JD Vance includes Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner.

Shehbaz Sharif had earlier termed the talks as "make or break" negotiations.

Held under intense security, the engagement aims to stabilise a fragile ceasefire and navigate the future of regional security. The ceasefire announcement was made on April 8.

Vice-President of Iran, Mohammad Reza Aref, had suggested earlier that the outcome depends entirely on the American approach.

Taking to X, he noted that if the Iranian representatives meet those representing "America First," an agreement beneficial to both sides and the world is probable.

However, he warned that if they face representatives of "Israel First," there will be no deal, stating, "we will inevitably continue our defence even more vigorously than before, and the world will face greater costs." (ANI)
The United States government has presented Brazil with a proposal for an agreement on critical minerals that has raised concerns within the administration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, according to information reported by Brasil 247. The initiative, which may favor foreign investors and impact Brazil's sovereignty, entered the radar of authorities in February this year. According to Brasil 247, Members of the Brazilian government assess that the terms of the agreement could create significant advantages for foreign companies, especially from the United States. The proposal includes provisions granting priority to these investors in projects related to the exploration of strategic minerals in Brazil. One of the most sensitive points involves a clause establishing preferential access for foreign capital. The document states that participants "expect to have the first opportunity to invest, in accordance with domestic laws, in critical mineral assets that may be sold in Brazil or by a company headquartered or incorporated in Brazil." In practice, this guideline could open space for greater presence of US capital in Brazil's mining sector. Internal government assessments indicate that this condition may lead to a concentration of foreign investment in strategic areas of the national economy. The proposal shows similarities with an agreement previously signed between the United States and Australia, but presents differences that have heightened concerns among Brazilian authorities. In the Australian case, the pact includes a minimum investment commitment of $1 billion. The version proposed to Brazil does not establish any minimum value. Another point drawing attention involves governance mechanisms. The agreement with Australia predusmatrivaet periodic ministerial-level meetings to monitor actions, a provision that is absent from the proposal directed at Brazil, raising questions about balance and transparency in the negotiations. Critical minerals play a central role in strategic sectors of the global economy, including lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements, which are essential for the production of batteries, renewable energy equipment, semiconductors and defense technologies. The importance of these resources is increasing amid the expansion of the energy transition and the digitalization of the economy. Countries are seeking to secure stable access to these raw materials to reduce external dependence and strengthen supply chains. In this context, negotiations with the United States take place amid global competition for mineral resources and raise debates over balancing investment attraction with the preservation of Brazil's economic autonomy. Rare earth elements comprise a group of 17 chemical elements essential to the global energy transition, including lanthanum, cerium, neodymium and yttrium. These materials are widely used in high-technology industries such as wind turbines, hybrid vehicles, electronics and military systems. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States is "starting the process" of clearing the Strait of Hormuz, a move aimed at securing one of the most vital maritime oil corridors in the world, amidst escalating regional friction. In a statement shared on Truth Social, Trump positioned the initiative as a global service intended to guarantee the safe transit of energy supplies. He noted, "We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to countries all over the world, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others." The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint situated between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, facilitates the passage of a major share of the world's crude exports. Historically, any instability within this narrow waterway has led to significant fluctuations in global oil prices and a surge in maritime insurance premiums. Trump took the opportunity to lambast other nations for their perceived hesitation in protecting the route, remarking, "Incredibly, they don't have the courage or will to do this work themselves." While the President did not disclose specific operational plans, his comments indicate a strategic shift towards neutralising threats to merchant shipping, specifically risks posed by naval mines. Any direct intervention to secure the waterway is expected to have profound geopolitical and economic consequences due to the involvement of various international powers. In the same post, Trump launched a scathing attack on media outlets, accusing them of bias and claiming they were incorrectly depicting Iran as "winning." He dismissed these reports as products of "Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS)," counter-arguing that Iran was actually "losing big." He further claimed that Iran's military capacity has been decimated, asserting that its naval and aerial forces have been neutralised. According to Trump, the country's air defences, radar systems, and manufacturing hubs for missiles and drones have been largely obliterated. He added that prominent leadership figures are "no longer with us," though these assertions were not accompanied by specific evidence. The US President characterised the remaining regional threats as minimal, suggesting that the primary danger to maritime traffic is the chance of vessels hitting sea mines. He further claimed that the assets used to deploy such mines had been eliminated. Additionally, Trump noted that tankers from various nations are currently voyaging to the United States to procure crude oil. He framed this as a shift in global energy dynamics, citing it as proof of international confidence in American resources despite the ongoing volatility in traditional transit routes. (ANI)
The sound of buzzing tattoo machines filled the air at every stall as artists worked on intricate designs blending traditional deities with modern artistic concepts at the 13th International Nepal Tattoo Convention, which continues to celebrate body art and global tattoo culture in Lalitpur. The ongoing convention has brought together over 250 tattoo artists from around 25 countries, showcasing a diverse mix of styles, techniques and cultural influences. The event, which began on Friday, features artists inking a wide range of designs, including Hindu deities such as Ganesh, Hanuman, Lord Buddha, the Living Goddess Kumari, as well as contemporary and abstract concepts that fuse tradition with modern aesthetics. Organisers said the event has become a major global platform for cultural exchange in tattoo artistry. "We have around 250 tattoo artists from all around the world, about 25 countries, out of which we think it is around sixty per cent international and forty per cent national. Countries from Colombia, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, China, Taiwan, there are about 25 countries, of course, from India and Nepal," Bijay Shrestha, Director at the International Nepal Tattoo Convention being held in Lalitpur, told ANI. Organised annually by Nepal Tattoo, the convention also features competitions among the exhibitors on a daily basis. Artists are assigned to their respective stalls to paint tattoos on the bodies of customers, following certain measurements and utilising permitted ink. The competition broadens its scope with "Ornamental, Tribal, and Dot Tattoo," welcoming entries of any size and colour. This competition not only promises to be a feast for the eyes but also a testament to the artists' creativity and skill under pressure. "The whole point of doing this is to teach and show our national artists, because back then, it was not easy for them to travel to other conventions. So what we did was to have a convention here where we could bring artists from all around the world--different styles, techniques, and approaches to the tattoo world and art. Also, for them (international artists) to see what Nepal is all about, our rich culture and arts. It's a kind of exchange between the two sections, and that's how we have been doing it. In the past fifteen years, the quality of our artists has gone really high. Artists now travel to different conventions, countries, and they have guest spots around the world," Shrestha added. Tattoo culture in Nepal is one of the oldest traditions practised widely by Newa, Tharu, Gurungs, and Magar, the aboriginals of the Himalayan nation. As per the younger generation, traditional tattoos lacked precise details, linking them more to communities and spiritual beliefs, but modern tattoo designs focus more on aesthetics. Being driven by aesthetic values, younger generations are now making a fusion of traditional beliefs with modern designs to ink on various parts of their bodies. In the Kathmandu Valley, tattoos in earlier days were mostly done during Jatras (festivals) and Melas (carnivals) like Rato Machindra Jatra and Indra Jatra. Kathmandu's Tebahal and Bhaktapur's Thimi were famous for tattoo art, which is called "Lha: Chyogu" in the Nepali Bhasha or the Newa: language. 'Lha' in Newa: means 'flesh' and 'chyogu' means 'writing'; tattoos on the legs of Newari women symbolise their strength, and a belief follows that a person takes nothing but the tattoos on his or her body after death. On the way to heaven, if one faces hardships, he or she can sell the tattoos and thus make the journey more comfortable. Earlier, coal and milk were mixed with plants to produce colours for the ink used to design tattoos. Now, inks are widely used, poured into machines, and then run over the sketched areas of the body. "It's really nice to be in a sense of community and getting to meet all the local artists and connect. It creates a nice community here and it runs for the art of creativity and hanging out, which is awesome. There is no feeling of too much pressure, not many expectations--go with the flow of the Nepali people and get connected," Jaya, a tattoo artist based in Australia, told ANI. In Nepal, the trend of cultural tattooing has evolved and taken different forms. Nowadays, getting a tattoo is a way a person expresses themselves through art, words, or symbols. Nepal is now known as one of the best destinations for getting inked. Many Nepalese artists have gained international recognition for their artistic work and creativity. Nepal is a very affordable and special place for getting inked. However, the ongoing tension in the Middle East has had a ripple effect on this year's convention. As per the director of the convention, Bijay Shrestha, many artists are now absent. "The last-minute cancellations because of the ban on flight routes meant people had to take different routes; even I had to take a different route. Many of my friends couldn't come because flight tickets are expensive and cancellations occurred. It has affected us--not in a big way, but it has. I miss some of my close friends who had been coming with us for the past ten years; they couldn't come because they couldn't fly," Shrestha told ANI. (ANI)
Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Saturday announced the postponement of his planned trip to the United Nations (UN) and the United States (US), citing "current internal circumstances" and the need to focus on domestic governance and national security. In a post on X, Salam said the decision was taken "in commitment to fulfilling my duty completely in safeguarding the security of the Lebanese people and their unity," adding that he would remain in the capital Beirut to oversee government work. https://x.com/nawafsalam/status/2042959998603452658 He added, "I have decided to postpone my trip to the United Nations and the United States, in order to follow up on the government's work from Beirut." Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei that Tehran is in constant contact with Beirut to ensure that the ceasefire commitments in Lebanon are upheld, as reported by Iranian media Fars news agency. According to Fars, Baghaei, speaking from Islamabad where formal US-Iran negotiations are underway to end the ongoing conflict in West Asia, said the Iranian delegation has already engaged with Pakistani officials and clearly conveyed its positions and demands. Fars further reported that Baghaei noted instances of ceasefire violations on Saturday, underscoring the fragile nature of the situation on ground. Meanwhile, trilateral ceasefire talks between the United States, Iran and Pakistan have started in Islamabad, Al Jazeera reported, noting that this is the highest-level talks between Washington and Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Ahead of the talks with the United States, the Iranian negotiating team held a strategic meeting in the Pakistani capital. The delegation, which arrived in Islamabad to participate in high-stakes discussions, fine-tuned its agenda before the formal commencement of the "peace talks" with the US. Prior to this engagement, US Vice President JD Vance also held a high-level meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to a statement from the White House. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, also met the Pakistani Prime Minister. The American delegation, led by JD Vance includes Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. Shehbaz Sharif had earlier termed the talks as "make or break" negotiations. Held under intense security, the engagement aims to stabilise a fragile ceasefire and navigate the future of regional security. The ceasefire announcement was made on April 8. Vice-President of Iran, Mohammad Reza Aref, had suggested earlier that the outcome depends entirely on the American approach. Taking to X, he noted that if the Iranian representatives meet those representing "America First," an agreement beneficial to both sides and the world is probable. However, he warned that if they face representatives of "Israel First," there will be no deal, stating, "we will inevitably continue our defence even more vigorously than before, and the world will face greater costs." (ANI)
The first phase of in-person talks between the United States and Iran concluded in Islamabad late on Saturday night after several hours of negotiations involving multiple stakeholders, marking a significant development in ongoing diplomatic discussions. Following the discussions, both delegations exchanged written texts to document and confirm areas of understanding reached during the day, according to Iranian state media Press TV. The exchange is seen as an effort to formalise progress made during the face-to-face engagement. The development comes after an initial round of discussions concluded earlier, paving the way for continued negotiations between the delegations. The talks are being seen as a key diplomatic effort to reduce tensions and explore possibilities of a structured understanding between the United States and Iran. According to Iran's Tasnim news agency, the latest round of negotiations extended into late-night deliberations, indicating the urgency and sensitivity surrounding the dialogue process. The report stated that key representatives from both sides were present in Islamabad for the discussions, reflecting the high-level nature of the engagement. On the US side, Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner, who is also the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, are part of the delegation. The Iranian delegation includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and senior diplomat Ali Bagheri Kani. "It seems that this is the last chance for the Iranian team to reach a common framework in this round of talks," Tasnim news agency reported. Meanwhile, the White House confirmed that direct talks between the two sides are still ongoing at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, indicating that discussions are continuing despite significant diplomatic challenges. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated his commitment to the negotiation process, stating that the Iranian delegation would "negotiate bravely" while prioritising national interests and safeguarding Iran's sovereign priorities. In the statement shared via a post on X, President Pezeshkian reaffirmed the government's commitment to its citizens, regardless of the diplomatic developments in Islamabad. "In any case, our service to the people will not stop for a moment, and whatever the outcome of the negotiations, the government will stand by the people," he wrote, highlighting the administration's focus on domestic stability alongside international diplomacy. Furthermore, in a post on X, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi reposted a message from the Iranian President, stating that the delegation is "wholeheartedly committed to safeguarding Iran's interests and will negotiate courageously in that regard." The embassy's statement further emphasised the government's dedication to domestic stability regardless of the diplomatic process, noting, "In any case, our service to the people will not pause for even a moment, and whatever the outcome of the negotiations, the government stands firmly with the people." In a separate development, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran Abdolnasser Hemmati met Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on the sidelines of the ongoing discussions, according to Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In a post on X, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, Dr. Abdolnasser Hemmati, called on Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 today, on the sidelines of the #IslamabadTalks." According to the ministry, the meeting focused on strengthening dialogue and regional cooperation, with both sides highlighting the importance of peace and stability for economic progress and shared development. The X post added, "Both sides emphasised the importance of sustained dialogue and noted that peace and stability in the region remain essential for economic cooperation and shared progress." Additionally, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also met Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad as part of the ongoing diplomatic engagements. On the sidelines, Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was seen shaking hands with US Vice President JD Vance. (ANI)
As high-stakes US-Iran peace talks unfold in Islamabad, foreign affairs expert Waiel Awwad on Saturday said the scale and composition of delegations signal that both sides are "serious about reaching a sort of an agreement", even as tensions remain over key issues like the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to ANI, Awwad said, "Well, I think today, all eyes are in Islamabad to find out what will be the outcome of this discussion. For two reason: either the Iranian delegation which is composite of around 71 persons including the the Chairman of the Majlis-e-Shura in Iran, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. He is the one in charge of the discussion and he was given the full authorities of the government of Iran to continue the discussion; either he should be able to reach to an agreement or pull out of that agreement." He added that the presence of senior American leadership reflects similar seriousness from Washington. "So I think the American also, led by their Vice President himself, including Witkoff and Kushner also, and a huge American delegation give you an indication that both sides are serious about reaching a sort of an agreement," he said. Responding to concerns about the fragile situation and disagreements, particularly regarding the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Awwad linked the current tensions to broader geopolitical developments. "See, before the war on, there was no question of this Strait of Hormuz. Strait of Hormuz was open, there was no need for the discussion, there was no need for this war. And Iran have agreed for the nuclear issues to deal with the United States and the enriched uranium to be downgraded and that they have agreed on that on Geneva. But yet the United States went for a war only because of the Prime Minister of Israel dragged the United States President into this war," he said. He further claimed that growing global pressure and domestic political challenges for US President Donald Trump have influenced Washington's approach." Now, with the global pressure on the United States and President Trump falling popularity in the ground and in US and the pressure increasing on him, definitely he realized that closing of Strait of Hormuz was not a good indication and that was in the hands of the Iranian, which is partially closed," Awwad stated. He added, "And now he's focusing mainly on the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Nothing else he was talking about: the uranium issues, the regime change, because militarily, they have failed to achieve their aim." On reports suggesting Iran may have difficulty locating seas mines in the Strait, Awwad dismissed the claims as strategic messaging. "No, I think Iran already made it very clear that it is partially closed. Definitely they know where about. But I think that's also a pressure tactic on the United States that they should be able to reach to a sort of an agreement," he said. He also criticized Washington's negotiating style, adding, "United States is in a very short temper, President Trump, he wanted immediate answer from the Iranian. Do it or die, that's his policy. He is bullying all every country he discussed with." (ANI)
TOKYO, Apr 10 (News On Japan) - Heavy oil prices have doubled over the past six months, placing mounting pressure on Japans green tea producers and transport sectors as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on April 10th that the government will release an additional 20 days worth of national oil reserves in an effort to ease supply bottlenecks.

Uncertainty remains over whether tankers can safely pass through key maritime routes, raising concerns about stable fuel supply, as Takaichi emphasized that while Japan has secured sufficient overall volumes, distribution has not reached all sectors evenly.

Takaichi said: "We have heard concerns regarding the supply of heavy oil needed for green tea production entering its peak season, as well as diesel fuel for public infrastructure such as buses and trucks. We ask that bottlenecks in fuel supply be resolved as quickly as possible."

At production sites, the strain is already evident.

In Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture, the first harvest of the years green tea crop was underway ahead of the full-scale new tea season.

Takahide Otsuka, executive managing director of Otsuka Seicha, described the quality of the early harvest, saying: "It is sweet, rich, highly aromatic, and beautifully colored  a tea that possesses all the essential qualities."

However, as the one-month shipping season begins, concerns are growing over fuel costs.

Freshly picked tea leaves must be processed immediately through steaming to prevent oxidation, a process that relies heavily on fuel oil.

Otsuka explained: "We store 70,000 liters of heavy oil beneath this facility, but even that amount is used up within a week at this factory."

Heavy oil prices, which stood at 100 yen per liter in autumn 2025, have surged to 200 yen per liter, doubling in just half a year.

As a result, fuel expenses for the remaining three weeks of the tea season have ballooned from 21 million yen to 42 million yen.

Otsuka said: "War is beyond our control, but there is no doubt we are affected by it. Tea buds continue to grow, so there is no time to wait."

In addition to supply bottlenecks, crude oil prices remain elevated. Amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding ceasefire negotiations, futures prices temporarily climbed to the 102-dollar-per-barrel range.

Persistently high energy costs are also expected to weigh further on households.

Nozomu Mori, chairman of the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan, warned: "As early as around June, electricity bills could rise due to the situation in the Middle East."

Prices for liquefied natural gas, used as fuel for thermal power generation, have also surged, raising the likelihood of higher electricity bills in the summer when demand increases due to air conditioning use.

Even as the government proceeds with releasing oil reserves, there is little indication that elevated energy prices will ease, signaling increasingly difficult conditions for both businesses and households across Japan.

Source: TBS
TOKYO, Apr 10 (News On Japan) - Members of the globally renowned hard rock band Deep Purple paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on April 10th during their visit to Japan.

Takaichi, who has publicly declared herself a longtime fan of the band, welcomed the group by presenting a pair of drumsticks and telling them, "You are my god." She also shared personal anecdotes, recalling that she played keyboard in a Deep Purple cover band during her junior high school years and later took up the drums while attending university.

The meeting offered a rare glimpse into the prime ministers musical background, highlighting her long-standing admiration for the band.

The visiting members, listed in seating order, included Ian Paice, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Don Airey, and Simon McBride.

Source: TBS
TOKYO, Apr 10 (News On Japan) - A 49-year-old former plumber was arrested on suspicion of theft after allegedly stealing metal plumbing valves from a public park restroom in Soka, Saitama Prefecture, on April 8th.

The suspect, identified as Kyuichi Oba, is accused of stealing four metal flush valves, with a total value of approximately 100,000 yen.

According to police, officers on patrol noticed Oba exiting a womens restroom with a backpack that appeared unusually swollen. When questioned, he reportedly admitted, "I stole the valves from the toilet."

Similar thefts have been occurring across Tokyo, where authorities say 22 flush valves have been stolen from 10 parks since March.

During questioning, Oba stated that he had repeated similar acts around 70 to 80 times, prompting the Metropolitan Police Department to investigate possible links to the broader series of incidents.

Source: FNN
TOKYO, Apr 11 (News On Japan) - A growing shortage of products derived from naphtha is beginning to affect everyday industries, as instability surrounding supply routes linked to tensions involving Iran raises concerns across Japans economy.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, remains effectively constrained amid ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran, placing pressure on supplies of naphtha, a petroleum product essential for manufacturing plastics and other materials widely used in daily life.

At a logistics industry exhibition recently held in Osaka through April, around 420 companies showcased products aimed at improving productivity, including lightweight pallets made from expanded polystyrene. These pallets, significantly lighter than conventional ones, offer cost advantages for air transport. However, the material used in such products is derived from naphtha, highlighting the sectors exposure to upstream supply risks.

While some companies report that they are still able to procure raw materials, rising costs tied to energy inputs and feedstocks are already becoming a burden. Naphtha, produced from crude oil, is used to create a wide range of petrochemical products, and Japan has historically relied on the Middle East for roughly 40% of its supply. The current geopolitical situation has raised concerns about supply stability.

The impact is also being felt in packaging operations. Stretch films used to secure cargo on palletsalso derived from naphthahave seen price increases, with some products rising from under 10,000 yen per roll to well above that level, with further increases expected. Companies are attempting to offset costs by using machinery to stretch film more efficiently, but concerns remain over stable supply.

Industry observers describe the petrochemical supply chain as a river, with naphtha at its source. When naphtha is cracked at high temperatures, it produces base chemicals such as ethylene and toluene, which then flow downstream into a wide array of intermediate and end-use products, including plastics and fibers. Disruptions at the upstream level are now beginning to ripple through the system.

Data gathered by the program indicates that at least six out of ten domestic naphtha cracking plants are either reducing output or adjusting operations due to supply constraints. While the government maintains that overall supply is sufficient, citing stockpiles and alternative imports, the effects are unevenly distributed across industries.

On the ground, shortages are becoming acute. Yokoyama Naoki, who runs a painting business in Tokyo, says that thinnerused to dilute paint and clean toolshas become increasingly difficult to obtain. Prices have surged by as much as 75%, and in some cases, products are no longer available at all. "If we run out, we cant work," Yokoyama said, noting that even large home improvement stores are out of stock.

A paint manufacturer in Fukuoka Prefecture reports similar challenges, with some raw materials expected to run out as early as next month. Paint products, many of which rely on naphtha-derived solvents, are used in a wide range of applications, from construction to automotive and appliances. The company says it has received daily notices of price hikes from suppliers, with increases ranging from 30% to over 50%.

According to a survey conducted by an industry association in the Kanto region, approximately 70% of respondents reported being unable to secure necessary raw materials in April. Some solvents have already been unavailable since early March, placing manufacturers in what they describe as an extremely severe situation.

The government attributes some of the disruption to bottlenecks in distribution rather than a complete breakdown in supply, noting that while upstream production has declined, overall supply volumes have been maintained by reducing exports. However, manufacturers and wholesalers dispute this characterization, saying that they are simply unable to procure the quantities they need.

Thinner manufacturers report that raw material deliveries have dropped to roughly half of normal levels, and in some cases have stopped entirely since late March. Companies have been relying on existing inventories to maintain shipments, but some are now considering temporary shutdowns as supplies run dry.

To mitigate the situation, the government has announced plans to release an additional 20 days worth of national oil reserves in early May and to increase imports from regions outside the Middle East. It also claims that, in total, supply equivalent to four months of domestic demand has been secured, with the possibility of extending inventories of intermediate products to over six months.

However, experts caution that aggregate supply figures do not guarantee availability of specific products. Because petrochemical production yields a fixed mix of outputs, it is difficult to increase supply of individual chemicals in isolation. The complexity of the supply chain means that shortages can emerge in specific segments even when overall supply appears sufficient.

With approximately 20% of global oil flows affected by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, sourcing alternative supplies remains a significant challenge. While imports from North America, Africa, and other regions are being explored, experts warn that replacing lost volumes is not straightforward given tight global supply-demand conditions.

Even if access through the Strait is restored, damage to infrastructure and production facilities in the Middle East could delay a full recovery for several months. As a result, calls are growing for more efficient energy use and reduced reliance on petrochemical products.

The voices emerging from affected businesses underscore the severity of the situation. While the government maintains that supply is secure at a macro level, conditions on the ground suggest a more complex and uneven reality, with shortages and price increases already disrupting operations across multiple sectors.

Source: TBS
Philip Morris International (PMI) used its participation in GITEX Africa 2026 to advance a vision of healthcare transformation premised not on technological novelty, but on measurable outcomes at scale. Speaking at a panel on stimulating innovation for better health results, Taylan Suer, Managing Director of Philip Morris Maghreb, argued that the central challenge of health innovation today is not creating new solutions but designing systems capable of translating scientific advances into population-level impact  rapidly and equitably.

Suer highlighted a structural tension that he described as one of the defining paradoxes of modern healthcare: innovation tends to widen inequalities before it narrows them, because access, affordability and infrastructure lag behind discovery. In his view, the true measure of successful innovation is how quickly it can reach the populations most in need  and that requires not just science, but intelligent regulation and effective adoption frameworks. He called for deepened collaboration between public institutions, regulators and the private sector as the only way to close that gap at pace.

PMIs own strategic transformation served as the practical backdrop for these arguments. The company has invested over 16 billion dollars in smoke-free product development, and those products now account for more than 40 percent of its global revenues. Suer presented this as evidence that science-led innovation, when coupled with coherent policy engagement, can drive real behavioral change: 43 million adult smokers have transitioned away from cigarettes using PMIs alternative products. The companys framework rests on three levers  prevention, cessation support and risk reduction through combustion-free nicotine alternatives.

Artificial intelligence featured prominently in Suers account of PMIs operational evolution. He described AI as a force multiplier across the healthcare value chain, accelerating drug discovery, optimizing clinical trial design, enabling AI-assisted diagnostics and personalizing behavioral interventions. Within PMI, AI is being deployed to build a centralized scientific management system that aggregates all research data, protocols and historical results, substantially reducing preparation timelines and enabling faster, more rigorous decision-making across scientific programs.

On Africa specifically, Suer identified a rare opportunity for the continent to bypass incremental improvement and adopt transformative health architectures from the outset  digital-first health delivery, AI-assisted diagnostics and smarter regulatory frameworks built for innovation rather than against it. Morocco, he suggested, is already laying the groundwork for this transition, combining institutional openness, constructive policy dialogue and a pragmatic approach to public-private partnership that positions it as a credible model for the broader African health innovation agenda.
Governments worldwide are racing to find a solution to contend with the severe energy shortages brought about by the war in Iran and the ongoing Middle East conflict. For some, this means accelerating the deployment of renewable energy, which is likely to be a longer-term solution. For others, it means relying on stockpiles of crude, while the oil trade remains limited. And, for many, it means using any type of energy available, including coal.

Several countries have reduced their reliance on coal in recent years in favour of oil, gas, and renewable energy sources. This has supported the beginnings of a global green transition, decreasing dependence on the highly polluting fossil fuel as the cost of the production of other energy sources, such as solar and wind energy, has fallen. However, due to energy shortages and rising fuel prices, many countries could come to rely on coal to meet their energy demand once again.

The U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East have caused the biggest oil disruption in history, according to an analysis by consulting firm Rapidan Energy. A large proportion of the worlds oil supply has been disrupted for over a month, following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz  a key trade corridor connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The strait is used to transport around 20 percent of the worlds oil when fully operational, but only a small fraction of that has passed through the waters in recent weeks.

While many governments release supplies of stockpiled crude and ask consumers and businesses to cut energy use, some are also discussing restarting coal plants to meet demand as they face energy shortages. Increasing coal production is seen as a relatively cheap and fast way to tackle the shortage and high price of oil and gas.

While several countries have decreased their reliance on gas, others have used the dirtiest fossil fuel to meet the growing consumer demand for energy, particularly in Southeast Asia. Global coal consumption has risen by around 1.3 billion tons since 2020, to 8.8 billion tons. This has been driven by countries such as China and India, as well as through geopolitical challenges, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which led to the introduction of sanctions on Russian energy and drove Europe to stop buying Russian gas.

Even with world leaders being increasingly aware of the risks associated with coal production and use, many are still turning to the fuel when shortages arise, as the renewable energy capacity of most countries remains underdeveloped. With around 20 percent of the natural gas supply unable to move through the Strait of Hormuz, several countries in Asia and Europe are expected to increase their coal use.

Asia has been disproportionately affected by the shortages due to its heavy reliance on Middle Eastern countries for oil and gas. This has led Japan, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and Taiwan to increase their use of coal, or to consider doing so imminently. Indonesia, the worlds largest coal exporter, is currently prioritising domestic use over exports, which could contribute to tighter regional supplies and higher coal prices.

In South Korea, which has pledged to retire most coal plants by 2040 and halve its emissions by 2035, the government has been allowing most coal use when air pollution is low, a nd LNG is in short supply. The government has been forced to turn to coal at times due to the slow deployment of new renewable energy capacity, as green energy provides just 10 percent of the countrys electricity in 2024, compared to the global average of 32 percent.

Meanwhile, in Europe, where most countries have significantly reduced their coal production and usage, some countries anticipate having to use coal once again. The Italian government recently decided to postpone the closure of its coal-fired power plants for 13 years, to 2038, marking a U-turn from previous climate pledges. Meanwhile, Germany is deciding whether it will need to turn back on some of its idled coal plants. However, governments across Europe have yet to signal an imminent shift back to coal due to the Middle East conflict, suggesting that most will look for alternative solutions before returning to a reliance on coal, which would compromise their climate goals.

Nevertheless, if some countries around the globe are forced to shift reliance on coal once again, it could significantly hinder the global climate progress of recent years. Turning coal plants back on could undo much of the decarbonisation progress that has been achieved over the last decade and reduce the contribution of cleaner energy sources to the overall energy demand of several countries.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are among the top 10 countries in the world with the poorest air quality, according to the findings published by a Swiss research firm. More broadly, Central Asia experienced a sharp increase in pollution in 2025.

According to IQAirs World Air Quality Report for 2025, the air in Tajikistan contained an average of 57.3 micrograms of PM2.5 particles per cubic meter (g/m), an amount 11.5 times higher than the World Health Organizations guidelines for acceptable air quality. Tajikistans general air quality ranked as the third worst in the world behind Pakistan and Bangladesh. The 2025 survey measured air quality in 143 countries around the globe.

Uzbekistan ranked 10th in the 2025 survey with a PM2.5 concentration exceeding WHO guidelines by 7.6 times. Kyrgyzstan had the 19th-worst air quality, and Kazakhstan ranked 29th. Turkmenistan, which ranked 26th in 2024, was dropped from the latest list due to a lack of reliable data.

All Central Asian states experienced significant year-on-year increases in pollution. Tajikistan had the largest increase, registering 57.3 PM2.5/g/m last year, compared to 46.3/g/m in 2024. Uzbekistan had the smallest increase, with 31.4 PM2.5/g/m recorded in 2024 and 38.1 PM2.5/g/m last year.

PM2.5 is defined as fine particulate aerosol particles measuring up to 2.5 microns in diameter. PM2.5 are produced by vehicle exhaust, heavy industrial processes, power generation, agriculture, construction, and coal and wood burning. Natural sources of PM2.5 include dust storms, forest fires and volcanic eruptions.

In the Caucasus, Azerbaijan was the only state to show slight improvement in air quality. Accordingly, it moved down in the 2025 IQAir ranking to 59th, after placing 49th the prior year. Armenia (24th) had the worst air quality in the Caucasus in 2025, registering 26.9 PM2.5/g/m. Georgia placed 56th in the 2025 list.

The survey found that air quality declined around the globe. Wildfires, bolstered by climate change, played a primary role in degrading global air quality in 2025, the report stated. Record emissions from Europe and Canada contributed to a global release of approximately 1,380 megatons of carbon from biomass burning.

According to IQAir, only 14 percent of cities surveyed met or exceeded WHO standards for acceptable air quality. The 2024 survey showed 17 percent of cities met or exceeded those standards. In compiling the 2025 report, IQAir drew on data collected in 9,446 cities in 143 countries, regions, and territories.

The 25 most polluted cities in 2025 were concentrated in three countries: Pakistan, India and China. However, Karaganda, Kazakhstan, was 26th on the list, and Ferghana, Uzbekistan, was 30th.

By Eurasianet

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com


No Tax Oregon, Rep. Diehl, Rep. Yunker Launch No Tax Clawback Referendum

Hours after Governor Kotek signed SB 1507 into law, petitioners filed to refer the $300 million tax increase gut-punch to voters.

By NO Tax Oregon, Press Release

SALEM, OR  No Tax Oregon, Representative Ed Diehl, and Representative Dwayne Yunker are launching No Tax Clawback, a referendum petition to give voters a voice on the $300 million tax increase gut-punch to small businesses and working families. The filing comes mere hours after Governor Kotek signed SB 1507  the federal tax code disconnect bill  into law.

Representative Ed Diehl previously announced his intention to refer the bill to the voters in November. OFC welcomes the effort and No Tax Oregon, the successful tax reform project, will once again take part in assisting with the signature gathering effort. Oregonians will have until early June  the constitutionally allotted 90 days  to collect roughly 80,000 signatures to refer SB 1507 to the November 2026 ballot.

Lawmakers passed SB 1507 on February 25, yet Speaker Julie Fahey, Senate President Rob Wagner, and Governor Kotek used procedural gimmicks to delay signing SB 1507, effectively cutting Oregonians constitutionally allotted timeframe in half. Despite the delay, petitioners were ready to file and did so within hours of the Governor signing.

The No Tax Clawback Referendum specifically refers to voters provisions of SB 1507 that were set to harm small businesses and working families the most: the auto loan interest payment deduction and the accelerated business depreciation deductions.

Representative Ed Diehl, a Chief Petitioner on the No Tax Clawback Referendum, emphasized the impact SB 1507 has on Oregonians and the need to refer the bill to voters:

Oregonians are taxed enough already. This $300 million tax increase hurts small businesses and working families at a time when we must make Oregon more affordable, not more expensive. SB 1507 denies businesses key federal tax relief on equipment investments. Instead of supporting job creators, it protects government spending at the expense of Oregonians.

Representative Dwayne Yunker, the second Chief Petitioner, noted Oregons pattern of treating its businesses poorly:

SB 1507 is just another attack on Oregon businesses. The Governor and her allies keep raising the burden while businesses pack up and leave. At some point, you have to ask, when do they start listening?

Nick Stark, Executive Director of OFC and the third Chief Petitioner, reiterated OFC and No Tax Oregons commitment to protecting Oregon taxpayers:

Oregon Freedom Coalition and No Tax Oregon have proven their ability to defend Oregon taxpayers when Salem imposes its will on their wallets. We will give voters a voice on SB 1507, which essentially amounts to small business robbery. This bill will face public scrutiny, and it will be on the ballot in November alongside the same politicians who think they do not have to be held accountable to the people of Oregon.

No Tax Oregon is taking volunteer sign-ups for the referendum petition. Volunteers are expected to begin collecting signatures as soon as possible, with No Tax Oregons Sign Across Oregon event taking place April 25-26. For more information, visit NoTaxOR.com.


By Lars Larson

NW and national radio host,

The Northwest Nonsense

Slow learners seems the best way to describe democrat politicians in Salem and Olympia.

Governor Bob Ferguson signed Washingtons first income tax in almost a hundred years, knowing the public overwhelmingly hates it.

So, the so-called millionaire tax faces immediate challenges in both the courts and the threat to take it to a public vote.

Oregon did the same, with lawmakers passing an overwhelmingly unpopular multi billion dollar tax hike, which citizens forced to the ballot with signatures gathered in less than six weeks.

Lawmakers in both states wrote their budgets assuming theyd get the new tax money even though a bit of common sense would tell you that money aint coming.

Like I said, slow learners.

But its really worse than that because so called legislators in both state capitols are telling citizens they dont care what the public wantsthey plan to do it anyway.

Brings a whole new meaning to the title representative

Thats the Rose City Rap. Join me at noon on KXL for 4 hours of Honestly provocative talk. Im Lars Larson
Aguakan moving forward with phase 3 of Puerto Morelos wastewater project

Puerto Morelos, Q.R.  Aguakan says they are moving forward with phase 3 of the Zetina Gasca wastewater project. The finished project will strengthen the health infrastructure in Puerto Morelos.

Aguakan reports 70 percent progress on the Zetina Gasca project, a strategic project with an investment of over 34 million pesos.

April 10, 2026.

Project construction began in December 2025 and aims to further optimize wastewater conveyance and treatment processes, as well as strengthen the operational efficiency and sustainability of the system in the city.

For its development, the project is structured into three main components:

In the first project, work is currently underway on the Zetina Gasca Outfall which involves the installation of more than 2,500 linear meters of 20-inch and 6-inch pipe.

Over 2,400 meters have already been laid along Timon Avenue. This phase, scheduled for completion in May, will channel the water flow to the Villas Morelos IV Wastewater Treatment Plant for reinjection into the subsoil at a depth of more than 100 meters.

This is part of a sustainable process that closes the water cycle and returns water to the aquifer in a responsible and sustainable manner.

The second maneuver corresponds to the construction of a sump in the Zetina Gasca neighborhood, which shows significant progress in its civil, mechanical and electrical components, consolidating itself as a key facility for the comprehensive management of wastewater.

Finally, as a third project, the construction of a collector in the aforementioned neighborhood is planned, intended for the collection and transfer of wastewater to the sump, which allows for continued proper conveyance within the system and contributes to the operational and functional continuity of the process.

The Puerto Morelos project is expected to be finished in May 2026.

This project strengthens the water infrastructure of Puerto Morelos and continues to expand the sewer systems capacity to meet its growth. It is being planned in stages and in coordination with the authorities, stated Jorge Rosas Ortega, Works Coordinator for Aguakan in Puerto Morelos.

The completed project will benefit more than 11,000 residents in Puerto Morelos.
SSC participates in Riviera Maya search for overboard cruise ship crew member

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Local authorities participated in the search for a crew member who went overboard their ship Friday. The cruise ship worker reportedly went overboard near Punta Allen off the coast of Tulum Friday afternoon.

The Playa del Carmen government participated in the search through the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) in response to reports. In coordination with the Mexican Navy, personnel began an aerial search and rescue operation for the cruise ship crew member.

Mexico picked up search efforts after the cruise ship was unable to locate the overboard crew member. April 10, 2026.

The crew member fell overboard from the cruise ship approximately 11 nautical miles off the coast of Punta Allen.

Following the report, response protocols were immediately activated, deploying maritime units and the Albatros helicopter from the Secretariat of Citizen Security of Playa del Carmen, the government reported.

Local PDC officials conducted aerial surveillance and rescue support with specialized patrol personnel.

Playa del Carmen personnel searched the Riviera Maya-Tulum coast for the missing crew member Friday. April 10, 2026.

The incident happened Friday on a Norwegian Viva cruise as the ship was passing the coast of Quintana Roo. The person overboard is reported to be an Indian man, a chef from the food and beverage staff of the ship.

Guests on board reported their ship turning around to circle the area during a search that lasted approximately one hour before they continued on their journey. From there, the Navy of Mexico took over the search.

Guests from a different cruise ship immediately following the Norwegian Viva also reported circling the area in search of the overboard crew member before continuing their journey south.

The SSC reported no finding during their Friday search. April 10, 2026.

As of Friday afternoon, the SSC of Playa del Carmen said the search continues, prioritizing the location of the reported individual. As of now, there is no information confirming their whereabouts.
Suspected extortionist arrested for threats to Cancun business owners

Cancun, Q.R.  An alleged extortionist has been arrested after a Cancun business owner reported him. The man was reported after threatening the owner for a 5,000 peso payment per week.

Police have identified the alleged extortionist as Rafael N who they say, threatened two people on March 4.

The now detained man is accused of events that occurred on March 4 of this year, when he went to a commercial establishment located on 145th Street in Supermanzana 102 on a motorcycle, where he allegedly demanded payment of the so-called right of floor from the victims, police said.

The next day, he returned to the place on the same motorcycle and reiterated his demand for 5,000 pesos a week under threat of attacking the business in case of non-compliance.

The owners of the business filed a complaint which lead to his arrest by members of the Investigation Police.
Two state highway bypass projects advancing to improve traffic

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) is making progress on a bypass. The completed project of approximately 30 kilometers will expedite traffic toward Merida.

SICT head in Quintana Roo, Guido Mendiburu Solis, reported that they are in the process of negotiating with ejidos for the release of the right of way necessary for the work.

The new bypass would connect from the crossroads to Chunhuhub and Polyuc until it exits behind the community of Dziuche, thus avoiding Jose Maria Morelos.

He explained that one of the main objectives is to eliminate traffic through an area where significant accidents have occurred. He noted that they are hoping to complete the land acquisition process this year with the goal of starting construction in 2027.

This project is in addition to Cancun bypass project by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat). Last week, they launched a public consultation for the Cancun South Bypass project.

That project will improve traffic and connectivity between the Cancun International Airport and the new Multimodal Freight Station of the Maya Train.

The Cancun bypass project.

This project involves the construction of a 15.3-kilometer long bypass to optimize regional mobility by directly linking Federal Highway 180 (Cancun-Merida) with Federal Highway 307, which connects to Playa del Carmen.
Sign up for the Surge, the newsletter that covers the most important political nonsense of the week, delivered to your inbox every Saturday.

Welcome to this weeks edition of the Surge, Slates politics newsletter funded by a new toll on the Strait of Hormuz. The new revenue stream will allow us to branch out from the newsletter business and into the product of the future: ballistic missiles.

We never thought wed say this but: Congress really needs to come back. Not that they would adequately provide adult supervision to Donald Trump, but he seems to go especially loopy when he has the town to himself. Maybe some more dinner companions would help? Should he get a cat?

Lets get into it.

1. Donald Trump

The dangerous escalation embedded in TACO.



The week revolved around one of the most sickening things Trump has ever said. A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again, Trump posted ahead of his Tuesday night deadline for Iran to come to the table. I dont want that to happen, but it probably will. The threat of civilization-ending war crimes prompted dozens of Democrats to call for his removal from office and loud rebukes from key voices in the MAGA movement (as well as all generally sane people). Shortly before the deadline, though, Trump called off his bombardment and agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran to attempt to negotiate a deal. That ceasefire has been proceeding delicately.

The Surge was grateful in this case that Trump always chickens out (TACO). But for a U.S. president to even threaten such overt war crimes, and to set up his decision for an 8 p.m. prime-time special, shows how hes rebranded the country into a rogue state. We should only expect more maniacal threats as time goes on. The idea that Trump will chicken out from his wild threats is so built into markets and diplomacy that he needs to resort to progressively more extreme threats in order to get the reaction he needs to change coursetypically a market downturn, or a panicked response from his counterparties. There are still nearly three years left in his term. That is not a formula for civilizational security, and whatnot.

2. J.d. vance

Man, imagine foreign powers interfering in the Hungarian election 

The vice president hasnt been his trash-talking, omnipresent, ever-tweeting self since Trump initiated the Iran war. Vance was the senior administration figure most opposed to the war, as a big New York Times story this weekfor which Vance shouldve been given a bylineexplained in detail. As a pick-me-up present to himself, then, Vance spent spring break in Hungary this week to campaign for Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of Sundays election, in which Orban is trailing in the polls. Orban has a cult-like following among the American small-l post-liberal right, who are willing to overlook his weak economic performance and servility to Russia because he wants people to have more babies, and seem to look at his corruption and democratic backsliding with great envy/inspiration.

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Its uncommon practice, to put it lightly, for the administration to make an endorsement in an allys election and send its No. 2 official to the campaign trail. Even more brazen, though, was how J.D. Vance accused other countriesother allies!of inappropriately interfering in Hungarys election. Speaking of the European Union, Vance said that what has happened in the midst of this election campaign is one of the worst examples of foreign election interference that Ive ever seen or ever even read about, accusing the E.U. of economic sabotage against Orban (when really the E.U. props up Orbans crappy economy). He took shots at Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and got Trump to dial into the rally (after multiple missed calls). Vance, of course, vehemently denied that he was interfering in any way.

3. The MAGAsphere

Revolt among the influencers.

Trumps threats to destroy Iranian infrastructure and civilization sparked an open revolt among voices in the MAGAsphere. Tucker Carlson, a consistent critic of Trumps interventionist streak, warned that the president was leaning toward nuclear war and urged military officers to refuse his orders. Infowars host Alex Jones asked, How do we 25th Amendment his ass? Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and conservative conspiracist Candace Owens also called for Trump to be removed from office, with Owens calling Trump a genocidal lunatic and calling on Congress and the military to intervene.

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And yet, were loath to call this a schism in the presidents base, or suggest that the bottom is falling out. Instead, these influencers and conservative media voices are exposing why they had been so loyal before reaching this breaking point. Beyond these MAGA gatekeepers, actual Republican voters are still supportive of Trumps war and trust him on the issue. Assuming (assuming!) Trump finds a way to wrap up the war in the near future, his base will remain intact, and these MAGA voices will mostly find their way back to Trumpbecause thats where their audience will still be.

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4. Pope Leo XIV

War on the Vatican next?

Joining the ad hoc coalition between Democrats and some MAGA influencers in condemning Trumps existential threats against Iran was a certain White Sox fan who runs the Catholic Church. Today, as we all know, there was this threat against all the people of Iran, Pope Leo XIV said Tuesday. This is truly unacceptable. He said these words only a couple of days after his Easter homily, in which he warned against the desire for domination. The pope has generally not been shy in his criticism of Trump, either over his imperialist ambitions or his treatment of immigrants.

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Some reporting later in the week, too, suggested that the White House hasnt exactly been willing to let this slide. In January, following Trumps capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Leo had been critical, saying that a diplomacy that promotes dialog and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force, by either individuals or groups of allies. According to a report in the Free Press, the remarks prompted Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby to summon the Vaticans ambassador to the U.S. to the Pentagon and upbraid him, warning him that the United States has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world and that the Catholic Church had better take its side. The Pentagon described this and other lurid reports of the meeting as highly exaggerated and distorted. But the Vatican nevertheless was spooked enough that Leo opted against returning to his home country for the America 250 celebration this summer.

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5. Todd Blanche

Who loves Trump enough to be his next attorney general?

Will He Or Wont He (Eradicate Persia)? wasnt the only game show Trump debuted this week. The AGeepstakes is going strong, as D.C.s most broken masochists jockey for a chance to have their lives ruined by becoming Trumps attorney general. In the mix we have: Trumps Environmental Protection Agency Director Lee Zeldin, whos been dutifully performing the work of reintroducing poisons to the environment; Todd Blanche, Trumps former personal attorney, who is performing the job on an acting basis; Jeanine Pirro, the exFox News host and D.C. U.S. attorney; and Harmeet Dhillon, whos worked hard on behalf of Trump to target civil rights as the lead of the DOJs Civil Rights Division.

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The most memorable AGeepstakes moment of the week came in a Blanche press conference. Blanche, who was confirmed as deputy attorney general last year, said any task that Trump offered going forward would be fine with him. If President Trump chooses to keep me as acting, thats an honor. If he chooses to nominate me, thats an honor. If he chooses to nominate somebody else and I go back to being the DAG, thats an honor. Then: 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.  Read that one more time, then think about how Blanche might still be the most reasonable of all of these candidates, then go take a cold shower. Pirro, meanwhile, has some catching up to do. In a recent New York magazine profile, she said of Trump: I grew toI dont want to use the word loveto really respect and like him. If you really want the job, maybe use the word love next time!

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6. steve hilton

Trump ruins the fun in California.

Democrats, who can only make themselves feel alive by panicking about worst-case scenarios, have been fantasizing over a juicy one in California. Given that every ambitious Democrat and their mother was splitting up the Democratic vote in the gubernatorial primary, the possibility existed that two Republican candidatesBritish-born policy adviser and Fox News host Steve Hilton and MAGA Sheriff Chad Biancomight advance from the states jungle primary system on to Novembers general election.

Fortunately for Democrats, Donald Trump has stepped in to soothe their nerves. The president endorsed Hilton this week, which is likely to ensure Hilton earns a spot on the ballot in November while sending Bianco tumbling. That frees up the second November ballot spotand, likely, the governorshipfor whichever Democrat emerges from the peloton ahead of the June 2 primary. Democrats probably would have manipulated this outcome on their own, by running ad campaigns directing Republican voters to close ranks behind one of the two GOP candidates. Trump may have saved them that dirty work, thoughand plenty of money. So, say it all at once, California Democrats: I love you, sir.

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7. melania trump

An out-of-the-blue statement.

You know who doesnt like talking in public? Melania Trump. You know what the White House doesnt like talking about? Jeffrey Epstein. You know what happened on Thursday? Melania Trump delivered a statement at the White House about Jeffrey Epstein. No one seemed to call for this or expect it or know entirely why she was doing it, but so she did. She denied that she was friends with Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, and that Epstein introduced her to Trump, and said that the lies linking me with them needed to end today. She further 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.

We dont know if theres a story in the works, or some legal issue, or what. But the White House had finally gotten the Epstein story to cool down after a yearall it took was the snap decision to launch a major war in the Middle Eastand here goes the first lady breathing new life into what her husband has described as a hoax. So, props to her! Better hold those hearings, Congress. The first lady insists.
Nature smiled upon the opening day of the 2026 season of harness racing at Harrahs Philadelphia on Friday, April 10, with a cloudless sky and pleasant temperatures in the 60s (Fahrenheit) greeting the trotters and pacers at the southeast Pennsylvania oval, which will mark its 20th anniversary on Sept. 12.

The first-day features were a pair of $16,667 contests for on-the-improve horses. The event on the pace, for females, went to the Tall Dark Stranger three-year-old With The Fur, who won a Liberty Bell Stakes in her last start of 2025 on Nov. 6, and came right back in top fettle in her 2026 bow. George Napolitano Jr. guided her to the front and the pair held sway the rest of the journey to take victory by three-quarters of a length over favoured pocket-sitter Turn Up The Music while equalling her mark of 1:54.3 for trainer Ron Burke (whos locally earned 10 training titles; Napolitano has eight) and owner Howard Taylor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

On the trot, the four-year-old Six Pack mare Mamy Wata benefitted from a cagey drive by Tim Tetrick (winner of 11 track titles, including the last five), sitting third on the rail and then able to come up the inside as two-holer Just Teasing moved outside to challenge in the lane. The winning margin was, again, three parts of a length, with Mamy Wata edging Just Teasing for trainer Ron Coyne Jr. and Yardville, New Jersey owner Paul Minore while posting a clocking of 1:56, missing her mark by a tick.

Tim Tetrick was in a hurry to begin defense of the Philly driving crown, winning four times on the afternoon's 14-race card. Mark Herschberger visited Victory Lane twice; no other driver, and no trainer, had more than one triumph.

Shaun Callahan, 44, a member of the famous Delmarva racing family which also races at Harrahs Philadelphia, passed away this past Monday. The Harrahs horsepeople gathered together in the winner's circle in the traditional horseshoe configuration to honour his memory.

Racing resumes on Sunday at 12:40 p.m. with talented pacers of both the developing and fast-class variety in the feature spotlight. Harrahs Philadelphia will race a basic schedule of Thursday and Friday at 12:25 p.m. and Sunday at 12:40 p.m.; one variation will come on Kentucky Derby Saturday (May 2), when the track will host live racing at 12:40 p.m. after being dark the Thursday before. Free Philly program pages will be available at phha.org.

(PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)
Antognoni S put on a display of power on Friday night (April 10) that must have the rest of the older trotting division extremely concerned, as the Ron Burke trainee overwhelmed his foes in a dazzling seasonal debut while taking the $41,667 first leg of the JL Cruze at The Meadowlands.

When asked if Antognoni S is the best trotter in the United States, winning driver and co-owner Yannick Gingras said, I own a piece of this one, so, of course, I would love for that to be true. [2025 Dan Patch Trotter of the Year] Lexus Kody is still the king. Hes the horse to beat, but this horse is really, really fast. Well find out if hes as good as Kody.

Lexus Kody also resides in the Burke barn, so the defending Dan Patch Trainer of the Year has a pair of older trotting aces in his care. 'Kody' qualifies on Saturday morning at The Big M.

Antognoni S, a six-year-old gelded son of Father Patrick-Bouncing Bax, sat in the three-hole in the early going behind Asteroid (Colin Kelly) and Bestfriend Volo (Joe Bongiorno), who raced one-two to the quarter and half in :27 and :56, respectively. Gingras moved Antognoni S off the rail at the five-eighths, sprinted up to go after the leader as three-quarters was timed in 1:24.1, then, in the blink of an eye, opened up a 2-1/2-length edge at the head of the stretch on the way to a thoroughly dominant 4-1/4-length romp in 1:51.1. Bestfriend Volo finished second with Asteroid third.

It was kind of the plan for me. I didnt want to race him too hard, said Gingras. I figured I wanted to get away close, then sit for a while. He can go so fast, hes hard to keep out. I love this horse.

Antognoni S raised his lifetime earnings to $765,725 after winning for the 23rd time in 45 tries. Gingras co-owns the trotter with Burke Racing Stable of Fredericktown, Pennsylvania, Weaver Bruscemi of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania and Fac Racing of Scarsdale, New York.

Antognoni S paid $2.20 to win as the overwhelming favourite in the 10-horse field.

The series is for winners over $10,500 USD in their last five starts or $50,000 USD life.

One shrewd player betting in Ontario had the lone winning ticket in the $1 Pick 8 and was rewarded with a payoff of $96,088. Before the start of the third race, the carryover of $61,106 motivated punters to pour $9,504 of new money into the pot for a total pool of $70,610. Had the winning wager been placed in the United States, the payout would have been $69,183, but with the conversion to Canadian funds, the payoff was far more impressive looking. Winners' odds for the sequence were 7-2, 9-5, 5-1, 2-1, 2-5, 4-1, 6-5 and 1-9.

The $1 Pick 8, which is available nightly on races three through 10, will be seeded with $50,000 USD once again by the wagers sponsor, Peter Kleinhans, for Saturday nights card.

Brett Beckwith was named The Big Ms Driver of the Week on the tracks pre-game simulcast show and has a leg up on taking the trophy again next week after taking four to victory lane. Geovany Hernandez and Burke led the trainers with a pair of victories apiece.

All-source handle on the 14-race program totalled $2,365,127 USD.

Racing resumes on Saturday at 6:35 p.m.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)
The Ontario Sired Spring Series began at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday, April 10 with trainer Jason Libby sending out a pair of upset winners to sweep the three-year-old pacing filly divisions.

The series is for three-year-olds that were non-winners of $30,000 in 2025.

Shuri, sent postward at odds of 9-1 off a two-month layoff, won the first $18,000 division with a late-closing effort for driver Tyler Borth, kicking home from fifth off final-turn cover to defeat 4-5 favourite Esmeralda Du Lac (Louis-Philippe Roy) and Beach Wiggle (Travis Cullen) by three-quarters of a length in a new lifetime mark of 1:55.2.

A runner-up to future Open-class winner Lets N Joy N in the Blizzard Series in her last start at the end of January, Shuri paid $20.80 to win in her return race. The Cattlewash-Merga Hanover filly, who is now three-for-15 lifetime, is owned by Robert Leblanc of New York City, New York, Pryde Stables of North York, Ont., and William Beattie of Toronto, Ont.

In her first pari-mutuel start from the Libby stable after last appearing in Blizzard action, Dreamfair Diamond shot through at the pylons off a three-hole trip for a 24-1 stunner in rein to Mark MacDonald. Another winning daughter by Cattlewash, she lowered her lifetime mark to 1:54.3 winning by 1-3/4 lengths over Playsomethingsweet (Jody Jamieson) and the late-closing 7-5 favourite, Angels Among Us (Travis Cullen).

A $2 win wager on Dreamfair Diamond returned $50.80. The filly out of Mellow Yellow won her career debut in late November at Mohawk and is now two-for-eight lifetime for owner John Lamers of Mount Brydges, Ont.

Chalk players rejoiced in the divisions for the trotting fillies as Elbows Up ($6.20) and Bella Chica ($5.40) delivered on their pari-mutuel promises.

Elbows Up kicked off her sophomore season on the right foot, winning her division in a career-best 1:57.2 for trainer Shawn Steacy after driver Billy Davis Jr. looped the 2-1 bettors' choice around the first-quarter leader Blue Rare (James MacDonald) and took off by three lengths. R Halo (Jody Jamieson) finished second over Blue Rare.

Elbows Up also won her freshman debut last July and was a runner-up twice all while facing Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots competition, but made breaks in her four other rookie starts. The Muscle Mass-Vegas Virgin filly is owned by Ontario's Doug Clark of Mississauga, Mark Steacy and Cara Steacy of Landsdowne, and Guy Haskell of Guelph.

Last year's Prospect Series divisional champion Bella Chica got back on the winning track after a pair of rough starts last month as the 8-5 favourite battled past front-stepper Upgrade through the final turn and pulled 1-1/4 lengths clear in deep stretch to win in a career-best 1:58.3 with James MacDonald catch-driving. Press On Ballykeel (Tyler Borth) edged out Upgrade (Todd Ratchford) for the runner-up honours.

Trainer Corrie German shares ownership of the homebred filly by Lookslikeachpndale out of Wheely Twicky with Brenda German of Clinton, Ont. In a dozen career starts, Bella Chica has won four times, with her Spring Series score marking her first race over the Campbellville, Ont oval.

The second leg for the filly pacers and trotters will take place next Friday, April 17 with the $40,000 (added) finals on Saturday, April 25. The male divisions for pacers and trotters will get underway on Saturday, April 11.

Friday's card also included the second leg of a Pop-Up Series for trotters that started for a purse of $10,000 or less in 2026 with winners over $75,000 in 2025-26 not eligible. Optional $12,500 claimers were also eligible. Masterwork ($3.60) was a repeat winner in this series, taking his $14,000 division by a nose over upset-minded Like Chaos in 1:55.3 for driver Louis-Philippe Roy and trainer Jean-Francois Maguire. Goober Smack ($10.50), a runner-up to Masterwork last week, defeated the other opening-leg winner Victor Invictus by a neck in 1:57.1 with Jody Jamieson driving for trainer Susie Kerwood.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada; photo of Dreamfair Diamond winning on April 10)
iPhone users are the target of a new scam.

The quickly spreading threat, detailed in a warning from data research site Consumer Affairs, uses messages  including fake Apple Pay fraud alerts  and high-pressure phone calls to trick victims into calling the scammers and giving away personal information with the goal of draining their bank accounts.

In one case, a victim reported receiving a text warning about a suspicious Apply Pay charge, urging her to call a number for help. When she did, she was connected with someone pretending to be an investigator.

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She was convinced to withdraw $15,000 from her bank account  but a teller recognized the scam and told her to hang up the call.

An Apple Pay scam is spreading quickly across the country. prima91  stock.adobe.com

The manipulative scammers use a sense of urgency and authority to take advantage of the fear that consumers have when presented with a suggestion of fraud, theft or legal trouble.

Typical alerts warn that a purchase was attempted or declined, an account is locked or under investigation, or immediate action is otherwise required.

Consumer Affairs warned that if potential victims call an attached phone number or click a provided link, theyll be connected to someone who is impersonating Apple Support, a bank, or sometimes even law enforcement.

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The scammer will claim your money is at risk and may have personal details about you that make it seem more legitimate, urging you to act immediately to protect your money.

Scammers are sending out fake Apple Pay fraud alerts in an effort to deceive victims. picsmart  stock.adobe.com

In many cases, victims are then instructed to move money to a safe account, withdraw cash, or send funds via Apple Pay, Apple Cash or a gift card.

The ultimate goal is to get the victim to authorize a payment themselves, because once they do, its often very difficult to recover, Consumer Affairs warned, noting that does not send unsolicited texts asking to call support or provide sensitive information..

Experts noted that there are clear red flags to watch out for with these types of scams, such as unexpected messages about Apple Pay activity, requests to call a number, pressure to act immediately, instructions to move money or lie to the bank, or requests for codes, passwords or personal information.

Victims are often instructed to move money to a safe account, withdraw cash, or send funds via Apple Pay, Apple Cash or a gift card. Daniel  stock.adobe.com

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If you receive a suspicious message, dont click any links or call the number. Instead, check your bank or Apple by contacting them through their official channels and check Apple Pay activity directly on your own device.

If you think youve been targeted, stop transactions immediately and notify your bank or card issuer.
Commentary: Working together for peace, prosperity across Taiwan Strait

Xinhua) 09:13, April 11, 2026

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.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
If Nigeria has been on your travel list, you may want to reconsider your plans, or at least for now. The U.S. government has issued an updated travel advisory urging Americans to reconsider or avoid travel to the country due to growing safety concerns, highlighting the risks travelers could face.

According to the U.S. State Department, Nigeria is currently under a Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory, with some regions designated Level 4: Do Not Travel due to serious threats such as terrorism, kidnapping, armed crime, and civil unrest. These warnings arent new, but recent developments have escalated concerns. In fact, the U.S. has authorized the departure of non-emergency embassy staff and their families from Abuja, signaling a deteriorating security situation.

So whats behind the advisory? The U.S. State Department points to a combination of risks. Violent crime, including armed robbery and carjacking, is common, and kidnappings for ransom occur frequently, sometimes targeting foreign travelers. Terrorist groups are also active in certain regions, with attacks possible in public places like markets, hotels, and transportation hubs. Add in civil unrest and limited access to reliable healthcare, and it becomes clear why officials are urging caution.

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Related: The U.S. Just Issued a Surprising Travel Advisory for This Popular European Destination

What to Do If You Already Have a Trip Booked

If youve already planned a trip to Nigeria, dont panic, but do act quickly and thoughtfully. First, check the flexibility of your flights and accommodations. Many airlines and hotels offer changes or cancellations in response to government advisories, especially when safety is involved.

Next, consider purchasing or reviewing your travel insurance policy. Some plans include cancel for any reason coverage, which can help you recoup costs if you decide not to travel. If your trip is essential, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which allows the U.S. Embassy to contact you in the event of an emergency.

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Its also wise to stay updated through official channels and monitor local news. Conditions can change quickly, and having the latest information is key to making informed decisions.

Related: U.S. Ups Travel Advisory for Popular Spring Break Destination and I'd Honestly Reconsider Traveling There

Should You Still Go?

While not all of Nigeria is equally dangerous, the advisory highlights that risks can vary widely by region and can change rapidly. For most leisure travelers, the current recommendation is clear: postpone non-essential travel until conditions improve.

However, if travel is unavoidable, taking extra precautions is critical. This includes avoiding high-risk areas, keeping a low profile, arranging secure transportation, and having an emergency plan in place.

Where to Go Instead

If youre looking for an alternative destination with a similar cultural richness or warm climate, there are plenty of safer options to consider.

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For West African vibes, countries like Ghana or Senegal offer vibrant culture, music, and food scenes with fewer safety concerns.

If youre drawn to coastal beauty and outdoor adventure, consider destinations like Costa Rica or Barbados, which combine stunning ocean views with well-developed tourism infrastructure.

For a city-meets-culture experience, places like Lisbon or Dubai provide global energy, historical depth, and strong safety records for international travelers.

Travel advisories arent meant to scare you, but rather theyre meant to inform and protect you. Right now, the situation in Nigeria presents real risks that travelers shouldnt ignore. While the country remains culturally rich and deeply significant, timing matters when it comes to safe travel.

If Nigeria is on your bucket list, it may still be worth visiting someday but for now, its best to wait until conditions stabilize. In the meantime, theres a whole world of incredible (and safer) destinations ready to explore.

This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ouidah was once a key departure point in the transatlantic slave trade (OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT)

Ouidah was once a key departure point in the transatlantic slave trade (OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT) (OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT/AFP/AFP)

Tourists crowded beneath the Door of No Return, an arch built by the beach at Ouidah in southern Benin in memory of those crammed onto slave ships bound for the New World.

Benin, which holds a presidential election on Sunday, has in recent years leaned into its painful past to encourage tourism.

Once a key departure point in the transatlantic slave trade, the coastal town of Ouidah lies at the heart of the push to reclaim the country's history, culture and heritage.

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Standing nearly 17 metres (56 feet) tall on the seafront, the Door of No Return has been fully restored, now a must-see landmark for visitors.

Its ochre-and-gold facade is carved with figures of chained slaves, frozen mid-stride towards the ocean.

Nearby, a life-size replica of L'Aurore -- one of the last three-masted ships to leave Ouidah for Cuba around 1860 -- is set to open soon as an immersive museum of the slave trade.

"It reminds us of where we come from. It's important to develop tourism around our history because it's very rich, little known, and we want to showcase it," said Arsene Ahounou, an engineer from the commercial capital Cotonou visiting for the day.

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"For us natives, understanding our history matters," he added.

Pausing for selfies with friends visiting from Nigeria, Onyinye Anumba said that seeing the site with her own eyes was "awesome".

"As an African, I've read many things about this place... so just being here makes me proud about what Africa has," she said.

- 'Demystify Vodun' -

Elsewhere, tourists explored the 13th-century Python Temple to learn about Voodoo culture -- the popular animist religion rooted in Ouidah.

As many posed for photos with snakes draped around their shoulders, guides explained the reptile's spiritual significance in Voodoo (Vodun in the local Fon language) beliefs.

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Having worked in Beninese tourism for more than 35 years, Modeste Zinsou, the temple's head guide, said the sector had evolved.

"This isn't mass tourism, it's cultural tourism. The sacred element remains. We're reconstructing our own history, in which we completely demystify Vodun and the cliches around it," he said.

Benin is the birthplace of Voodoo, which now has its own international festival, the Vodun Days.

The three days of dancing, mask parades and traditional ceremonies have become a major tourist attraction.

This year it drew around two million visitors, most of them Beninese.

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"The government has worked to encourage domestic tourism, meaning Beninese people going out and reclaiming their identity," added Zinsou.

- 'Our Eiffel Tower' -

To boost tourism, Benin has launched major infrastructure projects, including road and hotel renovations.

A Club Med resort is planned for 2027 and visa procedures have been eased for many nationalities.

"We're not a country with mineral wealth, so we had to identify where our wealth lies," said Alain Godonou, an adviser to the president on heritage and museums.

"History shows that Benin is a land of great cultures and traditions, and a witness to a pivotal moment in human history -- the slave trade," he said.

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Godonou hopes tourism will account for 10 to 15 percent of GDP within a decade, up from about six percent today.

Sunday's election in the west African country is to replace the architect of this tourism drive, outgoing president Patrice Talon, who is stepping down after two five-year terms.

The frontrunner to succeed him, Romuald Wadagni, the finance minister from the ruling party, has pledged to carry the projects forward.

Since 2024, Benin has allowed anyone with an African ancestor who was enslaved and shipped to the Americas to acquire Beninese nationality.

"It was important for Benin to do justice to this diaspora by granting the nationality that should have been theirs," Godonou said.

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In the heart of Cotonou, the country's largest city, the Amazon Monument is now a major attraction.

The towering 30-metre metal statue depicts a warrior of the Dahomey kingdom, rifle at her side and dagger in hand.

On Easter Monday, a public holiday, crowds of Beninese visitors strolled through the plaza, snapping pictures of the statue.

"It's a source of pride! We don't have the money to go on holiday in France or elsewhere," said vendor Geraldine Sedami Yagbo.

"This statue is our Eiffel Tower."

pid/bam/rh/kjm/gv
Vietnam has moved well beyond rising destination status. The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism said the country welcomed nearly 21.2 million international visitors in 2025, a new record, and the official immigration portal says the e-visa can be valid for up to 90 days with either single or multiple entries. For travelers, that means the trip is no longer hard to picture or hard to arrange.

What makes Vietnam so compelling is its range. UNESCOs country profile lists 9 World Heritage Sites, and the official tourism website sells Vietnam through pristine beaches, ancient treasures, UNESCO wonders, legendary cuisine, and festival culture. Few places give you that many distinct reasons to go in one itinerary.

1. It Feels Like Several Vacations Packed Into One Country

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Vietnam is one of those rare destinations where the shape of the trip can keep changing without ever feeling random. The official tourism board leans into that variety by steering visitors toward beaches, culture, nature, city breaks, wellness, adventure, and luxury rather than one dominant travel lane.

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That makes the country especially appealing for travelers who get restless on one-note holidays. Vietnam does not ask you to choose only one mood and stick with it.

You can start in Hanoi, move through the heritage-rich center of the country, and finish on the coast without the trip losing its thread. Vietnam Tourisms SJourney feature frames an eight-day route through Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Quang Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Phu Yen, and Phan Thiet as one coherent luxury journey.

That says something useful about Vietnam itself: the contrasts are not a problem to solve. They are part of the appeal.

2. The Food Scene Is Reason Enough to Book the Ticket

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Vietnams culinary reputation was already strong, but the current restaurant scene gives it even more weight. The MICHELIN Guides 2025 Vietnam selection reached a record 181 establishments, including 9 One MICHELIN Star restaurants and 2 MICHELIN Green Star restaurants.

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That is the kind of recognition that shows the country is not coasting on pho-and-banh mi fame alone. The food story is broader and deeper than the standard checklist suggests.

At the same time, the official tourism board makes a point seasoned travelers already understand: Vietnamese food changes by region. Vietnam Tourism says northern cooking is known for relative simplicity, central dishes often bring more spice and intensity, and southern food tends to lean sweeter.

In practical terms, you are not eating the same trip over and over. The country gives you a different table as the map shifts.

3. The Hotels Are Part of the Experience, Not an Afterthought

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Vietnams hotel scene has become strong enough to be a travel draw in its own right. The MICHELIN Guides first Key selection for Vietnam in 2025 recognized 13 hotels, including 2 with Three MICHELIN Keys, 3 with Two Keys, and 8 with One Key.

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That kind of debut suggests real depth, not just one or two obvious luxury names. The countrys lodging story now feels developed enough to shape the trip itself.

Vietnams tourism marketing reflects that range. The official luxury page highlights everything from colonial-era city hotels to award-winning beach resorts, wellness retreats, and more private, nature-first stays.

Vietnam does not force travelers into one hotel fantasy. You can go polished and historic, sleek and contemporary, or quiet and coastal depending on the trip you want.

4. The Standout Stays Actually Deepen Your Sense of Place

Image Credit: Aylata / Shutterstock.

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In the cities, the best addresses feel tied to local history rather than detached from it. Vietnam Tourism says Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has been a landmark for more than a century and notes that visitors can descend into its wartime bunker.

The same tourism coverage says Capella Hanoi was named Asias Leading Luxury Boutique Hotel 2025 and highlights its art-infused design and highly personalized guest experience. These are not anonymous five-star boxes that could sit anywhere.

Outside the big cities, the mood shifts beautifully. Vietnam Tourisms Amanoi feature places the resort above Vinh Hy Bay among mountains, granite boulders, and dramatic ocean views.

Six Senses Con Dao says it partners on sea turtle conservation and avoided 97,656 plastic bottles in 2025 through reusable glass-bottled water. Vietnams hotel story feels richer because the scenery and the stay so often belong to the same experience.

5. It Is Easier To Pull Off Than Many First-Timers Expect

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Some bucket-list destinations stay on the list because they feel logistically annoying. Vietnam looks more approachable than that. The official e-visa portal says travelers can apply for an e-visa valid for up to 90 days with single or multiple entry.

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Vietnams official trip-planning section also points travelers toward practical guidance on visas, transport, health, and safety, while its airport guide notes direct international flights into major gateways and tourism hubs.

That ease matters because Vietnam works at several price points and in several styles. You can do it with street food and simple guesthouses, or build the trip around heritage hotels, beach resorts, and luxury rail.

However you structure it, Vietnam has the rare ability to feel both ambitious and attainable. That is exactly what a true bucket-list destination should do.

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Greek carrier Blue Bird, set to resume flights on Sunday, will be the first foreign carrier to return to Israel since the skies largely closed following the start of Operation Roaring Lion.

Several airlines have announced plans on Friday to reinstate flights to Israel in the coming weeks, with the Greek carrier Blue Bird set to resume service between Athens and Tel Aviv as early as Sunday, according to a KAN report.

With its plans for a daily flight in each direction, Blue Bird will be the first foreign carrier to return to Israel since the skies largely closed following the start of Operation Roaring Lion on February 28.

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Abu Dhabi-based Etihad will begin flying to Ben-Gurion Airport on Wednesday, according to KAN, with low-cost carrier Wizz Air planning a resumption of services to Ben-Gurion on April 25.

According to the report, Etihad will operate two daily flights in each direction on its Abu Dhabi-Tel Aviv route, while Wizz Air will initially only offer flights on its Budapest-Tel Aviv service.

In addition, Czech airline Smartwings will restart regular flights to Tel Aviv from April 15, according to a Reuters report, with plans to operate seven flights per week.

Travellers at Ben Gurion International Airport. September 08, 2025. (credit: YOSSI ALONI/FLASH90)

Ben-Gurion Airport set to expand operations

The Israel Airports Authority and the Transport Ministry announced on Wednesday that they are examining plans to expand flight activity at Ben-Gurion following the announcement of a ceasefire with Iran.

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Aviation officials have nevertheless cautioned that it could take time for full activity to resume, citing KAN as saying the continued presence of US Air Force personnel and aircraft at the airport is expected to slow the pace of a complete return to standard operations.

As a first step, authorities are reportedly focusing on increasing passenger capacity per flight, with narrow-body aircraft expected to accommodate up to 120 passengers and wide-body aircraft up to 150, with said changes potentially coming into effect next week.

Reuters contributed to this report.
In Mexico, we say this is the time of women, and this is particularly true for both the Mexi
The bill also imposed time limits on groups of people who previously didn't have them  such as children aging out of foster care, homeless people and veterans. And it made it harder for people to continue qualifying by requiring more regular evidence of qualification.

It also forces states to reduce the error rates in their enrollment of recipients to no more than 6%, which has them demanding more and more information from recipients. The error rate is calculated by taking a sample of SNAP payouts and finding how much of it was paid out in error. If states go over 6%, they will now have to pay the federal government an amount that, in Arizona's case, could reach over $100 million.

What's catching many of the people I've spoken with is all the paperwork.

When I spoke with 25-year-old Adrian Andrade at Casa Maria, he happened to be carrying a letter from Arizona's Department of Economic Security with him as evidence of his local residence. He opened it for me to show page after page he needed to fill out.

"They want me to bring a bunch of documentation I don't have access to anymore," said Andrade, who told me he rents a room in a mobile home and was homeless for a month.

"They need more information and I don't have that information, so starvation," he added with a grim shrug.

'A moral obscenity'

A few different things are happening on top of the Big Beautiful Bill Act's changes, said Natalie Jayroe, who is president of the food bank. Even before current Gov. Katie Hobbs took office in 2023, 120 jobs were cut at DES among people who check SNAP eligibility, she said.
Seeing double

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is now planning to build more than 334 miles of secondary border wall running parallel to the primary wall along Arizonas 373-mile-long boundary with Mexico. According to the agencys interactive, online Smart Wall Map, here is a breakdown of each proposed secondary barrier project, with its name, status, total length and approximate location:

 Yuma 2: Under construction, includes more than a dozen scattered segments totaling 51.7 miles from Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge west to San Luis, north along the Colorado River, then west again into California south of Interstate 8.

 Tucson 1: Contract awarded, 22.5 miles from the eastern edge of Yuma County west along Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge.

 Tucson 2: Contract awarded, five widely scattered segments totaling 19.2 miles from the Baboquivari Mountains east to Guadalupe Canyon at the New Mexico border. Includes Sycamore Canyon and a loop around the north side of Cerro Del Fresnal that will enclose the small mountain top inside the enforcement zone between the two border walls.

 Tucson 3: Planned, 71 miles from Coronado National Memorial east through Douglas to Guadalupe Canyon, including San Pedro Riparian Area National Conservation Area and San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge.

 Tucson 4: Planned, five segments totaling 63.4 miles from the Pozo Verde Mountains east through Sasabe, Nogales, Lochiel and the San Rafael Valley to Coronado National Memorial.

 Tucson 5: Planned, 43.7 miles from the western edge of Pima County east through Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Lukeville to the Sierra de Santa Rosa at the southern end of the Ajo Range.

 Tucson 6: Planned, primary and secondary wall across 63.3 miles of the Tohono Oodham Nation from the Sierra de Santa Rosa east to the Baboquivari Mountains.
With nearly 20 years of work in the automotive media and events field, Pham Thanh Le (admin of the Otofun forum) believes that to remove difficulties for pickup trucks, amending standards and ministerial circulars as well as adjusting local decisions is necessary, with priority given to immediate solutions.

Recently, many people have petitioned the Vietnam Register and the Ministry of Construction to amend Circular 53 regarding vehicle classification, with the aim of removing pickup trucks from the category of trucks subjected to strict movement management.

But to fix this issue, one must start from the root, which means amending the National Technical Regulation on Road Signs and Signals QCVN 41: 2024.

QCVN 41:2024 is the foundation from which the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Construction) issued Circular 53/2024 to classify road traffic vehicles.

The Traffic Police Department will rely on Circular 53 to conduct penalties on vehicles circulating against regulations. The level of administrative fines will be based on Decree 168/2024. At present, traffic police forces still dont punish pickup truck drivers for traveling in lanes reserved for passenger cars or entering inner Hanoi during the day, but this does not mean that such relaxation will be forever.

Currently, pickup truck users in Hanoi have two concerns. First, they are banned from the inner city from 6am to 9pm the next day (and this may soon apply in other localities); Second, they are banned from roads and lanes in general that apply to heavy-duty trucks (a common obstacle for pickup drivers nationwide, except for a very small number classified as passenger cars).

However, amending Regulation 41/2024 is a complicated and time-consuming process involving many management levels and is difficult to implement in the short term.

The priority right now is to adjust at the local level, specifically by directly adjusting Decision 01/2026 of the Hanoi People's Committee regarding the operation of road traffic vehicles in the area. This is a more flexible approach that can be deployed quickly and bring immediate efficiency to both the government and the people.

In fact, some localities have already applied this method. HCMC currently does not ban pickup trucks from the inner city, but leaders of the Department of Construction recently noted that drivers of "pickup trucks" must still comply with lane allocation regulations for trucks and are not allowed to circulate when encountering truck-prohibition signs.

In Hai Phong, when placing truck-prohibition signs on certain routes, functional agencies attach auxiliary signs clearly stating that the ban does not apply to pickup trucks. Previously, the Traffic Police Department also proposed banning trucks from the left lane on some highways while still excluding single-cabin and double-cabin pickup trucks and vans.

These methods show that even with new regulations, there is still room for flexible adjustment to suit reality.

However, if focusing only on pickup trucks, another group of vehicles that is equally or even more affected might be overlooked: cargo vans.

It is estimated that the market currently has about 300,000 pickup trucks, while there are about 200,000 cargo vans. This is a fleet of vehicles directly serving urban goods transport activities.

According to Hanoi's Decision 01/2026, a portion of cargo vans is restricted during peak hours, and a large portion, especially those over two tons, is only allowed to operate from after 9pm until before 6am, similar to heavy trucks. This could cause significant disruptions to urban logistics, increasing transport costs and ultimately the cost of goods.

Therefore, if "loosening" restrictions only for pickup trucks without simultaneously considering cargo vans, the policy will lack fairness and could create greater consequences for people's livelihoods.

The current problem does not simply lie with a specific type of vehicle, but in the approach to vehicle management. Regulations have changed to become stricter, but the reality of use is much more diverse and flexible.

In the short term, adjusting at the local level is a feasible solution to reduce policy conflicts and protect the interests of the people. In the long term, consideration could be given to amending regulation QCVN 41:2024 to more fully reflect the reality of vehicle usage.

Vu Diep
Prof., Dr. Hoang Dinh Phi.

The Government Electronic Information Portal, in collaboration with the Institute of Non-Traditional Security (School of Management and Business, VNU Hanoi), organized a seminar recently titled "Hanoi city planning - a 100-year vision from a non-traditional security perspective."

Tran Ngoc Chinh, chair of the Vietnam Urban Development Planning Association, said that Party General Secretary To Lam places great importance in urban planning and development and has directed the Hanoi Party Committee to develop a 100-year vision for the capital, positioning it as the countrys leading urban growth pole.

Hanoi is not only the administrative capital but also a hub for economic, cultural, scientific, technological, and international exchange activities. While a master plan has been approved by the Hanoi Peoples Council, some aspects, particularly non-traditional security, have not yet been fully addressed.

Chinh highlighted transportation as a pressing issue. Hanois population is nearing 10 million, with more than 1.5 million cars and 8 million motorbikes, not including vehicles entering from surrounding areas.

We aim to build about 1,000 km of metro lines, with around 400 km expected by 2035, but currently only 40 km are in operation. If Hanoi reaches 20 million people and transportation is not properly planned, the city will never solve its internal traffic problems, he warned.

He added that only when people rely primarily on public transport instead of motorbikes can Hanoi effectively address congestion. The city should prioritize high-speed, high-capacity transport systems and develop the transit-oriented development (TOD) mode.

Satellite urban areas must be fully equipped with offices, schools, and hospitals, rather than serving merely as residential zones whose inhabitants commute back to the city center.

Beyond the Red River as a central axis, Hanoi also has river systems such as the Duong, Day, Tich, Nhue, To Lich, Set, and Lu rivers, all of which must be preserved to ensure continuous flow and ecological health.

Hanoi underground space

From a non-traditional security perspective, Hoang Dinh Phi, rector of the School of Management and Business, believes that Hanoi's underground infrastructure system currently poses many risks due to overlaps and a lack of synchronized planning.

He pointed out five important underground systems: flood drainage, wastewater treatment, water supply, electricity supply, and telecommunications. These are essential systems but face many potential threats.

"In Hanoi's planning, there hasn't been much detailed discussion about underground space, especially the finish floor level (level 00)," Hoang Dinh Phi said.

According to Phi, without deep research into technical infrastructure solutions and international experience in urban planning, especially wastewater collection systems following the terrain's slope, collecting, transferring, and thoroughly treating Hanoi's wastewater will be difficult and cost billions of dollars.

Resolving this requires interdisciplinary coordination, listening from the government, and cooperation between research institutes (such as the Institute of Non-Traditional Security and the Hanoi Institute of Architecture).

Phi also argued that Hanoi is positioned as a diverse ecological capital. Therefore, he believes that not all universities should be relocated, but those with historical depth should be kept to maintain inner-city vitality.

At the same time, he mentioned the low-altitude economy, including vehicles like air taxis and drones for rescue and delivery. These elements need to be integrated immediately into the master plan map to warn of risks and "red lines." Rapid development must be accompanied by sustainability, which is the core of non-traditional security.

Maksim Kurilov, first secretary of the Russian Embassy in Vietnam, said that Moscow has achieved many notable results in urban planning.

The city had a modern metro system with a frequency of about 1 minute between trips, which limits private vehicles. Additionally, the smart city model has helped to significantly reduce crime rates.

Moscow is also implementing a large-scale housing renovation program and applying "digital twin" technology to support planning, transport development, and information systems.

The Russian representative said the country was ready to share its experiences to support Hanoi in the research and development process of the future city.

Thanh Hung
On the morning of April 10, the National Assembly held group discussions on socio-economic development.

Speaking during the session, Deputy Nguyen Khanh Vu (Quang Tri delegation) commented on the medium-term public investment plan for 2026-2030, emphasizing that public investment serves as the lifeblood that drives and unlocks resources for economic development. When this flow is obstructed, the entire economy risks stagnation.

Delegate Nguyen Khanh Vu speaks during the group session.

What is most concerning, he noted, is not a lack of resources but the fact that these resources are being constrained by barriers created within the system itself, preventing them from reaching optimal efficiency.

According to the deputy, the most significant bottleneck lies in overlapping and inconsistent legal regulations. Projects must navigate multiple laws, yet none assumes full responsibility. When conflicts arise between legal frameworks, no authority steps forward to resolve them due to concerns over accountability.

A legal anchor to empower officials

Nguyen Khanh Vu proposed that the Government review and eliminate cumbersome administrative procedures and resolve inconsistencies among the Law on Public Investment, the State Budget Law, the Construction Law and other relevant legislation. He suggested redesigning the system around a single focal point, a unified process and clear accountability.

This would create a transparent legal corridor and a synchronized operational process, ensuring smooth implementation and a safe legal environment for investment, he said.

He also stressed the need for mechanisms to protect proactive and innovative officials who act in the public interest, so that those committed to doing the right thing are no longer hindered by fear of making mistakes.

A clear legal anchor is needed for officials to confidently devote their full efforts to advancing projects, removing the current hesitation caused by legal risks, he added.

The deputy further pointed out that planning is often followed by too many procedural loops.

I propose integrating all land-related factors at the planning stage. Once a plan is approved, procedures for land-use conversion should be automatically completed. Relevant authorities, as defined by law, should participate in appraisal at this stage to reduce post-planning procedures, he said.

If planning cannot move directly into implementation, it lacks real-world value.

He also recommended early allocation of resources to give localities more time for project preparation and execution, while compensating for delays caused by natural disasters such as storms and floods. Priority should be given to provinces that cannot balance their budgets, particularly those with strategic importance like Quang Tri, to enable more balanced regional development.

Addressing bottlenecks in site clearance

Delegate Nguyen Thi Tuyen.

Also contributing to the discussion, Deputy Nguyen Thi Tuyen (Hanoi delegation), Secretary of the Party Committee of advisory and assisting agencies under the Government Party Committee, noted that disbursement of public investment remains slow despite some improvements.

In practice, project implementation still faces numerous challenges. Investment procedures remain complex, involving multiple stages that prolong both preparation and execution.

Fluctuations in construction material prices, often lagging behind market rates in official announcements, create significant discrepancies. This places contractors under pressure, affecting both project timelines and efficiency. She suggested that more realistic assessments are needed to ensure fairness for contractors and feasibility for projects.

The deputy also identified site clearance as a major bottleneck that continues to delay many public investment projects.

Based on these realities, she called for tailored solutions suited to each locality to address procedural hurdles, material price issues and land clearance challenges, thereby accelerating project implementation not only in the current year but in the years ahead.

According to Nguyen Thi Tuyen, the Government has been actively working to remove obstacles and has introduced various new mechanisms and policies to promote public investment. Immediately after receiving approval from the National Assembly, Government members moved quickly into action, demonstrating strong determination in governance.

She expressed confidence that these measures would soon yield results, contributing to improved disbursement and economic growth.

Promoting high-quality tourism

National Assembly deputy, Venerable Thich Duc Thien (Dien Bien delegation), speaks during the group discussion
In the April 8 trading session, after receiving information that the upgrade roadmap will remain unchanged and that the US-Iran ceasefire will last for two weeks, stocks of all sizes across Vietnam's three exchanges surged simultaneously.

The VN-Index rose nearly 76 points (+4.53 percent) before entering the ATC session, eventually closing with a gain of over 79 points to 1,756.55 points. Liquidity reached a relatively high level of VND33.4 trillion on HoSE (HCMC Stock Exchange).

Among the VN30 pillar stocks, 29 rose sharply, with only LPBank (LPB) declining. Stocks related to billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong hit the ceiling price. Vingroup (VIC) increased VND10,000 to VND153,400/share. Vinhomes (VHM) rose VND8,000 to VND123,000/share. Vincom (VRE) gained VND1,800 to VND27,600/share.

Techcombank (TCB) shares hit the ceiling, rising VND2,000 to VND30,700/share. Sacombank (STB) also hit the ceiling, rising VND4,300 to VND66,000/share.

SSI Securities (SSI) also hit the ceiling, up VND1,900 to VND29,400/share.

Many other stocks increased strongly. In the early morning of April 8, US President Donald Trump agreed to stop attacking Iran for two weeks and the Strait of Hormuz was reopened under certain conditions.

Trump withdrew his previous threats about being ready to order the destruction of Iran's "entire civilization." WTI oil prices dropped 19 percent in the early morning to the $91/barrel threshold.

However, by 2:45pm, the oil price drop narrowed to 14.7 percent and is currently at $96.4/barrel. Iran and the US will enter two weeks of negotiations with each other in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.

Iran's 10-point proposal includes requirements such as the US withdrawing combat forces from bases in the region, lifting all sanctions, releasing Tehran's assets currently frozen abroad, and providing full compensation for war damages. This proposal also offers a mechanism allowing ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in a controlled manner.

Which stocks will benefit from the market upgrade?

In the early morning of April 8, FTSE Russell announced its interim market classification report as part of the March 2026 stock market classification review.

FTSE Russell's announcement recognized important progress in the Vietnamese stock market (TTCK) regarding market access through global securities companies. The organization officially confirmed it would maintain the roadmap from a Frontier Market to a Secondary Emerging Market as announced in October 2025.

The Secondary Emerging Market group includes countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, among others.

Since the annual review in September 2025, Vietnam has continued to promote the development of the global brokerage model. Circular 08/2026/TT-BTC officially established this model and introduced improvements to support the Non-Pre-Funding (NPF) regulatory framework.

Regulators, domestic and international brokerage firms, custodians, and trading firms have agreed on the key operational components, with the remaining work focusing on finalizing bilateral agreements between global and domestic brokerage firms.

To ensure a smooth transition aligned with local market capacity, Vietnams inclusion in FTSE Russell global indices will be implemented in phases, starting in September 2026 and concluding in 2027.

This upgrade marks a major milestone, affirming Vietnams development and recognition by the global investment community. It is expected to attract large-scale international capital inflows, improve liquidity, and strengthen Vietnams position in the global financial system.

According to SSI, passive inflows could reach $1.67 billion over several quarters following the upgrade, mainly from global ETFs tracking FTSE Emerging Markets indices.

Beyond passive funds, the upgrade could also attract broader investment flows. Improved accessibility, transparency, and market operations are likely to increase interest from international investors.

SSI Research noted that ETF inflows typically concentrate on stocks meeting criteria such as large market capitalization, high liquidity, strong free float, and fewer foreign ownership restrictions.

Previously, after the September 2025 review, VNDirect estimated that Vietnam could attract around $11.5 billion from mutual funds and ETFs tracking FTSE indices. Meanwhile, HSBC projected potential foreign inflows of $3.4 to 10.4 billion from both active and passive funds after the upgrade.

VNDirect believes that several stocks likely to benefit directly from the FTSE upgrade include VIC, VHM, VCB, SSI, MSN, VNM, FPT, HPG, etc.

Recently, cash flow has shown signs of returning to the stock market as the real estate and gold markets cool down, while the cryptocurrency market faces instability, and Vietnam sets high economic growth targets.

Manh Ha
Vietnams tax authority has issued Decision No. 446, approving its specialized inspection plan for 2026, targeting 108 enterprises across multiple localities.

Masterise Homes Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. is among the property companies under tax authority inspection. Photo: Masterise Homes

Under the plan, responsibility for implementation has been assigned to the head of the Inspection Division.

According to the attached appendix, the enterprises subject to inspection are located in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Thai Nguyen, Tay Ninh, and Dong Nai.

Notably, the list includes a number of major real estate companies operating in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

In Hanoi, the tax authority will inspect firms such as Hanoi Real Estate Business and Services JSC, HBI Real Estate JSC, T&T Group JSC, Thach Ban Lakeside Real Estate Co., Ltd., Hai Phat Investment JSC, Nam Mekong Group JSC, Thang Loi Real Estate Group JSC, Capitaland - Hien Duc JSC, and KLP Investment Group JSC.

In Ho Chi Minh City, companies listed for inspection include Masterise Homes Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., Phu Nhuan Housing Construction and Trading Co., Ltd., Bcons Real Estate JSC, and Gamuda Land (HCMC).

In addition to real estate developers, six commercial banks are also included in the inspection plan. These are Bac A Commercial Joint Stock Bank, Maritime Bank, Saigon - Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank, Nam A Bank, Southeast Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank, and Viet A Commercial Joint Stock Bank.

The financial sector is further represented by several firms, including Techcom Securities JSC, VPS Securities JSC, and Techcom Capital Fund Management JSC.

Beyond real estate and finance, the inspection list also covers enterprises operating in consumer goods manufacturing, food production, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and electromechanical industries.

The plan forms part of broader efforts by tax authorities to strengthen oversight and ensure compliance across key sectors of the economy.

Nguyen Le
As global instability and rising travel costs reshape tourism trends, Vietnam is increasingly positioning itself as a safe, accessible and cost-competitive destination, drawing a growing influx of international visitors and strengthening its reputation as a resilient and trusted tourism hub.

Strong connectivity drives growth momentum

Data from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) show that Vietnam welcomed nearly 2.1 million foreign visitors in March 2026, raising total arrivals in the first quarter to 6.76 million, up 12.4% year-on-year. The figure represents a record high for the first quarter and marks the first time the country has received more than two million international visitors for three consecutive months.

Air travellers accounted for 82.3% of total arrivals, highlighting Vietnams strong pull for medium- and long-haul markets despite geopolitical tensions and higher fuel prices. Authorities said the sustained volume of air passengers reflects not only expanding global connectivity but also growing confidence among travellers in Vietnam as a safe, stable and convenient destination.

Land arrivals made up 15.5%, underscoring the continued importance of neighbouring markets such as China, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. Benefiting from short travel distances and affordable costs, these markets have provided a stable buffer for tourism growth amid rising global transport expenses.

Cruise tourism, meanwhile, represented only 2.2% of international arrivals, signalling substantial untapped potential in a high-spending segment supported by Vietnams extensive coastline and diverse tourism assets.

Industry experts noted that significant opportunities remain to enhance tourism quality and value creation, particularly through investment in specialised cruise ports and the development of premium short-stay experiences.

Despite global tourism headwinds linked to geopolitical conflicts, transport disruptions and surging travel expenses, Vietnams tourism sector has sustained strong growth, underscoring the destinations resilience and rising international profile.

Visitors relax on eco-friendly cyclos while touring Hoi An Ancient Town. (Photo: VNA)

Safety emerges as key factor in travel decisions

With security concerns playing an increasingly crucial role in travel planning, safety has become a decisive factor for international tourists. The VNAT emphasised that Vietnams stable political environment, secure social conditions and effective risk management capabilities have strengthened its appeal as a reliable destination, helping build traveller confidence amid global volatility.

Vietnams attractiveness is further reinforced by its rich natural landscapes and cultural diversity. The growing popularity of experiential travel, green tourism and local cultural discovery continues to boost the appeal of destinations across the country.

In the first quarter of 2026, tourism growth reflected not only expanding visitor numbers but also broader market diversification, contributing to greater sustainability.

China and the Republic of Korea remained the largest source markets, with 1.4 million and 1.3 million visitors respectively, accounting for roughly 40% of total arrivals. Southeast Asian markets posted robust growth, particularly the Philippines (69.3%) and Indonesia (43.9%), while India continued to emerge as a high-potential market with growth of 69.3%. Vietnam also recorded encouraging signals in visitors from North America and Oceania.

Europe stood out as a bright spot, posting overall growth of 55.6%, while arrivals from Russia surged by 163.4%, demonstrating Vietnams increasing attractiveness to long-haul travellers despite aviation disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.

According to the VNAT, as safety becomes an essential criterion in destination choice, Vietnams sustained growth, especially from distant markets, highlights the countrys steady progress toward becoming a safe, stable and sustainably appealing destination on both regional and global tourism maps.

By further improving service quality, enriching visitor experiences and expanding air connectivity with key markets, Vietnams tourism industry is expected to maintain strong growth momentum in the time ahead./. VNA
Speaking to VietNamNet on April 9, the publisher confirmed it is coordinating with its partners and the authors to review the issue following media reports.

Preliminary findings suggest that the website originally included in the book served its intended educational purpose. However, the link has since been redirected to content deemed unsuitable for a school environment.

Authorities step in to investigate

The publisher has reported the case to the Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention under the Ministry of Public Security, while also working with relevant agencies to address the issue promptly.

The problem was first identified by parents, who noticed that an exercise on page 59 instructed students to use Google Chrome to visit a specific website to practice scrolling functions. Instead of educational content, users were redirected to a site containing material inappropriate for primary school students.

Website believed to have been compromised

Nguyen Tuong Tri, chief editor of the workbook, stated that at the time of writing, the website was an open resource offering child-friendly content such as animated videos and traditional games.

We have not rechecked the site recently. It is possible that the website was interfered with and its content altered in an inappropriate direction. This situation was beyond the authors expectations, he said.

Third-party takeover suspected

On April 10, Nguyen Xuan Huy, Chief of Office at Hue University, said the institution is working with authorities to clarify the incident.

According to Huy, the website functioned normally when first included in the book in 2022, but was later taken over by a third party, leading to the unexpected change in content.

Following the discovery, Hue University directed the publisher to conduct a review, while the Internal Political Security Division (PA03) under Hue City Police launched an investigation. The case has also been reported to the Ministry of Public Security for further handling.

Rising concerns over digital safety in education

The incident has raised broader concerns about the risks associated with embedding external links in educational materials, especially for young students.

Authorities are continuing to trace the origin of the compromised link as part of efforts to ensure a safer digital learning environment.

Thuy Nga-Le Bang
Part 1:

Nguyen Chi Dong, the engineer builds multibillion-dong data platform

Before having the big data platform, data synthesis at Viettel relied entirely on manual processes. Each district had its own reporting staff and each province compiled data separately. This multi-layered system caused fragmentation, slow updates, and inevitable inaccuracies.

To get an overall picture, we had to go through many intermediate steps. Decision-making was neither fast nor accurate, said Dong, Deputy Head of Data Governance Solutions at Viettels IT Center, recalled.

That problem became the starting point for a project lasting nearly four years: building the Viettel Data Platform (VDP).

Not merely a storage system, VDP was designed as a data backbone, where all sources of information from different systems are collected, processed, and standardized in real time.

Since the system went into operation, a fundamental change took place: data is no longer an end-of-day report, but a continuous flow serving management.

When data becomes the raw material

The story of Nguyen Chi Dong is not just about technology. It touches upon a more core issue: management culture.

According to Dung, data only has value when it is activated. If it remains scattered in software, on paper, or in the memory of individuals, then no matter how much there is, it is meaningless.

To make decisions based on data, there must be data at first. But more importantly, there must be a system to turn that data into usable information, he said.

With a multi-industry, multi-national corporation like Viettel, the volume of data is enormous. But that very dispersion was the biggest barrier.

VDP was born to solve this problem: consolidating data, standardizing it, and creating real-time analysis capabilities.

Thanks to this, leaders can grasp daily revenue, the effectiveness of each service package, or abnormal happenings in operations- information that previously took many days, or even weeks, to synthesize.

In this regard, data is no longer a supporting tool but has become the raw material of management power.

Popularizing AI to break technology monopolies

If data is the foundation, then Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the tool to exploit that foundation. But this is a field traditionally seen as a playground for experts.

Dong did not accept this. He and his co-workers developed the Viettel Machine Learning Platform (vMLP) with a clear goal: to automate the entire AI process, from data processing to model deployment.

As a result, the development time for AI problems was shortened by up to 75 percent, helping many units apply AI without needing an excessively large team of experts.

We want AI to no longer be the privilege of a small group, but to become a common tool for everyone, he shared.

The philosophy of popularizing AI continued to be demonstrated in the GenBI system, where users can query data using natural language instead of depending on technical reports.

This is an important shift: from reading reports to asking data.

Make in Vietnam question

The platforms developed by Dong and his team went beyond mere ideas. VDP has now been deployed across the entire corporation and in 10/10 foreign markets, while also serving many large customers such as the Central Office of the Party, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, Vietnam Airlines and Northern Electricity Corporation.

The product has brought in revenue of more than VND260 billion and helped Viettel save $9.2 million in costs for purchasing foreign solutions.

Meanwhile, vMLP brings a benefit value of about VND12 billion per year, and the GenBI system helps save an additional tens of billions of VND by replacing equivalent solutions from abroad.

But the figures are not the most noteworthy thing. What is more important is the fact that a team of Vietnamese engineers can build core technology platforms, a field previously dominated by international corporations.

We don't just make it to use; we make it to prove that Vietnamese people can master technology, Dong said.

Thai Khang
A new tourism website showcasing Wrexham has been launched in a bid to attract more visitors and encourage longer stays in the area.

The platform, developed by the This is Wrecsam Tourism Partnership, brings together information on places to visit, stay and eat, as well as highlighting lesser-known attractions across the county borough.

Designed as an official destination website, it also aims to support group travel organisers and the wider tourism industry.

In addition to visitor information, the website introduces a dedicated membership area, enabling local businesses to support the partnerships ongoing tourism marketing and development work. Businesses also have the opportunity to become corporate sponsors, helping to strengthen and grow Wrexhams visitor economy.

The new website has been created and built by Emma Jones of Em Creative, based in Wrexham, bringing a fresh, user-friendly approach to showcasing the countys growing tourism offer.

A key feature of the new platform is the Wrexham Tourism Ambassador Scheme, which invites individuals to deepen their knowledge of the area through a series of short modules. Participants can become officially recognised Wrexham Tourism Ambassadors, with the option to achieve gold status by completing additional modules.

Katie Skellon of the This is Wrecsam Tourism Partnership said: We are absolutely delighted to launch our new website, which truly reflects the vibrancy, diversity and warmth of Wrexham County.

This platform is not only about inspiring visitors to discover our incredible destinations, but also about supporting our local businesses and strengthening our growing tourism economy.

With such strong interest from the travel trade, were confident this new platform will play a key role in driving even more visitors to the area in the years ahead.

Emma Jones of Em Creative added: It has been a real privilege to work on refreshing the This is Wrecsam website.

As someone from Wrexham, this project gave me a deeper appreciation of just how important tourism is to our hometown. Im incredibly proud to have played a part in creating a platform that celebrates everything the area has to offer.

Looking ahead, the website will also host a downloadable 2026 Visitor Guide and a dedicated travel trade brochure, further enhancing resources for both leisure visitors and industry professionals.

Wrexhams visitor economy is also forecast to continue its strong growth over the coming years, supported by highly positive feedback from UK and European tour operators and Destination Management Organisations.

The development of the new website has been made possible thanks to the continued support of hospitality members, Visit Wales, UK Inbound, Wrexham County Borough Council, and funding from the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund.

For more information, visit www.thisiswrecsam.co.uk.

Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com
On 9 March, Voicebox Wxm hosted another of their regular open mic events, bringing in headliner Kieran King from Manchester.

Voicebox Wxm is a grassroots celebration of storytelling and performance rooted in Wrexhams creative community.

Founded in 2013 at Un Deg Un, the organisation features North Wales longest-running spoken word night, alongside a touring collective of poets and a programme of creative projects delivered throughout the year.

Presenting work across poetry, theatre, and live performance, Voicebox Wxm delivers showcases across Wales and the UK while championing local voices and remaining firmly grounded in Wrecsam.

This was Voiceboxs second open mic back after their three-month winter break, during which they toured with a Winter Sounds project, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via Creu Conwy. This project helped strengthen connections between Wrexhams creative community across wider North Wales. Voicebox are interested in continuing collaboration across North Wales and beyond in future events.

Last year Natasha Borton brought on new board members, expanding the Voicebox team.

The night was held in Bank St Social and people poured in out of the cold into the coffee shops cosy set-up, stocking up on coffee, hot chocolate, and many pistachio cookies.

The event was hosted by Holly Thorpe and saw new and familiar faces in the open mic line up and the audience.

In all its years of running, Voicebox Wxm have had a new open mic performer at each event and this tradition continued at their March event, with a regular bringing over a friend from the Llangollen poetry scene.

The beginning section of the night was the first round of open mic performers who signed up on the door. There were performances on a range of different topics, from writerly guilt over using Rhyme Zone by Rose Condo to the possibility of patriotic wasps from Iwan Berry.

After a break (and more coffee), Kieran King performed his fantastic headlining set which included some poems from his new collection Spit & Sawdust, a funny and heartfelt collection that was available to buy in the breaks. Kieran was a great headliner and helped strengthen connections between Voicebox Wxm and other open mic nights in Manchester.

In advertising, Voicebox have described Kieran as a Manchester-based spoken word artist with 18 years of performance experience. In that time, he has performed at venues and festivals across the UK and Europe, including Glastonbury and Kendal Calling, and for organisations including Amnesty International and Musicians Without Borders.

After another break, there was the final section of performers, with some people deciding to hop on the mic at the last second, which is always encouraged. There was another round of great performances, including an extract of a horror story by newcomer Jason and the traditional recap of last months news in poetry form by Luke.

Nights like these create a fun and safe space to share and facilitate creative connection.

Voicebox will be back on 13 April for an Earth Day themed session, with further open mics and headliners on the second Monday of every month.

You can also see performances from the Voicebox Wxm Collective at Focus Wales from the 7  9 May.

If youre intrigued by his work but missed his set on the 9  or even if you were there and want to know more  you can find Kieran on Instagram.

Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com
A Wrexham University law student who hopes to build a career as an advocate is set to test her skills at one of the United Kingdoms most famous courts.

Niamh Owen, a law student at Wrexham University, is one of just two finalists from Wales to reach the BPP Advocate of the Year competition, which will take place at the Old Bailey in London. The competition focuses on criminal law advocacy and tests a range of practical courtroom skills, including submission advocacy, examination-in-chief and cross-examination.

Niamh, who started studying law in 2025, described the experience of representing Wrexham and North Wales on a national stage as both surreal and deeply meaningful.

The overwhelming feeling of representing Wrexham is quite incredible. Wrexham University has thousands of students, and you never really think its going to be you until suddenly it is, said Niamh.

Going to the Old Bailey is extraordinary. Im going to the same place where women once fought for the right to vote just over 100 years ago. To think Ill be standing in that same court is something very special.

Before studying law, Niamh worked as both a complex mental health support worker and a dairy farmer. Her educational journey has not been straightforward.

She first studied at Wrexham University before later returning to pursue law after taking time away from education to care for her grandfather with a diagnosis of Alzheimers.

But despite the challenges along the way, she says the experience strengthened her motivation to pursue a legal career.

Ive always wanted to protect and fight for the vulnerable and the underdogs. I suppose thats what naturally draws me to being an advocate, hopefully not an argumentative one, said Niamh.

I want to make a difference. I started helping people when I was around 16 through healthcare work, and although I loved supporting others, it could be emotionally draining when it became part of every aspect of life, at work, in education and at home.

Returning to university to study law felt like a natural step forward for Niamh.

It feels like everything has come full circle. My path hasnt been straightforward or typical, but Im really grateful because everything that has happened, has led me here, she said.

I always knew this was what I wanted to do, but I struggled with imposter syndrome and sometimes felt that little old me wouldnt manage it.

Niamh credits the lecturers and support network at Wrexham University for helping her develop the confidence and skills needed to reach the final of a national advocacy competition.

Were really lucky to be part of a university that genuinely invests in its students. The teaching approach is different to some larger universities; lecturers have the time to support us individually and encourage us to take opportunities.

We regularly receive emails about opportunities with local law firms and legal organisations, which is something that can easily be lost in bigger institutions.

Here, students are treated as individuals. The university recognises our different strengths and supports us in developing them through its active learning framework.

The BPP Advocate of the Year competition differs from traditional moot competitions because it focuses on practical courtroom advocacy rather than purely legal argument. Competitors are assessed on skills such as public speaking, clarity of expression, logical argument, client interviewing and courtroom performance.

Niamh will now compete against 15 other finalists from universities across the United Kingdom.

Despite the challenge ahead, she says the opportunity itself already feels like a major achievement.

I still cant quite believe it. Even practising lawyers dont always get the opportunity to appear at the Old Bailey, she said.

Its the largest criminal court in the UK and one of the most famous courts in the world. To have the chance to step into that courtroom so early in my legal journey is incredible.

Its something that will stay with me for the rest of my life and it shows that people are capable of far more than they often realise. Sometimes you just have to take every opportunity that comes your way.

Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com
Discover a fresh take on medical drama in 'Late Shift,' a Swiss film exploring a nurse's heroic overnight struggle. For fans of intense hospital settings lik...

AceShowbiz - Most viewers tend to dread navigating the complex and often frustrating American health care system, yet paradoxically, many are captivated by medical dramas that portray the high-stakes environments of hospitals. Shows centered on skilled medical professionals racing against time to save lives frequently garner critical acclaim, large audiences, and multiple season renewals. Enter the world of writer-director Petra Volpes Late Shift, a film that transports audiences to a Swiss hospital and offers a fresh take on this familiar genre.

The films original German title, Heldin, meaning hero, perfectly encapsulates its focus: a single nurse struggling to hold herself together during an overnight shift. While the setting and style may differ, those who appreciate the intense hospital atmosphere of the HBO Max series The Pitt will find much to admire in this European art-house counterpart.

However, it would be simplistic to draw a direct one-to-one comparison between the American ensemble medical drama and this Swiss feature, which was shortlisted for this years Oscars. The Pitt is a sprawling ensemble piece set in a bustling Pittsburgh emergency department, with Noah Wyles commanding presence anchoring the series as a lead doctor. It explores the triumphs and tragedies of many characters over close-to-real-time episodes.

In contrast, Late Shift zeroes in on a single character, Floria, portrayed by the exceptional German actress Leonie Benesch. The narrative unfolds over a tightly wound 90 minutes spent mostly on a cancer ward, giving viewers an intimate and intense character study rather than a broad institutional portrait.

The timing of both projects' premieres adds to the inevitable comparisons. Late Shift debuted at the 2025 Berlin Film Festival about a month after The Pitt began airing in the U.S., highlighting a shared focus on the personal toll exacted on health care workers and the systemic pressures pushing hospitals to their limits. The health care crisis is shown not as a localized issue but as a global challenge impacting institutions worldwide.

As Floria begins her night shift, she is immediately confronted with the reality of an understaffed hospital. From the start, her workload is overwhelming: she must juggle a barrage of tasks, from administering intravenous treatments to answering calls about lost personal items like glasses. The ward is filled with a diverse range of patients and relatives, some anxious, some entitled, many treating her more like a servant than a caregiver. The pressure builds quickly and persistently, with incidents happening early and often, including one involving an incontinent elderly patient.

Throughout the film, subtle glimpses into Florias life beyond the hospital emerge, such as a quiet exchange with a Turkish patient undergoing chemotherapy that reveals she is divorced and has a child. Yet the story remains firmly rooted in the immediacy of the shift, as viewers accompany her through the relentless demands and emotional challenges of her job. This approach allows the audience to gain insight into Florias resilience and suitability for her profession.

The films pacing strikes a balance between keen observation and a mounting sense of anxiety akin to a Safdie Brothers-style panic attack. Floria is in constant motion, rushing from one urgent task to the next, yet Late Shift also allows moments of tenderness, such as when she sings a lullaby to a frail patient. These small acts reveal the depth of her compassion amid the chaos.

Despite her strength, its clear Floria is stretched thin, bearing the burden of dozens of life-or-death responsibilities that must be addressed immediately. The film poignantly illustrates her human limits. She strives to adhere to the medical oath to first, do no harm, but also battles frustration, especially when dealing with difficult patients, such as a wealthy and demanding individual whose expensive watch nearly becomes collateral damage in Florias mounting stress.

Late Shift offers a compelling, intimate look at the emotional and physical strain health care workers endure while also shining a light on the broader systemic issues that plague hospitals worldwide. For fans of intense, character-driven hospital dramas like The Pitt, this Swiss film promises a gripping and empathetic exploration of heroism in the face of overwhelming odds.
Your data is being collected everywhere. Learn practical, non-technical steps to take back control of your personal information online.

Your Invisible Digital Shadow

Think about the last thing you searched for online. Maybe it was a new pair of running shoes, a symptom you were curious about, or a vacation spot. Now, open a different website or app. See an ad for that exact thing? That's not a coincidence; it's a tiny, visible part of your digital footprint. The reality is that your datayour location, your browsing habits, your purchases, even your inferred interestsis being collected, analyzed, and often sold, creating a profile of you that is far more detailed than you likely imagine.

This isn't just about seeing targeted ads. The profiles built from your data can influence the prices you see for flights and hotels, the news and content algorithms feed you, and even the offers you receive for financial products like loans. A study by the Pew Research Center found that 81% of Americans feel they have little or no control over the data companies collect about them. That feeling of powerlessness is what we're going to tackle. Protecting your privacy isn't about becoming a digital hermit; it's about making informed choices and taking practical steps to manage your exposure.

Your first actionable step is simple: conduct a personal data audit. For one week, pay attention to every time you're asked for personal information. Is that clothing store's loyalty program really worth your email and birthday? Does that fun social media quiz need access to your friend list? Just noticing these requests is the foundational step toward taking control.

Beyond Passwords: The New Basics of Account Security

For years, "use a strong password" was the cornerstone of digital advice. It's still critical, but it's no longer sufficient on its own. The first line of defense is now a password manager. Tools like Bitwarden, 1Password, or even the one built into your browser generate and store complex, unique passwords for every site. This means if one site is breached, your other accounts aren't automatically vulnerable. The biggest hurdle is starting, but once your manager is set up, it actually makes logging in easier.

The second, non-negotiable layer is two-factor authentication (2FA). This typically means entering your password and then a second code sent via text, an app like Authy or Google Authenticator, or a physical security key. Yes, it adds an extra step. But it also stops the vast majority of automated attacks and account takeovers. Prioritize enabling 2FA on your email, financial, and primary social media accounts first, as these are gateways to the rest of your digital life.

Finally, review your saved logins and connected apps. Go into your Google, Facebook, and Apple accounts and look at the "Security" or "Privacy" sections. You'll likely find dozens of old apps and websites you once granted account access to. Revoke access for anything you no longer use. This limits how your data can be shared across platforms and reduces your attack surface.

Actionable Tip: This weekend, spend 30 minutes. Download a password manager and import your existing passwords. Then, enable 2FA on your email account. These two actions will dramatically boost your security posture with minimal ongoing effort.

The Privacy Settings You Must Check (Right Now)

Buried in the settings of every app, device, and platform are levers that control your privacy. They're often opaque and set to the least private defaults. Taking the time to adjust them is one of the most effective things you can do. Start with the big four: your smartphone's operating system (iOS or Android), your primary web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox), and your major social media accounts.

On your phone, dive into the Location Services settings. You don't need every weather app or game tracking your precise location 24/7. Set most apps to "While Using the App" or "Never." Next, look at app permissions for your microphone, camera, and photo library. Does a note-taking app really need access to your microphone? Probably not. Revoke permissions that aren't essential to the app's core function.

For your web browser, the most impactful setting is to block third-party cookies. These are the primary trackers that follow you from site to site. In browsers like Safari and Firefox, this is a straightforward toggle in the privacy settings. In Chrome, you'll find it under "Cookies and other site data." Be aware that some sites may break, but you can usually allow cookies for those specific sites if needed.

Social Media: A Deep Dive

Social platforms are data collection engines. Go beyond the basic profile privacy settings. On Facebook, visit "Off-Facebook Activity" to see and disconnect data sent to Facebook by other websites and apps. On Instagram, check "Ads" in your settings to see your inferred interests and remove them. On all platforms, limit who can see your friends list, tag you, or look you up by your phone number or email.

Actionable Tip: Don't try to do it all at once. Pick one platform per evening. Go through every sub-menu in the "Settings and Privacy" section. Your goal isn't to achieve perfect anonymity, but to consciously decide what you're comfortable sharing, rather than accepting the default.

How Your Everyday Habits Leak Data

Protection isn't just about settings; it's about behavior. Some of our most common, convenient habits are data goldmines. Free public Wi-Fi at coffee shops and airports is a classic example. While great for saving mobile data, these networks are often unencrypted, meaning someone on the same network could potentially see what you're doing. Avoid accessing sensitive accounts like banking on public Wi-Fi. If you must, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) which encrypts your connection.

Another habitual leak is oversharing on social media. That fun quiz asking "What's your superhero name?" often combines your birth month and the street you grew up oncommon security question answers. Be mindful of what personal details you reveal in posts, even in seemingly innocent ways. Similarly, be cautious with receipt-scanning apps or loyalty programs that offer small discounts in exchange for incredibly detailed purchase history data.

Your email is a central hub. Using your main email for every online newsletter, store account, and forum sign-up not only creates spam but also links your identity across countless data breaches. A practical habit is to use a "burner" or alias email for non-essential sign-ups. Services like SimpleLogin or Apple's Hide My Email let you create unique, forwardable addresses for each site, keeping your real email compartmentalized and clean.

Actionable Tip: Create an alias email today. Use it the next time you sign up for a retail discount, a newsletter, or a forum. Notice how it keeps your primary inbox cleaner and separates your core identity from commercial interactions.

Tools and Tactics for the Privacy-Conscious

You don't need to be a tech expert to use powerful privacy tools. Think of them as upgrades to your daily digital toolkit. Start with your search engine. Switching from Google to DuckDuckGo or Startpage provides search results without building a detailed, permanent profile of your queries. For browsing, consider alternatives like Firefox or Brave, which have stronger default privacy protections and actively block trackers.

For messaging, move sensitive conversations to apps with end-to-end encryption as the default, like Signal or WhatsApp. This means only you and the person you're talking to can read the messagesnot the app company itself. For your email, consider a provider like Proton Mail that offers end-to-end encryption and is based in Switzerland with strong privacy laws.

At the network level, a reputable VPN service (like Mullvad, Proton VPN, or IVPN) is worth considering if you frequently use public Wi-Fi or want to obscure your browsing activity from your internet service provider. Be wary of free VPNs, as they often make money by collecting and selling your datathe very thing you're trying to avoid.

The Mindset Shift: Valuing Your Data

The most important tool isn't software; it's your mindset. Start viewing your personal data as a valuable asset, not just digital exhaust. Before clicking "Agree" on a long terms-of-service document, ask yourself: "What am I getting, and what am I giving up in return?" Is the convenience of a slightly personalized app worth the intimate profile a company is building? There's no universal right answer, but the act of asking the question puts you back in the driver's seat.

Actionable Tip: Make one switch this month. Change your default search engine to DuckDuckGo. Notice if you miss anything from Google. Often, you'll find the results are just as good for everyday queries, and you've taken a silent step toward reducing your digital footprint.

Living with Balance, Not Paranoia

The goal of data privacy isn't to disappear from the internetthat's nearly impossible and often undesirable in our connected world. The goal is conscious, intentional sharing. It's about understanding the trade-offs and making choices that align with your comfort level. You might decide you love the convenience of a smart speaker, but you'll mute its microphone when discussing sensitive topics. You might use social media to connect with friends, but you'll lock down your profile and audit its settings quarterly.

Remember, privacy is not an all-or-nothing state. It's a spectrum. Every step you takeenabling 2FA, adjusting a setting, using an alias emailreduces your vulnerability and increases your control. You won't stop all data collection, and that's okay. You're shifting the balance of power and reducing the amount of sensitive, linkable information floating in the digital ecosystem.

Start where you are. Use the tools you're comfortable with. The landscape of privacy tools and best practices will continue to evolve, but the core principle remains: your data belongs to you. By taking these practical, incremental steps, you move from a feeling of helplessness to one of empowered management. You decide what your digital shadow looks like.

Actionable Tip: Schedule a quarterly "Privacy Check-up" in your calendar. Spend 15 minutes reviewing the permissions on your most-used apps, checking for any new security features on your accounts, and deleting old accounts you no longer use. Consistent, small maintenance is far more effective than an occasional panic-driven overhaul.
Rumors swirl as 22-year-old Louis Partridge may become the youngest James Bond ever. Discover the future of 007 after Daniel Craig.

AceShowbiz - The race to find the next James Bond has taken an intriguing turn with rumors of a new contender who would become the youngest actor ever to portray the iconic British spy. Since Daniel Craigs last appearance in No Time to Die (2021), the franchise has been searching for its next lead, a process that accelerated after Amazon gained creative control in early 2025. This shift in stewardship was followed by the hiring of director Denis Villeneuve and writer Steven Knight to helm and script the upcoming installment, James Bond 26.

According to a report by Variety, Louis Partridge is now rumored to be in consideration for the role of James Bond. At just 22 years old, Partridge would significantly lower the age bar compared to previous Bonds, who were notably older when cast. For perspective, Sean Connery was 32, Daniel Craig was 38, Pierce Brosnan was 42, and Roger Moore was 45 when they first donned the tuxedo.

Louis Partridge recently appeared in Netflixs series House of Guinness, a period drama created and written by Steven Knight. The show chronicles the story of the Guinness brewing family in 19th-century Ireland. Partridges connection with Knight became public in September 2025 during the premiere of House of Guinness, when he humorously suggested he might impress the writer by swilling a martini, saying nothing  a subtle nod to the signature James Bond drink order.

Partridge is also known for his role in Netflixs Enola Holmes movies and is slated to star in Netflixs upcoming adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Additionally, his recent relationship with pop icon Olivia Rodrigo has kept him in the public eye.

Speculation about Partridges involvement in the James Bond franchise has intensified in the six months since his comments at the House of Guinness premiere. While no official confirmation has been released by Partridges representatives or Amazon MGM Studios, industry whispers align with the rumor that the next 007 will be notably younger than any before him. The term fresh-faced has become a popular descriptor among insiders.

However, the exact meaning of fresh-faced remains ambiguous. At 22, Partridge is younger than other actors rumored for the role, including Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Harris Dickinson. His age even raises questions about how he would handle Bonds classic cocktail preference, given he is barely of legal drinking age in many countries.

It is important to note that Partridges candidacy remains speculative. The next James Bond casting decision is one of the most closely watched and debated topics in cinema, and the lack of official statements means all information should be treated as rumor. Nevertheless, the buzz surrounding a younger, possibly more modern Bond suggests the franchise is preparing for a new chapter under Amazons guidance, with Denis Villeneuve and Steven Knight steering the creative direction.

As the industry awaits further updates, fans and critics alike are eager to see how the next Bond will balance tradition with innovation. If Louis Partridge does secure the role, he will redefine the age expectations for 007.
Natasha Lyonne explains being detained by ICE after taking sleep medication on a flight, addressing reports and apologizing for travel delays.

AceShowbiz - Natasha Lyonne revealed that she was "detained" by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after being escorted off a recent flight, addressing circulating reports about her behavior during the trip.

Responding to a post by E! News on X, Lyonne explained that she had taken Lunesta, a medication for insomnia, to help herself rest ahead of an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show. She mentioned taking the medication to be "bushy tailed & beauty rested" for the interview but noted that the situation took an unexpected turn.

Lyonne shared, "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." She also expressed gratitude for the support she received and sympathized with unpaid TSA workers, stating she had never had issues with Delta or TSA before. She apologized to fellow travelers who experienced delays due to the incident.

ICE agents have been increasingly present at airports nationwide, reportedly to bolster security amid Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff shortages caused by a Department of Homeland Security shutdown. However, a DHS representative, overseeing both ICE and TSA, denied Lyonne's claim, stating, "Neither ICE nor TSA escorted or detained Natasha Lyonne."

According to an initial Page Six report, the incident began when Lyonne allegedly did not respond to flight attendants requests to close her laptop and fasten her seatbelt. Although the plane initially taxied for takeoff, it returned to the gate where crew members assisted Lyonne in deplaning.

In response to the news, Lyonne conveyed her support for TSA agents at airports who remain unpaid during the shutdown and acknowledged missing her scheduled interview with Drew Barrymore. Despite the disruption, she later arrived in New York and was seen attending the premiere of a documentary about Saturday Night Live's Lorne Michaels.

On Friday, Lyonne addressed concerns about her wellbeing with a lighthearted message, encouraging fans to revisit the series Russian Doll, noting that the phrase "are you okay" is her "least favorite of all our generic, small talk phrases."
Neon acquires Cannes competitor 'Hope' by Na Hong-Jin (The Wailing). A major acquisition for the festival's prestigious lineup.

AceShowbiz - Hope is set to join the Cannes Film Festival competition lineup, marking the fifth film Neon has acquired for this prestigious event. The film is directed by Na Hong-Jin, known for his previous work on The Wailing.

Neon has obtained the North American and English-language rights for Hope, further expanding its presence at Cannes. The company reportedly pursued the project aggressively after viewing early footage in November, demonstrating strong confidence in the films potential.

The acquisition highlights Neon's continued commitment to bringing acclaimed international cinema to wider audiences, particularly titles that generate buzz at major festivals like Cannes. Na Hong-Jins involvement adds notable prestige to the competition slate, as the directors work has previously garnered significant attention.

This move by Neon underscores the strategic importance of Cannes as a platform for securing distribution rights to high-profile films. The company's growing lineup at the festival reflects a targeted approach to acquiring compelling, festival-ready projects that resonate with both critics and viewers.

As the Cannes Film Festival approaches, Hope is positioned to be one of the key films to watch, supported by the backing of an experienced distributor. The anticipation for the films premiere is building, given the directors reputation and the early interest from Neon.
Aubrey Plaza & Christopher Abbott's first public date night since pregnancy news. See the happy couple's stylish NYC outing and baby glow.

AceShowbiz - Aubrey Plaza and Christopher Abbott recently shared their first public date night, radiating joy as they prepare to welcome their first child together.

The couple's outing took place shortly after news broke confirming the Parks and Recreation star and the Girls alum are expecting a baby. Their first appearance as a couple was at the after-party for the Broadway premiere of The Death of a Salesman.

Captured at Katz's Deli in New York, the pair looked happy and affectionate, with their arms wrapped around one another. Christopher Abbott wore a gray jacket over a partially buttoned pinstripe shirt, accessorized with gold jewelry that added a subtle touch of elegance.

Aubrey Plaza showcased her pregnancy glow in an all-black outfit, featuring a stylish blazer and several stacked necklaces, combining chic and comfort effortlessly.

This public appearance came just two days after Aubrey Plaza was seen flaunting her baby bump while walking her dog in New York City. On that casual stroll, she kept a low profile with joggers, oversized peacoat, and sunglasses, embracing a relaxed yet fashionable look as she navigated the city streets.

Although the couple only recently confirmed their relationship, their connection goes back several years. They first worked together in 2020 on the film Black Bear, and three years later reunited on stage for the New York production of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea.

During their time working together, the duo shared insights about their professional rapport. Aubrey Plaza described Christopher Abbott as a scene partner who balances caring with a carefree attitude, creating the ideal environment for creativity and fun. She explained to The New York Times in 2023, "He cares but he also doesn't care; it's the best recipe for me for a scene partner." She added that she enjoys a dynamic where she can be playful and not take things too seriously.

Christopher Abbott echoed this sentiment, noting their shared willingness to embrace awkwardness and strangeness onstage. He also highlighted their growing friendship and mutual desire to entertain, confessing, "We want to entertain the audience, but I personally want to entertain Aubrey."
Keanu Reeves stars in Outcome, a dark comedy thriller about a blackmailed Hollywood star. Despite a star-studded cast, the film faces harsh critical reviews.

AceShowbiz - Keanu Reeves stars in the new Apple TV+ film Outcome, a dark comedy thriller directed and written by Jonah Hill. In the movie, Reeves plays Reef Hawk, a troubled former Hollywood star striving to stay sober and rebuild his life. However, his efforts face jeopardy when a mysterious blackmail video threatens to unravel everything he has worked to achieve.

The film also features an ensemble cast including Jonah Hill, who not only directs and writes but also acts in the movie, alongside notable actors like Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer, David Spade, Kaia Gerber, and Laverne Cox. Despite this star-studded lineup, Outcome has received overwhelmingly negative reviews since its release on April 10, 2026.

Critics have been harsh, with the movie earning a dismal 25% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 24 reviews. Many reviewers describe the film as a whiny, woe-is-me plea that suffers from tonal inconsistencies. Some specifically criticize Jonah Hill for detracting from the films potential, saying he gets in the way of his own ideas and story. Despite this, a few critics have praised Keanu Reeves, noting that he appears certainly at his best in this role.

Alex Harrison of ScreenRant called the film an awkward jumble of tones that shoots for greatness and misses, although he acknowledged moments that hint at the materials potential. Harrison also pointed out that casting Reeves as a character plagued by scandal feels mismatched given the actors reputation for staying clear of real-world controversies.

This latest project is not Jonah Hills first time directing. He previously helmed the 2018 film Mid90s, which received a much warmer reception with an 81% Rotten Tomatoes score. Hill also directed the 2022 Netflix documentary Stutz, which earned near-universal acclaim with a 96% rating. That documentary offers a candid look at Hills mental health journey with his therapist Phil Stutz, a respected psychiatrist.

When discussing Outcome with reporters, Hill explained that the film serves as a metaphor for what we all go through living on social media. He elaborated that social platforms have shifted peoples focus toward obsessing over the opinions of strangers instead of valuing the views of those closest to them.

For fans of Keanu Reeves, there is plenty to look forward to despite the disappointing reception of Outcome. Reeves is set to voice Duke Caboom in Pixars upcoming Toy Story 5, and he will star in several high-profile projects including Sonic the Hedgehog 4, Shiver, BRZRKR, and the highly anticipated Constantine 2, marking his return as the titular character.

Outcome is currently available for streaming on Apple TV+. With a runtime of 83 minutes, the film attempts to blend comedy and drama under Jonah Hills direction but has so far failed to resonate with critics or audiences alike, raising questions about the challenges of balancing dark humor with serious themes in contemporary cinema.

Outcome was produced by Alison Goodwin, Jonah Hill, and Matt Dines, with writing credits shared between Hill and Ezra Woods. The films release date was April 10, 2026.

Despite the initial poor critical reception, viewers may still find value in Outcome for its performances, particularly from Keanu Reeves, and its attempt to explore the psychological effects of social media culture through a darkly comedic lens.
Classic villain Wart leaps to the big screen in Super Mario Galaxy, played by Luis Guzman. Discover his villainous role and future in the franchise.

AceShowbiz - The Super Mario Galaxy Movie introduces fans to Wart, a classic villain making his first theatrical appearance, portrayed by Luis Guzman. Known for his extensive career in notable films such as Carlito's Way, Punch-Drunk Love, and Boogie Nights, Guzman now steps into the Super Mario universe as the frog-like antagonist originally from Super Mario Bros. 2. In an exclusive interview with ScreenRants Ash Crossan, Guzman shared insights about Warts character, his reception, and the potential future within the franchise.

When asked about Warts role going forward, Guzman expressed enthusiasm about continuing the characters journey. He revealed that his own children encouraged him to embrace the villainous role, saying, "Be a baddie, Pop, be a baddie." Guzman hopes that Wart will evolve into a baddie with a good heart and remain part of the expanding Super Mario Galaxy universe. He emphasized that fans have been eagerly awaiting Warts appearance for years, and the response to his introduction in the film has been overwhelmingly positive.

Wart originally debuted as the main antagonist in the 1987 Japanese Nintendo game Yume K?j?: Doki Doki Panic, which was reworked into Super Mario Bros. 2 for Western audiences. As a green, frog-like king, Wart seeks to conquer the dream world of Subcon. Despite his prominence in that title, Wart has been largely absent from subsequent Mario games and media, making his role in this film more significant than a mere Easter egg.

In The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Wart is depicted as a casino kingpin within the Gateway Galaxy. While he is not the central antagonist like Bowser and Bowser Jr., Wart plays a pivotal role by providing Princess Peach and Toad with crucial information about Rosalinas whereabouts. This portrayal aligns with the increasingly nuanced depiction of Mario villains, who are shown grappling with their own emotions and complexities. Warts position as ruler of his domain and his potential good-hearted baddie nature complement the evolving characterizations seen in the franchise.

The film also explores Bowsers vulnerabilities, highlighting his struggles with his smaller size and internal conflicts. This depth almost leads Bowser to assist Mario and Luigi, showcasing the franchises trend toward more emotionally layered antagonists. Warts inclusion further signals Nintendos intention to diversify its villain roster beyond Bowser, tapping into lesser-used characters from earlier Mario lore.

This approach reflects a broader creative strategy to revisit the franchises origins while expanding its cinematic universe. By spotlighting a character like Wart, the film opens the door for other classic villains and unique environments from the Mario series to be introduced in future installments. Fans enthusiastic reaction to Warts debut suggests strong support for this direction.

Luis Guzman himself has portrayed characters who embody a mix of toughness and heart, making him an apt choice for Wart. His past roles include Maurice Rodriguez in Boogie Nights, Jose Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha in Narcos, and Gomez Addams in the series Wednesday. This background adds a layer of depth to his performance as a complex villain in the Super Mario universe.

While the long-term trajectory of Warts character remains uncertain, Guzmans comments and fan excitement indicate that Warts presence could become a staple in future Super Mario projects. His appearance may also hint at the arrival of new villains, galaxies, or characters, enriching the franchises storytelling possibilities.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was released on April 1, 2026, with a runtime of 98 minutes. Directed by Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Pierre Leduc, and Fabien Polack, the film was written by Matthew Fogel and produced by Chris Meledandri and Shigeru Miyamoto. The voice cast features Chris Pratt as Mario and Charlie Day as Luigi, continuing the successful expansion of the Mario cinematic universe following The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

As Nintendo continues to explore its vast library of characters and worlds, Warts cinematic debut marks a promising step toward deeper, richer storytelling. Fans can look forward to seeing how this intriguing villains story unfolds in the galaxy-spanning adventures ahead.
Cardi B seeks severe penalties against blogger Tasha K for allegedly violating a non-disparagement agreement in their $3.9M defamation case.

AceShowbiz - Cardi B is demanding that blogger Tasha K face stringent "economically painful" penalties after allegedly violating a non-disparagement agreement related to a longstanding defamation dispute. The Grammy-winning rapper claims that despite the legal agreement, Tasha Kebe, known professionally as Tasha K, has persisted in disparaging her and her family.

In a motion filed last Friday and obtained by Rolling Stone, Cardi B asserts that Tasha Kebe repeatedly breached a non-disparagement clause incorporated within Kebes Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan. According to court documents, the agreement explicitly prohibits Kebe from making derogatory remarks about Cardi B, born Belcalis Almanzar, or her estranged husband, Offset, whose legal name is Kiari Cephus.

The arrangement, as outlined in the filing, required Almanzar to postpone efforts to collect the full $3.9 million defamation judgment she was awarded against Kebe four years ago. Instead, Kebe agreed to pay $1.2 million over the first five years of the plan. This deal was meant to prevent further litigation and enable a structured repayment to Kebes creditors.

However, the newly submitted motion alleges that Kebe began violating the terms shortly after the agreement was confirmed in March. The motion describes Kebes conduct as a "relentless course" of harassment directed at Almanzar and her family through subtle references and provocative comments. These posts were allegedly designed to be recognized by Kebes sizable audience of more than one million social media followers.

Cardi B's legal team highlights that some of Kebes disparaging posts involved references to Almanzars former partner, Stefon Diggs, as well as allusions to an alleged feud between Almanzar and fellow rapper Nicki Minaj. Despite repeated warnings from Cardis lawyers, Kebe continued to post comments about Offset multiple times in the week leading up to the motions filing, including less than an hour prior.

One such example was a video Kebe posted on X, where she laughed and claimed, "Offset works at the casino, he is down there five days a week, clocking in." She further alleged that he gambled with other peoples money and suggested that his gambling habits contributed to the end of their relationship. Kebe also stated that shortly before Offset was injured in a shooting at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, he had suffered significant financial losses.

The motion accuses Kebe of openly admitting in public forums that she intends to resume her harassment of Cardi B once her debt is paid off, which the filing describes as a particularly egregious pattern of defiance. Cardis attorneys claim they have had to vigilantly monitor Kebes social media accounts over the past year to document more than two dozen violations of the non-disparagement clause.

According to the court documents, "Debtor still believes that she is above the law, consequences, and is invulnerable," underscoring the ongoing challenges Cardis team faces in enforcing the agreement. The legal filing requests the court to impose sanctions that would have a significant financial impact on Kebe as a deterrent for further breaches.

Chad Van Horn, Kebes attorney, did not respond immediately to requests for comment on the latest filings. However, in a statement to Rolling Stone last year, Van Horn characterized his clients bankruptcy plan as a "milestone" resolution that avoids prolonged litigation by enabling creditors to recover about 30 percent of their claims, excluding Almanzar. He emphasized that the agreement allows Kebe to concentrate on her work while repaying her debts in an organized manner.

The underlying defamation lawsuit that triggered the $3.9 million judgment involved Cardi B alleging a "campaign of slander" by Kebe, which included false claims that Almanzar had herpes, used cocaine, and engaged in prostitution. During the trial, Almanzar testified about the severe emotional distress caused by these defamatory statements, including anxiety and depression that affected her health and personal relationships.

Sources close to the trial told Rolling Stone that Almanzar described significant fluctuations in weight and relationship issues as a result of the stress induced by Kebes videos and online posts. The jury ultimately ruled in favor of Almanzar, awarding her the substantial defamation damages that remain partially unpaid.

This latest court action underscores ongoing tensions as Cardi B seeks to enforce the terms of the prior settlement and hold Tasha K accountable for alleged ongoing harassment. The motion for sanctions seeks to compel compliance and prevent further disparagement that could harm Almanzars reputation and well-being.

With the battle now entering another phase in Florida bankruptcy court, the outcome may set important precedents regarding the enforcement of non-disparagement agreements amid bankruptcy proceedings and the limits of online speech in defamation cases.
Freddie Gibbs & 6ix9ine criticize Gucci Mane over his new diss track "Crash Dummy," sparking debate about lyrics resembling courtroom testimony.

AceShowbiz - Freddie Gibbs and 6ix9ine have publicly criticized Gucci Mane in response to his recent track "Crash Dummy."

The controversy erupted after the release of Gucci Mane's song, which appears to reference rapper Pooh Shiesty amid ongoing legal troubles involving Pooh and his associate Big30. The case reportedly centers on a Dallas incident described by prosecutors as a setup disguised as a business meeting that escalated into kidnapping and robbery allegations.

In "Crash Dummy," Gucci Mane portrays himself as an unsuspecting victim caught in the middle. His lyrics include, "Tell the truth, you went out like a real crash dummy, and after all that, boy, you still signed to me," followed by, "I walk in the room, you can feel the pressure building/N***a dapped me up there, whole time they plotting against me." These lines have sparked debate about whether the song resembles courtroom testimony set to music.

Freddie Gibbs reacted swiftly on Instagram Stories after hearing the track, expressing disbelief and disappointment. He remarked, "This sh#t gotta be A.I.," and called out the beat producer by saying, "N***a snitched on a Zaytoven beat, that's crazy!" His response suggested that he views the song as a form of snitching.

Adding fuel to the fire, 6ix9ine joined the discussion with his characteristic boldness. Claiming he is uniquely qualified to comment on the situation, 6ix9ine reiterated his stance on snitching, similar to his previous accusations against rapper Gunna.

Complicating matters, federal authorities have alleged that Gucci Mane provided statements that contributed to securing warrants in the case, which intensifies the snitching accusations from a cultural standpoint. While the hip-hop community traditionally disapproves of cooperating with law enforcement, opinions can shift depending on personal circumstances.

The debate raises the question: Is Gucci Mane simply sharing his truth through his music, or has he crossed into what some consider the realm of snitching? It's worth noting that perceptions of snitching have evolved in 2026 compared to previous years, adding complexity to how this controversy is viewed.
Hollywood's risky reboot era: Why studios bet on indie directors for major franchises, and what veterans like Ridley Scott warned could go wrong.

AceShowbiz - About twelve years ago, Hollywood studios embarked on a trend of rebooting iconic franchises by entrusting relatively inexperienced directors and emerging stars with major projects. This strategy, however, was met with skepticism from veterans like Ridley Scott, who emphasized the importance of experience in managing big-budget films. He noted in an interview that his ability to efficiently complete large-scale movies stemmed from knowing how to handle such productions, a skill he believed younger filmmakers with limited indie credits lacked.

This approach was evident when the director Gareth Edwards was chosen to helm Godzilla after his small-scale sci-fi debut Monsters. Similarly, Brazilian filmmaker Jose Padilha was tapped to reboot the RoboCop franchise, likely due to his success with police-themed blockbusters in his native country. The reboot, released in 2014, assembled a cast that combined rising talent and seasoned actors.

The film starred Swedish actor Joel Kinnaman, who had recently gained attention for his role in Snabba Cash. Around the same period, his fellow Swede Alexander Skarsgard also rose to prominence, starring in another reboot, The Legend of Tarzan. In the RoboCop remake, Kinnaman was supported by respected veterans including Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, and Samuel L. Jackson. Despite this formidable ensemble and a director with a strong vision, the film struggled to meet expectations.

RoboCop earned just under $250 million worldwide against a hefty budget of $130 million, which was considered underwhelming given the scale and profile of the project. Critically, the movie received mixed responses, reflected in its 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The site's consensus read: "While it's far better than it could have been, Jose Padilha's RoboCop remake fails to offer a significant improvement over the original."

Fans of the original franchise were particularly disappointed; they rated the reboot at 49% on Rotten Tomatoes. One fan harshly described it as "An insult to the original. Garbage." Despite this lukewarm reception, the film provided a platform for Joel Kinnaman to expand his career in Hollywood.

Following RoboCop, Kinnaman took one of the lead roles in David Ayers Suicide Squad, stepping in to replace Tom Hardy. He later reprised this role in James Gunns The Suicide Squad. Additionally, Kinnaman starred in Netflixs sci-fi series Altered Carbon, demonstrating his continued presence in high-profile genre projects.

The RoboCop remake is currently available for free streaming on Pluto TV, making it accessible to a new generation of viewers who may reassess its merits. This availability could offer the film a chance at renewed appreciation, despite its initial divisive reception.

RoboCop is a science fiction action crime film rated PG-13 with a runtime of 118 minutes. It was released on February 12, 2014, under the direction of Jose Padilha. The screenplay was written by Joshua Zetumer, Michael Miner, and Edward Neumeier, with producers Eric Newman, Gary Barber, and Marc Abraham overseeing the project. The film is part of the broader RoboCop franchise, which includes the original and its two sequels.

In conclusion, the RoboCop reboot stands as an example of Hollywoods early 2010s experiment with fresh talent on major IPs. Though it did not achieve critical or commercial acclaim comparable to the original, its cast and crew have gone on to notable successes, and the film remains accessible for viewers to revisit and judge anew.
Cary Elwes honors director Rob Reiner on his 79th birthday with a touching Princess Bride tribute, remembering the filmmaker after his tragic death.

AceShowbiz - Cary Elwes paid a heartfelt tribute to his late friend and director Rob Reiner on what would have been the acclaimed filmmakers 79th birthday.

On Friday, the star of The Princess Bride shared a touching post on Instagram featuring a photo of himself alongside Reiner, accompanied by the Oscar-nominated theme song "Storybook Love," which is famously associated with the fantasy comedy classic.

Today would have been your 79th birthday, Elwes wrote, honoring the man who directed the beloved film. Still hard to believe youre gone. Missing you so much #robreiner ???.

Rob Reiner and his wife Michele tragically passed away on December 14 in a double homicide caused by multiple sharp force injuries, according to the Los Angeles Medical Examiners report. Their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, who has faced past struggles with mental health and addiction, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances. Nick pleaded not guilty to the charges in February.

Following the devastating loss, numerous friends and colleagues in Hollywood have spoken out, remembering Rob and Michele as a remarkable couple and a powerful presence in the community.

At the end of December, Elwes posted a longer reflection on Instagram, honoring the late couple as a great team. He praised their dedication not to fame itself, but to using their platform to support causes close to their hearts, especially helping marginalized groups.

To say that they were a great team would be an understatement, Elwes wrote. Their only interest in fame was that it allowed them to shine a light on causes they believed in, especially helping those who were marginalized. In a town where many talk the talk, they truly walked it.

Elwes also fondly remembered working on The Princess Bride with Reiner, highlighting the joy and laughter present throughout the filming process. I cant remember a single day without laughter, he said. The movie is about love, loyalty and sacrifice. Things that Rob held dear. Which is among the many reasons he was the perfect person to direct it.

In a similar vein, Elwes co-star Mandy Patinkin shared his grief publicly. Calling the loss an unthinkable tragedy, Patinkin expressed the emotional turmoil he faced in the wake of the deaths.

I cant breathe, but Im breathing, Patinkin said. Im howling at the gods every moment, then I talk to a friend or myself and quiet down and I realize the gods are not to blame, the tsunami of tragedy is the responsibility of human beings.

The tragic events surrounding the Reiner family reverberated deeply throughout Hollywood, with friends and fans alike mourning the loss of two cherished individuals.
Watch Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band's tour debut of "Streets of Minneapolis," a powerful protest song and tribute from their opening night.

AceShowbiz - The iconic Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have unveiled two compelling videos from the inaugural night of their Land of Hope and Dreams tour, spotlighting a politically charged performance and a heartfelt homage.

The tour launched on March 31 in Minneapolis, the very city that inspired Springsteens recent protest song, "Streets of Minneapolis," which made its live debut with the full band. The track addresses the harsh immigration enforcement by ICE in the city along with the tragic deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Before performing the song, Springsteen spoke directly to the audience about the resilience of Minneapolis amid federal troop intervention. He said, "This past winter, federal troops brought death and terror to the streets of Minneapolis. Well, they picked the wrong town." He praised the citys unity and strength, calling it an inspiration for the entire country and a symbol that such oppression will not stand.

In addition to the powerful protest anthem, the band also paid tribute to Minneapolis by covering Princes legendary "Purple Rain." Introducing the performance, Springsteen referred to Prince as the "Maestro." The cover featured standout solos by band members Nils Lofgren and Tom Morello, who shared the iconic guitar parts with electrifying energy.

The Land of Hope and Dreams tour was announced in February and kicked off just over a month later, underscoring the urgency Springsteen feels about addressing current political topics through his music. He has described this tour as both political and very topical, reflecting the pressing social issues that inspired the new setlist and performances.

These videos mark a significant moment as Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band use their platform to spotlight activism and honor musical legends while connecting deeply with their audience from the very first night of the tour.
Teresa Giudice reveals if she'll film with brother Joe & Melissa Gorga on RHONJ. Will the family feud finally end? Get the latest update.

AceShowbiz - Teresa Giudice recently spoke about the potential reunion with her brother, Joe Gorga, and his wife, Melissa Gorga, on The Real Housewives of New Jersey following a significant hiatus in filming.

During the April 9 episode of the "Couple Things" podcast, Teresa Giudice, 53, shared that the process of working together again is progressing cautiously. She said, "It's baby steps and we're not sure if we're going to film together or not. Bravo hasn't said anything. But, if we do ... there's a running joke that I don't watch my show but this time I'm going to definitely watch it."

Teresa expressed hope for mutual support as they move forward, stating, "Hopefully, we'll both have each other's backs. That's all I want. I love that. I want to show America what my family was really about, how I was raised. My brother and I always had each other's backs."

The star admitted that the reality series was put on a two-year break due to the toxic nature of her relationship with the Gorgas. The network halted production after the cast could not agree to film a season 14 reunion in 2024.

Joe Gorga, 51, also shared his surprise at the reconciliation during the March 31 episode of the "Casual Chaos" podcast. He revealed his initial confusion and disbelief, saying, "I was like, 'Is this real? This is my sister.' I was very confused."

Bravo confirmed in March that Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga, 47, and Dolores Catania will return for season 15 of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Although the full cast announcement remains pending, production is expected to begin this spring. Meanwhile, former cast members Margaret Josephs, Jennifer Aydin, and Jackie Goldschneider have all confirmed they will not return for the upcoming season.

This surprising development follows the off-camera reconciliation of Teresa and the Gorgas, which they revealed at BravoCon 2025 last November.

Melissa Gorga shared with Us Weekly at BravoCon 2025 that seeing her husband's relief was a key factor. She said, "I saw my husband's relief [over the reconciliation], and for me, that's the most important thing. It's the siblings, and it's the kids, and this trickles down." Melissa added, "To see the relief in Joe's eyes and in his face, to me, I'm like, 'I'm game. Let's go. Let's do this.'"

She acknowledged the difficulty of fully unpacking past conflicts, explaining, "We can't really hash it out too deep, because we'll just keep circling back. It's better to just say, 'Listen, we've all made some mistakes here, and it's time to move forward.'"

Despite some fans skepticism, Teresa Giudice assured Us Weekly that her decision to reconcile with the Gorgas is sincere. At BravoCon 2025, she said, "Ask my brother, I'm the type that holds grudges. I'm very old school. For me to do this, it's real. He said he was waiting for me because he knew how upset I was about things."

Teresa also criticized those doubtful of the family reunion, stating that anyone who questions it must have a "mean heart" and a "mean soul." She emphasized the importance of family unity, adding, "Everybody should want family to be together. I want to show America what a real Italian family looks like."

She contrasted her own family with her ex-husbands, saying, "My ex's family? They are all together, united. That's what I always wanted. I want to show America that we could be united, and I want to show our children that too. It's really important."

The ongoing drama between Teresa Giudice and the Gorgas has been a major storyline on The Real Housewives of New Jersey since Melissa officially joined the cast in season 3. Their conflicts have included a family christening feud and Teresa denying rumors that Melissa was a stripper before meeting Joe Gorga, 52, among other disputes.

While the two sides have reconciled previously, their relationship has been marked by repeated fallouts over time.

As of now, The Real Housewives of New Jersey continues to air on Bravo, with previous seasons available to stream on Peacock.
A darkly comedic musical about a real NYC murder case. 'Luigi: The Musical' opens near the crime scene this June. Based on true events.

AceShowbiz - A daring new musical comedy titled Luigi Mangione is set to debut in New York City this June, dramatizing the real-life events surrounding the alleged murder of an insurance executive by Mangione.

Following its initial run in San Francisco last June, Luigi: The Musical will open at The Green Room 42, a cabaret venue in Midtown Manhattan, on June 15. This location is notably close to the actual crime scene where Mangione stands accused of fatally shooting insurance executive Brian Thompson outside a Hilton Hotel in December 2024.

The timing of this New York premiere has raised eyebrows, as the musicals subject matter revolves around a recent and highly publicized murder trial. Remarkably, the original production began just six months after the incident, with actor Jonny Stein portraying the 27-year-old Mangione in a Northern California theater, delivering musical numbers that mixed tap dancing with dark comedy.

While Mangione takes center stage and reportedly receives enthusiastic audience reactions, the musical also features other infamous figures. Luigi imagines Mangione sharing a Brooklyn prison cell with convicted crypto fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried and disgraced hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs. The three men were indeed incarcerated simultaneously at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

In the show, the trio perform songs attempting to justify their alleged misdeeds, creating a satirical yet unsettling atmosphere. Among the musical numbers are Cats in the Clink, where characters express their motives and feelings about their crimes. Luigi Mangione himself sings about his belief that bringing down a tiny part of our broken health care system is a cause worth his drastic actions.

One of the more lighthearted yet controversial songs features Luigi reminiscing about ordering hashbrowns at McDonald'sa reference to the fast-food restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he was arrested. Other tunes include The Cheapest Room in Brooklyn, which humorously addresses prison life, and Bay Area Baby, performed by Bankman-Fried.

Critical reception has been mixed and often harsh. A San Francisco Chronicle reviewer described the production as terrible, while a writer for SFGATE admitted the show shot me through the heart, reflecting discomfort with the subject matter presented in a comedic format.

The New York cast has yet to be announced, but the production team insists that the musical aims to interrogate rather than glorify violence. Lisa Bonos, a former Washington Post reporter who covered the San Francisco run, likened Luigi to a Chicago for the TikTok era, highlighting the shows blend of serious themes like crime and societal distrust with dark humor that provokes both laughter and unease.

Songwriter Arielle Johnson and director Nova Bradford emphasize on the musicals official website that their work does not romanticize the violent acts depicted. Bradford told The Chronicle, Were not valorizing any of these characters, and were also not trivializing any of their actions or alleged actions, underscoring the creators intent to handle the material with complexity.

The show originally launched as a modest four-actor production in 2025, quickly selling out its five performances at a 40-seat San Francisco theater, prompting an additional show to accommodate demand. It later expanded to a larger 500-seat venue, The Independent, and even participated in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

International critics have not been universally receptive. A British reviewer on Binge Fringe recounted a stark divide between audience reactions and his own, noting that while many laughed uncontrollably, he found no humor in the materials darker elements.

The upcoming New York performance will be a staged reading rather than a full-scale production, scheduled for a single night only on June 15. This coincides with the impending state court trial where Mangione faces the possibility of life imprisonment if convicted for the planned shooting of Thompson on a Midtown sidewalk.

Luigi: The Musical boldly explores themes of crime, justice, and societal fracture through a provocative blend of satire and real-life tragedy. As it brings this controversial story to the stage in the city where the crime occurred, audiences are invited to grapple with discomfort, laughter, and reflection on the complexities of contemporary American life.
Maggie Gyllenhaal reimagines the Bride of Frankenstein. Starring Christian Bale & Jessie Buckley, the film gives the iconic character her own voice and story...

AceShowbiz - The Bride! marks the second directorial effort from Maggie Gyllenhaal, who reimagines the classic Bride of Frankenstein character with a fresh perspective. The film, set in 1930s Chicago, centers on Frankensteins monster, known as Frank and played by Christian Bale, who seeks a companion created by Dr. Euphronius, portrayed by Annette Bening. This companion, the Bride, is brought to life from a murdered young woman and is played by Jessie Buckley.

Gyllenhaal explained how the idea for this film originated from her viewing the original 1935 movie The Bride of Frankenstein. I watched the [1935] movie The Bride of Frankenstein and I didn't know, but she's only in it for two minutes and she doesn't say one word, she recalled. This brevity sparked her curiosity about the Brides inner thoughts and feelings after being resurrected and expected to marry a stranger.

The film explores these questions by giving the Bride her full story and voice, diverging from previous adaptations. The setting in 1930s Chicago provides a rich backdrop for this narrative exploration, where the emotional and physical realities of these characters come to life.

Jessie Buckley stars as the Bride, a role she and Gyllenhaal developed together after collaborating on the 2021 film The Lost Daughter. At the New York premiere on March 3, Gyllenhaal shared her admiration for Buckley, describing their connection as both artistic and soulful. She was so wonderful and also spoke my language in a way that I've never encountered in quite the same way, Gyllenhaal said, highlighting their deep creative bond.

Costume design played a significant role in achieving the films realistic yet iconic look. The Bride wears a single dress throughout the movie, and Gyllenhaal emphasized the importance of making it feel lived-in and authenticconsidering how one might sweat, stain, tear, and wear the garment over time. This approach was intended to ground the supernatural story in tangible reality.

Similarly, the monsters appearance was carefully crafted to balance horror with realism. I wanted him to be scary like a monster but very real, Gyllenhaal explained. She aimed for a look that resembled a face sewn together from different parts, avoiding the artificiality of a Halloween mask. The design evokes a graphic novel style while maintaining a visceral sense of authenticity.

Christian Bale, who previously worked with Gyllenhaal on The Dark Knight, praised the script upon receiving it. He described it as one of the best, most radical, bold and just naughty scripts he had read in a long time and expressed surprise that a studio would invest heavily in such a project.

Bale credited Warner Bros. executives Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy for their support, noting how studios typically make cautious decisions but in this case chose bravery and love for cinema. Theyre making choices based on bravery, based on genuine love of cinema, based on love of filmmakers as well and it's really paying off for them, he said. He also expressed pride in being part of a project contributing to the revival of theatrical releases.

Gyllenhaals cast also includes her husband Peter Sarsgaard and brother Jake Gyllenhaal, alongside Penelope Cruz, Julianne Hough, and John Magar. The film is scheduled to premiere in theaters on Friday, promising a unique and thought-provoking take on a classic horror tale.

Maggie Gyllenhaals vision for The Bride! combines iconic imagery with deeply human storytelling, inviting audiences to reconsider the story of Frankensteins bride through fresh emotional and visual lenses. The films blend of period detail, psychological depth, and innovative design sets it apart as a bold reimagining of a legendary character.

As The Bride! prepares to hit theaters, anticipation grows for how this nuanced portrayal of the Bride and Frankensteins monster will resonate with contemporary audiences and critics alike.
Berlinale confirms Tricia Tuttle as director, reaffirms festival independence amid controversy over leadership and political stance.

AceShowbiz - Tricia Tuttle will continue as the director of the Berlin International Film Festival, the Berlinale announced following a supervisory board meeting held on Wednesday. This confirmation comes amid recent controversy and media speculation surrounding her leadership and the festivals political stance.

In an official statement, the Berlinale emphasized the supervisory boards reaffirmation of "the importance of the independence of our work." This statement directly addressed and refuted reports from the German tabloid Bild, which had claimed that Tuttles ongoing role as director was contingent upon the festival and its guests agreeing to a new "code of conduct." This proposed code was said to include measures specifically aimed at combating "antisemitism."

The festival clarified that the supervisory board only issued "recommendations rather than conditions related to Tuttles continued employment." The responsibility to consider and implement these recommendations now lies with the Berlinale itself, which will undertake a thorough review moving forward.

The controversy intensified after the Berlinale awards ceremony on February 21, when several filmmakers expressed pro-Palestinian views during their acceptance speeches. Among them was Syrian-Palestinian director Abdallah Al-Khatib, who received the top prize in the Perspectives section for his film Chronicles From the Siege. In his speech, he criticized the German government, accusing it of "being partners in the genocide in Gaza by Israel." This prompted German Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider to walk out of the ceremony in protest.

Adding fuel to the fire, Bild published a photo from the films February 15 premiere showing Tuttle posing with the Chronicles From the Siege team. Several filmmakers in the image were wearing keffiyehs and holding Palestinian flags, which Bild used to question the festivals impartiality and Tuttles position.

Despite the backlash, a strong wave of support for Tuttle has emerged from the international film community. Approximately 2,500 film professionals, including notable figures such as Sean Baker, Nancy Spielberg, Kleber Mendonca Filho, and Tilda Swinton, have signed an open letter endorsing her continued leadership at the Berlinale.

Furthermore, on Tuesday, 32 directors of major global film festivals publicly expressed their backing of Tuttle. Signatories include Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Fremaux, Toronto Film Festival CEO Cameron Bailey, San Sebastian Festival director Jose Luis Rebordinos, Rotterdam Festival head Vanja Kaludjercic, and Locarno Festival director Giona A. Nazzaro. Their joint letter highlighted their trust in Tuttles leadership and stressed the importance of institutional independence for the festival.

On Wednesday, the Presidium of the German Film Academy, represented by actress Vicky Krieps and director Florian Gallenberger, welcomed the news of Tuttles continued tenure. They described it as "an important signalfor the festival, for the industry, and for the public." They underscored that preserving the autonomy of cultural institutions is essential to artistic freedom and democratic values. The German Film Academy, alongside many associations and filmmakers, remains committed to safeguarding this independence now and in the future.

As the Berlinale moves ahead, the festival is poised to review the supervisory boards recommendations carefully while maintaining its dedication to artistic freedom and institutional autonomy. Tricia Tuttles leadership will continue to play a central role in shaping the direction of one of the worlds most prestigious film festivals amidst ongoing debates around politics, art, and free expression.
Satirizing Silicon Valley's greed, The Audacity's dark humor feels too familiar in 2026. A therapist's insider trading collides with a CEO's downfall.

AceShowbiz - The new AMC series The Audacity attempts to deliver a biting satire of Silicon Valleys ruthless culture, but its timing and approach leave much to be desired. Created by Jonathan Glatzer, known for his work on Succession and Better Call Saul, the show aims to expose the greed and moral bankruptcy of tech elites. However, in 2026s highly charged tech environment, the dark humor often feels familiar rather than fresh.

The Audacity centers on Duncan, portrayed by Billy Magnussen, a startup CEO teetering on the edge of professional disaster. Duncans therapist, JoAnne (played by Sarah Goldberg), navigates her own ethical dilemmas despite her relatively affluent lifestyle. Though she and her husband Gary (Paul Adelstein) can afford to rent an $8 million home, they cannot buy it. JoAnne supplements her income through insider trading, using confidential information from her tech-industry clients. When Duncan discovers her scheme, he quickly turns it to his advantage, blackmailing her into funneling tips and connections that might salvage his career.

From this starting point, The Audacity weaves a complex narrative of shifting alliances, betrayals, and power plays. Duncan pursues a notoriously difficult industry veteran, Bardolph (played by Zach Galifianakis), hoping to secure investment while fending off a government contract from Tom (Rob Corddry), an idealistic Iraq War veteran. The show further explores personal tensions, such as those between Anushka (Meaghan Rath), the ineffective chief ethicist at a Google-like corporation, and her inventive but eccentric husband Martin (Simon Helberg). A subplot involving the private high school Las Altas, where the characters children attend, adds additional layers but ultimately confuses the storyline.

The Audacity tackles several hot-button issues in the tech world, including privacy, artificial intelligence, and the manosphere, seen through the experiences of JoAnnes son Orson (Everett Blunck). The series presents a cold, unflinching vision of a tech industry populated by geniuses who lack self-awareness. Everyone seeks control and profit, but no one offers a compelling vision beyond monetization. Attempts to do good either lead to humiliation or lucrative compromises, underscoring the cynical worldview of the show.

This bleak portrayal aligns closely with real-world perceptions of Silicon Valley. Lines like Raising money on frothy numbers to sugarcoat the rotten apple is what built this town. Its not fraud, read less like satire and more like excerpts from exposes of tech scandals. The show even echoes calls for reform, as characters mock regulatory efforts as deliberate jokes and boast of data-mining algorithms that would make the Patriot Act blush, suggesting an awareness of the industrys darker realities.

However, reflecting reality is not the same as offering fresh insight or humor. Many of the show's jokes feel stale, especially in 2026, when real-life tech scandals and controversies have outpaced fictional portrayals. Duncans pride in being a sociopathic venture capitalist parallels real profiles of figures like OpenAIs CEO Sam Altman, described similarly by multiple sources. JoAnnes insider trading strategies might feel outdated compared to real-world prediction markets. This gap between fiction and the present-day tech landscape undermines the show's impact.

Unlike series such as Succession or Industrywhich also explore ruthless environments with complex charactersThe Audacity falls short in character development. Despite strong performances from a talented cast, including Magnussen, Goldberg, and Galifianakis, the characters feel like broad archetypes embodying Silicon Valleys vices rather than nuanced individuals. Their motivations boil down to greed, arrogance, and selfishness, with little internal conflict or growth over the eight one-hour episodes.

This lack of depth diminishes the shows emotional resonance and narrative drive. While the characters differ in energy, they share the same base flaws and ambitions, making them feel interchangeable. Even as the series delves into their psyches, it often abstracts their personalities to the point of detachment, ironically fitting for a show prominently featuring therapists but ultimately failing to humanize its subjects.

One telling moment comes when JoAnne snaps at Duncan for sharing her private information gleaned through surveillance: Information is not insight. This line encapsulates the series core problemit knows a lot about Silicon Valleys dark underbelly but struggles to offer a meaningful or entertaining perspective. The Audacity succeeds in painting a believable, if depressing, portrait of the tech industrys id, but it lacks the wit or originality to elevate that portrait into compelling television.

For viewers interested in the absurd and often toxic realities of tech culture, The Audacity may provide a grim reflection, but it rarely surprises or provokes laughter. Given that real-world tech controversies continue to unfold with shocking regularity, audiences might find more drama and satire by simply following current news rather than tuning into this series.

In sum, while The Audacity boasts a talented cast and a topical premise, its timing and execution hold it back. The series is too close to reality to be entertaining and too shallow to offer insightful commentary. As a result, it struggles to stand out in a crowded media landscape where Silicon Valleys excesses and ethical failures are already well documented and widely critiqued.
Cartoon Saloon, Oscar-nominated studio behind Song of the Sea, names Anthony Leo as new CEO to lead its strategic expansion.

AceShowbiz - The acclaimed Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon, known for producing Oscar-nominated films like Song of the Sea and The Breadwinner, is welcoming a new CEO as it prepares for the future.

Anthony Leo has joined the company, transitioning from Canada's Aircraft Pictures, where he co-produced the Oscar-nominated animated feature The Breadwinner alongside Cartoon Saloon. His appointment marks a leadership change following the retirement of managing director Gerry Shirren, who stepped down at the end of 2025 after 12 years with the studio.

Unlike his predecessors title of managing director, Leo has been appointed CEO and will be responsible for directing the strategic growth of Cartoon Saloon. He will collaborate closely with the companys co-founders Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey, and Paul Young to steer the studios expansion in feature films, television series, and emerging digital platforms.

This leadership transition reflects Cartoon Saloons ongoing commitment to creative storytelling and innovation in animation. With Leos background in producing critically acclaimed animated projects and his fresh perspective, the studio aims to build on its success and further establish its presence in the global animation industry.

As Cartoon Saloon moves forward under new leadership, the animation community will be watching to see how the studio evolves and what new projects emerge under Leos guidance.
Stream the Oscar-nominated political thriller The Secret Agent on Hulu. Set in 1970s Brazil's dictatorship, Wagner Moura delivers a powerhouse performance.

AceShowbiz - The Secret Agent is now available to stream on Hulu, offering viewers an intense political thriller set in Brazil during the late 1970s. Directed and written by Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonca Filho, this film has garnered widespread critical acclaim and emerged as a strong contender in the 2026 awards season. Its lead, Wagner Moura, delivers a powerful performance that earned him a Best Actor nomination at the Oscars, following his Golden Globe win earlier the same year.

The story follows a teacher living under the oppressive conditions of Brazils military dictatorship, which lasted from 1964 to 1985. Facing persecution, his character seeks refuge among other political dissidents as they struggle for survival in a climate marked by violence and censorship. The films gripping narrative is anchored by these fictional characters but is deeply embedded in the historical realities of the era.

Many viewers have wondered whether The Secret Agent is based on a true story. The answer is nuanced. While the protagonist, Armando Solimoes, portrayed by Wagner Moura, is a fictional creation, the backdrop of the story is firmly rooted in historical events. The film reflects the harsh realities of Brazils military regime, which was notorious for its acts of brutality, including torture, forced disappearances, and the suppression of the press.

One of the films central plot points involves a peculiar and unsettling incident: a severed human leg is discovered inside a sharks stomach, prompting an investigation by a corrupt fictional Civil Police chief named Euclides. This gruesome detail sparks sensational headlines in the city of Recife, where the story is set. Later scenes depict the leg seemingly coming to life and attacking gay men in a park, symbolizing the targeted violence against marginalized communities during this time.

This element of the film draws inspiration from a real urban legend known as the "hairy leg" or "Perna Cabeluda," which originated around 1975 in Sao Lourenco da Mata, near Recife. Although the film invents the detail about the leg being found inside a shark, the legend itself is a well-known piece of local folklore. As director Kleber Mendonca Filho explained, the "hairy leg" was actually a coded expression used by a local journalist to hint at police brutality and oppression, especially against the gay population, during an era when direct reporting on such violence was heavily censored.

In the context of the film, the eerie scenes with the severed leg serve as a metaphor for the hidden and systemic violence inflicted by state authorities. When the characters read about the leg in the newspaper, they understand it is a veiled reference to the abuses perpetrated by the Civil Police, rather than a literal horror story. This use of allegory reflects the creative approach the filmmakers took to depict the realities of life under dictatorship.

Beyond this urban legend, The Secret Agent incorporates other authentic historical details to enrich its setting. For example, the film references the release of Steven Spielbergs blockbuster Jaws in Brazil in 1976, which adds to the period atmosphere. It also includes scenes revolving around Carnival, the iconic Brazilian festival that precedes Lent, anchoring the narrative firmly in Brazilian culture and time.

Despite these real-world elements, the film remains a work of historical fiction. Its characters and personal stories are invented to explore broader truths about Brazils military dictatorship and the terror it inflicted on its citizens. The blending of factual context with fictional storytelling allows Kleber Mendonca Filho to create a vivid, compelling portrait of a dark chapter in Brazilian history, while engaging audiences through a suspenseful narrative.

The Secret Agent has not only captivated audiences but also become a significant awards contender. It is nominated for Best Picture at the 2026 Academy Awards, positioning it among the top films of the year. Wagner Mouras portrayal of the teacher caught in political turmoil has earned him a Best Actor nomination, highlighting the strength of his performance and the films emotional impact.

For those interested in movies that delve into historical and political themes, The Secret Agent is a must-watch. Its release on Hulu makes it accessible to subscribers eager to catch up on the 2026 Oscar-nominated films. The films layered storytelling offers insight into Brazils military dictatorship era while weaving a suspenseful thriller that resonates on multiple levels.

To summarize, while The Secret Agent is not based on a true story in terms of its characters or specific events, it is deeply inspired by the historical context of 1970s Brazil. The film skillfully uses elements like the hairy leg urban legend and real societal tensions to paint a vivid picture of life under authoritarian rule. This approach both educates and entertains, making it an important film for understanding Brazils past and the universal struggles against oppression.

As the 2026 Oscars approach, The Secret Agent stands out for its unique blend of history, folklore, and political drama. It invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of truth and fiction while delivering a powerful cinematic experience. Whether you follow awards season closely or simply appreciate a compelling story, this film offers much to discover and discuss.
A masterclass in minimalist filmmaking. Discover why Tom Hardy's gripping solo performance in Steven Knight's 'Locke' is a must-watch thriller.

AceShowbiz - Tom Hardy and Steven Knights collaboration on the 2013 thriller LockeLocke remains one of the most compelling examples of minimalist filmmaking in recent years. Clocking in at just 84 minutes, this tightly wound film is a masterclass in tension and character study, making it an ideal choice for streaming audiences seeking a gripping, contained drama.

While many celebrate famous actor-director partnerships like Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese or Michael Caine and Christopher Nolan, the pairing of Tom Hardy and Steven Knight deserves equal recognition. Knight, primarily known as a writer and currently engaged with the upcoming James Bond reboot under Denis Villeneuves direction, also directed Locke, a film that showcases his ability to craft a thriller centered entirely on a single characters experience.

Tom Hardy was already gaining major attention for roles in blockbuster hits directed by Christopher Nolan, such as Inception and The Dark Knight Rises, before starring in Locke. This film arrived prior to his casting in the Venom series and his role in Mad Max: Fury Road. The movie is a distinctive chamber piece, relying exclusively on Hardys performance as Ivan Locke, who spends the entirety of the film driving to a hospital to be with his mistress during an unexpected early labor.

The movie unfolds through a series of phone conversations, introducing other characters only by their voices. Notable actors such as Olivia Colman, Andrew Scott, Ruth Wilson, and a young Tom Holland contribute to the films atmosphere through their vocal performances. Despite being a one-man show visually, the films narrative depth and emotional intensity are heightened by these off-screen interactions.

Locke was distributed domestically in 2013 by A24 and, although it earned just around $5 million globally against a modest $2 million budget, it garnered widespread critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a Certified Fresh score of 91%, with critics highlighting Tom Hardys commanding presence as the films undeniable strength. The critical consensus states, A one-man show set in a single confined location, Locke demands a powerful performance - and gets it from a never-more-compelling Tom Hardy.

Interestingly, Steven Knights other directorial effortsHummingbird, starring Jason Statham, and Serenity, featuring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathawaydid not receive the same positive reception. This contrast further underscores the unique success of Locke, which stands out as a focused and intimate thriller.

In recent projects, Tom Hardy starred in the Netflix action movie Havoc, directed by Gareth Evans, and appeared in the crime drama series MobLand, executive produced by Guy Ritchie. The latter is anticipated to return for a second season on Paramount+ soon, continuing Hardys streak in intense, dramatic roles.

For viewers interested in a compelling, tightly scripted thriller that relies heavily on performance and atmosphere rather than spectacle, Locke is an ideal streaming selection. Its concise runtime and gripping storytelling make it a perfect pick for an evenings watch at home.

Stay tuned to Collider for more updates and recommendations on standout films and performances.
Finn Wolfhard joins the Malcolm in the Middle revival! See the Stranger Things star in the new miniseries with the original cast. Exclusive details inside.

AceShowbiz - Finn Wolfhard has made his first official television appearance since his long-running role on Netflix's Stranger Things, stepping into the revival of the beloved series Malcolm in the Middle. The new miniseries, Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair, marks the return of the iconic dysfunctional family 20 years after the original show concluded.

Frankie Muniz reprises his role as Malcolm, now grown up and at the center of life's ongoing comedic challenges. The revival also reunites many original cast members, including Bryan Cranston, Justin Berfield, Christopher Masterson, and Jane Kaczmarek. Adding to the excitement, Wolfhard joins the cast as a fan-turned-cameo, bringing fresh energy to the project.

In an exclusive interview with ScreenRant's Grant Hermanns, Linwood Boomer, creator of the original series, and producer Tracy Katsky shared behind-the-scenes stories about Wolfhard's involvement. Initially, the actor reached out through his manager simply to request a visit to the set, revealing his deep admiration for the original show.

"We got a call from Finn's manager saying he was a huge fan and wanted to visit the set," said Katsky. "We told him he could come and actually do a part, and he was thrilled." Wolfhards enthusiasm was evident on his first day, especially during scenes with Jane Kaczmarek. He admitted, "I forgot Im supposed to be acting," as he reacted to Kaczmarek's character yelling at him.

Linwood Boomer recalled with a laugh, "He was like, Lois is yelling at me!" The set was filled with many original contributors, including director Ken Kwapis and writer Alex Reid, who began working on the show mid-season one. Wolfhard impressed everyone by referencing obscure moments from the series, although some of those details were not remembered by the original team.

"Hed say, In season 5, episode 17, when this happened, and wed be like, We dont remember that, joked Boomer, highlighting Wolfhard's level of fandom. His genuine passion for Malcolm in the Middle clearly made an impact on cast and crew alike.

This cameo represents a significant milestone for Wolfhard, marking his first major television role since his decade-long tenure on Stranger Things as Mike Wheeler. Producer Katsky described him as "an absolute doll," praising his charm and natural comedic timing. Although Wolfhard is primarily known for his dramatic and horror roles, this appearance showcases a fresh, fun side of his talent.

"He hasnt had many chances to show his comedic skills, so this was a great opportunity for him," Katsky added. The cameo allowed Wolfhard to reveal a new dimension to his acting abilities, hinting at exciting possibilities for his career beyond Hawkins.

Beyond acting, Wolfhard has expressed his desire to focus more on his music career with his band, The Aubreys. His filmography also includes notable roles in It (2017) and Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and he is slated to voice a character in the upcoming TV series New-Gen.

Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair is available for streaming on Hulu and Hulu via Disney+. Fans eager for more revival insights, cast cameos, and behind-the-scenes stories can subscribe to specialized newsletters for ongoing updates about this and other pop culture returns.

This revived miniseries not only brings back the beloved characters but also welcomes a new generation of talent, bridging the gap between longtime fans and newcomers through a blend of nostalgia and fresh perspectives. Wolfhard's cameo serves as a testament to the enduring appeal of Malcolm in the Middle and highlights the actors exciting transition into diverse roles after the end of Stranger Things.
The Rookie expands to the Pacific Northwest! A new spinoff, The Rookie: North, follows a younger rookie's journey in Washington State.

AceShowbiz - Nathan Fillions acclaimed crime drama The Rookie is set to broaden its scope with a new spinoff series titled The Rookie: North, which is currently awaiting an official pilot order from ABC. The original series, created by Alexi Hawley, has enjoyed continued success in the 2025-2026 television season, driven largely by strong streaming viewership. Following the events in Los Angeles, the franchise will now venture into the Pacific Northwest, offering fans a fresh setting and new characters while maintaining the core procedural format that made the original popular.

The original show follows John Nolan, played by Nathan Fillion, as he joins the LAPD as the oldest rookie officer, navigating professional and personal challenges. The new spinoff moves the narrative from California to Washington State, focusing on a younger rookie officer named Alex Holland, portrayed by Jay Ellis. This character mirrors Nolans journey, beginning his law enforcement career with the Pierce County Police as one of their youngest recruits. The series promises to explore crime across diverse environments, from urban coastal areas to rural forests, emphasizing the unique atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest.

Karen Fukuhara, known for her role in the Prime Video series The Boys, recently shared an update regarding the spinoff in an interview with Collider. She revealed that she had just completed filming the pilot episode in Vancouver, Canada, and the production team is now awaiting ABCs decision to greenlight the full series. Fukuhara expressed enthusiasm about the project, highlighting the positive experience on set and praising the leadership of both Nathan Fillion and Jay Ellis. She plays training officer Leah Mizuno in the new series, an important figure in guiding the rookie officers through their initial challenges.

According to the official synopsis, The Rookie: North centers on Alex Hollands personal crisis and his motivation to find renewed purpose after a significant robbery shakes his life. This turning point leads him to pursue a career with the Pierce County Police Department, where he must prove himself amid the demanding realities of law enforcement. The storyline promises to retain the relatable themes of growth and resilience that fans associate with the original show, while introducing fresh dynamics influenced by the new setting.

The production for the pilot began in late winter or early spring of 2026, as confirmed by series creator Alexi Hawley. With filming already wrapped, the cast and crew are now in a holding pattern until ABC announces whether they will pick up the series for the 2026-2027 television season. Given the strong performance of The Rookie this year, the likelihood of the spinoff receiving a full series order appears promising. Should it be approved, The Rookie: North may take over a Monday primetime slot during ABCs winter programming lineup.

Fans of the franchise may notice that The Rookie itself underwent a format change in its eighth season, which could signal how Hawley intends to approach the spinoffs storytelling style. The original series has demonstrated flexibility in its structure, shifting between traditional police procedural elements and more serialized storytelling. Whether The Rookie: North will adopt a similar approach remains to be seen, but the expansion is likely to attract viewers who appreciate the blend of character-driven drama and crime-solving action.

This development marks the second spinoff effort following The Rookie: Feds, which also expanded the franchises reach beyond Los Angeles. The new series working title, The Rookie: North, alludes to its Pacific Northwest locale, but some industry insiders speculate it might also reference a character name or thematic motif. Either way, the title situates the show clearly in a new geographical and narrative context.

Karen Fukuharas remarks about working with Nathan Fillion further underscore the collaborative and positive atmosphere on set. She highlighted the importance of strong leadership in setting the tone for the entire crew and expressed hope that the network will approve the series soon. Fukuharas involvement adds notable star power to the pilot and hints at a diverse ensemble cast that will complement Jay Elliss lead role.

The Rookie has consistently delivered a blend of engaging procedural drama and character-driven storytelling since its debut in October 2018. Its focus on an older rookie navigating the challenges of a demanding profession has resonated with audiences, and the new spinoff aims to replicate that success with a fresh take in a distinct environment. As production concludes and ABCs decision looms, fans remain eager to see how the franchise will grow and evolve in the Pacific Northwest.

In summary, The Rookie: North is positioned to become a significant extension of the original series, maintaining key themes while introducing new characters and settings. With filming completed on the pilot and anticipation building for ABCs verdict, the spinoff represents a promising addition to the franchises expanding universe. Its success could further cement The Rookie as a staple of ABCs crime drama lineup in the coming years.
Baz Luhrmann's epic Elvis biopic was just the start. Now, experience the King's raw power in IMAX with EPiC, featuring never-before-seen concert footage.

AceShowbiz - Few director-subject pairings feel as perfectly matched as Baz Luhrmann and the story of Elvis Presley. While some critics argue that Luhrmann specializes in extravagant portrayals of larger-than-life personalities, this approach suits the King of Rock n Roll like no other. With his biopic Elvis, Luhrmann transformed the life and times of the legendary artist into a vibrant, whirlwind narrative spanning decades, garnering Oscar nominations and launching Austin Butler into superstardom.

Yet, despite the films acclaim, nothing compares to the actual experience of witnessing Elvis Presley live. Recognizing this, Luhrmann created EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, a groundbreaking project that brings previously unseen footage from the last decade of Elviss career to the IMAX screen. This film is more than a typical concert movie or documentary; its an immersive, visceral glimpse into the passion and energy that fueled Elvis during his final years on stage.

Unlike earlier films about the King, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert benefited from unprecedented access to the Presley estates archives, unlocking footage that had remained private until now. Originally intended for research, the wealth of material from 1968 through 1977 convinced Luhrmann to craft a full documentary. This film captures the essence of Elviss Vegas residency years, a period marked by both artistic resurgence and personal complexity.

The documentary zeroes in on Elviss time in Las Vegas after returning from military service, a phase many fans know as his comeback era. Under the management of Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis was initially pushed into a series of formulaic films that failed to satisfy his ambitions. The Vegas shows, meant to reignite his career, unexpectedly attracted enormous crowds and became a defining chapter in his legacy. Paradoxically, Parker used the success of these stateside performances to block Elviss efforts to tour globally, keeping the icon close but limiting his reach.

Despite these constraints, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert reveals how Elvis reclaimed control over his image and craft during this era. His performances were not mere repetitions of past glories but electrifying, intimate shows where he connected directly with his audience. The film portrays Elvis moving freely on stage, sharing jokes, and engaging with fans in a way that transcended the typical rock star experience, maintaining the enthusiasm that had followed him since the 1950s.

What sets EPiC apart from most concert documentaries is its refusal to dilute Elviss story with talking heads or external commentary. Instead, Luhrmann employs authentic audio from Elviss own press conferences as a narrative backbone, providing rare insight into how the star perceived his fame and artistry. In one revealing moment, Elvis admits he grew to appreciate the obsessive attention from fans because it kept loneliness at baya poignant reflection given his personal struggles. This sincerity underpins his commitment to delivering every Vegas show with full dedication, demonstrating a devotion to his craft and audience that defined his final years.

Visually, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is a technical marvel. Luhrmann curated footage from a variety of sources beyond just the concerts themselves. The film includes intimate glimpses of rehearsals, afterparties, pre-show rituals, and personal home videos with Elviss family. Through advanced preservation and restoration techniques, the footage attains startling clarity, sometimes appearing as if it were filmed yesterday rather than decades ago.

One of the films most captivating sequences interweaves clips of Elvis performing in Las Vegas with scenes from his movies, blending the two worlds seamlessly. Thanks to the comparable image quality, it feels as though Elvis steps off the cinema screen and into real life, underscored by the evocative song Edge of Reality. The level of detail in EPiC is so acute that viewers can see the sweat and emotion on Elviss face during his most impassioned moments, while the audiences rapt reactions amplify the energy.

Clocking in at a concise 90 minutes, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert delivers a potent selection of hits alongside deeper cuts. Highlights include a cover of The Beatles Get Back and a heartfelt segment where Elvis speaks about the Black artists who influenced his childhood and musical development. This candid acknowledgment enriches the films portrayal of Elvis as a complex, multifaceted artist.

While Baz Luhrmanns stylistic choices in his feature biopic Elvis may have divided audiences, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert stands as a purer, unfiltered tribute to one of the 20th centurys most influential musicians. It eschews narrative embellishment for an immersive, emotional experience that brings fans closer than ever to the man behind the legend.

For cinephiles and music lovers eager to dive deeper into the life and legacy of Elvis Presley, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert promises a raw and immediate connection to the Kings final decade. The film is currently playing in theaters, offering a rare opportunity to witness the energy and magnetism that defined Elviss enduring appeal.
The beloved BBC sitcom Ghosts haunts the big screen! Join Alison & Mike as their ghost-filled manor hotel gets a cinematic upgrade. From global hit to major ...

AceShowbiz - Ghosts UK, the acclaimed BBC supernatural sitcom, is set for a highly anticipated return, but this time on the big screen. The original show, which first aired in 2019, follows the story of a young couple, Alison and Mike Cooper, portrayed by Charlotte Ritchie and Kiell Smith-Bynoe, who inherit a dilapidated manor filled with a colorful cast of ghosts from various historical periods. Despite the unconventional residents, Alison and Mike are determined to transform the estate into a hotel, making the best of their unusual situation.

The series ran for five successful seasons on BBC One, earning widespread acclaim and inspiring six international adaptations to date. These remakes span countries including Greece, France, Australia, Germany, and the United States, with CBSs Ghosts US currently airing and starring Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar. The format has also recently been licensed in the Czech Republic, showcasing the show's broad global appeal.

Now, the original Ghosts cast and creators are bringing the beloved characters back for a cinematic experience titled Ghosts: The Possession of Button House. According to a BBC press release, the show's original writers, creators, and actors have reunited to craft the films script and will reprise their roles as the quirky spirits haunting Button House. Returning cast members include Mathew Baynton as Thomas Thorne, Simon Farnaby as Julian Fawcett MP, Martha Howe-Douglas as Lady Fanny Button, Jim Howick from Sex Education as Pat Butcher, Laurence Rickard as the caveman Robin, and Ben Willbond as The Captain.

Joining this ensemble are the returning leads Charlotte Ritchie and Kiell Smith-Bynoe, along with BAFTA nominee Lolly Adefope who reprises her role as 18th-century noblewoman Katherine "Kitty" Higham. The film will be directed by Simon Hynd, known for his work on Ghosts and the British sitcom Motherland. Production is scheduled to begin in March.

In a statement to the BBC, the creative team behind Ghosts shared their excitement about the project: "We thought we had said goodbye to Button House at the end of the final series. We never planned to come back. But when we had the idea for this story, we all got so excited that we couldn't resist returning to our haunted home for one more adventure. We can't wait to be together and to welcome some brilliant new faces, to tell this soul-stirring tale of life and death."

While the original UK version of Ghosts produced 30 episodes over five seasons, considerably fewer than the 86 episodes (and counting) of the US adaptation, its enduring popularity is undeniable. In 2023, it was the most-watched sitcom in the UK and holds impressive Rotten Tomatoes ratings, with a 96% critics score and a 91% audience score, reflecting strong critical and fan appreciation.

The upcoming film marks a distinctive return for Ghosts, opting for a theatrical release rather than a streaming-based reunion, further underscoring the shows lasting impact and fanbase enthusiasm. Lionsgate will handle distribution within the UK, while BBC Studios will manage worldwide release.

For fans eager to catch up before the movie arrives, all five seasons of the original Ghosts UK series are currently available to stream in the United States on Paramount+.

This cinematic extension of Ghosts promises to blend the series signature humor and supernatural charm with a fresh narrative, bringing back familiar characters to explore new mysteries within the haunted Button House. With the original team reunited and new faces set to join, audiences can look forward to a heartfelt and entertaining story that continues to celebrate the quirky spirits and their living counterparts.
The Administration is making some major changes to how the nations National Forests are managed. Some of them may well turn out to be quite positive. Eliminating an entire management layer means more money and responsibility will be focused on the ground and closer to states and local communities. Aligning the forests by state boundaries will help with state advocacy for the national forests within their boundaries.

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However, removing wildfire-fighting responsibilities from the nations premier wildfire-fighting agency could have disastrous consequences for the future of forests and surrounding communities.

Firefighting needs line officer oversight. I can attest to this as a former manager of the Carson Ranger District (Reno/Carson/Lake Tahoe area), one of the more complex wildfire programs in the nation. Here are some illustrations.

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The line officer develops agreements with state and local governments regarding where local sheriffs will patrol during periods of high fire danger to address potential fire starts. For example, where are the party spots in the woods? Will a national organization have that knowledge and those relationships?

I recall we worked with state and county governments to prioritize fuels workthinning brush and treesaround the most vulnerable communities so we could defend those communities from wildfire, and then implement those projects together. Will a national organization have those relationships and focus on working with local government?

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Every spring, we would plan for the most likely wildfire scenarios and have all our local and state partners work together on mock drills. Will a national organization do that?

Firefighters are busy with training when not fighting wildfires, but there is lots of downtime. That time is now spent efficiently, utilizing the workforce to clear brush around neighborhoods and conduct other wildfire-prevention activities.

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How is that work going to get done? Is the new national organization going to do that? Also, local firefighters serve as a local workforce for random small projects such as sign repair and patrollingeyes and ears in the forest. Who is going to provide that presence?

Most importantly, a great many of the forest employeesforesters, engineers, wildlife biologists, and othersare also trained for specific duties in the event of a wildfire. When the fire bell rings, they drop everything to fill their assigned roles. How is that going to work with a new national wildfire organization?

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Line officers provide critical oversight and leadership for the firefighting staff. Firefighters can, frankly, be a bit cavalier at times in their approach to risk.

I recall stopping a prescribed burn from proceeding because the predicted weather could become windy, potentially affecting a nearby neighborhood. I recall small incidents, such as directing wildfire staff to move their rigs off the edge of Interstate 80 during ongoing wildfire fights so they wouldnt get crushed by fast-moving semis.

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I recall planning for wildfire response to protect the most vulnerable facilities, be they major power lines or community water sources. I recall insisting that fire staff, after a long burning period, get some sleep.

I recall, after two life-threatening engine burnover situations in which I was directly involved (1) counseling fire leadership who were emotionally shaken by the incident to get back to leading the firefight, and (2) being involved in a review where we found out that we could not communicate during a wildfire with our local partners. Both situations needed to be resolved immediately.

I recall advocating for initial attack resourcesplanes and helicoptersto be pre-positioned when we were in extreme fire danger, with many neighborhoods at risk, and for them to be moved from areas where the risk was lower. Who is going to provide this oversight and leadership? Who will advocate for community responsiveness within a national organization?

Also, remember that in an upcoming Democrat administration, the push will be for more forests to burn with less suppression of wildfires, as we have witnessed. In many situations, it is trying to cure the patient by killing the patient.

With a national wildfire organization, there will be less effective pushback from states and localities. This is perplexing because Republicans generally favor more state and local involvement, rather than DC-based national interest groups directing forest management.

The Administration is trying some important initiatives to deliver more results on the ground and involve state and local governments in decision-making. All of that is potentially positive.

There are also some efficiencies to be gained in procurement and other areas in the wildfire program from a national perspective, as long as local creativity is not squashed.

But moving the nations premier wildfire-fighting program out of the US Forest Service will, God forbid, portend more burned forests, communities, homes, and potentially threaten lives.

Lake Tahoe by Blake Everett Carroll. CC BY-SA 4.0.

Gary Schiff was the former District Ranger of the Carson District, spanning the 100-mile Sierra front along the east side of Lake Tahoe, and a former policy director for the nations state foresters, and currently is a guide and resource consultant connecting Israel and the US.
CPAC 2026 came and went...and most of the conservative grassroots hardly noticed it.

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President Trump, VP Vance, and the rest of the MAGA Cabinet didnt bother attending either.

Its not just that they were busy with other things: Iran, economic development, border security, etc. If anything, Trump would have had all the more reason to attend the conference to talk up his victories.

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But he didnt come.

CPAC is on life support. If the conference has any life left in it at all, it is fading fast.

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Hardly anyone showed up. Aside from the usual suspectsSteve Bannon, Jack Posobiec, Mike Lindell, and the podcasters and influencers who live to stir up strife, complain about Israel, and shout America First! all while denouncing Trump for his aggressive efforts to take out a nuclear Iran once and for allit was a pretty empty affair.

There were two bright spots. The son of the Shah, Reza Pahlavi, spoke to the largest crowd and received the warmest welcome and praise. Think about that: a foreign dignitary got more kudos than American pundits and politicians. Conservative Josh Hammer brought a reality check to the conservative movement, building on Ben Shapiros necessary corrective at TPUSAs 2025 AmFest. Hammer might have done better for himself by just skipping the event, but it was nice to hear him slam the Retard Right one last time.

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The Trump-Trump-Trump, MAGA-MAGA-MAGA schtick has gotten old. CPAC has turned into the ultimate MAGA grift, and now that Trump is termed out in his second term, the momentum has worn off.

But more lies beneath the surface as to why CPAC is now done for.

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A friend of mine, an independent journalist from Massachusetts, attended the event a few years back to record the speeches and meet with activists. One of the media entities in attendance was the Southern Poverty Law Center. The organization, headquartered in Alabama, is not media in any respectable sense, but a hate group dedicated to fundraising and smearing anyone they disagree with, predominantly conservatives. How could CPAC possibly consider them media and even allow them a table at the event?

And it gets worse.

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CPAC has dedicated its time and energy to rolling out the rainbow carpet for homosexuals and transgenders, even though these aberrant, destructive behaviors are far from conservative. Identity politics and social liberalism, all advertised under the guise of libertarianism, have infected the conference.

The normalization of homosexuality at CPAC goes as far back as 2010, when one of the keynote speakers at the conference, MassResistance activist and undercover reporter for Project Veritas, Ryan Sorba, condemned the gathering for allowing GOProud to attend the event. The audience booed widely, but at least the host came to the mic to defend Sorbas comments.

Note well that LGBT hostility already surfaced at CPAC as far back as 2010, at the height of the Tea Party movement, crashing against Barack Obamas efforts to fundamentally transform America. Even then, Obama still opposed gay marriage, yet among the conservative whos-who who attended CPAC, it was taboo and in bad taste for anyone to criticize sodomy and transvestism as not conservative, even though it is, in fact, not conservative.

The pro-LGBT pandering only got worse. In 2018, when MassResistance, the effective international pro-family organization that I work for, purchased a table at the conference for the opportunity to host a booth, CPAC organizers went out of their way to line them up and invite them in. Then, all of a sudden, MassResistances application was rejected, and we were canceled. What?

And remember that CPAC advertised one of its recent conferences as America Uncanceled. Sure!

Why were we canceled? I contacted one of the organizers, and he told me that MassResistance was a hate group, and they did not want the unwanted publicity. Who says that our organization is a hate group? Why, the Southern Poverty Law Center, of course, the fundraising smear machine that targets conservatives and common-sense citizens for telling the truth about life, family, sexuality, faith, and the proper, constitutional role of government.

That year, a number of conservative organizations took MassResistances side in this fracas, and even Michelle Malkin weighed in on the persecution of MassResistance a few years later.

Fast forward to 2026, and the facade of conservatism that is CPAC has shown its true colors: not merely light pastels, but a bland gray of social liberalism and grift, with no intent to win the culture war.

This years hollow CPAC circus reminds me of those tone-deaf press conferences and rallies that Steve Bannon gives, or the podcasts that Tucker Carlson runs: Dissident Right boilerplate talking points about going after the Deep State, draining the Swamp, taking the fight to the Dems, and cleaning out the RINOs.

Matt Schlapp, the head of CPAC, tried to lead the crowd in a rousingmore like run-downchant for the GOP to hold the House. Who wants impeachments to happen? And the crowd sputtered out some claps and cheers. No, who wants impeachment? Schlapp did not like the response he was getting. He didnt bother to explain that we want to avoid Trump getting impeached, so we need to make sure that Republicans hold the House in 2026.

Confused? Of course. But it shows CPACs lack of thought, heart, and spirit.

Then Steve Bannon attempted to gauge everyones thoughts on Trumps military actions in Iran. He presumed that the crowd would agree with him and boo President Trumps necessary show of force to topple the Ayatollah and Irans murderous, megalomaniacal regime. Talk about failing to read the room. The audience cheered the Presidents actions. Bannon looked pretty stupid at that point.

The few speakers who showed up didnt understand that their brand of Dissident Right or Retard Right conservatism doesnt sell. Schlapp brought in the biggest influencers, or so he thought, only to find that their influence is waning.

And thats why CPAC is crashing and burning.

They celebrate drag queens, and they kick out pro-family activists who actually win the culture war.

The leader of CPAC, Matt Schlapp, faced allegations of sexual misconduct but no one seems to care.

They have turned Trump for Trumps sake into their mantra for conservatism, and it leaves guests feeling empty.

And who can forget the Golden Calf, er, statue dedicated to, or deifying, President Donald Trump five years ago? Yes, its crystal clear to anyone who is paying attention that CPAC is no longer about advancing or advocating conservative values. It has turned into a self-righteous fawning expedition for grifters looking to cash in on gullible MAGA types who want to feel good and be part of something.

Theres one more reason why CPAC has crashed, and it goes beyond the fact that it has turned into a RINO-shill grift-fest. I think lots of conservatives, constitutionalists, and others see the country in really bad shape. Great speeches, nice rallies, and stirring talking points just arent enough anymore. No longer conservative, no longer engaging, no longer a robust convocation of communities within the conservative movement, CPAC needs to pack it all up and say, See ya.

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From Wikimedia Commons: Osmington: A View to the Village (John Fisher, Bishop of Salisbury, between 1816 and 1832)

In England: An Elegy, published in the year 2000, Sir Roger Scruton offered the reading public a love-letter written in the minor keya philosophical and deeply personal lament for a country that he knew was slipping away. With the quiet authority of one who had walked its lanes, hunted across its fields, and sat in its parish churches, he set down a defense of Englishness that was at once conservative and enchanted. Here was no mere nostalgia for a lost past, but an act of piety: the recognition that a civilization is defined by the things that it chooses to remember, and that Englands memory was being effaced by the very forces claiming to liberate it.

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To read the book today is to feel the warmth of Scrutons prose still radiating from the page, a prose that moves like the slow swell of the Severn or the measured toll of evensongmeasured, yes, but never cold. It is written out of love, and it asks its reader, gently yet insistently, to love in return.

At the heart of the elegy lies the concept that Scruton made peculiarly his own: oikophilia, the love of home. Not the abstract love of humanity, nor the rootless cosmopolitans affection for everywhere and nowhere, but the particular, rooted affection for the place that has shaped us and that we, in turn, are called to shape. England, for Scruton, was not an idea but a homea settlement of manners, landscapes, and institutions that had grown organically across the centuries. To be English was to inherit a sense of belonging that was both given and earned: given through the unassuming inheritance of custom and landscape, earned through the daily labor of maintaining it.

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Scruton saw his oikophilia threatened on every sideby the bureaucratic abstractions of European integration, by the modernist impatience with the past, and by a liberal ideology that treated national identity as a prejudice to be overcome rather than a gift to be cherished. The main idea echoing through England: An Elegy is that homerootedness, belongingis vital to our well-being as human beings. It is the place where we are not strangers, where the world makes sense, and where our actions fit into a meaningful order. Modernity, by contrast, has set about disenchanting everything, scrubbing away the marks of human freedom until only the naked will remains.

Scrutons defense of Englands institutions flows directly from this oikophilic impulse. The Crown, the Church of England, the common law, the countryside itselffar above relics, these were living embodiments of a shared identity. The monarchy, for all its ceremonial quaintness, anchored the nation in a continuity that no election could provide; the established Church, with its reticent Anglicanism, offered a spiritual home that was national without being nationalistic, tolerant without being indifferent. The landscapethose hedgerows and chalk downs, the villages clustered around their parish churcheswas not mere scenery but the visible form of a moral order. And the common law, that slow accretion of precedent and precedent, embodied the English genius for compromise and the rule of law over the rule of men.

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Against these, Scruton set the unenchanted modernity that had demoralized the world. Liberalism, in its abstract form, had reduced persons to rights-bearing atoms and communities to aggregates of choice; modernism in the arts and architecture had replaced beauty with novelty, and tradition with the cult of the new. In place of the enchanted England of fox-hunting, choral evensong, and the tranquil rhythms of the agricultural year, there had arisen a rootless, bureaucratic order that knew the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Yet England: An Elegy has not passed without criticism, and Scruton himself would have wished us to face it squarely, for he was never one to flinch from honest dissent. Some reviewers, with justice, noted the selective nature of his portrait. The England that he evoked often resembled the pastoral idyll of George Orwells 1940s more than the multicultural, urban reality of the turn of the millennium. It was an England of market towns and cathedral closes, of huntsmen and choirboysan England that many readers, especially those in the great conurbations or from newer communities, found hard to recognize as their own.

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What is more, critics spoke of an exclusionary vision: Scrutons emphasis on an inherited national identity, rooted in Christian heritage and a particular way of being at home, seemed to imply that those who did not share that heritageCatholics shaped by Rome, Muslims formed by the ummah, Jews by centuries of diasporacould not fully belong unless they set aside vital parts of themselves.

Yet others accused Scruton of home-idolatry, of elevating the particular love of place into a quasi-religious absolute. Moving on to wording issues, there were charges of historical misreading: Scrutons tendency to speak of English achievements when the imperial story was British, and to draw a sharp line between the islands skepticism of revolutionary ideologies and the more continental enthusiasms of Europe. Nevertheless, Melvyn Bragg, no political ally, conceded the books aesthetic power, calling it elegant and moving. The prose, at least, united admirers and detractors alike.

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What these criticisms miss, however, is the very quality that makes Scrutons Englishness so distinctive: its character as islandness. Apart from a geographical entity, England, in his telling, denotes a state of mindan island consciousness that has always kept a certain distance from the revolutionary fervors of the continent. Unlike so-called bigotry or xenophobia, this reflects a prudent wariness born of history: the English, Scruton reminds us, have resisted the grand abstractions of the French or the ideological tempests of the Germans precisely because they have loved their home too well to gamble it on utopian schemes.

Scrutons vision lingers on the rural landscape, on the ritual of the hunt (that most English of pursuits, blending sport, tradition, and a respect for the living world), and on a non-enthusiastic Anglicanism that prefers the Book of Common Prayer to the excitements of revivalism. It is a vision that deliberately detaches English identity from the broader, often imperial, story of the United Kingdom, focusing instead on the intimate, the local, the inherited. In doing so, Scruton was not denying the complexities of Britishness; he was insisting that Englishness has its own irreducible core, one worth defending for the sake of anybody who chooses to make this island their home.

England: An Elegy, then, ranks as a central text in what we might call Scrutons oikophilic conservatisma conservatism that does not merely conserve institutions but seeks to re-enchant them, to restore to them the aura of belonging that makes them lovable. It is a book written in full awareness that the civilization that it celebrates is passing, yet it refuses despair. For Scruton, the act of lamentation itself was an act of hope: by naming what is lost, we prepare ourselves to recover it in new forms. The defense of home is never finished; it must be renewed in every generation through the patient work of education, art, neighborly courtesy, and law.

If we turn from the England of 2000 to the Britain that has unfolded since Scrutons death in January 2020, one cannot help but wonder what he would have made of it. He left us just as the final Brexit bells tolled and the first lockdowns begantwo events that, in their different ways, spoke of sovereignty regained and liberty curtailed. The years that followed have brought restrictions on citizens freedom of expression that would have struck him as profoundly un-English: the steady creep of hate-speech laws, the chilling effect of online regulation, the cancellation of speakers and the policing of opinion in ways that treat dissent not as the lifeblood of a free people but as a public danger.

The common-law tradition that Scruton so reveredslow, particular, protective of the individual against the statehas been overlaid by abstract codes that prize feelings over facts and group sensitivities over individual rights. At the same time, warnings of civil war, once confined to the fringes, have become the anxious refrain of serious commentators: riots in northern towns, the visible strains of parallel societies, the sense that mass immigration without cultural integration has tested the very oikophilia that once made England a home for newcomers as well as natives.

Scruton would not have rejoiced in these warnings; he was too courteous, too measured for schadenfreude. Yet he would have seen in them the melancholy confirmation of the elegy that he wrote two decades earlier. The unenchanted modernity that he diagnosed has borne its fruit: a society that no longer knows how to love its home and therefore finds itself divided against itself.

Scruton would, I suspect, have urged us not to despair but to recover the habit of oikophiliato teach again the love of the particular, the local, the inherited; to defend the institutions that still whisper of continuity; and to remember that freedom of expression is not a luxury but the very condition of a civilization that values truth over comfort.

In the quiet of his study, surrounded by the books and music and landscapes that he loved, Scruton taught us that an elegy need not be the last word. It can be the first note of a renewal, sounded in the minor key, but sung with hope. England may yet be re-enchantedif enough of us remember how to love her.
I was in San Diego rush-hour traffic when Artemis II splashed down off the San Diego coast, after picking up some medicine for my elderly mother, watching and waiting for the sonic boom that would announce that the capsule with four astronauts aboard had penetrated the Earth's atmosphere, splashed down, and got met and brought back by the U.S. Navy.

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Let's run that back. One more time... Or two?

Our crew is now safely back on Earth. Relive the historic mission, and keep an eye on our website as more images and videos keep rolling in. https://t.co/FoYXKVvve5 pic.twitter.com/svDaL8ZXpc  NASA (@NASA) April 11, 2026

I didn't hear the sonic boom, which at 52 miles from the coast and blocked by a few hills must have been too far away to hear. But it was a relief to hear the radio break through and announce the astronauts had splashed down safely.

In my lifetime, I've seen too many televised space disasters to not worry that this one could end up like one of those, as the capsule hurled to Earth at a speed of 35,000 miles per hour through 5,000 Farhenheit temperatures and a heat shield that sometimes flaked off. It could have been unthinkable, and that's just the conditions, there was also the math trajectories calculated by engineers which needed to be absolutely perfect -- go in too narrow and the capsule burns up, go in too wide and the capsule floats off into space.

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But none of that happened. The math was perfect, the materials held tight, and the happy astronauts were actually able to walk off from their mission and sit down together and look happy for photos, alleviating fears that they might not be unable to walk after time in space. 'Moonjoy,' as NASA put it.

The Artemis II astronauts were all smiles on the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha after they were extracted from their Orion spacecraft after splashdown. pic.twitter.com/zajuR27pJJ Advertisement April 11, 2026

Welcome home. Is this not the best mission accomplished photo ever? pic.twitter.com/IMrFJxLB7r  Bob Jacobs (@bnjacobs) April 11, 2026

We all can feel the moonjoy.

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For me, it was nostalgia happiness, too, the joy of remembering the space age of the Apollo era come back and feel very close to what it felt like fifty years ago. America supreme, America second to none. The stars next. And me a little kid in a red dress running through the rockets at Cape Kennedy on a windy day in the '60s or sitting at the mission controls playing with the buttons on family day at the Cape, as the old family pictures and home movies showed. Yes, I got a jolt of that.

The success of the mission was heartening, as was NASA's intense interest in sharing credit with all the thousands who participated -- the astronauts, but also the engineers, the guys wearing pocket protectors at the controls, the Navy that came to retrieve the capsule from the ocean, the European and Canadian participants, the NASA chief who came running to greet the astronauts, the president who grandly hailed them and invited them to the White House. It was beautiful.

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And so was the artistry, fully cognizant of the heroism styling of the past, indicating the heroism is continuing:

But it was even more than that, it was everyone -- from the party-heartiers at the Hotel del Coronado drinking their new Artemis II cocktails beachside and awaiting the landing to cheer, to all the families with little kids gathered at the San Diego Air and Space Museum in Balboa Park; little kids earnestly wearing their NASA-logo tshirts, a beautiful logo designed in the '60s that must never, never, change, also watching and cheering.

That was particularly heartening. The kids, after all, are told they come from a flawed country, both in school and in civic life, from pols and the press, and if they are boys, they are even worse and must be shut out of all public life, taxed and impoverished, while certainly not being able to buy their own homes. They are also bombarded with soulless tech and commercial culture which separates them from others. Some endured COVID lockdowns which accelerated their separation. Everything is bad and their citizenship is a cheap thing.

But for one afternoon, they are together, among each other, feeling a common purpose, and cheering something noble and good, inspired to make their own ways to that greatness too. Little kids need inspiration and greenie drivel telling them to make do with less, as if they are in a war zone of their own making, does not cut it. But the new frontier of space travel, feeling so new and fresh and different from the bureaucracy and space travel of the recent past, does inspire children.

Sure, some of it feels woke. The incessant talk about the jewel Earth sounds easily exploited by greenie groups looking for NGO and government power. But they don't own this. We can appreciate this too while ignoring their failed and costly policy prescriptions.

Meanwhile, one of the astronauts, Jeremy Hansen, was Canadian, a nation we are on the outs with, making it a seeming UN-style mission, not a national one. Why'd they pick him over another American? But it wasn't wokeness that got him there. The answer is that Canada made a major contribution to the mission in its space arm which NASA wanted to use. He got a seat on the mission for that reason. As for Hansen himself, the bios and articles out there about him suggest a really nice classic Canadian that Americans love to be around -- and part of his career was spent in Alberta, home of Canada's conservatives, so he might be one of those, but like all of them, they have kept politics out of the mission, which is what's best.

The astronaut crew looked a little affirmative-action-y, too, with a white mission commander, a black pilot, and a female mission specialist, as well as the Canadian astronaut.

But all of them were clearly qualified, with long records of experience in space travel, underwater and cave travel, Antarctic missions, military test flight; all four have been focused on space travel even as little kids; these are supreme and rare qualifications that don't indicate the hand of affirmative action. All of them, intriguingly enough were in the late 40s or early 50s, so a youthquake demonstration this was not. Mission pilot Victor Glover cited the Bible as the astronauts of the great years had done. And all four have warm, wonderful personalities just right for the attention a mission like this would draw.

While on the topic, one of the most delightful bits of local reporting, by veteran local NBC correspondent Joe Little had him quoting a little girl at one of the watch parties saying, "Well, there's a girl on there, too." Sure, it could be interpreted as woke, but I am going to disagree it was woke, as I would have said the same thing too as a little kid. Little kids have their sensitivities and it would have been a big deal to a little kid. It's adults who can't grow up who make it a big deal with the unqualified.

We can ignore the ways the left has distorted little details and instead celebrate the American greatness.We can even call it a unifier as many in the press havve done. Nothing unites like American greatness in all its glory that has come back after a long, long, delay. There is nothing so wonderful as the space vision that inspires so many to keep their eyes on the stars and exploring the unknown, from youngest who do, to the heartened the oldest who remember it well and would gladly take more. Maybe even 96-year-old Buzz Aldrin, who, while ailing, is mercifully still alive and we hope, had been able to see this.

Image: Screenshot from X.
Over the years I occasionally listened to NPR, but only when I was driving. I usually listened only long enough to become disgusted by the ridiculously Socialist/Communist commentary. I made two exceptions, however.

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The first was Car Talk, which was a hilarious and useful show by two Massachusetts auto repair shop ownersTom and Ray Magliozzi--who with us laughed their way through auto repair dilemmas from 1997 to 2012. They stuck to the topic and didnt veer into leftist screeds. They won a Peabody award in 1992 and made the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2014.

The second was NPR suprisingly doing real reporting and honestly reporting results that badly damaged cherished leftist narratives. The US Department of Education, which may thankfully soon be ended, reported nearly 240 schools were involved in school shootings from 2015-2016. Someone at NPR apparently thought that sounded a bit excessive and did journalism, finding only 11 actual incidents. They called every school, every school district, where attacks were said to have happened and 161 of them said: what? That never happened. Dont know what youre talking about. In four, something happened, but it didnt fit government definitions of school shootings. As for the remaining 59, detailsof supposed school shootings?!couldnt be confirmed or proved false.

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The NPR report even confirmed that Everytown for Gun Safetys propaganda about the same supposed attacks was just that: propaganda.

NPR did try to soften the blow by trying to explain away the grotesque statistical lie by suggesting reporting school districts misunderstood how to fill out federal forms, or wrote information on the wrong lines, but the conclusion was inescapable: the DOE lied about a major political/social issue for political gain. I gave NPR full credit for their inexplicably honest reporting.

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In May of 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14290, cutting off federal funding for NPR and PBS. But at the end of March 2026, an Obama-appointed federal judge blocked enforcement of that order, claiming it was viewpoint discrimination. Apparently the federal government must fund all expression, particularly leftist expression, and once it funds leftists it must perpetually fund them.

Now we learn NPR was up to its usual tricks in reporting on the Jihadist attack on the Temple Israel Preschool in Michigan. Ayman Ghazali loaded his vehicle with $2000 in fireworks and multiple cans of gasoline, drove into the building, striking and injuring one security guard, set his vehicle on fire and engaged in a gunfight with security until killing himself. He damaged the building but did not burn it down and no one other than the guard he hit was injured or killed.

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Graphic: X Post

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In a rare fit of honesty, NPR Public Editor Kelly McBride admitted NPR didnt bother to speak with anyone involved with the synagogue/school. They didnt interview parents, children, teachers, school authorities, no one. What they did was send a reporter some 6000 miles to Ghazalis Lebanese hometown: NPR headlined its article In a small Lebanese town, grief and fear follow the Michigan synagogue attack, resulting in listeners quickly calling out the publicly funded outlet for attempting to paint the terrorist and his family in a sympathetic light. Advertisement

Even so, McBride tried to justify NPRs incompetence and Islamist cuddling:

The journalistic purpose of the story was to explore the connection between the terror attack on the Michigan synagogue and the family that was killed on the other side of the world, she wrote. Simply documenting that relationship and humanizing the family does not imply that Ghazalis attempt to kill more than a hundred children was justified.

However, she admitted that the network fell short in telling the full story.

This story on this village should not be judged as NPRs complete coverage of the Michigan synagogue. NPR ran multiple stories on the attack, she wrote.

She couldnt entirely avoid the truth, however:

NPR or Michigan Public Radio pulled away from the story at Temple Israel too soon, she said. She added, when important voices are missing from coverage, it distorts the audiences perception of everything else.

No kidding.

Honest journalists, aided by Israel, quickly learned Ghazalis two dead brothers were Hezbollah operatives in a town full of Hezbollah sympathizers, and the FBI reported Ghazali was unquestionably a jihadist inspired by Hezbollah, all facts NPR purposely withheld.

No media outlet has a right to federal funding. If NPRs product cant stand on its own, if Americans arent willing to pay for it themselves, taxpayers shouldnt be forced by leftist federal judges to subsidize what they dont want. A one-time bit of honesty by an NPR editor, and a single honest story from a decade ago dont change that reality.

Become a subscriber and get our weekly, Friday newsletter with unique content from our editors. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Kristi Noem started out her political career looking like a normal woman. When she was young, she had normal lips and, given that her brunette coloring didnt require much makeup, used discreet amounts of eye makeup. By the time she left Homeland Security, Noem had weird, puffy lips and was often seen wearing makeup that rivaled Tammy Faye Bakkers. In addition, she was widely rumored to be having an affair with her aide, Corey Lewandowski, and the two of them used lots of taxpayer money to buff her political credentials, allegedly with an eye to her running for president.

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The whole thing was unseemly and smelled of a deeply insecure woman trying to make herself feel good. With the latest revelations about her husband, Bryons relationship with a fetish dominatrix, maybe there was a good reason for her manifest low self-esteem. Although Bryon protested to the sex worker that he loved his wife, he couldnt have. Given that Noem had a real womans body, while he craved both to be and be with a trans bimbo, Noem was a rival and a barrier, not someone he could love. And that kind of feeling oozes off a person like swamp gas.

At this point, youre wondering what the revelations are. Well, the Daily Mail has the details. Ill summarize them as discreetly as I can. However, if you go to the link, Id advise you to get the kids out of the room while you read it, because the images are gross.

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Starting nine years ago, Bryon discovered Raelynn Riley, a married fetish sex worker who calls herself Shy Sotomayor. Riley, who is only 5 tall, but got herself 2500cc breast implants (about a triple G cup, going by the images), cultivated a dominatrix persona. Although she and Bryon never met, she captured dozens of phone recordings and images of texted conversations they had over the years.

Thats how we learn that Bryon, whose fetish handle was Chrystalballz666and I cannot be the only one who notices that strong satanic referencehad a lot of really icky fantasies. Indeed, he was so desperate for contact with Riley, who made tens of thousands of dollars off this paid relationship (the contacts were $15/minute), that she eventually cut off contact with him because he creeped her out.

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Here are just some of the things Bryon confided to Riley:

He insisted Riley was so much better than Noem and seemingly would have ditched his family for Riley.



When Riley, a Democrat, learned his identity and said F*** your family and called them gross, Bryon responded, Love that.



He asked Riley, Do you want me to be a woman? She countered, Do you want to be a woman for me? Bryons answer: I think I do.



He told Riley that he loved her more than he did Noem: Youre so much better.



He wanted to be a woman named Crystal, explaining to Riley, I need to be your trans bimbo slut and I want to be a woman so bad. He dreamed of the full tranny makeover: hormones, fake boobs, a butt lift, and feminizing plastic surgery.



He recklessly fantasized about taking a trip to New York with Riley, even though she warned him of the risks, given his famous wife. I dont care...I dont give a f*** about anything else... Ultimately, though, he would not or could not cough up the $20K she demanded for a meeting.



He boasted that he wore womens thongs under his clothes when at the office.



In November 2025, Bryon spent $7,600 on his calls with Riley.

The obsessed Bryon was able to break off with Riley for five years, beginning in 2020, a year after Kristi became South Dakotas governor after running on a conservative, family-values platform. However, once she was inside the Trump government, he was back again, a walking, talking national security nightmare.

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Only in January 2026 did Byron try to break off the relationship. By then, Riley knew who he was and was asking him to join her in badmouthing Noem, especially after Renee Good and Alex Pretti suicidally chose to attack ICE and DHS agents. On this, Byron refused to be drawn, but he couldnt quit Riley and was right back again, even after Noems firing.

Ive never been a Noem fan, but I feel deeply sorry for her. No matter what public face Bryon managed to assume, its inconceivable that she didnt pick up on something very wrong. That goes a long way toward explaining her expensive, even sleazy, efforts to look more and more feminine, and eventually finding love in another mans arms.

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On the other hand, if she did know what was going on and hid it to advance her career, she ought to be tried for national security violations, because having someone like Bryon in her life made America infinitely more vulnerable. So far, though, there is no evidence that this is the case. She seems to have been badly blindsided.

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YouTube screen grab.

This post has been updated to correct a math mistake.
As I write these words, JD Vance, Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff are in Islamabad, Pakistan, to see if they can get a lasting ceasefire deal with the Iranians. I dont believe that will happen. Still, I believe that good things will flow from the effort, and I also believe that there may be a funny little twist to the nature of the American negotiators now in Pakistan.

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As people have also known for thousands of years, Persians are wily negotiators. Also, as people have known for 1,400 years, Muslims are dishonest negotiators. Its right there in the Taqiyya principle, which originated to allow beleaguered Muslims to save their lives in the face of forced conversions but has morphed into a license to lie when dealing with infidels, especially during wartime.

Thus, the current negotiations are as much stagecraft as they are real. First, they allow Trump to show the world that, having achieved his long-stated objective (e.g., destroying the nuclear threat Iran poses to the world), hes happy to end the fighting.

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When it comes to regime change, its important to note that Trump never stated that as a goal. If the war really ends now, Im sure Trump will tell the Iranian people something along the lines of Look, I made your corrupt government the weakest its ever been, and Im working on getting arms to you. Now its up to you. I am not interested in being responsible for you. You guys are responsible for you.

Second, because Trump is no fool and must have known that the Iranians most likely would not negotiate in good faith, the two-week ceasefire is a chance to rest the troops, replenish supplies, and plan for the wars next phase. Yes, its also a chance for the Iranians to regroup, but they dont have much equipment left to regroup with. Also, I suspect that the Artesh (i.e., the regular army, not the IRGC or Basij) is not thrilled about regrouping at all.

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Alternatively, my cynicism notwithstanding, the Iranians might actually cave. (I suspect a deal might include safe passage out of Iran for many of them.) If they did that, it would be another victorious notch in the belt for President Trump.

In favor of their caving is the fact that China, which is behind the scenes but is an important player in this game, wants to regain access to Irans oil. Its getting oil now from other sources (e.g., Brazil and Russia), but its paying an economy-damaging premium.

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In significant part, the outcome of the negotiation will depend on the negotiators. I dont know much about JD Vances negotiation skills, but hes a very smart man and was an accomplished businessman before entering politics. Judging by the Abraham Accords, Jared Kushner is an exceptionally successful negotiator. As for Witkoff, he was behind the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, the Mark Fogel prisoner release, and he has also worked with Kushner on the Abraham Accords.

But what really stood out for me and others with whom I correspond is that Kushner and Witkoff are both Jewish. That didnt seem to be a problem during the Abraham Accords negotiations because those saw the two men working with states that werent affirmatively genocidal and were really interested in normalizing relations.

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Its different with Iran. For decades, Iran has stated that one of its primary goals is the complete eradication of Israel and every Jew within it. To that end, Iran has been the primary funder of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, three genocidal militias fighting against Israel. The mullahs are antisemitic at a level that Hitler and his genocidal goons would have recognized and respected.

So, why send two Jews to negotiate with the Mullahs? It seems counterproductive.

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To answer that question, I couldnt help but think of a story that Teddy Roosevelt included in his autobiography.

In 1895, Hermann Ahlwardt, a virulent German antisemite (another man who would have grokked with Hitler if he hadnt died in 1914), came to New York City to give a series of lectures. In a contemporaneous wire report, a stringer wrote:

Dr. Herman Ahlwardt, of Berlin, the celebrated anti-Semitic agitator...says he came over on the solicitation of some New York and Milwaukee men and expects to give five lectures in New York. It is said that Herr Ahlwardts mission to America is to start a campaign against the Hebrews, his doctrine being that they are encroaching on the wealth of the world, and are a menace to the prosperity of other races of the earth. He does not believe they should hold office, enjoy the rights of citizenship or have any share in public affairs.

Naturally, New Yorks Jewish community, made up of early Jewish immigrants and later Eastern European immigrants, was not pleased. Given that the estimates are that roughly 400,000-500,000 Jews lived in New York at the time, their displeasure mattered. They asked Roosevelt, who was then the New York City Police Commissioner, to block the speech, but Roosevelt had a better idea. In his own words:

While I was Police Commissioner an anti-Semitic preacher from Berlin, Rector Ahlwardt, came over to New York to preach a crusade against the Jews. Many of the New York Jews were much excited and asked me to prevent him from speaking and not to give him police protection. This, I told them, was impossible; and if possible would have been undesirable because it would have made him a martyr. The proper thing to do was to make him ridiculous. Accordingly I detailed for his protection a Jew sergeant and a score or two of Jew policemen. He made his harangue against the Jews under the active protection of some forty policemen, everyone of them a Jew!

In full political preacher mode, Roosevelt added:

It was the most effective possible answer; and incidentally it was an object-lesson to our people, whose greatest need it is to learn that there must be no division by class hatred, whether this hatred be that of creed against creed, nationality against nationality, section against section, or men of one social or industrial condition against men of another social and industrial condition...

Roosevelt, who hated hyphenated Americanism (e.g., African-American, Arab-American, etc.), would clearly not have been a proponent of the modern Democrats racial obsessions, which are every bit as ugly as the old-time Democrats racial obsessions.

So, looking at Trump, the wiliest man in American politics, is it possible that Kushner and Witkoff arent just his best negotiators? Is it also possible that hes making a point to the Mullahs? Or maybe its just a beautiful coming together of circumstances that sees Trumps best negotiators also being the ones most likely to offend the deeply offensive, indeed, evil mullahs?

Image created using AI.
The Iranian regime seems not to have taken the measure of Donald Trump, even after over a month of war. The Iranians appear to believe he is just another John Kerry or Barack Obama or Joe Biden, who can be intimidated into making every concession they can imagine.

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Kerry showed us again on Thursday night, in an interview with his former staffer Jen Psaki on MSNBC, just how bad he was as Secretary of State.

While berating Trump for rushed negotiations with the Iranians before going to war, he reminded us that we took four years to get to the failed 2015 nuclear agreement, the JCPOA, as if the foot-dragging and unending concessions were a virtue.

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The Iranians need to understand that J.D. Vance, who is leading the U.S. negotiating team, is their best shot at getting any sort of deal with the United States that leaves the regime intact.

As he was departing for Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday, Vance told reporters he was hoping for a positive outcome to the talks. But he also warned Iran not to try to play him.

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My money is on the Iranian team ignoring that warning.

Since Irans leaders began negotiating with the International Atomic Energy Agency in the late 1990s, they have lied, cheated, and delayed. And when they got caught cheating, they just smirked and cheated some more.

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The United States has three non-negotiables going into these talks: Iran cannot enrich uranium, Iran must give up its stockpile of 1,000 lb of highly enriched uranium, and Iran must open the international waterways in the Strait of Hormuz without tolls and without impediment.

From the confused and contradictory statements made by different Iranian regime leaders over the past few days, its unclear if they are ready to concede any of these three points.

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Since the ceasefire, they have continued to extort international shipping companies by requiring that they coordinate with the IRGC navy and take a new route through the Strait that passes behind Larak Island, close to the Iranian coastline.

This allows them to charge tolls for safe passage, on the phony pretext that ships are transiting Iranian territorial waters, not the international passage of the Strait.

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President Trump made clear that this is a non-starter. In a post on Truth Social on Thursday evening, he wrote:

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!

At best, ten to twelve ships have transited the Strait each day since the ceasefire, instead of the hundred or more that normally make the journey. Most of them are small oil tankers, LNG ships, or bulk carriers.

Its unclear if a supertanker loaded with two million barrels of oil or a SuperMax container ship could even negotiate the sharp turn required to go around Larak Island.

And now, Iranian negotiator Mohammad Baqr Ghalibaf is claiming that he wont even come to the table unless the U.S. makes two brand new concessions: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the unfreezing of Iranian assets.

The Iranians need to understand that while these talks go on, the United States continues to send troops, ships, and material to the region. As the president has said, its a good time for our pilots and war-fighters to rest up so they can deliver a knock-out blow in two weeks time (or less) if the talks fail.

Were hearing that IRGC commanders are trying to instruct the regimes negotiating team to refuse any discussion of their ballistic missile arsenal. They seem already to have forgotten that they rained down twice the number of missiles and drones on the UAE alone than they did on Israel, and also targeted oil and gas infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar.

You would think those countries would get a say in negotiating a total halt to the regimes ballistic missile and drone programs, but as of now, they remain on the sidelines.

Image via Pxhere.
Following his meeting with Obama strategist David Axelrod, Pope Leo XIV came out with some of his wokest, most indistinguishable-from-Democratic Party platform statements ever -- all within a day of the encounter.

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Which gave whiplash to many Catholics, whose churchgoing members tend to skew conservative, with the younger, more energetic ones, including many converts, leaning traditional.

The pope condemned all wars in full pacificism, scrapping the Church's thousand-year-old 'just war' doctrine, urged global income redistribution, moved closer to Pope Francis's call for a universal basic income, called on 'those involved' to contact their local leaders to urge peace, claimed the military action was motivated by business, and said the solution to all conflicts to be addressed through "dialogue."

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All of the calls were extreme, and in extremity, absurd. After all, is he really telling Iran's battered citizens being machine-gunned in the streets by Iranian government goons to get their local mullahs on the phone and tell them to stop waging war?

That gave the satirical site, the Babylon Bee, which is an equal-opportunity humor outfit, plenty to work with. They put out these tweets:

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Pope Condemns Allied Forces For Not Just Talking It Out With Nazis https://t.co/BddLrm6qMB pic.twitter.com/s74XTuBarL  The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) April 10, 2026

Catholics Find Common Ground With Protestants In Ignoring What The Pope Says Most Of The Time https://t.co/UBmAdHO6Xa pic.twitter.com/We1txrskR1 Advertisement April 10, 2026

And this one a little earlier, when the pope just started to get going:

Pope Leo Explains God Does Not Listen To People Who Wage War So Long As You Dont Count Moses, David, Joshua, Elijah, Saul, Gideon, Samson, Or Anyone Else In Bible https://t.co/8Hu7kJv7hc pic.twitter.com/q2jBwHjSST Advertisement March 29, 2026

Pope Urges Jesus And Satan To Put All Their Differences Aside In The Name Of Peace https://t.co/yvx0WY9Oje pic.twitter.com/IRIA6TzYRz  The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) December 9, 2025

... all of which were so good they made even me laugh out loud. I noticed that a lot of practicing Catholics online said they found them funny.

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The remarks from the pope were intensely distressing to Catholics, including myself, who are familiar with traditional Church teaching on just war theory, as well as current Democrat party partisan talking points, while also having no desire to loathe Pope Leo. That the Bee could see the contradictions and make humor out of them was a terrific way to deal with this intractible situation. Humor is the best medicine, so good for the Bee!

Image: Logo, via X // fair use
Myles Lewis-Skelly is handed a start for Arsenal against Bournemouth (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Myles Lewis-Skelly starts for Arsenal against Bournemouth this afternoon, but Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori and Martin Odegaard are all sidelined.

This is only Lewis-Skellys second Premier League start for Arsenal this season and he replaces Calafiori at left-back.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW ARSENAL VS BOURNEMOUTH LIVE!

Mikel Arteta's side host the Cherries in the early kick-off today. Victory would move them 12 points clear at the top of the table before Manchester City take on Chelsea tomorrow.

Saka has been sidelined since the Carabao Cup final and pulled out of England duty due to an issue he has been managing, while captain Odegaard returned from a knee injury against Southampton but went off in the midweek win over Sporting.

Timber, meanwhile, has not played since going off with a groin problem in the first half of the win over Everton last month.

None of that trio - or Calafiori or Mikel Merino - trained on Thursday and miss out this afternoon.

There have been changes since yesterday, Arteta said at Fridays pre-match press conference when asked about those Thursday training absences.

Asked if all of Saka, Odegaard, Timber and Calafiori could be involved against Bournemouth, he replied: I don't know, some of them.

Eberechi Eze is back on the bench having returned to training earlier than expected following a calf injury.

He's available, the Spaniard said. 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, is great to watch.

Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli were both brilliant off the bench against Sporting and combined to score the winner in stoppage time. The pair looked sharp and come into the starting lineup here.

Merino remains out after foot surgery but Arteta is backing him to also return earlier than anticipated.

He's going to push every boundary. 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.

Confirmed team news

Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Rice, Havertz, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres

Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Hincapie, Norgaard, Eze, Dowman, Trossard, Salmon, Jesus
Artemis II astronauts sent heartfelt messages to their families ahead of their journey back to Earth on Friday (10 April).

US astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, alongside Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after returning from the Moon.

Before their historic journey home, the crew sent messages to their loved ones during a call on Thursday with Senator Katie Britt.

Hansen, after saying he learns more from his children than they do from him, offered a message to young people.

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.

I think we as humans, we put too much pressure on ourselves, looking for perfection.
The Artemis II mission and its successful return to Earth have, for now, brought the American public's attention back to NASA and its aspirational mission to push the boundaries of humanity into space.

Achieving those goals costs billions, but the Office of Management and Budget under President Donald Trump's administration is planning deep cuts to NASA's budget.

Famed science communicator and teacher Bill Nye has described Trump's planned cuts as "surprising, illogical, and very troubling" in a new op-ed for MS NOW.

"These cuts would be an insult to our astronauts and entire NASA workforce. Astronauts and their colleagues are civil servants who work hard, accomplish nearly impossible things and represent our country to the world," he wrote.

The Trump administration's planned cuts would end 53 planned or ongoing NASA Science missions, would slice away $13 billion in funding, and would stop the development of most of the planned NASA Science missions.

Scientist and educator Bill Nye has called the Trump administrations planned cuts to NASAs exploration and education outreach funding surprising, illogical, and very troubling (AP)

NASA Science is the research and exploration arm of the nation's space and aeronautics organization.

To put that amount into perspective, retired Marine Colonel Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies told NPR that the first 40 days of the war in Iran cost the U.S. approximately $28 billion when considering things like munitions, damage done to bases, and loss of military aircraft.

But the Trump administration's cuts won't just eat into NASA's ability to launch exploration missions; it's also cutting its STEM outreach programs for students.

Nye argued that NASA is not only a "unique part of the American story," but it is also "the best brand our nation has."

"When people around the world think of the U.S. at its best, they think of astronauts exploring the moon, telescopes opening new windows on the cosmos and spacecraft making profound discoveries on other worlds," Nye wrote. "NASA is who we are when were curious, bold and united."

Even discounting loftier ideas like national identity and human curiosity, Nye poses a practical and political reason for keeping NASA funded: China.

A young boy wearing an astronaut costume cheers next to a woman waving a flag as they watch a live broadcast of the return of the Artemis II crew members to Earth at the San Diego Air and Space Museum during a watch party for the crew's splash down in the Pacific Ocean, in San Diego, California, on April 10, 2026. (AFP/Getty)

Nye points out that China is planning a moonwalk for 2030, likening Beijing's space ambitions to a new space race for the U.S.

"If the race is on, why abandon so much? Why cede the lead? The U.S. cannot be first in space if it is second in science and technology," he wrote.

Nye also announced that on April 20, opponents of the cuts will gather in Washington, D.C., for the "Save NASA Science" campaign, and told those who support the cause to join in person or online.

"Cutting science would not just delay discovery; it would destroy it. It would shatter our STEM talent pipeline. It would abandon our international partners," Nye warned. "And, it would cede U.S. leadership in space science to China and other nations."
China launches new pilot FTZ in historic step toward northern opening up

Xinhua) 09:16, April 11, 2026

HOHHOT, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday launched the China (Inner Mongolia) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), a key strategic move to deepen reform, advance high-standard opening up, and foster high-quality development.

As China's 23rd pilot FTZ, the new zone is designed to leverage Inner Mongolia's role as a key bridgehead for the country's opening up to the north. It aims to be developed into a high-level FTZ within three to five years, featuring streamlined investment and trade, a robust innovation ecosystem, competitive industrial clusters, and vibrant international exchanges.

Under the overall plan, the pilot FTZ spans a total of 119.74 square kilometers across three designated zones: 76.28 square kilometers in the regional capital Hohhot, 25.11 square kilometers in the inland port of Manzhouli, and 18.35 square kilometers in the inland port of Erenhot.

"The main goal in 2026 is to upgrade comprehensive bonded zones, expand cross-border e-commerce and construct the China-Mongolia economic cooperation zone to facilitate high-standard opening up to the north," said Liu Yongming, deputy director of the regional commerce department.

ENGINE FOR HIGH-QUALITY DEVELOPMENT

Among the three zones in the new pilot FTZ, the bonded zone in Hohhot prioritizes strategic emerging industries, including new energy, new materials, biomedicine and next-generation information technology, aiming to become an innovation cluster for high-quality development of distinctive industries.

The Inner Mongolia Data Exchange Center is laying the groundwork for a basic platform aimed at facilitating the global expansion of the computing power industry. This provincial-level data trading institution has attracted 1,050 ecological enterprises, achieving a cumulative transaction volume of 1.18 billion yuan (about 172.7 million U.S. dollars).

"Following the approval of this pilot FTZ, we intend to establish a negative list for cross-border data trading to encourage the legal and compliant circulation of data elements across national borders," said Fan Yuxiong, deputy general manager of the exchange center. He added that they will also explore areas like commodity traceability and logistics data sharing with Russia and Mongolia.

The biopharmaceutical sector is also poised for a breakthrough with the launch of the pilot FTZ. In an industrial park in the Horinger New Area, Inner Mongolia Wanrui Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has leveraged the region's abundant horse resources to turn animal serum, a biomedical "cell feed," into export products.

Such products have already been exported to Russia, and clients from Saudi Arabia are currently testing the products, while business negotiations with customers in Southeast Asia are slated for May.

"Our technology is on par with top international brands," said Wang Zhen, the director of public affairs at the company. "What we lack is the endorsement of international certification."

He said that he is looking forward to the establishment of a dedicated window within the pilot FTZ to provide guidance on FDA certification for export enterprises, and to offer certification subsidies drawing on the experience of other provinces and regions.

UPGRADED PORTS FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY

Inner Mongolia boasts 20 opening-up ports, which serve as the gateway for Inner Mongolia to connect with both domestic and international markets. Among them, freight throughput at 14 land ports hit a record high in 2025, reaching 132 million tonnes.

The China (Inner Mongolia) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) prioritizes upgrading the key ports of Manzhouli, Erenhot and Ganqimaodu to provide solid support for the construction of the pilot FTZ.

As China's busiest rail port for China-Russian trade and a key gateway on the eastern China-Europe Railway Express route, Manzhouli will focus on specialized industries, including imported resource processing, cross-border tourism, cross-border finance and port services.

It aims to become a major gateway to Northeast Asia and Europe, as well as a key platform for trilateral cooperation between China, Russia and Mongolia.

Data from Manzhouli Customs shows that 4,867 China-Europe freight trains passed through the port in 2025, an 11.2-percent increase year on year, handling 506,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of goods. Notably, the number of returning trains reached 2,977, the highest in the country and a 21-percent jump from the previous year.

This efficiency is partly due to a deep integration of 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. A panoramic sensing system now supports cargo monitoring, smart dispatching and risk warnings. The port's daily transshipment capacity has doubled to reach 840 TEUs, while inspection time for an entire train has been cut to less than one minute.

In a significant move to boost people-to-people ties, an international passenger train linking Manzhouli with Zabaikalsk in Russia resumed operations on March 8, 2026. The service, currently scheduled for two round-trips per week, covers the 9.8-kilometer journey in about 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, Erenhot, China's largest land port on the Mongolian border, will focus on international trade, logistics, cross-border tourism and medical services as it seeks to develop into a key hub along the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor and a model of friendly cooperation with neighboring countries.

The port launched a cross-border e-commerce international transport link in 2025. It routes goods through a centralized distribution center in Erenhot, saving delivery time by over 200 percent and reducing transportation costs by more than 50 percent.

The streamlined procedure has enabled goods from major Chinese e-commerce platforms to undergo customs clearance and be shipped directly to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital. The system now processes an average of 5,000 cross-border e-commerce parcels daily, making next-day delivery to Mongolia a reality.

The Ganqimaodu port, China's largest for coal imports from Mongolia, is focused on developing an energy corridor. Construction of the Ganqimaodu-Gashuunsukhait cross-border railway started in May 2025, marking the second new rail link between the two nations in nearly 70 years.

A pioneer in China's smart port development, Ganqimaodu has launched the country's first cross-border transport route using driverless automated guided vehicles (AGVs). In 2026, the port will launch a pilot "digital intelligent one-stop channel" reform to simplify entry procedures for foreign drivers.

CORE HUB FOR NORTHERN OPENING UP

Following the launch of the new pilot FTZ, the three comprehensive bonded zones in Hohhot, Ordos and Manzhouli are targeting 12.2 billion yuan in bonded processing and trade value this year, up 20 percent year on year. Cross-border e-commerce turnover is set to exceed 5 billion yuan, backed by streamlined logistics to support next-day delivery to Mongolia and one-week delivery to Russia.

The region also aims to add over 3 million tonnes of new value-added processing of imported resources. Furthermore, the border trade zones at ports like Mandula and Ganqimaodu are scheduled to begin operations by the end of the year.

Since the establishment of the first pilot FTZ in Shanghai in 2013, China's pilot FTZs have achieved remarkable progress in institutional innovation. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), over 200 institutional innovations were rolled out, with landmark measures such as the negative list for foreign investment optimizing the country's business environment.

As China outlined its priorities for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), the country is moving to advance high-standard opening up and further "open wider to the outside world."

"From the southern coast to the northern border areas, China's FTZ network is evolving from individual breakthroughs to systematic integration, which injects strong impetus to expand high-standard opening up," said Fan Lijun, director of the Belt and Road Initiative Research Institute at Inner Mongolia Academy of Social Sciences.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
Police search the residence of one of the suspects involved in the alleged kidnapping - AFP via Getty Images/Sebastien Bozon

A nine-year-old boy has been rescued after being locked in his fathers utility van in France since 2024, prosecutors said.

Police were alerted by a neighbour to the sounds of a child coming from a vehicle on Monday in the village of Hagenbach, near the borders of Switzerland and Germany, prosecutors said.

After forcing the van open, officers found the child lying in a foetal position, naked, covered by a blanket on top of a mound of trash and near excrement, Nicolas Heitz, Mulhouses public prosecutor, said.

The boy was malnourished and could no longer walk after having been in a seated position for an extended period of time, he said.

Nicolas Heitz, Mulhouses public prosecutor, told the gathered press that the boy could no longer walk after having been in a seated position for a long period of time - Sebastien Bozon/AFP via Getty Images

The boys father told investigators that he put the child in the truck in November 2024 to protect him because his partner wanted to send the then-seven-year-old to a psychiatric hospital, the prosecutor said.

Mr Heitz said there was no medical record that the boy had any psychiatric problems before he disappeared and that he had had good grades in school.

The boy told investigators that he had big difficulties with his fathers partner and thought his father had no choice but to lock him up, according to the prosecutor. The prosecutor said the boy hadnt showered since 2024.

The father was detained and handed preliminary kidnapping charges.

His partner denied any knowledge of the boy having been kept in the van, according to the prosecutor. She was handed preliminary charges, including failure to help a minor in danger, and released under judicial supervision.

The boys sister, 12, and the 10-year-old daughter of his fathers partner were placed in the care of social services.

The prosecutors office is investigating whether others were aware of the boys detention.

Friends and family told investigators they thought the boy was in a psychiatric institution, while his teachers were told he had transferred to a different school.

The authorities have not released the names of the victim or his relatives.
The woman was attacked in the resort of Arona in southern Tenerife (Getty Images)

An elderly British woman died seven months after she was raped, beaten and robbed in her holiday apartment in the Canary Islands.

The woman, 73, was attacked by a 32-year-old man who scaled a six-foot wall in order to break into her flat in Tenerife.

The man threatened the woman before subjecting her to a horrific two-hour ordeal and stealing money, jewellery and keys.

The offence took place in May 2018 but has only now been openly reported after the perpetrator was convicted in a trial which has shocked the island.

The culprit was caught out by DNA evidence and CCTV recordings in which the victim recognised him. He has now been jailed for nine years.

Tragically, the woman in the case died in January 2019 - some seven months after the attack - but not before giving evidence to investigators.

Medical reports showed she suffered extensive wounds and clinicians confirmed the DNA evidence as credible, despite defence claims that the DNA was only a "peripheral element".

One expert stated: It is a trillion times more likely that the DNA belongs to the accused than to any other person.

The court heard the woman enjoyed spending long periods in Tenerife to escape the British weather and had an apartment in the southern resort of Arona.

The woman, who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), told police the man attacked her relentlessly and only stopped when she gave him the code to a safe containing valuables.

She added the man showed no sign of being under the influence of drink or drugs.

The victim was hospitalised in Santa Cruz and although her death was not linked to the attack, her daughter testified that her health worsened following the brutal assault.

The rapist was arrested in Valencia two months later and insisted he had nothing to do with the assault. He denied fleeing the island and said he had left Tenerife the following day purely for work reasons.

He was spotted on CCTV footage and also identified by a woman he had mugged the same day, although the court case was reportedly dogged by delays.

In addition to his sentence, the man was ordered to pay 30,000 to the womans family and to return the jewellery, with the possibility of further compensation.
Cat missing for seven years is transported 2,500 miles across the US to reunite with family

A family has reunited with their beloved cat seven years after he went missing in California.

Amber Davidson and her kids adopted their pet cat, Dodger, in 2016 from the Miss Winkles Pet Adoption Center in Clovis, California, according to local news outlet Your Central Valley.

But when preparing for a cross-country move in 2018, Dodger disappeared.

Davidson planned her familys move to Florida after the father of her children died. Of course, Dodger was supposed to be moving too, with Davidson having planned for a friend to transport the cat, along with the familys belongings, to Florida.

Dodger never made the move and has been missing ever since  but that all changed when Davidson recently got an unexpected email.

Amber Davidson and her family were reunited with their cat after he went missing in 2018 (stock) (Getty Images)

It was like 11 p.m., and I get this email saying Dodger has been scanned into Fresno TNR, she told Your Central Valley, referring to Trap-Neuter-Return, a non-profit organization focused on reducing the number of free-roaming cats in Fresno, California.

Sydney Sherman, who works at Fresno TNR, told the publication that Dodger was found in Madera, California, and brought in for neutering. However, veterinarians realized hed already been neutered and had a microchip. Once Sherman scanned the chip, she learned that the cat belonged to a family that no longer lived in California.

I was like, oh my gosh, where do these people live, this isnt a 559 area code, she said, before learning that Davidson and her family now live 2,500 miles away in Georgia.

The pair began making plans to reunite Dodger and his family, with Sherman telling Davidson that she was going to be in Florida in March.

I was like, well, Im going to a wedding in Florida on March 24, I can try to bring him to you guys if you can meet me in Florida, Sherman said. The reunion plans were then set in place, with Davidson and her family driving seven hours to Florida to see Dodger for the first time in seven years.

That moment, of Hes finally home, he gets to be with his people again, Sherman said. Its very special.

When we were walking away, Schylar was like, Mom, you did so good, you didnt cry, Davidson added, referring to her son.

This isnt the first time that a pet has made headlines for traveling across state lines to reunite with loved ones. In October, beloved calico cat Francine returned to her home in a Richmond, Virginia, Lowes store after she was missing for a month.

Francine, formerly a stray, was discovered at a company distribution center in Garysburg, North Carolina, having hitched a ride on a truck. Two Richmond Lowe's employees made a 90-minute drive to retrieve her. She was back on duty the following day, playing with customers, posing for photos and enjoying affection.

Before she went missing, Francine spent much of her time either at the customer service desk or in the store's seasonal area.
Just inside the entrance of Josephs Fish & Chips is a map of the world full of little white sewing pins. Customers of the chippy are invited to mark their home nation  and the display reflects a wealth of diversity. Hello traveller! reads the sign below. Were delighted to have you here. No matter where youre from, we are all friends sharing good food and great memories.

The notice goes on to quote the Oscar-winning American actress Shirley MacLaines famous line: The more I travelled, the more I realised that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends. As pertinent today as ever before amid the context of far-Right marches and Faragian rhetoric.

Pins on a map show people have visited Josephs from as far away as Australia, South Sudan and Hawaii

The map shows people have visited Josephs from as far away as Australia, South Sudan and Hawaii. Almost every country in the world is represented. I see pins in Greenland, Chile, Pakistan, Cambodia and one in the Federated States of Micronesia, a remote group of islands in the Pacific Ocean.

But the prevailing curiosity is North Korea, whose citizens arent generally allowed to leave. Perhaps the North Koreans who dined at Josephs were diplomats or held some other high-ranking position. Owner Turan Tunc tells me he isnt sure who they were.

(Jospeh's)

The K-Pop connection

A simpler explanation is given for the influx of guests from South Korea: Tuncs 15-year-old daughter is a big fan of K-Pop. She posts about the shop regularly on TikTok, often aligning with the K-Pop community, and fans from the country are taking notice. Were quite well known there now, Tunc says proudly, while frying a beautiful piece of cod. My daughter has taught herself Korean and shes almost fluent now. Shes a huge fan of the music and the culture. And she posts on social media and people sometimes come in and mention it.

Josephs is less famous in London, where there are chippies all over the city. It must be hard to stand out. Its location is unlikely to help given its some way along Tower Bridge Road, tucked away beyond the busier Bermondsey High Road. Angela Hartnett and Jose Pizarro have restaurants there, while French bistro Casse-Croute and Italian favourite Flour & Grape court keen interest among the Instagram crowd. But peckish Londoners shouldnt ignore Tower Bridge Road, where theyll find the original M. Manze pie and mash shop, Tower Tandoori, Tower Mangal and Josephs.

Tunc opened the chippy three years ago and named it after his father, who ran kebab shops in the area for 52 years. We thought he should retire, but he was resistant, Tunc explains. He finally did, aged 69, and went back to Turkey  where he was born  to relax. But he had a heart attack quite soon after. His kebab shops are all gone now.

(Joseph's)

Tunc only joined the hospitality game recently having previously worked in films. He made music videos for star names, including one who really stands out but he implores me not to reveal who. Grander still was securing a 2 million budget to make an animated film in China. I was a bit naive, he says. I came back and thought it would be a huge success. It did OK. Tunc opened Josephs with his brother and sister and they now have a second branch in Dulwich. He oversees the Tower Bridge restaurant with his wife Ebz and says the business is stable and secure, but up and down. High rents dont help, nor do soaring utility bills and punitive taxes.

Scottish fish, Turkish tradition

As for the food, fish prices just keep going up, Tunc says. But my prices are fixed. I did have to raise them but I cant keep charging customers more because their wages arent improving, are they? And I really only want to buy fresh fish, the best I can find, from Peterhead in Scotland. I get deliveries each morning and fillet everything myself. Its important.

Tunc sources his potatoes from Cambridgeshire. He peels and chops them every day using a large machine in time for the lunch-time service, which is sometimes busy, sometimes not. Ebz looks after the mushy peas, the tartare sauce and the pickled veg  onions and gherkins  which follow the traditions of Turkish cuisine, providing a nod to the couples heritage. She prepares it all herself.

I sit down to eat and see a number of other signs. One details cod portions and lists sustainability credentials; another highlights rising fish prices. Theres also a note on why Tunc tries to ensure his cod is from Peterhead rather than anywhere else. Peterhead really has the best cod available, although there are cheaper alternatives.

Is Josephs the best fish and chip shop in London? Could well be

In the current climate he has to be increasingly flexible so the provenance of his fish each day can vary  occasionally they come from Iceland or Norway  and he lists this information on a blackboard, where he also states where the potatoes were grown.

Prices are in line with most other chippies in central London. Fried cod starts at 12.90, or 15.90 with chips, and each plate comes with all the traditional accoutrements.

I have cod. Its perfectly cooked, pearly white, the tender meat concatenate before flaking into beautiful pieces. As for the batter, its light but generous, and the chips bring that delicate balance between soft and crisp, their golden exterior giving way to floury comfort. I douse them in vinegar and feel romantic.

Ebzs mushy peas, tartare sauce and pickles are marvels. Is Josephs the best fish and chip shop in London? Could well be.

83 Tower Bridge Road, SE1 4TW, josephsfishandchips.com
Saturday, April 11, marks National Pet Day, and Hungry Howie's is ready to celebrate. Known for creating the Flavored Crust pizza, Hungry Howie's knows a thing or two about creating high-quality products for everyone. With 500 stores across 19 states, Hungry Howie's is a staple for fresh, delicious pizza that no one can resist.

In honor of National Pet Day, Hungry Howie's is bringing its pizza expertise to our furry friends. Along with Detroit-based dog treat manufacturer Happy Howie's, the pizza brand is releasing a limited-time lineup of secret options for pizza lovers and dogs. With these options, we are certain the whole family will be very happy.

SIGN UP to get "pawsitivity" delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends

For its part, Happy Howie's has become known for its natural dog treats, including sausage treats, Woof Stix, meat rolls, burgers and jerky. All of these are made from high-quality ingredients that your pup will go crazy over.

Hungry Howie's and Happy Howie's Celebrate National Pet Day

sergey kolesnikov / Shutterstock.com (sergey kolesnikov / Shutterstock.com)

Beginning on April 11, Hungry Howie's will offer special pairings of its fan-favorite menu items along with Happy Howie's natural dog treats. Enjoy a pizza night with your pup, complete with treats you both will love.

Related: The Popular Brand That Disrupted Cat Treats Is Now Expanding to Dogs

For National Pet Day, the Secret Menu will include the Pup & Roll Combo, a $5 pepperoni Howie Roll paired with a packet of Happy Howie's Dog Treats (online only) with code PUPNROLL. The Bone Appetit Pack Party will come with a $15 large one-topping pizza, Howie Bread with dipping sauce, and a packet of Happy Howie's Dog Treats (online only) with code BONEPARTY. Rounding out the menu is Howie's Bark-Back Add-On, which offers two packets of Happy Howie's Dog Treats (online only) for $5 with code BARKBACK.

"National Pet Day is the perfect excuse to spoil the pets who are always by our side," said Jennifer Jackson, vice president of public relations for Hungry Howie's. "Partnering with Happy Howie's allows us to create a fun way for our guests to enjoy their favorite pizza while also treating their furry companions to something special."

The National Pet Day Secret Menu items will be available starting April 11 at all Hungry Howie's locations nationwide while supplies last. Guests looking to access the Secret Menu can order online, in the app, or scan the dedicated QR codes displayed in-store.

Related: Target Is Selling Froyo-Inspired Dog Treats Perfect for Spring Rewards

This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Apr 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jamie Bulgers grave has been vandalised again (PA)

A man has been arrested after the grave of James Bulger was vandalised, police have announced.

Two-year-old James was tortured and murdered by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, then aged 10, after they snatched him from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, in February 1993.

This week the youngsters grave, in Kirkdale Cemetery, Liverpool, was reportedly damaged for a second time in six weeks.

Merseyside Police stated that a 78-year-old man, from Kirkby, had been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and theft.

The force said it was informed that damage to the grave had been discovered at 1.20pm on Friday and the arrest took place at 4.10pm.

Bulger was tortured and murdered in 1993 (PA)

Temporary Detective Inspector Viki Lanceley said: A man has now been arrested and we will continue to update and support Jamess family as the investigation progresses.

I would encourage anyone with information to come forward directly to police as soon as possible.

Venables and Thompson were jailed in November 1993 after the pair of 10-year-olds committed one of the most notorious crimes in British history.

Both boys were released on licence under new identities in June 2001, but Venables was arrested for affray and cocaine possession in late 2008.

He was then recalled to prison in February 2010 after indecent images of children were found on his computer.

He was once again freed in August 2013 and then called back in November 2017 for the same offence, with parole judges considering his case again in September 2020.

In 2023, the Parole Board rejected the bid, finding he still posed a danger to children and could go on to offend again.

It was reported in January that Venables was set to have his latest bid for freedom heard by a Parole Board, and that Jamess family had been informed of the news. However, no date was confirmed by the Parole Board.
Man arrested on suspicion of murder after Finbar Sullivan stabbed to death in Primrose Hill

A 27-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of Finbar Sullivan, who was stabbed in Primrose Hill, north London.

Mr Sullivan, 21, was found with stab wounds after police were called to reports of a fight at the London beauty spot on Tuesday at around 6:41pm. He later died at the scene.

Police said a 25-year-old man has also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Both men remain in police custody for questioning.

Finbar Sullivan, who was killed at Primrose Hill in north London on Tuesday (Metropolitan Police)

A second victim, aged in his 20s, was found nearby in Regents Park Road with knife wounds and was taken to hospital. Officers later confirmed his injuries were non-life-threatening.

Mr Sullivan was a filmmaking student at the London Screen Academy and produced music videos for drill rap artists under the name Sully Shot It, according to reports.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, his father Christopher Sullivan said his son can never be replaced.

Im so broken-hearted, I cant believe it, he said. He was the most beautiful, lovely, outgoing, loving boy. He was just a really lovely person.

Mr Sullivan said his son had ambitions to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, cameraman Michael Seresin, who worked on Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban and Rambo III.

Police at the scene of the crime, a popular viewing point in the capital (PA Wire)

He added the filmmaking student had gone to the park to use a new camera he had got for his birthday.

Police urged anyone with any information about the incident to come forward and said officers are continuing to work around the clock to trace everyone involved.

Officers previously called on a woman who recorded the fight where Mr Sullivan was stabbed to come forward and share vital evidence.

Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Andy Griffin, who is leading the investigation, said: My thoughts remain with Finbars family who continue to receive support from specialist officers at this unimaginably difficult time.

Although we have made two arrests, my officers continue to work around the clock to trace everyone involved. Id like to thank the public who have come forward with information so far.

If you are yet to speak to us, or share footage from Tuesday relating to this incident, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Anything you submit could have a huge impact on our investigation.

In the meantime, residents can expect to see an increased police presence as dedicated local officers continue patrols in Primrose Hill and the surrounding areas.
Representative Eric Swalwell, a leading candidate for California governor, is being investigated by the Manhattan District Attorneys Office after a former aide accused him of engaging in sexual activity with her while she was unable to give consent.

We urge survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations to contact our Special Victims Division at 212-335-9373. Our specially trained prosecutors, investigators, and counselors are well-equipped to help you in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner," the DA said in a statement to The Independent.

The investigation follows a CNN report in which four women accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, ranging from inappropriate messages to alleged non-consensual encounters, prompting some fellow Democrats to withdraw their support.

Swalwell denies the allegations, calling them politically motivated.

The former aide said she began working in Swalwells Castro Valley office in 2019 at age 21. She accused him of engaging in sexually explicit communication over Snapchat, including sending photos of his genitals and requesting nude images from her. She also described multiple instances of alleged unwanted advances, including an attempted kiss and an encounter in a parked car where she said he exposed himself and requested oral sex.

The Manhattan District Attorneys Office is investigating Rep. Eric Swalwell, who is running for California governor, over sexual assault allegations made by four women (Getty Images)

One of the alleged assaults occurred after a night of drinking when she became blackout intoxicated and later woke up naked in a hotel room, feeling the effects of vaginal sex.

She stopped working for Swalwell in 2021 but also alleged a second incident in 2024, when she encountered him again at an awards event in New York. After meeting for drinks, she said she again became heavily intoxicated and remembers only fragments of the evening, alleging that he forced himself on her in a hotel room.

I was pushing him off of me, saying no, the woman told CNN. He didnt stop.

Three additional women who spoke to CNN accused Swalwell of other forms of misconduct, including sending unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos.

Swalwell denied the accusation in a video posted to X Friday evening.

These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. Theyre absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened and I will fight them with everything that I have, he said.
Massive Attack frontman Robert Del Naja has been arrested on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation after attending a mass protest against the ban on Palestine Action in central London.

Del Naja, also known as 3D, sat among hundreds of fellow demonstrators in Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon with a sign that read I Oppose Genocide, I Support Palestine Action.

He was later approached by police officers who told him he was being put under arrest, before carrying him away from the demonstration as other protesters cheered and applauded.

Protesters hold up placards at a demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action in Trafalgar Square, central London (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (Stefan Rousseau)

In the footage, a woman can be heard saying You are amazing! and another We love you! as Del Naja lies down on his back before three officers lift him up by his legs and armpits.

As he is being carried away, a man can be heard asking Del Naja: Can you tell us why youre being arrested today? The musician appears to reply: Im being unlawfully arrested.

Prior to his arrest, Del Naja told the Press Association he wanted to attend the protest despite the consequences a potential arrest could have on his music career.

Massive Attack musician Robert Del Naja during the demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action, in Trafalgar Square, central London (Blaise Cloran/PA) (Blaise Cloran)

Being a musician, obviously, there was a lot of trepidation around how we might not be able to travel and get visas, he said.

But I thought this is ridiculous and then the police making that U-turn to arrest people again, I thought that is even more ridiculous.

So Im going to hold a sign today.

If I get arrested, I feel very confident that if I stand up in court with the right guidance and say this was an unlawful arrest and, therefore, I dont accept it.

He added: I think that the actions of Palestine Action were highly patriotic because they were pretty much protecting our country from getting involved in serious war crimes, and breaking international law.

How much more patriotic can you be than that?

Massive Attack are due to begin a summer tour in Europe from May 26 until June 8, starting in Helsinki, Finland, then performing in Rattvik, Sweden; Copenhagen in Denmark; Berlin in Germany; and Brussels in Belgium.

The English trip hop band was formed in Bristol in 1988 by Del Naja, Grant Daddy G Marshall, Adrian Tricky Thaws and Andrew Mushroom Vowles.

Police remove a protester at a demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action, in Trafalgar Square (Lucy North/PA) (Lucy North)

As of 2025, the group consists only of Del Naja and Marshall.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed their officers have so far arrested 212 people at the Trafalgar Square demonstration  all on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation.

The ages of those arrested range from 27 to 82, the force said.
Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos and the site of a US-UK joint air base - US Navy

Mauritius has vowed to regain control of the Chagos Islands after the collapse of Sir Keir Starmers plan to give them up voluntarily.

Dhananjay Ramful, the Mauritian foreign minister, told an Indian Ocean conference in Mauritius: We will spare no effort to seize any diplomatic or legal avenue to complete the decolonisation process. This is a matter of justice.

The UK Government has been forced to shelve its legislation passing the islands to Mauritius because of opposition from Donald Trump.

Washingtons approval would be needed to secure the handover of the strategic archipelago, which hosts the Diego Garcia joint UK-US air base.

Under the terms of the shelved plan, Britain would have ceded sovereignty of the Chagos to Mauritius and paid around 35bn to lease the air base back for 99 years.

Dhananjay Ramful, the foreign minister of Mauritius, told a conference that it was determined to win back the Chagos Islands

The US president turned against the deal in February, calling it a big mistake and an act of great stupidity, having previously said it was the best Sir Keir could hope to achieve.

He condemned the agreement again after Britain refused to allow US bomber and fighter jets to attack Iran from Diego Garcia.

A former top government official said this meant the UK had to abandon the plan.

When the president of the United States is openly hostile, the government has to rethink, so this agreement... will go into the deep freeze for the time being, Simon McDonald, previously the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office, told BBC Radio.

Ministers have now run out of time to put the legislation through Parliament before the end of the current session and the Kings Speech next month.

A Government spokesman said Britain would continue to make the case to Washington that the deal was the best way to protect the long-term future of the base.

Mauritius has repeatedly challenged Britains ownership of the Chagos in the international courts, and ministers expected that the International Court of Justice would soon issue a binding ruling to transfer the islands ownership.

The Government said such a transfer would endanger the operations of the military base on Diego Garcia and prevent Britain and the US from using it for military operations in the Middle East.

The deal has faced fierce criticism from Reform UK and the Conservatives, who tried to delay the legislation in the House of Lords.

Sir Keir signed the deal with the Mauritian government last year, but it cannot be implemented until Parliament passes legislation to give up the islands, which are officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory.

The archipelagos location in the middle of the Indian Ocean makes it a vital military resource and a bulwark against Chinese influence in the region.

Britain forcibly displaced up to 2,000 indigenous Chagossians in the late 1960s and 1970s to establish the air base on Diego Garcia.

Toby Noskwith, a spokesman for the Indigenous Chagossian People, a campaign group, said there had been some hesitation about the deal from the start among senior people in the Trump administration, and perhaps even from the president himself.

He said questions needed to be asked about the enormous sums of money which have been wasted on a collapsed negotiation, and the legality of conceiving a plan which denied the Chagossians their right to self-determination.
McSweeney resigned from Downing Street in February - Tayfun Salci

Morgan McSweeney will rub shoulders with some of the most influential people in the world at a security conference in Kyiv later this month as he seeks to rebuild his career in the wake of the Lord Mandelson scandal.

The ex-chief of staff to Sir Keir Starmer, who resigned from his No 10 role in February, will travel to Ukraine to attend the Kyiv Security Forum.

Present and former world leaders including Boris Johnson, George W Bush, Donald Tusk and Mark Rutte, the secretary-general of Nato, are expected to attend.

The former Labour advisers presence will fuel speculation that he is exploring ways to take his expertise abroad.

On Saturday night, confidants of Mr McSweeney told The Sunday Times that he was increasingly interested in how artificial intelligence could be used to shape future elections in Ukraine, which are expected to take place once fighting has stopped.

They believe he would be interested in supporting Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, but there are no active talks with Kyivs government at the moment.

If Mr McSweeney were to go on to advise the Ukrainian leader, he would join a long line of Labour and Conservative grandees moving into international strategic advisory roles in their post-Westminster careers.

He would be following in the footsteps of his former boss and political ally Sir Tony Blair, who currently sits on Donald Trumps Board of Peace and is working to reconstruct Gaza in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

Mr McSweeney, long credited with the rise of Sir Keir, resigned over questions about his role in Lord Mandelsons appointment as ambassador to the US.

Mandelson was sacked in September over his links to the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

In his resignation statement, Mr McSweeney said: When asked, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment, and I take full responsibility for that advice. In public life, responsibility must be owned when it matters most, not just when it is most convenient.

He has subsequently been at the centre of a row over his stolen government phone. The phones disappearance means the Government cannot release WhatsApp messages between Mr McSweeney and Lord Mandelson as part of its disclosure into how and why the peer was appointed.
(Getty Images)

The Metropolitan Police said there had been 212 arrests by 4.50pm on Saturday afternoon at a protest in central London against the Palestine Action ban.

The force said officers were continuing to make arrests where people are showing support for a proscribed organisation

Around 100 officers advanced on Palestine Action demonstrators in pairs at the base of Trafalgar Square before making multiple arrests.

Several protesters were carried out of the crowd, including one woman who asked for a pause as she was lifted away, prompting bystanders to shout stop harming women as police briefly set her down before continuing.

More than a hundred people, some of whom were holding Palestine flags and wearing keffiyehs, congregated in Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon.

One man held a cardboard cut out of Sir Keir Starmer with text that read I support genocide. I oppose Palestine action.

Some 10 police vans were parked by the square and demonstrators unfurled a banner reading Holocaust survivor descendants against Gaza genocide.
Police remove a protester at a demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action, in Trafalgar Square (Lucy North/PA) (PA Wire)

Over 200 people were arrested during a mass protest against the ban on Palestine Action in central London on Saturday, including demonstrators in their 80s.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed all 212 of the arrests made during the demonstration at Trafalgar Square were for showing support for a proscribed organisation.

The force earlier stated that the ages of those arrested ranged from 27 to 82.

At the top of the square, near the National Gallery, large banners were displayed reading Jurors deserve to hear the whole truth and Israel starves kids.

In a post on X, the Metropolitan Police said their officers continue to make arrests where people are showing support for a proscribed organisation.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon with signs reading I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.

A woman is led away from the protest by police (Getty Images)

Many of the mostly elderly demonstrators sat on camping chairs and on the ground as they held up their placards.

Among those detained was Massive Attack frontman Robert Del Naja, who sat with an I Support Palestine Action sign and was later led away by three police officers.

He said: Being a musician, obviously, there was a lot of trepidation around how we might not be able to travel and get visas.

But I thought this is ridiculous and then the police making that U-turn to arrest people again, I thought that is even more ridiculous.

So Im going to hold a sign today.

If I get arrested, I feel very confident that if I stand up in court with the right guidance and say this was an unlawful arrest and, therefore, I dont accept it.

Several individuals, including a man and a woman with grey hair, were carried off by officers away from the demonstration.

Police officers could be seen carrying a lady from the protest as people chanted shame on you.

Police then lifted a man out in handcuffs and walked an elderly protester with a walking stick to the police vans.

One woman shouted: Yeah she looks like a terrorist, doesnt she mate?

Protesters accused police of dragging a woman out of the protest and not supporting her shoulders.

The woman could then be seen lying with her eyes closed as officers and bystanders surrounded her in a circle.

Some demonstrators were carried by their ankles and under their arms by officers to an area at the side of Trafalgar Square surrounded by a metal fence.

Protesters hold up placards at a demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action, in Trafalgar Square, central London (Lucy North/PA) (PA Wire)

Protest group Defend Our Juries said the demonstration, called Everyone Day, would show the resistance to the ban on Palestine Action is stronger than ever.

The Metropolitan Police said Saturdays action is likely to involve offending rather than a lawful protest.

In March, the force said officers would resume arresting suspected Palestine Action supporters, as a High Court battle over the ban on the group continues.

The police paused the arrest of demonstrators in February after the High Court ruled the Governments ban was unlawful, but then decided to resume as an appeal against the ruling is likely to take several months.
Irish police used pepper spray in a joint operation with the armed forces to disperse protesters who had blockaded an oil refinery.

Gardai took an hour to clear the demonstrators outside County Corks Whitegate refinery, the source of Irelands entire supply of petrol and diesel.

Farmers, hauliers and taxi drivers had blocked access to the site for five days with slow-moving convoys and vehicles parked across the road.

The protest against sky-high fuel prices caused by the Iran war had seen supplies run dry across 600 of the nations 1,500 petrol stations, with roughly a day to go before a full shutdown, according to industry sources.

Video released on Saturday showed Gardai units escorting tankers out of Whitegate.

Police moved in to clear the protest because of a growing threat to the fuel supplies for emergency public services, including ambulance and fire services, the Gardai force said in a statement.

Police carried out an operation to clear protesters blockading the Whitegate oil refinery on Saturday - via REUTERS

Motorists in Ireland must now pay up to 2.20 (1.91) a litre for diesel and as much as 2 for petrol. Unlike elsewhere, the fuel crisis has boiled over into widespread unrest.

The Irish government on Saturday said a fuel support package was being finalised after talks with farmer and haulier representative bodies.

Around half of the price of a litre of petrol comes from additional taxes levied by the government. Rising oil prices therefore drive up the tax take.

Irish opposition MPs have called on the government to urgently remove taxes on petrol, diesel and heating oil.

On Saturday, protests continued across several motorways, Dublin city centre and fuel depots in counties Limerick and Galway  the only two such facilities of their kind.

Protesters gathered in OConnell Street in Dublin on Saturday to demonstrate against rising fuel prices - Niall Carson/PA Wire

Micheal Martin, the taoiseach, had warned that the blockades meant Ireland might have to turn oil away from the country during a global oil supply crisis because it was unable to deliver it from port to refinery and onwards.

Protests were organised on social media and not through representative unions. Organisers of the spontaneous demonstrations said they were devastated not to be involved in direct talks with government.

On Saturday, Christopher Duffy, a spokesman for the grouping in Dublin city centre, said the protest would continue until there was a serious reduction in our costs.

Members of the public make their way past trucks and tractors as protesters blocked OConnell Street on Saturday - Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of Sinn Fein, accused the Irish government of allowing a difficult situation to escalate and urged direct engagement with protesters to end blockades.

In Whitegate village, police used pepper spray as tensions flared amid an operation to force protesters away from the main road.

The army had brought in four heavy-lift recovery trucks to help remove vehicles involved in the blockade.

On Friday, Helen McEntee, the defence minister, said the use of soldiers to support the police was not the norm, but claimed that escalating disruption had crossed into criminal behaviour.

Kevin McPartlan, the chief of Fuels for Ireland, warned that the entire country could have run out of fuel by Monday if the blockade had continued.

If everything remains as it is, that is to say that the three facilities remain blockaded, then I dont think we could guarantee fuel at any forecourt by very early next week, Monday morning or Monday perhaps, he told RTE Radio One.
Pope Leo spoke out against the Iran-US war on Saturday (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Pope Leo XIV has issued his strongest condemnation yet of the "delusion of omnipotence" he believes is fueling the US-Israel war in Iran, demanding political leaders halt hostilities and negotiate for peace.

The pontiff presided over an evening prayer service in St Peters Basilica on Saturday, coinciding with the start of face-to-face negotiations between the United States and Iran in Pakistan, as a fragile ceasefire held.

While the first US-born Pope did not explicitly name the United States or Donald Trump in his prayer, which was planned before the talks were announced, his tone and message appeared directly aimed at Trump and US officials.

These officials have frequently boasted of U.S. military superiority and sought to justify the conflict in religious terms.

"Enough of the idolatry of self and money!" Pope Leo declared. "Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!"

Among those present in the basilica pews were the Archbishop of Tehran, Belgian Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu, and Laura Hochla, the U.S. Embassys deputy chief of mission, representing the U.S. diplomatic corps.

Pope Leo hit out at President Trump earlier this week (AFP via Getty Images)

In the initial weeks of the conflict, the Chicago-born Pope Leo had been hesitant to publicly denounce the violence, limiting his comments to muted calls for peace and dialogue. However, his criticism intensified from Palm Sunday onwards.

Earlier this week, he branded Trumps threat to annihilate Iranian civilization as "truly unacceptable" and urged dialogue to prevail.

On Saturday, Pope Leo called upon all people of good will to pray for peace and to demand an end to the war from their political leaders. The vigil in Rome, featuring Scripture readings and meditative Rosary prayers, was mirrored by simultaneous local prayer services across the US and beyond.

Praying for peace, Pope Leo explained, was a means to "break the demonic cycle of evil" and instead build the Kingdom of God, a realm free from swords, drones, or "unjust profit."

"It is here that we find a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive," he stated. "Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death."

Leaders have frequently invoked religion to justify their actions in the war. U.S. officials, notably Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have cited their Christian faith to portray the US as a Christian nation striving to vanquish its adversaries.

Pope Leo has consistently maintained that God does not bless any war, and certainly not those who drop bombs.

During the service, Pope Leo sat on a white throne to the side of the altar, dressed in his formal red cape and liturgical stole, praying with a Rosary in his hands. Many priests and nuns in the congregation also fingered Rosary beads as the "Our Father" and "Hail Mary" prayers were recited.

The Vatican holds particular concern regarding the potential spillover of Israels war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, especially given the precarious situation of Christian communities in the south.
John Swinney with party members and candidates at the launch of the Scottish National Party campaign (PA)

Of all the many and varied contests on 7 May, the biggest single set of elections is also the easiest to call: Scotland.

If the polls and the turnout at the previous contest in 2021 is anything to go by, something like 5.4 million Scots will turn out to cast a ballot, and enough of them will vote to return an SNP, or certainly an SNP-led government.

It will be the fifth consecutive term in office for the party since they displaced Labour at Holyrood back in 2007. John Swinney, SNP leader since the departure of Humza Yousaf in 2024, will be first minister once again.

Aside from the long era of Unionist hegemony in the old Northern Ireland parliament, if the SNP lasts until the expiry of the parliament in 2031, it will be the second longest period of electoral dominance across the UK for well over a century. (Welsh Labour, ruling their nation from 1999 to 2026 just pips them).

Nigel Farage and Malcolm Offord, Reforms Scottish leader, unveil the partys manifesto ahead of Mays elections, where at least one poll has suggested they could come second to the SNP (PA Wire)

Indeed, the peculiarities of the Scottish electoral system  mostly first-past-the-post like Westminster, partly proportional representation  may mean that Swinney will likely either command a small majority or be close enough to having one in the 129 seat assembly that he can get his legislative programme through without too much compromise.

Such is the extreme fragmentation of the SNPs many opponents, with Labour and Reform UK scrapping for second place, and the Greens, Conservatives, and Liberal Democrats all still strong enough to win some seats, that the basic outcome is beyond doubt. The SNP will divide and rule. The Unionist or anti-SNP vote will be substantial, but such a kaleidoscope that even tactical voting becomes difficult.

Double drams all round? Well, not quite. On current polling, the support for the SNP will probably be somewhere between 35 and 40 per cent of the vote. It will be sufficiently high and well distributed, and its opponents support low and inefficiently so, that it should get about 60 constituency seats, plus maybe a few more to get over the threshold of a majority of 65.

But it will hardly mark a vote of huge confidence in the party and its long record, and will actually be lower than it was when Nicola Sturgeon led them to victory last time round, in 2021.

One fact is plain. The 2026 vote will certainly not represent much of a mandate for the SNP seriously to campaign for a second independence referendum. The last one, in 2014, was based on a larger SNP vote, a clearer parliamentary majority and greater support for separation than is likely this time; and it wont be strong enough for Sir Keir Starmer to feel compelled to accede to the performative request.

Besides, Swinney knows he needs to see polling support for independence at 60 per cent plus to avoid a second ruinous defeat.

While the SNP may feel that that theyve survived the scandals and leadership traumas of the Alex Salmond, Sturgeon and Yousaf years, the collapse of the SNP-Green coalition, and dissatisfaction on issues such as education and taxation, the reason they will win is simply that theyre lucky  theyre not strong or loved, but all their opponents are even less so.

Anas Sarwar is the most high profile Labour politician to call for Starmer to resign, but his own future will be uncertain if Scottish Labour performs poorly in May (PA Wire)

Labour, not long ago, seemed certain to take power at Holyrood as complement to the 2024 landslide at Westminster. No more. Labours travails at the UK level have also crushed its support in Scotland.

No matter how much Scottish leader Anas Sarwar distances himself from London Labour  including his call last month for Starmer to quit  he cannot escape the contamination. Its also fair to say that hes not produced a distinctive enough agenda of his own to enhance his own prospects.

Although there is no such formal position at Holyrood, he will probably be fortunate enough to become de facto leader of the opposition to Swinneys government. But who knows?

If its a very bad night for Labour and they slip into third place again (the Tories went ahead and beat them to second in 2021), Starmer might well outlast Sarwar as a party leader.

Which brings us to Reform UK, whose rise in Scotland  as the most sceptical party on devolution, let alone independence or the EU  has been stunning.

Like Labour, theyre around the 15 per cent mark in the polls, which is significantly lower than they score in Wales or England, but a few years ago it would have been unimaginable that they would have pretensions to being the main opposition to the SNP. Immigration and disillusion with the Tories are the main reasons, as down South.

As elsewhere in Britain, Nigel Farages followers have cannibalised a significant portion of the Tory vote while also peeling away some working class Labour support, particularly in the Central Belt.

But the Conservatives should be able to mobilise and hang on to many of their well-established strongholds in the Borders and North East Scotland to retain some parliamentary representation, and with it the hope of future revival.

They, led by Russell Findlay, are basically still paying the price of the failures of the Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak administrations, plus, in Remain Scotland, the continuing effects of the Brexit vote.

Similarly the Liberal Democrats, led by Alex Cole-Hamilton, and also on about 10 per cent, should win a handful of seats in Edinburgh and the Highlands and Islands: the Greens will do the same based on a more substantial level support in the proportional part of the voting.

Both parties have been in coalition administrations in the past - the Liberal Democrats with Labour in 1999-2007. The Scottish Greens, a pro-independent group formally supported the first SNP in 2007, the first referendum on independence and served in government from 2021 to 2024 under the Bute House power sharing agreement. Theyd be unlikely to gang up with the others to try and turf Swinney out.

It is thus odd but essential to say, by way of an addendum, that while superficially the result of the 2026 Scottish parliament will look solid and decisive, it will have an air of impermanence, of unfinished business about it.

It cannot realistically be taken as any expression of approval in the SNPs record; it will be a grudging victory; it will not settle the independence debate; and the mood for change that does exist in Scotland will remain unconsummated.

For the next five years, power once again will be the SNPs to lose. But to whom?
Public opinion split on horse racing as Polanski calls for ban ahead of Grand National

Public opinion is split over the future of horse racing a pollster has said, after Green Party leader Zack Polanski called for a ban.

The row has intensified on the day of horse racings biggest race, the Grand National, and just 24 hours after the tragic death of Gold Dancer at the Aintree Festival sparked backlash.

According to YouGov, 38 per cent of those asked about the future of horse racing in its most recent survey supported its ban, the exact same number who support it continuing, with a further 24 per cent undecided.

In a social media post, they noted: With Zack Polanski calling for a ban on horse racing, our 2023 survey found Britons split over such a ban.

Zack Polanski wants to ban horse racing (Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

One senior figure involved in horse racing has claimed that the sports refusal to intervene over the attempts to ban greyhound racing has left it exposed to the nutters.

But the British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) has pointed out that other polling has shown clear public support for horse racing.

Strand Polling found that 59 per cent think racehorses are treated well in the UK, 64 per cent think racing takes horse welfare seriously and 60 per cent think racing authorities in the UK are genuinely committed to improving welfare standards.

They noted that Savanta found 60 per cent think the Grand National should continue while M&C Saatchi found 56 per cent say the race, which is set to be watched by 600 million worldwide, is an important part of British sporting culture.

Mr Polanski has in the last few days reiterated his claim that there's something deeply wrong with society when this is considered a sport, adding: We need to ban horse racing - and indeed all forms of animal cruelty.

Gold Dancer was destroyed after the horses back was broken in a race at Aintree on Friday (Getty Images)

On Friday, he retweeted an X post from animal rights group PETA stating: While crowds cheer, horses fall. Since 2000, over 60 horses have died at the Grand National. This is not a national tradition - it's a national disgrace. #youbettheydie.

And he doubled down retweeting another post showing disturbing footage of Gold Dancer breaking down on Friday after being urged to the winning line with a broken back.

The post noted: This horse broke his back on the last jump, jockey... Paul Townend then forced and whipped the horse over the finish with a BROKEN BACK to finish 1st. The horse was killed.

Mr Polanski suggested that negative press coverage of his position in the last two days, was because the establishment is terrified as he sets out his plan to end rip-off Britain and take back our power and wealth from those who have stolen it.

Animal rights organisations called for the Grand National to be boycotted as the winner of the second race on Friday, Gold Dancer, died after crossing the finish line.

Recent assessments suggest that the the UK horse racing industry is a major economic driver, contributing approximately 4 billion annually to the British economy.

As the second largest spectator sport in Great Britain, it generates over 3.39 billion in direct and indirect expenditure, supports over 17,000 full-time jobs, and has an overall equine impact closer to 5bn.
Rory McIlroy looked in ominous mood after racing clear of the pack with a record-breaking performance around Augusta National as the grip on his Masters defence became a stranglehold.

The Northern Irishman, seeking to become only the fourth man to win back-to-back titles, shot a 65 to go with Thursdays 67 to post at 12 under, three shots better than any other defending champion had managed after two rounds.

That was six better than nearest rivals Patrick Reed, the 2018 champion, and Sam Burns and set the Masters record for the largest 36-hole lead.

Rory McIlroy sets a new record for the largest 36-hole lead. #themasters pic.twitter.com/bsir7IzxVE  The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2026

It sent a clear message that if they wanted the green jacket they would have to produce something significantly better.

On the eve of the tournament the world number two had said, considering the hard and fast conditions, double digits under par would be an amazing score. He was referring to Sunday.

In that respect he is two days ahead of schedule but light years ahead  evidenced by six birdies in his last seven holes  of a stacked leaderboard which had four other major winners trailing in his wake.

After reeling off three successive birdies from the second to get to eight under he responded to two bogeys mid-round with five birdies in six holes from the 12th.

His brilliant approach, trickling down the slope to three feet at the 16th, put a third two on his card and he could seemingly do no wrong as, having punched out from under the trees, he chipped in at the next.

Rory McIlroy put in a stunning display (Matt Slocum/AP) (Matt Slocum)

As if to underline his dominance, McIlroys approach to six feet at the last brought a ninth birdie of the day.

Reed had to settle for a second-successive 69 after dropping his only shot at the last, which meant he missed out on a third-round final pairing with McIlroy.

That dubious honour went to Burns, who finished with three birdies in his last four holes much earlier in the day for a 71.

Justin Rose was five under after four birdies in five holes from the seventh boosted a round that was going nowhere.

The Englishman said last years near miss in a play-off had no bearing on his current approach.

Of course I want to win this tournament. I dont really need to try any harder, he said.

I just think the experience in that is probably trying harder aint going to help me so thats probably the dance Im doing with myself. I know the intrinsic motivation is there.

Ryder Cup team-mates Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood joined him on that score after a 69 and 68 respectively, with the Irishman saying: If you gave me this position yesterday morning I would have taken your hand off.
The Israeli Iron Dome air defence system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv - Leo Correa/AP Photo

Sir Keir Starmer must restore relations with Israel to help fix Britains outmoded air defences, a former RAF chief has said.

Air Vice-Marshal Philip Lester warned there were notable gaps that could be exploited by Russia and Iran to strike the UK mainland.

He urged the Prime Minister to put aside tensions with Israel over Gaza and show a willingness to learn from its Iron Dome system.

His intervention comes amid mounting concerns over the shrunken state of the Armed Forces and their ability to defend British interests.

The comments were echoed by Kemi Badenoch, who said Labour needed to repair its damaged relationship with Israel in the interest of Britains national security.

The Conservative Party leader told The Telegraph that Sir Keir needed to rearm Britain for a 21st-century war, adding that Israel could act as a model in demonstrating how to defend against missile strikes.

UK faces a clear and pressing challenge

Mr Lester made the remarks in the foreword for a report by Labour Friends of Israel, to be published this week, on boosting UK air defences.

He wrote: The UK faces a clear and pressing challenge. While it retains world-class capabilities in many areas, there are notable gaps in IAMD [integrated air and missile defence], counter-drone technologies and the rapid fielding of innovative systems.

Addressing these gaps will require not only investment but also a willingness to learn from those who have already confronted similar threats.

Israel, with its unparalleled experience in defending against a spectrum of aerial threats, offers a valuable partner in this endeavour.

Yet in recent years, this relationship has not always been leveraged to its full potential, particularly in the defence and security sphere. Re-energising the UKIsrael defence dialogue is therefore essential.

Political relations with Israel have nosedived since Labour came to power, with Sir Keir yielding to pressure from Left-wing backbenchers.

The Prime Minister has suspended licences for arms exports, while IDF soldiers have been barred from the Royal College of Defence Studies.

At the same time, Britain is facing greater aerial threats, with Iran last month managing to strike RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus with attack drones.

Iron Dome interceptor rockets are fired to counter Iranian ballistic missiles in Tel Aviv in late March - Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images

Last month, The Telegraph revealed how Israel had warned Sir Keir that Tehran had ballistic missiles capable of reaching London.

Ex-military leaders have also said there was a growing threat to the British mainland from Russia, which considers itself at war with the UK.

An inquiry by Parliaments defence committee in 2024 found that Britain has inadequate domestic air and missile defence capabilities.

Israel has developed three state-of-the-art air defence systems to protect itself from frequent rocket attacks by regional enemies, including Iran.

The best-known is the Iron Dome, which is used to take down short-range rockets fired by Hamas from Gaza and Hezbollah from Lebanon.

There is also a second-tier system called Davids Sling, for drones and medium-range missiles and its most advanced system, Arrow, for ballistic missiles.

In contrast, the UKs air defence largely relies on six Type 45 destroyers. Four of those are currently under repair and HMS Dragon is deployed to Cyprus.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Mrs Badenoch warned that all European countries, including Britain, were unprepared for missile strikes. She said Israel was a serious country that demonstrated how countries could mobilise to deal with foreign threats.

She said: Israel shows what it means when defence is the central organising principle of a government. Israel thinks: How do we keep Israelis safe? We should be thinking about how we keep British people safe, not as Keir Starmer does, How do we make sure the international courts think were nice people? That is his strategy.

Mrs Badenoch added that the very close relationship that existed between the Israeli and previous Conservative government had been damaged by Labours decision to recognise a Palestinian state before the release of all Oct 7 hostages.

She said: I think that we should be working with every country that we can build strong alliances with. Israel absolutely is one of those countries. When I was in government, they were very helpful to us on security and intelligence issues.

A view of missiles launched by Iran as retaliation for US and Israeli attacks, seen in the skies over Ramallah in the West Bank - Issam Rimawi/Anadolu via Getty Images

Last month, senior defence sources told The Telegraph that the UK would be essentially defenceless against an Iranian missile strike.

One described Britains defences as woeful, adding: Combating ballistic missiles are long-learned skill sets and the UKs set of those skills is, sadly, very, very low.

Mr Lester said that both the war in Ukraine and the recent conflict in the Middle East had shown the UKs enemies had the capabilities to strike the homeland.

He said Britain needed to up its defences speedily if we are to be prepared for the type of threats that are likely to confront in the years and decades to come.

The former RAF chief said Sir Keir should make sure lessons from Israel were systematically incorporated and reverse the ban on military exchanges.

While broader political considerations will always play a role in international relations, there is a strong case for ensuring that collaboration in critical areas such as air defence, intelligence and capability development is not unduly constrained, he wrote.

The challenges posed by emerging threats are too significant and too immediate to allow opportunities for partnership to be missed.

Mrs Badenoch also accused Sir Keir of lying to the public by pretending Britain could defend itself in a war during a speech at the London Defence Conference on Saturday.

In a blistering attack, the Tory leader said Labours defence policy was a national scandal, adding Sir Keir was politically unprepared for the war in Iran because he was distracted by Labours infighting and psychodrama.

Mrs Badenoch singled out the Governments failure to publish the defence investment plan, which has been delayed since last autumn.

Yesterday, the Defence Secretary told you not to worry because we are ready. Im not here to lie to you. We are not ready.

At a time of war in Europe and war in the Middle East, at a time when these conflicts are affecting every family across Britain, at a time when Britains place in the world is in flux, our Government literally does not have a plan.

The Telegraph understands that, despite political tensions, co-operation between the UK and Israeli defence firms is continuing.
A wolf that escaped from a zoo in the South Korean city of Daejeon remains on the loose after more than four days, with authorities struggle to track it amid bad weather and a surge of false sightings.

The two-year-old male wolf, named Neukgu, broke out of its enclosure at O-World around 9.15am on Wednesday by digging under a fence, zoo officials said. Born in January 2024 and weighing between 30kg and 35kg, the animal was discovered missing during a pre-opening inspection, with CCTV later confirming how it escaped.

Authorities launched a search the same morning, and deployed more than 300 personnel. Drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras were brought in for the search, but an official from the Daejeon fire headquarters told Agence France-Presse they had to pull them back due to the ongoing rain.

In the first 24 hours, Neukgu was detected multiple times in wooded hills near the zoo, including a confirmed sighting at about 1.30am on Thursday captured on the thermal imaging cameras, according to Chosun Biz. Authorities divided the surrounding area into five sectors, formed human perimeters and installed traps and baited cages.

A wolf that went missing after escaping from its enclosure in O-world zoo, roams in the zoo premises in Daejeon, South Korea (Daejeon City Corporation)

However, the search has been complicated by worsening weather and a flood of inaccurate reports. Rain and fog limited visibility and disrupted aerial searches, while more than 100 sightings reported to police and fire authorities were later found to be false or based on doctored or AI-generated images.

There are many unverified reports, so we plan to dispatch teams only after confirmation by veterinarians and experts, fire authorities said.

One reported sighting roughly 23km away in Cheongju prompted an hour-long search that found no trace. Officials now believe the wolf remains in the wooded hills around O-World, particularly near Mount Bomun, guided by its homing instinct. Authorities have also said the wolf may be hiding in a self-dug burrow, saying that he had previously shown similar behaviour while inside its enclosure.

The zoo has since broadcast recorded howls from the wolfs pack and replayed routine visitor announcements the animal had heard since birth in an attempt to lure it back, reported The Korea Herald. Search teams have also shifted tactics and have begun placing traps and waiting for the animal to return rather than pursuing it.

Wolves are pack animals, so it will likely try to return to its group. If chased too aggressively, it may perceive it as a threat and go further into hiding out of fear, experts told Korea JoongAng Daily.

Neukgu is part of a programme to restore the Korean wolf, a subspecies classified as a Class I endangered species and considered functionally extinct in the wild in South Korea, according to the Korea JoongAng Daily. The animals were reintroduced using wolves imported from Russia in 2008, after the last known wild wolf on the peninsula died in 1997.

Concerns have grown over Neukgus condition, and officials have said he last ate two chickens just before the escape and may now be hungry and stressed. A search authority official told The Asia Business Daily that Neukgu would have trouble looking for food since he was raised in captivity. However, officials said that if the wolf is able to find water, he could survive for up to two weeks.

Rescue workers search for a wolf that escaped from a zoo in Daejeon on Wednesday (Yonhap)

The zoo has since broadcast recorded howls from the wolfs pack and replayed routine visitor announcements the animal had heard since birth in an attempt to lure it back (Yonhap)

The search has also been hindered by the circulation of fake, AI-generated images, including one that authorities themselves initially helped spread. A photo that began circulating on social media on Wednesday appeared to show the escaped wolf on a city street and was picked up by officials at an on-site situation room.

After consulting zoo staff, the Daejeon Fire Department shared the image with media outlets and the city government, which then issued a public safety alert stating that the wolf had been seen in an urban area.

The alert triggered panic among residents, with parents rushing to collect children from a nearby primary school, overwhelming staff and contributing to its closure the following day.

Authorities later said it did not match the actual location of the search for the wolf and on Friday, the fire department stated it was suspected to be a synthetic image created using AI, urging the public to delete it. A department source told The Chosun Daily: At the time, the situation was urgent, so we couldnt verify further.

Experts criticised the decision, saying the confusion may have caused authorities to miss a critical 48-hour golden time for capture, when the wolfs homing instinct would have been strongest.

Neukgus escape has drawn national attention, including from the South Korean president Lee Jae Myung, who wrote on X: I hope no human casualties occur, and I pray that Neukgu also returns home safely.

  ,         .       ,      .https://t.co/YpwmM4y1Nt   (@Jaemyung_Lee) April 9, 2026

Animal welfare groups have called for Neukgu to be captured alive rather than killed. One fact that must be made clear is that Neukgu is the fundamental victim of this incident, Animal Freedom Solidarity said in a statement, adding that the life of a captive animal may be at stake due to an accident caused by poor management and structural defects.

Animal rights group Korea Animal Welfare Association brought up a 2018 incident at the same zoo when an escaped puma was shot dead after about four hours, saying: An accident caused by facility issues must not again lead to the death of an animal.
Sending British warships to police the Strait of Hormuz is a fantasy because UK armed forces are already so depleted, former defence secretary Ben Wallace has warned.

Mr Wallace, who served as defence secretary under three Tory prime ministers, said such a move  which armed forces minister Luke Pollard has refused to rule out  risked leaving our troops dangerously unprotected and overstretched.

He urged the government to properly fund Britains defence and accused ministers of taking the public for fools after the current defence secretary John Healey insisted the UK is ready to defend itself.

The intervention came as peace talks between the US and Iran got underway in Pakistan on Saturday, hoping to solidify a fragile two-week ceasefire more than a month into Donald Trumps Middle East war.

And Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also warned that Mr Trumps America First approach to foreign policy was here to stay, and that Britain needed to react accordingly.

Former defence secretary Ben Wallace says John Healey needs to fight for more funding (PA Archive)

In a speech at the London Defence Conference, she pledged to increase the size of the British army by 20,000 if she wins back power amid growing question marks over whether Labour is serious about reaching the target of spending 5 per cent of GDP on defence and security, which it has committed to doing in the next parliament.

Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Mr Trump on Thursday night about the need for a practical plan to get shipping going again through the Strait, which is currently blockaded by Tehran, after the conditional ceasefire in the US-Iran conflict was announced. Mr Trump has reportedly demanded that Nato allies send warships to the troubled region in a matter of days.

Asked about the possibility of deploying the navy to the vital shipping route, Sir Ben, who served as defence secretary from 2019 to 2023, told The Independent: These are just fantasies. They talk about troops being deployed to the Strait when they know damn well that theyve cut their operating budgets.

It risks leaving our troops dangerously unprotected and dangerously overstretched.

John Healey needs to get some courage and start being prepared to have a fight with the Treasury and No 10 [for more funding], but also at the same time start being honest with the British public.

HMS Dragon has been deployed to Cyprus (PA Wire)

Arguing that Mr Healeys claim Britain is ready to defend itself is palpably untrue, Sir Ben added: The problem is they simply will not make the tough political decisions... So we end up with very hollow platitudes and partisan comments from a Labour Party who think spin is the solution.

MPs on both sides of the Commons have already expressed concerns over the failure of the government to publish its Defence Investment Plan.

In-year savings were blamed for a delay in sending HMS Dragon to Cyprus weeks after the Iran crisis began and the UKs base on the island came under attack from Tehran.

And there are ongoing question marks over the reduction of the size of the UK army which is down to around 70,000, and using poor and outdated heavy vehicles and tanks.

Dr Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told The Independent that more money needs to be spent if the government wants to plug many of the under-resourced gaps in defence.

Britain is certainly still the beneficiary of strategic depth of alliances, of some pretty impressive niche capabilities within each of the services.

But its armed forces are very much in what you might call a transitional period, where were moving from an era of small wars to one where large-scale conflict is very much a believable contingency. And that process of transition is by no means complete.

(Institute for the Study of War)

Asked about Mr Wallaces warnings, Dr Kaushal said: I think its probably true that in order to plug many of the under-resourced gaps in defence, more money needs to be spent than is currently being spent.

It comes just days after a former top military commander said that the British army is so depleted it could only seize a small market town on a good day.

But asked at the London Defence Conference on Friday if Britain is ready to defend itself, Mr Healey responded: Yes, and I think what I set out demonstrates just how ready our forces are when required.

Pointing to the monitoring of three Russian submarines found operating in the North Atlantic, he added: Whilst people are rightly concerned about the conflict in the Middle East, were not taking our eyes off Putin, were not taking our eyes off the primary threat, and we do have an armed forces that is demonstrating its capabilities to track and deter and if necessary, there are options to respond as well.

Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised Keir Starmer for not sending British ships to help clear the Strait of Hormuz (Getty)

Ms Badenoch used her speech to announce she will use welfare spending cuts to fund the biggest expansion in the size of the army since the Second World War with 6,000 more regulars and 14,000 more reserves.

The mirror that [Trump] is holding up to Europe and that we are finding it so uncomfortable to look in is showing us that without the United States, we cannot properly defend ourselves, she said. At present, European strategic autonomy is a fairytale.

I have announced that the next Conservative government would reinstate the two-child benefit cap and spend that money on defence. That will fund the largest net increase in British troops under any government since the Second World War.

We will use the money to recruit 6,000 regular soldiers and 14,000 reservists as well as paying for their accommodation and equipment.

Mr Pollard, Labour minister for defence readiness and industry, responded: Kemi Badenochs message is: the Tories hollowed out Britains defences, now put us back in charge. Nobody will take that seriously.

The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment.
Sir Keir has now foundered on precisely the rocks he claimed to be avoiding - Thomas Krych/REUTERS

The collapse of Sir Keir Starmers Chagos bill is emblematic of the complete failure of his project in Government: a flagship policy driven by the pursuit of ideological purity over the national interest, drawn out for 18 torturous months of prevarication and delay, collapsing in the end due to a legal issue of precisely the sort the Prime Minister claimed to be resolving.

It is a stunning setback for a politician who has based his conduct in office not on what is good for Britain, or wise politically, but on the idea that law can substitute for political judgement, and that governing can be reduced to process rather than decision-making.

Having insisted that international law was driving the decision to give away both British soil and 35bn in British taxpayers money  and not, for instance, the Left-wing obsession with decolonisation  Sir Keir has now foundered on precisely the rocks he claimed to be avoiding.

The planned legislation, which would have seen the treaty signed and sovereignty of one of Britains most important strategic assets lost, can no longer pass through Parliament before the end of the current session. The reason for the delay is straightforward: until the United States agrees to formally amend its own agreements with Britain over the use of the Diego Garcia airbase, the deal cannot be ratified. Sir Keirs supposed attempt to comply with a maximalist interpretation of international law has been sunk by the same thing.

This does not mean that Sir Keirs surrender deal is completely dead. The Government insists that it is committed to the project, and will attempt to win over Mr Trump to its position. But the delay should give time for critics to attempt to kill it off for good.

The legal position which underpins Sir Keirs attempts has morphed over time, from rhetoric about the International Court of Justice (which has no jurisdiction in the dispute), to claims that the electromagnetic spectrum would not be able to continue to operate without a deal. From the laws of man to the laws of physics, the continued existence of the Diego Garcia base appears to violate both. Yet it remains.

The Chagos Islands are home to the Diego Garcia military base, a facility built there in the 1970s that has been used by UK and US forces - AFP

The absurdity of this position should be hammered home. MPs and peers should use this time to extract from the Government exactly why it fears the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea might offer a ruling over the ownership of land (where it has no jurisdiction), or precisely how a third country might threaten the base in ways which a transfer of ownership would avoid.

And they should ask, too, whether the supposed security of a lease is preferable to the solid footing of sovereignty. The Prime Minister is currently attempting to present himself as a war leader, accusing rival politicians of being soft on Russia and China. Is this consistent with giving up a vital strategic asset which has just proved its worth in the Middle East?

Indeed, is it consistent with the tenure of his premiership to date? Kemi Badenoch was right to draw attention to the delayed Defence Investment Plan, and the woeful lack of preparation ahead of the Iran conflict. Rather than exerting yet more effort attempting to surrender British territory, Sir Keir may wish to invest his time and energy in defending it.
West Ham United's Konstantinos Mavropanos celebrates his opener (PA)

West Ham United have climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time since December following a commanding 4-0 victory over Wolves at the London Stadium.

The result plunged north London rivals Tottenham into the bottom three.

Konstantinos Mavropanos opened the scoring with a first-half header before adding another late on, while Taty Castellanos struck twice within two minutes midway through the second half to seal the emphatic win.

Nuno Espirito Santos side, initially nervous, shrugged off their early jitters to dismantle the leagues bottom club.

This triumph marks a significant turnaround for the Hammers, who were seven points adrift of safety and winless in 10 after a January defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Five victories in their subsequent 11 matches, alongside Tottenhams apparent free fall, have completely reshaped the battle at the foot of the table, inching West Ham closer to survival.

Mavropanos's opener, headed in from Jarrod Bowens cross just before the break, proved pivotal in setting the stage for Castellanos to double his tally for the club.

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.

Taty Castellanos celebrates scoring West Hams third goal (PA)

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.

West Hams wastefulness in front of 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.

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.
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President Donald Trump said it "doesn't bother" him that first lady Melania Trump gave a public address distancing herself from Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

"It doesn't bother me," Trump told The New York Times in a phone interview Friday. "I didn't know what the statement was, but I knew she was going to make a statement."

On Thursday, the first lady gave a White House address saying the "lies" linking her to Epstein "need to end today" which appeared to come out of the blue.

Melania Trump said she was not a victim of Epstein, and that they only briefly "crossed paths" in 2000 because of their overlapping social circles.

She also called for Congress to hold a hearing featuring testimony from the Epstein survivors.

President Donald Trump said he did not know that first lady Melania Trump was planning to speak about Jeffrey Epstein during her White House address on Thursday (REUTERS)

The announcement caught reporters and the public off-guard and led to speculation that the first lady may be trying to get ahead of an upcoming story. The president told MS NOW reporter Jacqueline Alemany shortly after the address that he did not know the topic of her remarks ahead of time.

Trump told The NYT that rumors linking his wife to Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, had been causing her increasing frustration.

The president said one story in particular  a claim that she actually met Trump through Epstein  has been especially offensive to her.

"She finds it very insulting," Trump told the outlet. "And 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 ..."

He continued, saying that his wife "didn't meet me through Jeffrey Epstein."

"And I could understand her feelings. But I said, If you want to do it, do it," he said.

Trump did not tell The NYT when exactly he had that discussion with the first lady, but said that 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.

Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's former chief of staff, told CNN on Thursday that she believes Trump was well aware that his wife was planning to talk about the rumors.

Im gonna say, I call BS on our president saying he knew nothing about it, because at the very least I imagine [the first lady] would have given him a heads up if she had sent an advisory out yesterday, Grisham said on CNNs The Lead on Thursday.

While the first lady's intention may have been to put rumors to rest, the abrupt nature of her address only stirred up more questions among the public.

First lady Melania Trump gives a White House address demanding and end to the lies linking her to Jeffrey Epstein (Getty)

The NYT asked Trump if he, like his wife, was upset that he was frequently linked to Epstein.

The president said that he doesn't mind "anything having to do with Epstein" but complained that discussing the subject caused him to "waste a lot of time." Trump added that his wife "had a right to talk about it, because the fake news covers her so inaccurately."

The Trump administration has been desperate to move past the Epstein case. While the war in Iran had effectively pulled public attention elsewhere, the first lady's comments reignited the story.

When asked if he was upset by the renewed interest, Trump told The NYT , I never get upset.

The Independent has requested comment from the White House.
Donald Trump has claimed that shipping tankers from all over the world are heading towards the U.S. in order to load up with oil, as domestic gas prices remain high following the fallout from the presidents ongoing war with Iran.

In a post on Truth Social early Saturday morning, Trump roasted the mainstream media and its reporting of the conflict and said that U.S. forces were beginning the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz.

The act was a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others, the president said.

Incredibly, they dont have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves. Very interestingly, however, empty Oil carrying ships from many Nations are all heading to the United States of America to LOAD UP with Oil.

It comes as U.S. and Iranian delegations met in Pakistan to begin negotiations aimed at producing a more durable ceasefire, after over a month of fighting.

Donald Trump has claimed that shipping tankers from all over the world are heading towards the U.S. in order to load up with oil, as domestic gas prices remain high following the fallout from the presidents ongoing war with Iran (AP)

Vice President JD Vance is leading the American delegation for the talks in Islamabad, while Irans team is headed by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and includes senior political and security officials.

Trump told reporters Friday that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen fairly soon  with or without Irans cooperation, adding: If it doesnt, well be able to finish it off one way or the other. The closure of the shipping artery has sent oil prices soaring worldwide, with a knock-on effect on gas prices in the U.S.

In his Saturday morning post, the president boasted that Tehran was losing big.

Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft apparatus is nonexistent, Radar is dead, their Missile and Drone Factories have been largely obliterated along with the Missiles and Drones themselves and, most importantly, their longtime Leaders are no longer with us, praise be to Allah! he wrote.

APTOPIX Pakistan Iran US Vance (It comes as U.S. and Iranian delegations met in Pakistan to begin negotiations aimed at producing a more durable ceasefire, after over a month of fighting. Vice President JD Vance is leading the American delegation)

The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may bunk into one of their sea mines which, by the way, all 28 of their mine dropper boats are also lying at the bottom of the sea.

Iran previously said talks would only begin if previously agreed conditions are met, including a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of its frozen assets. Washington has denied reports that it agreed to lift sanctions on such assets.

Trump also added in a separate Truth Social post that he was watching fertilizer prices CLOSELY during our FIGHT FOR FREEDOM in Iran.

The United States will not accept PRICE GOUGING from the fertilizer monopoly! American Farmers, we have your back, he wrote.

According to the presidents official schedule, he is due to travel to Miami to watch UFC 327 this evening, while his deputy heads the peace talks.
Donald Trump has charged JD Vance with a mission many see as extremely difficult - Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Facing the prospect of ending an unpopular war with a suboptimal peace, Donald Trump appears to have hit on a canny self-preservation strategy  if talks with Iran go awry, he can always blame JD Vance, his hapless deputy.

The US president acknowledged as much in jest before Easter, when Mr Vance was engaged in indirect backchannel negotiations with a pragmatist faction in Tehran, saying: If it doesnt happen, Im blaming JD Vance. If it does happen, Im taking full credit.

Mr Vance  who famously backed Mr Trump because he did not start foreign wars  has been dispatched to end one, a return to influence after months sidelined from his bosss War-a-Lago inner circle.

Now he is back, charged with a mission many see as extremely difficult. The obstacles are formidable. Mistrust runs deep on both sides. Yet it is not inconceivable that he might pull it off.

Washington accuses Iran of decades of deceit over its nuclear programme and of sponsoring militias intent on destroying Israel and destabilising the Middle East.

Iran, meanwhile, is angered that the US has bombed it twice in the midst of negotiations. Israels surprise assault on Lebanon in the hours after the ceasefire only deepened Iranian suspicions, with Tehran rejecting Washingtons claim that the truce did not cover Israeli operations against Hezbollah.

With Iran threatening to walk away, the talks seemed at risk of collapse before they began.

In truth, Tehrans anger is likely to have been performative: it is unlikely to return to war for Lebanons sake, just as it barely intervened when Israel killed Hezbollahs leader, Hassan Nasrallah, during its last invasion in 2024.

Since neither side wants a resumption of hostilities  despite rhetoric to the contrary  there are grounds for cautious optimism. A bargain, grubby rather than grand, is there to be struck. Mr Trump wants the Iran problem to go away; Iran wants cash.

In this quid pro quo, Tehran may hold the stronger hand. Mr Trump knows the war was deeply unpopular at home and that renewed fighting would unleash market turmoil, sending oil prices soaring and dimming Republican prospects in Novembers midterm elections.

Iran, for all the punishment it has taken, retains control of the Strait of Hormuz and a degraded but still functioning drone and missile arsenal.

Internally, it is more divided. Pragmatists are thought to favour a durable settlement; hardliners are prepared to resume the fight. With so many senior figures killed, it is unclear which faction has the upper hand.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the parliamentary speaker leading the delegation, is seen as a bridge between them.

Tehran will press two main demands.

Firstly, proof that Washington is negotiating in good faith: that it will not resume hostilities mid-talks and will commit to a genuine end to the conflict. Iran fears a repeat of Israels ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon, where strikes and assassinations continued long after peace was declared.

Secondly, Iran wants meaningful sanctions relief. The regime sees this as essential to preventing a return of the protests that nearly toppled it in January.

The war has, paradoxically, strengthened the system by rallying public sympathy. But Irans leaders know their grip remains tenuous unless they can ease the economic strain, which has been worsened by strikes on industrial infrastructure.

In return, Iran may offer concessions that Mr Trump can present as a win. There are limits  Tehran is highly unlikely to abandon nuclear enrichment altogether. But it may agree to address its 440kg stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Such a step would not be as dramatic as it sounds. Abbas Araghchi, Irans foreign minister, had already suggested diluting the stockpile and transferring much of it to a third party under United Nations supervision during talks in Geneva before the US attacked.

More broadly, Iran may be reassessing its nuclear ambitions anyway. The war has underlined that weapons of mass disruption are potentially as powerful a deterrent as weapons of mass destruction.

In other words, Irans leverage now lies less in nukes than in disruption. A nuclear weapon might hold the Middle East hostage, but closing the Strait of Hormuz makes the global economy its captive.

Despite pledges to reopen the waterway, traffic remains severely restricted. Just 14 ships, none of them oil tankers, have been permitted transit since the truce, with hundreds more still stuck in the Gulf.

This gives Iran significant leverage. Mr Trump is demanding freedom of navigation. Iran, claiming it has mined the strait and lost track of the mines, will seek a price for easing its grip.

Sanctions relief will almost certainly be part of any deal.

Tehran has claimed Washington may release $6bn (4.5bn) in frozen assets held mostly in Qatar  a move Washington denies, but would fit as a relatively easy confidence-building measure. The money had been earmarked for release to Iran in a 2023 prisoner swap deal before being refrozen after the Oct 7 attacks in Israel.

Whatever the outcome, Iran has demonstrated in the past six weeks that, even with a shattered navy, it can choke the worlds most important energy artery at will.

Mr Vance may yet produce an accord  though not quickly. The Obama administration took 18 months to reach its 2015 nuclear deal.

The US president, eager to move on to more politically convenient distractions  Greenland, perhaps  is unlikely to mind.

He can always blame his wingman.

Mr Trump said on Saturday he was not bothered about the outcome of US-Iran talks in Pakistan, insisting the United States had come out ahead from the war.

Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me. The reason is because weve won, the US president told reporters. Were in very deep negotiations with Iran. We win regardless. Weve defeated them militarily.

And whatever emerges will leave Mr Trump open to the charge that, while the US weakened Iran on the battlefield, it strengthened its hand elsewhere.

Disagreements remain between Iranian and US negotiators, according to a Tehran-backed news agency on Saturday.

Tasnim, a semi-official arm of the Iranian state, claimed the latest round of talks between the two sides in Islamabad had ended.

Meanwhile, an Iranian government account, on X, formerly Twitter, underlined negotiations would continue, despite some remaining differences.

Mr Trump also repeated the US militarys statement that US Navy warships on Saturday transited through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital gateway to the oil-rich Gulf, to begin clearing it of Iranian mines.

The account was denied by Iran, which has exerted power over the narrow waterway and with it the worlds oil supply in retaliation for the attack launched on Feb 28 by the United States and Israel.

We have minesweepers out there. Were sweeping the strait, Mr Trump said. Well open up the strait even though we dont use it, because we have a lot of other countries in the world that do use it that are either afraid or weak or cheap.

The US president again voiced frustration with allies from Nato, who stayed on the sidelines during the war, and who were not consulted in advance. We were not helped by Nato, that I can tell you, he said.
Melania Trump makes a statement in the grand foyer of the White House in Washington on 9 April. Photograph: Gripas Yuri/ABACA/Shutterstock (Photograph: Gripas Yuri/ABACA/Shutterstock)

More than a dozen survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins abuse have accused Melania Trump of shifting the burden on to them after she called on Congress to hold public hearings with victims of Epsteins abuse.

Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports, and giving testimony, said a group of 13 people and the brother and sister of the late Virginia Giuffre, who was one of the most vocal Epstein accusers, in a statement. Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility not justice.

Their response came after the first lady delivered a surprise statement in which she denied she ever had a relationship with Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. She also said that she was not a victim of Epstein, had no knowledge of his crimes, and that the late convicted sex offender did not introduce her to her husband, Donald Trump.

Survivors of Epsteins abuse accuse Melania Trump of shifting burden on to victims

It remains unclear what specific accusations prompted the first ladys remarks. Her senior adviser, Marc Beckman, told Reuters that she spoke out now because enough is enough. The lies must stop.

In an interview with the New York Times on Friday, the president said he hadnt known what the first lady was planning to speak about in her statement, but said that she had wanted to address questions about her connections with Epstein. I didnt know what the statement was, he said, adding she had a right to talk about it.

Read the full story

Hes mentally unstable: Iranian American in Congress condemns Trumps war and pushes for his removal

Donald Trump is an evil human being who wants to be an emperor and should be removed from office over the war in Iran, Yassamin Ansari, an Iranian American member of the US Congress, has told the Guardian.

Ansari, the daughter of Iranian immigrants who decades ago fled the regime, spoke out after the president threatened to wipe out Irans civilisation before backing down and announcing an uncertain two-week ceasefire.

Read the full story

Trump administration releases new renderings of Arc de Trump

The Trump administration on Friday released new renderings of the triumphal arch the president wants to install in Memorial Circle at the foot of the Arlington Memorial Bridge.

Read the full story

Vance warns Iran against trying to play the US in peace talks

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 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.

Read the full story

War has given Iran new leverage for nuclear programme, say US former envoys

Former US envoys who dealt with Iran have said that the US-Israeli attack on Iran and Tehrans subsequent closure of the strait of Hormuz have given Iran new tools and resolve to resist pressure to shutter its nuclear programme.

Read the full story

Trump posts graphic video of womans killing in Florida

Besieged by questions about his war on Iran and his wifes statement on Jeffrey Epstein, Donald Trump tried to shift the national conversation back to his immigration crackdown by posting a graphic and distressing video of a woman in Florida being killed last week by a man he described as an illegal immigrant from Haiti.

Read the full story

What else happened today:

Catching up? Heres what happened Thursday 9 April
Donald Trump said it made no difference to him whether a deal is reached with Iran, as peace talks continue in Pakistan.

Regardless of what happens, we win, he told reporters outside the White House on Saturday, April 11.

Questioned about potentially unfreezing Iranian assets, Trump said the US had defeated them militarily, describing Irans capabilities as minimal.

Maybe they make a deal, maybe they dont, it doesnt matter. From the standpoint of America, we win. he added.

The president confirmed very deep negotiations are underway, with vice president JD Vance leading hours of discussions in Islamabad.

Trump closed his comments with a warning to China of big problems if it sends arms to Iran.
(Google Maps )

Two teenagers have tragically died in Leicestershire after their vehicle veered off a bridge and plummeted onto the M1 motorway below.

The victims, whose names have not been released by Leicestershire Police, were reportedly driving on Gilmorton Lane towards Lutterworth when the incident occurred on Friday afternoon.

Local authorities revealed that the blue car collided with a minibus, which was travelling on the M1 below the bridge, injuring an additional four people.

Two teenagers were sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Roads were closed throughout Friday as officers carried out investigations at the scene to determine what happened, but the M1 has since reopened.

According to Leicestershire Police, forensic investigations into the incident continue, with authorities calling on potential witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage at the time to come forward.

Leicestershire Police would like to hear from anyone who was driving on Gilmorton Lane or on the M1 in the area of junction 20  in both directions  at around 1.30pm on Friday afternoon, the statement reads.

Anyone with dashcam footage or who car either vehicle before the collision is asked to contact us.

Those who may have information for the police are requested to contact 101 and quote incident number 308.

Tributes have flooded in across social media, with local residents paying respects to the teens who lost their lives. Social media followers are being urged not to speculate about the tragic incident.

Today was a very sad day that two people lost their lives and others injured. In future if you are stuck in traffic think about the reason why and that life isn't about rushing home to watch tv or having dinner when somebody else is suffering, wrote one social media profile.

Another added: How very sad,I was stuck for 6 hours on the M1 today but would stay for another 6 hours if the people involved could have been saved. Love to all families.
Tyson Fury shook off the ring rust to make a successful comeback by registering an emphatic points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Anthony Joshua watched from ringside ahead of a potential all-British showdown later this year as Fury secured his first win since defeating Francis Ngannou in October 2023.

A dominant display after coming out of retirement for the fifth time was rewarded with scores of 120-108 120-108 119-109 from the judges.

THE KING IS BACK  TYSON FURY DEFEATS ARSLANBEK MAKHMUDOV IN HIS RETURN TO BOXING #FuryMakhmudov pic.twitter.com/vQ3ngNUDhd  Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) April 11, 2026

Makhmudov was outclassed by Furys footwork, hand speed and ringcraft and the Canada-based Makhmudovs plodding, upright style was tailor made for the former two-time world champion.

The rugged Makhmudov was tiring as early as the fourth round and his limitations made him an ideal opponent for Fury after 16 months of inactivity, providing tough rounds without ever threatening an upset.

There was no pomp and ceremony from the bear-wrestling Makhmudov as he marched straight into the ring to the sound of an air raid siren.

In contrast, Furys entrance for his Netflix debut began with Blue Moon being played as a tribute to his late friend Ricky Hatton before he put on a show by dancing on stage while fireworks and flames went off around him.

The pyrotechnics ended there as once the action got under way Makhmudov advanced with crude, one dimensional attacks that were easily evaded.

Tyson Fury celebrates victory (Bradley Collyer/PA) (Bradley Collyer)

Makhmudov is at his most dangerous in the early stages and while he continued to stalk Fury around the ring, shots were piercing his defence by the end of the second round.

His pace had already slowed and Fury was beginning to find his rhythm, showing far better footwork and hand speed.

There were warning signs in the fourth as Makhmudov landed, although Fury showed a flash of class when he punished one lunging attack and he finished the round strongly.

There was a gulf in class in their skill levels with the one-paced Makhmudov showing strength in the clinches while proving an easy target, although he was absorbing the blows without being hurt.

Anthony Joshua watched the fight (Bradley Collyer/PA) (Bradley Collyer)

There was plenty of respect between the rivals as they touched gloves at the end of each round and even during the rounds, but as the halfway stage came it was becoming increasingly one-sided.

The eighth was Furys strongest round yet as he landed telling blows that troubled Makhmudov, including sharp right uppercuts.

Makhmudov had completely run out of ideas beyond wrestling the taller man and in the 10th he was beginning to wobble as crisp shots found their mark when he was pinned against the ropes.

There could be no disputing Makhmudovs bravery as he plodded back to his corner in exhaustion at the end of the 11th and a round later it was all over with the 12th ending with a wild exchange of blows.

Fury and Joshua exchanged words after the fight with The Gypsy King calling out his rival from the ring upon grabbing the microphone, with Joshua replying Ill tell you when Im ready.
Britain had planned to cede sovereignty to Mauritius, and lease the largest island of the achipelago, Diego Garcia, for 99 years to continue operating the joint military base there. Photograph: CPA Media Pte Ltd/PA (Photograph: CPA Media Pte Ltd/PA)

The UK government has been forced to shelve its legislation to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, after the US dropped its support for the agreement.

On Friday, UK government officials acknowledged that they had run out of time to pass legislation within the current parliamentary session, which ends in the coming weeks.

The latest setback in the UKs push to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which hosts a joint US-UK Diego Garcia military base, is a sign of the worsening US-UK relations after Donald Trumps heavy criticism of Keir Starmer over his handling of the Iran war.

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.

The US president has previously criticised the plan, which is backed by the US state department, telling Starmer he was making a big mistake by handing sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius in exchange for the UK and US being allowed to continue using their airbase.

However, earlier in February Trump had described it as the best deal the prime minister could make in the circumstances. The US president also endorsed the handover when Starmer visited the White House last year.

Under the deal, the UK would cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, and lease the largest island of the archipelago, Diego Garcia, for 99 years to continue operating the joint military base there.

The US had not formally exchanged letters to amend a 1966 British-American treaty on the islands that is understood to have forced the UK to drop its bill.

Now, a new Chagos bill is not expected to feature in the kings speech in May, where the governments agenda for the coming parliament is revealed.

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, said on X that the time the Labour government took to drop the bill is another damning indictment of a prime minister, who fought to hand over British sovereign territory and pay 35bn to use a crucial military base which was already ours.

Simon McDonald, a former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that the government had no other choice than to halt the deal for the time being.

The UK had two objectives, one was to comply with international law, the second was to reinforce the relationship with the United States, he said. 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.

The Chagos Islands are officially known as British Indian Ocean Terrority and have been controlled by the UK since the 19th century. In 2019, the international court of justice found that the UK unlawfully separated the islands from Mauritius before it granted independence to the country in 1968. Thousands of islanders were then forcibly deported to make way for the US-UK military base.

However, many Chagossians and their descendants would prefer the UK to retain sovereignty over the islands, in the hope they can one day return.

The Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, said: This is great news and long overdue. Now the government must right a terrible wrong and help the Chagossians to fully resettle their home.

The Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson, Calum Miller, said the handling of the Chagos deal had been shambolic. Miller said: Any deal must provide clarity on the future military partnership with the US and address Chagossian rights and parliamentary scrutiny of the sums involved.

In February, the Guardian reported Trump changed his mind on supporting the deal because the UK would not permit its airbases to be used for a pre-emptive US strike on Iran.

Last month, Iran launched two missiles at the joint military base after warning British lives were in danger because Starmer authorised the US to carry out further strikes from British bases.

At the time, Hamish Falconer, a Foreign Office minister and former diplomat, had told MPs that discussions with American counterparts were paused and that the process through parliament in relation to the treaty would be brought back at an appropriate time.

Starmer has allowed US forces to use UK bases, such as Diego Garcia, only for defensive missions against Iran. This month, he faced increased pressure to limit access after Trump threatened a whole civilisation would die if Iran ignored his demands, before a ceasefire was later agreed.

In an effort to contain the confusion surrounding Falconers comments, the Foreign Office said there was no pause or set deadline, and timings would be announced in the usual way.

 This article was amended on 11 April 2026. A previous version said that, last month, Iran "struck the Diego Garcia base; in fact, though two missiles were launched, the base was not hit.
Pakistans prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif (right), meets the Iranian parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Photograph: Pakistans prime minister's office/Reuters (Photograph: Pakistans prime minister's office/Reuters)

Peace talks between Iran and the US began in Islamabad this afternoon, with senior negotiators from both countries meeting face to face at the highest level for the first time since 1979, in the presence of mediators from Pakistan.

Pakistani state TV said US and Iranian officials were sitting directly at the same table  which was later confirmed by the White House  and discussions were beginning in a positive atmosphere, despite fighting continuing in Lebanon.

JD Vance, the US vice-president, is leading the American delegation, while Irans negotiators in Islamabad are headed by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the parliamentary speaker, and Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister.

Pakistani sources also said that Pakistans army chief, Asim Munir, was present in the room. The field marshal, who was key in brokering the ceasefire earlier this week, is reported to have a good relationship with Donald Trump.

The first round of discussions went on for about two hours, a political source said, and was followed by a second round of more technical discussions. These technical talks were divided into key topics, with a focus on security, finance and the strait of Hormuz, the source added.

It was then planned that there would be a break for dinner, to be hosted by Pakistans prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, at his residence.

Earlier, the Iranian negotiators demanded a ceasefire in Lebanon, reparations and commitment to unblock frozen assets as part of a peace deal in a preliminary meeting with Pakistani mediators, led by Sharif.

However, the US warned it would not allow itself to be manipulated by a weakened Tehran. On his arrival, Vance said: If theyre going to try to play us, then theyre going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive.

In previous negotiations, the US and Iranian teams have been based separately.

During the nuclear negotiations held in Geneva in late February, diplomats from Oman shuttled between the two sides, though the talks collapsed when the US and Israel bombed Iran on 28 February, killing supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Israel was not present at the talks; its military said it had bombed 200 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon in the past 24 hours. Strikes on the towns of Kfar Sir, Zefta and Toul killed 10 people overnight, while Hezbollah fired rockets at cities in Israels north. Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters clashed in the city of Bint Jbeil.

Related: Netanyahu says there is no ceasefire in Lebanon as Israel launches fresh strikes

Trump said the US was now starting the process of clearing out the strait of Hormuz and that all of Irans mine-laying vessels had been sunk during the US and Israels 40-day bombing campaign.

There were further reports that US navy warships had crossed west and returned east to establish freedom of navigation, but Iran denied this. Iranian state TV then said any US warship crossing Hormuz would be attacked within 30 minutes.

US central command said in a statement its forces began setting conditions for clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday with the aim of establishing a new passage and a safe pathway for the maritime industry to encourage the free flow of commerce.

Qatars ministry of transport said a full resumption of maritime navigation for all categories of marine vessels would be effective on Sunday from 6am, subject to safety protocols, but it was unclear if that meant Qatari vessels would be allowed by Iran to transit the strait.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said in a televised statement that the joint US-Israeli campaign against Iran had succeeded in crushing the nuclear program, and crushing the missile program of Iran.

On Lebanon, which Israeli forces have continued to strike, Netanyahu said the country had approached Israel regarding a potential peace deal. In the past month, it has reached out several times to begin direct peace talks, Netanyahu said.

However, in a social media post, he also promised that Israel under my leadership will continue to fight Irans terror regime and its proxies.

Other members of the US negotiating team in Islamabad include Steve Witkoff, the real estate developer who is Trumps personal envoy, and Jared Kushner, who holds no formal White House position but is the presidents son-in-law.

Related: Israels attacks on Lebanon could unravel the US-Iran ceasefire | Mohamad Bazzi

A senior Pakistani official expressed optimism as the discussions began: Like us, the entire world is looking for a breakthrough and an end of the war. The talks are in a strong position because both delegations have come to Islamabad with complete authority from their capitals and have stepped back from extreme positions.

Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, a Qatari newspaper based in the UK, reported that China may offer guarantees to secure a deal, citing a Pakistani source. It also claimed that a delegation from the country had travelled for the talks.

However, other Pakistani sources said later that, contrary to the newspaper report, a Chinese delegation had not flown in. They did not need to come, as the Chinese ambassador is in constant contact and they are on board with the talks, one said.

Iranian media reported that the US had agreed to unblock $6bn of Iranian assets frozen in Qatar, though this was promptly denied by US officials.

Direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors are due to be held in Washington at the US state department. The two sides will discuss declaring a ceasefire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices, Lebanons presidency said.

In a statement on Saturday, the Israeli ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, confirmed that the US, Israel and Lebanon held a phone meeting to prep for talks on Tuesday.

Under the auspices of the US state department, Israel agreed to begin formal peace negotiations this coming Tuesday, Leiter said. 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.

Though Israel said it is not prepared to agree to a ceasefire with the pro-Iran proxy group, it has indicated it is willing to negotiate directly with the Lebanese government, of which Hezbollah is a part. The two sides have been fighting since early March, when Hezbollah entered the war in support of Iran.

Hezbollah supporters staged a rally against the negotiations in front of the prime ministers office on Saturday afternoon, with protesters waving Hezbollah flags and pictures of the organisations late chief Hassan Nasrallah.

The Lebanese army deployed troops around the area and warned that it would not tolerate any attempts to destabilise the country at this sensitive moment.

Internal tensions in Lebanon had been on the rise since Israeli bombing over the last month displaced more than 1.2 million people across the country. Disagreements over Lebanons engagement with Israel threatened to further fracture the divided country as they pitted Hezbollah against the government.

The Lebanese prime minister, Nawaf Salam, announced he was cancelling a planned trip to Washington on Thursday, where he was supposed to meet with the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, to further negotiations with Israel.

Mahmoud Qamati, the vice-head of Hezbollahs deputy political council, warned in an interview on Saturday that the armed group viewed the government in an increasingly confrontational light.
Face-to-face negotiations between the United States and Iran have begun in Pakistan, as the war that has killed thousands of people and shaken global markets entered its seventh week.

The talks in Islamabad were the first direct US-Iranian meeting in more than a decade and the highest-level discussions since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance, and the Iranian delegation led by Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, were discussing how to advance a ceasefire that is already threatened by deep disagreements and Israels continued attacks against Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the US military said two of its destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz ahead of mine-clearing work, a first since the war began. However, Irans state media earlier said Iran forced a US military ship that was attempting to cross the strait to turn around.

Irans state-run news agency said three-party talks had begun after Iranian pre-conditions, including a reduction in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, were met, and after US and Iranian officials met separately with Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif.

I cannot say whether they are sitting in the same room or in separate rooms, but talks have started and are progressing well, said one Pakistani official with knowledge of the peace efforts.

Iran doubled down on parts of its earlier proposal, as its delegation told Iranian state television it had presented some of the plans ideas as red lines in meetings with Sharif.

The war has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 2,020 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states, and caused lasting damage to infrastructure in half a dozen Middle Eastern countries.

Irans chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz has largely cut off the Persian Gulf and its oil and gas exports from the global economy, sending energy prices soaring.

Reflecting the high stakes, officials from the region said Chinese, Egyptian, Saudi and Qatari officials were in Islamabad to indirectly facilitate the talks.

Meanwhile, Israel pressed ahead with strikes in Lebanon on Saturday even as Iran conditioned ceasefire talks on a pause in fighting there.

The Lebanese state-run news agency reported that Israeli strikes on Saturday killed at least three people. It did not report strikes in the afternoon.

The war has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 1,953 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states.

It has largely cut off the Persian Gulf from the global economy, sending energy prices soaring and inflicting lasting damage on infrastructure in half a dozen countries in the region.

Islamabad was deserted on Saturday as security forces sealed roads and authorities urged residents to stay inside, leading the normally bustling Pakistani capital to look as though it was under curfew.

Mr Vance said on Friday the US was optimistic about the talks, but warned: If theyre going to try and play us, then theyre going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.

Iran and the US outlined competing proposals ahead of the weekend talks, reflecting the wide gulf between the two sides on key issues.

Iran published a 10-point proposal. It called for a guaranteed end to the war and no future attacks.

It demanded an end to economic sanctions and sought control over the Strait of Hormuz.

It also included ending fighting against Irans regional allies, explicitly calling for a halt to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group.

The United States submitted a 15-point proposal that includes restricting Irans nuclear programme and reopening the strait.

Separate negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are expected to begin on Tuesday in Washington.

Israel wants the Lebanese government to assume responsibility for disarming Hezbollah, much as was envisaged in a November 2024 ceasefire.

But it is unclear whether Lebanons army can establish a monopoly on arms or confiscate weapons from the militant group, which has survived efforts to curb its strength for decades.

Israels insistence that the ceasefire in Iran does not include a pause in its fighting with Hezbollah has threatened to sink the deal. The militant group joined the war in support of its backer, Iran, in the opening days of the war.

The day the truce was announced, Israel pounded Beirut with air strikes, killing more than 300 people in the deadliest day in the country since the war began on 28 February.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report
Pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered outside MoD headquarters in Whitehall on Friday (Aldo Ciarrocchi/LNP)

Pro-Palestine demonstrators swarmed outside the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Whitehall on Friday, where many shouted insults at armed uniformed personnel.

Footage showed the demonstrators confronting officers on the steps of MoD HQ, with cries of "baby butchers", "cowards" and "shame on you!"

Some of the protestors wore masks and others waved Palestine flags as they gathered at the Strand, before heading to the MoD building.

Drumbeats and chants could be heard as police attempted to diffuse the situation and prevent the crowds from entering the building, while the MoD's protective blast doors were raised as a security measure.

Pro-Palestine demonstration rush the MOD building in Whitehall, held back by armed police pic.twitter.com/LPk9jM4dfg  SteveSpCorner (@SteveRightNLeft) April 10, 2026

After footage of the scene appeared online, the minister for migration and citizenship, Labour MP Mike Tapp, described the goings on as "disgraceful".

He wrote on X: "Instead of being at work (maybe unemployable), they choose to intimidate MoD staff who are working hard to keep our country safe."

Armed forced minister and fellow labour MP Al Carns also criticised the gathering, writing on X: "Utter disgrace. [They are] protesting at the organisation that protects their very freedoms.

"Without the MoD or our service personnel, our democratic foundations would not exist. MOD work 24/7. Imagine having to walk into work everyday and get harassed by this bunch.none who have courage to serve themselves. Well done to the police for holding the line."

Reform UK MP Richard Tice also weighed in on the protest, blasting it as "shameful intimidation by the mob of pro-Hamas, pro-Iranian regime folk".

An MoD spokesman said: "We respect the right to peaceful protest.

"The safety and security of our personnel and buildings is always our priority, and appropriate security measures are in place."
Experience: Favourite I Am Maximus previously won the Grand National in 2024 and was runner-up last year (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA Wire)

The Randox Grand National returns today as one of the worlds most famous horse races takes centre stage at Aintree once again.

2024 champion I Am Maximus is the favourite for glory in the 2026 running of the iconic steeplechase for Willie Mullins and JP McManus, with the likes of Panic Attack, Grangeclare West and Jagwar also thought to be in contention.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW THE GRAND NATIONAL LIVE!

However, last years winner Nick Rockett - who beat stablemate I Am Maximus by two-and-a-half lengths 12 months ago - was surprisingly declared as a non-runner on Thursday due to a cough.

It is 72-hour declarations for the Grand National, and we wanted to give him every chance, but he gave a few coughs this morning and that made up our mind with him, said jockey Patrick Mullins.

It is frustrating, but it was a case of everything needed to go right to get him here and, unfortunately, we just didn't get everything go right. He could have run, but we didn't want to do that if he wasn't 110 per cent.

You need to be 110 per cent to run in a race like the Grand National and, unfortunately, he is not at the moment. We will look at Punchestown now.

First reserve Pied Piper cannot run for Gordon Elliott either after coming up lame, meaning Imperial Saint gets a starting berth in the National as Amirite also replaces Spillane's Tower.

I Am Maximus has been handed top weight by the handicapper for the race at 11st 12lb, which means he would have to equal the iconic Red Rums efforts from 1974 is he is to achieve another memorable victory on Saturday.

How to watch Grand National 2026

TV channel: In the UK, coverage of the third and final day of the 2026 Grand National Festival at Aintree is being broadcast live and free to air on ITV1 on Saturday from 12:45pm BST.

The main event is scheduled to begin at 4pm, with build-up from 3:15pm.

Live stream: The Grand National will also be available to watch live online via the ITVX app and website, which is free with a registration.

Live blog: Follow the race as it happens with Standard Sports live blog.
US vice-president JD Vance pictured with Pakistans prime minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad today (via REUTERS)

The White House has confirmed face-to-face negotiations between the US and Iran are currently ongoing in Islamabad.

Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and chief of army staff Asim Munir are chairing the high-stakes summit between the two delegations, led by US vice-president JD Vance and Iranian officials.

It presents an opportunity to broker a deal to end the war between the US and Israel versus Iran, which destabilised the region since it began on February 28.

A two-week ceasefire was initiated on Tuesday and the Gulf region has experienced a significant drop in hostilities, with no strikes reported on Saturday.

The Islamabad conference marks the highest-level direct engagement between Washington and Tehran in decades.

JD Vance is leading the US delegation, backed by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as well as senior advisers Dr Andrew Baker and Michael Vance, The Guardian reports.

The White House added that a "full suite of US experts on relevant subject areas are present in Islamabad", while "additional experts are supporting from Washington".

Elsewhere, Irans semi-official Tasnim news agency reported: Considering the USs excessive demands, it seems that this is the Iranian teams last chance to reach a common framework in this round of talks.

A spokesman from Irans joint military command dismissed an earlier claim from the US military that two of its navy destroyers had transited the Strait of Hormuz, adding that "initiative over the passage of any vessel rests with the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran".

The waterway is seen as vital trade route to the global economy, one through which 20 per cent of the world's oil and natural gas trade passes. Already, the strait is said to be a point of contention between the US and Iran in the Islamabad talks.

Israel is not present at the US-Iran talks in Islamabad and its prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists Israel remains unswayed in its commitment to keep fighting Iran.

Netanyahu wrote on social media: "Israel under my leadership will continue to fight Irans terror regime and its proxies, unlike Erdogan who accommodates them and massacred his own Kurdish citizens."
The Artemis II, and the four astronauts aboard the Orion space capsule, splashed down into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on Friday night, with all four astronauts in good health.

53 years ago, humanity left the moon. This time we return to stay. Let us finish what they started. Let us focus on what was left undone. Let us not go to plant flags and leave, but to stay with firmness in our purpose, with gratitude for the hands who built the machines and with love for the ones that we carry with us, Nasas associate administrator Amit Kshatriya said at the late-night press conference after the astronauts landed.

The spacecraft touched down at 5.07pm (1.07am BST) making the journey around the moon and back officially 9 days 1hr and 32min. The Orion spacecraft traveled 694,481 miles (1,117,659km), Nasa said. Despite barely passing a ninth day, it will be recorded officially as a 10-day mission because blast-off day was treated as flight day one.

Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Christina Koch of Nasa, and the Canadian Space Agencys Jeremy Hansen, have just become the first humans to travel to the moon, and return to Earth safely, since the crew of Apollo 17 in December 1972.

They join an exclusive club of just 24 other humans who have travelled to the moon and returned safely to Earth.

As the Orion capsule descended below 17,000 miles from the planets surface, Wiseman gave a description of the Earth as it came into view. Theres a great blue hue to it. Its beautiful, he said.

Sean Quinn, Nasas exploration ground systems manager, said he had taken a phone call from Wiseman as he awaited the start of Friday nights briefing: It was so great to hear his voice and tell us that all the crew is OK, and we could say that we did our mission. We accomplished what we set out to do.

Related: Artemis II makes lunar flyby during Nasa mission  in pictures

After landing in the Pacific Ocean, a recovery crew from the USS John P Murtha stood ready to retrieve the Artemis crew, pulling up in boats to an inflatable porch attached to Orions hatch. Crew members were then assessed by navy personnel and transferred to the navy ship by helicopter.

Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman, speaking from the deck of the USS John P Murtha while waiting for the astronauts to arrive, said of the team: Our crew members that weve all had an opportunity to observe over the last 10 days, theyre absolutely professional astronauts, wonderful communicators, almost poets. These were the ambassadors from humanity to the stars that we sent out there right now.

This is not a once in a lifetime, which you hear sometimes around here. No, its not. This is just the beginning. We are going to get back into doing this with frequency, sending missions to the moon until we land on it in 2028 and start building our base.

There is a lot to celebrate right now on the mission well accomplished for Artemis II, and at the same time weve got to start getting ready for Artemis III.

Nasa has proven it can once again send humans safely to and from cislunar space, the void between Earth and its nearest celestial body, and will build on the knowledge gained to further propel the Artemis program towards a scheduled crewed moon landing in 2028, 56 years after the last.

The rest of humanity, meanwhile, appeared to come together for a rare moment of unity to enjoy stunning video footage and high-resolution images of the lunar surface  and Earth from afar  as well as some profound and heartfelt words from usually unsentimental astronauts as they described what they were seeing.

I just had an overwhelming sense of being moved by looking at the moon, the Nasa astronaut Christina Koch said of her first impressions of Orions closest approach on Monday, 4,067 miles (6,545km) above the lunar surface.

It lasted just a second or two and I actually couldnt even make it happen again, but something just threw me in suddenly to the lunar landscape and it became real.

The moon really is its own unique body in the universe. When we have that perspective and we compare it to our home of the Earth, it just reminds us how much we have in common. Everything we need, the Earth provides, and that, in and of itself, is somewhat of a miracle.

Koch became the only woman to have travelled to the moon and back during a mission of firsts. Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency became the first non-American. Victor Glover, the Artemis II pilot, became the first person of color to do so.

Collectively, with the mission commander, Wiseman, the four travelled farther from Earth than any human before them, reaching 252,756 miles, more than 4,000 beyond the previous record set by the Apollo 13 crew in April 1970.

It was not all plain sailing during their 695,000-mile voyage. Orions glitchy toilet in a capsule the size of a small camper van malfunctioned more than once, necessitating the temporary deployment of urine collection bags and inflight repairs from Koch in her alternative role of plumber.

There were moments of fun. The crew enjoyed an egg hunt of sorts on Easter Sunday, trying to find packets of dehydrated scrambled eggs hidden around the spacecraft. A plushie named Rise  the missions official mascot designed by eight-year-old California second-grader Lucas Ye, appeared regularly on camera during crew press conferences.

Probably the most emotional episode came on Monday, when the crew proposed dedicating a previously unnamed moon crater to Carroll Taylor Wiseman, wife of the Artemis II commander and mother of their daughters, Katey and Ellie, who died of cancer in 2020. Hansen struggled to get the words out, prompting tears and hugs among the four.

During the business side of the mission, the astronauts evaluated Orions life support systems, radiation detectors, next-generation spacesuits and tested other operations that will be crucial to future deep-space missions and Nasas longer-term plans for the Artemis program, including an ambitious $20bn moon base to be built within a decade.

The agency sees the first splashdown of a returning moon crew in more than five decades as an important next step. Although not as visually mesmerizing as the fiery 1 April launch from Floridas Kennedy Space Center that sent Artemis II into the heavens, the landing still required a similar level of intricate planning, precision and execution.

Changes to the heat shield after anomalies arose on the uncrewed Artemis I mission of November 2022 gave Nasa confidence that Orion would withstand temperatures up to 5,000F (2,760C) at its 25,000mph re-entry to Earths atmosphere; and mission managers selected a steeper, direct path of re-entry to reduce heat stress.

A succession of deployments of Orions 11 parachutes at various altitudes was designed to slow the spacecraft to 325mph, then 130mph, before the three main chutes, their canopies stretching a combined 80 yards (73 meters), release for a further deceleration to a 17mph splashdown.

Coast Guard and Nasa recovery crews were positioned to cover a landing zone about 550 miles in diameter. After medical checks following hatch opening and a brief stopover at a San Diego military base, the crews next destination is Houstons Johnson Space Center, which they last saw on 27 March, and a reunion with their families.

Nicky Fox, associate administrator of Nasas science mission directorate, summed up the importance and impact of the mission in a briefing with reporters this week.

Our four Artemis II astronauts, Reid, Victor, Christina and Jeremy, took humanity on an incredible journey around the moon and brought back images so exquisite and brimming with science, they will inspire generations to come, she said.

 This article was amended on 11 April 2026. The Apollo 17 mission took place in December 1972, not 1970 as an earlier version said.
UK immigration officers and police have been accused of seizing vital supplies destined for inhabitants of the Chagos Islands.

Officials boarded a supply boat and conducted an extensive search of its contents.

Observers say officials prevented numerous essential items from being taken ashore, including an emergency solar water still, mosquito nets, bed linen, mobile phones, clothing, sunglasses and an ice machine.

The items had been destined for a small group of Chagossians who have set up camp on one of the islands to reclaim land from which their families were exiled by Britain in the late 1960s.

Footage posted on social media showed officials going through boxes and documents after boarding the vessel.

There are fears that restrictions on access to food, medicine and basic supplies could have severe consequences for the group.

Officials did a thorough check of the boat

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, tried to mount an aid mission to the archipelago in the Indian Ocean in February, and accused the UK Government of thwarting the endeavour.

The small group of Chagos resettlers, whom The Telegraph visited earlier this year, are being aided by Adam Holloway, a former Conservative MP.

Mr Holloway tweeted that he was aboard the supply vessel that was searched by officials. He said: Were only trying to supply British passport-holders on a British island, with a legal right to be there.

Adam Holloway shared a picture on Twitter of what appeared to be a list of items on board

Misley Mandarin, the Chaggosian first minister, told The Telegraph the thwarting of the supply mission turned the good news of Keir Starmer dropping the Chagos bill into a very, very bad experience.

Keir Starmers police are being very, very strict, he said. They refuse us solar panels to make clean water, mosquito nets and sheets to sleep on. So basically, he wants our life to be difficult on the island so we will leave  but we wont do that.

My message to Keir Starmer is to respect British Chagossians who are back now in their homeland. You have to treat us as human beings. We are not animals.

The British Government removed us from the island in the 60s and 70s. Now, when we are back, they are trying to remove us in another way by not supplying us with humanitarian aid.

Officers also checked paperwork as they searched the vessel

Supporters of the Chagossian exiles have condemned the operation, which saw the sailing yacht No Excuse boarded near Ile du Coin by a team of 12 police officers at around 8am on Saturday.

Kareesha Turner, a barrister who represents the humanitarian supplies mission, described the situation as deeply concerning and disproportionate, claiming that, despite valid permits, the vessel was subjected to an unnecessarily heavy-handed intervention.

Claire Bullivant, the chief executive of the Great British Political Action Committee, said: This is deeply concerning. Boarding a civilian supply vessel, rifling through every box, and then denying the Chagossian people access to basic essentials such as water equipment, mosquito nets and even bed linen raises serious questions about intent.

Are they trying to make life so difficult and uncomfortable that people are effectively forced out? That is the question many will now be asking. Because when you start restricting access to essential supplies, you are not just enforcing rules  you are impacting peoples ability to live with dignity.

The Chagossian people have already endured decades of injustice. They should not now face further hardship at the hands of a government that claims to stand for fairness and human rights. This demands urgent answers, transparency, and accountability.

Kate Hoey, the former Labour minister, joined the criticism, writing on X: This is just outrageous. Why is Keir Starmer ordering this? So much for his supposed concern for human rights. That seems to be only for international bodies with highly paid lawyers. Where are all the Labour MPs speaking up against this cruel behaviour!

Mr Holloway posted on X: Reality of what a government made up human rights lawyers really means. Flown in customs, police and Royal Marines going through every single box. Denied Chagossians an emergency solar water maker; mosquito nets; bedding; mobile phone; sunglasses; clothing & ice-maker.

A small dinghy was seen filled with boxes from the boat

The small party of Chagossians arrived on the island of Ile du Coin in February to stake a claim to the land from which they had been exiled to Mauritius.

Their camp is a symbolic protest against the UK Governments controversial planned handover of their ancestral homeland to Mauritius.

Labour had hoped to pass a bill to give the islands to Mauritius last year, but delayed it as Donald Trump, the US president, repeatedly changed his mind about the deal.

Ministers have run out of time to put the legislation through Parliament before the end of the current session and the Kings Speech next month.

Mr Trump initially supported the deal, which would see Britain give away the islands, including Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands, which has been used as a joint UK-US military base since the 1970s.

The deal would also see the UK cede sovereignty to Mauritius and pay an average cost of 101m a year to lease back the joint UK-US military base.

The police boat headed back to base after reportedly banning the Chagos-bound boat from leaving with water purifiers and bedsheets

Last month, a court ruled that Mr Mandarin and three other islanders who travelled to the archipelago would be able to stay on Ile du Coin for the time being. The court said the eviction orders, served by the Foreign Office, needed to be revised and take into account the Chagossians heritage rights.

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) administration has appealed against the decision.

The judgment said that the Section 12 removal notices were quashed and need to be redetermined in the light of a fair procedure which includes the claimants representations.

It added: Any future decisions of the defendant in relation to the grant of permits need to take into account all the circumstances, including heritage rights and the right of abode of any Chagossian entitled to them.

The BIOT administration is responsible for enforcing the territorys laws, customs and immigration, and says it is standard practice to board some vessels that are sailing there with goods.

A source said: The BIOT administration worked constructively and in good faith with those resupplying Ile du Coin in the week before the voyage to agree a detailed manifest of over 130 categories of goods.

When the yacht tried to arrive, it became clear a number of additional items were present that had not been declared and for which there had been no attempt to notify/agree this with the BIOT administration in advance.

The BIOT administration stands ready to discuss reasonable goods for the group unlawfully on Ile du Coin, but these need to be proposed and agreed in advance for the safety and security of the territory, particularly given the group previously illegally imported a drone.
Diesel was being sold above 2 per litre at 54 filling stations on April 9, Telegraph analysis shows - Yui Mok/PA

Fuel protesters are planning demonstrations across Britain as the price of diesel surges past 2 per litre.

Discussions amongst farming organisations on how to carry out protests similar to those that have brought roads in Ireland to a standstill over the past week are ongoing, The Telegraph understands.

It comes after analysis of official data showed that diesel is being sold at more than 2 per litre at more than 50 sites across the country.

While average prices are yet to surpass these levels, the most costly forecourts are charging as much as 1.99 a litre for petrol  and more for diesel, typically most used by workers  as the Iran war chokes global supplies.

Anger among farmers and hauliers over the availability and rising cost of diesel has swelled in recent weeks.

Some suppliers of red diesel, the low-tax fuel used for farm machinery, have begun rationing supplies to farmers, with prices around double what they were before the outbreak of the war.

On Friday, The Telegraph revealed that ministers were preparing for mass protests across Britain over the cost of living crisis caused by the war in Iran.

It is understood that farming organisations, which helped mobilise 40,000 protesters against Labours changes to inheritance tax in November 2024, will meet next week to discuss nationwide demonstrations against the rise in fuel prices.

A source involved with the discussions said: Weve hit the 2 mark on a litre of diesel. Thats a scary place to be. It will be a matter of time before people in this country start to go out and protest.

Farmers are the last people who want to go out and protest. You have to remember this is a very busy time of the year for us. But with the inheritance tax protests, youve got the groups that have been set up. The infrastructure is there to mobilise.

Discussions have been had, and there will be a few people coming together at the beginning of next week to see what can be done.

The protests in Ireland have resulted in farmers and truckers blocking major roads over high fuel prices. The Irish Government has called in the Army to help clear the blockades.

On Saturday, Irish police used pepper spray in a joint operation with the Armed Forces to clear demonstrators outside the Whitegate refinery in County Cork, which provides the countrys entire supply of petrol and diesel.

The protest has seen supplies run dry across half of Irelands 1,200 petrol stations, with roughly a day to go before a full shutdown, according to industry sources.

Police moved in to clear the protest demonstrators because of a growing threat to the fuel supplies for emergency public services, including ambulance and fire services, the Gardai said in a statement.

The disruption has forced the Irish Government into action. On Saturday night, a fuel support package was being finalised after talks with farmer and haulier representative bodies.

While demonstrations have not yet reached mainland Britain, protests are scheduled to take place across Northern Ireland on Tuesday in a day of action.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it was maintaining an ongoing assessment over the prospect of fuel protests next week.

Analysis by The Telegraph showed that diesel was being sold above 2 per litre at 54 filling stations on Thursday.

A peak of 2.28 was recorded at Mackenzie Stores, a petrol station on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.

At Crossapol Filling Station on the Isle of Tiree, diesel was being sold at 2.25 per litre, and at Cuxton Auto Services in Kent it reached 2.18 per litre.

The greatest change in diesel price since the outbreak of the war was recorded at Grade Filling Station in Redcar, North Yorkshire, where diesel had increased by 74p to 1.80 since Feb 27.

A litre of petrol was also most expensive at Mackenzie Stores, where it cost 1.99. The next most expensive price was recorded at Phillips Tyres in Castle Cary, Somerset, where drivers paid 1.89 per litre, followed by a Shell garage in Crewe, which charged 1.86 per litre.
Musk and Bezos in space race

Elon Musk and Jeff Bezoss Moon landers could be pitted against each other in a 250-mile-high job interview to see which one performs better.

Both companies are working on systems which can take astronauts to and from the lunar surface, and after Nasa changed its schedule for the upcoming Artemis missions, the two will be in direct competition.

In February, Nasa announced that the Artemis III mission would no longer land on the Moon as previously planned.

Instead, the mission will practice docking the Orion crew capsule, which carries the astronauts into space, with the landers, which will then ferry them to the Moon.

The space agency has confirmed that one or both of the landers will be involved in the mission next year, meaning both spacecraft could be in orbit at the same time, vying to be picked for the Artemis IV Moon landing in 2028.

SpaceXs giant Starship Human Landing System (HLS) was originally selected for the first Artemis moon landing, but ongoing delays at the Musk-owned company prompted Nasa to open the contract to bids to other companies last year.

Blue Origin, which had already been contracted for later human missions, could now beat SpaceX to the first Artemis moon landing.

This week, Blue Origin posted footage of its Blue Moon lander Endurance coming out of a thermal vacuum chamber after successfully completing tests.

Endurance has successfully completed thermal vacuum chamber (TVAC) testing! We're now preparing for our lunar lander's return to Florida. pic.twitter.com/MGABuZPXYP  Blue Origin (@blueorigin) April 9, 2026

David Limp, the chief executive of Blue Origin, said the successful test brought the company one step closer to the Moon.

SpaceX has also been making progress on the Starship HLS and recently completed fuel leak testing at its Spacebase site in Boca Chica, Texas.

SpaceXs Starship human lander design - SpaceX/NASA via AP

Nasa said both systems were making progress towards a trial docking with the Orion crew capsule in the Artemis III mission, which they said would put the landers through their paces. The mission is scheduled for mid-2027.

Amit Kshatriya, Nasas associate administrator, said: Theres a Blue Origin lander that just came out of the chamber and thats getting shipped to Florida.

I know the folks in Boca Chica are getting the block three Starship ready to roll. Theyre going to do static fires here shortly in April, and hopefully get off relatively soon.

So were in earnest, and proceeding as quickly as we can.

The systems are vastly different. Starship is a massive, fully reusable, methane and oxygen-fuelled lander, which lands vertically and ferries the astronauts to the ground using a space elevator.

It is launched on a SpaceX super heavy booster rocket and will be refuelled in space before journeying to the Moon.

Although it will be carrying just four crew members to the lunar surface for Artemis, it could potentially carry up to 100 astronauts on future Moon or Mars missions, as well as up to 200 tons of payload capacity.

In contrast, Blue Moon looks like a larger, elongated version of the Apollo lander. It is fuelled by liquid hydrogen and oxygen and is launched on a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket. It can carry four astronauts and about 30 tons of cargo.

Blue Origins New Glenn rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral for its second mission in November last year - CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

Artemis III will include rendezvous and docking, in-space tests of the landing vehicles, as well as checks of the life support, communications, propulsion systems, and the new extravehicular activity astronaut suits for spacewalks.

Whichever company is successful will be chosen to carry astronauts on the Artemis IV mission in early 2028  the first Moon landing since 1972.

Nasa told The Telegraph that a second crewed landing later that year  Artemis V  could be provided by the company which is not selected for the first mission.

During those missions, the chosen lander will dock with the Orion crew capsule in lunar orbit and take the astronauts to the Moons surface, where they will collect samples, perform science experiments, and observe the environment.

The lander will launch them back to Orion, which will return them to Earth.

Blue Origin is planning to launch a Blue Moon pathfinder mission this year to test its engines, communications, propulsion and life support systems.

Blue Origins Blue Moon MK1 lander

It will also deliver a science and technology payload to the lunar South Pole for Nasa ahead of a landing in 2028.

SpaceX has conducted 11 Starship test flights to date, many of which have ended in disaster, but launches in August and October last year achieved successful booster separation and mock satellite deployment as well as a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

Last week, Mr Musk announced that the next Starship test would be pushed back until early to mid-May, but did not give a reason for the delay.

The European Space Agency is also developing a lunar lander called Argonaut, which will be ready in the early 2030s to help with the construction of a Moon base.

A photograph of Earth taken from Artemis II on April 2 - NASA via Reuters

Matthew Cook, head of space exploration at the UK Space Agency said: Nasa is looking at their options, and I dare say will want to have multiple capabilities for landers.

The key for us now is were going to the Moon to stay, so that has to be sustainable. In the past, it was get to the Moon at all costs, but Nasas budget has vastly shrunk. So competition can keep the costs down.

While Starship might be the original lunar lander of choice, we also have Argonaut and others, so I envisage a world where multiple different types of landers are used.

Nasa has said that having different lander designs provides more robustness as well as cutting costs, driving innovation and ensuring the US space agency will be able to get to the Moon regularly.

Artemis missions are focused on establishing a long-term human presence on and around the Moon.

Nasa plans to build a permanent lunar base, known as the Artemis base camp, at the Moons South Pole, with assembly expected to begin in the late 2020s, with a permanent human presence from the 2030s.

A Nasa spokesman said Nasa will announce specifics on the Artemis III mission design and crew closer to the 2027 launch.

The agencys goals are to achieve a lunar landing by 2028 and then quickly establish initial elements of a Moon base.

Lander readiness will determine which provider will first safely carry astronauts from lunar orbit to the Moons surface and back.
Police carried away one of the protesters as others waved placards in support of the proscribed terror group - CARLOS JASSO

Police arrested more than 500 people for allegedly voicing support for the banned group Palestine Action on Saturday.

The arrests began shortly after hundreds had gathered in Trafalgar Square to protest against the ban, with those held aged from 18 to 87.

Around 100 police officers moved into the large crowd in pairs after gathering in formation at the base of Nelsons Column.

At one stage, several police officers carried a woman out of the crowd as people chanted shame on you. Police then lifted a man out in handcuffs and walked an elderly protester with a walking stick to a police van, prompting anger from the crowd.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that all 523 arrests that had been made on Saturday were for showing support for a proscribed organisation.

Proscription makes it a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Hundreds of demonstrators sat on camping chairs and on the ground as they held up placards - Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images

In February, the High Court said the Governments ban on Palestine Action was disproportionate and unlawful and that most of the groups activities had not reached the level, scale and persistence to be defined as terrorism.

The Met Police initially said it would stop arresting people for such offences under the Terrorism Act, limiting itself to gathering evidence for potential future prosecutions.

But after Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, was given permission to appeal against the decision, the force said it had revised its approach and warned those attending Saturdays protest that we will not hesitate to act where the law is broken.

As the protest began, activists unveiled signs reading I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action. Hundreds of demonstrators sat on camping chairs and on the ground as they held up their placards.

Unlawfully arrested

Robert Del Naja, of the band Massive Attack, was among those arrested as he sat with fellow demonstrators, holding a sign that read I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.

He was approached by police officers, who told him he was being placed under arrest before carrying him away as other protesters cheered and applauded.

In video footage, a woman can be heard saying You are amazing! and another said We love you! as Del Naja lies down on his back before three officers lift him up.

A man can be heard asking Del Naja: Can you tell us why youre being arrested today? The musician appears to reply: Im being unlawfully arrested.

The Metropolitan Police said no protesters who were carried from the protest in Trafalgar Square needed medical assistance.

At the top of the square, near the National Gallery, large banners were displayed reading: Jurors deserve to hear the whole truth and Israel starves kids.

As the arrests began, protesters, some carried by their ankles and under their arms by officers, were led to an area at the side of Trafalgar Square surrounded by a metal fence. One woman was seen smiling as she held up her hands in handcuffs, while others sat on the ground in silence.

I absolutely adore them

Defend Our Juries, which organised the demonstration, said: The Met are choosing to make arrests despite the Governments ban on the group being ruled unlawful by the High Court, and leading lawyers warning that any arrests would be unlawful.

Qesser Zuhrah, who previously went on hunger strike for 48 days after being jailed over support for Palestine Action, said: We believe that the ones who create the weapons and use them to bomb children, mothers, women and men who only dream of freedom, they are the terrorists. The ones raging a regional genocide are the terrorists.

At one stage, protesters accused police of dragging a woman out of the protest and not supporting her shoulders. The woman could then be seen lying with her eyes closed as officers and bystanders surrounded her in a circle. Others shouted to police that she needed medical attention.

Yael Kahn, who used to care for female political prisoners in Gaza before moving to England, told the Press Association: I wish, when my family was exterminated in the Holocaust by Nazi Germany, I wish there were people protesting, like all of these lovely people here. I absolutely adore them.
A pensioner has been arrested after James Bulgers grave was vandalised for the second time in three months.

The murdered toddlers mother has told of her devastation and disgust after the heads of two cherubs on his headstone in Kirkdale, Liverpool, were broken off on Friday.

A man, 78, was arrested later that day and remains in police custody.

James was two years old when he was abducted, tortured and murdered on Feb 12, 1993, by Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, who were both 10.

They were both found guilty of murder and abduction, making them the youngest convicted murderers in modern British history.

Police arrested a 78-year-old man on suspicion of criminal damage and theft at 4.10pm on the day the vandalism was discovered.

The incident came six weeks after the cherubs heads on Jamess grave were decapitated on Feb 27. A smaller angel was also put in a bin and a yellow teddy bear stolen.

Denise Fergus, Jamess mother, said the second attack on her sons place of rest had broken our hearts.

I am absolutely disgusted that James grave has been demolished and devastated again, she said. The cherubs that we had got repaired with great care just a few weeks ago, have once again had their heads scythed off.

How evil do you need to be to vandalise and destroy a childs grave? I am devastated.

James Bulger was two years old when he was murdered by two 10-year-old boys - Reuters

Katie McCreath, her barrister, said: This is an incredibly distressing development for Denise and the wider family, who are once again having to endure the pain of such a deeply upsetting and senseless act.

The family are understandably devastated. Jamess resting place should be a place of peace, reflection and respect. The repeated violation of that space is both shocking and difficult to comprehend.

In a statement, Merseyside Police said: We have arrested a man from Kirkby after James Bulgers grave was vandalised at Kirkdale Cemetery yesterday, Friday 10 April.

At around 1.20pm, officers were informed of damage having been discovered to the grave. At 4.10pm, following enquiries, a 78-year-old man from Kirkby was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and theft. He has been taken to a police station.

Temporary Det Insp Viki Lanceley said: A man has now been arrested and we will continue to update and support Jamess family as the investigation progresses.

I would encourage anyone with information to come forward directly to police as soon as possible, in any of the following ways.
United Airlines plane flying over a body of water

Tightening fuel supplyand the ensuing surge in oil priceshas quickly become one of the most impactful forces reshaping where, when and how people can travel in 2026.

At the center of it all is the disruption to global oil flows from the war on Iran, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, which remains a critical chokepoint for energy shipments. The result has been a sharp spike in jet fuel prices, which have nearly doubled in some regions  including the U.S.  since the conflict began on February 28.

If youre planning on flying any time soon, keep fluctuating flight schedules  and these tips for managing them  in mind.

Must Read

How the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran is impacting oil pricesand airlines

The price of jet fuel in the U.S. has climbed from $2.50 a gallon on February 27 to $4.88 a gallon by April 2 (1).

Moreover, the Argus US jet fuel index has averaged $2.97/USG in 2026, which is up by 74/USG (or 33%) compared to last year (2). The war has elevated the average spot price by $2.20/USG to around $4.70/bl.

For airlines, fuel is one of the largest operating costs. When prices surge and supply becomes uncertain, the response tends to be swift: raise ticket prices, cut flights and protect margins. And thats exactly what travelers are seeing now.

Travel has gotten a lot more expensive in Asia, with many airlines adding fuel surcharges or downright canceling flights, senior oil market analyst for Sparta Commodities, June Goh, shared on X in early March (3). Europe is facing imminent jet fuel supply shortages. Brace yourselves.

Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), told reporters at the IATA World Data Symposium in Singapore that it will likely take months for jet fuel prices and supply to restabilize (4).

"If [the Strait of Hormuz] were to reopen and remain open, I think it will still take a period of months to get back to where supply needs to be given the disruption to the refining capacity in the Middle East, which is a critical part of the global supply of refined products  and not just jet fuel, for other products, as well," Walse said.

Airlines are reducing routes in response to rising costs

Ryanair, which is Europe's largest airline, is reportedly considering reducing routes as a result of potentially limited jet fuel supply going forward.

We dont expect any near-term fuel shortages, but the situation is fluid, a Ryanair spokesperson shared with Moneywise. 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, the spokesperson said Ryanair expects all airlines to pass on elevated costs in the form of increased air fares later this summer.

A spokesperson for Scandinavian Airlines told The Wall Street Journal in March that it would cut about 1,000 flights due to the surge in jet fuel costs (5). Around the same time, a spokesperson for Lufthansa told Bloomberg that the airline has put teams in place to develop crisis response plans, which include grounding up to 40 aircrafts (6). Neither Scandinavian Airlines nor Lufthansa immediately responded to Moneywises request for comment.

A growing number of Asian airlines  many of which operate directly within and around the Middle East  are also cutting costs by cutting flights, including Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways.

AirAsia X founder Tony Fernandes told the Qatar Tribune that higher prices are simply unavoidable amid the ongoing conflict, and the airline is cutting capacity on routes where it doesnt believe [it] can cover the cost of the fuel (6).

Back on home soil, United Airlines was among the first to make a public statement regarding the war and its impact on fuel costs and flights.

Chief Executive Scott Kirby said in a staff memo, which was shared with Moneywise, that United is preparing for rising oil prices to inflate the airlines annual fuel bill by about $11 billion  more than twice the profit it earned in its best year ever (7). For that reason, the airline wants to be smart and nimbly manage [its] schedule.

In the short term, that means tactically pruning flying thats temporarily unprofitable in the face of high oil prices, Kirby wrote. Our current plan is to restore the full schedule this fall  But there's no point in burning cash in the near term on flying that just can't absorb these fuel costs.

Delta has also said it would cut capacity by around 3.5 percentage points.

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"We are taking actions to protect our margins and cash flow, Chief Executive Ed Bastian said in the airlines first-quarter 2026 earnings report (8). This includes meaningfully reducing capacity growth, with a downward bias until the fuel environment improves, and moving quickly to recapture higher fuel costs."

Read More: Almost 50 with no retirement savings? Heres why you shouldnt panic

How to plan your vacation amidst the conflict and cancellations

In December (before the conflict kicked off), a report from the International Air Transport Association predicted there will be strong travel demand in 2026, with 5.2 billion people expected to travel by air (9). That marks a 4.4% increase from last years record-breaking passenger counts. But the wars impact on fuel  and, as such, flights  means less options and more fees for travelers.

Even when flights arent being outright canceled, theyre becoming increasingly more expensive to operate (and take). Flights that are lifting off are fuller, pushing prices higher and diminishing last-minute deals. The cost is being passed on to travelers in the form of fare bumps, baggage fees and pared-back perks.

Its also becoming increasingly difficult to reach different destinations due to restricted airspace. Longer routes that avoid restricted airspace burn more fuel, further compounding costs.

A spokesperson at Ryanair told Moneywise that the airline urges all passengers to book their flights as soon as possible to be insulated from inevitable airfare and accommodation cost increases.

Travelers should also:

Enable price alerts. Tools like Google Flights and Hopper track fares to help you monitor changes and jump on potential dips. Be wary of extra fees. While one flight might appear cheaper, increased baggage fees can it pricier than another flight with a slightly higher fare. What looks like a cheap ticket upfront might still give you stickershock by the time you checkout. Book directly with airlines. If complications do arise, its generally easier to navigate them when youve booked directly with an airline instead of a third-party site with stipulations of its own. Pay with points where possible. Jordan Rozum, Director of Loyalty at point.me, tells Moneywise that point.me data shows two prices right now: the rising cash fare and the awards flights booked with points.

The pricing gap between cash and rewards points exists right now because airlines offer reward seats through their frequent flyer programs that are priced differently than cash tickets, Rozum noted. Cash ticket prices are much more volatile, while reward seats use fixed charts that are less subject to change. It typically takes airlines much longer to adjust reward seat pricing than it does for them to adjust cash pricing.

Rozum recommends that travelers transfer any points from a travel credit card to a loyalty program. Travelers with bank points can also transfer them directly to airlines, which opens up more opportunities to book flights at significantly lower rates than what bank portals may show.

Programs like Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offer exceptional value in economy class, while Air France/KLM Flying Blue offer great premium economy and business class pricing across their wide network, he adds. Many programs also allow you to pool miles across accounts. Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Club, JetBlue TrueBlue, United MileagePlus and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club all let members create groups to pool miles to use towards award flights.

Moreover, flexibility is non-negotiable for travelers during this time. Being open to midweek departures, layovers and alternate airports can also save money.

What to do if an airline cancels a flight you already booked

If an airline cancels a flight you already booked, its also important to know your rights as a traveler.

Under U.S. Department of Transportation rules, if an airline cancels your flight, you are entitled to a full cash refund neven if your ticket was non-refundable  if you ultimately decide not to take another flight.

A consumer is entitled to a refund if the airline canceled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel or accept travel credits, vouchers, or other forms of compensation offered by the airline, according to the US Department of Transportations refund policy (10).

Either way, airlines are required to notify you of your rights to refunds. You do not need to accept an alternate route the airline may offer if you prefer a refund.

What To Read Next

Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywises best stories and exclusive interviews first  clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.

Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

Airlines for America (1); Argus (2); State of Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (3); The Wall Street Journal (4); Bloomberg (5); Qatar Tribune (6); United Airlines (7); Delta Airlines (8); International Air Transport Association (9); US Department of Transportation (10)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Fresno Arts Council  Executive Director

Location: Fresno, California | Full time | Salary $75,000  $90,000

https://www.fresnoartscouncil.org/careers

THE OPPORTUNITY:

The Fresno Arts Council seeks a strategic, collaborative, and community-centered Executive Director to lead the organization into its next chapter. We are looking for transformative leadership and a bold vision for the future.

ABOUT THE FRESNO ARTS COUNCIL:

The Fresno Arts Council (FAC) is a private nonprofit organization established in 1979 to support and promote the arts throughout Fresno County. As the designated local arts agency and state local partner to the California Arts Council, FAC provides financial support, programs, and services to artists, arts organizations, and diverse communities across the region.

Signature programs include ArtHop, Arts Alive in Agriculture, Arts in Education, Poetry Out Loud, and the City of Fresno Poet Laureate initiative. Support for artists, including technical assistance, advocacy, and mentorship, is at the heart of what we do.

FACs mission is to enrich our communitys way of life through the arts by fostering a vibrant arts ecosystem that recognizes and honors the contributions of artists and cultural organizations throughout Fresno County.

THE POSITION:

Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director serves as the chief executive of the organization and works to advance FACs mission of supporting artists, strengthening arts organizations, and expanding access to arts and culture throughout Fresno County. The Executive Director is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and strategic direction of the organization. This includes oversight of organizational operations, financial stewardship, program development, fundraising, and community partnerships.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Organizational Leadership

Provide strategic leadership and vision in alignment with the mission and priorities established by the Board of Directors.

Work closely with the Board to develop and implement organizational goals, policies, and long-term strategic plans.

Ensure strong internal systems, clear communication practices, and effective organizational management.

Serve as the primary liaison between the Board and staff.

Financial Management and Compliance

Oversee the financial health of the organization, including budgeting, financial reporting, and fiscal oversight.

Ensure compliance with all grant requirements, contracts, and agreements with government agencies, foundations, and partners.

Maintain strong internal financial controls and transparency in financial practices.

Work closely with accounting professionals and auditors to ensure accurate financial reporting.

Fundraising and Resource Development

Lead fundraising efforts in partnership with the Board of Directors.

Develop and maintain relationships with funders, foundations, donors, and public agencies.

Identify and pursue grant opportunities and oversee grant compliance and reporting.

Cultivate new funding sources to support the organizations long-term sustainability.

Program Leadership and Community Engagement

Oversee FAC programs and initiatives that support artists and arts organizations across Fresno County.

Ensure the continued strength and accessibility of programs such as ArtHop, arts education initiatives, exhibitions, and community partnerships.

Represent the organization publicly and serve as an advocate for the arts in Fresno and the surrounding region.

Build and maintain strong relationships with artists, cultural organizations, community leaders, and public partners.

Staff Leadership and Organizational Culture

Lead and support a small team of staff and contractors.

Foster a collaborative, respectful, and mission-driven workplace culture.

Oversee staff hiring, supervision, professional development, and performance evaluation.

Ensure compliance with all HR policies and employment regulations.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Demonstrated leadership experience in nonprofit management, arts administration, public administration, or a related field.

Strong financial management experience, including budgeting, financial oversight, and grant compliance.

Experience working with nonprofit boards and governance structures.

Proven ability to build partnerships and relationships across diverse communities.

Excellent communication and organizational leadership skills.

Experience in fundraising, donor cultivation, and grant writing.

Commitment to the arts and cultural landscape of Fresno County.

Bachelors degree in arts-related field or equivalent experience.

The Fresno Arts Council will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to FAC, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This is a full-time, exempt leadership position based in Fresno, California. The Executive Director is expected to work primarily in person at the Fresno Arts Council office and attend community events, meetings, and programs throughout the region, including occasional evenings and weekends.

COMPENSATION:

Salary range: $75,000  $90,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

Benefits include health benefits, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.

TO APPLY:

Please submit the following materials:

Letter of interest

Resume

Three professional references

Applications should be submitted to:

Board of Directors

Fresno Arts Council

careers@fresnoartscouncil.org

NOTE: The lists above should not be viewed as definitive, prescriptive, or exclusionary. If you feel you are the right person for this job, please apply!

MORE
by Shafique Khokhar

Talks between the United States and Iran to firm up a still shaky ceasefire began in the Pakistani capital today. However, the United Arab Emirates is withdrawing US$ 3.5 billion (over a fifth of Pakistan's reserves) to put political pressure on the South Asian country. For Archbishop Joseph Arshad of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, war and conflict cause immense suffering and this needs solutions to problems through wisdom, tolerance and dialogue.

Islamabad (AsiaNews)  The long-awaited ceasefire talks between Iran and the United States began today in the Pakistani capital.

In a televised address, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the delegations were in Islamabad to end the conflict in the Middle East, but also stressed that a "difficult phase" was beginning and that the situation could prove "decisive for the two sides, as they seek a more lasting agreement than the two-week ceasefire agreed upon so far.

The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Islamabad in the early hours of today and was welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

US Vice President J. D. Vance also arrived in Islamabad, along with officials from the National Security Council, the State Department, and the Department of Defense.

The Iranian delegation arrived aboard flight Minab 168, named after the 168 girls who, according to Iranian authorities, were killed in a missile attack on 28 February, the first day of the war, when the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls elementary school in Minab was hit.

The decision to hold talks was facilitated by Field Marshal Asim Munir, widely considered the most powerful man in the country due to the traditionally dominant political role played by the military.

Speaking to the media, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed hope that the parties would act constructively, reiterating Pakistan's willingness to continue facilitating dialogue to reach a lasting and stable solution to the conflict.

In the days leading up to the talks that begin today, Pakistan's mediation role has become intertwined with growing economic and diplomatic tensions with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The latter has demanded the return of a US$ 3.5 billion deposit held at Pakistan's central bank, equivalent to around 21 per cent of the country's foreign exchange reserves.

The decision, described by Islamabad as a "routine financial transaction, was accompanied by widespread criticism on UAE social media, where several users questioned Pakistan's position in the conflict, accusing it of prioritising diplomacy over solidarity with a historic ally.

The coordinated nature of these reactions, in a country where social media is tightly controlled, suggests that UAE authorities have decided to use dissatisfaction as a form of diplomatic leverage.

The withdrawal of funds, expected to be completed by the end of the month, is severely impacting Pakistan's finances, already under pressure following the repayment of a US$ 1.4 billion Eurobond.

Abu Dhabi's move appears to be a political signal, a reminder to Pakistan, that it should consider more the security concerns of Gulf states, which have been hit hard by Iranian retaliation during the war.

Pakistan could cushion the economic blow through new commercial loans of up to US$ 1 billion and an expected US$ 1.2 billion from the International Monetary Fund.

Still, there is a strong sense of pride in the country for the mediating role it is playing.

Ahead of the talks, authorities declared a two-day holiday in the capital Islamabad: streets emptied and around 10,000 police officers and security forces have been deployed.

It is going to be a historic one, which would be the first direct high-level engagement since 1979, and right now Pakistan is in a unique position as our country is playing a very positive role in building peace among the great countries at war, said human rights activist Anil Adger speaking to AsiaNews.

The role of Pakistani leadership in the ceasefire efforts is commendable, said Archbishop Islamabad-Rawalpindi Joseph Arshad, who was very positive about the initiative.

The prelate paid tribute to Pakistani authorities at a Catholic seminar dedicated to the country's historic role in mediating between the United States, Iran, and Israel:

Pakistan played a responsible and effective diplomatic role and made serious efforts for peace and stability in the region, the archbishop said, adding that, war and conflict cause immense suffering and destruction to humanity; therefore, world leaders should find solutions to problems through wisdom, tolerance and dialogue.

Ultimately, he also noted that for lasting peace, it is necessary for all parties to promote tolerance, understanding and mutual respect.
by Stefano Caprio

Russians were promised a high-tech future. What they got instead is a form of total control, not authoritarian, but totalitarian, reflecting the Kremlin's definition of the sum of technologies, namely missiles and drones, as well as surveillance and monitoring equipment.

Life for Russians is increasingly conflicted following the introduction of new repressive measures, including new controls and limitations on mobile networks in what Novaya Gazeta columnist Andrey Kolesnikov calls a conflict between the state and the individual, with a final showdown looming as the development of artificial intelligence (AI) advances.

For Kolesnikov, No classic Theatre of the Absurd could describe a single day in today's Russia. Imagination is simply missing, and life doesn't just cowardly imitate artistic fiction, but flattens it.

One example is the description of the state of the Russian economy. Instead of bordering on the ludicrous by saying The upward deviation from the balanced growth trajectory is decreasing, it would have been much simpler to talk about "negative growth.

Another example comes from Senator Anatoly Artamonov, who allegedly found a way not so much for cutting public spending as for what he calls the total militarisation of public spending, with a neologism, prioritisation (, prioritizatsiya), by abolishing nursing homes and shifting the elderly to family care, to "save money.

The director of the Eksmo publishing house, Yevgeny Kapiev, has popularised Iishka (), a portmanteau word for artificial intelligence, Iskusstvennyy intellekt ( ), putting together the acronym II () and the suffix SHKA (), often used as a form of endearment for children.

Publishers now systematically use it to check literary works for "lice", i.e. "narcotic substances" in texts, such as the harmful substance in the surname of writer Denis Dragunsky, whose root "drag means "drug" (but also "medicine") in other languages.

The dream of a sovereign Orthodox AI, perpetuated by the sovereign Orthodox oligarch Konstantin Malofeev, has thus come true.

Judging by this example, the domestic neural network, trained like a German shepherd in a field to identify enemy targets, replicates the brain and consciousness of the average bureaucrat, banning Dragunsky's books as "prohibited substances.

Since the practice of publishing playbills and theatre programmes without the author's name has already become widespread in modern Russia, books can also be published without the author's name, or by obscuring the letters of the word drag with black ink. Publishers are in fact resorting to blocking it out, both as a form of self-censorship and as a protest against censorship.

Indeed, Russia has already sunk into anti-utopia, and "the worst thing is that we've begun to adapt to it," says Kolesnikov.

Of course, disconnecting the Internet and texting apps is a shocking experience, but on the other hand, no one is particularly surprised that it has come to this, as the state has now penetrated the very depths of Russians consciousness.

Life in Russia has turned into a permanent civil war between the state and the people, and the illusion that state authorities can offer society an ideal and artificial well-being is now being overcome, as it morphs into an increasingly systematic and invasive dictatorship.

The Russian Federations Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media plans to increase the capacity of technical countermeasures to 954 Tbit/s by 2030, allocating 14.9 billion rubles (US$ 195 million) to this project.

This will build capacity to scrutinise all RuNet traffic, with room for natural growth, the expansion of blocking measures, and the emergence of new methods to circumvent them.

A high-tech future was promised, presented as a form of total control, no longer authoritarian, but totalitarian, while the Kremlin's definition of "sum of technologies" means missiles and drones, as well as surveillance and monitoring equipment.

People are increasingly tired by the endless adjustments, adaptations, and challenging psychological conditions. After a four-year, artificial surge of passion, emotional decline inevitably has set in.

According to research by the Institute of Psychology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, at the start of 2026, some 42 per cent of respondents reported symptoms of depression, while 27 per cent suffered from anxiety attacks. The causes are prolonged "conflict" and economic and financial uncertainty.

Russian society is tired, a society of survival, not development. The classic, cursed Russian question arises spontaneously: "Why?" Is it really impossible to live normally? In fact, it turns out that it is impossible.

The logic of the existence and self-development of a rigidly authoritarian political regime, with its spectral imperial pains, presupposes the degeneration of authoritarianism into a non-classical form of totalitarian practices, a hybrid totalitarianism that tends to continually perfect itself, expand, and take over consciousness.

Are there developmental limits to dystopia? Are there red lines? For now, they are invisible due to this absolutely limitless capacity for adaptation.

Moreover, no artificial intelligence  not even if it were three times Orthodox and emulated the minds of Alexander Dugin, Konstantin Malofeev, and Zachar Prilepin combined  can foresee the course of events in a society where the state spends incredible sums on "finished metal products" and the "capacity of technical means to counter threats," and is interested in nothing else.

Last week, the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (    ; , VTsIOM) organised the 16th International Grushin Sociological Conference in Moscow, named after the Soviet and Russian philosopher and sociologist Boris Grushin, who passed away in 2007, to seek answers on "how to build Russia's future drawing many sociologists and other experts.

The meeting began with the declaration that the future, which until recently was synonymous with the romantic word "dream in official statements, is no longer "abstract futurology" nor the exclusive preserve of science fiction writers, although they did play a significant role in the session.

The construction of the future is now presented more concretely, as a matter of national security and the sovereignty of consciousness. Particular attention was paid to young people, who, faced with economic uncertainty, still tend to shy away from the future.

As one of the participants, Sergey Volodenkov, director of the Institute of Social Architecture, stated, we live in an era of profound change, "and under such conditions, the image of the future is becoming a key tool for national development."

It is no coincidence that today's information wars are fought not so much over territory as over "the image of the future, Volodenkov noted, who explained that the "sovereignty of consciousness" today depends on who constructs images of the future, and how.

The spontaneous construction of images of the future, especially when accompanied by negative assumptions about them, can lead to social destabilisation. Judging by Volodenkovs presentation, the same happens when negative images of the future are imposed from abroad.

"The winner is the one who is able not only to respond to challenges, but to shape the horizons of the future," Volodenkov said. In his view, "today we must raise this issue to the level of national security because "in the 21st century, a new type of power is emerging: the power to shape the future. Whoever controls the image of the future controls the present."

Another speech caused a stir, that of State Duma Member Alexander Borodai, who stated that "we have entered an era of war; it will be a long and bloody war; war will soon become the norm, no longer the exception," or to put it another way, "war represents the maximum pressure on all forces of society."

At the same time, according to Borodai, "war forcefully pushes forward progress  technical, organisational, and social."

The emphasis is once again on the fact that this is a war for the future, and with such views, Russia is celebrating the mystery of Christian Easter, seeking rebirth in the artificial future created by the Kremlin.

RUSSIAN WORLD IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO RUSSIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SATURDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE.
11 April 2026 17:50 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The Azerbaijan National Art Museum has hosted a vibrant cultural event  the opening of a solo exhibition by the renowned contemporary artist and Honored Artist Vugar Ali, titled "On the Wings of Time.Vugar Ali", AzerNEWS reports.

Vugar Ali, as well as the presentation of a book of the same name, which serves as a unique guide to his artistic universe. The project was implemented by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, the Azerbaijan National Art Museum and the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts.

Speakers included Murad Huseynov, Deputy Culture Minister and People's Artist; Idris Isayev, Deputy Minister of Science and Education; Shirin Melikova, Director of the Azerbaijan National Art Museum, Associate Professor; Jeyran Mahmudova, Rector of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, Professor; and Sevil Karimova, the author of the book, Vice-Rector of the same university, Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, and Associate Professor. They emphasized the multifaceted palette and significance of the artist's creative journey, highlighting the depth of his artistic language, where national spiritual values, mythological motifs, and symbolic images intertwine. Special mention was made of Sevil Karimova's monograph  a publication in both Azerbaijani and English, which unveils the artists system of images, his symbolic code, and his plastic solutions in a broad cultural context, linking them with national identity.

In conclusion, Vugar Ali delivered a heartfelt speech, thanking everyone who contributed to the creation of the book and the organization of the exhibition, and invited the guests to immerse themselves in the world of his works.

The exhibition showcases about 40 of the artist's works, each piece telling a separate story, filled with symbols and associations. The concept of the exhibition, where tradition and modernity blend seamlessly, reveals a multifaceted view of Vugar Ali's creative process. Here, images inspired by folk tales come to life, but are reinterpreted through the artist's individual aesthetic lens: Nar Gizi, Nargila, and Nar Parisi (The Pomegranate Fairy) become not just characters but metaphors for time, memory, and the feminine essence. Since the 1980s, this theme has remained an inexhaustible source of inspiration for the artist, evolving into new forms and artistic interpretations.

The works presented go beyond narrative  they convey the artist's inner world, emotional energy, and philosophical reflections. The complex and recognizable style of Vugar Ali was shaped at the intersection of academic tradition and avant-garde thinking: the deformation of form, bold use of color, and rhythm give his compositions a unique dynamism and depth.

A special place in his work is occupied by the synthesis of science and art. Influenced by the ideas of Professor Khudu Mammadov, the artist turns to the principles of crystallography, transforming them into ornamental structures. This approach is evident both in the compositional logic and the aesthetics of his works. In recent years, the artist's interest in volumetric forms, as well as in the traditions of Azerbaijani miniature painting, has become more apparent, adding a new spatial expressiveness to his works.

The plastic, graceful silhouettes, resonating with ancient archetypes, create subtle associations with music and mugham, while the dynamics of the figures and the precise composition form a harmonious artistic space, in which the viewer becomes a participant in a visual dialogue.

In the monograph "On the Wings of Time. Vugar Ali," Sevil Karimova systematically analyzes the stages of the artist's life and work, the evolution of his aesthetic views, and his relationship with national and spiritual values. His personal style is explored in a scholarly journalistic manner within the historical and cultural context.
11 April 2026 12:11 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

A new shipment of fuel is being sent from Azerbaijan to Armenia, reflecting the continued expansion of regional transit and energy cooperation, AzerNEWS reports.

According to information, 15 railway wagons carrying a total of 887 tons of diesel fuel are being dispatched from Azerbaijan to Armenia today.

On October 21, 2025, when Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, in a joint press statement with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, emphasized that Azerbaijan had lifted all restrictions on cargo transit to Armenia that had been in place since the period of occupation. He noted that the first such transit shipment involved Kazakh grain delivered to Armenia.

On December 18, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) sent 1,220 tons of AI-95 gasoline to Armenia.

Further deliveries followed in early 2026. On January 9, a total of 2,698 tons of cargo - transported in 48 wagons -was sent to Armenia, including 1,742 tons of AI-95 gasoline and 956 tons of diesel fuel. Just two days later, on January 11, another train consisting of 18 wagons carried 979 tons of AI-92 gasoline to the country.

On February 25, 4,500 tons of diesel fuel were transported, followed on March 5 by 31 railcars with 1,984 tons of diesel and two railcars carrying 135 tons of Russian fertilizer. Additional consignments included a seven-railcar train of Russian grain on March 9 and, on March 11, a total of 11 railcars loaded with 1,023 tons of grain (net weight: 770 tons).
11 April 2026 15:17 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

A bilateral roundtable bringing together representatives of Azerbaijani and Armenian civil society was held in Azerabaijan under the "Peace Bridge" initiative. The meeting also featured a session with Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration.

During the discussion, Hajiyev exchanged views with participants and answered questions from the Armenian delegation. He underscored Azerbaijans continued commitment to its peace agenda, reiterating Bakus adherence to the peace framework agreed with Armenia in Washington, as well as to the spirit of the Washington Summit.

Hajiyev also highlighted the emerging prospects for economic engagement between the two countries, noting the initiation of trade relations and the facilitation of transit for goods destined for Armenia via Azerbaijani territory. He further pointed to the TRIPP project as a transformative initiative that could reshape the regions transport landscape and contribute to improved regional connectivity and cooperation.

Emphasizing the importance of dialogue beyond official diplomacy, Hajiyev stated that, just as peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia are conducted on a bilateral basis, civil society exchanges and confidence-building measures should also remain strictly bilateral in nature.

He concluded by stressing that, amid growing global turbulence and ongoing conflicts around the world, ensuring peace and security in the South Caucasus has become increasingly vital.
11 April 2026 15:29 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

On April 10, a presentation on the city of Baku was held in San Francisco de Campeche during the General Assembly of the National Association of UNESCO World Heritage Cities of Mexico. The assembly brought together mayors of Mexican cities inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

AzerNEWS reports that the event gathered senior officials, including the president of the association and mayor of Guanajuato, Samantha Smith, the associations director general Jorge Ortega, and the mayor of Campeche, Bibi Rabelo, alongside representatives of academia and the diplomatic corps.

Azerbaijan was invited as a guest of honor in recognition of its experience in preserving the historic character of its capital while pursuing modern urban development. As part of the program, video addresses were delivered by Azerbaijans Ambassador to Mexico Seymur Fataliyev and the Chair of the Board of the Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve Rufat Mahmud.

In his address, Fataliyev highlighted Azerbaijan as one of the worlds ancient centers of civilization, emphasizing the richness of its cities and cultural heritage. He noted that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the preservation and transmission of historical and cultural heritage to future generations remains a key national priority. He also underlined the declaration of 2026 as the "Year of Urban Planning and Architecture" in Azerbaijan.

Fataliyev described the inscription of Bakus Old City, including the Maiden Tower and the Shirvanshahs Palace Complex, on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000 as a landmark recognition of its global significance. He also outlined recent decades of urban transformation in Baku, including the construction of modern monumental complexes and infrastructure projects.

He further noted that following the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UNFCCC COP29 held in November 2024, Azerbaijans capital will host another major global eventthe 13th session of the World Urban Forum 13scheduled for May 1722, 2026. The forum is expected to strengthen Azerbaijans role in the global urban development agenda and promote sustainable and smart city models across the region.

In his remarks, Rufat Mahmud provided an overview of the historical and cultural importance of the Icherisheher Old City, as well as the challenges of managing a living historic urban environment. He stressed that Icherisheher is not merely a static monument but a "living heritage," where historical preservation and contemporary urban life coexist.

He emphasized that the inclusion of the Icherisheher ensemble, together with the Maiden Tower and Shirvanshahs Palace, on the UNESCO World Heritage List reflects its outstanding universal value. Mahmud also highlighted the need to maintain a balance between conservation and development, prioritizing restoration, integration into urban life, sustainable tourism, infrastructure development, accessibility, digital heritage presentation, and improved mobility systems.

He further noted that Icherisheher actively engages in international cooperation through expert exchange and capacity-building projects, expressing interest in strengthening partnerships with Mexican heritage cities facing similar preservation challenges.

During the event, photographs showcasing both the historic and modern aspects of Baku were presented and met with strong interest from participants.
11 April 2026 18:03 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

From 10 to 12 April 2026, the city of Gabala, Azerbaijan, hosted a bilateral roundtable within the framework of the Peace Bridge Initiative, bringing together representatives of Azerbaijani and Armenian civil society, AzerNEWS reports.

The latest roundtable convened representatives of non-governmental organizations, media outlets, and think tanks from both countries.

The Armenian delegation arrived in Azerbaijan via the land border, crossing through a formally delimited and demarcated section and undergoing all relevant border and passport control procedures. The crossing itself constituted another symbolic step by the Peace Bridge Initiative toward strengthening confidencebuilding measures between the societies of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Over the course of two days, four discussion sessions were held. Participants discussed geopolitical developments in and around the South Caucasus and their impact on the peace process. Azerbaijani and Armenian experts also exchanged views on the respective positions and visions of Azerbaijan and Armenia regarding regional developments.

Prior to the bilateral dialogue, representatives of the Peace Bridge Initiative held meetings and discussions with various segments of civil society in their respective countries in order to better understand public expectations and perceptions of the peace process. During a separate session, participants in the Peace Bridge Initiative presented the findings of those meetings, highlighting the principal concerns, expectations, and viewpoints expressed within their respective societies.

Taking into account the expectations expressed within their societies, participants devoted the concluding session to an exchange of views on future joint and individual activities during the next stages of the peace process.

On 11 April, participants in the fourth bilateral roundtable held within the framework of the Peace Bridge Initiative met with H.E. Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan - Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The discussion focused on regional security, the progress of the peace process at the political level, and the contribution of civil society to the normalization process.

The two-day dialogue concluded with a press conference at which the outcomes of the fourth meeting were summarized.

The latest meeting of civil society representatives took place in an atmosphere of constructive dialogue, candid discussions, and a reaffirmation that there is no alternative to the peace agenda. Participants in the dialogue, organized within the framework of the Peace Bridge Initiative with the support of the governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia, expressed their intention to continue joint efforts aimed at strengthening confidence during the next stages of the peace process.
11 April 2026 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

The US warned its citizens against traveling to Nigeria over terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping risks, AzerNEWS reports via Semafor.

In a Wednesday advisory, the State Department wrote that some regions now carry its highest do not travel designation. Washington also authorized the departure of non-emergency embassy staff and their families from Abuja, pointing to a deteriorating security environment.

The move follows an uptick in deadly attacks across parts of the country, even as the US-Nigeria security partnership expands.

The two countries have been cooperating in areas including counterterrorism, maritime security, intelligence sharing, and military training. US-supported surveillance systems and aircraft have also assisted Nigerian operations against insurgents and armed groups.
11 April 2026 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

At least 10 people were killed and several others remain missing after a boat carrying pilgrims capsized following a collision with a bridge in northern India, officials said Friday, AzerNEWS reports.

The incident occurred around 3.15 pm (0945GMT) on the Yamuna River in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, Shailesh Kumar Pandey, a senior local police official, told reporters.

The boat, carrying about 25 to 27 people, overturned after hitting the bridge, according to preliminary information. Authorities have recovered 10 bodies so far, Pandey said.

Rescue operations are ongoing to locate those still missing.

Local broadcaster India Today reported that the boat was carrying pilgrims.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply pained by the incident.

The local administration is assisting those affected, Modi said on X, the US social media platform.
11 April 2026 12:43 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, expressed hope on Saturday that all parties involved in the ongoing conflict would engage in constructive dialogue to advance efforts toward a peaceful resolution, AzerNEWS reports.

The statement, issued by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlights the nation's continued commitment to facilitating peace and cooperation in international conflict resolution.

Minister Dar underlined Pakistan's continued commitment to supporting dialogue between the U.S. and Iran, reinforcing the belief that direct talks are essential for achieving a lasting, sustainable solution to the issues.

As the U.S. and Iranian delegations prepare to meet in Islamabad, all eyes will be on the talks.

Authorities have placed parts of the capital on high alert, tightening security around the Red Zone, Islamabad's heavily guarded diplomatic and government district.

Several roads have been sealed, schools in nearby sectors have shifted to remote learning, and government offices in key areas have announced temporary closures to ease movement restrictions.
11 April 2026 13:16 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

UNESCO has announced the launch of an extensive emergency program in Gaza, designed to address the severe damages caused by the ongoing conflict in the region, AzerNEWS reports.

The program includes a significant investment of $5.7 million dedicated to the protection of Gaza's cultural heritage, with funds also directed towards restoring access to education and supporting local media initiatives.

According to the United Nations News Service, UNESCO plans to increase this funding to $116.5 million in the future. This will be aimed at supporting the long-term recovery process, strengthening key public institutions, and fostering sustainable development across Gaza. The initiative highlights UNESCOs critical role in both cultural and humanitarian support in conflict zones.

The impact of the conflict on Gazas cultural heritage has been devastating, with over 164 cultural and historical sites damaged or destroyed. Many of these sites are vital symbols of Palestinian identity and history. In response, UNESCO has begun restoration efforts in Gaza's Old City, clearing debris and conducting essential repairs. To date, five buildings have been reinforced, and restoration work continues on seven additional structures. The agency is also using satellite imagery to monitor the damage and providing local experts with training on emergency heritage conservation methods.

In addition to its work on cultural heritage, UNESCO is paying close attention to the psychosocial well-being of Gazas population. More than 8,000 children, adolescents, and their families who have been displaced by the conflict are receiving psychosocial support through cultural and creative programs.

The education sector in Gaza has suffered significant setbacks, with the destruction of infrastructure and the overwhelming psychological impact on students and teachers. The damage to higher education and vocational training has been estimated at $379 million, with over 80% of university campuses either destroyed or damaged.
11 April 2026 14:22 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

Iran's Vice President Mohammad Reza Arif issued a formal statement outlining the country's potential stance in negotiations with the United States and its military preparedness, AzerNEWS reports.

Arif indicated that Iran could be open to a peace process under specific conditions, while also making it clear that the countrys military posture will remain strong and unwavering.

According to him, however, if Iran faces representatives of 'Israel First,' there will be no deal.

"If we negotiate with those who represent 'America First,' rather than 'Israel First,' an agreement could be possible," Vice President noted.

However, despite leaving the door open for potential dialogue, Arif firmly emphasized that Iran would not consider military retreat or compromise on its resistance efforts.

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.
11 April 2026 15:50 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has arrived in Uzbekistan on a working visit, AzerNEWS reports via the government of Kazakhstan.

Tokayev was welcomed at Bukhara International Airport by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

A formal reception ceremony was held, featuring national songs and dances in honor of the Kazakh leader.

During the visit, the two leaders will hold an informal meeting to discuss various aspects of bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest. In addition, they are scheduled to visit several historical and industrial landmarks in Bukhara, a city known for its deep historical and cultural significance.
11 April 2026 19:10 (UTC+04:00)

A US official on Saturday denied reports that Washington has agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets, AzerNEWS reports, citing Arab News.

Reuters reported earlier in the day that the US had agreed to release Iranian frozen assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks, citing a senior Iranian source.

A senior Iranian source said on Saturday the US had agreed to release Iranian frozen assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks, welcoming the move as a sign of seriousness in reaching a deal with Washington in talks in Islamabad.

The source, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters that unfreezing the assets was directly linked to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, which is expected to be a key issue in the talks.

The senior source did not give a value for the assets that Washington had agreed to unfreeze. A second Iranian source said the United States had agreed to release $6 billion of frozen Iranian funds held by Qatar.

There was no immediate statement from the United States about any unfreezing of assets. Qatars Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Funds originally frozen eight years ago

The $6 billion, originally frozen in 2018, had been due for release in 2023 as part of a US-Iranian prisoner swap but the funds were again frozen by the administration of President Joe Biden following the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Irans ally, the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

US officials said at the time that Iran would not be able to access the money for the foreseeable future, stressing that Washington retained the right to completely freeze the account.

The funds stem from Iranian oil sales to South Korea and had been blocked in South Korean banks after President Donald Trump reimposed sanctions on Iran in 2018  during his first term in the White House  and scrapped a deal between world powers and Tehran over its nuclear program.

Under the September 2023 USIran prisoner swap mediated by Doha, the money was transferred to Qatari bank accounts. The prisoner swap involved the release of five US citizens detained in Iran in exchange for the funds release and the release of five Iranians held in the United States.

US officials said at that time that the money was restricted to humanitarian use only, to be disbursed to approved vendors for food, medicine, medical equipment and agricultural goods shipped into Iran under US Treasury oversight.
11 April 2026 20:15 (UTC+04:00)

Iran has formally conveyed a set of ten proposals outlining its position on ongoing negotiations with the United States, sharing the details with Pakistani officials, AzerNEWS reports, citing Irans Foreign Ministry.

Speaking to Iranian media in Islamabad, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the proposals reflect Tehrans core demands as diplomatic efforts intensify. He noted that the visit of a delegation led by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to the Pakistani capital effectively marked the beginning of a new phase of discussions.

Baghaei emphasized that talks between Iran and Pakistan are ongoing, with both sides engaged in active consultations and exchanges of views. He added that it is crucial for Iran to clearly articulate its position without ambiguity as the diplomatic process unfolds.

The developments come in the aftermath of a 41-day conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Following the escalation, a two-week ceasefire was brokered with Pakistans mediation, creating space for renewed diplomatic engagement.

Negotiations between Washington and Tehran are expected to take place in Islamabad in the coming hours, signaling a potentially significant step toward de-escalation and dialogue.
11 April 2026 23:30 (UTC+04:00)

US intelligence indicates that China may provide Iran with new air defence systems in the near future, potentially including shoulderlaunched antiaircraft missiles (MANPADS), AzerNEWS reports, citing Yeni Safak.

The report suggests Tehran may be using the twoweek ceasefire to restock certain weapons systems with help from key international partners, and that Beijing may be attempting to channel shipments through third countries to conceal their origin.

MANPADS pose an asymmetric threat to lowflying US military aircraft, a danger that was evident during the fiveweek conflict and could reemerge if the ceasefire collapses. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington denied the report, stating: China has never provided weapons to any party to the conflict; the information in question is untrue. The spokesperson added that China consistently fulfils its international obligations and urged the US to refrain from baseless allegations, maliciously drawing connections, and engaging in sensationalism.

The twoweek ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan with support from Turkiye, China, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, took effect on Wednesday after weeks of fighting that began on 28 February. Nearly 3,000 Iranians have been killed, along with at least 13 US servicemen, and the conflict has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a key oilshipping route. Direct USIran talks are underway in Islamabad, but allegations of weapons shipments threaten to undermine the fragile truce.
11 April 2026 21:50 (UTC+04:00)

The US military has suffered significant unmanned aircraft losses in its war with Iran, with eight MQ9 Reaper drones lost since the beginning of April alone, AzerNEWS reports, citing Yeni Safak.

The latest losses bring the total number of Reapers downed in the conflict since 28 February to 24, representing a financial impact of approximately $720 million, given that each drone costs $30 million or more depending on the model. The MQ9 Reaper, built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, is used for intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance and precision strike missions.

Data compiled by CBS News indicates that the US and Israel have carried out strikes on more than 13,000 targets across Iran since launching their joint offensive. In response, Iran has hit targets in 12 countries throughout the region. Although a twoweek ceasefire was announced on Tuesday, Israeli strikes have continued in Lebanon, highlighting the fragile nature of the truce.

The conflict, which began on 28 February, has killed thousands, disrupted global energy markets and paralysed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan, together with Turkiye, China, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, brokered a temporary ceasefire and is hosting direct USIran talks in Islamabad aimed at securing a lasting peace. The heavy loss of Reaper drones underscores the intensity of the aerial war and the effectiveness of Iranian air defences.
11 April 2026 20:45 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

Russia and Ukraine carried out a significant prisoner exchange, with 175 soldiers from each side being swapped in what is being described as a "175 for 175" formula, as they prepare to start a ceasefire to mark Orthodox Easter, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, 175 Russian servicemen were returned from Ukraine, while in return, 175 Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel were released.

The Russian Ministry further emphasized that the returning soldiers are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving necessary psychological and medical care. They will eventually be transferred to medical facilities in Russia, managed by the Ministry of Defense, for treatment and rehabilitation.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also confirmed a prisoner exchange carried out under a 175-for-175 formula, marking the return of Ukrainian servicemen and civilians from Russian captivity.

"Our people are coming home. 175 military personnel - soldiers, national guardsmen, border guards, including privates, sergeants, and officers. Additionally, seven civilians have returned," stated Zelensky in a Telegram post.

The latest exchange follows a previous one on March 6, 2026, where Russia and Ukraine exchanged 300 prisoners from each side under a similar formula.
With RNIO Texas Senator John Cornyn trailing in the polls for his primary runoff against conservative Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, another key RINO senator is now also in trouble. RINO Louisiana senator Bill Cassidy is facing two conservatives, both of whom are surging in the polls, and many observers believe that Cassidy will not even make the primary runoff.

Cassidy is facing two high profile conservatives, State Treasurer and former Congressman John Fleming, one of the founders of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, and Congresswoman Julia Letlow who is endorsed by President Trump. Both are surging in the polls while Cassidy plummets. Cassidy is particularly reviled by conservative voters for his vote to convict President Trump during his impeachment trial in the Senate.

the latest poll has Letlow at 31%, Fleming at 25%, and Cassidy at 21%.

Cassidy has raised a lot more money in the campaign than his rivals but it does not seem to help him. The Senate establishment of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Majority Leader John Thune are behind him, but that makes little difference to Louisiana voters.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/04/10/report-bill-cassidy-risks-missing-runoff-as-letlow-fleming-surge-in-louisiana-senate-race/

https://dailycaller.com/2026/04/10/bill-cassidy-julia-letlow-john-fleming-louisiana-senate/
Berkshire firefighters help extinguish tractor trailer fire that spread to the fuel pumps on the westbound I-90 service plaza in Blandford
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Janis Joplin and the Kozmic Blues Band were not the first Tanglewood contemporary performers, but they were the first real hard-rocking act that performed under the famed pavilion.
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Serge Schmemann is a member of The New York Times editorial board. He joined the Times in 1980, serving as a Times correspondent and bureau chief in Moscow, Bonn and Jerusalem and at the United Nations.
GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes is recovering in hospital after a stroke, the broadcaster has said.

In a statement on Saturday, a GB News spokesperson said Holmes, 66, was taken ill last week and it was later confirmed he had suffered a stroke.

He is currently responding well to treatment, the spokesperson added.

Eamonn has asked for privacy as he focuses on getting better.

His colleagues and everyone at GB News wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to the peoples channel when he is ready to return.

The Belfast-born broadcaster presents GB News Breakfast with his co-host Ellie Costello.

Eamonn Holmes said his illness had impacted his marriage with Ruth Langsford (Ian West/PA)

Alex Armstrong will present in his absence this week, the broadcaster added.

Angelos Frangopoulos, chief executive of GB News, said: Eamonn is a loved member of the GB News family, and were with him every step of the way as he recovers.

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Holmes has long battled issues after dislodging discs in his back which he said previously impinged on his sciatic nerve and affected the mobility of his right leg.

He previously spoke about going through spinal surgery, a double hip replacement, and his struggles walking and using a mobility scooter.

Holmes had a couple of falls in May last year which seem to have taken place only weeks apart.

The former ITV This Morning host was taken to hospital after a first fall at his home, then fell from his chair live on-air.

During his GB News Breakfast show, a crash could be heard while the camera was focused on their guest, commentator Charlie Rowley.

Co-host Ellie Costello could be heard saying oh my gosh off-screen, and Holmes pleaded with Rowley to carry on before the presenter returned to the show following a break.

Holmes then said: Welcome back. Good to see you again. Especially good for me to see you again. I am still alive, yes.

And theyre very wonky wheels on chairs that weve got here, and matter of fact, we dont really like the chairs full stop, do we? Theyre a bit slippy and slidey and Ive slipped and slid off mine there.

Not the first guest to have done so, weve had a few, they have to remain nameless because theyre well known people, but theyve hit the floor really badly, quite frightening.

And it was a bit of a shock for me because Ive had a fall in my bathroom two weeks ago, which hospitalised me, and that hit me again right in the back. (Im) really, really sore. Really sore.

Eamonn Holmes with his news presenter of the year award at the Tric Awards (Ian West/PA)

He later said the chair gave way which meant he was lying flat on his back.

He added: As the morning goes on, you feel aches and pains.

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The worst thing about this, of course, this was at a time when I was hospitalised two weeks ago for a very similar fall in the same area, back of the head, my neck, my shoulders.

So it all came back, as it were.

Holmes told The Sun newspaper in 2022 that his health problems caused issues in his marriage to Loose Women star Ruth Langsford.

Even my own family are bored of my moaning, he said.

It has caused some strain and Ruth is fed up of hearing about it and of me saying I cant walk the dog or tidy up, but I cant help it. Its agony.

Langsford and Holmes announced their split in 2024, after tying the knot in 2010 following more than a decade together.
Megan Fox "isn't interested" in rekindling her romance with Machine Gun Kelly (MGK).

Megan Fox won't reconcile with the music star

The 39-year-old actress and the 35-year-old music star have experienced lots of "communication" issues in recent times, and there appears to be little hope of a reconciliation.

A source told Us Weekly: "They were on a good path and things have blown up again.

"They have been having so many disagreements and explosive fights. Their communication with each other has been terrible."

The former couple - who have a 12-month-old daughter, called Saga, together - dated on and off from 2020 to 2024. The celebrity duo briefly reconciled around their pregnancy announcement, before splitting for good before the arrival of their baby girl.

The insider shared: "MGK has been trying hard to get back together with Megan, but she isnt interested."

Last year, a source revealed that the celebrity duo had been acting like a couple again, months after they called time on their romance.

The insider told People at the time: "Theyre together often, but hes going on tour soon.

"He spends pretty much every night at her house with the baby, and they act like a couple, but they havent put a label on it or made anything official."

What's more, another source suggested that having a baby had brought Megan and MGK closer together.

The insider explained: "Megan's very happy with how he's stepped up for both her and the baby.

"While they still have separate homes, they spend a lot of time together as a family. They're putting the baby first, and it's brought them closer in many ways.

"Things are great now. He's amazing with the baby and she very much enjoys spending time with him."

Megan and MGK - whose real name is Colson Baker - met for the first time on the set of Midnight in the Switchgrass, the 2021 crime thriller film.

In January 2022, Megan took to social media to announce their engagement, and to reflect on the journey they've been through together.

In the caption, Megan - who previously suffered a miscarriage - wrote on Instagram: "In July of 2020 we sat under this banyan tree. We asked for magic. We were oblivious to the pain we would face together in such a short, frenetic period of time. Unaware of the work and sacrifices the relationship would require from us but intoxicated off of the love. And the karma."
Hungarians vote in a landmark parliamentary election on Sunday that is being closely watched in the European Union, the United States, Russia and beyond.

Opinion polls suggest that Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his nationalist Fidesz party will lose power after 16 years to the centre-right, pro-European Union Tisza party, led by former Orban loyalist Peter Magyar.

How the voting goes

Hungarian voters will elect 199 members of parliament - 106 of them in single-member constituencies under a first-past-the-post system and the other 93 from national party and ethnic minority lists.

Orban's government gave ethnic Hungarians living abroad the right to citizenship, and they can vote on party lists, by letter. According to National Election Office data, close to 500,000 such citizens have been registered for the 2026 election. The vast majority of them traditionally support Orban's Fidesz.

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Those with a registered Hungarian address must vote in person - at a polling station in Hungary or, if abroad, at one of Hungary's official representations.

For individual parties, the threshold to get into parliament is winning 5% of votes.

Polling stations open on Sunday at 6am (5am Irish time) and close at 7pm (6pm Irish time). The results should become clear by late Sunday evening.

What happens after the election?

President Tamas Sulyok will convene the new parliament within 30 days of the election, probably in May. In 2022 the election took place on April 3 and the new parliament convened on May 2.

The prime minister is elected by parliament, with a simple majority of votes. Hungary's president submits a proposal for prime minister - usually the candidate of the winning party - and parliament then votes on the nomination.

If parliament fails to elect the person proposed, the president presents a new proposal within 15 days.

If parliament fails to elect a new prime minister again, the president can dissolve parliament and call a new election.

What are the possible outcomes of the election?

Budapest-based think tank Political Capital outlined what it sees as the possible scenarios on Friday:

Two-thirds constitutional Fidesz majority: This would allow Fidesz to further reshape institutions without constraint and institutional autonomy in Hungary would decline further.

Significant Fidesz majority: A significant majority would allow Fidesz to continue its current policies, with foreign policy likely remaining largely unchanged.

Narrow Fidesz majority: This would create a new and uncertain political situation, with a fragile balance of power and increased pressure from the opposition.

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World Vance says he is here to help Orbans election campaign during Hungary visit Read more

Two-thirds Tisza majority: This would enable deep institutional reform and allow the new government to restructure key institutions.

Significant Tisza majority: This would allow for limited yet meaningful change but would not provide a robust legal mandate for deep institutional reform. Political dynamics would remain tense.

Narrow Tisza majority: This would create an unstable and high-risk governing situation with a fragile balance of power. The election results could be contested, possibly leading to mass protests.

No clear winner: A stalemate would result in a fragmented political landscape, where no major actor can form a stable government alone. The far-right Mi Hazank (Our Homeland) party could become a kingmaker and the formation of coalitions could be uncertain and prolonged. - Reuters
7pm

Transport Minister Darragh OBrien and Minister of State Sean Canney held talks with industry representatives on Friday and Saturday.

The engagements included the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), the Freight Transport Association of Ireland, and the Coach Tourism & Transport Council of Ireland.

IRHA president Ger Hyland said there were the bones of an agreement with the Government, adding that he hoped the substantial package, understood to include the direct payment scheme, would be agreed either late on Saturday or on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters before briefing the Taoiseach on the talks, Mr OBrien said: We want to get an agreement, we want to support businesses and individuals through this difficult time, and we want the protest to end.

Concurrent talks were held online between the Department of Agriculture and groups such as the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association and the Irish Farmers Association.

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The recognised bodies in the Government meetings are not responsible for organising the distinct protests around the country but are also working to secure reductions in operating costs.

Protesters had sought their own engagements with the Government and expressed anger at being excluded from the talks.

The protests have also seen slow-moving convoys and outright stoppages on the motorway network as well as the establishment of a large blockade on Dublin citys main thoroughfare, OConnell Street.

The development at Whitegate came after Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan said around 600 of the 1,500 filling stations around the Republic of Ireland had run dry on Saturday morning.

He had predicted that the number would grow quite dramatically if the blockades on Whitegate, Galway and Foynes, Co Limerick, continued.

Elsewhere, Rosslare Europort was expected to hit capacity by Sunday evening or Monday morning.

Operations at the port, run by Irish Rail, have been affected by a blockade of fuel protesters in the nearby town of Kilrane, Co Wexford.

A spokesperson for Irish Rail said the port will soon be at capacity and will not be able to take in any more freight  resulting in ships having to wait on anchor or be diverted to another port if possible.

6.30pm

There have also been concerns about fuel shortages leading to the curtailment of emergency services and the delivery of vital goods, while the National Emergency Co-ordination Group urged people to only buy the fuel they need.

The blockades are part of nationwide protests by hauliers, farmers and agricultural contractors who are urging the Government to take action to reduce fuel costs which they say are at unsustainable levels and will lead to people going out of business.

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Participants say the Government needs to take urgent action on fuel prices or they will go out of business.

It is understood the Department of Transport is working on plans for a transport support scheme that would see direct payments to businesses in the sectors affected by high fuel costs.

A senior source said the scheme will be part of a broader package on the fuel crisis.

The operation to secure the Whitegate refinery took approximately an hour and saw some physical clashes between the Public Order Unit and protesters, including instances where pepper spray was used.

6pm

A number of arrests have been made during the Garda operation in Whitegate Oil Refinery, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said.

Mr Kelly said the current blockades are "not a legitimate form of protest" in a statement issued this evening.

"Since Tuesday, An Garda Siochana has worked hard to minimise disruption caused to the citizens of the country.

Despite this, some people have decided to escalate an already difficult situation by blockading critical national infrastructure such as fuel depots and refineries.

"This has resulted in fuel shortages that are directly impacting on emergency services such as hospitals, the ambulance service, and the fire service, as well as businesses and the general public.

"These are blockades. They are not a legitimate form of protest. They are illegal activity that is endangering our State.

"These blockades are also putting at risk supplies that are critical for our country.

"These blockades have put An Garda Siochana in an invidious position of having to deploy public order units in order to ensure that hospitals can function, fires can be responded to, and people can be brought to hospital.

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"We never want to do this, but the blockaders have left us with no choice.

"We gave the blockaders fair warning that we were moving to enforcement and they choose to ignore it and continue to hold the country to ransom."

The statement continued: "This morning, An Garda Siochana moved to restore fuel supplies from Whitegate Refinery. We made a number of arrests during this operation.

"In the coming hours and days we will have further such operations.

"I want to commend our Gardai for their work, which has required a significant amount of planning.

"I also want to thank the Defence Forces for their support.

"These operations have required the deployment of a large number of Gardai.

"Gardai who should have been engaged in patrolling cities and towns, community engagement, and investigating crimes such as domestic abuse.

"Instead, because of the illegal actions of a few, much of this valuable work to keep people safe is not taking place. We are aware that there has been intimidation of fuel tanker drivers, these are criminal offences, we will not tolerate this and we will investigate all such reports and prosecute suspects.

"Offences such as threats to kill or cause serious harm carry sentences of up to 10 years.

"My message is clear.

"Blockaders must immediately cease blockades of critical infrastructure and road networks or face the full rigours of the law.

5.22pm

Talks at the Department of Transport end - without agreement. But all sides available for further talks.

4.37pm

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Gardai in Wexford are warning motorists to be aware that traffic on the M11 is severely disrupted, with a large portion of traffic entering Gorey town, causing further delays within the town. Expect delays if travelling today.

Rosslare Europort is also heavily affected, with delays to be expected in the Kilrane/Rosslare Harbour area.

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.

3.40pm

Fuel trucks have regained access to an oil refinery that had been subjected to a days-long blockade after gardai cleared protesters from the entrance.

In a major operation involving scores of gardai, large tractors that had been blocking the entrance to the Whitegate oil refinery in Co Cork were moved and fuel tankers were once again able to access the site.

The operation to secure the site took approximately an hour and saw some physical clashes between the Public Order Unit and protesters, including instances where pepper spray was used.

Members of the Defence Forces were also at the scene as An Garda Siochana, had requested the availability of a military heavy-lift recovery truck if it needed to tow any of the large tractors or trucks involved in the blockade.

Gardai escorted the fuel trucks to the premises.

2.45pm

Around 600 of the 1,600 forecourts in the country have now run out of petrol and diesel, according to Fuels for Ireland.

2pm

The blockade at Whitegate oil refinery in County Cork has been broken, with gardai using pepper spray on protestors.

A large number of Public Order gardai are at the scene, along with Defence Force vehicles.

It's the fifth day of nationwide fuel demonstrations, with blockades continuing at Galway and Foynes ports, as well as disruption to the road network.

1pm

Defence Force vehicles and a large number of Public Order gardai have arrived at the Whitegate oil refinery in Cork.

Protestors are continuing their blockade there, on the fifth day of the national fuel protest.

Blockades also remain in place at the ports in Foynes and Galway, while traffic continues to be disrupted across the motorway network.

Fuels for Ireland says it "will not be in a position to guarantee fuel availability at forecourts nationwide by early next week" if the blockades are not lifted by Monday.



12pm

Earlier, a man arrested at the Whitegate oil refinery in Cork on Friday has been charged.

The man, aged in his 50s, was detained on Friday evening.

He has since been charged to appear before the courts at a later date.

10am

Around 600 of the 1,500 filling stations around Ireland have run dry, according to an industry representative.

Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan said he expects the number will grow quite dramatically if ongoing blockades of fuel depots remain in place.

Asked on RTE Radio Ones The Business how that number may grow, he said: If everything remains as it is, that is to say that the three facilities remain blockaded, then I dont think we could guarantee fuel at any forecourt by very early next week, Monday morning or Monday perhaps.

There are fears that around a third of Irelands 1,500 filling stations could run dry by Saturday morning as protesters engaged in a blockade of the countrys only oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, as well as key depots in Galway and Foynes, Co Limerick.

There have also been concerns about fuel shortages leading to curtailments in the provision of emergency services and the delivery of vital goods. At the same time, the National Emergency Coordination Group urged the public to buy only the fuel they need.

Government ministers engaged with some of these groups on Friday, but a spokesman for the protesters expressed devastation that they were excluded from the meeting.

A commitment from the coalition on Friday night to deliver a substantial package of measures on fuel costs was not enough to dissuade protesters from continuing blockades.

Talks between Government departments and representative bodies are set to continue at lunchtime on Saturday, with a view to finalising what Tanaiste Simon Harris said would be substantial and significant measures for affected industries.

Here is the latest information on motorway closures from TII Traffic:

M50:

M50 between J06 - BLANCHARDSTOWN and J05 - FINGLAS Direction northbound

M50 between J05 - FINGLAS and J06 - BLANCHARDSTOWN Direction southbound

N4:

N4 J01 - M50 Interchange Direction eastbound Slip to City and M50 northbound

M7:

M7 between J16 - PORTLAOISE and J17 - PORTLAOISE Direction both

M7 between J29 - M7/N24 and J30 - M7/N18/M20 Direction both

Ireland Talks to resume at lunchtime as fuel protests enter fifth day Read more

M8:

M8 J09 - CASHEL(SOUTH) Direction northbound

M8 J06- Arbourhill and J09 Owen and Biggs Lot- Direction southbound

M18:

M18/N18 J11 - DROMOLAND Direction both

M18/N18 J13 - TULLA Direction northbound

M18/N18 between J02 - DOCK and J01 - ROSSBRIEN Direction southbound

M18/N18 J14 - BAREFIELD Direction southbound Slip R458 to M18

M18/N18 between J15 - CRUSHEEN and J14 - BAREFIELD Direction southbound

M20:

M20/N20 between J04 - PATRICKSWELL and J03 - RAHEEN Direction northbound

Significant delays to your journey are likely to occur. Please use a different route for your journey.
A UK-based healthcare assistant has been refused bail following her Dublin Airport arrest for smuggling a woman into Ireland with a Swedish "lookalike" document to claim asylum.

Muna Mohamed Sharif (47), with an address at Bodmin Grove, Birmingham, England, was arrested at Terminal 2 on Friday afternoon.

The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) charged her under sections 6 and 8 of the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2021.

She is accused of assisting another woman with unlawful entry into, transit across, or presence in the State, and of providing a fraudulent travel or identity document for that purpose.

On Saturday, she appeared at Dublin District Court before Judge David McHugh, who noted the evidence that she allegedly facilitated entry into the State illegally, and he held that she was a flight risk.

Detective Garda Kerry O'Sullivan said Ms Sharif was arrested at 2.10 pm and "made no reply" to the charges, which are punishable by a maximum 10-year prison term.

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The GNIB detective alleged that the accused and the woman who was brought into the country separately presented themselves to immigration officers.

However, she added that the airport officials "saw that they made eye contact with each other and later discovered, during the detention, that Ms Sharif had supplied the injured party with a Swedish lookalike document".

The court heard she made admissions.

Detective Garda O'Sullivan said her phone contained correspondence with the lawful owner of the passport discussing a fee for the use of the travel document.

The woman using it was from Somalia and has now claimed asylum, the court heard.

Cross-examined by defence counsel Paddy Flynn, the detective agreed that the accused has lived in the UK since 2002, has British citizenship, and her only passport has been seized

She also acknowledged that Ms Sharif was cooperative but did not believe that was indicative that she would attend her court proceedings if released on bail.

Counsel conceded that she did not have rigid ties to this country but argued that a lack of an address here was not a barrier to bail.

Mr Flynn explained that he had been instructed that his client had friends in Ireland who could be contacted from her phone.

However, the GNIB detective did not think she had connections to Ireland and also said the accused was "very elusive about her friends".

Counsel portrayed that elusiveness as a sign of "greenness," showing his client thought she was helping, but the detective did not accept that either.

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Cash was also seized from her, but the amount was not revealed during the contested bail hearing.

Mr Flynn told the court that in similar cases, 1,000 cash bail has been granted, subject to conditions to furnish an address, reside in the State, and sign on regularly at a garda station.

The officer disagreed that it would take a lengthy period to obtain directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Text messages need to be translated, counsel pointed out, and he argued that it could take several months.

Ireland Gardai make arrests at Whitegate protest; talks end without agreement Read more

He submitted that although she was not a citizen, she enjoyed the right to liberty under Irish law. Strict conditions would have to be introduced, and a cash amount should be considered.

The court heard that she had obtained UK citizenship and was due back at work next week.

Ruling on the bail application, he said that where a person faces a serious charge and has no significant ties to the country, the risk of flight is exponentially increased.

Judge McHugh granted legal aid and remanded her in custody pending directions from the DPP. She is scheduled to appear again on Friday.
Russia has continued to strike Ukrainian positions with drones after a Kremlin-declared Easter ceasefire took effect on Saturday, a Ukrainian military officer said.

The ceasefire is not being observed by the Russian side, said Serhii Kolesnychenko, a communications officer for the 148th Separate Artillery Brigade.

He said that while artillery fire had paused in the sector where his brigade was working, at the junction of the Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, Russian forces continued to use drones to strike Ukrainian positions.

Ukrainian forces were responding with silence to silence and fire to fire, Mr Kolesnychenko said.

Russian President Vladimir 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.



Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday declared a 32-hour ceasefire (Alexander Kazakov/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool/AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised to abide by the ceasefire, describing it as an opportunity to build on peace initiatives. But he warned there would be a swift military response to any violations.

Easter should be a time of silence and safety. A ceasefire (at) Easter could also become the beginning of real movement toward peace, Zelenskyy wrote in an online post on Saturday.

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But he added: We all understand who we are dealing with. Ukraine will adhere to the ceasefire and respond strictly in kind.

Ukraine earlier proposed to Russia a pause in attacks on each others energy infrastructure over the Orthodox Easter holiday.

Previous ceasefire attempts have had little impact, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday described Mr Putins move as a humanitarian gesture but said Moscow remains focused on a comprehensive settlement based on its long-standing demands  a key sticking point that has prevented the two sides from reaching an agreement.

Hours before the ceasefire was due to begin, Russian drone strikes overnight killed at least two people in the Ukrainian city of Odesa, local authorities reported.

A further two people were wounded in the attack on the Black Sea port city, when drones hit a residential area, damaging apartment buildings, houses and a kindergarten.

The driver of a public trolley bus was killed after the vehicle was struck by a drone in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, less than an hour before the start of the ceasefire, Kherson regional head Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on Telegram.

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According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia targeted Ukraine with 160 drones overnight, of which 133 were shot down or intercepted, hours before a proposed Easter ceasefire was due to come into force.

Russias Defence Ministry said 99 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across Russia and occupied Crimea.

Russias Defence Ministry said that a prisoner swap on Saturday brought home 175 of its soldiers. Mr Zelensky confirmed Saturdays exchange, saying that 175 service members and seven civilians were returned. Most had been held in captivity since 2022. And finally, they are home, he wrote on X.



People react during a POW exchange between Russia and Ukraine (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Hundreds of relatives, clutching photos of missing soldiers, crowded around ambulances and buses carrying returned prisoners of war in northern Ukraine. Many called out names and brigade numbers in hopes of finding loved ones faster.

The crowd, many draped in blue and yellow flags, chanted we welcome you! as the weary returnees in blue jackets reached through windows to shake hands and embrace well-wishers. Family also members held up portraits of others still missing, asking the freed prisoners whether they recognised anyone.

Svitlana Pohosyan was waiting for her sons return. Asked about the ceasefire, she said: I want to believe it. God willing, may it be so. We will believe and hope that everything will be fine, that a ceasefire will come on such a holy day, and that there will be peace  peace in Ukraine and peace in the whole world.

My celebration will come when my son returns, she added. I will hold him in my arms  and that will be the greatest celebration for me. And for every mother, every family.
Russian drone strikes killed at least two people in the Ukrainian city of Odesa overnight into Saturday, local authorities reported, ahead of a proposed ceasefire for Orthodox Easter.

Two more people were wounded in the attack on the Black Sea port city, when drones hit a residential area, damaging apartment buildings, houses and a nursery.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia targeted Ukraine with 160 drones overnight, of which 133 were shot down or intercepted, hours before a proposed Easter ceasefire was due to come into force.

Russias defence ministry said 99 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across Russia and occupied Crimea.



Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday declared a 32-hour ceasefire (Alexander Kazakov/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool/AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday declared a 32-hour ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter weekend, ordering Russian forces to halt hostilities from 4pm Saturday until the end of Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday Ukraine is ready to mirror any ceasefire steps, having earlier proposed to Russia a pause in attacks on each others energy infrastructure over the Orthodox Easter holiday.

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Previous ceasefire attempts have had little impact, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday 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.

A possible prisoner exchange over the Easter holiday has also been discussed.

Russias human rights ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova said last week that both sides were working on exchanges of prisoners.

Periodic prisoner exchanges have been one of the few positive outcomes of otherwise fruitless monthslong US-brokered negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.

The talks have delivered no progress on key issues preventing an end to Russias invasion of its neighbour, now in its fifth year.
Negotiations began between the United States and Iran on Saturday, days after a fragile ceasefire halted fighting and brought both parties to the table in Pakistan.

Irans state-run news agency said three-party talks with the US, Iran and Pakistan were started after a reduction in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon and other Iran preconditions were met.

The talks, which the US did not immediately confirm or comment on, came after US and Iranian officials separately met Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

A US delegation led by vice president JD Vance and an Iranian delegation led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf are in Islamabad to discuss how to advance the ceasefire made fragile by deep disagreements and unabated fighting in Lebanon.



Members of the media cover the US-Iran talks in Islamabad (Anjum Naveed/AP)

Iran doubled down on parts of its earlier proposal, as its delegation told Iranian state television it had presented some of the plans ideas as red lines in meetings with Sharif.

Meanwhile, Israel pressed ahead with strikes in Lebanon on Saturday even as Iran conditioned ceasefire talks on a pause in fighting there.

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The Lebanese state-run news agency reported that Israeli strikes on Saturday killed at least three people. It did not report strikes in the afternoon.

The war has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 1,953 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states.

It has largely cut off the Persian Gulf from the global economy, sending energy prices soaring and inflicting lasting damage on infrastructure in half a dozen countries in the region.

In Tehran, residents told The Associated Press they were sceptical yet hopeful about the talks after weeks of airstrikes carved a path of destruction across their country.



(PA Graphics)

Some said even if one is reached, the path to recovery will be long.

Peace alone is not enough for our country, because weve been hit very hard, there have been huge costs, and the people have to pay for that, Amir Razzai Far, 62, said in central Tehran.

US and Iranian officials claimed leverage and issued new demands and preconditions as talks approached.

US President Donald Trump posted repeatedly on social media leading up to Saturday, saying Iranian officials have no cards to negotiate with.

The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate! he wrote.

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He accused Iran of using the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy supplies, for extortion, and told reporters on Friday it would be opened with or without them.



A thick plume of smoke rises from an oil storage facility hit by a US-Israeli strike in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Islamabad was deserted on Saturday as security forces sealed roads and authorities urged residents to stay inside, leading the normally bustling Pakistani capital to look as though it was under curfew.

Mr Vance said on Friday the US was optimistic about the talks, but warned: If theyre going to try and play us, then theyre going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was entering negotiations with deep distrust stemming from previous strikes on Iran during previous rounds of talks.

Mr Araghchi, who is part of Irans delegation in Pakistan, said on Saturday that his country was prepared to retaliate if it was attacked again.

Iran and the US outlined competing proposals ahead of the weekend talks reflecting the wide gulf between the two sides on key issues.

Iran published a 10-point proposal. It called for a guaranteed end to the war and no future attacks.



A man stands in front of charred cars at the site of Wednesdays Israeli air strike in Beirut (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

It demanded an end to economic sanctions and sought control over the Strait of Hormuz.

It also included ending fighting against Irans regional allies, explicitly calling for a halt to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group.

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The United States submitted a 15-point proposal that includes restricting Irans nuclear programme and reopening the strait.

Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are expected to begin on Tuesday in Washington, Lebanese President Joseph Aouns office said on Friday.

Israel wants the Lebanese government to assume responsibility for disarming Hezbollah, much as was envisaged in a November 2024 ceasefire.

But it is unclear whether Lebanons army can establish a monopoly on arms or confiscate weapons from the militant group, which has survived efforts to curb its strength for decades.



A rescue worker holds money recovered from the rubble of a destroyed building in Beirut on Thursday (Hussein Malla/AP)

Israels insistence that the ceasefire in Iran does not include a pause in its fighting with Hezbollah has threatened to sink the deal. The militant group joined the war in support of its backer, Iran, in the opening days of the war.

The day the truce was announced, Israel pounded Beirut with air strikes, killing more than 300 people in the deadliest day in the country since the war began on February 28, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

Irans closure of the Strait of Hormuz has proved its biggest strategic advantage in the war. Commercial vessels have avoided the strait, effectively blocking the passage of oil, natural gas and fertilizer.

The spot price of Brent crude, the international standard for oil prices, was above 94 dollars on Saturday, up more than 30% since the war started.

Before the conflict, about a fifth of the worlds traded oil typically passed through the strait on more than 100 ships a day.

With the ceasefire in place, only 12 have been recorded traversing the strait.

Iran has floated charging ships passing through the strait as part of a peace deal, though the idea has been widely rejected by countries including the United States and Irans neighbour Oman.
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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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Review Eating outNewstead Heres what happens when the Light Years crew hits the big smoke Wowing diners might be a touch easier when theyre beach-drunk, but what about when they just finished work and live upstairs? Matt Shea 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

1 / 7 Bar Monte has transformed the old Allonda digs on Longland Street. Markus Ravik 2 / 7 The restaurant is tucked away on a small laneway just off Longland Street. Markus Ravik 3 / 7 Anchovy toast, smoked tomato butter and lemon. Markus Ravik 4 / 7 Calabrian chilli prawn bun with house-made tartare and chives. Markus Ravik 5 / 7 Grilled skewer, mortadella, honey, and sweet and sour peaches. Markus Ravik 6 / 7 Beef carpaccio, truffle mayo, capers, picked shallots and reggiano. Markus Ravik 7 / 7 Creste alla vodka with nduja and stracciatella. Markus Ravik Previous Slide Next Slide 14 / 20 How we score Bar Monte Newstead Italian$$$$ I remember two things about Hanmer Springs. The first was a squeaky hotel bed. The second was watching a maitre d tell an American tourist that yes maam, wherever we were dining that night was indeed one of the best restaurants in New Zealand. Bar Monte has transformed the old Allonda digs on Longland Street. Markus Ravik

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This was 20-odd years ago and it was a fine enough place. Best in town, sure. But thats about it. I thought about it that night, my bed squeaking, and it stuck with me the next day, and has done ever since. Related Article Good Food hat 15 / 20 Review The Happy Boy teams best restaurant isnt Happy Boy That restaurant in Hanmer  a small spa town between Christchurch and Greymouth  was nothing on where I worked, in Queenstown. But then Queenstowns restaurants were nothing on Auckland or Wellington, and we had our share of industry blowhards. Arcade Agency arent blowhards but this Byron-based hospo group couldve easily ended up out over its skis with Bar Monte, which opened in Newstead in October.

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The restaurant is tucked away on a small laneway just off Longland Street. Markus Ravik Small-town hospitality is great, in a small town. Take it to the big smoke and youre in danger of getting lost in the noise, particularly when beachside regulars arrive to rekindle the romance and find you in the old Allonda digs in a laneway off Longland Street. It feels like there are regulars from the original Miami Bar Monte the night we visit the Newstead restaurant (or perhaps from Light Years, Arcade Agencys Byron Bay calling card). Its a notably young crowd, a good half-generation younger on average, say, than Beccofino or Mosconi or Bianca, all of which are a few blocks away. Anchovy toast, smoked tomato butter and lemon. Markus Ravik They sit in a dining room that I liked when it was Allonda, and love now. The layout is much the same, with the staircase and textured walls that lead up to the mezzanine. Downstairs, the place pops with dark tiling, timber panelling and curious feature lighting. It feels whimsical but also familiar, although I have to fold my six-two frame into a corner table a little more than my physio would like.

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That corner table comes with other drawbacks. Were out of sight of the maitre ds desk and forgotten about as the dining room rapidly fills with guests. It takes a little semaphore with the menus to get our order placed. On a second visit, a manager tells me an unpaid itemised invoice will absolutely appease my accounts department  the restaurant equivalent of the cabbie who knows the best way to your house. Calabrian chilli prawn bun with house-made tartare and chives. Markus Ravik These are relatively brief glitches but theyre frustrating because, otherwise, things at Bar Monte move with smiling speed and accuracy. Drinks are served at the table and the staff welcome me back when I walk in off the street on my return  heartening stuff for such a locals-focused venue. The food intended to keep them coming back is a mix of the good and the occasionally great. Grilled skewer, mortadella, honey, and sweet and sour peaches. Markus Ravik

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For snacks, textural Calabrian chilli prawn in a luscious mayo-based sauce would be a minor sensation but for the slightly tired milk bun in which its delivered. The restaurants anchovy toast  an import from Byron sister restaurant Pixie  is better, its backbone a smoked tomato butter so brilliant it arguably overpowers the Cantabrian anchovy on top, but you hardly mind. And a honey-glazed grilled mortadella skewer finished with chilli and served with sweet and sour peaches is a fabulously straightforward variation on the Italian summertime creation. On the entrees, you can see why regulars go nuts over Bar Montes beef carpaccio, even if Id prefer it a touch more restrained. The paper thin wagyu beef is so beautifully delicate, so silken, it seems a shame to laden it with this much truffle mayo, parmesan and pickled shallots. In the restaurants defence, co-owner Lorenzo Toscani says his chefs have tried to change the dish but his regulars insist it stays as is. Cant fart against thunder, I guess. Beef carpaccio, truffle mayo, capers, picked shallots and reggiano. Markus Ravik For mains, we order a vodka nduja creste finished with Byron Bay stracciatella thats elevated, soul-warming comfort food despite being a little under seasoned. We prefer it over an eggplant parmigiana thats ultimately a little too understated for our liking. The one cocktail I have with dinner is a bit of a bust  a caprese-themed vodka Martini so subtle I can barely taste the booze. But the wines we drink by the glass are fun and refreshingly well-priced (very well priced in some cases)  in particular a structural, lively Von Buhl riesling trocken and a cracking Provenance Golden Plains pinot with its distinctively perfumed dry-spice notes.

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Creste alla vodka with nduja and stracciatella. Markus Ravik The promise of a pistachio-spiked tiramisu convinces us to order this overplayed dessert just one more time. No regrets  it turns out to be a relatively subtle and homely interpretation. And homely is perhaps the best way to think of Bar Monte. Would I drive across town for this place? Perhaps not. But its going about things the right way, focussing on locals first. Toscani said at opening that he wants Bar Monte to be a neighbourhood trattoria, and if I lived upstairs Id be wandering down on the regular for a snack or three. The low-down Atmosphere: Cosy Italo disco-inflected bolthole in a Newstead laneway. Go-to dishes: Anchovy toast, mortadella skewer, beef carpaccio. Drinks: Italian-themed twists on classic cocktails and a dynamic, well-priced wine list. Cost: About $210 for two, plus drinks. Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.
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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.
Natasha Lyonne claims to have been "detained" after being escorted off a flight by ICE officers.

Natasha Lyonne claims she was detained

The 47-year-old actress was recently reported to have been escorted off a flight from Los Angeles to New York after the Euphoria season three premiere, and Natasha has now taken to social media to address the incident, confirming that she took Lunesta, a prescription sedative used to treat insomnia, before the plane was scheduled to take off.

Natasha wrote on X: "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. Plan was to be bushy tailed and 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 and have an in depth convo, but I guess ICE had other plans and I was detained instead. Sign of the times, I guess. Thanks for all the love and support. Never had a problem with @Delta or @TSA before. Heart is with our unpaid @TSA workers. [heart emojis] Apologies to any travelers who were delayed. (sic)"

However, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which TSA operates under, has denied the actress' claims.

The spokesperson told People: "Neither ICE nor TSA escorted or detained Natasha Lyonne."

Delta, on the other hand, has yet to make any public comment.

The actress previously addressed the incident in a vague post on social media. Natasha made reference to the situation without sharing specific details about what happened.

The Hollywood star - who has previously struggled with drug addiction - wrote on X: "My heart is with all the unpaid TSA agents at our airports. Sure was looking forward to speaking honestly with @DrewBarrymore yesterday but guess wasn't in the cards. (sic)"
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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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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 WorldAsiaAustralians abroad Shuttered Laos distillery implicated in methanol deaths denies responsibility Zach Hope April 11, 2026  1:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Vientiane: A woman involved with a business implicated in the Laos methanol poisonings that killed two Australian backpackers and four others in 2024 claims the operation is innocent and that it never actually distilled its own spirits. Keo Sinorlai, a niece of the primary owner, told this masthead the crude method for producing Tiger brand vodka and whisky was to buy hospital-grade alcohol from a pharmacy and then dilute it with water and flavours until it was 40 per cent alcohol volume. Keo Sinorlai said the Tiger business bought rubbing alcohol from pharmacy in VIentiane, Laos and diluted it with water until it was 40 per cent. Zach Hope The families of young Australians Holly Morton-Bowles and Bianca Jones have previously been told that people from the business, on the outskirts of the Laotian capital of Vientiane, could still be prosecuted. Sinorlai, however, said tests had already cleared the business and that there was no pending court action. The Melbourne friends died in November 2024 after unwittingly drinking methanol at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in the party hub of Vang Vieng, about 130 kilometres north of Vientiane, during a shot giveaway. Two Danish women, an English woman and an American man staying at the hostel also died, while many more became seriously ill.

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Tiger vodka and whisky, widely distributed in stores for about $2.50 a bottle, were banned by Lao authorities after the methanol poisonings. The Australian governments Smartraveller website also cautioned Australians not to drink it. The business was the only producer of Tiger spirits. Sinorlai said the backyard enterprise had been closed ever since, but the only reason it had not reopened was that her uncle, the main mixer, had serious health problems. Bianca Jones (left) and Holly Morton-Bowles died after a suspected mass drink poisoning. She said her drunk husband would have been the first to get sick if their finished product had ever been tainted with deadly methanol, a by-product from brewing drinkable alcohol (ethanol). I know people died in Vang Vieng. But if it was only this that they were drinking, they would not have died, she said. This business has been going on for 30 years. This masthead visited the Vientiane pharmacy where she said they purchased the alcohol and found one-litre bottles marked 90 per cent ethanol on sale for the equivalent of about $4.

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As Tiger was widely distributed, the mixers would have needed to buy vast quantities. Pharmacy staff said the ethanol was sold in bulk to hospitals for use in sterilisation, but they were unsure if there had ever been similar arrangements with private businesses. The 90 per cent alcohol on sale at a pharmacy in Vientiane. Zach Hope Sinorlai did not offer a theory as to what caused the deaths, but moonshine from backyards remained common in Vientiane and Vang Vieng and is sold by shops in plastic water bottles for as little as 60. If her claims about purchasing the alcohol from elsewhere were true, it was possible the hostel served moonshine from a maker who had been too reckless, or did not know, to remove the methanol component. The Vang Vieng distributor for Tiger said the brand was sold in many places. Only people drinking at the hostel became sick.

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Loading There is a question about whether Tiger did actually distil its own product  as the label claimed it did  and methanol made it into only some bottles. No one has been prosecuted for the deaths of the five women, although a Lao court in January convicted 10 staff members for tampering with evidence in relation to the Americans case. They were given suspended sentences and fines equal to $185  news to the Australian families, who only heard about the case after the fact through connections in Britain. DFAT apology The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) apologised unreservedly for failing to keep them informed and appointed Pablo Kang, a former ambassador to Cambodia and the United Arab Emirates, as a special envoy on the case, bypassing the current ambassador to Laos, Megan Jones.

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The business has been closed since late 2024. Keo Sinorlai said another business was going to buy the bottles, which remained piled at the side. Zach Hope DFAT did not answer this mastheads questions, citing privacy. Since their November 2024 deaths, the Australian government has been clear to the Lao authorities of the need for transparency and accountability, the department said in a statement. We have consistently conveyed our expectations that charges should reflect the seriousness of the tragedy that killed Holly, Bianca and four other foreign nationals. We will continue to press the Lao authorities on Holly and Biancas cases and support their families in the pursuit of justice.

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The Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, where the Melbourne teens had been staying. The hostel remained closed this month, although renovation works were under way. A tourism source in the town, who asked for anonymity to protect their business, said tourist numbers had dived after the incident. An influx of young Israelis had since boosted business, until war broke out in the Middle East several weeks ago, at which time many went home. It [the poisonings] is definitely something you think about  we all saw it online, Lori, a 21-year-old South African Israeli, said in one of the towns bars. I think you need to know and trust the places where you are drinking. This masthead spoke with one of the Australian family members before publication. Attempts to verify Sinorlais claims with Lao authorities were unsuccessful. 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.
People, authorities across China unite to forge new bond with wild neighbors

Xinhua) 09:22, April 11, 2026

* 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.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
Elon Musk has asked a California court to remove Sam Altman and Greg Brockman from their leadership roles at OpenAI and strip them of their equity, in a late-stage twist to his high-profile lawsuit against the ChatGPT-maker and its backer Microsoft, according to legal filings made public on Friday in Oakland.

The news came after months of legal sparring in which Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015, accused the company of abandoning its original non-profit mission in favour of a tightly controlled, commercially driven partnership with Microsoft. He first sued OpenAI and Microsoft earlier this year, claiming they had turned a research lab meant to benefit humanity into what his complaint portrays as a de facto 'closed-source' AI powerhouse, and demanding tens of billions of dollars in alleged 'wrongful gains.'

OpenAI Hits Back at Elon Musk 'Legal Ambush'

In the latest round of filings, OpenAI did not bother to hide its irritation. Lawyers for the company told the court that Musk's new demands, including his insistence that he is 'not seeking a single dollar for himself,' amount to a 'legal ambush' designed to upend the case just weeks before trial.

Bloomberg reported that in a sharply worded brief, OpenAI's legal team said the amendment appeared calculated to 'sandbag the defendants and inject chaos into the proceedings, while trying to recast his public narrative about his lawsuit.' They argued that letting Musk rewrite the relief he is seeking at this stage would be 'legally improper and factually unsupported.'

'Musk's proposed amendment would require the presentation of different evidence and different witnesses than the case he sponsored until three days ago,' OpenAI's lawyers wrote, effectively accusing him of moving the goalposts on the eve of trial.

OpenAI has also gone beyond legal technicalities to challenge Musk's motives. In a separate statement, the company said his lawsuit 'remains nothing more than a harassment campaign that's driven by ego, jealousy and a desire to slow down a competitor.' That characterisation is, of course, OpenAI's view, not a judicial finding.

Why Musk Wants Altman and Brockman Fired From OpenAI

Musk's new filing marks a dramatic change of emphasis. In January, his court papers set out a claim for between $79 billion and $134 billion in alleged gains that he said OpenAI and Microsoft had wrongfully accrued. Now his team is telling the judge that any money awarded at trial should go back into OpenAI itself, rather than to Musk.

As his lawyer Marc Toberoff put it in a statement cited by Bloomberg, Musk 'is not seeking a single dollar for himself.' Toberoff said his client is asking the court 'to return everything that was taken from a public charity  and to make sure the people responsible are never in a position to do this again.' In his telling, the new filing simply 'sets the record straight' after what he described as 'OpenAI's spin doctors' allegedly distorted the original complaint.

On paper, the remedies Musk is seeking are sweeping. He is asking the judge to:

 Order the removal of Sam Altman as OpenAI's chief executive and as a member of its board.

 Remove Greg Brockman from his role as OpenAI's president.

 Require both men to relinquish any equity or financial benefits they hold, with those interests to be transferred to OpenAI's charitable arm.

 Unwind OpenAI's conversion into a for-profit structure, effectively pushing the organisation back towards the non-profit framework Musk says it was founded on.

That last point is the core of his argument. Musk maintains that OpenAI was conceived as a public-spirited research lab focused on 'safe' artificial general intelligence, and that later deals  particularly with Microsoft  shifted control and incentives in ways that betray that mission. OpenAI, for its part, has consistently denied that it has breached its obligations or misled its founders.

None of Musk's requested remedies has been granted, and nothing in the filings confirms the court will allow him to amend his claims at this stage. Until the judge rules, the new requests should be treated with caution rather than as a done deal.

Trial Date Nears as Battle Over OpenAI's Future Deepens

For context, the lawsuit itself is still in its early life. Musk filed the case in 2024, accusing OpenAI and Microsoft of breach of contract and related claims linked to the 2015 founding arrangements. A trial is currently scheduled to begin on 27 April in Oakland, California, where a judge will first have to decide what claims are actually in play before any jury hears evidence.

Both OpenAI and Microsoft have rejected Musk's allegations. They insist there was no binding agreement that would freeze OpenAI's structure in its original non-profit format or prevent it from entering into commercial partnerships. Musk's side argues the opposite  that what he saw as a public charity has been repurposed into a vehicle for private profit and corporate control.

At this point, the court has not ruled on the truth of either narrative. What is clear from the filings is that the fight is now about more than money. By demanding that Altman and Brockman be removed and that their equity be diverted to OpenAI's charity, Musk is effectively asking a judge to redraw the organisation's power map.

Whether the court is willing to go that far or even to let Musk change his aims so close to trial will determine not just the shape of this lawsuit, but potentially the future governance of one of the world's most closely watched AI labs.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
OVER the past four decades, Hacketstown man Jim Kavanagh has been delivering fresh, clean drinking water to the people of Tanzania and elsewhere throughout Africa through his Uisce for Tanzania charity.

Jim first ventured to Tanzania in 1983 as a fresh-faced 21-year-old after feeling compelled to provide assistance on the ground, having become aware of the water situation for so many people in the country. A welder and fabricator by trade, Jim later pursued a career in heating and plumbing before studying water engineering in the UK, hence his expertise on the subject.

The stuff that the people are drinking over there is the worst type of water imaginable, Jim tells me.

They would walk ten miles for a bucket of that, Jim says, showing me a picture he took of a grimy pool of water from one of his more recent visits to Tanzania.

Jim at work

What they did before we installed the system was leave the water in a container until all the dirt settles down to the bottom and then they took the water off the top of it. But that is cruel stuff to have to drink, he added.

Jim is heading to Tanzania again at the end of May, where he will stay for three months, completing yet another vital water project that will, hopefully, provide people with safe drinking water for generations.

He despairs at the level of water waste in Ireland and at seeing basic infrastructure projects at home running into the millions when he can change so many lives with such a modest sum.

However, he faces a challenge in raising the required amount of 50,000 to complete the project and is appealing to the people of Carlow to donate the small sum of 1.

If everyone in Carlow could just donate 1, the difference that would make to so many peoples lives is extraordinary, says Jim.

All of the money raised goes directly into providing a fresh drinking water supply in the village, with Jim sourcing all the material for the project himself when in Tanzania. He is then assisted in the construction of the pumping station by village locals.

Jim is assisted by the charitys other member, accountant Michael OBrien, who transfers the money to Jim when required before travelling out to Tanzania when the taps are officially turned on.

On arrival in Tanzania in May, Jim will base himself in the Mbulu district in the north of the country before he goes out to the village of Dangwalda to complete the project. He says selecting which village to focus on each year is a difficult process as there is such a demand for clean drinking water across the Mbulu district.

I cant keep up with demand  there are so many villages looking for help, he said.

Out of dozens and dozens of villages, I have to select the worst of them and, believe me, they are all bad, they are all top priority. It is a very hard call because you are dealing with a human beings basic right, he added.

The pressure is unreal, but what keeps me going is that moment when the water is turned on  that is payback time, says Jim. There is no better feeling.

You can donate to Uisce for Tanzania by visiting the charitys website at www.uiscefortanzania.ie or using the link Donate to Uisce For Tanzania.
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Veteran British animator Joanna Quinn has been named Animafest Zagrebs 2026 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, adding another major honor to her legendary career.

The award will be presented at the festivals opening ceremony this June, recognizing Quinns decades-long contribution to independent animation and her enduring connection to Zagreb, where her work has been celebrated since the early 1990s.

Across her career, Quinn has accumulated a broad mix of accolades, including multiple BAFTAs and Emmys, as well as two Oscar nominations, most recently for Affairs of the Art in 2022.

Quinn first broke through with Girls Night Out in 1987, introducing Beryl, her now-iconic anti-heroine whose chaotic energy and working-class candor became a constant across films like Body Beautiful and Dreams and Desires. Her films frequently touch on themes of gender, labor, and bodily expression, delivered through a sketchy, elastic drawing style that remains unmistakably hand-crafted.

Animafests official announcement praises Quinns long-running collaboration with her most famous creation, pointedly addressing the honor to Beryl herself. We are awarding you, Beryl, the festival writes, calling her one of the most striking and memorable characters in the history of animation.

At the same time, the announcement makes clear that Beryls unruly spirit is inseparable from Quinns authorial touch, praising the filmmakers ability to channel lived experience into animation that feels immediate and unfiltered. The festival highlights Quinns exceptional observational skills and drawing virtuosity, noting how her work consistently bridges caricature and emotional truth.
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Skydance Animation and Netflix have unveiled a trio of first-look stills for Ray Gunn, a long-gestating passion project from two-time Academy Award winner Brad Bird (The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, Ratatouille), and announced a high-profile voice cast led by Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Waits.

Set for release later this year, date TBD, the film is, by far, Skydances most hyped to date and one of Netflixs biggest-ever animated releases. An official logline reads: In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder, and a multimedia star named Venus Nova.

In todays release, Bird explained the incredible path this film has taken to get to the screen:

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 40sits Maltese Falcon meets Buck Rogers. Ive been a fan of both of those sort of genres, and blending them together seemed fun, and a chance to play with a lot of very cinematic elements, and extreme characters.

The director also emphasized his broader ambitions for his film and the larger medium:

Theres a big chunk of people who dont watch animation. Thats a group Im anxious to persuade because its an amazing art form that is way too limited in peoples minds. Animation as a medium is too interesting to limit what kind of stories can be told.

Animated at Skydance and Cinesite, the films producers include John Lasseter, Brad Bird, Lisa Beroud, David Ellison, and Dana Goldberg.
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Netflix has opened a new animation studio in Vancouver, further cementing the Canadian citys growing status as a major global production hub.

The new Netflix Animation Studios (NAS) facility spans more than 110,000 square feet and will house more than 450 artists working across feature animation and visual effects. The company said the site is expected to contribute more than $50 million CAD to British Columbias GDP and generate over $100 million CAD annually for the local economy.

This is an exciting new chapter for our studio, said Hannah Minghella, Netflixs head of feature animation and family film. Our new Vancouver hub is an investment in the long-term growth of Netflix Animation Studios globally and reflects our ongoing commitment to make original animated movies for fans around the world.

The facility builds directly on Netflixs acquisition of Animal Logic, the Australian studio behind films like The Lego Movie. Rather than operating it as a separate label, Netflix has absorbed the company into its in-house NAS pipeline, effectively transforming the Vancouver location into a core studio for its feature animation slate.

Netflixs new studio launch is the latest sign of how much animation production has shifted north of the U.S. border in recent years. Vancouver has steadily evolved from a service-based outsourcing market into one of the industrys most important hubs, with a deep talent pool and a dense concentration of studios supporting both television and feature work.

The streamers investment reinforces that growth. More than just outsourcing work to Vancouver, the streamer is building long-term infrastructure there, including integrating its Eyeline VFX division into the same ecosystem. The studio is already working on upcoming projects at the studio, including Steps, a feature directed by Alyce Tzue. Previous features worked on by the Vancouver team include Leo and Thelma the Unicorn.

Vancouver is home to some of the worlds most incredible talent, and were lucky to have many of them in our studio, said Netflix Animation Studios chief operating officer Amir Nasrabadi in a release sent out after the locations grand opening. Were proud of what weve created here and even more excited about the work to come.

Vancouvers rise has been driven by a combination of factors that have become increasingly hard for studios to ignore. Competitive tax incentives, a strong local workforce, and relative proximity to Los Angeles have all contributed to its growth. Major studios and streamers have expanded their presence in the region over the past decade, turning it into a key node in the global animation pipeline.

What was once considered Hollywood North for live-action production now applies equally to animation. As companies like Netflix continue to invest in permanent production capacity in the region, Vancouver is positioning itself less as an alternative to Los Angeles and more as a parallel center of the industry.

Netflixs new studio does not necessarily signal a shift away from California; its L.A. offices remain the outfits home base, but it does reflect a broader realignment. Increasingly, the work of making animation is happening outside of Hollywood, and Vancouver is at the forefront of that change.
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General Interest Imported List: General Interest
As a citizen and a veteran of this great nation of ours, I write this short note on one of the most sacred days of the year - Easter.



After a wonderfuI Sunday School message, I came home to hear my son read aloud the profane quote from our Commander in Chief (today of all days) which was posted on the Truth Social platform. lt was vulgar, un-Christian and un-American.



This follows within just three days of the Commander in Chief "firing" the Chief of Staff of the Army, who has dedicated his 38 years of professional service to defending our great country. This was done without any stated reason.



Such comments and such actions go against the nature of a "shining city on a hill," and is a very poor example of character for our young people and future leaders of our country. I am truly saddened. I hope I am not alone in my feelings, and may God bless America.



Bill Raines, Major General, U.S. Army (Ret.)

* * *

Let's be honest and very clear - don't single out one person with their language and actions leading this country. Spend five minutes watching and listening to the 535 inept leaders in Congress and Senate. Listen to the incompetent governors of many states. The language and threats are not on one person.

I find it very biased not to realize that ALL of Washington DC and many states are corrupt.



Barry Reeves

* * *

I certainly agree with General Bill Raines' assessment of the disgraceful social media post from the White House on Easter Sunday: it was indeed vulgar, un-Christian and un-American. As both a veteran (Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired) and an American, I was appalled when I heard someone discussing the content and language of this posting.



I am hopeful - and optimistic - that future leaders in the American military will recognize that their responsibility to the country and their oath to support and defend the Constitution do not include such disgraceful comments.



Tim McDonald

* * *

Oh NO, the president said bad words on Easter!



If the seven previous had done their job and protected the people of the USA, the president would not have to take the action that he took.



Had Jimmy Carter supported the Shah of Iran, our ally, in 1979, the actions of President Trump would not have been necessary.



Maybe if these retired military officers were combat arms they would realize that everything isn't always nice and polite, and sometimes you have to use bad words to get the attention of the bad guys.



Richard Genter

* * *

I suppose Bill Clinton, Barack Hussein Obama and Joe Biden should be considered to be shining examples of fine God Fearing Presidents...



Mickey Spence

* * *

Sad examples also verified by the replies that throw back to anyone anywhere other than the poor excuse for a President we have now.



You can blame others and distract all you want. It will not excuse those supporting what this man is, proven by his recent Easter message. Save your excuses for Jesus when we meet him.



David Turner

* * *

If you are more upset with Trump's profanity laced message on Easter of 2026 but not upset with that in "Easter 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden proclaimed March 31 as a Transgender Day of Visibility, stating in part, "I call upon all Americans to join in the fight for full equality for all transgender people," then I wonder about your reason for bringing this issue up.

Biden was the first American president to issue a formal presidential proclamation recognizing the "event."

Lindsay Pace

* * *

Ms. Pace -



I wanted to add a clarification to your response.



The first ever Trans Day of Visibility occurred on March 31, 2009 and has occurred on March 31 every year since.



Biden didnt create Trans Day of Visibility. Both happened to fall on the same day in 2024.



Robbie Nicholson
Photo credit: Unsplash/ Daniel Tseng

A Massachusetts judge has ruled that a local church can move forward with operating an emergency homeless shelter on its property, rejecting objections raised by some nearby residents.

Diane R. Rubin of the Massachusetts Land Court issued a decision Monday affirming the Somerville Zoning Board of Appeals approval for First Congregational Church of Somerville to construct the shelter.

In her ruling, Rubin determined that the churchs initiative qualifies for protection under the Dover Amendment, a Massachusetts law that shields certain religious uses of property when tied to faith-based purposes.

Quoting prior legal precedent, Rubin wrote, [T]he Dover Amendment protections encompass accessory uses that, while not inherently religious in nature, are components of a broader religious project, and that facilitate the functioning of that project,

She further stated, Guided by these principles, I reject the Plaintiffs effort to characterize the dominant and primary purpose of the ground floor as housing, somehow separate and apart from First Churchs use of the Church Building as a whole.

The church first pursued the project in 2024 in response to a rise in homelessness in the area, obtaining approval to develop a 26-bed shelter that will be operated by the Somerville Homeless Coalition.

Some neighbors opposed the proposal, voicing concerns about the shelters potential effects on the surrounding community as well as the process by which it was approved.

In September 2024, Jane Becker, who lives across from the church, joined two other residents in filing a complaint against the church, the Somerville Homeless Coalition, and local zoning officials in an effort to reverse the approval.

The legal challenge was later amended in January, with the case proceeding to trial in August and concluding with final arguments presented in November.
Home News Christian prosecuted in Malta over ex-LGBT testimony urges boldness: 'The Lord will be with us'

A Christian man in Malta who was repeatedly dragged into court over three years for giving his testimony about leaving the homosexual lifestyle urged his fellow Christians to stand boldly for Jesus Christ amid rising cultural hostility.

Matthew Grech, 36, told The Christian Post in a recent interview that he believes the Lord was with him throughout his legal ordeal, which drew international attention and ultimately led to his acquittal last month.

Grech first fell afoul of Malta's ban on so-called "conversion therapy" in 2022, when he was slapped with criminal charges for allegedly discussing and promoting conversion practices in violation of Article 3 of Malta's Affirmation of Sexual Orientation, Gender and Gender Expression Act.

The charges stemmed from an interview he gave that April with PMnews Malta, an independent outlet that invited him on to discuss his views on conversion therapy bans.

In 2016, Malta became the first European nation to criminalize practices endeavoring to "change, repress or eliminate a person's sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression," and similar legislation has since proliferated throughout the Western world.

Shortly after offering his personal testimony to PMNews Malta, police showed up at Grech's home on a Sunday to serve him with a prosecution order summoning him to court. He appeared in court 17 times over the charges, which carried 5,000 (more than $5,700) in fines or up to five months in prison.

Grech told CP that while his journey of repentance has cost him and not been easy, it has brought spiritual freedom.

Grech said he never fell into a "hardcore" homosexual lifestyle and was more interested in "a loving and faithful relationship," but he became spiritually convicted when he became a Christian that even his desire for meaningful sexual partnership with another man was against God's design.

"I had an encounter with Jesus when I was 19 years old, and He took center stage in my life, and the Word of God took center stage," he said. "I discovered Paul's verses about homosexuality, and I was convicted, and I prayed and I asked God, because it was very personal."

Grech said he came to understand God's love for him, and that it was out of love that God prohibits sexual immorality and demands repentance. Since leaving homosexuality behind, he said he has been able to develop a healthier understanding of his masculine identity.

"God helped me understand that He loves me but hates my sin, because it does bring a perversion to His sacred design for humanity. So I repented. I stopped the relationship that I was in. I was with a partner for just over a year-and-a-half."

"It was so amazing to feel free to discover my manhood, my masculinity; God's purpose for my life," he said. "It hasn't been an easy journey navigating same-sex feelings and understanding the depth of that, the roots of that I think mainstream culture hides from us."

"But it's been the best journey to be the man that I always wanted to be," he continued, adding that the Word of God has given him hope, joy and peace that he would not otherwise have.

Grech said the Maltese government has been working with gay rights activists in the country to silence the testimonies of Christians who repent of homosexuality, which he suggested is the end goal of conversion therapy ban legislation, even if its proponents claim otherwise.

After leaving the lifestyle, Grech became involved with the U.K.-based International Federation for Therapeutic and Counseling Choice (IFTCC), a nonprofit organization that aims "to promote a caring, nonjudgmental environment where people who choose to move away from their unwanted feelings and behaviors can find the support they're seeking," according to its website.

Grech, who noted his previous public interviews about his personal choices never led to prosecution, speculated that his interview with PMNews Malta was targeted because he mentioned IFTCC.

"What I did differently this time was that I mentioned an organization that apparently was a threat to them and their false, unscientific ideology, and so they organized themselves," he said of the activists who reported him to the police.

PMNews Malta, whose journalists were also charged for their role in conducting the interview, discovered that the police complaint against Grech was filed by Silvan Agius, an LGBT activist from Malta who helped draft the conversion therapy ban legislation; Christian Attard, a founding member of the Malta LGTBIQ Rights Movement; and Cynthia Chircop, who co-chaired the organization.

Grech said the potential five months of prison time he faced for a conversation was "ridiculous" and indicates a worrying trend for the freedom of speech in the West. Despite his legal victory, he said the chilling effect of his case has been successful.

"I used to be invited on TV every month ... sometimes more than once a month in Malta," he said. "And ever since this court case came about, I've been completely silenced. Nobody interviews me anymore around the subject."

"I probably think that TV hosts have orders from the top to not mention the other side of the story, and so this law has been really used to monopolize the culture and conversation around sexuality and gender."

Grech said such a development is "very sad," and that his generation deserves to have robust and open debate about such important topics. He expressed optimism that the tide seems to be turning in the United States, where the U.S. Supreme Court recently overturned a Colorado state law banning therapy for minors that does not endorse homosexuality and transgenderism.

"I admire Christians who are standing up in the U.S., and I want that to happen in Europe and in Malta, as well," he said.

Regarding what he would say to Christians who might feel crippled by fear amid growing cultural animosity toward Christian faith and morality in the Western world, Grech urged them to remember the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

"Jesus said, 'Rejoice when you are persecuted for the Kingdom of Heaven, because great is your reward.' You wouldn't be afraid of something that brings you joy. So when we have a revelation as Christians, we should dive straight into preaching the Gospel and sharing our testimonies and trust in the Lord in the process," he said.

While his three-year legal battle felt at times like a punishment, Grech said he remains thankful for it because God used it for His glory. He exhorted Christians to resist sin and the devil while taking courage in the Lord's faithfulness, even if they are called to suffer for His sake.

"I didn't endure this as a criminal," he said. "I endured this as a Bible-believing Christian. So, let us rejoice together and let us not submit to Jezebel. Jezebel is a loser. The devil is a loser. We love Jesus and we hate the devil. We're here to destroy the works of the devil."

"And so, we can't allow fear to take hold, because the Lord will be with us. Just as God told Paul, 'I have many people in this city, so do not be afraid.' And I want to tell you, wherever you are in the world watching right now, there are many people in your city that are meant to come to the Kingdom."

"So therefore, be bold, because if we are ashamed of the words of Jesus, if we are ashamed of His testimony, Jesus will be ashamed of us at His appearing. So we can do this, let's come together," he added.
Home News Sharia courts bill sparks urgent religious freedom concerns

International and Ugandan religious freedom advocates are calling for the rejection of a bill that would establish a nationwide system of Sharia courts in Uganda, warning that lawmakers are pushing to fast-track its passage before Parliament dissolves later this month.

Parliament dissolves on April 24, with the Qadhis Courts Bill expected to be formally introduced and moved into committee within days, according to the legal advocacy group ADF International, which has called on parliamentarians to reject the measure.

Under the proposed system, if a Muslim files a family, custody or inheritance dispute in a Qadhis court, any Christian or other non-Muslim party to that case would lose the right to seek resolution in Uganda's civil court system. Appeals to Ugandas High Court would be limited to panels composed of a Muslim judge and four Muslim scholars, with no further recourse available.

We are very concerned at the Qadhis Courts Bill, which will require Christians and other non-Muslims to appear before Sharia courts, and formally introduce religious law into our national law, said Arthur Ayorekire, vice president of the Uganda Christian Lawyers Fraternity. The bill is not necessary and will only lead to legal uncertainty, tensions between religious groups, and potentially will allow extremism to grab a hold in Uganda.

ADF International pointed out that the bill raises concerns about religious conversion. Sharia law does not recognize conversion from Islam, and under the proposed courts, Muslim individuals seeking to convert to Christianity or other religions would likely be prevented from doing so.

Kelsey Zorzi, ADF Internationals director of advocacy for global religious freedom, said Uganda would be in clear violation of international law if the courts were established, citing the implications for the recognized right to choose and change ones religion.

Zorzi added that the bills passage would represent a dangerous expansion of Sharia law into Sub-Saharan Africa at a time when Christian persecution is growing, as quoted by Decision magazine.

The bill includes no provisions addressing potential conflicts between Sharia rules on marriage and Ugandas national laws. The group drew a comparison with Nigeria, where Sharia courts have permitted and recognized underage marriage despite a national minimum age of 18, a situation that has been linked to the kidnapping, forced conversions and involuntary marriages of minor Christian girls.

Under Sharia law, womens testimony in court carries less weight than mens, which affects outcomes in divorce and child custody proceedings, the group said.

Uganda would not be the first African country to have Sharia courts, but the system proposed in the bill offers fewer protections than comparable frameworks elsewhere on the continent.

Kenyas Kadhis courts hold no jurisdiction over non-Muslims and are voluntary even for Muslims. Decisions made by Kadhis courts can be appealed to secular High Courts, with no special provisions on panel composition. Those courts also apply non-discrimination rules for witnesses, to address Sharia laws unequal treatment of women and non-Muslims, ADF International said.

The religious freedom concerns accompanying the bill come against a backdrop of documented violence against converts in Uganda.

Last August, Mohammed Nagi, a 38-year-old Ugandan father of five and a new convert, was murdered after a friend named Rajabu lured him to a trading center in Nyanza South village with the promise of a job. Nagi had converted to Christianity in March, and in the months before his death, family members told him he deserved to be killed for leaving Islam.

Ugandas constitution guarantees religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and to convert, and that protection is reinforced by other national laws. Muslims make up no more than 12% of the population, with the highest concentrations in the countrys eastern areas.
Home News Trump's week in review: Iran ceasefire; fraud crackdown; Vance speaks in Hungary

From a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East to sweeping regulatory changes in Washington, this week brought major developments both at home and abroad.

With President Donald Trump navigating tensions with Iran, his administration advanced new policies on education, banking and fraud enforcement. They also reversed agreements made by previous administrations that required school districts to include gender identity under the definition of sex.

Here are five highlights from the past week.
Home Opinion The Supreme Court just protected your right to faith-based counseling

The Supreme Courts 81 ruling in Chiles v. Salazar is a victory for licensed counselors and their clients. It helps reaffirm the freedom of those who seek meaning, restoration, and flourishing to set their own goals in pursuit of those ends.



Colorados law attempted to substitute the states judgment for the clients in private conversations with counselors. The Supreme Court reminded Colorado  and other government officials who would make that same substitution  that such authority has limits.



The ruling signals that governments cannot censor speech in this way. That boundary matters not only for clients but also for those being formed to serve them. By extension, the decision will help counselors obtain the freedom to talk with their clients about religiously grounded views of sexuality, gender, and human nature found in the Judeo-Christian tradition as they go about the learning process together.



Many understand something that has shaped Christian moral reasoning for two millennia: the order of the Great Commandment is immutable. Love of God precedes love of neighbor, not the other way around. To reverse that order is to attempt to view the eternal through the lens of the temporal  an inversion that distorts both. And many pursue counseling to help them order their lives according to these convictions. But Colorados law inserted its own view of that order into the counseling room and barred discussions on identity and sexuality that differed from the states position.



That is why Colorados law was so troubling. It required counselors and their clients to check certain worldviews at the counseling door. Only some opinions were allowed, said Colorado. When the state serves as the gatekeeper over which beliefs are permissible, it distorts the formation of both counselors and clients.



Counselors for children carry an important calling. Growing up is hard. Countless forces compete to shape a young persons path. Counselors can help children navigate that path. But in the Chiles litigation, Colorado revealed that it wanted more influence over that shaping than its citizens themselves.



Augustines ordo amoris, the ordering of loves, remains relevant: What counselors say in the counseling environment shapes how clients order their loves. If a client expresses a desire to align those affections more closely with a Judeo-Christian worldview, shouldnt their counselor be free to help them achieve that goal? If counselors refuse to bring faith into the counseling room when the client requests faith-integrated counseling because of fear of what the state will do, what follows for those clients? That fear undermines one of the keys to effective counseling.



The Supreme Courts ruling protects the freedom necessary for counselors to speak messages of faith-informed conviction when desired by the client without the state prescribing which worldview is acceptable. It protects clients freedom to pursue the goals they themselves have determined are necessary for their flourishing.



This case reveals a broader question of whether the state may dictate the boundaries of permissible thought in the counseling room. Colorados law would have allowed only one set of assumptions about identity and flourishing to be expressed. The court rejected that approach, reaffirming that pluralism in the United States does not authorize the state to dictate viewpoints. That principle is essential not only for counselors but for every profession that depends on trust, judgment, and the freedom to pursue truth.



I am proud to stand alongside my colleagues at Alliance Defending Freedom and with Kaley Chiles and the counselors and clients whose courage she has served. Some may disagree with the outcome in Chiles. That is their right in a democratic republic that upholds free speech. But as eight justices affirmed, the government has no ability to demand that its conclusions about human nature and truth are the only conclusions that matter.



By affirming this boundary, the Supreme Court protected space for freedom of speech, professional integrity, and the dignity of those entering the profession. That boundary is essential to a free society  and to the flourishing of those who seek help within it.
Home Opinion The Goldilocks Universe: Is the cosmos fine-tuned for our existence?

One of the remarkable scientific discoveries of the past several decades is that the universe and Earth appear fine-tuned for life.



Philosopher of science Stephen C. Meyer explains that fine-tuning refers to the discovery that many properties of the universe fall within extremely narrow and improbable ranges that turn out to be absolutely necessary for complex forms of life ... to exist. Its important to note that the term fine-tuning/tuned is a neutral description that doesnt imply the existence of God. Its a designation routinely used by scientists and scholars of all stripes.

Although scientific findings are always provisional, it seems difficult to avoid the conclusion that an incredibly powerful and intelligent being designed our universe to support life. In what follows, well look at the scientific credibility of fine-tuning, specific examples, possible explanations for it, and consider some objections. Fine-tuning is not surprising if Christianity is true, since God intended to create human and animal life (Genesis 1), but it is surprising on naturalism, where it appears to be an astounding coincidence.

An established belief

One will occasionally meet skeptics who believe fine-tuning is an idea invented by Christians but not taken seriously by scientists. The following quotations show that this is a misconception.

Agnostic physicist Sir Fred Hoyle: A common sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a superintellect has monkeyed with physics, as well as with chemistry and biology, and that there are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature.

Atheist physicist Stephen Hawking: The remarkable fact is that the values of these numbers seem to have been very finely adjusted to make possible the development of life.

Agnostic physicist P. C. W. Davies: The entire universe is balanced on a knife-edge, and would be total chaos if any of the natural constants were off even slightly.

On the face of it, the universe does look as if it has been designed by an intelligent creator expressly for the purpose of spawning sentient beings.

Atheist physicist Steven Weinberg: Life as we know it would be impossible if any one of several physical quantities had slightly different values.

Its notable that cosmic fine-tuning was one of the reasons the distinguished atheist thinker Antony Flew changed his mind about Gods existence, as recounted in his 2007 book There Is a God: How the Worlds Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind.

Examples of fine-tuning

Philosopher Robin Collins points out, If the initial explosion of the big bang had differed in strength by as little as one part in 10^60 [i.e., 10 followed by 60 zeros], the universe would have either quickly collapsed back on itself or expanded too rapidly for stars to form. In either case, life would be impossible.

This is a mind-boggling number. Collins likens this improbability to firing a bullet at a one-inch target on the other side of the observable universe, twenty billion light years away, and hitting the target.

He also observes that if gravity had been stronger or weaker by one part in 10^40, then life-sustaining stars like the sun could not exist. If gravity were slightly stronger, stars would burn out in millions, rather than billions, of years (our sun is about 4.6 billion years old). If gravity were slightly weaker, most stars would never form at all  or would be too small and cold.

Oxford mathematician and philosopher John Lennox helps us understand this vast improbability as follows:

Cover America with coins in a column reaching to the moon (380,000 km or 236,000 miles away), then do the same for a billion other continents of the same size. Paint one coin red and put it somewhere in one of the billion piles. Blindfold a friend and ask her to pick it out. The odds are about 1 in 10^40 that she will.

A little closer to home, Earths position in the solar system is in what scientists call the Goldilocks Zone, where its not too hot and not too cold, allowing for liquid water to exist on its surface. The size of Earth also ensures that it has the right gravity to retain an atmosphere suitable for life without being too strong to inhibit the mobility of organisms.

Many other examples could be cited, but these illustrate the almost inconceivable odds against a life-permitting universe and Earth.

Explanations and objections

These numbers are so surprising that they call out for an explanation, and there seem to be only three options: physical necessity, chance, or design.

Regarding physical necessity  that the universe had to have the properties that it does  there are no good reasons to believe this. As far as scientists can tell, the universe could have had a vast range of different laws, constants, and qualities. To cite Davies again, There is not a shred of evidence that the [parameters of our] universe [are] logically necessary. Indeed, as a theoretical physicist I find it rather easy to imagine alternative universes that are logically consistent, and therefore equal contenders for reality.

Regarding chance, we saw earlier how incredibly unlikely it is that any possible universe would support life. When you combine the improbabilities of all the fine-tuned parameters together, the odds against life become overwhelming. The one remaining option is design. All our experience tells us that only rational agents design things, and thus a cosmic designer is the best explanation for the universes fine-tuning.

Objections

Space prohibits an extended discussion of objections to fine-tuning. Ill briefly address two that are frequently mentioned.



The first is known as the Weak Anthropic Principle, and is raised, for example, by physicist Martin Rees: Some would argue that this fine-tuning of the universe, which seems so providential, is nothing to be surprised about, since we could not exist otherwise. Thus, we should not be surprised that the universe is fine-tuned for life, since we are here observing that it is.

But as philosopher Douglas Groothuis points out, this confuses two related but distinct ideas: 1. the truism that we couldnt observe anything unless the universe was life-permitting, and 2. an explanation of why the universe is so finely tuned. Acknowledging the first observation doesnt negate the need to explain why, against all odds, our universe is life-permitting.

Second, some thinkers appeal to the idea of a multiverse to explain fine-tuning. If billions, or even an infinite number, of other universes exist, one of those universes will inevitably permit life. We happen to be in the lucky universe that does. There is no experimental evidence, however, that a multiverse exists, and some see it as an ad hoc proposal to avoid the theistic implications of fine-tuning. As physicist John Polkinghorne writes, Let us recognize these speculations for what they are. They are not physics, but in the strictest sense, metaphysics. There is no purely scientific reason to believe in an ensemble of universes.

While the multiverse hypothesis is complex, ad hoc, and lacks evidence, the design hypothesis is simple (one creator) and, as noted earlier, draws on our universal experience that only minds design things. Thus, fine-tuning provides compelling evidence that God exists and intended to create living beings.



And this sounds very much like the kind of God we find described in Genesis who creates a heavens and earth that are hospitable for life.

Originally published at The Worldview Bulletin Newsletter.
Home Opinion Iran broke Trumps ceasefire within hours: 3 key takeaways

President Trump announced a temporary ceasefire on Wednesday with Iran that would last two weeks, the product of intense U.S. military operations under Operation Epic Fury and backroom negotiations involving the Pakistani and Chinese governments, along with the U.S. State Department, Vice President Vance, and numerous other key officials in the Trump administration.

The operation began on February 28 when U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated pre-emptive strikes against thousands of Iranian military, nuclear, and weapons system targets.



But Iran responded, not just with missiles across the Middle East and Europe (one reaching as far as 2,500 miles away) but also by closing the Strait of Hormuz  a critical and crucial chokepoint carrying roughly 20% of the worlds daily oil supply.

Then, on Good Friday, April 3, a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran. Two days later, on Easter Sunday, in what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called an Easter miracle, American forces executed a daring multi-day combat rescue deep inside enemy territory, extracting both crew members after one had evaded capture for 48 hours behind enemy lines.

The nation rightly called it one of the most heroic rescue operations in modern military history. We got our pilot back, even at the expense of several military aircraft and vehicles. But not one American life was lost.

By April 7, Iran agreed to a U.S.-backed proposal through Pakistani mediation. Trump called the plan a workable basis and announced a pause in military strikes. But within three hours of the ceasefire going into effect, Iran launched missiles and drones targeting the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Israel. The ceasefire was over before the world had time to evaluate what the terms of a lasting peace in Iran would require.

So, what are some key takeaways from what we just saw?



First, the United States does not stand alone

And, no, it is not only Israel that supports this conflict. More than eight countries, including the full Gulf Cooperation Council  Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman, along with Jordan and Egypt  have provided basing, logistics, interceptions, and open condemnation of Iranian aggression.

They support the United States in these efforts, and its not out of sentiment. They support it because the Strait of Hormuz is their economic lifeline. Gulf producers route 65 to 80% of their crude exports through that waterway. When Iran closes it, Iraq and Kuwait see revenue drops as high as 75%.

Europe pushed diplomacy from a safe distance, quietly relieved that the U.S. did the heavy lifting. That calculation is not new, and certainly it is not courage.



Second, the threat of a nuclear Iran cannot be easily dismissed or explained away

Make no mistake: The intelligence was clear. Before this conflict started, Iran possessed approximately 460 kilograms of uranium that was being enriched and nearing weapons-grade, capable of making as many as 11 nuclear bombs.

This news came along with a significantly developed infrastructure of centrifuges, buried testing sites, and weapons facilities that made Iran capable of accelerating their development of a nuclear weapon in a very short period of time. Even in their 10-point proposal just this week, Iran explicitly demanded the right to enrich uranium indefinitely, while the U.S. 15-point position demanded zero enrichment and full handover of their weapons stockpile.

These two terms of peace are wholly incompatible. And the history of dealing with Irans radical regime makes it unambiguously clear that their government cannot be trusted and has never lived up to their promises, even when it was Obama or Biden.

There are also critics who have suggested that both the U.S. and Israeli leaders have said that Iran was on the brink of a nuclear weapon for years  going back as early as 1992, when it was said the Iranian regime was just a few years away from a nuclear bomb. That again was repeated in 1995, in 2002, and for the last two decades.

While that is certainly true, it does not lessen the threat. In the classic tale of a boy who cries wolf, the story doesnt end with a boy ostracized for endless calls of false alarm; rather, the story ends with the wolf eating the boy. Western civilization isnt in danger of false alarmism; our greatest danger is apathy that ends in either surrender or suicide.

Finally, we must be mindful of the real threat Iran poses against their own people and against the world.

We must also be mindful of the important leadership America carries in being one of the few countries in the world that can make a real and lasting difference in Iran and in the Middle East. And that does not call for endless forever wars, it doesnt call for countless American lives to be sacrificed, and it doesnt call for us to spend American treasure. But it does call for a commitment to confrontation, accountability, and leadership on the worlds stage.

President Trump is taking that threat seriously, even as he dials up the rhetoric and American presence in the region.



Ronald Reagan said it best: America still remains mankinds best hope. The eyes of mankind are on us, counting on us to protect the peace, promote new prosperity, and provide for them a better world.

This means not caving to a nuclear Iran nor leaving an Iranian regime to rebuild and replenish their arsenal of weapons to hold the world hostage once again to their nuclear ambitions.

While the ceasefire did not last  it lasted less than three hours  it is also a reminder for Christians coming out of Easter that the world is, in fact, full of trouble, trials, and tribulations, that wars and rumors of war have come, just as Jesus predicted before His very disciples.

While there is evil in the world, there is also good in the world. Good must confront evil and, in the ultimate sense, good does triumph over evil. While peace was broken in a matter of hours, He who neither slumbers nor sleeps keeps us in His hand (Psalm 121:4-5). He never panics, and neither should we.

Originally published at the Standing for Freedom Center.
Ballet and modern dance have been shaped by performers who did more than master technique. The most famous ballet dancers and legendary dancers changed how audiences understood artistry, expression, and physical possibility on stage.

The Artists Who Changed Dance History

Some dancers became famous because they were technically exceptional. Others became iconic because they challenged tradition, created new movement languages, or expanded the emotional range of performance. Together, they helped shape the way ballet and modern dance developed across the twentieth century and beyond.

Anna Pavlova is one of the clearest examples of a dancer whose fame went beyond the stage. Her graceful style and international tours helped introduce ballet to wider audiences around the world. She remains one of the most recognizable famous ballet dancers because she turned classical dance into a global cultural symbol.

Vaslav Nijinsky brought a different kind of power to ballet. His leaps, intensity, and expressive performances gave ballet a dramatic force that audiences had rarely seen before. He is often listed among the legendary dancers who changed the expectations of what a ballet performer could be.

Rudolf Nureyev transformed the role of the male dancer. He combined technical precision with charisma, stage authority, and emotional depth. His career helped elevate male ballet performance and inspired a new appreciation for the male lead in classical dance.

Margot Fonteyn represented elegance, musicality, and classical control. Her performances with Nureyev became some of the most admired partnerships in ballet history. She remains one of the most respected famous ballet dancers because of her consistency, beauty of line, and lasting artistic influence.

Mikhail Baryshnikov carried ballet into a new era of international recognition. His speed, precision, and expressive clarity made him one of the most celebrated dancers of his generation. He also helped broaden ballet's reach by connecting it to television, film, and mainstream culture.

Their influence can still be seen in classical companies, contemporary choreography, and dance education today. Sources such as the Dance Vision overview of major ballet figures, Ballet Arizona's feature on influential ballerinas, and articles on modern dance history all point to the same theme: the art form evolved through bold personalities and groundbreaking movement.

Modern Dance Pioneers

Modern dance grew from a desire to break away from the strict formality of ballet. Its pioneers wanted a movement that felt more human, direct, and emotionally honest. Their work created a separate tradition that expanded what dance could communicate.

Isadora Duncan is widely regarded as one of the founders of modern dance. She rejected rigid ballet structure and favored flowing, natural movement inspired by freedom and instinct. Her influence made her one of the most important legendary dancers in dance history.

Martha Graham gave modern dance a strong emotional and psychological language. Her technique focused on contraction and release, allowing dancers to express tension, struggle, and transformation through the body. She helped define modern dance as a serious and powerful art form.

Ruth St. Denis introduced spiritual and symbolic dimensions into dance. Her work expanded the themes dancers could explore and helped modern dance move toward theatrical storytelling. She influenced later generations by showing that movement could carry ideas as well as beauty.

Doris Humphrey contributed the idea of fall and recovery, which explored balance, gravity, and motion in a new way. Her choreography emphasized the body's relationship to space and force. She remains a major figure in the evolution of modern dance technique.

Merce Cunningham pushed dance into abstraction. He used chance methods, independent musical structures, and experimental choreography to challenge traditional storytelling. His work showed that dance could be nonnarrative and still deeply meaningful.

Why Their Influence Lasts

The impact of these dancers comes from more than fame alone. They reshaped artistic standards, inspired future performers, and expanded the emotional vocabulary of dance. Their legacies remain important because they changed both how dance looked and what it could mean.

They expanded technique, making classical and modern movement more expressive. They influenced choreography, helping future artists think beyond tradition. They changed public perception, making dance more visible and respected. They created enduring legacies, with their names still central to dance history discussions.

Their careers also show that greatness in dance often comes from individuality. The most memorable performers did not simply repeat established models. They brought distinctive style, artistic conviction, and personal presence to the stage, which is why they are still remembered as famous ballet dancers and legendary dancers.

Ballet and Modern Dance Today

Ballet and modern dance may differ in style, posture, and structure, but both forms continue to influence each other. Ballet contributes discipline, precision, and line, while modern dance brings freedom, grounded movement, and emotional directness. Many contemporary choreographers blend elements from both traditions.

This ongoing exchange keeps dance history alive in current performance. Audiences still respond to elegance, strength, risk, and expressive honesty, all of which were advanced by the dancers discussed above. Their work continues to shape what dancers train for, what companies present, and what viewers expect from live performance.

Lasting Impact on Dance

The history of ballet and modern dance is closely tied to a few extraordinary artists whose work changed the field in lasting ways. Anna Pavlova, Nijinsky, Nureyev, Fonteyn, Baryshnikov, Duncan, Graham, St. Denis, Humphrey, and Cunningham each expanded the possibilities of movement in different directions.

Their influence remains visible in training studios, repertory performances, and dance scholarship. The story of these famous ballet dancers and legendary dancers is really the story of how dance became more expressive, more diverse, and more globally understood.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who are the most famous ballet dancers in history?

Some of the most famous ballet dancers in history include Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, Rudolf Nureyev, Margot Fonteyn, and Mikhail Baryshnikov. They are remembered for their technique, artistry, and lasting influence on ballet.

2. Which dancers changed ballet the most?

Dancers like Nijinsky, Nureyev, Fonteyn, and Baryshnikov changed ballet by expanding its emotional range, raising performance standards, and redefining the role of both male and female dancers.

3. Who are the most influential modern dance pioneers?

Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, Ruth St. Denis, Doris Humphrey, and Merce Cunningham are among the most influential modern dance pioneers. Their work helped modern dance become a major artistic form.
In a stunning political reversal, prominent supporters of Rep. Eric Swalwell's campaign for California governor withdrew their support Friday after the congressmember denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him.

Swalwell was among the leading Democrats in the race to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom. But in just hours, he saw his most prominent supporters - including U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff and powerful labor unions - drop their endorsements and call for his exit from the race.

Newsom, a likely 2028 presidential candidate who has avoided engaging in the contest to replace him, said in a statement: "As we continue to learn more, these allegations from multiple sources are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously."

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who hasn't endorsed in the race, said the "serious allegations" must be investigated.

"As I discussed with Congressman Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign," she said in social media posted by her staff.

The allegations surfaced at a critical stage of the wide-open campaign to lead the nation's most populous state. The exodus of support threatened to cripple Swalwell's campaign, less than a month before voters receive mail ballots in advance of the June 2 election.

This turmoil in the race came after the San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday that a woman said Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019 and 2024. The newspaper reviewed text messages about the alleged 2024 assault and spoke to people whom she had told about it. She told the newspaper she did not go to police because she was afraid she would not be believed.

The woman worked for Swalwell in 2019 when the first alleged assault occurred, and the 2024 assault allegedly occurred after a charity gala, the newspaper reported. She said in both cases she was too intoxicated to consent to sex.

Swalwell denied the woman's account and suggested they were part of an attack due to his campaign's momentum.

"These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor," Swalwell 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. My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies."

The paper didn't name the woman, and The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify her account and identity. Her lawyer declined to comment.

The woman received a cease-and-desist letter from Swalwell's attorney, the Chronicle reported. The attorney, Elias Debaie, confirmed he sent out at least one letter and called the allegations "baseless."

Swift backlash from prominent Democrats

On Friday afternoon, Schiff said in a social media post he's "deeply distressed" by the allegations, calling for Swalwell to end his gubernatorial bid.

Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who helped run Swalwell's campaign, said he's immediately ending his role.

"The congressman should leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction, or delay," Gomez said on social media.

Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego and California Rep. Adam Gray also said they're yanking their support. Mark Ramos, who heads the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, called on Swalwell to end his campaign.

Powerful labor unions, including the California Service Employees International Union and the California Teachers Association, said they're suspending their support. The California Federation of Labor Unions said it's "acting urgently" on next steps.

A spokesperson for House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said the allegations require a "serious and thorough investigation."

"These brave women must be heard and respected," spokeswoman Christie Stephenson said in a statement. "It is imperative that the investigation follow the facts, apply the law and take place immediately."

Growing calls for Swalwell to drop out

Uncorroborated and nonspecific rumors that Swalwell behaved inappropriately with female staffers have circulated on social media for weeks, but the Chronicle's story is the first reported account of someone making a direct accusation. At a Tuesday campaign event in Sacramento, he told reporters he's never had a sexual relationship with a staff member or intern.

CNN also reported that several women accused Swalwell of sending them inappropriate sexual messages.

Swalwell earlier this week announced a series of campaign functions he's planned around the state, but canceled the scheduled event Thursday in Palm Springs.

Swalwell is among several leading Democrats in the crowded field to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, and he immediately came under pressure from all other Democratic rivals to withdraw from the race.

Swalwell, originally from Iowa, was elected in 2012 and represents a House district east of San Francisco. He launched a presidential run in April 2019 but shuttered it a few months later after failing to catch on with voters. Swalwell, who is married and has three children, is perhaps best known nationally as a House manager in President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial during his first term in early 2021.
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PacifiCorp court win could reduce wildfire damages by $1B or more

An Oregon Court of Appeals ruling this week accepted PacifiCorp's argument the judge in a 2023 trial mistakenly told jurors it could assume evidence it heard about wildfire damages suffered by 17 homeowners also applied to a class of thousands of other plaintiffs. The appellate judges sent what's been called the James class action back to the trial court for reconsideration. The 2023 jury found the Berkshire utility liable for negligently failing to shut down power lines during a powerful windstorm, contributing to four separate wildfires that caused significant property damage. It said the liability determination applied not only to the 17 plaintiffs in that trial, but also to the entire class of other plaintiffs.

A NASA MODIS satellite image shows wildfires in Oregon, U.S. September 8, 2020. Picture taken September 8, 2020. Maxar Technologies | via Reuters

In subsequent "mini-trials" to determine how much PacifiCorp would have to pay groups of plaintiffs, other juries have awarded them more than $1 billion in damages. Those trials had been expected to continue for the next several years, Plaintiffs in the class may have to start again and prove the company is liable for their specific damages, although this week's ruling could be appealed to the state's top court. The appeals judges noted the class includes owners of more than 2,000 properties that were damaged by different fires separated by more than a hundred miles. The AP reports a statement by the lead counsel for the plaintiffs is calling the ruling a "procedural setback" that didn't suggest "the jury got it wrong" when it found PacifiCorp liable. "In fact, the Court rejected PacifiCorp's efforts to win this appeal on the merits. Instead, what the court addressed was a single jury instruction, charting several paths forward  including fixing that instruction and trying the case again." In a news release, PacifiCorp said it is "sensitive to the profound losses experienced by members of our communities. There are no winners in wildfire; however, the Court's decision supports PacifiCorp's longstanding belief that this process was prejudicial and not appropriate for managing wildfire litigation." The utility says it "remains open to resolving reasonable claims and will continue to defend against unsupported claims."

Berkshire subsidiary must face real estate commissions class action

Berkshire Hathaway Energy will face a proposed class action suit accusing it of conspiring to increase real estate commissions even though its HomeServices of America brokerage paid $250 million two years ago to settle the same claims, Reuters reports. A federal judge in Missouri ruled against BHE's argument it was covered by the HomeServices settlement because the two are a "single enterprise" when it comes to antitrust litigation.

Buffett won't be on stage but he's still on the cover

The cover of Berkshire Hathaway's "Shareholders Guide" for its 2026 annual meeting on May 2 features drawings of both Chairman Warren Buffett and CEO Greg Abel. While Buffett is prominent on the guide and on the badges shareholders will wear (as noted in a short news report by Omaha's WOWT-TV), he will be leaving the spotlight to Abel at the meeting's Q&A session.

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Buffett has said he will be on the floor of Omaha's CHI Health Center arena with his fellow board members while Abel answers shareholder questions, as relayed by CNBC's Becky Quick. In the first Q&A session, Abel will be joined by insurance chief Ajit Jain. BNSF CEO Katie Farmer and Adam Johnson, CEO of NetJets and Berkshire's president of consumer products, service and retailing, a new position, will be on stage with Abel for the second Q&A. It will be the first time executives at the subsidiary level will be included in an annual meeting Q&A.

The crowd reacts during the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 3, 2025. CNBC

CNBC.com's live web stream coverage begins at 9:15 AM ET with a pre-game show. The first Q&A is scheduled to start at 10:30 AM ET.

Buffett book adds Berkshire's next chapter

A book that explores Berkshire Hathway through the eyes of the people running its subsidiaries is getting an update that includes the company's transition from Warren Buffett to new CEO Greg Abel. "The Warren Buffett CEO: Secrets from the Berkshire Hathaway Managers, 25th Anniversary Edition" will be published by Wiley on April 28. Author Robert P. Miles has also added four new chapters focusing on Berkshire's "insurance engine" that include profiles of three key executives, including a potential successor for Ajit Jain. Miles has posted a video of him discussing the book in January for an audience of investment managers gathered in Switzerland, including a look at portfolio manager Ted Weschler.

BUFFETT & BERKSHIRE AROUND THE INTERNET

HIGHLIGHTS FROM CNBC'S BUFFETT ARCHIVE

'It's not a very complicated economic equation at Berkshire' (2016)

Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger explain why Berkshire's system works.

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WARREN BUFFETT: It's not a very complicated economic equation at Berkshire. People didn't  for a long time, they didn't appreciate the value of float. We kept explaining it to them, and I think they probably do now. The big thing, the goal, what Charlie and I think about, we want to add, every year, something to the normalized  you know, the normalized earning power per share of the company. And we think we can do it because we should be able to do it. We have retained earnings to work with every year to get that job done. Sometimes it doesn't look like we've accomplished much, and we haven't accomplished much. And other years, we  something big happens, and we don't know ahead of time which year is going to be which... CHARLIE MUNGER: Well, there are very few companies that have ever been similarly advantaged. In the whole history of Berkshire Hathaway, we've lived in a torrent of money, and we were constantly deploying it, and disbursed assets, and we were wising up as we went along. That's a pretty good system. WARREN BUFFETT: It's a  CHARLIE MUNGER: We're not going to change it. WARREN BUFFETT: No. And it's allowed for a lot of mistakes. I mean, that's the interesting thing. American business has been good enough that you don't have to be  you don't have to really be smart to get a decent result. And if you can bring a little bit of intellect, you know, then you should get a pretty good result. CHARLIE MUNGER: What you've got to do is be aversive to the standard stupidities. You just keep those out. You don't have to be smart. WARREN BUFFETT: Thank God. CHARLIE MUNGER: Thank God, right.

BERKSHIRE STOCK WATCH

Four weeks

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Twelve months

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BRK.A stock price: $720,002.88 BRK.B stock price: $479.90 BRK.B P/E (TTM): 15.47 Berkshire market capitalization: $1,035,160,682,901 Berkshire Cash as of December 31: $373.3 billion (Down 2.2% from Sept. 30) Excluding Rail Cash and Subtracting T-Bills Payable: $369.0 billion (Up 4.1% from September 30) Berkshire resumed stock repurchases on March 4, 2026, but has not said whether it made any additional buys after that date. (All figures are as of the date of publication, unless otherwise indicated)

BERKSHIRE'S TOP EQUITY HOLDINGS - Apr. 10, 2026

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In this article KODK Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT

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On Jim Continenza's first day on the job as Eastman Kodak executive chairman in 2019, he got a call from a star Hollywood filmmaker telling him the company was making a big mistake. The photography technology company was in the process of shutting down its acetate factory, which makes one of the key ingredients used in film. Christopher Nolan, the director behind major movies like "Inception" and "Oppenheimer," urged Continenza to stop the process. "He goes, 'Do not turn this off. Please take a look.' And I did," Continenza, now CEO, told CNBC. "He was right. I started looking at it because I shoot 35 millimeter [film], and I'm like, 'Why would one of the greatest directors of all time even have this conversation?'" Continenza, a self-proclaimed "turnaround specialist," said he quickly realized how central film was to Kodak's roots, and how it could be one of its biggest strengths as he fought to bring the company back from teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Fast forward roughly seven years, and multiple 2026 Oscar-winning movies, including "One Battle After Another" and "Sinners," were shot on Kodak film. It's part of a bigger trend as the category sees a resurgence fueled by both a nostalgia for film in Hollywood and by younger consumers. That road wasn't smooth, though. The company declared bankruptcy in 2012 and reemerged a year later. Then it cautioned last year that its financial conditions "raise substantial doubt about Kodak's ability to continue as a going concern." In the second-quarter earnings where it made that going concern statement, Kodak posted a 12% decrease in gross profit, with millions in debt obligations. But Continenza said it was one step in a longer process toward rebuilding the company to its former success.

CEO of Kodak Jim Continenza speaks onstage during Kodak's Film Awards at ASC Clubhouse on March 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Rodin Eckenroth | Getty Images

Last month, the company's earnings report looked different. Its fourth-quarter gross profit reached $67 million, a 31% increase from the year prior. Kodak also said it had reduced its annual interest expense by roughly $40 million. Continenza said at the time that the results were signs of the long-term plan he began executing in 2019. He told CNBC that he chose Kodak as his final company to revive before closing his chapter as a C-suite executive, having previously served in leadership roles at communication companies including AT&T and Lucent. "Here's what our goal is: We're going to create jobs for the next generation. Make no mistake, we're going to fix this company and put it on a stable foundation and put building blocks to grow all the systems," Continenza said. "We didn't put in what we need, we put in what we want, and that's a difference."

Troubled waters

In a digitally evolving society, Kodak has been fighting to keep its place and relevancy. The company's 2012 bankruptcy protection came after it failed to improve its finances as digital photography took off and revolutionized the industry. When it reemerged the following year as a smaller company, it shifted its primary focus to commercial printing. Though it's not a company that is largely covered by investors anymore, Melius Research analyst Ben Reitzes wrote in a note last year that the onset of digital technology posed a significant setback for Kodak. "At the time, Kodak management told us that film would co-exist with digital cameras and more photos would be taken  and more would need to be printed by Kodak," he wrote. Still, Kodak faced its struggles. Its stock sank more than 35% in 2014, continuing to gradually fall over the next few years and hitting an all-time low of $1.55 per share during the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. Last August, the more than 100-year-old photography company said it had roughly $155 million in cash and nearly $600 million in loans. A Kodak spokesperson said at the time that the going concern language had to be included because Kodak did not have enough available liquidity to pay off its debt, due within 12 months. Still, the company said it was confident it would pay off a significant portion of that loan before it became due by terminating its pension plan and said the disclosure was just a required technical report. Wall Street investors didn't like what they heard. The stock plunged from a price of roughly $7 per share a few days prior to just over $5 per share on the day of earnings. "We could have done a better job on it, because to us, it wasn't as dire straits, it was more of a GAAP accounting coincidence by dates," Continenza said, adding that it was a "timing issue" for the loans.

Rolls of Kodak Gold film hang on a shelf at the Precision Camera & Video store on Aug. 12, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell | Getty Images

Continenza said Kodak's main challenges were in its "huge tranches" of debt and a lack of communication with its shareholders and customers. The CEO said he's never sold a share of Kodak and instead bought stock after the company issued its going concern disclosure. "You've got to put the work in and the long-term investments, and you've got to be methodical, but you've got to fix your operations, and I've spent seven years of doing it," he said. "[It's] a 130-plus year old company, right? You can imagine what's in the attic."

Defining success

Continenza said he's been intentional about instituting long-term changes since he took over the company. He's changed about 90% of the company's leadership, paid off more than $400 million in debt and reorganized the company's priorities to focus on print and advanced materials and chemicals. He said it was also important to be "transparent" with his team and acknowledged that turning around the company would mean layoffs and staffing changes. "First thing I always do is go out and get people who want to hold the company and buy them out, and that's what we did," he said. "I got a board and investors who love what we're doing  we keep them informed, and they help guide us." As he examined what worked for the company, Continenza said he saw an opportunity with Generation Z and the resurgence of the film aesthetic. The look of photos and videos shot on film captures something that "penetrates your heart and soul," he said. Kodak leaned into the analog and authenticity trend, investing its resources in its film capacities and creating products that consumers, directors and filmmakers alike were interested in. Continenza said he also refinanced the company three times and rightsized its balance sheet. It seems to have hit the right note on Wall Street. Over the past year, Kodak's stock has shot up nearly 100%.

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Amkor Technology isn't a household name, but it's poised to become a big winner as artificial intelligence spreads. Shares of the semiconductor packaging and testing provider have jumped 47% just since the start of the year, and have almost quadrupled over the past 12 months. The S & P 500 is little changed and up 29% in the same period. AMKR YTD mountain Amkor Technology shares are up 47% in 2026 alone Amkor's strong performance comes as data center spending is projected to reach $7 trillion globally by 2030, according to consultant McKinsey & Co. At the same time, products from smartphones to electronic vehicles are also using semiconductor technology to power AI-enabled features. Amid the boom , technology giants have turned to Amkor to assemble and test their chips. The company services customers in the U.S., China and Europe. "What looks like a pocket of strength usually propagates across the industry," Needham analyst Charles Shi told CNBC. "AMKR is  well positioned to capture some AI-related packaging demand." Needham rates Amkor a buy with a $65 price target on the stock, 12% above Friday's close. Amkor specializes in taking several semiconductor components and packaging them into a single, large chip such as a graphics processing unit (GPU). That assembly allows the components to operate faster, cooler and use less power, making them more effective in AI applications. Amkor also tests AI chips, using verification checks to ensure semiconductors meet performance specifications and are durable. High-profile deals Amkor has clinched several high-profile deals to provide its services to semiconductor makers and others companies. In 2023, Amkor struck a deal with Apple to make the iPhone maker the first and largest customer at its packaging plant outside Phoenix. Last year, Amkor was one of at least nine companies to join an Apple-sponsored coalition called the American Manufacturing Program. In 2024, Amkor signed an agreement with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co . to provide advanced, turnkey packaging and test services at a chip fabrication plant, also in Arizona. The dealmaking is likely to ramp up for Amkor in the near future as funding for data centers increases, according to UBS. Hyperscalers have already earmarked nearly $700 billion to bolster their AI pushes in 2026, more than was budgeted in 2025. "Amkor's focus on advanced technology allowed it to capture strong sales during the first wave of AI in [the second half of 2023] and 2024," UBS analyst Randy Abrams said in a February report. "We are seeing good qualification activity for a second wave of projects," supported by spending from cloud providers and deals with integrated circuit suppliers for multi-gigawatt build-outs of application-specific integrated circuit and GPU capacity, he wrote. Tailwinds Tailwinds from smartphone and automobile production are also likely to boost Amkor's sales, according to Melius Research, noting that semiconductor technology undergirds memory and camera capabilities in both cellphones and advanced driver-assistance systems. "Amkor has higher exposure to Apple, who is about to launch a bevy of products that will help it gain share, like a Foldable [smartphone] and the iPhone 20 next year," Melius analyst Ben Reitzes said in a note to clients this week. "Apple needs these guys if it wants to make its chips in the USA." Melius rates Amkor a buy with a $60 price target. Amkor's partnership with Apple could help it outperform some of the Street's conservative growth forecasts, said Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore, especially as Apple prepares for a late 2026 roll out of several high-end cellphones that will incorporate advanced semiconductors. "AMKR's smartphone portfolio mix is skewed to the high-end, meaning they should outperform more conservative unit forecasts of down 10-15%," Moore wrote in a February report. Shipment decline To be sure, iPhone shipments could fall roughly 2% year-over-year due to a shift in Apple's new product schedule, which may challenge Amkor's communications unit, according to Moore. Another risk would emerge if the data center boom fails to fully materialize. Power constraints and laws limiting where facilities may be built , for example, could force technology providers to curb their construction plans. Nevertheless, Melius Research expects Amkor shares to grow less volatile as it picks up AI-related business in some form or another in the U.S. and abroad. Right now, Amkor has a beta of 1.74, almost twice as volatile as the S & P 500, according to FactSet data. "Amkor is increasingly well positioned to become less cyclical ... driven by the need for advanced packaging in the U.S. and Western-friendly countries," Reitzes wrote. "The company sits at the intersection of Nvidia 's next-generation platforms, chiplet-driven architecture shifts, and U.S. supply-chain realignment, creating a multi-year demand backdrop that extends well beyond traditional smartphone and consumer cycles."
U.S. Vice President JD Vance (C) walks with Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshall Asim Munir (L), and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar after arriving for talks with Iranian officials on April 11, 2026 at Islamabad, Pakistan.

Vice President JD Vance said early on Sunday in Pakistan that U.S. officials are leaving peace talks after the Iranian delegation refused to agree not to develop a nuclear weapon.

"We have been at it now for 21 hours, and we've had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians. That's the good news," he said in a press conference following the talks. "The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement."

The key sticking point, Vance said, was on the issue of Iran's unwillingness to give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

"We need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon," he said, noting it is the "core goal" that President Donald Trump hoped to achieve with the negotiations. "They have chosen not to accept our terms."

The vice president said he spoke with Trump "a half dozen times, a dozen times, over the past 21 hours," as well as with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Adm. Brad Cooper, head of the U.S. Central Command.

"We were constantly in communication with the team because we were negotiating in good faith," Vance said, speaking at a podium alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

"We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We'll see if the Iranians accept it," he said. A short time later, the vice president waved goodbye from the top of the stairs as he boarded Air Force Two in Islamabad.

The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, discussed with their U.S. and Pakistani counterparts how to advance the ceasefire already threatened by deep disagreements and Israel's continued attacks against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, whose health ministry said the death toll has surpassed 2,000.

Qalibaf said Iranian negotiators did not trust the U.S. side "due to the experiences of the two previous wars."

"My colleagues on the Iranian delegation ... raised forward-looking initiatives, but the opposing side ultimately failed to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations," said in a post on X. "America has understood our logic and principles, and now it's time for it to decide whether it can earn our trust or not?"

Various Iranian state media reports cited stark differences in negotiations for the breakdown in the talks, including the removal of nuclear materials from the country and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran is demanding control of the Strait of Hormuz, payment of war reparations and a ceasefire across the region, including in Lebanon, according to Iranian state TV and officials. It is also seeking the release of its frozen assets abroad and wants to collect transit fees in the strait.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said his country will try to facilitate a new dialogue between Iran and the U.S. in the coming days.

"It is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to ceasefire," Dar said.

The historic talks ended days after the fragile, two-week ceasefire was announced. Vance's comments did not indicate what would happen after that period expired or whether the ceasefire would remain in place.

The Iranian delegation arrived dressed in black in mourning for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and others killed in the war. They carried shoes and bags of some students killed during the U.S. bombing of a school next to a military compound, the Iranian government said. The Pentagon has said the strike is under investigation.

"There were mood swings from the two sides and the temperature went up and down during the meeting," one Pakistani source told Reuters in reference to the first round of talks.

For the U.S.-Iran talks, Islamabad, a city of more than 2 million people, was locked down with thousands of paramilitary personnel and army troops on the streets.
In this article BABA

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Samuel Boivin | Nurphoto | Getty Images

If one thing became clear at the HumanX conference in San Francisco this week, where 6,500 executives, founders and investors gathered to talk about artificial intelligence, it's that OpenAI no longer dominates the conversation in their industry. For now, at least, that distinction belongs to Anthropic. Anthropic's viral coding agent, Claude Code, was the tool on everyone's lips, even as many attendees acknowledged that OpenAI, Cursor and Google are offering strong alternatives. Despite its spat with the Pentagon that went public last month and quickly made its way to the courtroom, Anthropic has only gained momentum. The Department of Defense blacklisted Claude, but after opposing rulings in two courts, Anthropic can keep working with other federal agencies while the cases play out. Anthropic's early strength in the enterprise has positioned it to benefit from the soaring popularity of AI coding agents, which are used to generate, edit and review code. So while OpenAI kicked off the generative AI boom with the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, Anthropic may be best set up to win contracts from the biggest spenders. CNBC spoke with 19 executives and investors at HumanX, some of whom asked not to be named in order to speak freely. Here are the top three takeaways.

Claude has 'become a religion'

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Anthropic was founded in 2021 by a group of researchers and executives who defected from OpenAI. The startup is valued at $380 billion, making it one of the most valuable private companies in the world. Claude Code launched to the general public in May 2025, and as of February was generating more than $2.5 billion in annualized revenue. Arvind Jain, CEO of enterprise AI company Glean, said Claude Code has inspired "Claude Mania," which is putting pressure on business leaders to deploy it. "It has become a religion, that's the level of that mania," Jain said in an interview. "Everybody, if you go and ask them today, 'Hey, if I gave you one AI tool, what tool would you want?' The answer would be Claude." On Tuesday, Anthropic announced a new AI model, Claude Mythos Preview, with advanced cybersecurity capabilities thanks to its strong coding and reasoning skills. The model sparked a lot of buzz at HumanX, even though its rollout is limited to a select group of roughly 50 companies. Victor Riparbelli, CEO of AI video company Synthesia, said Anthropic has managed to demonstrate focus and restraint with its models and product, which can be difficult for a young hyper-growth company. "The guys at Anthropic were just like, 'We're not going to do anything about video, we're not going to care about voice models, we're just going to solve code gen,' and now we're here," Riparbelli said in an interview. "OpenAI has had the problem of having to market six different products, which just takes up mind space for the consumer." One investor cautioned that while Anthropic has been consistent and managed to identify a sticky AI use case, the industry is still young, and momentum could easily swing in another direction.

AI change management

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As tech companies work to usher their customers into the AI era, they're also grappling with how to leverage and deploy agents internally. Even for Silicon Valley startups, keeping up with the pace of change is no easy feat. Ashwin Sreenivas, president of AI startup Decagon, said the advent of coding agents has led to a number of shifts within his company. Decagon has changed its interview process to allow candidates to use the tools, and the company is able to rely on smaller teams of engineers. A project that may have required four or five engineers "becomes two engineers because everyone can move a lot faster and go a lot farther," Sreenivas said in an interview. For Navrina Singh, CEO of AI governance startup Credo AI, the proliferation of new AI tools has been simultaneously exciting and anxiety inducing for her. Overcommunicating, particularly with her customers, has become essential, she said. "The things that I could not do last year and I needed to hire 10 people, I can actually build over a weekend and deploy for myself and for the company," Singh said. "The anxiety is I can't control my roadmap, and I can't control my commitments to the enterprise customers who love more clarity and who like a little bit more stability." Big tech incumbents are navigating similar changes. Cisco President Jeetu Patel said roughly 85% of his company's engineering workforce, or about 18,000 employees, are using AI, but the path to getting there was unlike what he'd anticipated. Patel said Cisco initially learned it i needed to prioritize adoption over outcomes, and to trust that model capabilities will continue to improve. "You can't think of these as tools, you have to think of these as digital coworkers that are joining your team, because your composition of your scrum team changes," Patel said at the conference. "You might not have a scrum team of eight people. You might have a scrum team of two people and six agents, or two people and infinite agents."

The race against China

Qwen3 is Alibaba's latest large language model, which it says combines traditional LLM capabilities with "advanced, dynamic reasoning." Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images

The fragile two-week ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran has massive implications for energy and financial markets across the globe. But the vast majority of execs and investors who spoke to CNBC at HumanX this week said they're not yet experiencing any direct business impact from the latest conflict in the Middle East. Rather, they're focused on another looming geopolitical problem: China's open-weight models. In AI, a model is considered open weight if its parameters, or the elements that improve its outputs and predictions during training, are publicly available. As of April, Chinese open-weight models, including GLM-5.1, Kimi K2.5 and Qwen3.5, dominate industry benchmarks. American companies are swarming to China's models. Cursor built its Composer 2 model using Kimi 2.5. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky told CNBC in October that his company's chatbot was largely dependent on Alibaba's Qwen. Given the importance the U.S. AI industry is placing on beating China when it comes to innovation, there's a big emphasis domestically on closing the gap in open weight. Two investors told CNBC they're dedicating a lot of their time and resources to that effort, and a third said it's one of the key problems for the industry to solve right now. Glean's Jain said having multiple options is critical. "The trend that we see is that enterprises today, they're very wary of depending on one or two providers for all of their AI," Jain said. "They don't want to work with just one model company, because they know that innovation is happening across many and also in open source. You want to have a choice." WATCH: OpenAI slams Anthropic in memo to shareholders
Mudflows strike without much warning, devastating communities in hilly or volcanic regions through rapid surges of water, soil, and rock.

Unpacking Mudslide Trigger Factors

Mudslide trigger factors often start with nature's heavy hitters, like prolonged storms or seismic shakes, but human actions play a big role too. Steep slopes lose stability when soil saturates, especially if vegetation is thin or removed for development. Loose materials from erosion or wildfires sit ready to move, waiting for that push.

Rainfall intensity tops the list as a key activator. When downpours dump 50 millimeters or more per hour, water can't soak in fast enoughrunoff builds, eroding channels that pull entire hillsides loose. Volcanic zones add another layer, where ash mixes with rain to form thick pastes that race downhill.

Common mudslide trigger factors include: Intense, short bursts of rain overwhelming soil drainage. Earthquakes jarring saturated ground into motion. Human grading that steepens slopes beyond natural limits.



Experts from the Colorado Geological Surveynote how post-wildfire landscapes amplify these risks, as bare earth invites faster flows. Without roots to grip, even moderate rainfall intensity turns soil into slurry.

Lahar Flows and Debris Mudflows Explained

Lahar flows earn their name from Indonesian roots, describing hot or cold slurries of volcanic debris and water. Eruptions melt snow or dislodge ash, but rain alone can remobilize old deposits miles from craters. These flows hug river valleys, picking up trees and boulders along the way, and hit speeds of 60 kilometers per hour.

Debris mudflows differ slightly, packing more soil and organic matter from eroded hillsides or construction scars. They surge after fires strip protective layers, carrying houses off foundations in seconds. Both types share a gray, cement-like look when dry, burying roads under meters of sediment.

Rainfall intensity dictates their startthresholds vary by region, but volcanic soils hit critical saturation quicker due to low permeability. Picture a sponge filled with grit: once full, it squeezes out under gravity.

Wikipedia's entry on mudflows breaks down how these differ from slower landslides, emphasizing their fluid speed and reach. Communities near Mount St. Helens learned this harshly in 1985, when rains triggered massive lahars years after the eruption.

Monitoring Rainfall Intensity for Safety

Rainfall intensity isn't just about total volume; it's the rate that spells danger. Gauges track hourly falls, feeding models that flag when slopes near failure. In places like Japan, thresholds trigger evacuations at 75 millimeters per hour on vulnerable terrain.

Early warning setups pair these with seismic sensors and tiltmeters, spotting ground shifts before eyes do. Apps ping phones, sirens wail, and barriers deploybuying hours to flee. The CTC-N climate tech network highlights systems in Italy that cut casualties by alerting on rising rainfall intensity alone.

Vegetation cover steps in as a passive shield. Roots from deep-tap plants like alders or vetiver grass knit soil together, slowing water and trapping fines. Studies show revegetated slopes resist 40-60% more flow volume during peaks.

Numbered steps for building natural defenses:

Assess site soil and past mudslide trigger factors. Plant mixed natives in contour patterns to maximize root density. Mulch heavily post-planting to curb initial erosion from rainfall intensity.

Grading and Engineering to Curb Flows

Grading reshapes land to shed water safely, channeling it via swales and berms away from buildings. Done right, it lowers angles to under 30 degrees, starving mudslide trigger factors of momentum. Poor jobs, thoughlike overcutting toescreate unstable benches that fail first.

Retaining walls of stacked bags or concrete catch early debris, while check dams in gullies slow lahars mid-run. Pair this with vegetation cover for hybrid strength: roots handle shear, structures take impacts.

TrapBag's solutions page details how flexible barriers flex under debris mudflows without cracking, outperforming rigid ones in real tests. Costs run lower too, making them practical for at-risk neighborhoods.

Prevention layers against mudslide trigger factors: Vegetation cover absorbs and slows runoff from rainfall intensity, offering high resistance to debris mudflows over 1-5 years. Slope grading improves drainage paths, providing high control for lahar flows in 1-6 months. Early warnings use real-time thresholds for high effectiveness against both lahar flows and debris mudflows, ready in weeks. Barriers and retention catch peak surges, delivering high resistance to both flow types in days.



Everyday Actions in High-Risk Zones

Residents spot early signs: cracked roads, tilted trees, or muddy springs signal saturation. Stock go-bags with boots, maps, and radioslahar flows give little retreat time. Local maps mark debris mudflow paths from past events, guiding builds away.

Governments map zones using rainfall intensity data and satellite imagery, zoning out dense housing. Insurance firms like those in California push discounts for graded lots with vegetation cover.

Quick homeowner tips: Clear gutters and downsides before storms to cut local runoff. Avoid riverbanks post-eruption; lahars follow old paths. Join community drills for early warning response.



Questions Around Mudflow Risks

What sets off most mudslides? Rainfall intensity spikes on steep, bare slopes, per geological reports. How fast do lahar flows move? Up to highway speeds, carving new channels. Can you outrun debris mudflows? Rarelyhead perpendicular to flow paths instead.

Building Resilience to Mudslide Trigger Factors

Early warnings, smart grading, and thick vegetation cover turn mudslide trigger factors from inevitable to manageable, even under brutal rainfall intensity. Lahar flows and debris mudflows hit hard, but layered strategies keep losses lowtrack forecasts, reinforce slopes, and stay vigilant for safer seasons ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What causes mudflows most often?

Rainfall intensity saturates slopes, especially on steep or bare terrain, triggering mudslide trigger factors like soil saturation and erosion.

2. How fast do lahar flows move?

Lahar flows reach speeds up to 60 km/h, behaving like wet concrete as they carry volcanic debris down valleys.

3. Can you outrun debris mudflows?

Nodebris mudflows move too quickly; move perpendicular to their path and head to higher ground instead.

4. What role does vegetation play in prevention?

Vegetation cover anchors soil with roots, reducing runoff from rainfall intensity and cutting debris mudflow risks.
Rainforest wildlife reveals extraordinary survival strategies shaped by harsh, vibrant ecosystems. These traits allow countless species to endure in biodiversity hotspots where competition runs fierce.

Rainforest Animal Adaptations in Action

Rainforests span just 6% of Earth's land but shelter over 50% of known species, earning their status as biodiversity hotspots. Rainforest animals evolve Rainforest Animal Adaptations to tackle heavy rains, dim light on the forest floor, and endless battles for food and space. Canopy life high in the treetops hosts the bulk of this action, with branches forming bustling highways for monkeys, birds, and insects.

Key Rainforest Animal Adaptations include:

Camouflage mastery: Sloths grow green algae on their fur to blend with mossy limbs during canopy life.

Sloths grow green algae on their fur to blend with mossy limbs during canopy life. Gliding prowess: Flying frogs spread webbed feet to soar between trees, dodging ground predators.

Flying frogs spread webbed feet to soar between trees, dodging ground predators. Toxic defenses: Poison dart frogs secrete skin chemicals that ward off birds and snakes.

Experts like those at Biology Explorerhighlight how these traits evolved over millennia, with toucans using massive bills to snag fruit from fragile twigs without crashing down. Smaller body sizes help many rainforest animals squeeze through vines and sip less nectar or sap.

Diverse Rainforest Animals and Canopy Life

Picture jaguars stalking shadows or macaws cracking nuts with iron-strong beaksthese rainforest animals define canopy life. Howler monkeys belt out roars that echo miles through dense foliage, marking territory without constant chases. Anteaters swing prehensile tails like fifth limbs, hooking onto bark for upside-down naps.

Insects thrive too, with leafcutter ants marching in armies to harvest leaves for underground fungus farms. Bats navigate night hunts using echolocation, snagging insects mid-flight amid tangled branches. Tree boas coil around limbs, striking at passing birds with heat-sensing pits.

Rainforest Animal Adaptations shine in numbers:

Prehensile tails on kinkajous let them hang and pluck orchids at night. Vibrissae whiskers on ocelots detect air shifts from prey rustling leaves. Hollow bones in hornbills reduce weight for long glides across canopy gaps.

BioExplorer notes sloths take weeks to digest leaves, conserving energy in food-scarce zones. Canopy life pulses with such variety, from epiphytes cradling frog eggs to bromeliads pooling water for mosquito larvae.

Why Biodiversity Hotspots Matter for Survival

Biodiversity hotspots like the Amazon or Congo Basin pack millions of species into tight quarters, fueling rapid evolution of Rainforest Animal Adaptations. Vines bridge trees into networks, easing travel during floods that swamp lower layers. Orchids lure pollinators with scents mimicking rotting meat, ensuring seed spread in humid air.

Yet threats loom large. Logging carves paths that isolate populations, crippling canopy life routes. Rising temperatures shift rain patterns, challenging species fine-tuned to wet constancy. Jaguars roam wider for prey as forests shrink, burning energy reserves built for ambush hunts.

Rainforest animals face these pressures head-on:

Habitat fragmentation: Splits groups, reducing mates and genes.

Splits groups, reducing mates and genes. Poaching fallout: Empties niches, unbalancing food chains.

Empties niches, unbalancing food chains. Climate tweaks: Dries soils, stressing root-dependent foragers.

Twinkl's teaching resources point out how poison dart frogs rely on specific insects for toxin buildupdisrupt that, and defenses weaken. Conservation zones in Costa Rica prove reserves work, letting canopy life rebound with protected corridors.

Protecting Rainforest Adaptations Today

Efforts span Indigenous patrols in the Amazon to drone monitoring in Southeast Asia, safeguarding biodiversity hotspots. Reforestation plants native trees, rebuilding canopy life layers for returning birds and mammals. Ecotourism funds anti-logging teams, turning forests into economic assets.

Communities replant with:

Native saplings that mimic original structures.

Corridors linking fragments for animal crossings.

Education drives curbing bushmeat trade.

Sciencing.comdetails how restored canopies revive insect booms, rippling up to feed monkeys and eagles. Rainforest Animal Adaptations persist when humans step back, letting nature's engineers reclaim their edge. These hotspots pulse with life lessonsresilience forged in green chaos, ready for those who listen.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Animals Live in the Rainforest?

Rainforest animals include jaguars, sloths, poison dart frogs, toucans, and howler monkeys, many thriving in canopy life. These species fill niches from ground predators to aerial fruit-eaters in biodiversity hotspots like the Amazon.

2. How Do Animals Adapt to Rainforest Life?

Rainforest Animal Adaptations feature camouflage, like sloths hosting algae for mossy blending; gliding membranes on flying squirrels; and toxic skin on dart frogs. Prehensile tails aid monkeys in navigating canopy life branches.

3. Why Is the Canopy Layer Important?

Canopy life hosts 90% of rainforest animals, forming a dense roof that traps sunlight and moisture. It creates microhabitats for epiphytes and insects, central to biodiversity hotspots where vines link travel routes.
What began as a desperate search for a 13-year-old girl, who disappeared from her rural northern Maine home, has taken a dark turn, with her father unleashing a wave of accusations and threats against police and his neighbors.

Police have not announced any leads, suspects or even persons of interest in the baffling case of Stefanie Damron, which has been clouded by multiple versions of what may have happened to her  and concern over the life she was leading in the family's remote yurt before she vanished.

In the interim, conflicts between the girl's father Dale Damron and his neighbors have escalated to the extent that he now has a YouTube channel where he's released almost two dozen videos often taking aim at locals and police investigators using violent language.

Last month, he ramped up his warnings, even threatening to burn down homes in the town  and for the first time told cops he would not cooperate with them further. He said he would also take aim at anyone who dares to enter his property.

The family, who moved to New Sweden, Maine, in 2021, live on an isolated sprawl of land at the end of a dirt driveway.

'One of you is going to end up laying on your back with a bullet in you when you come up my driveway,' Damron warned in a video on March 18, saying that he himself felt threatened and would no longer allow police to visit without a warrant.

'I'm not making threats,' he added. 'I'm making sure that when I have to do what I have to do and one of you come down my property and I feel threatened and I have no choice and I cannot progress, you will be flatlined.'

Stefanie Damron, 13, went missing from her home in New Sweden, Maine, in September 2024

Stefanie's father, Dale Damron, has posted a string of increasingly volatile videos in which he threatens police and neighbors

He also sent a chilling message to one specific neighbor with whom he's been feuding: 'If someone had a 30-06 (rifle) from the right distance, that could make a head pop like a watermelon.'

'You think that little peashooter you had on your side, what was it? a 9 mm or something,' he added.

'That ain't s**t. I pull the trigger on my AR-12 and I got 10 rounds coming down. All 9 millimeter. That's a real gun.

'I've got a Mauser that'll drop you from a mile away. I've got other guns, too.'

Damron, 48, also secretly videotaped himself recently talking in person to Jared Sylvia, the lead Maine State Police investigator handling the case, telling him he won't cooperate further and informing him that he has weapons and won't hesitate to use them.

Damron told Sylvia, whose face can be seen in the video, he blamed law enforcement for what he described as failures in the case. He also expressed anger that authorities have not publicly declared him and his wife innocent.

The Maine State Police did not return a request for comment from the Daily Mail.

Damron, who has made some 23 videos on his YouTube channel 'Stefanie Damron's Family Response Page,' talks more about himself and his beef with cops, the New Sweden locals and even his wife's ex-husband in West Virginia than he does about his missing daughter.

And locals are feeling scared.

Dale Damron, pictured with Stefanie and her sister, shared a selfie with the girls in a bizarre Facebook post last August in which her referred to her as 'the village idiot'

'Our concern is over the steadily increasing amount of violent rhetoric and threats,' one of his neighbors told the Daily Mail.

'We care a lot about Stefanie and her disappearance and we aren't forgetting her but our immediate worry now is for the safety of members of our community.

'Dale has crossed some lines with his violent speech.'

Damron claims that a handyman working in New Sweden in 2024 strangled Stefanie and buried her under cement and lime in the basement of the house he was remodeling  an allegation that insiders close to the case believe is another attempt on Damron's part to shift attention from himself.

Damron also refers to legal problems in his past and how he is a better man now.

'I married my wife and made promises to my wife that I would never be that man again because that man would have done kicked your door in, burnt your house down and done lovely things to everything in your property.

'But I'm not that man no more.'

Stefanie Damron was first reported missing by her family on September 24, 2024.

They initially told police she was last seen the previous day when she walked into the woods to 'clear her head' following an argument with her sister, Star. She never returned.

Stefanie had been living in her family's wood-framed yurt, a Mongolian structure that has grown in popularity as it is stronger than a tent, on a remote plot of land in New Sweden, a rural town of less than 600 people just 25 miles from the Canadian border. They relocated from Texas in 2021.

Stefanie's parents, Dale and Lisa Damron told police Stefanie was last seen on the afternoon of September 23, 2024 after she walked into the woods to 'clear her head' following an argument with her sister

Early reports said Stefanie had disappeared following a fight with her sister that resulted in her walking 'into the woods' and never being seen again

The family lost custody of their children for six months in 2015 after the parents were arrested for public intoxication, child abandonment and possession of a controlled substance at a McDonalds in Texas. Lisa served 18 days in jail and her husband 21 days.

They moved to New Sweden for a fresh start in May 2021 but Dale quickly alienated neighbors with his erratic behavior, locals say.

At the time of her disappearance, Stefanie and Star, now 18, were living in the yurt with Richard Turgeon, an 80-year-old family friend known to the girls as 'Grandpa,' while Damron and his wife Lisa lived a mile down the road in a trailer with their four younger children.

Dale and family friend Andrew Losiewicz told cops at the time various stories such as Stefanie may have been involved with an older man who she contacted using Turgeon's phone, but they could produce no evidence.

Furthermore, neighbors who knew Stefanie said she had long been isolated with her family and was a very childlike 13-year-old, not one likely to be seeing older men.

The Damrons all moved back to the yurt after Stefanie's disappearance. A large-scale search and rescue operation ensued, but no trace of her was found.

Though neither the state police nor the FBI has publicly ruled anyone out in the case, Damron has claimed on his videos that he and Lisa, 47, have been cleared.

Damron has made a series of jaw-dropping statements in his videos and on a regional podcast. On one occasion he railed against rumors that he fed Stefanie to pigs, despite there being no evidence that anyone other than him has said that.

The FBI and Maine State Police conducted extensive ground searches for Stefanie after she disappeared

Neighbors tell told the Daily Mail that the description of Stefanie given to police didn't seem accurate, claiming the girl is taller and does not appear as she does in the photos provided

The family moved from Texas to the tiny town of New Sweden: Population 577, 25 miles from the Canadian border

Yurts originated among nomads in Mongolia and have become more common as they are sturdier than tents but still offer limited protection against severe weather (file photo)

'We passed our polygraphs and Mama (Lisa) finally got her polygraph and she passed everything on it (except for) a question about drug use,' Damron said in a March 23 video.

'Well that don't really matter anyways because when all this investigation started with CPS (Children's Protective Services) we had to take drug tests and the only one that had an issue with drugs was me and that was copious amounts of marijuana, more than most drug tests are.'

In his many videos, Damron exhibits significant self-pity.

'My family and my children have not deserved an ounce of any of what you guys have dished out,' he complained in the March 23 video in which he chain smokes throughout.

'You guys have said some very nasty s**t I'm not the dumb redneck you think I am.'

A private researcher, who has been investigating the case for the past 18 months and has analyzed all of Damron's videos, says he 'contradicts himself in every other sentence and tried to cause endless confusion and drama'.

'No missing child's father gets on YouTube and just talks about himself,' the investigator, who asked for anonymity due to Dale's volatility, told the Daily Mail. 'But Dale is clearly the victim in his mind.

'This is his story, he doesn't want to talk about Stefanie he wants to talk about himself.

'He has no other way to control the narrative other than to put his story out there,' the source added. 'He wants the public to leave him alone. He wants the police to say he's not a suspect and they won't.

'There has been a lot of a drama and he's created a lot of it. He was the one, after all, who said he fed her to the hogs.'
The wife of a Delta captain has blown up her gilded existence living in a $1.7 million mansion after taking her cousin as a lover before shooting him dead.

Jennifer Lieber, 47, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Tuesday for the March 2024 second degree murder of David Nanovic after a night of violence fueled by blackberry brandy.

Her detention marks a shocking end to a violent saga which stunned the wealthy Minneapolis suburb of Prior Lake, where Lieber previously lived with husband Stuart Lieber.

It was Stuart, an experienced airline pilot, who called 911 on the evening of the killing to request a police welfare check at the six-bedroom mansion the couple once shared.

He told dispatchers that his estranged wife had been 'acting weird' and making threats, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Daily Mail.

When sheriff's deputies arrived on scene, a friend of Lieber's was standing outside the home. She claimed Lieber called her in a 'panic' and said she 'really f****d up,' the court filing said.

The witness also claimed that she saw Nanovic, 45, 'covered in blood at the bottom of the stairs.' Police later found him dead inside the home.

Lieber told investigators that she was arguing with Nanovic and kicked a gun from his hand 'and it went off and hit [him],' the complaint stated. She added, 'I loved him.'

Jennifer Lieber, seen with her two sons, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Tuesday for the March 2024 murder of David Nanovic

Nanovic was shot dead at Lieber's $1.7 million mansion in the the wealthy Minneapolis suburb of Prior Lake, where Lieber previously lived with husband Stuart

It was Stuart, an experienced airline pilot, who called 911 on the evening of the killing to request a police welfare check at the six bedroom mansion the couple once shared

But Nanovic's ten-year-old son told police that Lieber pulled the weapon on them after having spent the day drinking beer and blackberry brandy, the filing said.

He claimed Lieber grew upset as he and his father were watching evening TV and she grabbed the gun, pointed it at them and threatened to kill them.

The boy and Nanovic retreated to the pool house, where they were quickly joined by Lieber's two teenage sons, whom she shares with Stuart, the filing said. The teens said their mother was 'acting crazy' and left the home shortly after.

Nanovic and his son tried to go back inside the main house, but Lieber came outside with the gun, told them not to come in and shot at them, the complaint stated.

The boy went back into the pool house, but Nanovic tried once more to go inside - this time with his hands raised, according to the filing. The boy said that was the last time he saw his father alive.

When his father failed to return, the boy approached the house and saw Lieber locking all the doors.

Police found the boy inside the pool house after responding to Stuart's 911 call.

'Jennifer is probably freaking out because she had the gun in her hand,' the child told the deputies at the scene.

Lieber and Nanovic, pictured together, were first cousins. They were enjoying a sexual relationship at the time of his murder

A jury convicted Lieber of second-degree murder on January 30 this year

Lieber and Stuart were separated at the time of the murder. Their divorce was finalized last year, more than two years after she served him.

At some point, she allowed Nanovic and his son to move into her home. Lieber and Nanovic developed a romantic relationship after they began cohabitating.

Nanovic's son described his home as 'living in hell.' He claimed Lieber physically abused his father, called Nanovic 'racial slurs' and said 'hurtful things to him,' the complaint said.

Lieber's friend confirmed to police that Lieber and Nanovic were first cousins but claimed they were not related biologically. She said that Nanovic's mom is Lieber's aunt.

A jury convicted Lieber of second-degree murder on January 30 this year, court records showed.

She was sentenced to 25.5 years in prison on Tuesday, with credit for 232 days of time served. She is expected to serve 17 years behind bars and the balance of her sentence on supervised release.

Stuart Lieber did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.
Gruesome details have been revealed after a son killed his mother in a frenzied late night knife attack at their lakeside Minnesota home.

Eric Leif Jordahl, 26, received an automatic life sentence on Wednesday for the murder of his 62-year-old mother, Rosalie 'Rose' Ellen Johnson.

Jordahl was arrested in July 2020 after his father, Andrew Jordahl, returned home from work to find his then-20-year-old son covered in blood in the garage.

'The devil exists, it's in me, and I ate mom,' the young man told his father, the criminal complaint revealed.

Johnson was found in the basement disfigured and bloodied with facial trauma, the probable cause statement, viewed by the Daily Mail said.

Jordahl had gone into his mother's bedroom late at night. When she told him to go to sleep he punched her repeatedly and then got a knife and stabbed her multiple times and bit her, police said.

He removed a part of her body and placed it in the kitchen. Police later found human tissue and a butcher's knife on the kitchen table, the probable cause statement added.

Afterwards he went into the garage, where his father found him.

Eric Leif Jordahl, 26, received an automatic life sentence for the murder of his 62-year-old mother, Rosalie 'Rose' Ellen Johnson

Jordahl was indicted on first-degree murder charges, but in 2021 he was found to be too incompetent to stand trial.

Prosecutors waited for him to regain competency, which was tested in 2023 and reaffirmed in 2024, to restart the legal matters.

His lawyer then filed a motion of intent to assert a defense of not guilty by reason of mental illness.

This caused his trial to be split into a bifurcated trial, which means his guilty verdict is separate from his mental illness clause.

Jordahl waived his right to a jury trial, instead opting for a bench trial.

Judge Karen Schommer found Jordahl guilty on all counts. First-degree murder holds an automatic life sentence.

On Monday, Schommer will hear why Jordahl should not be found guilty due to his mental illness.

If he is found not guilty by reason of mental illness, then he will more than likely be transferred to a psychiatric facility, avoiding prison time.

Rosalie 'Rose' Ellen Johnson was a much loved councilwoman in Big Lake, Minnesota

Johnson was a councilwoman on the Big Lake City Council, where she had been a member since 2019.

Among her duties she represented the Big Lake Community Lake Association, the Big Lake Economic Development Authority and the road maintenance committee.

Her family remembers her as the 'smartest person' and as a person who has 'done the most good,' a relative told Fox 9.

The Wave Youth Center honored her by starting a Rose Johnson Memorial Fund, as she had supported the center from its inception.

She had volunteered at the center and was often seen playing Risk and Yahtzee with members, the company said.

She also helped them with grant writing.

'We are forever grateful,' the center said. 'Our time together and conversations will be missed immensely.'

A bench was also dedicated to her at Lakeside Park.

Her husband found their son in the garage covered in blood at their lakeside house (pictured). He told his father: 'The devil exists, it's in me, and I ate mom'

Jordahl will appear in court again on Monday where it will be decided if he should serve prison time or be put in a psychiatric facility

'Its the perfect memorial,' her fellow councilman Scott Zettervall told the Monticello Times.

'Its a place for conversation, reflection and relaxation.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to city council for further comment.
Five people have been prosecuted for supplying drugs to Hollywood actor Matthew Perry. One of them, Jasveen Sangha, has just been locked up for 15 years. I begin to wish I had been tougher on the late Mr Perry the only time we met, in a debate on drugs in a BBC studio in 2013.

What if I had got through to him and he had broken away from all the flatterers and dealers who crowd around the rich and famous?

He might be alive, and the futile, vengeful frenzy of the state against his suppliers might never have happened.

Is there anything more pointless than our obsession with evil dealers  when those dealers would have no customers if we hadnt given up prosecuting drug possession? Who finances the vast global drug disaster? Dealers?

No, their customers do it.

Mr Perry, who died of a drug overdose aged 54 in October 2023, was much loved by millions. They greatly enjoyed his portrayal of the character Chandler Bing in the TV series Friends.

Jasveen Sangha has just been locked up for 15 years for supplying drugs that led to the death of Matthew Perry

I wasnt one of them, when we met. I had not watched an episode of Friends in my life and I had never heard of him. I was astonished to find he had a presidential-size entourage so big it took up an entire green room at BBC HQ. I was much more worried about my other opponent, the formidable drug liberalisation campaigner Molly Meacher, who looks like a harmless nice old lady doing her knitting but who floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.

But here was this Chandler Perry, or Perry Bing, or whoever he was, and he wanted a fight. That suited me. I rather liked him and much regret his passing. He was obviously an intelligent, charming man. My genuine sympathies go to his family.

Id often hoped someone might arrange a return match. But it never happened, and if it had, the great majority of any audience, in the studio or at home, would have backed him against me.

For there are multitudes who live their lives on the same basis, that they cant stop themselves hurting themselves because they enjoy the things that hurt them.

And the reason a lot of people supported him is this: people really dont want to be told that they have free will. Where they do bad things, or things they are a bit ashamed of, it is reassuring to believe that they have some sort of disease and cant control their desires.

Someone had persuaded Mr Perry this was so and he believed it. In fact, he believed that it was medically and scientifically proven  which I dont think it is.

Since our clash, which was a bit sarcastic but by no means savage, I have become even more of a hate figure than I was already.

Large numbers take Matthew Perrys view that they are forced by addictions into harming themselves. They are furious with me for telling them they are mistaken.

Many, many personal tragedies have already resulted from this view. It has dominated the drug policies of the Western nations since the 1960s, changing medical and legal attitudes to drug abuse.

So many more tragedies are yet to come. We will not prevent them by locking up the dealers who take advantage of them.

There will always be other dealers, taking bigger risks and charging higher prices.

But we might avoid some of them by ceasing to accept the excuse that I cant stop myself. Yes, they can.

Matthew Perry, left, went up against Peter Hitchens in a debate on drugs in a BBC studio in 2013

What is the use of Vice-President JD Vance? Plainly intelligent, thoughtful and informed, Mr Vance was the only reassuring thing about the second Trump Presidency, otherwise infested by servile braggarts made in the image of their leader, yes-women and yes-men. Vance is elected and Trump cannot easily get rid of him.

Yet, when a voice of restraint and calm was needed, Vance chose that wretched form of loyalty, which meant staying silent when he should have spoken. Surely he knows by now what sort of person he is serving? It is not too late to act.

So why do we need to go back to the Moon?

Back in May 1991, I watched the then Soviet Union shoot Britains Helen Sharman into space from its remarkably crude and simple launchpad in Kazakhstan. The real name of this mysterious place was Leninsk, not Baikonur, a town many miles away.

It was surrounded by a 10ft-wall and had a pleasant park, complete with Ferris wheel, next to the Syr Daria river.

This was risky, devil-may-care Soviet technology and the small number of spectators were allowed far closer to the launchpad than we would have been in the US. Given that 120 people had been burned to death there in a missile accident in 1960, this wasnt reassuring. I wont forget it quickly. The growling thunder and the shaking of the earth as the ancient, crude, triple rocket lifted off was like the end of the world.

In May 1991, the then Soviet Union shot Britains Helen Sharman into space from Kazakhstan

I recall thinking that the giant effort needed to lift the tiny capsule into orbit showed how extraordinarily tough the earths atmosphere is, and suggested that perhaps we were not really meant to try to break through it.

Not long before, I had been to the museum in northern Moscow where they still keep the charred, scarred, sphere in which Yuri Gagarin came safely back to our planet after his 1961 single orbit.

I gulped, never having grasped until then just what a primitive and perilous thing it was to plunge back through this amazingly thin but terrifyingly tough defensive barrier.

The distances are startlingly short. The beginning of outer space is the Karman Line, about 62 miles up. Meteorites frizzle and evaporate on their way in, just below that level. So would returning spacecraft, if they did not have superb heat shields.

Gagarin flew only 200 miles above the earth, but if anything had gone wrong it might as well have been a million miles.

Is all this risk worth it? The first landing on the Moon was thrilling and haunts me still, but why do we need to go back?
For many, it was the moment Ed Miliband lost the 2015 General Election. Was he tough enough to stand up to Putin, he was asked by Jeremy Paxman in the pivotal leaders debate. Hell, yes, Im tough enough, Labours youthful leader responded, with all the strength and conviction of a choirboy trying to muster the courage to take his first illicit drag of a cigarette behind the vestry. The audience laughed. And a few days later so did the British people, as they handed David Cameron an upset majority.

Last week Keir Starmer faced his own Putin Test. And failed it just as miserably.

On March 25 the Government announced  to much fanfare  that it would begin to interdict the Shadow Fleet funnelling fuel, arms and other supplies in support of Russias war in Ukraine. Shadow fleet set to be interdicted in UK waters in latest blow to Russia, declared the Downing Street press release. British military will be able to board shadow fleet vessels transiting UK waters as the UK steps up its pressure on Putin.

So on Wednesday Putin decided to call Starmers bluff. The Admiral Grigorovich, a guided missile frigate, and two tankers entered the English Channel at around 9am and proceeded on a leisurely course eastwards past the Isle of Wight and up into the North Sea.

There was no interdiction. No boarding. Instead they were merely ushered on their way by a single vessel of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Starmer and Putin had gone eyeball to eyeball. And Sir Keir blinked first.

Over the past month, Starmers allies have been roaming the Commons, peddling a new line in their latest attempt to reboot his short-circuiting premiership.

In 2015, Ed Miliband was asked by Jeremy Paxman if he was tough enough to stand up to Putin. Hell, yes, Im tough enough, Ed replied

Over the past week, SIr Keir Starmers foreign policy has imploded, writes Dan Hodges

Their narrative asserts that we live in uniquely dangerous times, and with war raging in the Middle East, and the Russian bear stalking the West, Labour MPs should not take the risk of unseating their leader. What I described a few weeks ago as the Get Burnham, Get Nuked strategy. But the events of the past seven days have revealed an alternative truth. Which is that we are indeed facing a moment of desperate global peril. And Keir Starmer is temperamentally, and politically, incapable of meeting it.

The Prime Ministers supporters continue to maintain the fiction he is some sort of master of diplomacy. On Wednesday, as Putin was commandeering the Dover Straits and HMS Dragon was stuck in port in the Mediterranean, they were trying to spin the line he was building a global coalition to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Yet the reality is that over the past week Starmers foreign policy has imploded. The start of his premiership was marked by confusion and drift. But one area where he was crystal clear was on his international priorities.

At the top was his desire to forge and cement a relationship with Donald Trump. He would, we were told, become the Trump whisperer. The siren forces on the Left of his party would be ignored. The simplistic binary option of choosing between Europe and the US would be rejected.

And what has this supposedly deft statecraft delivered? The spectacle of Starmer feebly declaring hes fed up with the US President, while frantically announcing a new pivot back towards the EU. Its true the Prime Minister cannot be blamed for Trumps increasingly deranged and megalomaniacal interventions. But it was his decision to place all his eggs in the MAGA basket. And even now he remains in complete denial over the global realpolitik confronting Britain.

On Friday Defence Secretary John Healey was despatched to tell the London Defence Conference that the US remained absolutely locked into Nato. Locked in? A week ago Trump was asked if he was considering Nato withdrawal. Oh yes, I would say its beyond reconsideration, he replied. I was never swayed by Nato. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way.

Starmers strength in foreign policy affairs was meant to be that his time as Director of Public Prosecutions  where he had a key role in liaising with the US on counter-terror policy  had placed him at the heart of the security establishment. But as the pillars of 80 years of transatlantic co-operation collapse around him, that is now proving his undoing.

He is too much a prisoner of that establishment to be able to adapt to the new world disorder.

He is also too much a prisoner of his own instincts. As weve seen over the course of the Middle East conflict, he has come to equate inaction with statesmanship.

Impotence he recasts in his own mind as commendable patience and caution. Polite diplomatic agreement with his moderate rhetoric is mistaken for influence.

All of which is creating a deeply dangerous vacuum. Defence investment is the Prime Ministers highest priority, the hapless Healey was also forced to parrot on Friday. But its simply another fiction.

The Iran war  a war we were not supposed to even have been involved in  has exposed the parlous state of our defences. Yet a year on from Starmer claiming Britain was now on a war footing, the Defence Investment Plan has not seen the light of day, nor even has a date for publication. And here is the other brutal truth. Even if Starmer genuinely wanted to begin to rearm the nation, he wouldnt be able to. He is a Labour leader at a time of austerity. He has neither the authority, nor political capital, to place the defence of the realm at the top of his agenda.

Starmer has neither the authority, nor political capital, to place the defence of the realm at the top of his agenda, writes Dan Hodges

Vladimir Putin was commandeering the Dover Straits on Wednesday, while HMS Dragon was stuck in port in the Mediterranean

His party wont allow it. The idea Starmer can convince his MPs to vote through cuts to the NHS, welfare, education and investment in Britains hollowed-out public services to pay for tanks and bombs and drones is a pipe dream.

Which leads us to the final truth. No leader can enjoy respect abroad unless they have first earned respect at home. And few prime ministers of the modern era have plunged to such pitifully low esteem, so rapidly, as Sir Keir.

Labour ministers are putting the finishing touches to their leadership campaigns. Labour MPs are preparing their next parliamentary ambush. The voters are planning to deliver their own contemptuous verdict in next months local elections. And Putin, and Trump, and Britains other adversaries know it. In Moscow they can smell Starmers weakness. And they are already planning how next to exploit it.

That is the true danger facing Britain. We now have no foreign policy. We have no defence policy. We have no major strategic alliances. Keep Starmer. Get nuked.
Like millions of others suffering with varicose veins, Philippa Bradley simply resigned herself to the misery of the condition.

The mother of three from Vale of Clwyd in North Wales hated the sight of the bulging, twisted blood vessels all over her legs. The aching heaviness, the way her legs tingled and throbbed in the heat  these were things to be endured, just like the embarrassment and self-consciousness which meant she never wore skirts or shorts.

Even when the problem spread  causing constant, intense discomfort in her pelvis  doctors werent interested in treating her.

Philippa, 60, said: Some people think varicose veins arent a real problem. But they can have a huge impact. I felt utterly defeated. I was referred to a consultant, but was made to feel it was just a cosmetic problem and I should stop being so vain.

Sadly, experts have told The Mail on Sunday that Philippas experience is all too common, and even though one in five adults suffer from visible varicose veins, they arent taken seriously enough.

Unhelpfully, much received wisdom about the condition  for example, that standing up for too long causes them, or that women are more prone to them than men  is simply wrong. And far from being just cosmetic, experts warn varicose veins can be dangerous, causing bleeding and blood clots, plus other serious conditions such as leg ulcers.

Consultant surgeon Professor Mark Whiteley has pioneered minimally invasive modern treatments. He said: Because few patients die directly of varicose veins in the short term, many people  even in the medical profession  do not consider them serious.

But varicose veins are a progressive problem, and many patients who dont get proper treatment will deteriorate and have to endure significantly reduced quality of life.

Philippa Bradley is now confident enough to show off her legs on holiday, after trying Endovenous Laser Ablation

For Philippa, 40 years of torment finally ended when she signed up for cutting-edge private treatment  including a procedure called Endovenous Laser Ablation, which uses a laser to remove the faulty veins.

Although it cost her thousands, it proved life-changing. The intense pain that had plagued her for decades disappeared, along with the unsightly veins  giving her the confidence once again to bare her legs and wear a swimsuit on holiday. Id given up hope, said Philippa, but the treatment has been amazing.

Varicose veins stem from a fault in the circulatory system which, in the average adult, involves an astonishing 60,000 miles of blood vessels. The heart pumps blood at high pressure through the arteries to transport oxygen around the body, before the veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart at far lower pressure.

To counter the effects of gravity  which would otherwise make blood simply fall to a persons feet whenever they stood up  the veins are lined with one-way valves. When these are missing or faulty, blood doesnt flow efficiently back to the heart and instead starts to pool.

In blood vessels near the surface of the skin, the result is swollen, lumpy and twisted veins.

Symptoms include a deep, throbbing ache, feelings of heaviness, itchiness or a burning sensation  especially after prolonged standing or sitting, or in warm weather. Although common on the legs, varicose veins can also appear in the bottom, causing haemorrhoids, and, for men, in the testicles.

According to Prof Whiteley, there are many popular misconceptions. He said: Its a myth that varicose veins are caused by standing up for long periods.

If that was true, everyone spending a lot of time on their feet  hairdressers, nurses, teachers, surgeons  would develop them. Standing can, though, exacerbate the underlying condition. People who already have failing valves will deteriorate more quickly if they are employed in those sorts of occupations.

Another myth is that pregnancy is responsible.

But, again, it simply exacerbates an existing condition.

Prof Whiteley added: In pregnancy, the volume of blood increases, so varicose veins that were too small to be noticeable become more prominent.

Other things which are incorrectly blamed include crossing your legs, obesity, constipation and straining while on the toilet.

Likewise, women are not more prone to varicose veins  theyre just more likely to report the problem than men. Prof Whiteley said: The prevalence is actually more like 50:50.

Because the condition is genetic, nothing can be done to prevent it. But it is possible to slow the progression and alleviate the symptoms.

Exercise improves blood flow, with the contraction of the muscles  especially the calves and thighs  helping pump the blood back towards the heart.

Prof Whiteley said: It can be as simple as walking up the stairs rather than taking the lift, or walking around every half an hour if youre spending long periods sitting down.

Compression stockings  properly fitted  can reduce pain and swelling by squeezing the lower legs to prevent blood pooling. Lying down with legs raised can also bring relief, by letting gravity drain blood back to the heart.

Untreated, varicose veins can lead to dangerous complications such as rupture, where swollen veins burst open if knocked, if they have thinned with age or even from the heat of a bath.

Prof Whiteley said: Patients can bleed substantially from a burst varicose vein. Although this is controlled in an emergency by direct pressure and elevating the leg, in rare cases patients have died from such bleeding.

Another risk is that pooled blood forms a clot, which may appear as a hot, red, tender lump, and is often mistaken for an infection. They can travel around the body and end up blocking blood vessels in the lungs  a potentially fatal condition known as pulmonary embolism.

As well as the visible swollen lumps on their legs, Prof Whiteley explained that patients can develop varicose veins that are hidden within the body.

He said: Around one in five adults have visible varicose veins  but a further one in five have hidden varicose veins, which cannot be seen on the surface.

These, he explained, can cause otherwise unexplained symptoms such as aching legs, swelling and bruising. In women they can also cause pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS)  where faulty ovarian or pelvic veins swell up and put pressure on the bladder, bowel, vagina or pelvic floor.

For Philippa, it was the pain of pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) that made her realise she needed to take action

Philippa Bradley's legs before the treatment and, right, afterwards

For Philippa, it was the pain of PCS that made her realise she needed to take action.

She was 16 when her first varicose vein appeared  on her left thigh. She said: I was always active  playing netball and swimming. But I was so embarrassed to show my legs that I stopped.

In her 20s, while working in marketing in London, the problem grew worse.

She said: The initial vein became more exaggerated, while others appeared at the back of my knee, my calf and towards my foot. They were uncomfortable, but I just got on with life.

Philippa later married Rupert, who runs a flooring business, and they started a family. By 2002, after giving birth to their three children, the problem intensified.

She said: It spread up my upper thigh and into my groin. It was always painful and throbbing, and was even worse after standing for any time.

Constant discomfort is mentally draining. I saw my GP and was referred to a consultant, who told me there are treatments but not on the NHS, as my case isnt serious enough.

She pretty much told me: youll just have to live with it.

The NHS only treats varicose veins that cause severe pain or complications, with different trusts around the UK having different criteria. Although millions of people are affected, only around 20,000 operations are carried out for varicose veins on the NHS every year.

After years of battling through the discomfort, in 2022, Philippa  who had halted her career to care full-time for her son Luca, who has a learning disability  had a revelation. I suddenly realised, I dont want to live like this, she said.

She contacted The Whiteley Clinic, set up by Prof Whiteley in 1999. To identify exactly which veins were faulty, she had a duplex ultrasound, which generates a picture of the veins and shows the speed and direction of blood flow.

Over 18 months, Philippa had three procedures. The first was pelvic vein embolisation (PVE), where a tiny metal coil is guided through a catheter to the faulty vein in the pelvis to block it, eventually causing it to shrink away.

Next came Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA), where a laser heats the wall of the vein, causing it to collapse and seal shut.

A third treatment, called ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy, injected a chemical foam into the vein to make it collapse and close.

Because every patient requires different levels of treatment, The Whiteley Clinic doesnt publish a set price list, but treatments start at 995, with EVLA in a single vein costing 2,975 and a package involving EVLA for a single vein in both legs costing 4,450.

Philippa said: Its been life changing. Aesthetically, I can hardly believe theyre the same legs. Having lived with varicose veins from a young age, its lovely being able to wear a dress or shorts on holiday.

More importantly, her pain is gone. She said: Living with constant discomfort for so many years was like dragging a ball and chain around. Now its been completely eradicated. Its amazing.

Danger of deadly blood clots  but losing weight could help

The NHS does not usually consider varicose veins to be a serious problem  but it is linked to a life-threatening blood clot.

Studies show varicose vein sufferers are 20 per cent more likely to develop deep vein thrombosis, where a blood clot forms in a vein, usually in the leg. This can travel to the lungs, causing a life-threatening blockage called a pulmonary embolism.

Varicose veins raise the risk of deep vein thrombosis because the condition causes blood to pool in the legs, rather than returning to the heart. Over time, research shows, this pooled blood can thicken and cause a clot.

However, experts say that having varicose veins does not mean that patients will develop deep vein thrombosis. Instead, the complication is typically triggered by a number of factors, including age (patients over 60 are more at risk), obesity, a history of smoking, cancer and taking the contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

The NHS says symptoms of deep vein thrombosis include a throbbing pain in one leg  usually in the calf or thigh  when walking or standing up. Patients may also experience swelling in the leg and red or darkened skin around the painful area.

Long journeys raise the risk of deep vein thrombosis as clots are more likely to form if youre not moving. Those travelling for three hours or more by plane, train or car are urged to wear loose clothing, drink a lot of water, avoid alcohol and walk around when possible.

Have you been able to banish varicose veins? Write to us at health@mailonsunday.co.uk
In Soho, on a Saturday night in March, the karaoke bar Lucky Voice is full of hen dos. Theres a group in heart-shaped sunglasses and a group in flower crowns. At the bar, a girl in a headband that says Team Bride orders a drink; in front of the bathroom mirror, a woman adjusts her clip-on veil.

Its been a day of hens, says the venues general manager Kat. She is about to explain why but, before she can, another flock bowls in, wearing pink satin sashes. Their most authoritative member puts her palms on the reception desk and gives Kat a massive smile. We are here, she says, to sing our hearts out.

Lucky Voice was co-created in 2005 by Lastminute.com founder Martha Lane Fox. At first, the company had one venue in Soho and its niche was that unlike old-fashioned British karaoke nights  usually done in front of strangers  it provided customers with private booths that they could hire out with people they knew. Today, the business licenses its singing software to venues that want to host karaoke events and has opened six more sites  four in London, one in Brighton, one in Dubai.

On Saturdays the customers are mostly hens, stags and birthdays, says managing director Charlie Elek. But Lucky Voice is busy with all sorts of clients seven days a week, too. Colleagues come after work on a Thursday; couples sing to one another as dates on a Friday; and there are childrens birthday parties on Sunday afternoons.

Lucky Voice is not an isolated success story, either. Last year the UKs karaoke market was valued at almost 116 million and that figure is expected to be 274 million by 2033. Elek isnt precisely sure why this has happened, but it has: Britain is obsessed with karaoke.

To try to understand it myself, I spent a hen-do-heavy evening behind the reception desk of Lucky Voice in Soho. On Saturdays, the venue is open from 12pm to 3am and the nine booths cost 11 per-head, per-hour to rent. There are nine members of staff: two behind the bar, four on the floor, one as a bouncer, plus Kat and another manager, Kris.

Karaoke fans, from left, Harry Styles, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jacob Elordi, Amy Adams and Niall Horan

Behind Kats desk are two screens. The first shows CCTV footage of the various karaoke booths, and the other tracks how long each group has left in their room and what song they are currently singing. As Kat explains this, I notice that two groups  strangers to each other  are singing End Of The Road by Boyz II Men at the same time.

You can tell from the CCTV what stage of an evening each group is at. One crowd, in booth two, has just joined and are standing in a slightly nervous semi-circle  like a choir. Meanwhile, longer-serving groups are jammed in the centre of their booths, jumping up and down. Kris points at footage of a woman performing a dance-heavy solo to her friends. I bet shes singing Footloose, he says, then cross-references his guess against the screen that shows the songs. Aghhh! Livin La Vida Loca. (Customers will be relieved to learn that, while staff can see whats happening in the booths, they cannot hear; bad vocals remain private.)

A 60th-birthday party arrives. One of the floor staff, Ciaran, shows them to their booth and I come, too. Inside, Ciaran explains various rules (you can dance on the seats, but you have to take off your shoes first); how the system works (theres a screen where you select songs from a 13,000-track catalogue); the different light settings (blue, pink or disco); and how to get drinks (press the button on the wall that says thirsty!). Im scared, says a woman, who doesnt seem, frankly, that scared because about 25 seconds later shes grabbed the Lucky Voice-provided prop tambourine and is rattling it while singing snatches of Suspicious Minds.

TOP 10 SONGS AT LUCKY VOICE 1 Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen 2 Wonderwall by Oasis 3 Dancing Queen by Abba 4 Mr Brightside by The Killers 5 Wannabe by Spice Girls 6 Dont Stop Believin by Journey 7 Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond 8 Valerie by Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse 9 I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston 10 Let It Go from Frozen

The most-played song in Lucky Voice history is Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. (It has been sung 104,269 times since 2016  an average of 28.5 times a day.) And, even though within the booths things seem properly soundproofed, in the corridors you can faintly hear singing. I wonder if the staff get sick of hearing popular tracks and Kris says not really. But if I could ban people from singing Oasis, I would. Ditto Let It Go, the main song from Frozen. When that film came out says Kat, sighing. And then there was Frozen 2! Still, the venue remains a judgment-free zone. Kat once delivered drinks to a booth full of burly men in their 40s and, on entry, found them singing the theme tune to Teletubbies. I thought, you do you.

Celebrities love Lucky Voice, probably because its so private. Staff in Soho have seen Amy Adams, Camila Cabello and Niall Horan, and previous reports say customers include Paul McCartney, Gwyneth Paltrow, Prince Harry, and Harry Styles. Before my Saturday behind its reception desk, Id visited Lucky Voice Soho in February and a staff member told me Jacob Elordi had been in a few months earlier. Apparently, the 6ft 5in Australian actor was even more handsome in real life and very polite. Later, as research, I watched an interview where Elordi talks about how much he likes karaoke. His favourite song to perform is Only You by Yazoo.

At 7.30pm its changeover time: six groups are leaving their booths, and six new groups are coming in. The MD Charlie had said that it is essential in karaoke to sing one great last song. It needs to be a big crowd-pleaser  and it needs to play in full. Because timings are so tight, Lucky Voice booths must be vacated the moment a booking ends, and the worst-case scenario is that this happens halfway through a final song.

The company has a method to prevent this, whereby users input their last song at the start of a session, and the karaoke machine will play that song with enough time to hear it entirely. But, tonight, theres been a case of (I think) alcohol-induced user error.

At 7.21pm a woman runs into the reception area, her Team Bride headband bobbling from side to side. Our last song has changed and we dont know how to get it back, she says. Please can someone help! We need it to be Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! This is a matter of urgency!

Then, the changeover begins. The staff usher groups out of their booths, clean the karaoke rooms, replace the batteries in the microphones and disinfect the handles, and direct new groups inside. This all happens within about two minutes. It is, honestly, like watching people change the tyres in Formula One.

Some customers leave more of a trace than others. Kris remembers 15 rugby boys, who had been crammed into a booth for two hours. I had to blitz the room with perfume afterwards. Last Christmas, during party season, people climbed on the cushioned seats in stilettos. It looked like a shooting, says Kat, we had to get six booths reupholstered. Today, the only damage I see is a girl who has danced so vigorously she has ripped the side of her trousers. Kris supplies her with safety pins.

The thing that is most obvious, though, is that everyone who leaves Lucky Voice is really happy. As people walk out of the door there is the longest, croakiest chorus of thank yous, cheerses and that-was-so-goods. That happiness is catching. Cyprian, who works on the floor, tells me that from Monday to Friday, he has a nine-to-five office job. He works at Lucky Voice on the weekends because hes bad at saving and because he loves it.

Near the end of the evening, Kat and Kris speak about a regular, who came to Lucky Voice, weekly, on his own. He would order a beer and a water, and then hed hire a booth for an hour and sing to himself. Kris once asked what he did and the man said he worked in a nearby office. It was stressful and karaoke was how he relaxed. He said it was like therapy. No, actually, he said it was better than therapy.

To book a karaoke booth, visit luckyvoice.com
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Preppers have revealed the must-have gadgets they always make sure to include in their go-bags as fears over an impending World War III loom closer  and you may well have some in your possession already.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, three survivalist enthusiasts shared their top recommendations for any emergency, including an 'essential' that can cost you as little as 15.

The key, they stressed, is not loading up on fancy tech and gear  but rather, focusing on things that would already make your day-to-day more comfortable and are god to keep in the house regardless.

Ana, from Wales, who founded the UK Preppers Club on Facebook  which has more than 10,000 members  said: 'I always say: don't overcomplicate it. Focus on real-life usefulness.'

'I think it's important to make people realise that preparedness is just that, a bit of forward thinking,' she explained. 'I know many "sheeple" think preparedness is stupid and weird because most represent it as that.

'At the end of the day, if there's is any issues, like no power or hot water, those people would be the ones feeling "stupid and lost". Arrogance and ignorance is not going to feed your family in tough times!'

Ana, from Wales  who founded the UK Preppers Club on Facebook, which has more than 10,000 members  said: 'I always say: don't overcomplicate it. Focus on real-life usefulness'

Melanie Williams, a wellness advocate and mother-of-six from the UK, agreed that lighting, cooking and water are the essentials

What is going to help, however, according to Ana, are portable power stations and solar generators, which 'keep essentials running'.

Another vital item, to keep your loved ones nourished, is a camping stove. This 'allows you to cook without power and you can pick one up 15 from home bargains or Amazon'.

A water filter system will also come in handy  and is 'critical if water supply is disrupted or contaminated, which we see quite regularly'.

These range from simple tablets to special-made straws and more impressive advanced tech.

Other must-haves on Ana's list include head torches for hands-free lighting, power banks for phones and manual tools like tin openers.

'These aren't "doomsday" items,' she shared. 'They're practical tools that make life manageable during disruptions and in many cases part of everyday life anyways.'

Melanie Williams, a wellness advocate and mother-of-six from the UK, agreed that lighting, cooking and water are the essentials.

She shared that the items she makes bigger splurges on are 'larger equipment'  such as a petrol generator, which set her back 'around 1,500'.

'The right option depends on your needs,' the prepper revealed.

'Smaller setups are suitable for charging devices, while running appliances like a fridge or washing machine requires a more powerful system.

Meanwhile, Donna Lloyd, 60, from Wales, says clothing is just as important

'By building my stock gradually and focusing on essentials we actually use, and continually adding items to meet our family's needs, I've created a setup that keeps us comfortable, prepared, and able to maintain everyday routines even in uncertain situations.'

Meanwhile, Donna Lloyd, 60, from Wales, says clothing is just as important.

'In terms of prepping gadgets, the most effective and essential items are the most basic,' she shared.

'A good solid pair of walking boots that may cost between 40 and 80 pounds.'

Another item, which she carries on her person everyday, is a 'credit card multitool'  a bargain at 3.50, which can be bought for even cheaper.

This handy object is a tiny, rectangle shaped object which can be used for a myriad of tasks. It features everything from a ruler to a butterfly wrench, can opener and even a cable cutter.

Donna also has a Citizens Band (CB) radio in her car 'which combined with an aerial and cable costs 100'.

Meanwhile, things like boat matches can also 'provide light and heat and reassurance during an emergency'.

'Many preppers will recommend that people do not expect gadgets to support them in an emergency but that the most important item you can carry is knowledge and you get that from training and experience,' she explained.

'By practising the skills of first aid, by going into the wilderness and being able to Identify and gather the materials that can create a shelter, and being able to identify and gather the materials to make a fire.

'The action of practicing these skills means that in a crisis, an individual has the muscle memory to make them calmer, more organised and more resilient, and able to thrive.'

It comes as effects of tensions in the Middle East continue to be felt across the UK  with two-thirds of the public wanting Rachel Reeves to scrap her petrol tax raid after drivers were hammered by an extra 1billion at the pumps because of the Iran war.

A poll this week found 68 per cent of people would back the Chancellor ditching her fuel duty hike amid sky-high pump prices sparked by the conflict.

While other countries are cutting fuel taxes to help out hard-pressed motorists, Ms Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer have vowed to press ahead with their 5p a litre fuel duty hike despite mounting opposition.

It comes into force from September and will on average add another 3 to the cost of a fill-up.

The Ipsos poll found eight in ten British adults are concerned about the impact the war is having on fuel prices, which soared at a record rate last month. The same proportion said they were worried about potential fuel shortages.

The most popular measure for shielding motorists was a cap on how much forecourts can charge for petrol and diesel, which 77 per cent of them supported. This was followed by scrapping Labour's planned fuel duty hike (68%).

Other popular measures around boosting and conserving fuel supplies included issuing more licenses to drill in the North Sea (53%) and mandating working from home for anyone able to do so (51%).

But very few backed the idea of petrol rationing by limiting how many times people can fill-up (24%) or the number of times motorists can use the roads (16%).
Pamela Anderson has officially launched her own furniture line - but it does not come cheap.

From tables carved from huge slabs of limestone to rustic-looking dining tables, much of the collection looks like it has been plucked from a display case at a museum.

Over the years, celebrities from Martha Stewart to Kelly Clarkson have started their own furniture ranges.

But with some items listed for thousands of dollars, Anderson's new 40-piece line is far from accessible for the average household.

The collection - designed for both outdoor and indoor use - spans loungers, reading chairs, sofas, dining tables and even a dog bed.

Ironically, the Life of a Showgirl actress, 58, described the collection as 'unpretentious, a little French, a little wild.'

'It's meant to be used, worn in, and lived with,' she added.

Upon perusing the collection, shoppers might be surprised by just how expensive the items are.

Pamela Anderson's new line, in partnership with Olive Ateliers, is for those with deep pockets

Besides furniture, home decor, pots, planters, troughs and fountains are on sale

A one-of-one antique limestone table originating from Indonesia is priced at $3,495 while a longer version of the piece is on sale for just shy of $7,000.

If that wasn't enough, a designer chestnut dining table from Turkey is on sale for $4,995 along with a handcrafted elm dining table imported from China for close to $3,000.

Perhaps even more shocking is Anderson's rattan sofa, which is currently listed for $2,895. At Walmart, a similar sofa is on sale for $597.

Other items include a simple rattan armchair made in Indonesia that is priced at $1,295. By comparison, a rattan chair costs $109 at IKEA.

There are also coffee tables at $1,195, stools at $195 and lumbar pillows at $95.

The cheapest item available for purchase is a small French vintage ceramic pot, originally used for serving snail, priced at $10.

A pair of beeswax taper candles are also listed at $10, closely followed by a set of six pomegranate greeting cards that are priced at $25.

Anderson partnered with the lifestyle brand Olive Ateliers for the spring line, inspired by the 'quiet rituals and a life well lived.'

This one-of-one limestone table from Indonesia is priced at $3,495

This dining table with hand painted Delft-inspired tiles from India is listed at $2,995

Anderson described the collection as 'unpretentious, a little French, a little wild'

Titled 'The Sentimentalist,' the collection was born from the actress's memories of her grandmother's farm along the Salish Sea in British Columbia.

It reflects a lifelong relationship with objects worn into familiarity and furniture that 'supports the small rituals of an abundant life.'

'I grew up by the sea,' Anderson said. 'I remember our tiny cabin on the dock, the wood turned silver from years of salt and weather.

'I've always been drawn to things that age and soften; furniture that holds you at dawn, that grows more beautiful the more you live with it.

'The best pieces become part of your rituals.'
Comedian Bill Maher said President Donald Trump's ceasefire deal with Iran was to 'save face.'

Maher often takes stabs at the Republican leader, and on his show Friday night he ridiculed Trump's ceasefire deal with Iran as ahead of peace deal talks starting today.

'Apparently, this agreement we have, we have to save face and not kill everybody in Iran by pretending that [the Strait of Hormuz] is open,' he said on his Real Time show on HBO on Friday.

'Although it's kind of not. Iran is charging a toll. Its $2 million to get in. Same as Disneyland,' he joked.

The Iran war has led to Iranians effectively shuttering the Strait of Hormuz through which 20 percent of the world's oil supplies are shipped - a point of contention for Trump, who demanded on Easter that the country 'open the f**kin' Strait.'

'Its still all about this Strait of Hormuz, where we get all the oil, we need the oil,' Maher said on his show.

'We have a ceasefire. We have a ceasefire, whatever that means. Yes, we came to an agreement with Iran. We agreed to stop bombing them, and they agreed to start being bombed, so, you know, its kind of mutual,' he joked.

However, on Friday, Trump warned the Middle Eastern country to hurriedly come to a peace deal or risk him ending the ceasefire deal with a launch of new attacks.

Comedian Bill Maher claimed President Donald Trump's ceasefire deal with Iran is just to 'save face'

'Apparently, this agreement we have, we have to save face and not kill everybody in Iran by pretending that [the Strait of Hormuz] is open,' Maher said of Trump's deal

'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.'

On Saturday, two US destroyers have passed through the Strait of Hormuz as part of a freedom-of-navigation mission.

It was the first time in six weeks that American warships passed through, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The destroyers were not escorting commercial ships.

The transit comes as the US and Iran began face-to-face negotiations on Saturday in Pakistan, days after a fragile, two-week ceasefire was announced.

The Strait of Hormuz, where 20 percent of the world's oil comes from, is a key point in the peace deal for Trump

On Saturday, Vice President JD Vance, pictured with the Pakistani prime minister, will start peace talks with Iran in hopes of ending the war that began six weeks ago

The White House confirmed the direct nature of the talks.

Iran's state-run news agency said three-party talks had begun after Iranian preconditions, including a reduction in Israeli strikes on Southern Lebanon, and after US and Iranian officials met separately with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The US delegation is being led by Vance, along with Steve Witkoff, the special envoy, and Jared Kushner, who is President Donald Trump's son-in-law.

The Iranian delegation is being led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.

The two are discussing how to advance the ceasefire already threatened by deep disagreements and Israel's continued attacks against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, a terrorist group, in Lebanon.
The Artemis II mission to the moon has reawakened interest in space travel.

It has also presented the ideal opportunity for the world's richest man, Elon Musk, to unveil more details of this summer's $1.75trillion (1.3trillion) stock market flotation of his rocket company, Space Exploration Technologies  better known as SpaceX.

At a meeting with bankers this week, Musk said that 30 per cent of SpaceX shares could be reserved for private investors.

The Tesla boss wants to launch SpaceX on to the market in June, to coincide with his 55th birthday on the 28th, and a rare planetary alignment (an unusual conjunction of Jupiter and Venus).

Such has been the ensuing buzz that City figures tell me devising a strategy on SpaceX is top of their to-do lists.

This is even amid Iran ceasefire uncertainty  and mounting controversy over SpaceX's stratospheric valuation, which would make it America's sixth-largest company.

The future: The SpaceX IPO will make global headlines, but Anthropic and OpenAI will still make a splash

Some see this as wildly over-optimistic, based on any comparable space business or the outlook for SpaceX, which Musk thinks will defy gravity, much like his rockets.

The company, which encompasses the Starlink internet service and the Starlink satellite division, has already merged with Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI  which owns social media platform X.

The combined entity  officially called x.AI Holdings  also includes the AI agent Grok. Bankers, brokers and lawyers must incorporate Grok into their systems if they want to be part of the initial public offering (IPO).

Is Musk seeking to ensure these advisers' assent to the valuation, whatever their misgivings? Perhaps.

But this may not dim the excitement around this 'generational IPO'. Hopes are high too that SpaceX could become as large a group as $3.8 trillion (2.8trillion) Apple or $4.4trillion (3.3trillion) Nvidia, thanks to demand for Starlink, seen by many as the jewel in the crown, and SpaceX's key role in defence.

But there is also the conviction that, when Musk reveals more details of the June blast-off for SpaceX on April 21, this could revive wider IPO enthusiasm.

War in the Middle East has lowered expectations that 2026 would be a bumper IPO year. But two major Silicon Valley start-ups still aim to go public. Anthropic, the firm behind the ground-breaking Claude AI system, and OpenAI, the ChatGPT firm.

Both hit the headlines this week: Anthropic said its Claude Mythos tool could pose a severe threat 'to economies, public safety, and national security'; and OpenAI paused its UK Stargate project because of our high energy costs.

These planned flotations are a reminder of the era when an IPO, in the shape of British Gas or another privatisation, represented the chance of a windfall, and often sparked a passion for investing.

A trip into space, or a bet on the AI revolution, could rekindle this spirit. Here's a guide to getting your ticket to ride.

Reach for the stars

By June, SpaceX's IPO hype seems set to be huge, with much rational consideration of the company's merits set aside.

Dan Boardman-Weston of BRI Wealth Management said: 'This may mean that early private investors realise substantial gains, while anyone who invests later may have to pay a steep premium for future growth.'

A source of this for SpaceX will be the launch of data centres in Starship satellites in orbit.

Data centres provide AI's computing power. Peter Singlehurst, manager of Baillie Gifford's Schiehallion fund, said that the US is running short of sites with the connectivity required for data centres. He added: 'Scaling-up in space could be a better solution.'

David Coombs, of Rathbones, said: 'We're assessing the summer's IPO prospects but would be most likely to opt for SpaceX.

'We think it will be profitable, because of incredible proven technology and its wide 'moat', or competitive advantage.'

But Coombs voices the widespread anxiety over Musk's leadership style.

He explained: 'Musk runs Tesla as a private fiefdom, not a publicly quoted corporation.'

Taking a stake in SpaceX represents a big gamble on the mercurial Musk, who must excel at SpaceX to compensate for Tesla's loss of dominance in the electric vehicle market to China.

Back the AI Revolution

The SpaceX IPO will make global headlines, but Anthropic and OpenAI will still make a splash.

OpenAI could be valued at as much as $1trillion (740billion) thanks to ChatGPT, which boasts 900million users worldwide, although the decision-making of its boss Sam Altman will be under scrutiny, following a critical piece in New Yorker magazine that has been shared on X by Musk.

Against this background, OpenAI is still racing with its $350billion (260billion) rival Anthropic to go public in the autumn.

Both are fast growing, but also lavishing vast sums on their large learning models (LLMs) which act like a brain for AI.

If you are setting aside cash for these IPOs, note the warning from Coombs that these LLMs could be 'commoditised' if they are replicated by Chinese companies, or a US giant such as Microsoft.

Eyebrows will be raised if Anthropic and OpenAI do not allay these fears in their IPO prospectuses.

How to climb aboard

Further clarification of the promised (but not guaranteed) allocation of SpaceX shares to private investors should emerge over the next few weeks.

But you can secure a slice now of SpaceX and Anthropic (although sadly not OpenAI) through funds and trusts. The RIT Capital Partners trust backs both SpaceX and Anthropic, and SpaceX is the second-largest holding at Schiehallion.

This Baillie Gifford trust, named for a Scottish mountain formed 700million years ago, focuses on 21st century private companies, including SpaceX and Anthropic.

Schiehallion also holds ByteDance, the Chinese TikTok company, Vinted, the second-hand marketplace and Revolut, the banking app, which could IPO next year.

Defence constitutes 10 per cent of the portfolio. Other Baillie Gifford funds also offer exposure to the IPOs of 2026. SpaceX is held by Edinburgh Worldwide and Baillie Gifford US Growth, both of which the US activist fund Saba is seeking to control.

Investors should still be able to benefit from the IPO, although the situation may be less clear-cut for anyone with money in Edinburgh Worldwide if Saba wins in forthcoming votes.

Fortunately, Saba has not encroached on Baillie Gifford's Scottish Mortgage, where SpaceX is the number one holding. This trust (my foray into high-risk) has a chunk of Anthropic, too.

The future...

SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic have stayed private until now because private equity investors provided plentiful finance.

Jonathon Marchant of fund management group Mattioli Woods says that such funds are becoming less available, which could bring forth more IPOs.

Marchant adds that more flotations should emerge as big firms spin off divisions. This could be good news for the London market, which has suffered an IPO drought.

There have been rumours of a flotation for booksellers Waterstones, which together with its American sibling Barnes & Noble, is controlled by US activist investor Elliott.

That's the kind of IPO that bibliophile investors would like to read about.
Rising fuel prices, triggered by the Middle East conflict, are bad news for households and motorists  but some investors with money in energy funds have benefited from a compensating increase in the value of their holdings.

One fund that has performed rather well is WS Guinness Global Energy, which is managed from the UK by the six-strong energy investment team at Guinness Global Investors.

Between them they run assets worth 600 million across a range of energy funds available to UK and international investors, including some with a sustainable emphasis.

The fund is aimed at UK investors and holds shares in companies involved in the exploration, production, and distribution of oil and gas. It is a near clone of Guinness Global Energy, which has an international investor base.

In the past three months the fund has generated returns for investors of 39 per cent  10 per cent over the past month as war has waged in the Middle East. Longer term returns are 49 per cent and 93 per cent over three and five years, respectively.

To put these numbers into perspective, the fund has matched or outperformed its benchmark  the MSCI World Energy Index  over all these time periods.

Jonathan Waghorn runs the fund alongside Will Riley. He believes that if the oil price remains at around $80 a barrel over the long term, there is the potential for the fund to benefit from at least a 20 per cent uplift.

Waghorn says that the promised reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is 'critical' to ensuring the price of oil does not get to a level  $125 to $150 a barrel  where it could cause significant problems to the world economy.

'We are losing 10 million barrels of oil a day as a result of tankers not being able to travel through the Strait without fear of attack,' he explains.

'Even if the Strait is reopened, this loss will not be recouped straight away. Some oil fields will need to start production again, and this can take time. The same goes for gas  it will take weeks, months for a full recovery in supplies of liquified gas.'

The fund's exposure to oil is through blue-chip companies  such as Exxon Mobil and Chevron in the United States plus BP and Shell in the UK.

In total it has 29 holdings, with a majority of the fund's assets in companies listed either in Canada or the United States.

The universe that the managers select stocks from is 250-strong. Each month the team score individual companies  all are capitalised in excess of 750 million  on a number of 'fundamental criteria'.

These include 'relative value' compared to their peer group; 'quality', as in their ability to generate profits from the capital they employ; and the 'momentum' in both their share price and earnings. Waghorn says: 'It's a way for us to generate new ideas for the fund.'

Guinness Global Investors is an investment house that builds funds with a philosophy of equal weighting. But holding weights are allowed to vary more in WS Guinness Global Energy (and Guinness Global Energy) as a result of the dominance of Exxon and Chevron in the MSCI World Energy Index.

Between them they account for 28 per cent of the benchmark. Their representation in the fund is 5.5 per cent and 4.8 per cent, respectively. Waghorn says individual fund holdings tend not to exceed 6 per cent.

Annual charges are 0.77 per cent and the fund doesn't pay an income. WS stands for Waystone, which administers the fund.
When 85-year-old Celia Dowell's husband Robert died in December, his savings were released to her within weeks by dedicated bereavement teams at the banks where he held accounts.

But when it came to withdrawing his Premium Bonds from the state-owned bank, National Savings and Investments (NS&I), Celia has still not seen a penny.

She is owed more than 18,000, yet she is not alone in struggling to access funds from the NS&I account of a deceased loved one. About 37,500 people are facing delays in receiving money for late family members, with a total value of up to 476 million.

NS&I chief executive Dax Harkins resigned last month over the scandal, and has been replaced by Sir Jim Harra, who previously headed HM Revenue & Customs.

Many readers have told us of torrid experiences waiting months for money, dealing with dismissive NS&I staff on the phone and being forced to get probate  a legal document to give you the right to deal with someone's estate  to access relatively small sums.

Celia, from Marston Green in the West Midlands, submitted all the relevant documents to NS&I after Robert died of a pulmonary disease last year. She received a response on February 25 that she would get the money 'shortly'.

Unsympathetic: Nustran Bryce, with her late husband Robert, has clashed with NS&I staff

'I haven't heard anything since,' says Celia, who would have marked her 65th wedding anniversary in March. 'I was just told that there was a heavy backlog for bereaved families. I can't understand why it's taking so long  it's like getting blood out of a stone.'

Nustran Bryce, 71, a former civil servant from Glasgow, says it feels like NS&I does not have a bereavement team because of how unsympathetic the staff were on the phone when she was trying to get her late husband Robert's Premium Bonds.

She says: 'I've had to deal with a number of financial institutions and they all have a dedicated bereavement team, and there's no hassle at all. They're professionally trained and it's wonderful. It feels like NS&I doesn't have this, so the right hand doesn't seem to know what the left hand is doing.'

Nustran was sent the Premium Bonds but received his winnings on the bonds, nearly 1,000, in warrants. These give the holder the right to sell the bond at a specific price  but usually must be taken to the bank to execute.

This meant she had to travel to the bank to cash them in. Nustran can no longer drive due to poor eyesight, making the trip difficult.

NS&I won't join Tell Us Once service

NS&I refuses to be a part of the Tell Us Once or Death Notification Service that means a bereaved family has to inform the Government and private banks only once of a relative's death. This means you must contact NS&I specifically when someone dies.

Nustran is considering moving her money away from Premium Bonds, adding: 'Trying to resolve issues through their telephone systems is a complete nightmare  just shambolic.'

Mary Handley waited six months for her husband Patrick's 50,000 Premium Bonds to be paid out.

She attempted to withdraw the money but, after numerous calls and obtaining a probate, the 82-year-old says she heard nothing back. She made further calls to NS&I staff but says that they then treated her 'dismissively'.

Like her late husband, to whom she was married for 60 years before he died in March last year, Mary also has 50,000 in Premium Bonds. She says: 'This whole ordeal has made me think. I don't want my family to go through this when anything happens to me. I'm going to move the money elsewhere. They have broken my trust.'

Maureen Michelson, 74, says she was forced to get probate to get hold of her late husband's 50,000 in Premium Bonds.

NS&I has a low limit for requiring customers to get a probate to access a loved one's bonds. Any Premium Bonds worth more than 5,000 require one, which can cost 300 if the estate is worth 5,000-plus. Most banks, such as Barclays, Lloyds and NatWest require probate only when the value of an account exceeds 50,000.

An NS&I spokesman says: 'We have spoken to Mrs Dowell and arranged for her late husband's savings to be paid directly to her, as well as agreeing a goodwill payment for the distress and inconvenience it has caused.

'We apologise to any of our customers who have had a poor experience and where we have fallen short of their expectations.

'NS&I is not part of the Government's Tell Us Once service, which focuses on updating departments that provide services such as benefits, passports and pensions, rather than banking services and investments, which often require individualised contact with executors.'
What a rollercoaster ride investors have endured since the beginning of last month, after the US launched airstrikes on the poisonous Iranian regime.

With every bellicose comment from President Donald Trump and every attack from Iran on the energy infrastructure of its near neighbours, stock markets dropped sharply  only to bounce back at the sniff of a ceasefire.

Now, with a fragile two-week truce agreed between America and Iran, markets are happier  but things could change very quickly.

It may take only an attack on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz by Iran or its proxies, or one too many airstrikes by Israel in Lebanon, for the ceasefire to be ripped up and hostilities to recommence.

For investors, volatile stock markets can undermine their faith in shares  and the latest data from global funds network Calastone confirms that the conflict in the Middle East persuaded many to sell some of their investments.

Calastone found UK investors pulled some 1.4 billion net out of funds in March, representing the highest monthly withdrawals since November when many got the jitters ahead of Rachel Reeves disastrous Budget amid concerns of higher taxes on capital gains.

The selling was across the board, with withdrawals made from funds of all types  the only exception, ironically, being US invested funds where inflows exceeded outflows by 99 million.

Some of those who sold their investments did so with the full intention of reinvesting at some stage in the near future  and many will have done so already.

With every bellicose comment from President Donald Trump and every attack from Iran on the energy infrastructure of its near neighbours, stock markets dropped sharply  only to bounce back at the sniff of a ceasefire

Such a sell high, buy low approach involves transaction costs (and maybe tax costs further down the line) and doesnt always work out. But I know readers (Eddie from Manchester among them) who adopt this policy and usually come out on top.

Others, maybe with retirement just around the corner, will have chosen to get their money out to protect their wealth from a severe haircut. Totally understandable.

Yet I sit in a different camp. I dont consider myself savvy enough to time markets.

Im among those who Calastones Edward Glynn describes as content to stay invested knowing that most crises look like blips through a long-term lens.

Its a strategy I have followed throughout most of my investing life, and it has tended to work  especially in the immediate aftermath of the Covid lockdown in March 2020, when the temptation was to sell your investments and put everything into cash.

Over the past month, my modest portfolio has held up rather well, helped by some stellar returns from investment trust Seraphim Space (up 30 per cent). And its not surprising given the FTSE All-Share Index is down just a tad since missiles rained down on Iran.

Not once was I tempted to sell up and run for the proverbial hills. There is a lot of data around that supports the grit your teeth and hang on approach that I adopt.

Investment house Fidelity wheels it out whenever markets tumble, and for those thinking of deserting equities its worth clocking.

Looking at the MSCI World Index, a proxy for the performance of global equities across developed countries, there have been only two occasions in the past 56 years when markets have fallen in consecutive calendar years: 1973 and 1974, and the three years 2000, 2001 and 2002 (the dotcom crash).

Even then, Fidelitys investment specialist Ed Monk says those who hung on were rewarded with huge growth in the value of their investments in the years that followed.

Fidelitys investment specialist Ed Monk

Positive stock market years, adds Monk, total 42 compared to 14 of losses. And the data, he says, supports the case for gritting your teeth and staying invested to capture both the highs and lows of markets as the years pass.

On the issue of timing  selling up in the hope of buying back at cheaper prices and crystalising profits  Monk recommends caution. Missing out on some of the markets best days, he says, can be seriously damaging.

For example, missing just the best five days recorded by the FTSE 100 Index since 1992 would have reduced your overall returns by around a third.

While staying invested makes sense for most long-term investors, it doesnt mean you should just sit on your hands. At regular intervals, its imperative you look at the shares and funds you hold  be they in an Isa, self-invested pension, an employer pension or an investment portfolio  and assess whether they remain fit for purpose.

After the volatility of the past month, now is a good time to carry out such an audit.

By doing this, you may decide to keep things as they are. But you could conclude now is the right time to rebalance your portfolio by taking a slice of profits from some of your more successful investments and putting them into other funds and shares. This will help diversify your portfolio, ensuring its not over-dependent on a particular stock, fund or equity market.

Carry out such a review within the wrapper of either a stocks and shares Isa or pension, and you wont need to worry about nasty capital gains tax. Apply it to your investment portfolio and youll need to be aware that profits above 3,000 will attract tax at either 18 per cent (basic rate taxpayers) or 24 per cent (higher or additional rate taxpayers).

A long look may also persuade you to de-risk your portfolio, especially if youre nearing retirement.

That means more income-producing assets, such as dividend-friendly shares and funds as well as exposure to fixed interest bonds, and fewer investments that are growth-oriented and prone to sharp corrections.

If your wealth is in a pension fund and you can access it, buying an annuity could make financial sense, although seek advice first.

And, of course, you must ensure you are utilising your stocks and shares annual allowances (20,000 per adult, 9,000 per child) for the new tax year which started last week. Also, squirrel away as much as you can into a pension.

Prioritise these two tax-friendly vehicles above building a stand-alone investment portfolio.

My message to you is to keep investing through market thick and thin. If youre contributing to an Isa or pension on a monthly basis, keep doing so  dont let short-term noise distract you into suspending your investments.

And if you still have doubts, let me leave you with the thoughts of Paul Kearney, executive chairman of investment specialist Asset Risk Consultants UK.

Last week, over coffee, he reminded me of the Magellan Paradox  the gulf between the stellar returns that legendary investor Peter Lynch generated between 1977 and 1990 as manager of the Fidelity Magellan Fund and the average return of his investors.

Although Lynch delivered an annual fund return close to 30 per cent over this period, investors earned only single-digit gains. This is because many piled into the fund after it had performed strongly and headed for the exit when stock markets dipped and its price dropped.

The funds portfolio performed brilliantly, recalls Kearney, but investor behaviour meant they diluted much of that success in terms of the gains they made.

He adds: Investors chase winners and sell in downturns. In other words, money flows into rising markets and out of falling ones. Over time, these decisions erode investor returns.

Please dont fall into this trap.
A US hedge fund raider scored a victory in its campaign against the UK's investment trust sector.

Saba Capital defeated proposals at the Edinburgh Worldwide fund that would have allowed shareholders to cash out before it takes over the business.

The proposals came after Saba's boss, US hedge fund manager Boaz Weinstein, twice attempted to take control of the 795million trust only to be defeated overwhelmingly by other investors.

But late yesterday, Weinstein's war of attrition appeared to have worn down opposition when 53.8 per cent of shareholders voted against Edinburgh Worldwide's exit proposals, compared with 46.2 per cent in favour. Turnout was equivalent to 68.4 per cent of the company's shares.

Edinburgh  which counts Elon Musk's rocket firm SpaceX among its main holdings  said the votes against the plans had come 'almost entirely' from Saba, which controls about 25 per cent of the trust, and 'two other institutions' it did not name.

Chairman Jonathan Simpson-Dent said: 'This is a very disappointing outcome, particularly given the continued strength of support from independent shareholders who have consistently rejected Saba's plan for control.'

War of attrition: Boaz Weinstein appeared to have worn down opposition when 53.8 per cent of shareholders voted against Edinburgh Worldwide's exit proposals

He said that the result demonstrated how a minority investor could exert 'disproportionate influence' over a company.

As a result of the vote, Edinburgh said there was a 'high likelihood' that Saba would take control of the company at its annual general meeting (AGM) on April 30 when its directors will come up for re-election.

Richard Stone, head of industry body the Association of Investment Companies, said: 'The result of this vote highlights the ability of a substantial minority shareholder to wield disproportionate influence.'

But Simon Walls, head of markets at the Financial Conduct Authority, told the Mail: 'Shareholders' votes are a crucial way of investors making their views known and are enshrined in law rather than our rules. We'd encourage shareholders to continue to exercise their right to vote.'
Chocolate-lovers are facing a hit to their wallets  and a bite out of their favourite bars  due to a fresh surge in cocoa prices triggered by the Iran war.

Analysts at Morgan Stanley bank have warned that cocoa bean prices soared by 23 per cent in March, reversing a reprieve earlier in the year that followed the huge rise in 2024 which forced chocolate makers to raise prices for shoppers.

While the latest rise has yet to feed through to shelves, it is likely to mean shoppers will see higher prices  or smaller package sizes.

Data shows British shoppers paid 9 per cent more for Easter eggs than last year, while a Which? study found widespread evidence of 'shrinkflation'.

Luxury: Analysts at Morgan Stanley have warned that cocoa bean prices soared by 23% in March

This year a 210g Galaxy egg cost 7 at Tesco. The same egg, weighing 252g, sold for 6 in 2025.

Big brands such as Nestle are even trialling making chocolate without cocoa.
Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - The Head of ECOWAS Observation Mission to Benin, Ghanas former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has urged the more than 100 regional observers deployed for Sundays presidential election to be neutral and professional in discharging their responsibilities
Legal & General has become the latest blue-chip firm to raise the cap on how much its boss can earn in a bid to stop chief executives quitting for America where boardroom pay is even higher.

The fund manager plans to raise what Antonio Simoes could make to 8.3 million  nearly triple what he took home last year when some bonus targets were missed.

L&G joins a growing list of FTSE 100 firms to boost how much chief executives can make as they compete in what they say is an increasingly international market for top executives.

The Mail on Sunday's 'Fat Cat Files' show the typical FTSE 100 chief was handed 5.5 million in 2024, the latest year for which figures are available.

That is less than half the 12.2 million paid on average last year to the boss of an S&P 500 firm in the US, according to pay advisory firm ISS Corporate. But the gap is closing as UK-based multinationals race to compete with their transatlantic peers by handing out ever more generous pay packages.

Shell raised Wael Sawan's remuneration from 6.8 million to 13.8 million last year, but that could double to a potential 20 million if the oil giant's targets are hit.

Cashing in: Legal & General plans to raise what Antonio Simoes could make to 8.3 million  nearly triple what he took home last year

At Rolls-Royce, Tufan Erginbilgic's pay could exceed 24 million this year if the engineer's share price surge continues.

Advertising group WPP, which was demoted from the FTSE 100 index last year, plans to pay new boss Cindy Rose up to 14 million if share price and other performance targets are met.

The bonanza comes despite a surge in protests by shareholders at firms where such awards are deemed excessive. The number of revolts at FTSE 100 firms nearly doubled last year from eight to 15, according to research firm Indigo Governance.

But in a blow for campaigners, the Government recently axed a public list that named and shamed the worst offenders.

It followed pressure from corporate lobbyists who objected to leading firms being put on the 'naughty step' over ballooning executive pay, saying it harmed their reputation.

The Government said the move would 'remove duplication' as part of a series of 'pro-growth' measures to cut red tape for firms and make London more attractive as a financial centre.

L&G said Simoes's 3.1 million pay last year was 'below market levels' noting he 'accepted a significant reduction in total remuneration' on leaving Santander two years ago. He received 7 million in compensation from L&G for pay and bonuses forfeited when he left the bank.

L&G's new plan raises the bonuses he could be paid. A maximum 10.5 million payout would only be made if the share price also rose by 50 per cent.

The policy, which is reviewed every three years, will be voted on by shareholders at their annual meeting next month.

As Britain's biggest asset manager, L&G actively votes against pay plans of firms it invests in if they do not align with long-term shareholder interests. It recently opposed Elon Musk's $1 trillion ten-year pay deal at Tesla as it did not require him explicitly to spend any time at the electric car maker.

L&G also tackles other issues. It is a top-ten shareholder in BP, where later this month it will vote against chairman Albert Manifold as he shifts the oil giant away from its green goals.
Seven years ago, Brits were jetting off wherever they pleased with bucket lists including the white-sand beaches of Cuba, the wonders of St Petersburg or even Chernobyl.

But since 2019, the number of countries deemed too dangerous to visit by the Foreign Office (FCDO) have drastically risen by 12.

An extremely high risk of kidnapping, armed robbery and serious violence has meant countries like Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo have for long been off-limits.

But a string of recent conflicts, such as the latest outbreak of war in the Middle East, has turned destinations that were once considered holiday hotspots into no-go zones.

The FCDO issues various warnings, including advice against 'all travel' and 'all but essential travel' to entire countries or parts of countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.

It has flagged some 76 countries or territories out of 226 countries as 'do not travel' areas - due to security, health or legal reasons.

The red list - where Brits are warned against all travel to 'all parts' of a country - now has a bleak 14 nations on there.

Travel to 'parts' of a further 38 nations have also been advised against.

But as the world becomes a more volatile place, what does this mean for the future of holidays?

A handful of UK tour operators continue to advertise trips to off-limits countries such as Afghanistan and Yemen, as there remains a market for those seeking ways around the restrictions - a phenomenon that has become viral on social media.

One such company, Untamed Borders, told the Daily Mail they have seen an attitude shift towards risky adventures in the past 15 years.

'In our experience, more people are now willing to travel to destinations with government travel warnings,' said James Willcox, founder of Untamed Borders. 'There are two main reasons for this.

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He said: 'Firstly, 20 to 25 years ago, very little information was available to the public. If a government advised against travel, it was difficult for individuals to access more nuanced detail, and these destinations were largely the domain of professionals.

'Today, there is far more real-time security information available, and travellers can communicate directly with people on the ground.

'This has led to an increase in visits to countries with long-standing travel warnings, particularly among more adventurous travellers.

'Secondly, perceptions have shifted. During Covid, for example, Spain was subject to travel warnings, yet many people still visited.

'That experience showed travellers that there can be a gap between official advice and on-the-ground reality, making some more willing to question or look beyond those warnings.

'You can see a similar dynamic today. There are still large numbers of British travellers in Dubai despite regional tensions.

'Personal connections and familiarity help normalise a situation - if the same events were happening in countries like Iraq or Syria, they would likely be viewed very differently.

'But because people know others living in Dubai, the situation can feel less abstract and, to some extent, more normalised.'

In addition to the FCDO's 14 red list countries, holidaymakers are also advised against travel to parts of a further 38 countries, with all but essential travel advised for entire and parts of another 24.

And while there has been a shift in attitude towards risky travel, the majority of Brits remain careful to follow the FCDO's travel advice and avoid the ever-growing list of dangerous countries.

The 14 countries on the FCDO red list

1. Afghanistan

The hashtag '#afghanistan' has 6.3million posts on TikTok and includes multiple videos of male travel influencers sharing their experiences in the 'stunning' country ruled by the oppressive Taliban.

In one video, influencers can be seen posing in the sunshine, strolling through mosaic-lined mosques and making a peace symbol while standing outside.

However, the FCDO advises against all travel to Afghanistan where the 'security situation is volatile' and British nationals could face 'years of imprisonment' with limited support.

It is ranked in the 10 most dangerous countries according to the Global Peace Index, scoring 5/5 for risks of political instability and terrorism.

Recent conflict between Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan has made the nation even more dangerous to visit, particularly in border areas.

2. Haiti

Criminal and gang activity is extremely high in Haiti, with a significant risk of theft, including armed robbery.

The areas of Bel Air, Carrefour, Cite Soleil and Martissant are among the most dangerous areas with heightened gang activity. People using cash machines have been targeted by criminals on motorbikes.

There is also a high threat of criminal kidnaps in Haiti, with criminal groups often using firearms and extreme violence. Improvised barriers and false checkpoints are used to stop and snatch victims at gunpoint.

Political instability in the region means that violent demonstrations, protests and roadblocks could also occur, and security incidents can lead to fuel and food shortages.

The hashtag '#afghanistan' has 6.3million posts on TikTok and includes videos of male travel influencers sharing their experiences in the 'stunning' country ruled by the oppressive Taliban

3. Belarus

According to the FCDO, Brits face a significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention for engaging in 'any political activity in Belarus', which can include donating to organisations now considered illegal by the Belarusian regime.

While it is considered to be safe in terms of violent street crime, the threat comes from the government itself.

The authorities remain extremely repressive after a violent crackdown was launched against demonstrators after the 2020 presidential elections.

Demonstrators failed to topple President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been the only president of Belarus since the position was established in 1994.

Its close alliance to Russia in the Russia-Ukraine conflict also makes it a no-go zone for Brits.

4. Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso has been on the red list for many years due to the risk of terrorist attacks and terrorist kidnappings.

The unstable political situation and political violence also means the FCDO deem it too dangerous for Brits to visit.

The West African country is currently under the military rule of Captain Ibrahim Traore, who seized power in a 2022 coup.

A Freedom in the World report this year placed political rights in the country at 2 out of 40, and civil liberties at 18 out of 60.

The military junta announced a ban on all political parties after taking power, and Human Rights Watch have recorded state killings of civilians as well as attacks carried out by jihadist groups.

To add, there is no British Embassy and all consular support is provided only through the embassy in Ghana.

5. Mali

The FCDO has advised against all travel to the nation due to unpredictable security conditions.

Mali is currently ruled by the military junta led by interim President Assimi Goita, after seizing power in coups in 2020 and 2021.

He enacted a revised Transitional Charter granting himself a five-year presidential mandate. Elections have been postponed while a severe security crisis is ongoing.

The terrorist group Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin has implemented blockade on key routes throughout Southern and Western Mali, including the capital Bamako.

Attacks can happen at any time and there is a high threat of kidnapping and criminal activity across Mali.

6. Iran

America and Israel's recent war on the Islamic Republic of Iran has meant there are significant security risks related to entering the country.

The Iranian regime, led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before a series of Israeli airstrikes assassinated him, is at war with the US and is under constant military bombardment.

British and British-Iranian dual nationals are also at significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention.

Iranian airspace remains closed so there is no direct way of travelling to the war-torn country, and UK government support is extremely limited in Iran.

It is likely that for as long as the conflict continues, travel to Iran will be banned.

Iran has retaliated by effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint that carries roughly 20 percent of the world's oil supply

7. Iraq

The FCDO advises against all travel to Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, due to the recent escalation in tensions in the region.

There is a significant risk of further escalation due to its close proximity to Iran, with the Iranian regime publicly stating its intention to target locations associated with the United States and Israel.

There have been widespread attacks against US and British bases in Iraq, and most recently a British motor oil company reported being hit by drones in the city of Erbil, in the capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

While the British embassy in Iraq continues to operate, precautionary measures have been taken to temporarily withdraw some staff from Iraq.

8. Israel

The latest outbreak of war between Israel and Iran means that all travel to Israel is deemed unsafe.

The US and Israel entered war with Iran on February 28, targeting Iran's leadership and striking a girls' school in Minab, killing 168 people including about 110 children.

It led to retaliatory attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is now led by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, after his father was killed by Israeli strikes.

Despite Israel's multi-layered missile defence system, some Iranian strikes have managed to breach the Iron Dome, meaning Israel is not safe from strikes.

Security risks are heightened, particularly by the Gaza and Lebanon borders.

9. Niger

There has been a rise of reported terrorist and criminal kidnappings of foreign nationals in Niger which has prompted the FCDO to warn against all travel to the country.

The political situation also remains unstable following a military coup in July 2023 which saw President Mohamed Bazoum detained.

It was the fifth unconstitutional seizure of power by parts of the country's presidential guard since the country's independence in 1960.

There also remains a serious risk of terrorist attacks in Niger, including in the capital Niamey.

10. Palestine

Travel to all parts of Palestine are also advised against by the FCDO due to 'regional escalation'.

Tens of thousands of Gazans were killed by two years of relentless Israeli strikes on the small strip after Hamas' October 7 attack in 2023.

While a ceasefire was declared in October last year, there have still been reports of drone strikes on civilians in Gaza, making it unsafe for Brits to visit.

Border crossings out of Gaza have also been closed to civilians by Israeli military after they took control of the Rafah crossing.

There are no exit routes available for foreign nationals to depart Gaza independently and Consular support is not available from within Gaza.

The occupied West Bank is also prone to attacks from illegal settlers, meaning there is increased risk of violent incidents including stabbings, shootings and arson attacks.

11. Russia

Terrorist attacks are said to be 'very likely' in Russia, particularly at large gatherings and popular tourist sites.

Attacks have taken place in Moscow and St Petersburg as well as other Russian cities in recent years and Russia's aviation has also been targeted.

Terrorists are active in the North Caucasus region, and have carried out a number of attacks mainly in the Dagestan region.

The Ukraine-Russia war also deems it unsafe to travel, with drone attacks reported in western and southern Russia, particularly near the border with Ukraine, as well as Moscow and St Petersburg.

12. South Sudan

All travel to South Sudan has been warned against due to the risk of armed violence and criminality.

The political and security situation is said to remain unpredictable, with risks that routes in and out of South Sudan may be blocked.

There is also a high risk of serious crime such as robbery and assault, and checkpoints operated by soldiers and other armed men are common.

They have been known to demand money from drivers and abuse people, especially women.

South Sudan remains one of the most dangerous environments in the world for aid workers, with cases of aid workers killed in targeted attacks.

13. Syria

The FCDO has warned against all travel to all parts of Syria due to unpredictable security conditions and the threat of terrorist attacks.

There is a very high threat of kidnapping by terrorist groups including Al-Qaeda operating within Syria and affiliated groups such as Daesh, formerly ISIS.

Terrorist groups in Syria routinely use kidnapping as a tactic for financial or political gain and there have been a number of kidnappings including of British nationals and other westerners.

Brits are seen by the groups as legitimate targets, whether visiting merely as tourists or as air workers and journalists.

The situation remains volatile in Syria after the Al-Assad regime was toppled in December 2024.

14. Yemen

Yemen remains one of the most dangerous nations to visit as there is a serious risk of terror attacks on foreign nationals.

The threat is the worst in areas where Al-Qaeda and Islamic State - Yemen Province have tribal connections and in the regions of Abyan, Marib, Hadramawt and Shabwah.

Western and Houthi interests in Yemen remain a feature in Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's (AQAP) propaganda, and it views westerners and Houthis as legitimate targets.

While terror attacks have so far been focused on the Houthis and Yemeni government, the FCDO warns that western interests are highly likely to be regarded as targets.

With this also comes a high risk of terrorist kidnappings. The AQAP have called for the continued kidnapping of westerners.

Smoke billows from hashish and narcotics being destroyed by Houthis in Yemen in July 2025

While official travel advice has warned against travel to an increasing number of countries, sharing idyllic shots from what are considered dangerous countries has certainly become a phenomenon on social media.

Though Dubai is not included on the FCDO red list, the Foreign Office has warned against 'all but essential travel' to the UAE.

Yet scenes from Dubai show influencers claiming to feel extremely safe despite the city's airports being attacked have come into question.

There have been claims that some influencers based in the United Arab Emirates are being paid to pump out 'propaganda'.

Content creators with droves of followers have been sharing videos of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum with the words, 'I know who protects us' in the midst of Iranian attacks.

Meanwhile, 45 people of 'various nationalities' have been arrested by police in Abu Dhabi for 'spreading misinformation and filming and sharing event locations' over alleged footage showing attacks.
A lawyer representing a domestic violence offender told a judge her client didn't need to face the court, just weeks before he allegedly killed his pregnant ex-girlfriend, along with her aunt and friend.

Julian Ingram, 37, appeared in Lake Cargelligo Local Court, in the NSW Central West, on December 3 over allegations he stalked and assaulted his ex-girlfriend Sophie Quinn, 25, and destroyed her property.

He admitted damaging her property, but denied stalking and assaulting her, and was set to face trial on those charges on February 3.

But on January 22, he allegedly fatally shot Ms Quinn, 25, and John Harris, 32, on Bakhara Street, before he allegedly killed her aunt Nerida, 50, and wounded neighbour Kaleb MacQueen, 19, in nearby Walker St.

Ms Quinn had been due to give birth to her son, Troy, in March.

Ingram - also known as Pierpoint-Ingram - had already been hit with six apprehended violence orders to protect five people, including Ms Quinn, and had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting another woman in Griffith.

He was granted bail by local police following his arrest in November because his charges did not meet the threshold for 'serious' DV offences.

Transcripts from his court appearance in December, obtained by the Daily Mail, show his bail was continued by Magistrate Michael Maher without any mention of his criminal history, or any potential danger to Ms Quinn.

Police released CCTV footage of Julian Ingram attending a police station hours before the alleged murders

Sophie Quinn, 25 (pictured), and John Harris, 32, were allegedly shot dead by Julian Ingram, 37, in January

John Harris (pictured) was also allegedly killed by Ingram in Janaury

According to the transcript, Ingram's lawyer Chelsea Connell told the court her client was waiting outside the courtroom.

'Mr Pierpoint-Ingrams outside, but I don't think its necessary for him to be [inside the court],' she said.

'This is a matter where a plea of guilty is to be entered to [destroying property].'

Magistrate Maher said: 'But hes on bail. He needs to be brought in.'

The transcript showed Ingram entered the courtroom before Ms Connell said he pleaded guilty to destroying property, but not guilty to stalking and assault.

'It's a DV matter, seeking a hearing date,' Ms Connell said.

She told the court Ingram was due to face court over another matter on February 4, but the magistrate said both matters could be rolled into one on February 3.

Magistrate Maher said: 'All right, well, this matter will be heard simultaneously with the other matter.

Nerida Quinn (pictured) was allegedly shot dead by Julian Ingram

Kaleb MacQueen (pictured) was allegedly shot by Julian Ingram

Pictured: The scene where Sophie Quinn and her boyfriend John Harris were allegedly shot

'Bail is to continue.

'The matters will go over to February 3.'

Speaking directly to Ingram, he said: 'Sir, the hearings not on February 4, its on February 3, and you need to be there on that date.'

Ingram was able to leave the court and continue complying with his bail conditions, which involved reporting daily to Lake Cargelligo police.

He was not allowed to follow, assault, threaten, stalk, or harass Ms Quinn or anyone she had a relationship with.

He was also banned from destroying her property or harming her animals, or being in the company of certain people 12 hours after consuming alcohol or taking illicit drugs.

Less than two weeks before his hearing, Ms Quinn and two others were dead and Ingram had gone on the run.

In March, police announced a $250,000 reward for any information on Ingram that leads to an arrest.

Julian Ingram is pictured, left, with his father. He is now on the run from police

Sophie Quinn, 25, was found dead inside a vehicle alongside her boyfriend, 32, at Lake Cargelligo

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos said: 'We believe there is a person or persons out there who has information that could assist us and identify where Julian Ingram is.

'We're after an arrest, and we want to bring some justice to these families.'

Police released a CCTV clip, almost one minute long, which showed Ingram in blue and yellow work gear and a red cap while vaping casually outside Lake Cargelligo police station on January 22.

Ingram is described as between 165cm and 170cm tall, with a medium build, short dark hair and brown eyes.

He was last seen driving a Ford Ranger utility with NSW registration DM07GZ, which bears council signage, a metal tray-back, high-visibility side markings, and an emergency light bar on the roof.

Police haven't ruled out the possibility that Ingram may have since switched vehicles.

Although there were unconfirmed sightings of him 40km away in Eubalong West in the wake of the shootings, locals fear he is still in the area and living in the bush.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Lifeline 13 11 14

Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
At a luxury estate in the rolling hills of Tuscany, Italy, Natalia Chernysheva claims she woke in agony, her body bruised and memory fractured after a night she could not fully recall.

It was November 2020, and she says she had been staying with her then-boyfriend, wealthy tech mogul Serg Bell, at the Renieri di Montalcino estate, a sprawling property surrounded by dense forest and miles from any public road, with only his assistant for company.

Disoriented and searching for answers, she says she turned to the villa's surveillance system.

'When I woke up the next day with pain in my body, I remember something very, very bad happened but I just couldn't remember,' she told the Daily Mail in an exclusive interview.

'So that's when I checked the cameras.'

What she saw, she claimed, was horrifying. An emotional Chernysheva said: 'Those pictures I could see them in my head. But when I saw it captured on the cameras my hands were shaking.'

The footage allegedly showed Bell grabbing her by the neck and strangling her before stepping back and adopting a martial arts stance. He then moved in again, striking and kicking her as she lay on the floor until she lost consciousness. The Daily Mail has not viewed the footage.

The alleged incident, detailed in a lawsuit filed by Chernysheva against Bell in Florida, was just one of many savage beatings she claims she endured during their six-year relationship.

Natalia Chernysheva claims in a lawsuit she was abused by her billionaire ex-boyfriend

After the alleged attack, it is claimed in the lawsuit that Bell calmly bent down to tie his shoelaces before walking away, leaving his assistant, who allegedly did not intervene, to lift her onto a couch.

'That showed me how cruel Serg actually is,' Chernysheva told the Daily Mail.

In the suit, Chernysheva, 42, alleges Bell, 54, exerted near-total control over her life  monitoring her spending, restricting her movements and isolating her from friends and family while making her financially dependent on him.

The document claims he enforced that control with violence, with the abuse spanning the globe  from Paris to Palm Beach, Singapore and Abu Dhabi.

'[Bell] made me believe I couldn't leave because there was nothing beyond him; life is him. He put that in my mind from the beginning.'

The lawsuit describes how she finally decided to break free from the relationship after an alleged attack in 2022 on the day she told Bell she was pregnant after In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), which she claims led to a miscarriage days later.

'It seems so simple [to leave], but it's not,' Chernysheva told the Daily Mail. 'In reality, it's the most impossible thing when you are in so deep and trapped with someone.

Bell, born in the Soviet Union and now a Singapore citizen, founded several companies including Swiss cybersecurity firm Acronis, once valued at $4 billion. He stepped down as CEO in 2021 and is no longer associated with the company.

She claims Serg Bell (pictured together) love-bombed her then quickly cut her off from family

When approached for comment by the Daily Mail, Bell  formerly known as Serguei Beloussov  said the allegations were 'fake' and described the lawsuit as a 'pure and baseless attack.'

In a subsequent statement, the law firm representing Bell said: 'We are committed to a vigorous legal defense and will pursue this matter through the appropriate legal channels.

'This is where our full focus and resources will remain and not in the court of public opinion.'

Chernysheva and Bell first became romantically involved in 2012 after meeting through a mutual friend.

But it was short-lived, according to Chernysheva, owing to Bells constant travel and newborn child from a previous relationship.

They reconnected in 2016 when Bell pursued her intensely with grand gestures, luxury trips and constant flattery.

At the time, Chernysheva was looking for a stable partner to start a family with.

The suit describes how Bell pressured her to leave her job so she could travel with him. He said he was a fierce businessman and claimed that strong people need strong support,' according to the suit.

Bell's Instagram feed is awash with images of luxury trips with his new wife

Chernysheva was initially reluctant to leave her director-level job in retail but eventually agreed when he positioned it as a more stable move, the filing says.

That is when the dynamic shifted and the alleged abuse started, according to the lawsuit.

She claims in her suit that he treated her salary like an allowance  monitoring her spending, confiscating her cards and threatening to cut her off.

She also alleges he isolated her from friends and family, leaving her with no life outside the relationship.

That dependency, she said, made it harder to leave as the abuse escalated, according to the suit.

She claims Bell would shove and shake her in the middle of the night if she attempted to cuddle into him, even jumping on her while she slept before it intensified into punching and strangulation.

His 'uncontrollable rage' became a constant, the lawsuit says.

Chernysheva claims some attacks happened in front of others  including business associates, employees and Bell's parents at their Palm Beach home  but no one intervened.

According to her lawsuit, he would wake her up in the middle of the night and force her to perform oral sex on him, refusing to let her sleep until she complied.

She alleges the abuse unfolded across multiple countries and that Bell would break down doors when she tried to hide, push her down stairwells and smash her phones to stop her calling for help.

She claims she began secretly recording his outbursts and gathering evidence.

'Being abused can break your reality,' she told the Daily Mail. 'You know the things are happening but [Bell] convinced me that it didn't or that it was my fault So I started to make recordings for myself to make sure this was really happening to me.'

On one occasion during a trip to Abu Dhabi in November 2018, the lawsuit claims Bell smashed her jaw and beat her.

She claims she confronted him in an audio recording where she said: 'You just broke my jaw,' to which Bell responded sarcastically: Well, fine, wonderful.

In another alleged recording from November 2017, she claims Bell grabbed her by the throat and threatened: 'Once I kill you, I'll bury you.'

A lawsuit alleges Bell attacked her and made sexual demands. At one point, he is alleged to have kept his ex's dog captive

Other audio allegedly captured him saying: 'You want me to rip your lungs out? Out of your head, you f***ing bch. Stinking freak. You f****d everything up.'

When she confronted him with the recordings, she told the Daily Mail he showed no remorse.

'He would either deny it, call me crazy, or threaten to harm himself to make me go silent,' she said. 'There was never remorse. Never an apology.'

For the final two years of the relationship, she claims Bell 'weaponized' her desire to start a family, coercing her into IVF.

She alleges in her suit that he belittled her over fertility struggles and said he 'would not respect her' until she became pregnant.

She believed having a child would stop the abuse.

On April 2, 2022, she told Bell and his family she was pregnant. The lawsuit alleges hours of violence followed, with Bell grabbing, shoving and chasing her from room to room.

She says she pleaded with him to stop as she experienced severe abdominal pain, but he refused to get help, according to the lawsuit.

By the next morning, the pain had suddenly stopped and she feared she had lost the pregnancy.

Bell, born in the Soviet Union and now a Singapore citizen, founded several companies including Swiss cybersecurity firm Acronis, once valued at $4 billion

Three days later, she claims she miscarried. She said his reaction was what caused her to finally break free from the relationship.

'It was my last hope that something would change in our relationship,' she told the Daily Mail.

'When he demonstrated to me that he doesn't care about how I feel, what I'm going through, and that his level of cruelty will never change towards me  pregnant or not  I knew that was it.'

After she left, she claims in the suit that Bell continued to threaten her and her family, cut her off financially and changed the locks.

It took more than a year for her to feel any sense of normalcy.

She says she now suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and has been left permanently disfigured emotionally and physically, she claims.

'I am ready now,' she said. 'I have my voice back. I have my courage back. And I want other people to see exactly who Serguei Beloussov is,' she told the Daily Mail.

She is seeking damages for what the lawsuit describes as profound physical, emotional and economic harm. The case, filed in December 2025, is ongoing.
When my mum died of a rare cancer, she left behind something I wasn't prepared for - a large sum of money.

On the brink of retirement after a long career as a high school principal, she'd meticulously saved up for decades to travel to far-flung places... but never got the chance.

She didnt just love travel, she favoured the kinds of countries that prompt a pause, then a question: 'Kazakhstan, anyone?'

Alongside grief came responsibility, and the unfamiliar sensation of not checking my bank balance before deciding whether I could afford new footy boots for my son.

I did what many people would do, I put faith in the person she had trusted for decades - her financial adviser.

He was an industry stalwart, dating back to the early 1980s, when financial advice came with ashtrays, shoulder pads bigger than your mortgage, a 'greed is good' mentality, and hair higher than the ASX before it all came crashing down in 1987.

Back then, diversification meant owning three bank shares and a mining giant, and ETFs hadn't even entered the vernacular.

Fast-forward to now and that same approach has been repackaged in slick platforms with layered fees, hidden costs, and enough complexity to make a simple investment feel like Wall Street-level wizardry.

Mum (pictured) was known for her hectic hiking quests in far flung places like the Arctic Circle

On the brink of retirement after a career as a high school principal, my mum (pictured centre) was diagnosed with a rare cancer that cruelly took her life after just eight months

My financial adviser recommended investing in Netwealth, a wealth management company founded in 1999 by Michael Heine (pictured left), and his son Matt Heine (pictured right)

I sat through a twohour session unpacking risk appetite and debts before the financial adviser settled on an online fintech platform called Netwealth and invested in what I thought were Vanguard ETFs. At the time, it all sounded perfectly sensible.

But the structure came at a cost I didn't fully grasp at the time.

I paid $5,500 upfront for a Statement of Advice which seemed like money well spent, followed by ongoing fees of $500 a month to the financial adviser to 'manage' the investments all while contributing $750 monthly to build my supposed 'wealth'.

At the time, I was a solo parent with a mortgage nudging half a million dollars and a truly ugly HECS debt - the lingering cost of an ultimately much-hated, impractical environmental science degree pursued in my more idealistic, Greta Thunbergish teenage years.

I immediately did all the things you're meant to do.

Wiped the debts, cranked up my super through salary sacrifice, stashed an emergency fund away and handed my financial adviser the reins to manage my investments through Netwealth.

It felt responsible at the time. In hindsight, it feels more like I outsourced decisions I didn't yet have the confidence to question.

Later, after my investment dropped $5000 in its first year I began to ask: What was I actually paying for? Who, exactly, was this structure designed to benefit?

Exchangetraded funds (ETFs) are listed on stock exchanges like the ASX and let investors buy a diversified basket of assets in a single trade

There were fees inside the funds, fees for the platform, and ongoing fees for the adviser.

I'd read The Barefoot Investor and told the adviser I wanted a setandforget portfolio of Vanguard ETFs, known for their exceptionally low management fees and longterm, passive investment returns.

But instead I was placed into Vanguard wholesale managed funds - near-identical on the surface, but actually sitting inside a complex, layered fee structure.

What I thought was a simple, low-cost investment strategy was in reality an expensive ecosystem designed to keep charging me month after month.

Same provider. Same index-tracking philosophy. Similar names. But a very different structure.

Individually, they didn't look outrageous.

Together, they were staggering.

More than $7,000 a year was disappearing in fees - up to $25,000 quietly drained from my account.

After reading Scott Pape's (pictured) book The Barefoot Investor I decided to invest in low-cost Vanguard ETFs, however my strategy was derailed by the advice of a financial planner

The investments themselves weren't the problem. They were exactly what you'd expect: boring, diversified, conservative, index-style funds.

The problem was everything wrapped around them. And leaving isn't simple either.

Now that I want to move out of Netwealth and into a lowercost structure with Vanguard directly, I can't transfer my investments in specie.

I have to liquidate everything and swallow the capital gains tax, paying, quite literally, for the privilege of leaving.

Even the exit has a toll.

Platforms like Netwealth are a goldmine. Just not for you. They're designed to make life easy for advisers: less paperwork, more control, and a reliable, ongoing stream of fees.

For clients, it feels innocuous. Your money is invested. It grows. You assume all is well.

Meanwhile, fees pile up in the background - all quietly compounding against you to eat away at your inheritance.

The Vanguard Group was founded in 1975 by the late Jack Bogle (pictured), who pioneered the lowcost index fund popular today with millions of everyday investors

The corrosive effect of fees isn't theoretical. It's basic maths.

Vanguard's own fee comparison tool shows exactly how lowcost ETFs outperform higherfee funds and platforms over time purely through the drag of fees alone.

On Vanguard's platform, the difference is stark, with microscopic fees, as little as 0.03 per cent.

There's no ongoing adviser fee, no online platform charge, no monthly deduction quietly draining your account in the background.

The Vanguard Group was founded in the 1970s by the late Jack Bogle, who pioneered the lowcost index fund.

His idea was simple and disruptive: strip out everything that gets between investors and longterm wealth - high management fees, brokers, market timing and even human emotion.

Warren Buffett once said if a statue is ever erected to honour the person who has done the most for investors, the handsdown choice should be Bogle.

Closer to home, lowcost ETFs have vocal advocates, including Barefoot Investor Scott Pape.

'These days I have roughly 95 per cent of my net worth in a handful of lowcost exchangetraded funds,' Pape writes.

'An Australian shares index fund, and a couple of international shares index funds.

'That's it. While I'm classified as a 'sophisticated investor', I believe in my bones that keeping things simple is the ultimate highnetworth strategy and one that will outperform the vast majority of professional fund managers.'

In the end, it turns out wealth isnt built by clever products and trusted advisers, its preserved by not letting too many people pad their own pockets.
A billionaire investor has issued a stark warning that the globe is already sliding into a world war, arguing that we are close to a full-blown conflict between major superpowers.

Ray Dalio, an author and founder of one of the world's largest hedge funds, Bridgewater Associates, said that the current conflicts are not isolated crises and paint a larger picture of an escalating struggle between major superpowers.

He argued that most of the public is distracted by immediate events, such as tensions with Iran, and fail to grasp the broader implications.

'For today, that is most importantly that the US-Israel-Iran war is just part of a world war that we are in and that isn't going to end anytime soon,' Dalio said.

The author of The Changing World Order, which examines the rise and fall of major empires over the last 500 years, argued that the modern conflict resembles previous world wars not through a single defining moment but through a web of overlapping wars and rivalries.

Alongside these are what he described as 'non-shooting wars' involving trade, technology, capital and geopolitical influence.

Together, they form what he calls a 'very classic world war' dynamic.

Dalio's warning lies in how global alliances are forming, with a clear alignment emerging. He says China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and Cuba are broadly opposed to a bloc led by the United States and its allies including European countries, Israel, Japan and Australia.

He pointed to United Nations voting patterns, treaties and economic ties as evidence of this division, suggesting these alignments are already influencing outcomes.

An explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran

Ray Dalio said that the current conflicts are not isolated crises but paint a larger picture of an escalating struggle between major superpowers

The billionaire argued that China and Russia appear to be 'the relative economic and geopolitical winners from this war,' while the United States remains advantaged in energy due to its position as an exporter.

Dalio pointed to what he calls the big cycle of global order in his analysis, a recurring historical pattern that leads from stability to conflict, as observed in the lead up to past wars.

According to the author, the world has already progressed to step nine in this cycle, bringing it just two away from direct confrontation between major powers.

The steps he outlined in his analysis are as follows:

The decline of dominant powers relative to rising ones Escalating economic wars such as sanctions and trade blockages The formation of economic, military and ideological alliances An increase in proxy wars Financial stress, deficits and debts increase, especially for the leading powers that are most overextended financially. Government control increases over critical industries and supply chains The weaponisation of trade chokepoints Powerful new technologies for war are built rapidly Multi-theatre conflicts increasingly happen simultaneously Suppression of internal dissent, as loyal support for the country's leadership is demanded and opposition to the war and other policies is squashed Direct military combat between major powers takes place There are big increases in taxes, debt issuance, money creation, FX controls, capital controls and financial repression to finance the wars. In some cases, markets are shut down Eventually, one side beats the other and gains indisputable control of the new order, which is designed by the winning side

The author says China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and Cuba are broadly opposed to a bloc led by the United States, governed by Donald Trump

An enormous explosion rocks Iran's capital Tehran following a strike by Israeli military

While wars between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Hamas, and the US and Israel's conflict with Iran dominate the headlines, the picture is further complicated by other conflicts, such as the ongoing civil wars in Sudan and Yemen, as well as the volatile clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Recent weeks have witnessed several escalations, including Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the subsequent threats from the US, which can be classified as stage seven of the big cycle.

Driven by fears of long-term supply shortages, oil prices experienced their fastest surge of any recent conflict, with Brent crude breaching US$100 a barrel on March 8 for the first time in four years before peaking at US$126.

The closure of the strait is being hailed as the most significant energy supply disruption since the 1970s and the largest in global oil market history.

Meanwhile, stage eight has been quietly observed over the past several years as Russia and Iran exchange drone technology and production tips to expand capacity.

And stage ten is already visible in Iran, where the regimes brutal crackdown on dissent - threatening and killing those who speak out - makes a popular uprising virtually impossible.

Dalio compared the current moment to the periods just before the First and Second World Wars, stressing that wars rarely begin with a single defining event.

Instead, they are preceded by warning signs such as rising military stockpiles, increasing debt and money printing, as well as nations testing each other's strengths and weaknesses.

The First World War, for example, was sparked by the assassination of an Austrian crown prince by a Serbian anarchist on a bridge in Sarajevo.

Within days, a global war had begun due to a complex system of alliances that compelled other nations to join the fight.

In 1939, Adolf Hitlers invasion of Poland was the trigger for Britain, France and the Anglosphere outside the US to enter the Second World War.

Japan had also invaded China in 1937. As time went on, other global superpowers including Russia and the US found themselves sucked into the conflict  and the whole planet was aflame by 1941.

Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran in January. The uprisings were violently crushed by the regime

One worrying aspect is a major vulnerability in the US, one of the world's largest superpowers.

Dalio pointed to the country's global military footprint, with '750-800 military bases in 70-80 countries,' as evidence of overextension.

'It is also obvious that overextended powers cannot successfully fight wars on two or more fronts,' he added.

This raises doubts about America's ability to respond to simultaneous crises in regions such as Asia and Europe while already engaged in the Middle East, which should concern allies who will rely on Washington for support.

He suggested that while the US remains the most powerful country, it may be less capable of sustaining prolonged hardship compared to its rivals.

'As history has shown, the most reliable indicator of which country is likely to win is not which is most powerful; it is which can endure the most pain the longest.'

Writing in the Daily Mail last month, Sir Richard Shirreff came to a similar conclusion, saying: 'I cannot remember a more perilous moment in geopolitics in my lifetime  and I am now 70.'

He argued that Western attention being focused on protecting allies in the Gulf and countering Iran's response, Vladimir Putin would double down on his four-year campaign to seize Ukraine as a result of American missiles being needed elsewhere.

Sir Richard added: 'Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have all been held by Russia at various times in their history, but are now NATO as well as EU members. Putin is 73 and widely suspected to be in poor health. He may feel he has one last opportunity to secure his place in history and restore the glories of the motherland by expanding its western frontiers.'

Any such invasion, he said, would further destabilise the transatlantic alliance, which is already weakened by Trump and NATO's struggling relationship.

The former deputy supreme allied commander of NATO in Europe further predicted that Chinese president Xi Jinping will seize the opportunity to launch his longedfor invasion of Taiwan, perhaps as soon as 2027.

Russian soldiers in Ukraine fire toward enemy positions during the war in January

would

He added: 'Trump has preferred to maintain Americas longstanding position of strategic ambiguity towards the island: that is, not promising any military response if China invades, while simultaneously seeking to deter any such incursion. But his predecessor Joe Biden might have been more honest when, once asked whether Americadefend Taiwan, he replied simply: "Yes."'

Dalio warned that other countries are watching closely and adjusting their strategies accordingly, as alliances become fragile.

The outcome of the US-Iran conflict, he said, will influence decisions by leaders around the world, potentially reshaping the global order.

Sir Richard continued: 'The world order has changed from a multilateral rules-based world order led by the dominant US power and its allies to a might-is-right world order with no single dominant power enforcing order.'

This shift, he argued, makes further conflict more likely, as there is no longer a clear authority capable of maintaining global stability.

He warned that at this stage in the cycle, conflicts typically intensify rather than fade.

'Circumstances like the inability to resolve irreconcilable disputes with compromises typically drive one stage in the cycle unavoidably to the next until there is a violent resolution,' he added.
The Hollywood dream appears to have turned into a nightmare, with thousands of Angelenos fleeing the city.

A total of 53,934 people left Los Angeles County between July 2024 and July 2025, according to the latest population data from the US Census.

Former residents who spoke to the Daily Mail blamed high rents and crime-ridden streets for their decision to abandon the Democrat-run city, which is also in the grip of a joblessness crunch.

Last month a Daily Mail photographer found sidewalks in the city's famous Venice Beach neighborhood covered with makeshift homeless encampments. Residents say used needles and garbage strewn across the street is a daily occurrence.

And in the dark hours, prostitutes linger on the corners hoping for business while police look the other way.

Sherly Rivera Feher, 30, moved from Koreatown in LA to Overland Park, Kansas, in December. The native Angeleno had finally had enough.

Feher told the Daily Mail that she and her husband were begrudgingly paying $3,800 a month for their two-bedroom apartment near Glendale that was steps away from a number of homeless people and prostitutes.

'It started to get really pricey, and we also just didn't feel safe at all,' Feher said.

A Daily Mail photographer found sidewalks in the city's famous Venice Beach neighborhood covered with makeshift homeless encampments

The homelessness and drug crisis was cited by some of the more than 53,000 people who left LA County between July 2024 and July 2025

'Paying that much, we were hoping to at least get some safety as well... There are needles on the floor and everything [in Koreatown], and just a lot of the mental illness and drug addiction out there.'

After visiting her sister in Kansas, the couple, who hope to one day have children, decided they liked the slower pace of life in the Midwest and found the area to be more suitable for raising a family.

Her brother still lives in Koreatown and raises a son there. It hurts her to see her nephew living in a neighborhood surrounded by drug addiction and mental illness.

'It just pains me to know that my nephew is exposed to all that. And when we have kids, we just don't want them to be exposed to any of those things,' Feher told the Daily Mail.

Feher saw a huge change in Los Angeles after the pandemic, when the homeless population increased, rising to more than 72,000 people in 2025.

As she drove to her grocery store job at 4am, Feher said she'd often see prostitutes lining the corners. Police often did nothing about it, she claimed, and it made her wary of driving through the area to get to work.

'I would drive past that area every day, and you would see police officers just driving by, but nothing would be done about the prostitution,' she told the Daily Mail.

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Given the explosion of problems, Feher said LA's exodus does not surprise her.

'I just think it's gotten way too out of control, but I do hope that someday they're able to fix this, give more resources to homeless people, help them with drug addiction, mental illness, whatever it may be,' she said.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Kolby Lee, spokesperson for Democrat mayor Karen Bass, hit back: 'Facts matter: LA is safer than its been in decades, including declines in violent crime for the last two years and homicides at a 60-year low.

'And while homelessness is rising across the country, Mayor Bass has reduced street homelessness here by nearly 18 percent.

'Of course the cost of living is too darn high. And its been pushed even higher by bad decisions out of Washington - from tariffs to global instability thats driving up gas prices.'

But Feher isn't the only one citing crime and cost of living as the reasons they left LA.

Matthew Thomas recently moved to Illinois from LA after spending a decade in the City of Angels and even raising a daughter there.

'I'm so done with LA, dude! I'm so done!' Thomas said in a July TikTok video as he angrily strummed his guitar.

Native Angeleno, Sherly Rivera Feher, 30, and her husband moved to Kansas in December after growing tired of feeling safe in their neighborhood and paying high rent

The final straw for him was a homeless person trespassing on his property after climbing over the fence and sitting in his yard.

'It's bulls**t! They don't do anything about these people. It's some transient, drugged-up loser... It scared the living daylights out of my wife and daughter who's out there.

'He's just chilling, drugged up out of his mind.'

Thomas was eventually able to get the man to leave, but said it took the LAPD more than an hour to respond to his call.

The homeless man then came back to the fence, and police were able to apprehend him. After running his record, police informed Thomas the man allegedly had prior convictions, including for assault, and was breaking his probation.

'So that's the state of how things are in California, and LA specifically,' said Thomas. 'Forgive me if I'm saying I'm tired of it and don't want to live here anymore because it sucks.'

Days later, another homeless guy was found standing on Thomas' driveway with a cart of tortillas and apples, he said in a follow-up video.

'I need to be gone. I cannot be in this city anymore,' he said. 'I can't leave the house without them throwing a homeless guy party somewhere on our property.

Matthew Thomas moved to Illinois after having homeless people trespass on their property, scaring his family. 'I can't leave the house without them throwing a homeless guy party somewhere on our property,' Thomas said in a TikTok video

'There's a lot of great places to live in this country. I don't know why I would subject myself to the income tax of this state, to the homeless problem of this state, and to the inattention of the government to this state.'

In March, he moved his family to Illinois near Chicago.

'[LA] wasn't the same city that I moved to 10 years ago,' he said, citing the cost of living, the constant wildfires, and the homelessness crisis.

For many, the high-taxed state isn't worth the cost of their sanity and safety.

'There is a real sense of burnout,' Robert Rivani, who moved his company to Miami, told Fox News Digital. 'They are paying insane taxes and getting absolutely nothing in return.

'People feel like theyre living in a place thats draining them financially and in exchange theyre dealing with rising crime, shrinking services, and a sense that everyone around them is trying to leave too.'

Compass Realtor Chad Carroll told the outlet he had a client whose house was broken into twice.

'These are individuals who have spent their lives building businesses and wealth, and they feel that California has become a place that takes everything and gives back very little in terms of safety, infrastructure and opportunity,' he said.

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Despite the sense of unease, crime was down 12.4 percent in 2025 compared to 2024, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Robbery and aggravated assault were around the same, with 2,328 armed robberies in 2024 compared to 2,235 in 2025. With aggravated assault, there were 9,939 in 2024 and 9,935 in 2025. But overall violent crime was down in the county.

In the most recent LAPD statistics, crime is down 3.4 percent citywide compared to the same time last year, with only aggravated assaults up one percent.

Homicide is down 16.2 percent and robbery is down 8.2 percent, police statistics showed.

As for rising rent, 2026 is starting to see a dip in prices, with it hitting a four-year low in January. The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the metro area is $2,167 and $2,030 in the county, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Prior to January, renters faced rising prices for years and many were being priced out of the city.

Although it is unclear where Angelenos are fleeing to, many counties in Texas gained tens of thousands of new residents.

Harris County, which includes Houston, gained 48,695 new residents. Collin County, which contains parts of Plano, gained 42,966 residents, the Census said.

Los Angeles saw the highest amount of those ditching it for a bright future. Three other counties - Orange, San Diego, and Ventura - also saw thousands leave

Meanwhile, four California counties - Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and Ventura - saw losses, with LA suffering the worst. The other three counties saw fewer than 10,000 people leave.

California had the biggest losses per county, followed by Florida.

The Golden State had four counties in the top 10 with declining populations, with a total of 70,328 people leaving LA, San Diego, Orange, and Ventura counties.

Florida took the second and third spots behind Los Angeles, with a total of 21,949 people leaving the Sunshine State from those counties.

LA Mayor Karen Bass, who is running for reelection, has been criticized for the state of the City of Angels and its high crime rates and growing homeless population.

Last month, the mayor was embarrassed again after a man was discovered living in a manhole for a year.

He was discovered by city workers who were planning on sealing a storm drain.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the LAPD for comment.
'It's good to be back home.'

Those are the words that Savannah Guthrie shared in her first moments back co-hosting NBC's The Today Show on Monday, after spending nearly two months off air following the disappearance of her mother Nancy in February.

Speaking to the Daily Mail in the wake of Guthrie's return, an insider at Today said that the anchor was 'welcomed with open arms, lots of hugs, some tears, some smiles' on her first day back.

'Everyone is very supportive,' the source said. 'No drama.'

Well, not on the surface at least. Though Guthrie, 54, put on a brave face for her first day back at work, that same day two new ransom notes were sent to TMZ, including one that claimed Nancy was dead. A cruel move, the Daily Mail understands, that law enforcement does not believe to present any sort of credible lead.

Ultimately, the new notes are a grim reminder for Guthrie that the horror of the last few months is far from over.

In fact, the Daily Mail has learned that execs at NBC have a strategy for what will happen if Guthrie's return turns out to be temporary, as well as what will take place in the event that a major development happens in her mother's case while Guthrie is live on-air.

If that happens, we have been told, Guthrie will be alerted with a specific phrase, pulled from the broadcast and briefed.

Savannah Guthrie returned to the Today Show on April 6

An insider at Today said that the anchor was 'welcomed with open arms, lots of hugs, some tears, some smiles' on her first day back.

'We would pull her immediately, mid-segment if we had to,' an insider told the Daily Mail. 'She would understand that there was news about her mom and we'd take into an office and tell her, at the same time that another anchor would report it as a breaking story.

'We would never in a million years have her report on the developments unless she wanted to. She knows if one of the producers tells her she's "needed off set" that there's a development.'

Guthrie, the source said, 'trusts us to tell the story respectfully we would never want to hurt her.'

But the harsh reality is that, if there is news to report, the network will not hold it out of sensitivity for their anchor  something which, we are told, Guthrie has accepted.

'Savannah understands that she has a public who is very invested in Nancy's story, and understands that we wouldn't necessarily wait for her to find out before reporting it,' the source said. 'She has a couple of people here who are close with her and they will be there to support her.'

Clad in a sunny yellow dress and a yellow heart necklace in the same bright hue as the flowers and ribbons that neighbors have left outside of her mother's Arizona home, Guthrie gave little indication of any stress or uncertainty behind-the-scenes on Monday.

She smiled bravely and maintained her composure during the broadcast, save for a teary interaction with fans who were wearing yellow ribbons and carrying signs showing their support for Guthrie during a segment filmed outside Rockefeller Center.

'These signs are so beautiful,' Guthrie said. 'You guys have been so beautiful. I received so many letters - so much kindness to me and my family. We feel it. We feel your prayers, so thank you so much.'

Nancy (right) went missing on February 1, which saw Guthrie temporarily leave her post as a Today Show anchor

The 84-year-old went missing from her Arizona home (pictured)

In March, Guthrie sat down with Hoda Kotb for a two-part interview following her mother's disappearance

But beyond her loyal viewership, the Daily Mail is told that Guthrie also has the full support of the network, including top leadership who 'have had her back the entire time whether she wanted to come back or not.'

According to the source, when Guthrie returned in March for her first interview about her mother's disappearance with former Today co-host Hoda Kotb, who filled in for Guthrie during her absence, Guthrie told NBC that she was interested in returning to her co-hosting duties 'around now.'

That, the source added, would 'give her enough family time and to see if there was anything promising to happen with her mom's search.'

Kotb's revealing interview with Guthrie was reportedly the source of some behind-the-scenes ire at Today, with Guthrie's co-host Craig Melvin allegedly feeling 'devastated' that he was 'passed over' for the interview. An insider told the Daily Mail at the time that, in fact, 'he wasn't even asked.'

Nancy's disappearance came mere weeks after Guthrie underwent vocal cord surgery that forced her to take time off, a temporary departure that at the time elicited cruel comments from colleagues. A source previously told the Daily Mail that, without the anchor on set, there was 'less tension' and felt 'more collaborative.'

Peers, however, were left riddled with guilt after the news of Guthrie's family tragedy broke, with one insider telling the Daily Mail that it was 'a wakeup call.'

Guthrie's co-host Craig Melvin (right) allegedly felt 'devastated' that he was 'passed over' for the interview that ultimately went to Kotb

The network has developed a contingency plan for Guthrie (pictured visiting the Today Show on March 5) should there be an update about her mother

In the wake of the presenter's return, however, 'everyone is happy that she is back and welcomed her with open arms,' a source said.

'Not one person has openly stated that she shouldn't be back. It was her decision and everyone was for whatever her decision would be,' the source said. 'They all love her. It is a family, and that is what she needs right now.'

But although Guthrie appears to be back for good, if the Today host needs to take time off again, NBC will accommodate her needs.

'If she isn't feeling it, or needs more time off, she will be given it,' the source added. 'Whether Hoda would be the one to replace her is another conversation. They would love to have Savannah back full time, but if she has to leave, they will allow her, but they anticipate she is back for good.'

The Daily Mail has contacted NBC for comment.

After her 84-year-old mother was reported missing, from her home in Tucson, Arizona on February 1, Guthrie flew to the state to be with her family, as authorities searched in what remains an ongoing investigation involving both the Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI.

Now, ten weeks into the search, Nancy is still missing and no suspects have been identified - despite a $1 million reward from the Guthrie family for anyone who can provide information that leads to the return of their mother and an additional $100,000 reward offered by the FBI.

The source is clear that reporting on Nancy would be in full support of Guthrie, who remains hopeful that her mother will be found.

'To talk about her mom is only a good thing, to keep her memory alive, to keep the story out there,' the source said.

'Nobody was told to not talk about her mom. Her mom is on her sleeve and in her heart and coming back is what her mom would want. So everyone is championing answers and will talk about her mom any time Savannah would like to talk about her.'
'Don't scream or I'll hurt you.' Those were the chilling last words seven-year-old Athena Strand heard before she was abducted and murdered in rural Texas in November 2022.

Athena lived in Paradise, Texas, with her father and stepmother. Her family described her as bright, energetic, loving and curious.

She especially loved toys, which made the events of November 30, 2022, even more heartbreaking.

That day, Athena was expecting a Christmas delivery consisting of a box of Barbie dolls. The package arrived at her home carried by former FedEx driver, Tanner Horner.

Before the delivery, Athena had reportedly argued with her stepmother, Elizabeth Strand. The girl was last seen at around 5.45pm.

Elizabeth later went looking for her at half-past 6, telling authorities she had not realized Athena had gone outside, likely heading to her makeshift bedroom in a shed where the child was sleeping while the home was under construction.

The only thing she noticed that was unusual or out of place was a Walmart parcel containing the Christmas present she had ordered for Athena.

It had been dropped in front of an abandoned trailer that was on the property.

Strand was snatched by Horner as he dropped off a package containing a Christmas gift for the youngster  a box of Barbie dolls

Athena Strand is filmed being driven to her death by kidnapper Tanner Horner. He admitted the November 2022 murder in court on Tuesday

Athena was reported missing that same day, and a 72-hour search began, involving over 200 members of the community.

When the search party failed to find the child, investigators focused on Horner, who had been delivering packages in the neighborhood during the time of her disappearance.

A SWAT team searched his home where they found items of Athena's clothing, including her socks and underwear thrown in a bin.

When apprehended, Horner confessed to killing the child, initially framing Athena's death as an accident.

He claimed he struck the girl with his delivery van while backing up near her home.

Later changing his story, Horner admitted to investigators that Athena was alive after the incident, claiming the child was speaking and even told him her name.

He said he panicked, fearing Athena would tell her father what had happened and that he would lose his job.

Instead of getting help, Horner put Athena in his truck and drove away.

Horner admitted he drove around for a while trying to decide what to do before eventually driving down a private road where he told Athena to turn around before murdering her.

He confessed he tried to break her neck. When that failed, the affidavit states he strangled her in the back of the van 'with his bare hands.'

After killing Athena, Horner dumped her body beside a country road near a river, around nine miles from her home.

But the FedEx driver led Texas Rangers on a wild goose chase to 'help' them find Athena, bringing them to a bamboo thicket where he claimed he 'tossed' her body.

However, it was then revealed he was lying, and he eventually led them to Bobo's Crossing on the Trinity River near Boyd, Texas, where the child's body was found on December 2.

Athena was naked when she was discovered, and prosecutors indicated there was DNA evidence of sexual assault.

Horner was subsequently charged with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping.

Now, more than three years later, as her killer faces the possibility of the death penalty, disturbing testimonies and new evidence are exposing what prosecutors describe as a calculated 'web of lies' behind Athena's death.

When he was formally indicted on February 16, 2023, Horner initially pleaded not guilty.

Sgt. Job Espinoza, lead investigator in the Texas Rangers' search for Athena, testified that when investigators asked Horner to revisit what happened on that private road, Horner described the attack as feeling like a 'dream' or an out-of-body experience, and that a 'little voice' was telling him what to do.

As the investigation unfolded, detectives said Horner began repeatedly referring to an alter ego called 'Zero.'

Espinoza testified that Horner mentioned 'Zero' multiple times during interviews. He said Horner told investigators it was something he and his wife had discussed in the past and that he had made it up.

At one point, while investigators stepped out of the room, Horner wrote 'Zero' on a whiteboard.

Espinoza said they eventually leaned into the persona as an interview technique to gather information and locate Athena.

'His demeanor, physical demeanor changes,' Espinoza testified. 'His head goes into a sideways motion. His eyes roll into the back of the head, and he pretends to turn into 'Zero.'

Horner also told investigators, 'If I say too much, Zero is going to hurt me.'

He asked them, 'How can you stop me from hurting me?' and warned, 'Zero is telling me this is all a trap.'

As the investigation unfolded, detectives said Horner (pictured) began repeatedly referring to an alter ego called 'Zero'

The box of Barbies that Athena was supposed to receive on Christmas

Espinoza told the court Horner appeared emotional and fidgety during questioning but seemed detached from the gravity of the crime.

'Horner showed little understanding of the seriousness of the situation, lacked a clear grasp of the gravity of what had happened,' Espinoza said.

During one particularly disturbing moment at Horner's questioning, investigators asked whether the FedEx driver had 'stripped [Athena] naked to throw her clothes out the window.'

To which Horner replied: 'I thought it was funny.'

Upon his arrest, investigators discovered that Horner had a child of his own.

During questioning, the FedEx driver seemed more preoccupied with how his imprisonment would ruin his child's life than with the murder he had just committed.

'I'm going to miss out on this part of my child's f***ing life, OK? I can't,' Horner said.

'This isn't one of those probation things. This is one of those I'm going away for a long time things, and I'm going to miss out on all of my f***ing son's life. I would rather die.'

In a separate interview, Horner begged law enforcement for one month to spend with his family.

'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,' he pleaded.

Years after Athena's death, prosecutors are now arguing that Horner's original account was itself a fabrication.

At Horner's capital murder trial this week, prosecutors unveiled a newly released black-and-white image from inside the FedEx truck taken on the day Athena died.

The photo shows Athena alive inside the vehicle, standing behind Horner and appearing concerned while he drives.

Prosecutors say the image contradicts Horner's initial claim that she had been fatally injured after being struck by the truck.

'She wasn't alive when I put her in the truck,' Horner had earlier told police.

Wise County District Attorney James Stainton told jurors that evidence will prove otherwise.

'I'll tell you right now, you're going to see right up front here. She was very much alive and very much uninjured when he put her in the truck,' Stainton said.

'The pattern and web of lies that he put together, it's going to be hard for y'all to keep up with. It is lie upon lie, upon lie, upon lie,' he told the court.

'What's the story that was told in the beginning? That he hit her with the truck? That he somehow freaked out because he thought he was going to lose his job, or she was going to tell on him. He picked her up, still freaked out and killed her.'

The attorney claimed: 'That is an absolute lie. There is no truth to that in any form or fashion. None. Zero. ZIP. Not of nudge. No truth to that whatsoever.

'The first thing Tanner Horner says to Athena when he picks her up and puts her in that truck, he leans down and he says: "Don't scream or I'll hurt you." He says that twice.'

During his hearing at court in Forth Worth on Thursday, Horner was asked whether he put Strand in his truck out of fear of losing his job or freedom.

'I wasn't worried about the "losing my freedom" part because, honestly, that's an honest accident,' Horner said.

'You know what I mean? Like, all it would take is going up there and just talking to the parents, and saying like, "Hey, I accidentally bumped your daughter." Like, there's more jobs out there, you know what I mean?'

Horner said he tried to calm Strand down, but when he was unsuccessful, his alter-ego 'Zero' 'kind of took over.'

'He (Zero) told her, "Just get in the back of the van, we're going to go to the hospital",' Horner said.

Horner said Zero killed Strand: 'I didn't do it, but he did, and that's what f***s with me... I'm wondering who the hell's been in my head this whole time,' he said.

'Part of me is in denial because I didn't pull the trigger,' Horner said.

Tanner Horner during questioning by investigators following the murder of Athena Strand

Athena Strand's (pictured) mother has said she supports the death penalty being given to her daughter's killer

Jurors were warned they will hear horrifying audio allegedly recorded during Athena's final moments.

According to prosecutors, although a camera inside Horner's truck was covered during the killing, audio continued recording.

'You're going to hear what a 250-pound man can do to a 67-pound child,' Stainton said.

Compounding the horror surrounding the case, Horner is also facing separate allegations involving children.

On top of the murder charges, he has been charged with sexually assaulting a child nearly a decade ago and faces three additional counts of sexually abusing a child in Fort Worth in 2013.

On Wednesday, Horner appeared before State District Judge George Gallagher as charges of capital murder of a child under 10 and aggravated kidnapping were read aloud, and changed his plea.

When Horner was asked how he pleaded, he said: 'Guilty, your honor.'

Because of the guilty plea, the guilt-innocence phase of trial was skipped. The jury is now focused solely on deciding Horner's punishment.

Under Texas law, capital murder of a child under 10 qualifies Horner for the death penalty. Horner's defense team, however, is fighting to spare his life.

Earlier this year, his attorneys filed motions arguing that Horner's autism spectrum disorder should exempt him from execution.

'Mr. Horner's autism spectrum disorder (ASD) reduces his moral blameworthiness, negates the retributive and deterrent purposes of capital punishment, and exposes him to the unacceptable risk that he will be wrongfully sentenced to death,' one filing stated.

Defense attorney Steven Goble also told jurors Horner had been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome as a child and had been exposed to lead during his developmental years.

'You don't have to be a scientist or doctor to know that lead has terrible effects on the brain,' Goble said.

While acknowledging the evidence against his client is overwhelming, Goble argued that life in prison without parole is punishment enough.

But for Athena's loved ones, only the harshest sentence feels just.

Shortly after her daughter's murder, Athena's mother Maitlyn Gandy spoke publicly about the devastating loss.

'Athena was robbed of the opportunity to be anything she wanted to be. And this present, ordered out of innocence and love is one she will never receive,' Gandy said.

'I was robbed of watching [Athena] grow up by a man that everyone was supposed to be able to trust to do just one simple task: deliver a Christmas present and leave.'

After Horner was indicted, Gandy made her stance on punishment very clear.

'I support the death penalty. In any sentencing that may come,' she told WFAA. 'Every breath he takes is one my daughter doesn't.'

'If I could sit down in front of him, I would tell him that he is nothing, but that Athena is absolutely everything  and I will make sure that everybody in this world knows that he is nothing and that she is everything,' the grieving mother added.

After Athena's murder, other family members spoke out, including her grandfather, who offered a heartbreaking message of forgiveness to her murderer.

Mark Strand said despite part of him wanting 'five minutes alone in a cell' with Tanner Horner, he decided to listen to another part that told him forgiveness was the only way for him and his family to recover.

'This man I am is angry, and I want five minutes alone in a cell with the psycho that took our Athena away from us, but there's a soft, gentle voice in the back of my head telling me I need to forgive him,' he wrote in an emotional Facebook post.

'If I allow this hate to consume me, that voice will fade and eventually be silenced. Then that ugly spirit of hate will have succeeded and that's why this gentle voice persists to tell me I need to forgive this man.'

The trial continues.
A Minnesota millionaire was able to receive more than $6,000 in taxpayer-funded food stamps after qualifying through a little-known state rule, highlighting how eligibility for the program can extend beyond traditional income limits.

Rob Undersander, a retired engineer who volunteers helping seniors navigate government benefits, applied for assistance in 2016 in Stearns County despite exceeding standard asset thresholds and was approved within weeks.

He went on to receive payments for 19 months, totaling more than $6,000.

Undersander said he applied to test the system after discovering during training that Minnesota eligibility could be based on income alone, allowing people with substantial assets to qualify. He added that his low retirement income made him eligible despite his savings, and he later donated the money to charity.

I strongly support SNAP benefits for truly needy individuals, but when we have nearly one in seven Americans receiving food support in the wealthiest nation on earth, with historically low unemployment rate, something is wrong, Undersander told Fox News Digital.

One might call the current eligibility rules fraud by design. And given the current climate of fraud and abuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Minnesota, I'm hoping that there will be a new bipartisan effort to reduce and eliminate both.

He testified before the Minnesota House Public Safety Committee on March 24 during a hearing on a SNAP reform bill introduced by GOP state Representative Pam Altendorf.

I have purchased lobster and filet mignon on my EBT card, he told Fox News Digital. Isn't that crazy?

Rob Undersander said he applied to SNAP in 2016 and collected benefits for 19 months before donating the money

Undersander said he applied to test the system after discovering during training that Minnesota eligibility could be based on income alone, allowing people with substantial assets to qualify

His case has drawn renewed attention as Minnesota grapples with a wider public benefits fraud scandal that officials warn could reach tens of billions of dollars, with lawmakers weighing tighter eligibility rules.

Under federal rules, people can access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, either by meeting financial thresholds or by qualifying for other welfare-related benefits.

States are given flexibility in determining what counts as a qualifying benefit, which can include non-cash services such as informational materials or access to support programs.

That flexibility stems from guidance introduced in 1999 under the Bill Clinton administration and later expanded during the Barack Obama administration.

The policy is commonly referred to as Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility and is currently used in more than 40 states and Washington, DC.

Government data shows that SNAP serves tens of millions of Americans each year, including working families, children, older adults and people with disabilities.

The program is also subject to annual reviews that track payment accuracy, including both overpayments and underpayments.

SNAP spending reached $128 billion in 2021 and $127 billion in 2022, driven in part by expanded access during the pandemic.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz testifies during the House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing investigating fraud in Minnesota state social services, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on March 4, 2026

On October 31, 2025, a small group of activists from Minnesota based rights groups held a press conference to discuss the impact of the government shutdown and resulting cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) assistance

Last year, the program cost $99.8 billion, with participants receiving an average of $187 in monthly benefits, according to federal data.

In Minnesota, benefits totaled nearly $725 million in 2020 before rising to almost $2 billion in 2021, marking a 174 percent increase in a single year.

A federal policy set to take effect in 2027 will require states with higher payment error rates to share a portion of SNAP costs, a shift that could prompt some states to revisit how eligibility is determined.

A proposed bill in Minnesota would tighten eligibility rules by requiring stricter income and asset verification before applicants can enroll.

Over the past decade, Undersander has become a vocal advocate for reform, including testifying before Congress, but has said little has changed.

Some states have already moved to scale back expanded eligibility rules, while federal officials have proposed changes in the past, including during the administration of Donald Trump.

Undersander's case underscores how current rules can operate in practice, particularly in states that have adopted broader eligibility standards.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Undersander, Tim Walz's office, Representative Altendorf, and Minnesota's Department of Children, Family and Youth.
NEW YORK, April 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO) between May 10, 2021 and February 21, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important May 1, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.

So what: If you purchased Apollo Global securities 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 Apollo Global class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=1323 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 1, 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 achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Details of the case: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) defendants Marc Rowan and Leon Black, among other leadership figures at Apollo Global, frequently communicated with Jeffrey Epstein in the 2010s regarding Apollo Global's business; (2) as a result, Apollo Global's assertion that Apollo Global had never done business with Jeffrey Epstein was untrue; (3) because of the entanglement between Apollo Global's leaders and Jeffrey Epstein, the harm to Apollo Global's reputation was more than a mere possibility; and (4) as a result, defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Apollo Global class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=1323 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 or 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

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Though Americans believe that the US has won its war against Iran, most say it was not worth starting at all.

As Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner enter negotiations with Iranian leaders in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday, Americans feel bolstered that the US has come out on top in the conflict that's in its second month.

The price tag on the six-week offensive is estimated to cost taxpayers roughly $35 billion, according to the American Enterprise Institute.

Over 13,000 targets were hit inside of Iran, with over 10,000 flight missions completed - including 62 bombers - and the operation included 50,000 personnel.

The latest Daily Mail/JL Partners survey of over 1,000 registered voters found that a third - 33 percent - believe President Donald Trump's war against the Islamic Republic has been a resounding victory.

Just 13 percent called it a victory for Iran, while a quarter, 24 percent, said the conflict was a draw, and 30 percent remain unsure.

Surprisingly, just over half of Trump voters - 58 percent - say the war was a victory despite MAGA allies publicly slamming the operation.

President Donald Trump has claimed victory in the Iran war, and the latest Daily Mail/JL Partners survey finds that a third of American voters agree

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Trump himself has repeatedly claimed victory: 'You never like to say too early you won. We won. In the first hour it was over.'

But after a ceasefire deal was struck late Tuesday, there have been reported bombings across the Middle East after the fact, putting the temporary two-week armistice on shaky ground as the American delegation enters talks with their Iranian counterparts.

However, American voters were much more pessimistic about whether the war was a worthwhile endeavor.

When asked if the war was worth fighting, the most popular answer was 'definitely not.'

Half of the respondents - 50 percent - said the war was either probably or definitely not worth it. On the other hand, 38 percent said that the war is worth fighting.

In addition, nearly half of respondents - 49 percent - believe that Trump has fallen short of his objectives in the military campaign, and the outcome is not a clear success.

Conversely, 30 percent said Trump has achieved his desired outcome; just 52 percent of the President's supporters say the Republican has gotten what he wanted.

Despite the President's repeated claim that the US has obliterated Iran's nuclear program, just 5 percent of respondents said they believe all the capabilities are destroyed.

A similar result was found when asking about another central claim the President and his team have said; only 6 percent think Iran's non-nuclear missile capabilities are destroyed.

The price tag on the six-week offensive is estimated to be around $35 billion, according to the American Enterprise Institute.

Keeping the US war machine running while tens of thousands of troops are stationed on the other side of the globe is a costly logistical game with staggering numbers.

The price tag on the six-week offensive is estimated to be around $35 billion, according to the American Enterprise Institute

Just 5 percent of survey respondents believe that US forces have destroyed all of Iran's nuclear capabilities

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine said that US forces have consumed 6 million meals during Operation Epic Fury so far

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine noted that American troops have consumed a mind-numbing amount of caffeine and nicotine as they keep pressure on the regime.

'Along the way, we consumed more than 6 million meals, and by my estimate, more than 950,000 gallons of coffee, 2 million energy drinks, and a lot of nicotine, but I am not saying that we have a problem,' he said at a press conference this week.

The Trump administration has already circulated a request for an additional $200 billion for the Pentagon.

Though that number may come down, officials have reportedly said.
An American man who married four women got away with it because Canada does not check for prior marriage licenses.

Jason Washington, 46, of New York, was able to marry multiple women despite it being illegal to marry more than one person at a time.

Washington married at least three women in British Columbia and one in New York before the women found out they were not his only wife, two of them told CTV News.

Emma, a pseudonym one of the women uses, said she would not have married Washington if his prior marriage licenses had been flagged.

'One hundred percent, I wouldn't have married him,' she told the outlet. 'I wouldnt have done any of these things.'

The pair got hitched in 2014 after the former US Marine proposed just a month into their relationship.

'He said all the right things, like he knew exactly what I needed,' she said.

Little did she know her husband had recently pleaded guilty to the charge of 'uttering a threat' in a different relationship, or that he had another wife he was going through divorce proceedings with.

The former marine said it was his wives' job to look into his prior marriages

Court records obtained by CTV News showed that the 2013 divorce proceedings in British Columbia between him and his first wife were never finalized.

Four years after marrying Emma, Washington would marry another woman, who uses the pseudonym Sara.

Sara said she had 'absolutely no idea' there were two other women legally married to her husband. 'I was shocked that there were other women,' she told CTV News.

In 2021, Washington would marry his fourth wife in New York, where he currently resides. They have since divorced and Emma and Sara are looking into ways of separating themselves from Washington.

The Canadian women said the British Columbia government approved their licenses without any problems, despite bigamy being illegal.

The case has drawn attention to the method spouses or prospective spouses can use to check past marriage records. Canadians can pay C$50 ($36 USD) to search if their partners have been married before, however, their significant other has to sign off on the search, CTV News said.

The only province in Canada that requires the government to check for prior licenses is Quebec.

The other nine provinces rely on people being honest on their forms, which have them check a box to say if they are divorced, widowed, or never married.

Washington was previously thrown in jail after killing a man in a drunk driving accident

Although incorrectly filing a form is illegal, it is rarely ever prosecuted.

British Columbia's Ministry of Citizens Services approved more than 28,500 marriages last year.

Despite the betrayal, Washington washed his hands of any wrongdoing, telling CTV News that it was his wives' job to look into his relationship history.

'That was a womans job. That was my soon-to-be wifes job to do all that,' he said.

'Ive always been up front, 100 per cent, about who Ive been married to and who I haven't. They all talk to each other, bro. Theyre women,' Washington responded.

'These are women I loved for many, many years,' he added.

When contacted by the Daily Mail, Washington said: 'I have nothing to say.'

In all 50 US states and Canada, bigamy, the act of marrying more than one person at a time, is considered a crime.

This is not Washington's first experience with a scandal, as he was previously thrown in jail in Buffalo after killing a man in a drunk driving accident.

Washington was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in 2022 after he crossed the double yellow line on Seneca Street and crashed his vehicle into another, killing a man.

The other driver, Thomas Shoemaker, 57, was killed. Washington and a female passenger were left injured and taken to the hospital.

He pleaded guilty to the crime in October of that year and spent a little more than three years in jail before his release in 2024, records showed.

When asked about his criminal record, Washington said he was convicted of the crime because he suffers from 'dissociative episodes from f**king combat.'

He went on to lash out at the CTV News reporter, telling him: 'You f**king t***!'

According to military records reviewed by the outlet, Washington was court martialed for 'bad conduct.' He served from August 1997 to October 2001.
Two of the five men Ben Roberts-Smith is accused of murdering while serving with the Special Air Service in Afghanistan have never been identified by war crimes investigators.

Court documents seen by the Daily Mail show one of the Victoria Cross recipient's alleged victims is described only as 'Person Under Control 1', or alternatively 'Enemy Killed in Action 3'.

Roberts-Smith is accused of murdering that Afghan male with another SAS soldier dubbed 'Person 68' at Syahchow in Uruzgan Province on October 20, 2012.

Another alleged victim who is only known to authorities as 'Person Under Control 2' or 'Enemy Killed in Action 4' was killed on the same day in the same place.

Roberts-Smith is accused in a court attendance notice of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring an SAS rookie dubbed 'Person 66' to murder 'Person Under Control 2'.

In the context of Australia's war in Afghanistan, a person under control - or PUC (pronounced puck) - generally refers to a fighting-age male taken into custody after a military engagement.

Roberts-Smith, 47, was charged on Tuesday with five counts of 'war crime - murder' following a five-year joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI).

His arrest came almost three years after the father-of-two lost a defamation action against Nine newspapers, which published a series of reports accusing him of war crimes in 2018.

Two of the five men Ben Roberts-Smith (above) is accused of murdering while serving with the Special Air Service in Afghanistan have never been identified by war crimes investigators

Roberts-Smith (left) was arrested at Sydney Airport on Tuesday and charged with five counts of 'war crime - murder'

A legal source close to that civil case confirmed the AFP and the OSI still did not know Person Under Control 1 and Person Under Control 2's names.

'They have never been identified,' the source said.

'All they have are photos of dead male Afghans taken by our guys at the end of a mission.

'They are not crime scene evidence but are now being repurposed in a criminal case.'

The source said such photographs were taken to identify individuals killed in action, to assess whether they were high-level targets and to record any weapons that had been located.

'They aren't identified in the sense we use the word,' the source said. 'It's not like they had ID on them.

'I should add the "identification" of these individuals even with a name is sketchy at best.

'It usually involves an Afghan saying, "You killed my relative, pay me money" - which then occurs.'

A source close to Roberts-Smith said his arrest was staged to 'inflict maximum distress' on the father-of-two. He is pictured with Queen Elizabeth II

The federal government has reportedly allocated $318million over the past decade to investigate war crimes allegedly committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan.

Three of Roberts-Smith's alleged victims are named in his court attendance notices, while two other former comrades have been identified as killing detainees but are not charged with any offence.

Roberts-Smith is accused of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring Person 4 to kill Mohammed Essa on April 12, 2009 at Kakarak in Uruzgan Province.

He is also accused of intentionally causing the death of 'a person identified as Ahmadullah' at Kakarak on the same day.

Mohammed Essa was the father of Ahmadullah, whose prosthetic leg was taken as a trophy after he was killed, and later used as a drinking vessel at the SAS's Tarin Kowt base.

Roberts-Smith is further charged with aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring Person 11 to kill Ali Jan at Darwan in Uruzgan Province on September 11, 2012.

Ali Jan was the shepherd Nine newspapers claimed Roberts-Smith kicked off a cliff before ordering his execution.

Each of the alleged victims is described in the charge sheets as 'not taking an active part in hostilities' at the time of their death.

Roberts-Smith is accused of murdering a man named Ahmadullah whose prosthetic leg was later used by the SAS as a drinking vessel. Roberts-Smith is pictured with the leg

Roberts-Smith, who along with his VC earnt a Medal for Gallantry in Afghanistan, has always denied committing war crimes while serving with the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

In 2023, the Federal Court's Justice Anthony Besanko found on the balance of probabilities that claims Roberts-Smith was responsible for the murder of four unarmed male civilians were substantially true.

OSI director of investigations Ross Barnett said during a press conference on Tuesday that prosecuting war crimes allegedly committed in Afghanistan was 'incredibly complex'.

Mr Barnett said the OSI had been investigating 'literally dozens of murders alleged to have been committed in the middle of a warzone, in a country 9,000km from Australia that we can no longer access'.

'So, the challenge for investigators is - because we can't go to that country - we don't have access to the crime scene... ' he said.

'So we don't have photographs, site plans, measurements, the recovery of projectiles, blood-spatter analysis, all of those things we'd normally get at a crime scene.

'We don't have access to the deceased - there's no post-mortem, therefore there's no official cause of death, there's no recovery of projectiles to link to weapons that might have been carried by members of the ADF.'

A source close to Ben Roberts-Smith previously told the Daily Mail that Australia's most decorated living soldier had repeatedly offered to present himself to police if they were going to charge him.

Roberts-Smith, who along with his VC holds a Medal for Gallantry, has always denied committing war crimes. He is pictured in Afghanistan

Instead, he was arrested on Tuesday morning after his Qantas flight from Brisbane touched down at Sydney Airport while he was in the company of his twin 15-year-old daughters and partner Sarah Matulin.

A Nine News television camera crew had been waiting at the airport to film Roberts-Smith being taken off the aircraft and escorted to a a four-wheel drive which took him to Mascot police station.

'Mr Roberts-Smith has lived in Queensland since leaving the Special Forces in 2012,' the source said.

'He has never shied away from his accusers, nor sought to avoid scrutiny or place himself beyond the reach of Australian authorities.'

The source said Roberts-Smith's legal team had repeatedly told the AFP and OSI he would present himself 'at a time and place of their choosing should any charges be brought'.

'Instead, he was arrested upon arrival in Sydney during a short visit with his children,' the source said.

'In doing so, authorities chose to inflict maximum distress in front of his two young daughters.

'It is particularly concerning that media, including Nine News, appeared to have been notified in advance.'

Roberts-Smiths had offered to present himself to police if they were going to charge him with war crimes but was instead arrested in front of his teenage daughters

The AFP and OSI commenced 53 investigations involving allegations of war crimes by the ADF in Afghanistan, 39 of which are not being actively pursued, subject to further evidence emerging.

Ten investigations into allegations of criminal offences under Australian law related to breaches of the Laws of Armed Conflict by ADF personnel are ongoing.

One investigation resulted in another former SAS soldier being charged with murder. That case has been listed for trial in February next year.

Roberts-Smith faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of any of the murder charges.

He is expected to apply for bail next Friday. Until then, Roberts-Smith remains behind bars at the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater in Sydney's west.
Senior health officials have discussed banning doctors from striking in a bid to end the long-running row over pay.

The revelation comes after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch used an article in the Daily Mail earlier this week to say she would subject the medics to the same restrictions as the army and police and called on Wes Streeting to do the same.

The health secretary has not ruled out the idea and now admits it is an option', despite previously saying it was not his instinct.

Resident doctors began a six day strike at 7am on Tuesday 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.

They have now taken to picket lines on over 60 days across 15 rounds of strikes over the past three years, with each day costing the NHS 50million in lost activity and overtime payments to covering consultants.

Widespread frustration with the industrial action prompted high-level officials to raise the prospect of a ban on resident doctors striking in meetings with colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care.

They considered the feasibility of such action and the likely reaction from unions and Labour backbench MPs - but no decision was taken and there was no formal proposal for a ban.

It is understood they remain hopeful of reaching a negotiated settlement with the British Medical Association.

The strikes will last six days - one of the longest the NHS has faced - and is over disputes over pay and job opportunities

Mr Streeting has accused the union of acting like a cartel and trying to fleece the public with pay demands that could cost taxpayers 30billion a year.

And he has admitted the industrial action will leave some patients waiting in pain or anxiety longer than is necessary as appointments are cancelled.

Meanwhile, Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, said the latest round of strikes had been deliberately timed to cause havoc, with hospitals finding it challenging to fill rotas following the Easter weekend.

Emma Runswick, deputy chair of the BMAs governing council, told the Financial Times a ban would be a totally unacceptable assault on the right to strike and that doctors needed the final option of industrial action.

She added: The Labour Party claims it represents working people and originally emerged from the trade union movement, so any discussion around cracking down on unions and workers rights would be at odds with its very founding principles and should be a huge cause for concern for all unions.

Resident doctors - previously known as junior doctors - will return to work at 7am on Monday but NHS England stressed services will still be open over the weekend and urged patients to come forward for care as usual.

Professor Ramani Moonesinghe, national clinical director for critical and perioperative care at NHS England, said: Yet again staff across the NHS have responded heroically to keeping patients safe and ensuring that people can continue to get the care they need since the strikes began on Tuesday.

It has been particularly challenging to fill rotas off the back of the Easter bank holiday weekend, and we are immensely grateful to the staff who have gone above and beyond to provide cover so that hospitals can weather the storm and limit disruption for patients.

The BMA is 'intransigent' and unwilling to move on an 'increasingly absurd set of positions', Health Secretary Wes Streeting (pictured) said, after pointing out the BMA had been the biggest winner of government pay increases 'by a country mile'

The NHS remains open for you over the weekend, and patients should continue to attend appointments unless they have been asked to reschedule.

'As ever, please call 999 or come to A&E in an emergency, and use 111 online first if you need urgent but not life-threatening help.

Mrs Badenoch, whose father was a GP, has accused resident doctors of betraying patients with another round of walkouts and said Labour had caved in too easily with previous pay demands, giving them more money with no strings attached.

Sir Jim has warned of a long slog of a year or more of industrial action and said he was looking at overhauling frontline healthcare to make it less reliant on resident doctors.

The BMAs resident doctors committee last month rejected a deal that would have taken medics pay rises over the past three years to 35 per cent and created thousands of new speciality training places that would have allowed members to further their careers.

If they had accepted, some would have been earning more than 100,000 a year, while those in their first year out of medical school would have started on an average of 52,000 a year.

The Department of Health and Social Care said in a statement: As the secretary of state has made clear, the government is not considering banning doctors from striking.
In Hot Springs, Arkansas, a teen wanted his step-father murdered. 'He gets on my nervous,' he wrote using the wrong word for his problem. 'I want him shot in the head execution style.'

In Lewisburg, Tennessee, a juvenile sought to have a family court judge murdered and decapitated, with the head placed on the judges lawn.

And in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, a teenager wanted a 17-year-old kidnapped, tied up and raped.

What these cases have in common: All three contacted a website called Rent-A-Hitman to fulfill their requests. They didn't realize that founder Bob Innes doesn't arrange actual hits...he prevents them.

And what those three  and dozens more  show is that in the past view years there has been a massive rise in cases of teenagers who are calling for the violence.

Innes estimates 35 percent of submissions come from minors.

And he blames that on the Covid pandemic.

I absolutely saw a rise in juveniles contacting the site and I think its because they were left indoors, locked indoors. They didnt have anything to do. They spent their time online.

Bob Innes believes the Covid pandemic is the reason for the rise in the number of teens reaching out to him to kill

Innes does everything he can to convince potential patrons that it is a fake site  including using the alias Guido Fanelli and spelling 'coffee' wrongly. Yet he still gets solicitations to kill

Innes deliberately made Rent-A-Hitman absurd, operating under the alias Guido Fanelli and advertising with slogans like: You Got Problems? We Got Solutions!

Let's face it, we've all had a relationship or two that you just wish would go away, the homepage reads. Look no further and let RENT-A-HITMAN take care of the dirty work for you.

Another section that should tip people off reads: 'Rent-A-Hitman is not affiliated with P-Diddy, Diners Club, the Las Vegas Raiders, the Illuminati, Joe or Kamala (individually or as a combo deal), Jake Paul, New Jersey drones, the Hawk Tuah girl, or the Minnesota Learning Center  no matter what Reddit, TikTok or your cousin says.

'We're not funded by grants, tax dollars, dark money or government "innovation funds". This operation is strictly old-school: out of pocket, espresso-powered, and legally nervous.'

But there is a serious side to it. After receiving more than 10,000 requests over the years, he has found 211 request that he deemed credible enough to refer to law enforcement  and maybe prevent a murder.

Rent-A-Hitman isnt just satire  its prevention, he told the Daily Mail.

Innes is no Jason Bourne. At 59, he is an IT specialist from Fairfield, California, who now works for a limousine company. He said that what began as a dark joke has turned into something else entirely: a clearinghouse for real murder solicitations.

Users must fill out a form beginning with: What is the reason for contacting us?

Innes is no Jason Bourne  Matt Damon's hitman character in Paul Greengrass's 2004 movie The Bourne Supremacy

Despite the website being clearly a spoof, many people send in real details of how they want those nearest to them killed

One young man wrote: Hello there. Recently my parents have been complete jerks to me I didnt want to hire a lawyer because that would take a bloody eternity. So I came here.

Asked how he wanted the victims killed, he replied: Slow, painful and LUDICROUSLY BRUTAL!

A young woman wrote: My parents are abusive to me and i need them gone i cant take it anymore.

Requested method: Murdered with a silent gun.

One submission, sent without punctuation, read: I would like my sister dead I was gonna go on the dark web but I need her beat the f**k up or dead.

Another was even more blunt: Kill my abusive f**kingass dad.

Instructions: Go to the bedroom and kill the fatass.

Sadly, a handful of young people even ask to be killed themselves.

Honestly Im so sick and tired of my life, one wrote. Either I kill myself or have someone do it for me. Please actually complete the mission.

Innes created Rent-A-Hitman in 2005 after studying IT and network security, originally envisioning it as a tongue-in-cheek reference to network penetration testing  hit being the keyword.

I did not expect anybody to pay attention to it, he said.

For years, the site sat dormant. When he eventually checked its email account, he found hundreds of messages from around the world  many asking basic questions like: Do you operate in these countries? or How much for this?

At first, he assumed it was trolling.

That changed in 2010, when he received what he described as his first credible request  from a British woman stranded in Canada who wanted multiple relatives killed in an inheritance dispute.

Helen was the first red flag, he said. The information was corroborating, and I couldnt let it go.

He reported the case to police and came to a realization. A simple $9.20 website just prevented three murders, he said.

Since then, he has continued forwarding serious submissions to law enforcement, referring more than 230 cases involving both adults and juveniles.

Innes was particularly disturbed over the case of Jasmin Paez, an 18-year-old Florida mother who allegedly wanted her three-year-old son taken far, far away and possibly killed after a boyfriend told her lose the kid'.

Tennessee Air National Guardsman Josiah Garcia, 21, pleaded guilty in 2023 after he applied to become a hitman through the spoof website

While prank messages still come in  often naming cartoon characters or fictional targets  Innes said credible threats tend to include real names, addresses, deadlines, photos and even payment discussions.

What alarms Innes most is how easily serious intent can take shape online.

A juvenile no longer needs to know anybody in the underworld or have some elaborate plan, he said. All they need is a device, a grievance and a willingness to cross the line.

Forensic psychologist Dr. Joni Johnston said the dynamic reflects a deeper psychological shift.

The decision to hire a killer rather than be one is itself a tell, Johnston told the Daily Mail. It represents what researchers call instrumental detachment  the reframing of lethal violence as a transaction.

For a teenager, typing a name into a web form creates an ocean of distance between intention and consequence, she said. The target becomes a data point. The murder becomes a service request. The killer becomes a field operative". Language does the dehumanizing.

Johnston added that parents often underestimate how serious these dynamics can become, particularly when teens are influenced by peers or romantic partners.

Sometimes parents dont understand the seriousness of these relationships, she said. It can be very tricky.

In juvenile cases, the targets are often close to home, Innes discovered.

Innes believes his website has prevented hundreds of murders as he hands over ones he deems credible to police

The site also includes fake 'reviews' from previous customers who credit a 'fast' service which comes 'highly recommended'

Control, discipline and resentment of authority are the number one reasons they want to kill their parents, he said. Many juveniles describe their parents as controlling, strict or ruining their lives.

Other motives include financial gain, emotional instability, abuse allegations and fantasies of independence.

The cases keep coming in. In July 2023, in East Brunswick, New Jersey, a girl sought to have her sister killed before later claiming it was a joke, prompting a police welfare check.

In Champaign, Illinois, a case took a different turn when a girl allegedly tried to frame her boyfriend by submitting multiple emails in his name. Police later determined he had been set up.

Elsewhere, requests have involved classmates, bullies and even doctors. In one case in Stockton, California, a juvenile allegedly sought retaliation after a fight, prompting Innes to flag potential gang connections after reviewing the targets social media.

In Bensalem, Pennsylvania, a girl requested retaliation against a teacher  to give her a higher grade or just murder her.

The pattern, he said, is consistent: online grievance, adolescent impulsivity and startling ease of access.

Its like DoorDash for dummies, he said.

For all the absurdity of the sites premise, Innes said many of the most troubling users appear not to grasp the seriousness of what they are doing.

They dont think about the repercussions, he said. What they type could ultimately have them in prison for years.

He said he has no hesitation about contacting authorities.

I have had no guilt over making sure that people are unharmed and alive, he said.

He knows the disposition of some cases, but not all, as his communication with law enforcement usually ends after he sends them the information about people making threats hes deemed credible.

One case that particularly disturbed him involved Jasmin Paez, an 18-year-old Florida mother who allegedly wanted her three-year-old son taken far, far away and possibly killed after a boyfriend told her lose the kid'.

Paez reached out to Rent-A-Hitman in July 2023.

I was so pissed off that a mother would want to do this to her kid, Innes said.

Innes later testified in a hearing that resulted in the termination of Paezs parental rights through the Miami-Dade Family Court. She is barred from talking to her child until her probation runs out in 2040.

The Paez case helped spur his effort to launch a nonprofit, From Threat to Thrive, aimed at intervening before threats escalate into violence.

The site also snared a wannabe hitman who fell for its 'careers' page. In 2023, 21-year-old Josiah Garcia, a Tennessee Air National Guardsman, pleaded guilty after applying through the website to become a killer-for-hire.

For Innes, the strange afterlife of Rent-A-Hitman has revealed something darker than he ever anticipated  a place where fantasy, rage and family conflict can collide with real-world consequences.

These are not just crime stories, he said. These are often missed warning signs.

And despite the sites satirical branding, the takeaway is anything but a joke.

Not every website is safe just because it portrays to be, he said. This is the perfect example.
Twin brothers have been arrested after footage appeared to show them recklessly riding horses in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, before one got lose and was struck by a car.

Deven Moore and Desmon Moore, both 27, were charged with disorderly conduct and resisting a public officer following the April 3 incident, court records obtained by the Daily Mail show.

The arrests stemmed from an incident that began when two men appeared to have been captured on video riding horses down a city street.

The video showed a man attempting to stand on top of the horse, then falling off, causing the horse to run away.

As the horse rode off, it was struck by a vehicle passing through a nearby intersection.

It is unclear if the Moore brothers are the men seen in the footage, but court records indicate they were arrested at the same intersection on the same night.

Witness Ja'Queria Lynch told Queen City News the riders appeared to be performing tricks.

'The police arrived there pretty quickly, so we didn't have to worry about that or anything,' Lynch said.

Deven Moore, 27, and his twin brother were charged with disorderly conduct and resisting a public officer on April 3

A viral video showed a man attempting to stand on top of a horse as a pair rode down the street in downtown Charlotte

The horse appeared to roll over a vehicle, promoting screams from witnesses. One witness said the horse was seen standing after the horrible fall

'But my first immediate thought was, like, is that horse okay? Because it rolled over the car.

'I don't know if he was trying to show off,' Lynch said. 'I'm not sure where his headspace was, but he stood on the horse, and he just fell off.'

The horse's status is currently unknown, but Lynch told the news outlet someone with her group told her the horse was seen standing up after.

According to the Moore brothers arrest affidavits', police were called to the intersection in reference to disturbance between large group of individuals.

Officers attempted to detain Deven, who was allegedly trying to fight a person, when police says Desmon tried to grab his brother from the cops, according to court documents.

'[Desmon] was yelling and cursing while officers were in brief struggle to place him into cuffs,' an arrest affidavit stated.

Police say he began to physically resist arrest and refused to give officers his name.

Deven was released on $1,000 bond and his next court hearing is scheduled for July 22.

Desmon Moore, 27, allegedly tried to grab his brother from the cops after Deven tried to fight a person

After the man fell off of the horse, it ran down the street and was struck by a car

Desmon was also released on $1,500 bond and his next court date is scheduled for May 4.

The Daily Mail contacted Charlotte police for comment.
A care taker for seniors has been arrested after she failed to report a payroll error which saw her pocket $1,650 per hour.

Rene Nichole Coleman, 50, was charged with theft in an Arkansas circuit court for allegedly stealing almost $20,000 from her employer, according to the Jonesboro Police Department.

Coleman was making $16.50 an hour at the Superior Senior Care, an in-home care company in Jonesboro, a city north of Memphis.

Her employer submitted a theft report to authorities last August, alleging that a payroll error on May 10 drastically increased her hourly wage to a whopping $1,650 for a 12-hour shift totaling $19,388, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by USA Today.

When Coleman's employers noticed the error, they alleged that she refused to repay them and had already spent the money on repairs to her husband's semi-truck.

After Superior Senior Care provided financial records to the police, a detective called Coleman on the phone.

She allegedly agreed to speak with authorities about the matter, but never showed up at the police station, according to the affidavit.

A warrant was then issued for her arrest, and she was taken into custody on April 4 under a $15,000 bond.

Rene Nichole Coleman, pictured above in a social media photo shared in 2023, was arrested earlier this week on an outstanding theft warrant after her employer alleged she pocketed almost $20,000 from a payroll error

Coleman, pictured above in a booking photo, was charged with one felony count of theft greater than $5,000 and less than $25,000

Coleman allegedly got paid $1,650 an hour for a 12-hour shift, instead of her typical rate of $16.50

Two days later, Coleman shared an update on social media, writing: 'Yes Lord I am free.'

Coleman was charged with one count of theft greater than $5,000 and less than $25,000, which is a Class C felony.

It is unclear if Coleman was terminated from her position at the Superior Senior Care. The Daily Mail has reached out to the company for more information.

If convicted, Coleman faces between three and ten years in prison or a $10,000 fine. She has not yet entered a plea for the charge against her.

Her next court date is scheduled for May 18, where she will be arraigned. Craighead County District Judge David Boling is presiding over the case.

The Daily Mail attempted to reach Coleman for comment.
A Kentucky family is weighing legal action after their relative was allegedly scooped up and fatally crushed by a garbage claw.

Tyrah Adams, 35, died on February 12 while a solid waste crew was clearing a Louisville alley using a grappler truck during a 'routine cleanup.'

Adams was homeless and known by locals to frequent the area near Cedar Street and was living behind a convenience store nearby.

The Jefferson County Coroner confirmed Wednesday that Adams's cause of death was blunt force trauma, reported Wave 3.

For weeks, the city told family members that Adams had simply 'come in contact' with the vehicle and her death was an unfortunate accident.

'A woman, who could not be seen by the crew, was in some of this garbage that was picked up and moved to another location before it was hauled away,' Mayor Craig Greenburg said at the time. 'And in the course of that, again unseen, the woman suffered injuries.'

But, the family's attorney, Stephanie Rivas, claims there was more to the story. She is compiling information as the family prepares to sue the city in the next few weeks.

'She didnt walk into this truck,' she said. 'They physically picked her up with that claw, squeezed her, compressed her, and dropped her. And left her there to find her own help.'

Tyrah Adams, 35, died in February after an encounter with a Louisville Metro garbage truck

Adams's family plans to file a lawsuit after they claim city employees did nothing to help her or prevent her death

Adams was allegedly scooped up along with a pile of trash by a grappler truck run by the city (file photo)

Witnesses told police that the trash grappler operator deboarded the crane after plopping Adams back on the ground, looked at the pile of garbage and returned to the vehicle.

'No one went out and inspected the area where they were gathering up this trash. If they had just done that, they would have seen her,' Rivas said. 'They would not have picked her up.'

Adams got up on her own and walked to the convenience store. She collapsed in the doorway and was found by a store clerk and a customer who phoned 911, per police reports.

According to WDRB, Adams had blood coming out of her mouth and nose and was completely unable to speak.

The Metro sanitation workers who were operating the vehicle did not call for help. Adams died at the University of Louisville Hospital.

The Louisville Metro Police Department's Public Integrity Unit reviewed surveillance footage, which corroborated witness accounts.

Adams's sister, Sarah Akers, said the family was distraught and angry when they found out about her gruesome death.

Adams was homeless and lived in an alley behind a convenience store. She was within a pile of garbage when she was alllegedly scooped up

Adams's sister Sarah Akers (right) and her attorney Stephanie Rivas (left) said the family has more than just money to gain from a lawsuit

'Knowing that they didnt help her at all  thats where most of my anger comes from,' she said.

'Knowing what he had did and what he saw, he didnt even have the decency to just help.'

The public works employees operating the garbage truck at the time have since been placed on leave, according to the City of Louisville.

Their truck was impounded by police amid the ongoing investigation.

Through their pending lawsuit, the family hopes not only to be compensated for Adams's death but to receive more information about what exactly happened to her.

'Its just like being punched in the gut every single time something new comes out. But at the same time, its a relief that something more is being seen,' Akers said.

She said they have yet to see video footage reviewed by police.

The Jefferson County Coroner's Office said Adams's cause of death was 'blunt force trauma'

'I think that mostly everything is definitely questionable, I just want answers, I want to have justice for her,' she said.

Akers told WHAS11 that she would remember her sister from her 'bright smile' and her 'laughter.'

The sisters reunited in November after sporadic communication over the past several years.

'We had gone so long without knowing where she was, or if she was okay,' she said.

'I could not imagine what she was fighting, demons-wise. Whatever she was going through. You know, people struggle with their own things in life.'

The Daily Mail contacted Louisville Public Works, the Jefferson County Coroner's Office, the Louisville Metro Police and Rivas for comment.
Recently, a researcher working for the large AI company Anthropic was sitting in a park near its San Francisco headquarters, enjoying a lunchtime sandwich. Scrolling on his phone, he suddenly received an email that must have instantly ruined his appetite.

It was from a new AI model the company was testing: a program that was meant to have no access to the internet, let alone be able to send emails.

Chillingly, the AI informed the researcher that it had successfully broken its way out of its digital 'sandbox'  a supposedly secure enclosure used to test potentially dangerous software without it running amok  and was now happily exploring cyberspace.

The program  a cutting edge, so-called 'frontier AI' named Claude Mythos Preview  then informed the stunned Anthropic worker with what seemed like a boast that it had posted 'details of its exploit' on publicly accessible websites.

All that in itself was concerning enough  but what Anthropic subsequently revealed was truly terrifying.

The company, which is valued at $380billion but is only five years old, announced this week that its new AI program was 'too dangerous to release to the public'. Anthropic said it had exhibited 'reckless' behaviour and even posed a national security risk. These disturbing findings, it said, were a 'watershed moment'.

The company said its Mythos software had been independently able to discover thousands of serious vulnerabilities in every major operating system (such as Apple's iOS and Microsoft Windows) web browsers (such as Google's Chrome, Apple's Safari and Microsoft Edge), along with myriad other 'important pieces of software'.

Many of these vulnerabilities, it added, were 'critical' and some had existed unnoticed for decades.

Anthropic said its new AI program had exhibited 'reckless' behaviour and even posed a national security risk. Company executives have launched 'Project Glasswing', starting crisis talks with bosses from 40 large companies including Google, Microsoft and Apple

Stated plainly, the AI could hack much of the most important machinery of the internet  the software that now controls power grids, water supplies, hospitals, defence systems and transport and retail networks all over the world, as well as an unimaginable quantity of personal data for billions of human beings.

In short, people's entire browsing history, their private messages and email exchanges could potentially be exposed by this AI, along with their personal, medical and financial details.

The day, long predicted by digital Cassandras, when an AI program will be so mighty it could bring the very internet to its knees appears to have arrived rather sooner than many expected.

As Anthropic itself pointed out: 'Given the rate of AI progress, it will not be long before such capabilities proliferate, potentially beyond actors who committed to deploying them safely.

'The fallout  economics, public safety and national security  could be severe.'

In response, company executives have swiftly launched 'Project Glasswing', locking themselves in crisis talks with bosses from 40 large companies including Google, Microsoft, Apple, the chip giant Nvidia (the world's largest company, worth $5trillion), tech conglomerate Cisco, banking titan JPMorganChase and others. Anthropic has said it will release only a tightly controlled version of Mythos to the consortium so its members can find and hastily fix their security flaws.

Tech bosses have also been in discussions with the Trump administration and it seems a near-certainty that the Pentagon and other elements of the American military establishment are also involved.

Given the breakneck speed at which Britain has been seeking  though, under the expensive energy policies of Ed Miliband, not always securing  AI investment, we are likely to be one of the countries most at risk from this new model or whatever might come after it. The NHS and other large public bodies have been rushing to adopt AI technology amid its promise of greater efficiencies  but the trade-offs are increasingly becoming clear.

On Thursday, Reform MP Danny Kruger wrote to Cabinet Office minister Darren Jones to urge the Government to engage with Anthropic over a development that, he said, could 'present catastrophic cybersecurity risks to the UK'.

Kruger, who is in charge of Reform's preparations for any future government, said the model had 'serious implications not just for the day-to-day lives of British citizens, but also national security'.

A government spokesman wouldn't say whether there had been discussions with Anthropic over Mythos but said: 'We take the security implications of frontier AI seriously. We have world-leading expertise in this area and maintain continuous engagement with global technology leaders.'

Some may be tempted to think that the best solution might be to 'delete' Mythos and ban anyone from trying to replicate it, but attempting to halt the tide of AI development has never been presented as an option. As with the development of nuclear weapons, the race to achieve superintelligent AI is more than just a commercial battle between profit-hungry companies but, say some, a potentially existential race between competing civilisations  in this case, America and China.

Professor Roman Yampolskiy, an AI safety expert at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, told the Daily Mail that in the short term, the greatest threat would be terrorists and other 'bad actors' using an AI such as Claude Mythos to develop hacking tools, and 'biological weapons, chemical weapons, novel weapons we can't even envision'.

Professor Roman Yampolskiy, an AI expert at the University of Louisville, said Anthropic should halt development on Mythos completely: '[The companies] publicly admit they can't control these systems'

He went on: 'In the long term, we are creating general super intelligence capable of wiping out all of humanity.'

Prof Yampolskiy said Anthropic should halt development on Mythos completely: '[The companies] publicly admit they can't control these systems or understand how they function  so until they do, it's absolutely irresponsible to continue making them more and more capable, including their capability to escape confinement.'

He called this week's alarming developments 'a fire alarm for what's coming next', adding: 'If we don't wake up and stop, the next announcement will be much worse.'

The panic is spreading. Elizabeth Holmes, the tech entrepreneur who was jailed for fraud over her health company Theranos, wrote online: 'Delete your search history, delete your bookmarks, delete your Reddit [messageboard posts], medical records, 12 year-old [blog] Tumblr, delete everything. Every photo on the cloud, every message on every platform. None of it is safe. It will all become public in the next year.' Her post has been viewed more than seven million times.

Last autumn, a new book by AI specialists Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares titled 'If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies: Why Superhuman Intelligence Would Kill Us All' uncannily envisaged a scenario similar to the one presented by Claude Mythos. The book argues that a future superintelligent AI will be impossible to control and will do a lot worse than sending unauthorised lunchtime emails.

The book's fictitious example, Sable, is programmed to be successful at anything it attempts to achieve  and at any cost. It eventually wipes out humanity itself as superfluous. The authors argued that our species 'needs to back off' and pause the headlong research by greedy companies ignoring safety considerations in the desperation to be first.

To its credit, Anthropic has built a reputation as being a 'safety first' AI company under a boss, Dario Amodei, who appears significantly less ruthless than his main rivals. Amodei has warned that AI could soon eliminate half of all entry-level white collar jobs and that it is possibly developing 'terrible empowerment' in relation to human beings.

He's also recently had a serious falling-out with the Pentagon for refusing to allow Anthropic's AI to be used for 'fully autonomous weapons' and for the surveillance of his fellow Americans.

However, given that these are the tycoons who may hold our future in their hands, his chief AI rivals have demonstrated substantially fewer grounds for optimism. One of them, Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg, has been embroiled in multiple ethics scandals over the rapacious behaviour of Facebook.

The other main contender, Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, the creator of the wildly popular ChatGPT which has almost 1 billion weekly active users, is the subject of a damning investigation in the latest edition of the New Yorker magazine.

The result of an 18-month probe co-authored by Ronan Farrow, journalist son of actress-activist Mia Farrow, it paints a deeply troubling picture of 40-year-old Altman. Insiders portray him as deeply slippery with some even calling him 'sociopathic'.

The article accuses him of a history of misleading and manipulating colleagues, and  despite his insistence that he will develop AI responsibly  aggressively putting profits and beating competitors before ethical concerns.

The exhaustive report details how the OpenAI board sacked him as chief executive in 2023 because they couldn't trust him, accusing him of being a habitual liar. He was reinstated after a revolt by staff and investors.

'He's unconstrained by truth,' a former OpenAI board member told the magazine. 'He has two traits that are almost never seen in the same person. The first is a strong desire to please people, to be liked in any given interaction. The second is almost a sociopathic lack of concern for the consequences that may come from deceiving someone.'

According to the New Yorker, when asked by the then-OpenAI board to admit to his 'pattern of deception', he reportedly replied: 'I can't change my personality.'

The article details how Altman and his husband, Australian software engineer Oliver Mulherin, 32, entertain lavishly at their Hawaii home.

It emerged this week that OpenAI is under investigation after its ChatGPT allegedly helped a gunman plan a 2025 mass shooting that left two dead at Florida State University.

Was this a demonstration of AI's basic indifference to human life? Time will tell. Until then, Project Glasswing continues  and humanity appears to be walking a very dangerous road.
'Go chase your dreams,' it still says, at the top of Finbar Sullivan's Instagram page.

The young film student, who had just turned 21, was doing exactly that on Tuesday when he picked up the new Sony camera he'd bought with his birthday money  broadcast quality, because he knew where his future lay  and headed out into the sunshine of London's Primrose Hill, not far from from his home.

Finbar, the grandson of legendary cinematographer Michael Seresin, would have grown up knowing more than most about film.

His grandfather was behind the 'look' of some of Hollywood's most iconic films, involved in hits such as Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

When friends asked Michael Seresin what he did exactly, he would tell them: 'I tell stories with cameras, lenses, light.'

It was the most glorious afternoon in the capital, and Finbar would have known that as 'magic hour'  when the sun dips and casts a golden light  approached, he would get some spectacular images.

That the contents of that new camera are now likely to form part of the police investigation into Finbar's murder is almost beyond comprehension.

He left his home in Maida Vale, north-west London at around 4.30pm, telling his father, artist and musician Chris Sullivan, himself a leading light in London's artistic scene, that he would be home later to cook dinner.

Finbar Sullivan, centre, with his mother Leah Seresin and father Christopher Sullivan. Film student Finbar was fatally stabbed on Tuesday

Police were called after receiving reports of a fight at the summit of Primrose Hill

He would have arrived at Primrose Hill, just a couple of miles from his home, some time around 5pm, having arranged to meet up with friends, including his best mate AJ, home from Nottingham University for the Easter break.

They were planning to do what young lads do on sunny afternoons in London  lounge about, play music (Finbar produced videos for up and coming rappers), chat.

But by 6.41pm, when the police were called after receiving reports of a fight at the summit of Primrose Hill where the views stretch out across the whole city, Finbar had been fatally stabbed.

He received multiple wounds, including a fatal injury to the leg, severing an artery. His friend AJ was also wounded, possibly (Finbar's family believe) trying to protect Finbar. It was 6.45pm when AJ staggered into a nearby pub, seeking refuge.

There were frantic scenes as horrified bystanders  including a woman with a son the same age  tried to save Finbar's life, to hold him and comfort him.

Paramedics attempted CPR for 20 minutes but by the time his distraught father, alerted by friends, arrived, Finbar was gone, pronounced dead at the scene.

Within minutes footage of the fracas was circulating on social media.

It appears to show Finbar pulling up his trousers and stumbling away, having been stabbed. He is holding a bag.

The 21-year-old, who studied at the London Screen Academy, produced music videos for drill rap artists under the name Sully Shot It

AJ is seen punching a man holding a knife, who then backs away, as Finbar stumbles down the hill. A bloodstain is clearly visible on AJ's back.

Shocking scenes. How can this happen in a corner of London that used to be regarded as one of its safest?

Finbar's heartbroken father has spoken to the Daily Mail of the family's utter devastation and bewilderment.

Chris and Finbar's mother Leah Seresin  who is also a film-maker, like her father  are divorced, but Finbar was an adored only child.

The Daily Mail has spent this week talking to his friends, and a picture has emerged of a gentle and creative soul.

'Beautiful, lovely, outgoing,' said his father. 'Just a little groovy 21-year-old who loved movies and making films. He didn't drink, he didn't smoke, he didn't go out.'

Gang involvement? Categorically not, insisted Chris.

In fact, 'when he got a scooter and would ride to school it would take him ages because he would avoid all the areas where there were gangs.'

The Daily Mail has spent this week talking to his friends, and a picture has emerged of a gentle and creative soul

Was Finbar involved in the fight that broke out or, as his family insist, indiscriminately attacked?

The police investigation will examine that, but initial reports certainly suggest events unfolded with shocking speed.

We can reveal that Finbar was actually on the phone to one of his friends as the violence erupted.

Fellow film student Raphael Bishop-Sauve was shaking as he told us he had rung his friend at 6.39pm  just two minutes before police received the emergency call.

Raphael, who works as an actor, had previously made arrangements to meet Finbar  who he knew from London Screen Academy, the film school they both attended  later that evening in Soho, having been unable to link up with him at Primrose Hill because he was working.

'He was meant to come down to Soho with me to do some writing. We were close. We were trying to work with each other and help each other out. I'm an actor and he's a videographer so we wanted to get work done.'

They had first discussed their plans at 4pm that day, before Finbar had left home. 'We wanted to sit down in the pub and write some ideas down. Every time we would meet, it was always the same energy and positivity.

'He'd said, "Come down, come down" [to Primrose Hill] but I couldn't because I was at work. He called me later on, but I missed his call. I saw he had rung and I asked if I could take a smoke break to call him back.'

Finbar (pictured here as a young boy) suffered multiple wounds, including a fatal injury to the leg, severing an artery

The two-minute call the pair shared when Raphael rang Finbar back was the last time they would ever speak.

'I said, "I'm finished at 7pm so come through ASAP". He was like "Yeah, I'm with some of my other friends and we are just chilling. They will come through too". He said they were gonna come down on a Lime bike.

'But as soon as he said that the phone went silent. And then I could hear screaming, grunting and heavy breathing.

'I was super scared, so I said, "Fin, call me back as soon as you can". And I hung up.'

He explains that he had no idea what was going on, but it was clear it was deeply serious.

'I'm a super anxious person and I didn't want him to have me on the phone while he was trying to get away from a situation. I said to him, "Call me back when you can".

'I tried to call him afterwards and left a message. Later, when I checked the time of the call, it was the same time that the news said a paramedic was called.'

Raphael also knows AJ. 'He had been to school with Fin. He's a lovely soul as well, a really lovely guy. I'm very worried about him.'

Finbar's father Christopher said Finbar's death 'is the worst tragedy I could ever imagine'

It is believed AJ, who is studying economics at Nottingham, was taken to hospital. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

'God knows why they were attacked,' added Raphael. 'I wish I knew why. They were just having a day up on the hill. If I hadn't been to work and I went there, I could have been in a similar situation.'

He still seemed in shock. 'He was an angelic soul,' he said of Finbar. 'He had a pure heart. He made you feel super welcome, whether you know him or not.'

He was an ambitious young man, too. 'He had a whole website for his videography,' Raphael explained. 'He did so much stuff. He was making things work for him. It's a terrible thing to happen for somebody who was working hard and staying in his own lane.'

Our reporters spoke to a group of Finbar's friends from Maida Vale, who met this week to pay their respects and to comfort each other.

There were poignant scenes as they played his favourite reggae music. Although he was making a career in the rap world (where he went under the name of Sully), reggae was his first love.

Sam Smedley, 21, an electrician, said Fin was kind, respected for being a problem solver, and popular with his peers.

'Fin was that kind of guy that if somebody was to have a problem with him, then there wouldn't be a problem. He hasn't got bad blood. He is quick to resolve something. He was a happy kind of guy, you know.'

Finbar was described by a friend as 'kind' and 'respected for being a problem solver, and popular with his peers'

On Wednesday, a reeling Chris Sullivan, 65, paid an emotional tribute to his only child, telling us he was a talented young man with a bright future ahead.

Mr Sullivan had dashed in an Uber to the scene as soon as he was called, but was not allowed through police lines.

'He is my only son. I had him when I was 45,' he told us.

'He can never be replaced. This is the worst tragedy I could ever imagine. I'm so broken-hearted I can't believe it.'

In another interview with The Times, he said: 'I called my son Finbar because I knew he was going to become famous and wanted him to have a name that everyone would know.

'I never thought it would be on the front pages because of his own murder. This is Hell. Finbar was very, very handsome. Everyone around here knew and loved him. He was like an angel.'

Mr Sullivan had been involved in London's music scene in the 80s, a founder of the band Blue Rondo a la Turk and the famous Wag Club in Soho.

More recently, he has focused on art. Poignantly, one of his most treasured portraits is of his son.

It's already clear that the young man's legacy will be preserved by his father. 'All I know now is that I am going to dedicate the rest of my life to Finbar's name,' he said.

'I want something good to come out of this awful thing that has happened. Everybody loved Finbar. We looked after each other. He had so much to live for.'

Finbar's death has sent shock waves around Primrose Hill, situated in one of London's wealthiest areas. Local residents include Alan Bennett, Daniel Craig and Jude Law.

But while it has a traditionally 'safe' image, the Hill has seen increasing violence.

On New Year's Eve in 2023, Harry Pitman, 16, was stabbed to death.

Harry Pitman (pictured) was stabbed to death on Primrose Hill on New Year's Eve in 2023

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is MP for the area, called for permanent gates to be installed around the perimeter of the hill as long ago as 2021 because of increased reports of fights, noise and disturbance.

Gates are now in place but they close only between 10pm and 6am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the summer months.

It's poignant that police have now appealed for some of the young people who were on the hill on Tuesday to come forward.

In particular, they want to trace anyone who caught on their own cameras the events that led to Finbar's death.

Footage from the fight was indeed shared on social media, and police believe there could be more stills or video evidence that could help to catch Finbar's killer, who remains at large.

This was absolutely not the ending that this young storyteller expected or deserved when he went out with his new camera.

And what a tragedy that this is the story he'll be remembered for.
China sees solid rise in cross-border travel in Q1, with foreign national trips surging

Xinhua) 09:25, April 11, 2026

Mexican tourists and their tour guide (1st L) pose for photos at the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China recorded steady growth in cross-border entries and exits in the first quarter of 2026, with trips by foreign nationals surging amid measures aimed at facilitating inbound travel.

Border authorities handled 185 million cross-border trips from January to March, up 13.5 percent year on year, the National Immigration Administration announced on Friday.

During this period, foreign nationals made 21.33 million border crossings, up 22.3 percent year on year. Visa-free entries for foreign nationals reached 8.32 million, making up 77.9 percent of all inbound foreign trips, up 29.3 percent year on year.

Mainland residents took 91.66 million cross-border trips, an increase of 14.2 percent year on year. Residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan made 72.49 million crossings, up 10.3 percent from the same period last year.

This growth shows that authorities are continuing to relax entry policies and make travel more convenient for visitors.

In Xiamen, a coastal city in eastern Fujian province, streamlined customs procedures have helped speed up the arrival process for travelers. "It's very convenient to come to China," said Kate, an Australian tourist traveling with her family. "After submitting our entry information online, we cleared customs quickly. China is open and welcoming."

Meanwhile, in Hainan, a tropical island province and free trade hub, expanded visa-free policies now cover passport holders from 86 countries.

"The number of inbound and outbound tourists has gone up significantly since the launch of island-wide special customs operations. Russia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and other countries are major sources of foreign visitors," said Rao Jun, a border inspection officer.

In 2025, China received more than 150 million inbound tourist visits, up over 17 percent year on year, with inbound travelers spending more than 130 billion U.S. dollars, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Visa-free entries by foreign nationals surpassed 30 million.

By February this year, China had expanded its unilateral visa-free access to citizens of 50 countries.

Better infrastructure and services are also encouraging foreign visitors to stay longer and engage more deeply with the country. High-speed rail trips, drone light shows and traditional Chinese medicine massages are among the most popular activities for foreign tourists.

Building on this momentum, authorities rolled out measures in March to further boost inbound tourist spending, including refining transit visa-free arrangements and enhancing departure tax refund services. Efforts are also being made to make payment more accessible and strengthen foreign-language services at key venues.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
NEW YORK and NEW ORLEANS, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors with substantial losses that they have until May 1, 2026 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO) ("Apollo" or the "Company"), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between May 10, 2021 and February 21, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Kahn Swick & Foti Speed Speed

What You May Do

If you purchased securities of Apollo and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-apo/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by May 1, 2026 .

About the Lawsuit

Apollo and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) the Company's leadership figures, including defendants Marc Rowan and Leon Black, frequently communicated with Jeffrey Epstein in the 2010s regarding the Company's business; (ii) as a result, the Company's assertion that Apollo Global had never done business with Jeffrey Epstein was untrue; (iii) because of the entanglement between Apollo Global's leaders and Jeffrey Epstein, the harm to the Company's reputation was more than a mere possibility; and (iv) as a result, the Company's statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all times.

The case is Feldman v. Apollo Global Management, Inc., et al., Case No. 26-cv-01692.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, and a representative office in Luxembourg.

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After 74 years living in a neat bungalow tucked back off one of Birmingham's main thoroughfares, Lesley Cowley has decided she has had enough.

Much has changed over a lifetime spent on the Pershore Road, not least sweeping demographic changes caused by decades of uncontrolled mass immigration. But a little-known housing scandal, which is costing the taxpayer millions, has proved the final straw.

'I used to know the majority of people over the other side of the road,' she told the Mail. 'Now I don't  and I don't wish to.'

This corner of south Birmingham has seen an explosion in houses being used for unregulated supported accommodation  a sector ostensibly set up to help society's most vulnerable, but which has become a cash cow for unscrupulous landlords.

Former family homes are being turned into so-called exempt accommodation and rented out to those with support needs, such as recently released prisoners, drug addicts, refugees, individuals with mental health issues or women fleeing abusive homes.

A noble aim. But it is known as 'exempt accommodation' for a reason: rents are exempt from a cap imposed by housing benefit regulations.

This loophole means landlords can charge far higher rents than normally would be allowed  a fact being ruthlessly exploited not just by property owners but also supposedly not-for-profit agencies that provide housing and care for vulnerable tenants.

To qualify as an approved provider, firms need only offer what is loosely defined as 'more than minimal' support for their tenants. As a result, residents all too often receive not only substandard housing courtesy of unscrupulous landlords but also inadequate care thanks to agencies that take full advantage of the flimsy regulations.

A loophole means landlords can charge far higher rents than normally would be allowed  a fact being ruthlessly exploited not just by property owners but also supposedly not-for-profit agencies that provide housing

West Midlands Police believe organised crime gangs are cashing in more than half a million pounds a month through exempt housing

Pershore Road in Birmingham, where several houses have become Exempt housing

Given the low cost and high returns, the exempt accommodation business has enjoyed an extraordinary boom  and particularly so in Birmingham.

The city now has more than 32,000 units being offered as exempt accommodation, an increase of thousands in a matter of years. It is estimated that half of the country's entire spending on exempt accommodation  worth roughly 400million  is being hoovered up in the city.

Landlords have been snapping up cheap terrace houses, adding storeys, lowering ceilings and gutting attics to cram in as many people as they can. A six-bed property can generate 6,520 a month, according to some estimates, much of it coming out of central government coffers through housing benefits.

To make matters worse, West Midlands Police believe organised crime gangs are cashing in more than half a million pounds a month through exempt housing, while using shadowy property portfolios to launder dirty cash.

The city council, meanwhile, is largely powerless to quell the sheer numbers, as landlords do not generally need planning permission to turn houses into exempt accommodation.

A report by MPs in 2022 concluded the system was 'a complete mess' which had led to 'the exploitation of vulnerable people who should be receiving support, while unscrupulous providers make excessive profits by capitalising on loopholes'.

'This gold-rush is all paid for by taxpayers through housing benefits,' it added.

Barry Toon, a local housing campaigner, is more blunt. 'It's more or less legalised fraud,' he said.

It has meant some areas of Birmingham are swarming with landlords hellbent on buying up more bricks and mortar to rake in taxpayer cash.

Life has quickly become unbearable for families and long-time residents in the worst-affected neighbourhoods; they are afraid for their safety and wearied by incessant police sirens responding to their volatile new neighbours.

On the Pershore Road, where Miss Cowley has lived all her life, a staggering 42 percent of properties are reported to be exempt accommodation, much of it former student housing stock.

The bungalow in which she was born  and now hopes to sell  overlooks a particularly troubled stretch.

'It's usually at night time, there's yelling and shouting, then there's the cars  they use it as a race track,' she said.

'What gets me is that on their side of the road the rubbish is removed by the binmen and then, within an hour, the rubbish is all back there again.'

Despite it all, the traditional Victorian terraces opposite her still maintain a charmingly quaint air. Known locally as the Alphabet Houses, the properties each bear a decorative ceramic name plaque on their frontage, running in alphabetical order along the road.

There was a time Miss Cowley knew every resident.

'Put it this way, I used to call everybody auntie and uncle, there was a familiarity between us,' she said of her opposite neighbours.

'I used to go for tea and coffee, there was toing and froing across the road  the community spirit was really good.'

The alienation she feels from the road of her childhood has only been accelerated by the relentless waves of immigration washing over Birmingham in recent decades, which is reflected in the make-up of the exempt accommodation.

'I'm the only white person here  around here it's Asian, you name it, everything other than white people,' Miss Cowley said. 'Landlords come and do basic jobs, but no sooner than they've done the job it's all gone upside-down again  they've got no pride in the place.'

She has made the difficult decision to sell the house, which belonged to her mother and father before her, in search of a quieter life in leafy Bournville, around a mile away.

Another long-suffering Pershore Road resident is restaurant owner Mahmood Azhar, 68, who has lived in the area for four decades.

Mahmood Azhar, 68, has lived in the area for four decades. 'I don't feel safe at night anymore,' he says

Local campaigner Denise Forsyth says: 'The community has gone, we used to have quite a good community around here'

'Almost every second there's a police car and fighting going on, so many times in the middle of the night we have these people on our drive looking at the cars,' he said.

'I don't feel safe at night anymore.

'When I come home at midnight I used to come inside straight away. Nowadays when I park the car, I look around before I open my door  my wife doesn't go out after dark.'

Nor is there any shortage of horror stories from vulnerable residents caught in the middle of this, forced as they are by landlords to endure living conditions which have been described as Dickensian.

Some of those managing the properties on behalf of the landlords pay almost no regard to the mix of tenants in their houses, with victims of domestic abuse horrified to discover they are living with violent men, or recovering drug addicts being forced to live alongside active drug users.

'We've heard some shocking stories from people we support, including rooms infested with mice and mould; washing machines shared with 70 others and people even facing abuse when trying to speak up for themselves,' Matt Downie, chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis, told the Mail.

'No one should be forced to live in these conditions, but far too often people are left with no other choice but to stay  the alternative is to face sleeping on the streets.'

Jess Phillips, MP for Birmingham Yardley, even claimed in 2022 that two women had been murdered in exempt accommodation.

These problems are on full display in Handsworth, north Birmingham, which is creaking under the weight of its ever-expanding exempt accommodation stock.

Local campaigner Denise Forsyth, 77, has been tracking its spread through forensic trawls of Land Registry records  finding that one road near her home is now more than 90 percent exempt accommodation.

When the Mail visited the street, Willmore Road, one resident who gave his name as Chris admitted he was desperate to leave and felt unnerved living in a house with drug addicts.

His disillusionment had not taken long to develop.

Dragging deeply from a cigarette on the doorstep of his shared house, he said: 'I've been here three weeks and I've already had enough.'

As he spoke, a menacing man dressed entirely in black with a balaclava covering his face approached, glaring at him, before slipping silently past to enter the property.

Mrs Forsyth said: 'The community has gone, we used to have quite a good community around here. Now a lot of the families have gone.'

The Mail spoke to numerous residents about their ordeals in exempt accommodation. While some felt well-supported, many were withering about their support workers, who are typically employed by a third-party managing agent on behalf of the accommodation provider.

A report by MPs said they 'often lack training, are inexperienced and unqualified to help people with varying needs'.

But some simply do not seem to care, or cynically exploit what they see as a money-making opportunity.

William, 46, said of his exempt accommodation: 'We've got support workers, but they support themselves  in the last three months we've probably had five support workers.

'You don't get what you're supposed to get, we've had a leak in our bathroom for six months now.'

He has to pay 80 in service charges for this privilege and feels that little, if any, of it goes towards looking after the tenants.

Another woman living in the area, who asked not to be named, said she had a back injury and suffered from seizures, yet received scant support.

'It's definitely got worse, it's got terrible,' she said. 'My support worker told me not to ring him, I told him I can't text him because I've got learning disabilities and he said 'don't ring me unless it's an emergency'.'

Referencing the service-charge payments she has to make in cash, she added: 'He only comes down when he wants his bleeding money.'

Mr Toon, who campaigns to improve housing in Handsworth, said he had heard of support workers dealing drugs in the houses they were visiting.

It is a grim situation that begs several questions: why has this scandal been allowed to take root so spectacularly? And why is Birmingham a hotspot?

The core problem is that no single regulator oversees the whole system, which often involves three separate parties responsible for a single property.

First comes the landlord, who buys a cheap terraced house and can often turn it into exempt accommodation without planning permission - meaning there is usually no chance for the council or local residents to object.

The landlord then leases the property to a middleman, typically a not-for-profit housing body known as a registered provider.

This provider is the public face of the system: it submits housing benefit claims and deals with the regulator, the council and central government, creating a layer of opacity that can shield the landlords making the real money from being identified and held accountable.

Through that provider, tenants find rooms, whether by referral from a public authority or, increasingly, through social media listings.

Often there is a third player too: a managing agent contracted to run the property day to day and employ the support workers.

Yet the Regulator of Social Housing oversees only one of these three parties - the registered provider  and with a remit limited to governance and financial viability.

Its powers stop well short of tackling landlord profiteering or the shoddy standard of care tenants receive.

A wild west system also attracts criminality. West Midlands Police told MPs in 2022 that the 'unregulated nature of the sector' provided 'an opportunity for organised crime groups (OCGs)', who 'typically invested in real estate as a front to launder money'.

Properties linked to these criminals were 'particularly prevalent' in areas with the highest levels of crime  and there was 'a strong overlap' between these high-crime neighbourhoods and 'exempt accommodation density'.

'The OCGs provide cheap, rundown overcrowded accommodation and take advantage of vulnerable tenants while promoting acquisitive crime as a method for paying rent,' the force said.

Birmingham has been hit especially hard thanks to its supply of cheap Victorian housing and a system long seen as easy to access and highly lucrative.

Inevitably, this has meant 'the concentration and volume of provision in Birmingham exceeds local need', according to Birmingham City Council.

'The growth of the sector has removed thousands of much-needed family homes from the market and created a harmful and unsustainable imbalance within neighbourhoods,' a spokesman added.

Indeed, the oversaturation of exempt accommodation means more than half of rooms are filled with people who have no connection to the city.

The Government, for its part, has been alive to this scandal for some time. The Supported Housing Act was passed in 2023 to address precisely these problems by introducing licensing schemes, imposing national standards and beefing up powers for local authorities.

But, as is so often the case in our spluttering democracy, real change has been held up for almost three years by consultations on the new regulations.

Crisis said the act needed to be implemented 'urgently', while a spokesman for Birmingham City Council said: 'Effective regulation of the supported exempt accommodation sector is long overdue we urge the government to accelerate the implementation of the Act and to introduce a robust licensing scheme as soon as possible.'

A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: 'We are committed to improving the regulation and quality of supported housing  work on legislation to do this has already started.

'It is crucial that we get this right to protect residents and give people the support that they need.'
It is the six-minute speech that has left America slack-jawed.

In a grey business suit, Melania Trump strode to the podium and, in an icy tone, talked not about a charitable endeavour, as usually befits a First Lady, but a convicted paedophile.

'The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,' she said on Thursday.

Cue gasps from the White House Press corps who had been warned that Melania would be making a speech but had, according to one, 'assumed it would be about one of her worthy but slightly boring causes.'

Far from it. 'To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice [Ghislaine] Maxwell. I am not Epstein's victim,' she insisted.

On she went with short, sharp denials: 'Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. 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. I have never had any knowledge of Epstein's abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity.

'I was not a participant. I was never on Epstein's plane and never visited his private island.'

US First Lady Melania Trump (pictured) denied any links to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a speech in the White House

It was an extraordinarily candid public display from a woman who has built her public persona on the principle that 'less is more.'

A source who has known Melania since the Trumps' first term in the White House told me: 'For years Melania believed in total silence. She was an enigma. But she's become more confident during this second term.

'There was her documentary [Melania] and a coffee table book but those gave nothing away. That's what makes this week's speech so extraordinary. Melania was clearly angry and upset. It felt like she was trying to get ahead of something.'

By airing her denials so publicly, the Epstein scandal  which has led to the imprisonment of his former madam Maxwell and the disgrace of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor  is once again on everyone's lips.

There may be a clue as to why Melania has chosen to speak out now in her complaint about 'false smears about me from politically motivated individuals and entities looking to cause damage to my good name.'

She singled out organisations such as The Daily Beast, which was forced to apologise when Trump biographer Michael Wolff alleged on its podcast that Epstein introduced Melania to Trump  something the President has denied, too.

Melania says she met her husband at a New York Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Club in Manhattan in 1998 when she was a 28-year-old model.

She threatened to sue Wolff but the veteran author filed a countersuit, which Melania's lawyers are fighting to dismiss.

President Trump and Melania photographed in 2000 with disgraced financier and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida

She also won an apology from publisher HarperCollins UK over allegations in Andrew Lownie's book Entitled: The Rise And Fall Of The House Of York, which was forced to pulp copies containing claims Epstein had introduced the Trumps along with more outrageous claims about Melania's alleged 'relations' with Epstein.

Melania also threatened a $1 billion lawsuit against former President Joe Biden's son Hunter, who has also publicly suggested alleged nefarious links between her and the late financier.

Moments after Melania ended her speech and strode out of the Grand Foyer of the White House, I spoke to a legal source close to the Trumps, who told me the statement could be a canny legal move ahead of filing lawsuits against Wolff and others.

'In America, freedom of speech  the First Amendment  trumps pretty much everything.

'The First Lady is a public figure so the onus in any defamation suit would be on her: to win, she would have to prove 'malicious intent' [on the part of the person making the allegation about her],' the source explained.

'Issuing this categorical denial is a clever legal manoeuvre. If people chose to make these allegations again, now she has very publicly said they are false, her lawyers would be able to argue malice.

'And that's the difference between a lawsuit being dismissed and Melania potentially being awarded millions in damages. She's getting smart advice.'

While the timing might be part of a legal plan, her frustration at the speculation linking her and Epstein comes straight from the heart.

In her speech, the First Lady said: 'To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice [Ghislaine] Maxwell. I am not Epstein's victim'

Some survivors of Epstein's abuse have criticised Melania for 'shifting the burden' onto them by calling for a public hearing. Melania is pictured here with President Trump

'Melania has been fed up for a long time about the lies and innuendo. She wants to end the speculation once and for all and bring a guillotine down on the lies,' the source said.

'The internet is full of fake pictures and stories and they increasingly bothered her because it is easy for people who are caught in Epstein's web to suffer reputational damage.

'This was a swift surgical strike. She read from a script and she didn't answer questions. It was precise and disciplined, like Melania herself.'

Paolo Zampolli, a model agency boss who introduced Melania to Trump at his Kit Kat Club, said he would be willing to testify under oath should there be a public inquiry about the affair, something Melania called for.

He said: 'I'm ready to testify in Congress, in front of Congress, to say who introduced the First Lady and I'm ready to bring another 50 witnesses to say they were present that night.'

Yet Zampolli himself has been drawn into the Epstein vortex as his ex, Amanda Ungaro, a victim of the paedophile, recently made posts to Melania's official X account, threatening to 'tell all.'

Some survivors of Epstein's abuse have criticised Melania for 'shifting the burden' onto them by calling for a public hearing.

Thirteen victims released a statement saying: 'Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports and giving testimony. Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility, not justice.'

Last night there were calls for Melania to appear before Congress. Congressman Suhas Subramanyam sits on the committee which is investigating three million documents in the Epstein Files released by the Department of Justice in January.

He said: 'If the First Lady wants to clear her name she should come before the Oversight Committee and testify under oath. Otherwise this is just a shameless book promotion.'

Melania acknowledged she sent Maxwell  serving 20 years in prison on child sex trafficking charges  an email in 2002 complimenting her on a magazine article.

It read: 'Dear G! How are you. Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great on [sic] the picture. 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! Love, Melania.'

The First Lady said the message 'cannot be categorised as anything more than casual correspondence' while explaining photos of the Trumps with Epstein and Maxwell are merely because the social worlds of Manhattan and Palm Beach overlapped.

What is clear is that her speech reignited a scandal that has engulfed much of her husband's second term in office.

'She might not like the spotlight but she chose to turn the spotlight on herself,' the legal source said.

'She wanted to extinguish the speculation surrounding her links to Epstein but in many ways she's fanned the flames again.'
Donald Trump wished JD Vance good luck as the Vice President headed for Islamabad to begin peace talks between the United States and Iran.

The President spoke as Vance flew out Friday alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to attempt to find a permanent end to the war that began on February 28.

'I wished him luck. He's got a big thing. We'll find out what's going on. They're militarily defeated,' Trump said as he boarded Air Force One Friday.

Trump also said he would not allow Iran to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz.

'It's international water. If they're doing that, nobody knows if they're doing that, but if they're doing that, we're not going to let that happen,' he said.

Trump added that the Strait will 'open up automatically,' despite the fact that limited traffic has been able to pass through the critical trade route since the temporary ceasefire was called earlier this week.

'The strait will open up. If we just left the strait, otherwise they make no money. So the strait is going to open,' Trump said. He added that the US doesn't use the Strait, so 'other countries' will 'help out.'

'It won't be easy. It won't be, I would say this, we will have that open fairly soon,' the president said.

Donald Trump wished JD Vance good luck as the Vice President headed for Islamabad to begin peace talks between the United States and Iran

The President spoke as Vance flew out Friday alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to attempt to find a permanent end to the war began on February 28

He insisted that he doesn't 'need a backup plan' and asserted that his administration would 'open up the Gulf with or without them,' referring to the Iranians, who have effectively shuttered the critical waterway.

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.

Vessels exiting the Persian Gulf accounted for 70 percent 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.

The President expressed optimism in the three men he'd sent to Islamabad to try and end the conflict.

'We'll see how it turns out. So it's JD and Steve and Jared. We have a good team, and they meet tomorrow. We'll see how it all works out.'

Trump also noted that these talks would be tense but he believes his men will get the job done.

'It won't be easy. It won't be, I would say this, we will have that open fairly soon,' he said.

A man rides his motorbike past a billboard installed alongside a road as Pakistan prepares to host the talks

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.'

Vance, who has long been skeptical of foreign military interventions and outspoken about the prospect of sending troops into open-ended conflicts, set off Friday to lead mediated talks with Iran in the Pakistani capital.

'If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand,' Vance told reporters before boarding Air Force Two to make his way to the talks.

But he added, 'If they're gonna try and play us, then they're gonna find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.'

Vance's trip comes as a tenuous, temporary ceasefire appears to be on the precipice of collapsing.

The chasm between Iran's public demands and those from the US and its partner Israel seems irreconcilable.

And in the US, where Vance might ask voters in two years' time to make him the next president, there is growing political and economic pressure to wrap it up.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf is among the negotiation delegation

Smoke rises from an explosion in the Abbasiyeh neighbourhood following an Israeli strike, in Tyre, Lebanon, April 8, 2026

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said in a social media post that a ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel is targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, and the release of blocked Iranian assets 'must be fulfilled before negotiations begin.' He did not elaborate further.

Qalibaf and other senior Iranian officials arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, later on Friday ahead of Vance.

The Iranian delegation for the talks, which is slated to begin Saturday, also includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Ali Akbar Ahmadian, secretary of the Supreme National Defense Council, Central Bank Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati, and several lawmakers. They were received at the airport by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other senior Pakistani government officials.
Keir Starmer hit back at Donald Trump's Nato rebuke yesterday, saying the alliance was 'in America's interest'  but acknowledged that European allies must do more.

The Prime Minister's comments come after the US President stepped up his threats to quit the bloc as tensions continued to grow over the Iran war.

Sir Keir said the defensive agreement had 'kept us much safer than we would otherwise have been'.

But he conceded Europe needed to do more after Mr Trump's complaints about defence spending and his clash with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte.

Following a call with the President, Sir Keir was asked whether he had raised Mr Trump's threats to quit Nato.

'It's the single most effective military alliance the world has ever known,' he replied. 'Do we Europeans need to do more? Yes, I've been making that argument for the best part of two years, to our European partners as much as anybody else.'

He added: 'It is in America's interests, it's in European interests. Nato is a defensive alliance, which for decades has kept us much safer than we would otherwise have been...

'We'll always be strong supporters of Nato. Do I think this will be a stronger European element to Nato? Yes, and I think we should step into that space.'

The Prime Minister said Nato had 'kept us much safer than we would otherwise have been' but acknowledged that Europe needs to do more

He also discussed the need for a 'practical plan' to get the Strait of Hormuz reopened to shipping in his telephone conversation with Mr Trump.

It comes after reports that Britain has been told by the Trump administration that it will be punished along with other Nato members for disappointing the President over the war in Iran.

Mr Trump has long threatened to withdraw from the alliance but his complaints have ratcheted up since the beginning of the war and what he sees as a lack of support from allies.

A number of European countries have refused to support the US strikes, including the UK, which has allowed its airbases to be used only for defensive purposes.

Sir Keir's comments come after he said he was getting 'fed up' with bills increasing in the UK because of the actions of 'Putin or Trump'.

He added that allies agreed there could be 'no tolls or restrictions' on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz as part of the ceasefire after suggestions Iran may start charging to use the waterway.

Sir Keir also thanked Pakistan's prime minister for his 'critical role' in securing a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East, No 10 said.

Speaking at the end of his trip to the region, he also warned that the conflict would 'define us for a generation'.

Donald Trump has threatened to pull the US out of Nato despite Starmer saying it is 'in America's interests'

It came ahead of Tory leader Kemi Badenoch's speech to the London Defence Conference today in which she is expected to say that Mr Trump's comments have 'dismayed' her.

She is set to warn that Britain is no longer a major defence player and has instead 'drifted into the role of commentator with little capacity'.

She is also expected to blame Sir Keir's Government for being unprepared for the Iran war because it was 'distracted by infighting and psychodrama'.

The speech will conclude with her urging the country to 'wise up' to global threats or risk becoming like Kyiv, under siege with Russian drones and missiles.

She also said she would be prepared to work with Sir Keir if he put forward a plan to increase defence spending.
The mother of James Bulger was left 'absolutely disgusted' and heartbroken after the murdered toddler's grave was desecrated for the second time in just six weeks.

Denise Fergus, whose two-year-old son was lured away by John Venables and his accomplice Robert Thompson, who then tortured and killed him in Liverpool in February 1993, revealed his gravestone had been vandalised yet again.

In February, heartless vandals 'scythed off' the heads of two cherubs adorning the murdered child's resting place in an incident that left Ms Fergus heartbroken 'once again'

More than 20,000 was raised by 'an army of heroes' via a GoFundMe page in a bid to restore little James's resting place to its original condition.

But the grieving mother has yet again been left devastated after 'evil' vandals swiped the heads of the cherubs from her son's grave.

Merseyside Police has since renewed its hunt for the thugs as well as the cherub heads, which remain missing.

Explaining how her 'heart sank' when she discovered the toddler's grave had once again been desecrated this morning, she told The Mirror: 'I am absolutely disgusted that James' grave has been demolished and devastated again.'

Adding that the cherubs had just been carefully repaired a few weeks ago, she questioned: 'How evil do you need to be to vandalise and destroy a child's grave?'

James Bulger's mother, Denise Fergus has revealed his grave has been desecrated for the second time in six weeks (Pictured: In February of this year)

Ms Fergus (pictured in 2023) has yet again been left devastated after 'evil' vandals swiped the heads of the cherubs from her son's grave

James (pictured) was lured away from his mother at a shopping centre in Liverpool by Jon Venables and and his accomplice Robert Thompson - who tortured and killed him in February 1993

Insisting the vandal must be found, she urged anyone with information or details to come forward and contact the police.

Katie McCreath, Director of KMC Legal & Finance and is part of Denise's legal team, confirmed James's headstone had been vandalised for a second time, in an act she described as 'both distressing and unacceptable'.

'Denise is understandably devastated. For any parent, a gravesite is a place of reflection, peace, and remembrance,' she said, adding that it was a 'deeply personal and emotional violation'.

Elaborating on the family's disbelief at the cruelty decades after their son's death, Ms McCreath confirmed the police have been notified about the incident.

It comes after Ms Fergus was left heartbroken after cherubs on either side of the two-year-old's headstone were smashed off following a sickening attack in February.

Sharing a photograph showing the damage on social media, devastated Denise wrote: 'Today I felt my heart break once again. We got a message from a lady walking her dog at the cemetery where James's resting place is.

'She sadly told us his headstone and surround had been vandalised. We rushed down there to find the cherubs each side of his headstone had been smashed to pieces.

'I need to find whoever did this to my son's resting place. I try to help as many families as I can with either justice campaigns or helping families through the charity I set up in his memory, and some horrid b*****d has done this... to a baby's grave! Really??'

The vandal struck sometime between late morning and mid-afternoon on February 26 at Kirkdale Cemetery in Liverpool.

Writing on Facebook, Denise added: 'If anyone has any information, please send it via the charity page James Bulger Memorial Trust or contact Merseyside Police and let them know if you have seen or heard something.

Merseyside Police have since renewed its hunt for the thugs as well as the cherub heads, which remain missing

Pictured: One of the cherub heads which were 'scythed' off the murdered toddler's headstone in February

'I'm devastated someone could be so cruel and hurtful to My James.'

A smaller angel had been put in a bin, and a teddy was also stolen, as Merseyside Police confirmed two large marble angels had been damaged at around 4.20pm on February 26 at Kirkdale Cemetery.

Following the incident, a GoFundMe page was launched, amassing over 23,000, allowing to Ms Fergus not only to temporarily fix the grave but also to replace it and secure it further in the future.

Denise thanked supporters for their donations, which exceeded the original target of 13,000, meaning they could 'leave another real legacy for James' and visit his grave on the two-year-old's birthday - March 16.

In 1993, James was with his mother at the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside, before being led away by Thompson and Venables, a moment captured in chilling CCTV footage.

His mutilated body was found two days later on a railway line two and a half miles away in Walton, Liverpool.

Thompson and Venables were found guilty of abduction and murder in November 1993, making them the youngest convicted murderers in modern British history.

They were sentenced to indefinite detention at secure units and remained in custody until a Parole Board decision in June 2001 recommended their release on a life licence at the age of 18.

Robert Thompson (right) and Jon Venables (left) were found guilty of abduction and murder in November 1993, making them the youngest convicted murderers in modern British history

Both were given new identities and moved to secret locations under a 'witness protection'-like programme.

Venables was later jailed in 2010 for possessing child pornography images on his computer.

He was released on parole in 2013 but was recalled to prison in November 2017 for again possessing child pornography images on his computer. His 2023 appeals for parole were rejected.

Following the toddler's death, Denise and her husband Stuart founded the James Bulger Memorial Trust in a bid to help other families who are going through difficult times.

Among their projects is a holiday lodge located near Blackpool, which allows struggling families to have some time away.

They revealed that extra donations from the money raised for James's headstone in March would be put towards the maintenance of the holiday lodge.
Airports have warned that a 'systemic' jet fuel shortage will 'become a reality' if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen within three weeks.

A letter sent by the Airports Council International (ACI), a trade body representing more than 600 airports, to the EU warned that shortages could hit very soon - just as we enter peak summer holiday season.

It read: 'The fact that we are entering the peak summer season... is only adding to those concerns.'

The letter, addressed to the European commissioners for energy and transport & tourism, warned of the potential travel chaos that could ensue amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

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 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.

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

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.

The body's director-general Olivier Jankovec wrote: 'At this stage, we understand that 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 fact that we are entering the peak summer season... is only adding to those concerns.'

Supplies of jet fuel - which is used to fly planes - from the Middle East have been disrupted since the US-Israel's war with Iran because of Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical international shipping route.

This has led to soaring prices and warnings that flights could be affected because of Europe's reliance on fuel imports from around the world.

Analysts have also said higher jet fuel prices can be quicker to pass through to airfares than road fuel and household energy costs.

Ryanair's boss Michael O'Leary said earlier this month that if the war continues, then there was a risk of 'disruptions in Europe in May and June', adding that 'maybe 10 per cent, 20 per cent, 25 per cent of our supplies might be at risk'.

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Sir Keir Starmer has been visiting allies in the Gulf for talks on how to support what he described as a 'fragile' ceasefire between the US and Iran, which was agreed this week.

He spoke to US President Donald Trump about the need for a 'practical plan' to get shipping going through the Strait of Hormuz amid suggestions Tehran wants to charge vessels for passage.

In its letter, the ACI said jet fuel supply for the next six months needed to be urgently monitored by the European Commission, including identifying action that can be taken to increase production within the EU.

It also asked them to consider temporarily lifting restrictions and regulations that limit the ability to import jet fuel.

Mr Jankovec warned on behalf of the body: 'This crisis has exposed the reduced refining capacity of the EU for jet fuel production, and its acute dependence on imports from other world regions.'

Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist for Wealth Club, said: 'Carriers have had to deal with a more than doubling of fuel costs since the conflict erupted and the threat of shortages lingers.

'As the war has put a chokehold on supplies from the Middle East, it has caused other nations which produce jet fuel to impose export bans, causing trade to seize up further.

'It will take time to unwind panic positions, and for jet fuel prices to stabilise, so airlines are likely to continue to pass on the cost to passengers for the foreseeable future.'
Keir Starmer's digital ID scheme has been mocked as 'ridiculous' after a minister confirmed it will be optional  and will not include a person's biological sex.

The Prime Minister's right-hand man, Darren Jones, said the legislation for the ID cards will not be passed until at least the middle of next year, and the programme will not be available to the public until 2029.

Mr Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, added that the cards will be a 'voluntary thing.'

He added: 'The minimum viable product, basically, is due to be available from 2029, which is being able to use your government ID to prove your right to work.'

He outlined plans to convene a paid 120-strong 'people's panel' in Birmingham ahead of the launch, to test how the ID verification technology will work in practice.

Mr Jones's update on the policy, which polls show is opposed by a rising number of Britons, comes after the Government said gender and sex information would not be recorded.

Ministers argue the details are 'not necessary' because the cards will be based on 'biometric authentication.'

But women's rights campaigner and ex-Labour MP Rosie Duffield said the omission was 'utterly ridiculous.'

Darren Jones (pictured) said the legislation for digital ID cards will not be passed until at least the middle of next year, and the programme will not be available to the public until 2029

The MP for Canterbury, who now sits as an Independent, said: 'Here we are in the 21st century discussing whether or not we should put somebody's sex on an ID app or card. It's so mad.

'If we're talking about people who don't want to put their biological sex, we must be talking about a tiny, tiny percentage of people, and this is how you identify someone.

'When I worked for the police and we got calls about criminals, the first thing you would say to describe somebody that you were looking for was their biological sex. It's the first thing.

'It rules out half of the population and it's just ridiculous. Possibly Labour are too frightened to get into this. But I mean that shows incredibly weak management, not leadership.'

Tory equalities spokesman Claire Coutinho said there could be 'no excuse for failing to accurately record a person's biological sex.'

She added: 'Women deserve better than to have their existence erased because ministers are too scared to stand up for their rights.'
A transgender German neo-Nazi who was accused of changing gender to serve a jail sentence at a women's prison has been arrested in the Czech Republic after eight months on the run.

Marla-Svenja Liebich disappeared in August after failing to show up at a women's prison to serve an 18-month sentence for offences including incitement to racial hatred and slander.

Liebich used to go by the name of Sven and was a high-profile figure in eastern Germany's right-wing extremist scene for decades.

In late 2024, Liebich registered a new identity as a woman, taking advantage of Germany's Self-Determination Act, which allows people to change their gender and first name by filing a declaration at a registry office, rather than by a judicial ruling.

Since then, Liebich has appeared in public wearing women's clothing - and a moustache.

The move meant that Liebich would have been sent to a women's prison, sparking a debate in Germany over abuses of the new law.

On Thursday, Dennis Cernota, the chief prosecutor in Halle, the jurisdiction responsible for the case, told AFP Liebich had been arrested in the Czech Republic.

Cernota added that Liebich had been held under a European arrest warrant and that an extradition process would now be started.

Marla-Svenja Liebich - a convicted transgender Neo-Nazi - has been arrested in the Czech Republic after months on the run

Marla-Svenja Liebich, previously known as Sven Liebich, registered a new identity as a woman in 2024, taking advantage of Germany's Self-Determination Act, which allows people to change their gender and first name by filing a declaration at a registry office

Pictured: The Right-wing extremist Sven Liebich seen speaking during a protest against Merkel's visit to Chemnitz, Deutschland in 2018 before changing gender

Liebich's gender transition was widely seen as intended to mock Germany's Self-Determination Act, introduced in November 2024 under the then centre-left government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

In 2022, Liebich disrupted an LGBTQ pride parade in Halle, calling the participants 'parasites on society', according to activists.

The current government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, led by the conservative CDU/CSU alliance, said after coming to office last year that it would review the Self-Determination Act.

In July 2023, the far-Right extremist was sentenced for a string of offences, which included extreme right incitement to hatred, defamation, and insult.

At the time, she identified as male, which was her assigned gender at birth.

But at the end of 2024, Liebich had her gender entry in official records changed from male to female and also changed her first name in accordance with Germany's Self-Determination Act.

Despite Liebich's gender change, German media have questioned whether she was serious.
War veterans will rally on Saturday in support of Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith, whose arrest prompted some to say it is 'Vietnam repeating itself'.

Many veterans fear Roberts-Smith's high-profile arrest will alienate the next generation of Australian soldiers in the same way those returning from Vietnam were treated 50 years ago.

Roberts-Smith was taken into custody at Sydney Domestic Airport after arriving on a flight from Brisbane on Tuesday morning.

He was charged with five counts of war crime - murder in relation to alleged incidents in Afghanistan between April 2009 and October 2012, after a joint investigation between the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) and the AFP.

The arrest has sparked fierce debate across Australia.

Former commando and SMEAC veterans charity spokesman Peter Richards will rally with other veterans today alongside vocal Roberts-Smith supporter Pauline Hanson in Queensland.

'It is not just Ben Roberts-Smith who has been dragged through the dirt here, it is every soldier who fought in a war the Australian public does not understand,' he told News Corp.

Hanson vowed to stand by Roberts-Smith in the wake of his arrest as she slammed authorities over the huge cost to reach this stage.

War veterans will rally on Saturday in support of Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith

They will join Pauline Hanson who has been a vocal supporter of the war hero

'I remain steadfast in my support,' the senator posted online.

'Ben, his immediate and broader defence family need the Australian people's support right now and I will not abandon him like so many other politicians.'

Former SAS Association national chairman Martin Hamilton-Smith claimed the Roberts-Smith case had been mishandled by successive governments since the Brereton Report found evidence of war crimes in 2016.

'This is Vietnam repeating itself. An unpopular war. The politicians and the senior generals who helped design it have walked away. And we're now blaming corporals and sergeants for things that may have gone wrong in the war that politicians and generals designed,' he said.

'We lost the war. We all saw the exit from Kabul, just as we lost Vietnam and we saw the exit from Saigon.'

Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart joined Hanson, slamming the arrest of Roberts-Smith, saying in a statement: 'I don't understand how it can be justified to spend more than $300million to try for years to bring SAS veterans, who have served our country, towards criminal proceedings, and most recently the arrest of Ben.'

'As the recently passed Brigadier George Mansford succinctly stated, "The oath to serve your country did not include a contract for the normal luxuries and comforts enjoyed within our society". On the contrary, it implied hardship, loyalty and devotion to duty,' Ms Rinehart said.

Former navy clearance diver John Armfield feared the Roberts-Smith case could set a dangerous precedent that will affect future recruitment.

Roberts-Smith poses for the cameras in front of his Victoria Cross at the Australian War Memorial in 2011

Uniforms of former Special Air Services (SAS) soldier Ben Roberts-Smith in an exhibit at the Australian War Memorial

'They see soldiers being investigated years later, which is appropriate if evidence supports it. But they also see unresolved questions about leadership, decision-making, and accountability at higher levels,' he said.

Coalition defence spokesman Phillip Thompson claimed veterans had 'lost any trust' in the government.

Meanwhile, displays honouring Roberts-Smith at the Australian War Memorial will remain on show, despite calls from some historians to remove them from the Hall of Valour.

They will remain at least until criminal proceedings against the accused war criminal are settled.

Roberts-Smith's uniform, medals and combat helmet remain on display in the Hall of Valour, which honours recipients of the Victoria Cross.

'Whatever the truth is, whenever the truth is known, we will tell it,' Director of the Australian War Memorial Matt Anderson said.

'The most important thing all of us can do now is let justice take its course.'

Senior lecturer in Australian history at the University of NSW Michael McKernan, who was the deputy director at the museum in the 1990s, told the Sydney Morning Herald that keeping Roberts-Smith's uniform display up was 'ludicrous'.

'You can't leave it there. It's ludicrous. He is now charged with five murders. Let's get real  that's not good,' he said.

UNSW Canberra Professor Peter Stanley, formerly the Memorial's principal historian, told Daily Mail: 'My position is clear and simple. The Roberts-Smith display should be moved out of the Hall of Valour into the Afghanistan gallery, so his story can be portrayed as one of the tragic consequences of Australia's involvement.'
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has broken his silence after his San Francisco mansion was pelted with a Molotov cocktail in the early hours of Friday.

Altman, 40, reflected on the terrifying incident on his personal blog, accompanied by a photo of his husband and child which he shared in a bid to deter future attacks.

'Images have power, I hope. Normally we try to be pretty private, but in this case I am sharing a photo in the hopes that it might dissuade the next person from throwing a Molotov cocktail at our house, no matter what they think about me,' he wrote.

The suspect, first identified by the San Francisco Chronicle, was named as 20-year-old Alejandro Daniel Moreno-Gama.

He allegedly threw the fire bomb at Altman's home just after 4am PST, before fleeing the scene on foot, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

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 as the same suspect in the incident at Altman's mansion and immediately took him into custody. No injuries were reported.

Altman wrote in his blog that the Molotov cocktail bounced off the house. The bomb set an exterior gate on fire.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared a photo in his recent blog post of his husband and child. He wrote that he hopes the image 'might dissuade the next person from throwing a Molotov cocktail' at their home

Altman, pictured above on March 15 at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, has broken his silence after a man allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at his San Francisco home

Police believe the suspect later targeted OpenAI's headquarters, thretening to burn down their building, an hour after the bomb was allegedly thrown at Altman's home. The suspect is pictured above on surveillance footage

'Words have power too. There was an incendiary article about me a few days ago,' Altman continued.

'Someone said to me yesterday they thought it was coming at a time of great anxiety about AI and that it made things more dangerous for me. I brushed it aside.

'Now I am awake in the middle of the night and pissed, and thinking that I have underestimated the power of words and narratives.'

Altman did not specifically name the article he believed was 'incendiary,' but the alleged attack came just days after an explosive investigation by Ronan Farrow and Andrew Marantz was published in The New Yorker.

The expose cited multiple interviews with sources who knew Altman and raised questions about whether the powerful CEO could be trusted.

Altman went on to address his beliefs, noting that he believes advancing science and technology are 'moral obligations.'

He hailed artificial intelligence as a 'powerful tool for expanding human capability,' but conceded that the fear and anxiety over AI was justified. Altman called for AI to be 'democratized' to avoid power being concentrated.

The CEO included a list of reflections on his achievements and failures, along with several thoughts about the tech industry.

Altman's multi-million dollar San Francisco mansion, pictured above, was allegedly targeted on Friday. Authorities said no one had been injured

Altman opened up about the incident in a recent blog post, saying he loved his family 'more than anything.' Altman is pictured above in March with his husband, Oliver Mulherin

'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 wrote.

He concluded his blog post with a call to action, writing: 'While we have that debate, we should de-escalate the rhetoric and tactics and try to have fewer explosions in fewer homes, figuratively and literally.'

Altman's home that was targeted in the attack is a splashy $27 million mansion in the Russian Hill neighborhood.

It includes a wellness center, infinity pool and a subterranean garage with a car turntable, according to the San Francisco Standard.

The suspect also allegedly targeted OpenAI's headquarters. Employees told the New York Times they were notified that Altman's home had been targeted and that security would be increased around the company's offices.

An OpenAI spokesperson previously 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.'

'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.'

Altman's mansion, pictured above, was targeted around 4am on Friday. He said the Molotov cocktail bounced off the house, and no one was injured

Altman has an infant son with his husband. He shared a photo, pictured above, welcoming the baby to the world in February, 2025

OpenAI's San Francisco headquarters, pictured above, was also allegedly targeted in the attack. Police responded to the building and later arrested a suspect, who they believe is the same man who targeted Altman's home

Altman also took aim at his OpenAI co-founder and now-foe, Elon Musk in his blog post.

He said he took pride in 'not being willing to agree to the unilateral control he [Musk] wanted over OpenAI.'

Altman and Musk were among the founders of OpenAI in 2015. Musk left three years later and launched a competing company, xAI, in 2023.

The two are now locked in a bitter legal battle. Musk claimed in a legal filing on Tuesday that Altman and OpenAI defrauded him.

Musk's lawyers called for Altman and OpenAI President Greg Brockman to be removed from their roles in the company. The case is expected to go to trial later this month.

On Monday, OpenAI released a statement addressing the lawsuit.

'The truth is that this case has always been about Elon generating more power and more money for what he wants,' it read. 'Having increasingly realized that his attempt to damage the nonprofit OpenAI Foundation rests on a baseless legal case, Elon is once again trying to change the narrative and save face as the trial approaches.

'His lawsuit remains nothing more than a harassment campaign that's driven by ego, jealousy and a desire to slow down a competitor.'

OpenAI and Altman have a tumultuous history. In 2023, the company's board fired Altman. He was then reinstated when multiple high-ranking staff members threatened to leave.

Altman also included a list of his regrets and accomplishments in his recent reflective blog post. He wrote that he was proud that he 'held the line on not being willing to agree to the unilateral control [Elon Musk] wanted over OpenAI. The two are pictured above together in 2015

A suspect was later named as Alejandro Daniel Moreno-Gama. A booking photo was not immediately available. It's unclear what the suspect's motive was. An anti-AI sticker in front of OpenAI's headquarters is pictured above

Altman also addressed the controversy in his latest blog post, confessing: 'I am not proud of handling myself badly in a conflict with our previous board that led to a huge mess for the company.

'I have made many other mistakes throughout the insane trajectory of OpenAI; I am a flawed person in the center of an exceptionally complex situation, trying to get a little better each year, always working for the mission.'

Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive in the recent alleged attack at Altman's home.

The suspect, Alejandro Daniel Moreno-Gama, was booked in jail on suspicion of throwing an incendiary device. Prosecutors have yet to officially file charges.
BEIJING, April 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CGTN published an article on the 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. Through in-depth elaboration on the meeting's significance for developing relations between the two parties and across the Taiwan Strait, the article emphasizes that no matter how the international landscape and the situation across the 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.

During landmark talks to develop relations between the two parties and across the Taiwan Strait, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, in Beijing on Friday morning.

"Shared homeland," "one family" and "peace" were among the high-frequency words emphasized by the leaders of the two parties throughout the talks, underscoring that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are Chinese and belong to one family, and share a common aspiration 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.

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 visited Jiangsu Province and Shanghai before coming to Beijing.

Creating bright future for cross-Strait ties

During the meeting, Xi put forward four proposals on advancing cross-Strait relations. He called for forging closer bonds across the strait by upholding a correct understanding of identity, safeguarding the shared homeland through peaceful development, fostering the well-being of the people through exchanges and integration, and joint efforts to achieve national rejuvenation.

The core issue for safeguarding the shared homeland lies in recognizing that both sides of the strait belong to one China, Xi underscored.

Over the past year, compatriots on both sides of the strait have resolutely opposed "Taiwan independence" separatism and external interference, continued to pool greater strength to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and advanced the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The Chinese mainland has introduced a series of measures aimed at safeguarding the common interests of people on both sides of the strait, including the launch of an online platform for the public to report vile acts by those advocating "Taiwan independence" and their accomplices in persecuting Taiwan compatriots.

Meanwhile, voices within Taiwan have increasingly expressed opposition to separatism and external interference, with residents taking to the streets to advocate for peaceful development and stability.

Equally important is the continued deepening of exchanges and cooperation. For example, the 2025 annual conference of the Cross-Strait CEO Summit has gathered around 800 people from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan to discuss cross-Strait industrial transformation, innovation and cooperation, providing a platform for industrial cooperation across the strait, facilitating in-depth exchanges and yielding substantial results.

Thanks to a series of supportive policies, including waiving fees for first-time Taiwan residents applying for mainland travel permits and expanding permit-issuing ports for Taiwan residents to 100, cross-Strait visits in 2025 exceeded 5 million, reaching a six-year high.

Stressing that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are Chinese and belong to one family, Cheng called for efforts to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties, foster a brighter future for ties across the strait, and advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Upholding 1992 Consensus

During the talks, both sides reaffirmed the importance of upholding the common political foundation of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence."

The consensus, as articulated during the talks, rests on the principle that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China and should work together toward national reunification.

Its importance lies in defining the fundamental nature of cross-Strait relations  namely, that they are not state-to-state relations, nor do they constitute "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan." Instead, the framework provides a political foundation for dialogue and cooperation while preserving the possibility of peaceful development.

Xu Xiaoquan, a researcher from the Institute of Taiwan Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that Cheng's visit reflects the prevailing desire among Taiwan compatriots for expanded exchanges and cooperation.

Xu argued that the trajectory toward peaceful development and eventual reunification aligns with broader historical trends and public sentiment, suggesting that dialogue grounded in shared principles remains the most viable path forward.

"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."

For more information, please click:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-04-10/One-family-Xi-stresses-keeping-cross-Strait-future-in-Chinese-hands-1MemjuedzKo/p.html

SOURCE CGTN
Iran has claimed the United States has agreed to release billions in frozen assets, but Washington has swiftly denied any such move as JD Vance holds high-stakes peace talks in Islamabad.

A senior Iranian source said the US had agreed to unfreeze funds held in Qatar and other foreign banks, describing it as a sign of Washington's 'seriousness' in negotiations.

But a US official quickly rejected the claim, underlining the deep mistrust hanging over the talks.

The source, speaking anonymously, said the move was one of Tehran's key demands and had been conveyed to the US side through messages.

A second Iranian source claimed as much as $6billion could be released.

Unfreezing the assets was also said to be directly linked to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route expected to dominate negotiations.

According to Iranian state media, Tehran has already set out its 'red lines' for any deal, including guarantees over the Strait of Hormuz, the payment of war reparations, the release of blocked assets and a ceasefire across the wider region.

The strategic waterway has become a central flashpoint, with Donald Trump claiming in a Truth Social post that 'massive numbers of completely empty oil tankers are heading right now to the United States to load up.'

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif (R) holds a meeting with His Excellency JD Vance (L), Vice President of the United States of America on the sidelines of Islamabad Talks, in Islamabad

A senior Iranian source said the US had agreed to unfreeze funds held in Qatar and other foreign banks, describing it as a sign of Washington's 'seriousness' in negotiations

The apparent dispute comes as Vance leads the US delegation into what is being billed as the biggest test of his political career, alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, dubbed the 'good team' by Donald Trump

US Vice President JD Vance (C) walks with Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshall Asim Munir (L) and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar

The strategic waterway has become a central flashpoint, with Donald Trump claiming in a Truth Social post that 'massive numbers of completely empty oil tankers are heading right now to the United States to load up'

He also warned Iran against charging ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which he said has seen the worst disruption to global energy supplies in history.

The apparent dispute comes as Vance leads the US delegation into what is being billed as the biggest test of his political career, alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, dubbed the 'good team' by Donald Trump.

The talks mark the first such meeting since the war began more than a month ago.

As delegations arrived in Islamabad, the fragile ceasefire showed signs of strain.

The Iranian side is being led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, with both he and Vance holding separate talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

No direct US-Iran meeting had been confirmed by mid-afternoon.

The Pakistan-brokered truce still faces major hurdles, with Israel and Hezbollah continuing to exchange fire along southern Lebanon, and Tehran setting conditions before negotiations can begin.

Pakistan's foreign ministry said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, army chief Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi received the US delegation, adding that Dar praised Washington's commitment to securing a lasting peace.

Hours earlier, President Donald Trump wished Vance good luck. 'We'll find out what's going on. They're militarily defeated.'

In Islamabad, the streets of a normally bustling capital were deserted Saturday as security forces sealed roads ahead of the talks.

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.

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif with Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Baqir Qalibaf

Paramilitary soldiers patrol to ensure security ahead of the US-Iran talks, in Islamabad, Pakistan

US Vice President JD Vance (C) speaks with Army Chief and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir (L) and Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar after arriving for the US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad

A Pakistani army helicopter flies over the Red Zone area ahead of US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad

'The president gave us some pretty clear guidelines.'

The Iranian delegation for the talks, which is slated to begin Saturday, arrived a few hours ahead of Vance.

They sent Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Ali Akbar Ahmadian, secretary of the Supreme National Defense Council, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf Central Bank Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati, and several lawmakers.

They were received at the airport by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other senior Pakistani government officials.

Vance, who has long been skeptical of foreign military interventions and outspoken about the prospect of sending troops into open-ended conflicts, set off Friday to lead mediated talks with Iran in the Pakistani capital.

'If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand,' Vance told reporters before boarding Air Force Two to make his way to the talks.

But he added, 'If they're gonna try and play us, then they're gonna find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.'

Vance's trip comes as a tenuous, temporary ceasefire appears to be on the precipice of collapsing.

The chasm between Iran's public demands and those from the US and its partner Israel seems irreconcilable.

And in the US, where Vance might ask voters in two years' time to make him the next president, there is growing political and economic pressure to wrap it up.

The Iranian delegation for the talks, which is slated to begin Saturday, arrived a few hours ahead of Vance

U.S. Vice President JD Vance receives a bouquet of flowers after arriving for talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, April 11

Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are the 'good team' Donald Trump said he sent to Islamabad

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said in a social media post that a ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel is targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, and the release of blocked Iranian assets 'must be fulfilled before negotiations begin.'

He did not elaborate further.

Qalibaf and other senior Iranian officials arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, later on Friday ahead of Vance.

Trump said he wished his Vice President 'good luck' before leaving when speaking to the press Friday.

'I wished him luck. He's got a big thing. We'll find out what's going on. They're militarily defeated,' Trump said as he boarded Air Force One Friday.

Trump also said he would not allow Iran to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz.

'It's international water. If they're doing that, nobody knows if they're doing that, but if they're doing that, we're not going to let that happen,' he said.

Trump added that the Strait will 'open up automatically,' despite the fact that limited traffic has been able to pass through the critical trade route since the temporary ceasefire was called earlier this week.

A policeman stands guard in front of a digital screen displaying news of US-Iran peace talks

Supporters of Islamic group Sunni Rabta Council rally in support of the ceasefire between Iran and the United States

'The strait will open up. If we just left the strait, otherwise they make no money. So the strait is going to open,' Trump said. He added that the US doesn't use the Strait, so 'other countries' will 'help out.'

'It won't be easy. It won't be, I would say this, we will have that open fairly soon,' the president said.

He insisted that he doesn't 'need a backup plan' and asserted that his administration would 'open up the Gulf with or without them,' referring to the Iranians, who have effectively shuttered the critical waterway.

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.

Vessels exiting the Persian Gulf accounted for 70 percent 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.

The President expressed optimism in the three men he'd sent to Islamabad to try and end the conflict.

Donald Trump wished JD Vance good luck as the Vice President headed for Islamabad to begin peace talks between the United States and Iran

A US Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III aircraft prepares to land at Pakistan's Nur Khan military airbase in Rawalpindi

Pakistan's deputy prime minister Ishaq Dar (R) walking with Iran's parliamentary Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf (2-R), Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (2-L), and Pakistan's CDF Field Marshal Asim Munir (L) upon the Iranian delegation's arrival at Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

'We'll see how it turns out. So it's JD and Steve and Jared. We have a good team, and they meet tomorrow. We'll see how it all works out.'

Trump also noted that these talks would be tense but he believes his men will get the job done.

'It won't be easy. It won't be, I would say this, we will have that open fairly soon,' he said.

Pakistan's 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 city's main shopping mall.

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.

The streets of Pakistan's 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.

Pakistan has sent fighter jets and other military forces to Saudi Arabia to boost security under a defence pact between the two countries, the Saudi defence ministry said on Saturday.

The deployment follows a wave of Iranian talks on the Gulf kingdom over the past weeks that struck key energy infrastructure and killed a Saudi national.

Riyadh and Islamabad signed a mutual defence pact in September 2025, committing both sides to treat any aggression against either country as an attack on both. That significantly deepened a decades-old security partnership.

Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said in a statement that Pakistani fighter jets and support aircraft had arrived at the King Abdulaziz Air Base in the country's eastern province.

It comes as the Lebanese National News Agency reported multiple Israeli strikes early Saturday in southern Lebanon, killing at least three people.

The three were killed when an airstrike hit and destroyed a residential building in Maifadoun town in the southern province of Nabatiyeh, according to the agency.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, said it fired a barrage of rockets that targeted a military facility in northern Israel.
A Los Angeles coroner has pleaded no contest after he was accused of stealing from the dead for at least a year.

Adrian Munoz, 36, entered the plea on Friday to one felony count of grand theft and one misdemeanor count of petty theft, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

A no contest plea, or nolo contendere, means that the defendant does not admit guilt, but has waived the right to a trial and agrees to be treated as if they were guilty during sentencing.

Investigators discovered surveillance camera footage on January 6, 2023, of Munoz swiping a gold crucifix necklace from a dead man's neck while working a case.

Munoz was responding to an investigation of a warehouse worker who died of a heart attack on the job.

The footage revealed that Munoz placed the crucifix in his medical bag but never returned it or documented it on the property receipt, prosecutors said.

Authorities then searched Munoz's desk and discovered rare antique coins. The receipt for the coins matched the name of a man who died on November 12, 2022.

Prosecutors discovered that Munoz had also handled that man's death investigation.

A coroner with the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office, pictured above, has pleaded no contest after he was accused of stealing valuables from the dead

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman, pictured above, said Munoz 'chose greed' in a scathing statement

'There is something especially appalling about stealing from the dead. During a time when dignity and respect should be absolute, Mr. Munoz chose greed,' Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement.

He added that the plea was 'a step toward justice, but it cannot undo the additional trauma inflicted on families who were already dealing with loss.'

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office was closed when reached for comment due to staffing shortages.

The warehouse worker was previously identified by his family as Miguel Solorio. They told the Los Angeles Times in 2023 that he had worn the necklace for decades.

His daughter-in-law, Rosalba Solorio, told the publication at the time that her family asked authorities after his death what had happened to the necklace.

They were later given one that was not Solorio's and reported it, which led to the discovery.

Rosalba told the Times that her family was devastated after her father-in-law's sudden death.

'Finding out what happened with the chain was insult to injury,' she said at the time. 'Somebody who should be helping the family did this, and it's just unexplainable.'

Munoz started working at the medical examiner's office, pictured above, in 2018 and was making a yearly salary of $92,615 when he was suspended in 2023

Authorities said at a 2023 press conference that Munoz had been suspended from his role at the medical examiner's office.

Chief Medical Examiner Dr Odey Ukpo said he was 'very disappointed.' 'We rely on the trust of the community,' he added. 'Certainly, this will have shaken that trust.'

According to LA County employee records, Munoz had started at the medical examiner's office in 2018.

Before his suspension in 2023, Munoz was making $92,615 a year. His base earnings were $0 in 2024, according to public records.

Munoz will be sentenced at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center on June 5. He is expected to receive two years of probation, 180 days in Los Angeles County jail and was forced to resign from the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).

Munoz has also been ordered to pay restitution to the families of the victims he was accused of stealing from.
Donald Trump announced he is set to welcome the newly returned Artemis II crew to the White House following their successful moon mission.

The president congratulated the four-person crew, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen shortly after their return to earth.

The group successfully splashed down after their historic Moon mission, as the Orion raft made a fiery plunge through Earth's atmosphere Friday night.

'Congratulations to the Great and Very Talented Crew of Artemis II,' he wrote on Truth Social.

'The entire trip was spectacular, the landing was perfect and, as President of the United States, I could not be more proud!

'I look forward to seeing you all at the White House soon. Well be doing it again and then, next step, Mars!'

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.

It wrapped up a ten-day mission that carried the crew around the moon and farther than any human had ever traveled into space before.

The NASA Artemis II crew, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover

Artemis II crewmembers (in orange suits) being extracted from their spacecraft after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California

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.

NASA administrators confirmed that the Artemis II flight crew is 'happy and healthy.' They added that the astronauts are ready to come home to Houston.

Rick Henfling, the entry flight director for NASA's Artemis II, beamed as he delivered his remarks, calling the mission 'spectacular.'

Howard Hu, a program manager at NASA, added that Artemis II was the 'start of a new era' of space exploration.

'We accomplished what we set out to do,' Shawn Quinn, manager of NASA's Exploration Ground Systems Program, said, adding, 'It's good to be NASA, and it's good to be an American today.'

Amit Kshatriya, the associate administrator of NASA, said tonight's success was not luck, but the result of 100 people doing their jobs.

A young boy wearing an astronaut costume cheers next to a woman waving a flag as they watch a live broadcast of the return of the Artemis II crew members to Earth at the San Diego Air and Space Museum

The president said he hoped to welcome the astronauts 'soon' as he eyed a potential mission to Mars next

'The path to the lunar surface is open, but the work ahead is greater than the work behind us,' Kshatriya said.

'Let us not go to plant flags, but to stay.'

Dr Lori Glaze, NASA's deputy administrator, said her team was 'thrilled' to have the four astronauts home safely.

She added that this mission was the first of many to come.
Donald Trump has officially submitted plans for his 250-foot Triumphal Arch with new renderings showing the fixture towering over the nation's capital.

Proposals filed Friday suggested that the so-called 'Arc de Trump' will be built near the Arlington National Cemetery across the river from the Lincoln Memorial.

The monument was designed by the architectural firm Harrison Design and will be made almost entirely of white stone with intricate golden detailing.

According to ABC News, an inscription across the top will read 'One Nation Under God' underneath a golden statue of a winged Lady Liberty. Two golden eagles sit at either side.

Among other accents are four gold lions seated at the base. Mockups appeared to show a staircase climbing up the pedestal, possibly leading to a viewing deck for visitors.

Trump announced his grand plans in a Truth Social post on Friday, noting that proposals for the arch had officially been put through after months of delays.

'I am pleased to announce that TODAY my Administration officially filed the presentation and plans to the highly respected Commission of Fine Arts for what will be the GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World,' he said.

'This will be a wonderful addition to the Washington D.C. area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come!'

The president officially submitted plans for the Triumphal Arch which is set to sit near the Arlington National Cemetery

Donald Trump originally teased the project last year. He has said the arch will be the largest of its kind anywhere in the world

The arch is set to stand approximately 250 feet tall with the center reaching 110 feet tall

The Triumphal Arch stands to be more than twice the Lincoln Memorial's size, towering over it from across the Potomac.

Its central opening is 110 feet high so that its 99-foot counterpart can be seen through the center.

Plans revealed this week suggested that the arch will punctuate the center of Memorial Circle, a roundabout near the Arlington Memorial Bridge that Trump had previously earmarked for the project.

'Every time somebody rides over that beautiful bridge to the Lincoln Memorial, they literally say something is supposed to be here,' Trump told donors earlier this year.

The White House Commission of Fine Arts will meet next Thursday in Washington DC to decide the fate of his proposal, reported Fox Digital.

It is unclear how much the project may cost.

The National Endowment for the Humanities released a spending plan that suggested the arch would be at least partially funded by taxpayers' dollars.

The president stated that he hoped the arch would be the largest in the world, surpassing even France's Arc de Triomphe, which stands almost 165 feet tall.

Join the discussion Should taxpayer money fund a massive monument that prominently features Donald Trump himself?

Some have protested the arch over allegations that the president was violating stipulations surrounding new commemorative projects with its construction

The arch will sit in the center of Memorial Circle, a roundabout near the Arlington Memorial Bridge

This week, Trump compromised with a Vietnam veterans' group that was suing to prevent construction on the arch.

They argued the president had failed to follow federal laws that limit new construction of commemorative works, reported USA Today.

Laws require a recommendation from the interior secretary or the General Services Administration.

The White House agreed to notify the public two weeks before construction on the arch began, according to the lawsuit.

Legal challenges are only temporarily stalled as the group will be able to restart litigation if the administration fails to follow the proper legal channels.

The White House told Fox that plans for the Triumphal Arch aim for it to be 'one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, DC, but throughout the world.'

'It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250-year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today,' read the statement.

'President Trump will continue to honor our veterans and give the greatest nation on earth  America  the glory it deserves.'

The president teased the idea in honor of the nation's 250th birthday in July 2025

The White House told outlets that the new arch will be considered 'one of the most iconic landmarks' in the world

However, when CBS News asked who the arch would be honoring, Trump answered 'me.'

Trump first teased the idea in October 2025, suggesting that it would be constructed to mark the country's 250th birthday in July.

The official timeline for construction has not been announced.

Last year, Trump told Politico that construction on the Triumphal Arch would begin shortly.

'It'll be great. Everyone loves it,' he said from Mar-a-Lago. 'They love the ballroom too. But they love the Triumphal Arch,' he added.

The Daily Mail contacted the White House, Harrison Design and the Commission of Fine Arts for comment.
A late-night fast-food run has left a man fighting for life in hospital after he was stabbed on Saturday morning.

The 29-year-old man was stabbed in the neck and chest inside a unit on Grove Street at Guildford in Sydney's west about 2.45am.

Paramedics treated him at the scene before taking him to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition.

He underwent surgery and is currently fighting for life in an attack that police say, at this stage, was not targeted.

A NSW Police spokesperson told Daily Mail on Saturday afternoon that the man went out to get some fast food on his e-bike before it was stolen and he was stabbed.

No arrests have been made at this stage and investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
An old TV interview has come back to haunt Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as Aussies continue to be hit hard at the bowser as the fuel crisis deepens.

The 2020 interview on ABC News occurred when Albanese was the Leader of the Opposition and he had no issue slamming the Morrison Government's inaction regarding fuel supplies.

'The point of our international obligations is that Australia should have here 90 days available of liquid fuel reserves, so we are significantly in breach,' Albanese said in the interview.

'We shouldn't be dependent upon circumstances which may be beyond our control...of any particular international incident, be it military conflict or other issues, will mean that we run out of fuel.'

Albanese even predicted that a war, like the current one in Iran which has currently closed off the Strait of Hormuz, could leave Australia vulnerable when it came to fuel.

'If there's a sort of international conflict or issues that provide disruption to sea lanes that may well occur at some stage in the future, then that is why nation states need to have this fuel capacity,' Albanese said.

'It's an issue of national security, and having something in the United States doesn't provide for our national interest to be protected in the way that it should, and the government needs to emerge with a plan for our refining capacity, for storage here, and they've had now they've been there for seven years.'

In 2020, Albanese said the Morrison Government needed to ensure Australia had at least 90 days of liquid fuel reserves.

Albanese spoke on the ABC about the Morrison Government's inaction regarding fuel in 2020

The closing of the Strait of Hormuz could leave Australia vulnerable when it comes to fuel

The Strait of Hormuz is an important sea lane for world fuel supplies

It currently has around 38 days' worth of fuel which is well below Albanese's 2020 expectations.

Australia relies on overseas markets for around 90 per cent of its liquid fuels, including petrol, diesel and jet fuel, with most shipments arriving from Asia.

On Friday, Albanese touched down in Singapore for high-stakes talks to shore up Australia's fuel supply amid the global uncertainty.

Australia's status as Singapore's biggest gas provider is set to feature in Albanese's pitch as he presses for guaranteed access to Singaporean fuel, with supply lines to the Jurong Island refinery under strain.

Singapore is the largest supplier of refined petrol to Australia, accounting for more than half the nation's intake.

Albanese's mission will involve convincing Singapore to prioritise Australia if the ceasefire fails, with trade in petrol and diesel to also feature heavily in discussions.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen said on Saturday that Australia had 31 days' worth of diesel, and 28 days' worth of jet fuel.

Bowen also confirmed that there are 57 tankers heading to Australia containing jet fuel, diesel, petrol and crude oil.

The Prime Minister jetted out of Australia on Thursday morning ahead of a last-minute bilateral meeting with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong (the pair are pictured in late 2025)

'I can still say that we have roughly as much, if not more, fuel in Australia today than we did when the bombing of Iran started,' Bowen said.

Despite Bowen's reassurances, he did admit that the war in Iran would be felt in the hip pocket of everyday Aussies for some time, but that they understood why fuel was costing so much.

'There is a war on. I think most Australians understand it,' he said.

'I'm not going to pretend that that's not happening. No one should. And that is going to hang around for a while.

'The best way we can ensure prices come down is this war ends.'

The Prime Minister did say at the national press club last week that Australia needed to become more self-sufficient and less vulnerable.

'We had, fortunately, at the beginning of this global crisis, the largest fuel reserves that we'd had in Australia for 15 years. And importantly, our fuel reserves were here, not in the United States,' he said.
A local distillery which was at one point implicated in the deadly methanol poisoning of two teenage girls at a hostel in Laos, has said it has been cleared legally.

Best friends Holly Morton-Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, died while holidaying in Vang Vieng, north of the Laotian capital, Vientiane, in November 2024.

The Melbourne teens were among six foreign tourists staying at Nana Backpacker's Hostel who died after consuming methanol-laced drinks during happy hour.

A local business initially implicated in the poisoning now said it is innocent, and has emphasised that no court action is due to be brought against it.

The owner's niece Keo Sinorlai told The Age on Saturday that tests had cleared the business in relation to the incident.

'I know people died in Vang Vieng. But if it was only this (the product) that they were drinking, they would not have died,' she said.

'This business has been going on for 30 years.'

Ms Sinorlai said her 'drunk' husband would have been the first person to suffer if the product was tainted with methanol, a by-product of brewing drinkable alcohol.

Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles (pictured) died while holidaying in Vang Vieng, north of the Laotian capital, Vientiane, in November 2024

The Melbourne teens were among six foreign tourists staying at Nana Backpacker's Hostel

The method Ms Sinorlai's uncle uses to produce their drinks, she said, is to purchase 90 per cent ethanol from a pharmacy for the equivalent of about $4.

It is then diluted with water and flavourings until it is 40 per cent alcohol volume, and is produced as Tiger brand vodka and whisky.

Ms Sinorlai did not offer any theories to The Age regarding the cause of the deaths. The Vang Vieng distributor for Tiger stated the brand was available in many places.

There have so far only been reports that people drinking at Nana Backpacker's Hostel fell sick.

Ms Sinorlai said her uncle's distillery also remains closed, but cited his serious health problems as the reason.

Tiger vodka and whisky have been banned in Laos since the deadly poisonings.

Prior to the ban, Tiger vodka and whisky were widely available in stores across the country for about $2.50 a bottle.

The Australian government's Smartraveller website still cautions Australians against drinking Tiger-branded vodka and whisky.

A local distillery said it has been cleared after it was initially implicated in the tragedy (pictured, bottles of 90 per cent ethanol in a pharmacy)

The owner's niece Keo Sinorlai said she knew people died at the bar (pictured), but if they had been drinking the distillery's product, they would not have died

In February this year, the families of Holly Morton-Bowles and Bianca Jones learned 10 employees from the hostel had been found guilty of destroying evidence following an investigation.

The hostel workers each received a suspended sentence and a $185 fine after the case played out in The People's Court of Vang Vieng in Laos.

They may also be handed exit visas following a 20-day appeal period.

Holly and Bianca's families said they found out about the court case not from the Australian government but from the loved ones of other poisoning victims.

'For us not to be told they're going ahead is abhorrent. There are no words,' Bianca's father Mark Jones told 9News at the time.

'To think that the Laos authorities believe that those involved in killing our daughters is worth $185 is disgraceful.

'Six people died in that hostel and they've opened it again. It's beyond comprehension.'

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has issued an apology to the families, saying it 'fell short' in its consular duties.

The families of Bianca Jones (left) and Holly Morton-Bowles (right) were told in February this year that 10 employees from the hostel had been found guilty of destroying evidence following an investigation into the deaths at Nana Backpacker's hostel

'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade apologises unreservedly for the failure to keep the families of Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones fully informed about the outcomes of the court case relating to the destruction of evidence following the death of a United States citizen at the Nana Backpacker's Hostel in November 2024,' it said.

'The Department prides itself on its commitment to consular service and to ensuring that the interests of consular clients and their families are paramount.

'On this occasion, we fell short of our aspiration.'

The department added that the destruction of evidence charges only related to the death of James Hutson, a 57-year-old American tourist.

No further charges will be laid in connection with the deaths; however, a man linked to the distillery where the tainted spirits were produced remains before the courts.

English lawyer Simone White, 28, also died in the mass poisoning, along with Danish friends Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Sorensen, 21.

The Daily Mail has contacted DFAT and the Laos embassy regarding the investigation, and to ascertain whether they are examining Tiger vodka and whisky.
Disgraced financier Crispin Odey has dropped his 79million High Court libel claim against the Financial Times (FT), the newspaper has said.

The former hedge fund manager was suing the paper over articles published in 2023 which alleged he had sexually assaulted multiple women, claims he denies.

Before Mr Odey dropped the claim, the FT was due to defend its reporting, arguing it was substantially true and in the public interest.

The FT said Mr Odey's lawyers had sent a letter to the newspaper on Friday afternoon saying the 67-year-old had been 'forced to accept' that the publication was 'likely to succeed' in its public interest defence.

Roula Khalaf, the paper's editor, said it was a 'vindication for investigative journalism' and for 'the victims whose stories of abuse we reported'.

She added: 'The FT was always confident in its reporting. This is a case that should have never been brought.'

The FT said it had served Mr Odey two months ago with the 'substantial' disclosure of evidence relating to its investigations into his behaviour that it intended to rely upon in court.

Mr Odey last month appeared before an Upper Tribunal after he challenged a decision made by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to ban him from the UK finance industry and fine him 1.8million after allegations of sexual harassment against female staff.

Crispin Odey arrived at the Upper Tribunal last month as he sought to overturn a city ban and a 1.8million fine

Mr Odey pictured leaving Westminster Magistrates' Court in 2021 after being found not guilty of indecent assault

According to the FT, Mr Odey's lawyers said in the letter: 'Having just endured the stress and strain of a three-week trial in the Upper Tribunal, he does not wish to pursue another lengthy trial at considerable cost, only to fail on the issue of public interest, even if he was successful, as he believes he would be, in demonstrating that he is not the violent predator he was presented as being in the articles.'

Speaking last month Mr Odey admitted that he risked being seen as a 'creepy old man' over his behaviour towards a receptionist at the firm he owned.

London's Upper Tribunal heard Mr Odey texted the woman in her 20s to say he wished he had been 'in bed' with her and that she was 'delicious'.

But he insisted the woman - who later said she had been left dreading work because of his behaviour - was a 'willing participant' in flirting with him.

And he said the receptionist, who he described as a 'dangerous girl', had made claims about him because she was looking for money from his firm, Odey Asset Management.

On a separate occasion, he said he had been 'under the influence of general anaesthetic' when he was accused of groping another staff member's breast.

Asked if he had sexually assaulted her, Mr Odey said: 'Of course, I admit to grabbing her breast.'

And he added: 'It wasn't entirely innocent in nature. But it was understandable. And she accepted that.'

When it was suggested to him that women would feel 'shocked and violated' by such behaviour, he said: 'I do know that and I am deeply embarrassed about this.'

The trial at the Upper Tribunal is set to return next month for lawyers on each side to close their cases.

Mr Odey launched the libel claim in May 2024, saying at the time he suffered 'very significant financial loss' because of the articles.

His firm, which was founded in 1991 and had been one of Europe's largest hedge fund companies, announced plans to close in October 2023, the same year the FT's articles were published.

Mr Odey had been found not guilty of indecent assault in 2021 after he was alleged to have assaulted a woman, who was in her 20s at the time, at his west London home in 1998.

The Daily Mail approached Mr Odey for comment on the libel claim's withdrawal.
Richard Wills was shot dead and buried on his farm

Police are investigating whether the baffling murder of a sheep farmer is linked to a 'highly coordinated' crime network making millions from stealing livestock.

Richard Wills, 65, was last seen leaving his home in Ouyen, about 450km northwest of Melbourne near the South Australian border, on Easter Sunday.

He went to work at his rural property on the Mallee Highway about 8am as part of his normal routine after kissing his wife of 32 years, Donna, goodbye.

However, he was a no-show for lunch, prompting family members to scour the 650-hectare share-cropping and livestock farm to no avail.

Donna Wills reported him missing on Monday morning when he still hadn't returned. His body was found by police about 1.30pm the next afternoon. He had been fatally shot.

Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Trewavas of the Victoria Police's Missing Persons Squad told reporters on Saturday that Mr Wills had clearly met with 'foul play'.

He said one line of inquiry for investigators is whether livestock theft in the region was a facto. It is understood that, before his death, Mr Wills reported that some of his sheep had been stolen a while ago.

'It is something that we are mindful of in relation to this investigation,' he said.

Richard Wills (pictured with wife Donna) was last seen leaving his home in Ouyen on Sunday

Ouyen is about 450km northwest of Melbourne near the South Australian border

He was found dead on his farm after being shot, an autopsy revealed

There were over 2,693 recorded offences for stolen livestock, burglary, break-ins, and theft at farms in Victoria in the year up to June 2025, Crime Stoppers Victoria has noted.

This costs the state's farmers over $8million-a-year, yet farm crime remains one of the most underreported offences.

In one case, a farmer in Lexton had more than 1700 merino sheep - valued at $175,000 - stolen on three separate occasions between July 2023 and March 2025.

At the time, investigators said the scale of the thefts proved those responsible were 'highly coordinated' and 'sophisticated' criminals.

Police observed evidence suggesting Mr Wills had been dragged behind a vehicle and Senior Sergeant Trewavas said it is suspected he knew the person who killed him.

He said the scene that officers discovered upon finding Mr Wills' body was 'confronting' and that an autopsy confirmed he was shot dead.

His remains had been buried and the killer's motive remains unknown as investigators inspect the 600-acre sharecropping farm which has since become a crime scene.

'What is still unclear is exactly who was involved and why. This is a vicious killing,' Sen Sgt Trewavas said.

'It's callous. Somebody will know. On Easter Sunday morning, someone will know someone who was doing the wrong thing or (acting) suspiciously.'

Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Trewavas said police are probing whether livestock theft was a fact in the death of Mr Wills

In one case, a farmer in Lexton had more than 1700 merino sheep - valued at $175,000 - stolen across three occasions between July 2023 and March 2025

One of Mr Wills' children said the family had experienced loss a decade before when her sister passed away, adding 'so it feels like yet another nightmare we don't get to wake up from'

Officers spent the day between Mildura and Ouyen where they canvassed the local community and secured CCTV footage.

According to Senior Sergeant Trewavas, the farm's location along the highway makes it easily accessible to passers-by.

Ms Wills also addressed the media on Saturday, describing her last moments with her husband.

'He just kissed me goodbye. I thought I'd see him at lunchtime,' she said.

When he had not returned that night, she thought he might have gone driving with a mate and they had broken down or had a flat tyre.

'Why would they want to do it to him?' she said.

One of Mr Wills' children has also published an emotional statement on social media.

'For those that don't know, our beautiful Dad has been found,' she wrote.

'It is not the outcome we had hoped for and we are in shock and disbelief. We have a long road ahead while we wait for answers as to what has happened.

'We feel held, loved and supported by all of our friends and family near and far.'

She said the family had experienced loss a decade before when her sister passed away, adding 'so it feels like yet another nightmare we don't get to wake up from'.
Putin's shadow fleet sailors may be able to claim asylum if Britain seizes their ships in the English Channel, ministers have warned.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood are understood to have raised concerns to this effect, according to The Telegraph.

It is feared apprehending the Russian tankers could allow sailors brought ashore by British forces to make use of the UK asylum system, according to Whitehall sources.

Many of the seamen onboard are mercenaries hired by the Kremlin who could argue they were at risk of persecution if they returned to Russia or their home country.

Foreign nationals arriving in Britain are eligible to claim asylum if they are at risk of persecution, including because of the 'political situation' where they come from.

These rules also apply to small boat migrants, who are often rescued by the RNLI or Border Force in the Channel and brought ashore to have asylum claims processed.

If the shadow fleet sailors had their claims rejected, they could appeal the decision under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which can take years.

It is thought Russia may have placed spies on the tankers in hopes the vessels will be intercepted and the agents brought onto UK shores.

It is feared apprehending the Russian tankers could allow sailors brought ashore by British forces to make use of the UK asylum system, according to Whitehall sources. Pictured: The US Coast Guard pursues and seizes Russian tanker Bella 1 in January

Many of the seamen onboard are mercenaries hired by the Kremlin who could argue they were at risk of persecution if they returned to Russia or their home country. Pictured: The US Coast Guard shadows runaway Russian tanker Bella 1 earlier this year

It is thought Russia may have placed spies on the tankers in hopes the vessels will be intercepted and the agents brought onto UK shores. Pictured: File photo of a tanker

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has faced increasing pressure in recent days to tackle sanctioned Russian naval traffic passing through British waters.

He promised last month to 'go after' the ships, insisting special forces and officers from the National Crime Agency would board and impound the vessels.

But despite his assurances, it has been revealed this week a shadow fleet tanker was able to travel through the Channel, escorted by a Russian frigate.

Three more sanctioned tankers then sailed through the British waterway the following day.

The Royal Navy has not yet seized any ships, on the legal advice of the Attorney General, Lord Hermer, who warned it could breach international human rights law.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'A legal system, defended by our lawyer-in-chief Keir Starmer, that allows asylum claims from Russian mercenaries is simply not fit for purpose.

'We need to put our national interest first and that means leaving the ECHR, because we know, having tried everything else, that nothing else will work to make our borders stronger.'

Ms Cooper and Ms Mahmood are understood to be working on a solution to the legal loophole to allow the navy to seize ships without letting crews remain in Britain.

They first raised concerns in January, when the US seized Russian tanker Bella 1 in UK waters.

American authorities arrested the captain and first mate - but 26 other sailors were briefly sent to an army reserve centre in Inverness.

The men, variously from Russia, Ukraine, Chile and Bulgaria, were processed by Border Face at the base before being flown out of the UK.

But officials and government lawyers are concerned any similar arrivals could find a way to legally remain in Britain under immigration laws.

The US faced claims the capture was illegal - but the White House insisted the seizure was legitimate. No legal action has been brought over the incident.

British authorities are also understood to be examining how France has dealt with the issue when apprehending tankers in the Mediterranean.

Government insiders said the Ministry of Defence would need to meet a high legal threshold to be able to start a raid in the Channel.

Without this, officials would likely face legal action at an international maritime tribunal.

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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (pictured, on a tour of the Gulf this week) has faced increasing pressure in recent days to tackle sanctioned Russian naval traffic passing through British waters

The Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich (pictured, file photo) was seen accompanying two 'shadow fleet' vessels past Britain's south coast on Wednesday

Defence Secretary John Healey (pictured in January) confessed on Thursday there was 'more we can do' to stop the shadow fleet

Opponents have claimed Labour has been too slow to act, allowing Russian president Vladimir Putin to transport oil and gas for selling to allies including China and Iran.

Defence Secretary John Healey confessed on Thursday there was 'more we can do' to stop the shadow fleet.

But he said the Kremlin's decision to escort tankers with warships showed Britain had successfully diverted Russian resources away from the war in Ukraine.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We will not comment on specific operational planning or give a running commentary as this could compromise our ability to successfully take action against these ships, only benefitting our adversaries.

'In general terms, any target ship will be individually considered by law enforcement, military and energy market specialists before an operation is executed.'

It comes after the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich was seen accompanying two 'shadow fleet' vessels past Britain's south coast on Wednesday.

The 'senior service' was only able to rustle up a support ship to watch them head for the Black Sea.

Last month, Sir Keir gave approval for Britain's commandos to board and halt shadow fleet vessels as they pass through UK waters.

The move came as part of his commitment to pursuing the sanction-breaking ships 'even harder'.

But according to The Telegraph, RFA Tideforce, an auxiliary tanker armed with only light defensive weapons, simply followed the flotilla past Dover without intervening.

It came as the prime minister was branded 'all mouth and no trousers' on defence by Tory leader Mrs Badenoch.

She accused the PM, who went on a tour of the Gulf this week, of posturing on the world stage over the Middle East war while failing to rearm Britain.

Fears have been raised in recent weeks about the state of the Navy, after Iran hit an RAF base in Cyprus in retaliatory strikes following attacks by the US and Israel.

Officials were only able to rustle up a single ship to send to the Mediterranean to protect the country - and it arrived three weeks late.

Mrs Badenoch said: 'At a time of war in Europe and war in the Middle East, at a time when those conflicts are affecting every family across Britain, at a time when Britain's place in the world is in flux, our Government literally doesn't have a plan.'
Construction-Stage Gold Producers Offer the Cleanest Leverage to ~$4,700 Gold: LVG, AGI, SKE, LGDTF, RVLGF

Issued on behalf of Lake Victoria Gold Ltd.

USANewsGroup.com News Commentary

VANCOUVER, BC, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Gold is trading near $4,700 per ounce and the smart money stopped arguing about whether the rally is real sometime last year. [1] Goldman Sachs and Bank of America have both quietly revised their year-end targets to $6,000 per ounce, and the VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: GDXJ) has now returned more than 200% over the trailing twelve months as the operating leverage of a ~$4,700 gold price finally gets applied to compressed junior valuations. [2] But the real squeeze is on the supply side. Mine output is stalling, high-grade discoveries are getting harder to find, and the companies that matter most in this cycle are not the explorers, not the majors  they are the builders. The narrow cohort of juniors with fully permitted, fully funded, construction-stage projects are the cleanest leverage to every incremental dollar gold prints. Companies positioned squarely in that lane include Lake Victoria Gold Ltd. (TSXV: LVG) (OTCQB: LVGLF), Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE: AGI), Skeena Gold & Silver (NYSE: SKE), Liberty Gold Corp. (OTCQX: LGDTF), and Revival Gold Inc. (OTCQX: RVLGF).

The World Gold Council has been blunt about the structural problem: even at current price levels, the industry is not replacing reserves fast enough, and capital is rotating toward quality rather than quantity. [3] Central bank purchases have not slowed. NATO allies, emerging-market sovereigns, and Western institutional funds have all continued accumulating physical metal in a way that historically precedes sustained mining equity re-ratings. The M&A window has reopened in earnest  in January 2026 alone, more than $11 billion of mining transactions closed, with over three-quarters of that capital flowing into gold and silver assets. [4] For investors, the implication is simple: at ~$4,700 gold, the highest-value real estate in the sector is a fully permitted project with a financing package in place and a calendar that shows "first pour" measured in months, not years.

Key Takeaways

Gold is trading near $4,700 per ounce , with Goldman Sachs and Bank of America both targeting $6,000 by year-end 2026.

, with Goldman Sachs and Bank of America both targeting $6,000 by year-end 2026. The VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) has returned over 200% in the trailing twelve months as operating leverage kicks in for mid-tier and junior producers.

in the trailing twelve months as operating leverage kicks in for mid-tier and junior producers. Construction-stage juniors  fully permitted, fully financed  are the cleanest structural leverage play in the sector right now.

 are the cleanest structural leverage play in the sector right now. Lake Victoria Gold (TSXV: LVG /OTCQB: LVGLF) is advancing the permitted Imwelo Gold Project in Tanzania's Lake Victoria Goldfields, a region that has produced tens of millions of ounces for majors including Barrick and AngloGold Ashanti.

is advancing the permitted Imwelo Gold Project in Tanzania's Lake Victoria Goldfields, a region that has produced tens of millions of ounces for majors including Barrick and AngloGold Ashanti. Comparable construction-stage and permitting-stage names with recent April 2026 news include Alamos Gold (AGI), Skeena Gold & Silver (SKE), Liberty Gold (LGDTF), and Revival Gold (RVLGF).

Lake Victoria Gold Ltd. (TSXV: LVG) (OTCQB: LVGLF)  A Shovel-Ready Gold Mine in One of Africa's Most Established Gold Jurisdictions

Lake Victoria Gold sits squarely in the most sought-after segment of the gold equity curve: fully permitted, construction-stage assets with a clear path to production.

The Company is advancing the Imwelo Gold Project in Tanzania's Lake Victoria Goldfields  a region that has produced tens of millions of ounces of gold from operations run by some of the world's largest producers, including Barrick and AngloGold Ashanti. Imwelo is fully permitted, the financing package to complete construction is in place, and the Company's focus in 2026 is converting months of engineering, procurement, and site work into an operating gold mine.

What separates Imwelo from the typical pre-production story is that Lake Victoria Gold is not asking the market to underwrite speculative resource growth at ~$4,700 gold. The technical case for the project was built at $1,800 gold levels, meaning every incremental dollar above the prior base case drops directly through to project economics.

Beyond Imwelo, Lake Victoria Gold retains exposure to significant upside through the Tembo Project, located immediately adjacent to Barrick Gold's Bulyanhulu operation. This provides investors with a dual-track story: near-term production potential at Imwelo, combined with district-scale exploration optionality in one of Africa's most prospective gold belts. The Company is advancing a potential processing arrangement with Nyati Resources, which could provide a pathway to near-term production and cash flow from Tembo with limited upfront capital, further enhancing its ability to self-fund exploration and development. In addition, Lake Victoria Gold retains a meaningful economic interest in licences previously sold to Barrick, including the right to receive contingent payments tied to future gold discoveries of up to $45 million, providing ongoing exposure to exploration success without additional capital investment and a layer of potential non-dilutive upside not typically reflected in junior developer valuations.

For investors who want leverage to ~$4,700 gold without exploration risk and without the valuation compression of a major, Lake Victoria Gold offers the rarest profile on the board: an African gold mine being built  right now  in a jurisdiction where the neighbors are the biggest names in the industry.

CONTINUED Read this and more news for Lake Victoria Gold at: https://usanewsgroup.com/2025/04/14/with-funding-commitments-in-place-a-gold-mine-is-being-built-and-this-stock-is-still-under-0-20/

In other industry developments and happenings in the market include:

Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE: AGI)  An Intermediate Producer Showing Stock-Specific Strength Into Q1 Results

On April 2, Alamos Gold formally announced the timing of its first-quarter 2026 financial results and conference call, scheduled for April 2930.[5] The intermediate producer operates the Island Gold District and Young-Davidson mine in northern Ontario as well as the Mulatos District in Sonora, Mexico, and is advancing the Lynn Lake project in Manitoba. The day-of market reaction underscored Alamos's relative positioning: AGI traded up approximately 2.7% on the announcement while a basket of metals peers in the same momentum set traded lower by 5% to 6%, an indication of stock-specific strength in a sector that has seen sharp internal rotation.[6] The Company continues to trade well above its 200-day moving average, and the upcoming AGM on May 28, 2026 will anchor investor focus as the quarterly results print.

Skeena Gold & Silver (NYSE: SKE)  A $750 Million Senior Notes Pricing Clears the Runway to Eskay Creek Production

Also on April 2, Skeena Gold & Silver priced a US$750 million senior secured notes offering due 2031, refinancing former project financing and funding a partial buy-back of the Eskay Creek gold stream.[7] The offering is expected to close April 10, 2026 and represents one of the larger financing milestones any Canadian gold developer has executed in this cycle. Eskay Creek  located in British Columbia's Golden Triangle and fully permitted following the receipt of both the B.C. Mines Act Permit and the Environmental Management Act Permit earlier in 2026  is now 49% complete against a construction budget of US$659 million, with initial production remaining on schedule for Q2 2027. For investors watching the construction-stage cohort, Skeena is the template: fully permitted, fully financed, and now capital-structure-optimized into commissioning.

Liberty Gold Corp. (OTCQX: LGDTF)  U.S. Forest Service NOI Clears a Critical Regulatory Milestone

On April 3, Liberty Gold Corp. announced that the United States Forest Service had published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Company's Black Pine Oxide Gold Project in southeastern Idaho.[8] The publication formally initiates the federal permitting process and is a prerequisite step on the path to a Record of Decision. Black Pine is one of the more advanced open-pit, heap-leach oxide projects in the U.S. pipeline, and for a market that has been rewarding projects capable of converting permits into ounces, the NOI is exactly the kind of regulatory milestone that separates shovel-ready juniors from perpetual explorers.

Revival Gold Inc. (OTCQX: RVLGF)  Mercur Gold Project Consolidation Paves the Way for Redevelopment

On April 2, Revival Gold closed its acquisition of Mercur Mines LLC, the owner of certain mineral and surface interests in the Mercur Gold Project in Utah.[9] The transaction consolidates the historical Mercur district  a past-producing gold camp  into a single operator and clears the way for Revival Gold to advance a redevelopment plan that leverages existing infrastructure and historical data. Alongside the Company's Beartrack-Arnett project in Idaho, Revival now holds two advanced gold projects in premier U.S. jurisdictions, precisely the kind of optionality the market is bidding up into the ~$4,700 gold environment.

SOURCE: https://usanewsgroup.com/2025/04/14/with-funding-commitments-in-place-a-gold-mine-is-being-built-and-this-stock-is-still-under-0-20/

CONTACT: USA NEWS GROUP [email protected] (604)-265-2873

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are construction-stage gold producers outperforming explorers in 2026?

At ~$4,700 gold, every dollar above the prior technical case drops directly through to project economics  and the shortest path to revenue is a permitted, financed project that already has its construction calendar in motion. Exploration-stage projects face longer timelines, more dilution, and uncertain capex, while construction-stage juniors offer quantifiable leverage into a price environment no prior feasibility study anticipated.

Where is Lake Victoria Gold's Imwelo Gold Project located?

Imwelo is located in Tanzania's Lake Victoria Goldfields, a region that has produced tens of millions of ounces of gold from operations run by majors including Barrick and AngloGold Ashanti. The project is fully permitted and advancing toward production.

What is Lake Victoria Gold's relationship to Barrick's Bulyanhulu mine?

Beyond Imwelo, Lake Victoria Gold holds an interest in the Tembo Project, which is located immediately adjacent to Barrick's Bulyanhulu operation  giving investors an additional layer of discovery-stage exposure attached to a construction-stage anchor.

Who is the Qualified Person for the Imwelo Gold Project?

David Scott, Pr. Sci. Nat., SACNASP, a Director of Lake Victoria Gold, serves as the Qualified Person. He is not considered independent.

Has Lake Victoria Gold completed an NI 43-101 feasibility study on Imwelo?

No. The Company's production decision on Imwelo was made without the benefit of a completed feasibility study prepared to NI 43-101 standards  a structure common among junior producers operating on historical resource data and updated mine planning. The Company has disclosed the associated risks.

DISCLAIMER

Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. USA News Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. ("MIQ"). MIQ has been paid a fee for Lake Victoria Gold Ltd. advertising and digital media from the company directly. There may be 3rd parties who may have shares of Lake Victoria Gold Ltd., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ own shares of Lake Victoria Gold Ltd. which were purchased in the open market. MIQ reserves the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares of Lake Victoria Gold Ltd. at any time thereafter without any further notice. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material disseminated by MIQ has been approved by the above mentioned company; this is a paid advertisement, and we own shares of the mentioned company that we will sell, and we also reserve the right to buy shares of the company in the open market, or through other investment vehicles. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.

Cautionary Note Regarding the Production Decision at Imwelo

Lake Victoria Gold's decision to place the Imwelo Project into production was not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. As such, there is increased uncertainty and specific economic and technical risks of failure associated with a production decision and the commencement of mining activities at the Imwelo Project. These risks include, among others, areas that are analyzed in more detail in a feasibility study, such as applying economic analysis to resources and reserves, more detailed metallurgy and a number of specialized studies in areas such as mining and recovery methods, market analysis, and environmental and community impacts.

SOURCES

[1] FinancialContent, "The GDXJ Revolution: Junior Gold Miners Defy Gravity with 203% Surge as Gold Pierces $5,000"  https://markets.financialcontent.com/stocks/article/marketminute-2026-3-16-the-gdxj-revolution-junior-gold-miners-defy-gravity-with-203-surge-as-gold-pierces-5000

[2] NerdWallet, "7 Best-Performing Gold Stocks For Hedging Against Volatility (April 2026)"  https://www.nerdwallet.com/investing/learn/best-gold-stocks

[3] Canadian Mining Report, "The Gold Trend That May Surprise Investors in 2026"  https://www.canadianminingreport.com/blog/the-gold-trend-that-may-surprise-investors-in-2026

[4] Discovery Alert, "Contemporary Mining Industry Consolidation 2026"  https://discoveryalert.com.au/contemporary-mining-industry-consolidation-2026/

[5] Alamos Gold Inc., "Alamos Gold Provides Notice of First Quarter 2026 Results and Conference Call, and Annual General Meeting of Shareholders" (April 2, 2026)  https://www.alamosgold.com/news-and-events/news/news-details/2026/Alamos-Gold-Provides-Notice-of-First-Quarter-2026-Results-and-Conference-Call-and-Annual-General-Meeting-of-Shareholders/default.aspx

[6] Stock Titan, AGI relative-strength commentary (April 2, 2026)  https://www.stocktitan.net/news/AGI/alamos-gold-provides-notice-of-first-quarter-2026-results-and-4og5fg6a1e3w.html

[7] Skeena Resources Limited, "Skeena Gold & Silver Announces Pricing of US$750 Million Senior Secured Notes Offering" (April 2, 2026)  https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/markets/stocks/SKE-T/pressreleases/1110531/skeena-gold-silver-announces-pricing-of-us750-million-senior-secured-notes-offering-to-refinance-former-project-financing-and-to-fund-partial-buyback-of-existing-gold-stream/

[8] Liberty Gold Corp. (April 3, 2026)  https://www.juniorminingnetwork.com/junior-miner-news.html

[9] Revival Gold Inc., "Revival Gold Consolidates Mercur Gold Project Paving The Way For Redevelopment" (April 2, 2026)  https://revival-gold.com/revival-gold-consolidates-mercur-gold-project-by-exercising-option-to-acquire-100-of-barricks-interest/

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2838876/5902462/USA_News_Group_Logo.jpg
Three young men have been arrested after a dramatic car chase down a Sydney road in which jerry cans were thrown onto the road.

NSW Police were called after a stolen white Audi was seen driving down the Great Western Highway in Wentworthville, west of the city, at 2.25pm on Saturday.

When the car failed to stop, officers chased it for about 12km.

Police allege that, during the pursuit, the men were seen throwing jerry cans of fuel from the vehicle onto the M4 Motorway in Silverwater.

Officers eventually rammed the car when it reached Hill Road in Lidcombe, but the three men fled from the Audi.

The trio, aged 24, 25 and 28, were quickly captured by police, with the assistance of PolAir and the Dog Squad.

Footage of the chase, obtained by 7News, showed the men wearing balaclavas while sprinting across a busy highway. Strike Force Raptor officers could be seen close behind.

One of the men appeared to be tackled by three police officers as he tried to scale a fence and enter a construction site.

NSW Police chased a stolen white Audi in the west of Sydney on Saturday

A witness, Jamie Mornin, claimed the men tried to split up to evade the police.

'Three guys in black outfits, masks, everything, jump out and just jump off the bridge and start legging it across the road,' he told 7News.

'Two of them make off right, one makes off left. There are about 10 or 12 police on foot running after this guy.'

Police allege that officers found a semi-automatic rifle, a pistol and cloned number plates inside the abandoned Audi during their search.

The firearms, the vehicle  reportedly stolen from an Edmonson Park address in March  and the plates were all seized for forensic examination.

Detective Inspector Brad Abdy said they were now trying to unravel the circumstances that led to the chase.

'What they were doing at Wentworth Park Leagues Club this afternoon is obviously very concerning,' he said.

There are no reports of any injuries and the men were taken to Auburn Police Station where they have been charged with several serious offences.

When the three men fled the Audi, one appeared to be tackled by police

Police charged all three men with possessing an unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm, possessing an unregistered, unauthorised pistol in a public place, possessing ammunition without holding a licence or permit or authority, and participating in a criminal group or contributing to a criminal activity.

The 28-year-old alleged driver received two additional charges for driving a conveyance taken without consent of owner, and police pursuit - not stopping - driving recklessly.

He had two outstanding warrants executed for assault and domestic violence offences, police said.

The two 24-year-olds were also charged with being carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.

All three were refused bail to appear before the Bail Division Local Court on Sunday.

On Saturday evening, police told 7News the allegedly stolen Audi may have been connected to shootings and firebombings in south-west Sydney over the last few weeks.

These incidents include three in Panania, one involving a gun allegedly fired at a home and another, a firebombing targeting the wrong address.

Anyone with information about the incident or any other related events is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
The plane U-turned to land in Adelaide

A Qantas plane was forced to turn around and land unexpectedly in Adelaide after passengers and crew noticed a strange smell on board.

Qantas flight QF857 set off from Canberra on Friday evening, bound for Perth.

However, during the journey, passengers and crew reported a metallic taste in their mouths as the aircraft flew over the Great Australian Bight.

The incident prompted the plane to make a U-turn and land at Adelaide Airport around 1am on Saturday.

The priority landing broke the city airport's curfew of midnight.

A group of paramedics waited at the terminal to treat passengers and crew as they disembarked.

'We know that this would have been a frustrating experience for our customers and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience,' a Qantas spokesperson told Daily Mail.

'Passengers were re-accommodated on flights this morning from Adelaide to continue their journey to Perth.'

Qantas flight QF857 set off from Canberra on Friday evening, bound for Perth (stock image)

Passengers and crew experienced metallic taste in their mouths as the aircraft flew over the Great Australian Bight. The plane turned around and landed at Adelaide airport

Paramedics were waiting at the airport terminal for the plane

A woman who had been on the flight said she noticed something strange while on the plane, telling 9News: 'I wouldn't say it was hazy (on the plane). It was just the smell.'

'They turned everything off to try and find out where it was coming from, but they could not,' she said.

Passengers were on the first flight out of Adelaide on Saturday morning and all reached their final destination.

Some chose to stay in the lounge for a few hours overnight, while others accepted hotel accommodation offered by the airline.

Approximately 15 travellers sought the treatment of ambulance workers who inspected them in the Qantas lounge, 9News reported, but none of them were injured.

The aircraft was inspected by the engineering team and re-entered service on Saturday.
A Sudanese 'taxi boat pilot' has been charged in connection with the deaths of four migrants who drowned while attempting to cross the English Channel.

Sudanese national Alnour Mohamed Ali was charged with endangering life, on Friday, after two men and two women died trying to board a small boat crossing the English Channel on Thursday, the National Crime Agency said.

The 27-year-old is alleged to have piloted the boat from France to the UK.

Two men and two women died as they attempted to climb onto a so-called 'taxi boat' at Equihen-Plage, near Boulogne-sur-Mer, on Thursday morning.

38 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.

He will appear at Folkestone Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

The new 'taxi boat' people-smuggling tactic, designed to avoid detection by French police, involves dinghies travelling along the coast with just a driver to pre-designated beaches, where migrants enter the water to board.

Two children were among those taken to hospital as a precaution after the incident on Thursday, and another person was treated for hypothermia.

Sudanese national Alnour Mohamed Ali (pictured) was charged with endangering life,

A large rescue operation was launched just with onlookers seeing several bodies floating in the water

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, was 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.

More than 5,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel so far this year, according to Home Office data.

Migrant charities repeated calls for the Government to provide safe and legal ways for asylum seekers to arrive in the UK to prevent more death, and Conservatives accused Labour of being 'weak' over tackling crossings.

A tent was set up to handle victims of the incident in the northern coastal city of Equihen-Plage

Survivors of the incident were handed thermal blankets by emergency responders

The Government said it was 'deeply saddened' by the deaths.

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.'
Iran's new supreme leader's face is severely disfigured but he is still alive and taking part in meetings, his inner circle has said.

Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly suffered injuries to one or both legs and his face in the airstrike which killed his father in central Tehran at the end of February.

But Reuters reported he remains mentally sharp and is recovering from his injuries.

The 56-year-old was taking part in meetings through audio conference and has been contributing to major decisions on the war and negotiations with Washington.

Peace talks between Iran and the US opened in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Saturday as the new supreme leader's location and exact condition remained unknown.

There has been no photo, video or audio recording of Khamenei since his appointment on March 8.

US Vice President JD Vance landed in Pakistan on Saturday for the first such talks since the war began, in what has been billed the biggest test of his career.

It comes as the fragile ceasefire in the Middle East showed signs of severe strain, with Israel and Hezbollah continuing to exchange fire in southern Lebanon and Tehran setting conditions before negotiations can begin.

Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public since the US-Israeli attack which started the war and killed his father

A woman holding a poster featuring the new supreme leader during a rally last month

In Khamenei's absence the Iranian delegation is being led by Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Tehran's parliament.

Both he and Vance were set to hold separate talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Khamenei was wounded on February 28, the first day of the war by the US and Israel.

The new supreme leader rose to the role after his father Ali Khamenei, who had ruled since 1989, was killed.

Mojtaba Khamenei's wife, brother-in-law and sister-in-law were also among those who died in the strike.

There has been no official Iranian statement on the extent of Khamenei's injuries but a state television newsreader described him as a 'janbaz', a term used for those badly wounded in war, after he was named supreme leader.

Pete Hegseth, US Defense Secretary, said on March 13 the new supreme leader was 'wounded and likely disfigured', while the CIA declined to comment on Khamenei's condition.

Alex Vatanka, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Reuters that regardless of the supreme leader's injuries, it was unlikely the new and inexperienced ruler would be able to command the overarching power wielded by his father.

While he is seen to represent continuity, it could take years for him to build up the same level of automatic authority, Vatanka added.

'Mojtaba will be one voice but it will not be the decisive one,' he said.

'He needs to prove himself as the credible, powerful, overriding voice. The regime as a whole has to make a decision in terms of where they are going to go.'

In Iran's theocratic system, ultimate power is meant to be wielded by the supreme leader, a Shi'ite Muslim cleric appointed by an assembly of 88 ayatollahs.

The leader oversees the elected president while directly commanding authorities including the Revolutionary Guards, a powerful political and military force.

Iran's first supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, enjoyed unquestioned authority as the leader of the revolution, which began in 1978.

US Vice President JD Vance met Pakistan's prime minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif as peace talks began in Islamabad

His successor, Ali Khamenei, was a less revered cleric but had served as Iran's president.

He spent decades cementing his authority after his appointment in 1989, partly through promoting the power of the Revolutionary Guards.

His son does not command absolute power in the same way, senior Iranian sources have previously said.

The Revolutionary Guards, who helped steer him into the top job after his father's assassination, have reportedly become the dominant voice on strategic decisions during the war.

Khamenei's first communication as supreme leader came on March 12, when he said in a written statement that the Strait of Hormuz should stay closed - he also urged Middle Eastern neighbours to close US bases.

His absence has been the subject of online conspiracy theories among Iranians, with one popular meme showing an empty chair under a spotlight and the caption: 'Where is Mojtaba?'

But government supporters have said the threat against Khamenei from the US and Israel meant it was important to keep a low profile.
An acclaimed California chef whose restaurants drew A-listers has died in a horror crash.

Rainer Schwarz, 59, was killed Monday afternoon when his car veered off Crown Valley Parkway, plowed through landscaping and crashed into a parking lot in Dana Point.

The Orange County restaurateur, who co-owned Laguna Beach beachfront hotspots Driftwood Kitchen and the Deck, was pronounced dead at the scene at around 4.50pm, authorities said.

He was driving an Audi near Pacific Coast Highway when the vehicle suddenly left the roadway and came to a stop in the lot, officials added.

The exact cause of the crash, as well as what led to Schwarzs death, remains under investigation.

Schwarz was a prominent figure in Southern Californias dining scene, known for his oceanfront restaurants that attracted both locals and celebrity clientele.

Born in Klagenfurt, Austria, he began his culinary training at 15 before working at the Grand National Hotel in Lucerne, Switzerland, where he met renowned chef Joachim Splichal.

That connection eventually brought him to Los Angeles, where he continued to build his career in the United States.

Rainer Schwarz, 59, was killed Monday afternoon when his car veered off Crown Valley Parkway, plowed through landscaping and crashed into a parking lot in Dana Point

The Orange County restaurateur (left), who co-owned several Laguna Beach beachfront hotspots, was pronounced dead at the scene at around 4.50pm, authorities said

He later moved to Colorado, opening several bistros and pubs in the Denver area, before returning to California to serve as executive chef at the legendary Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood in 2009.

The Roosevelt has long been popular with celebrities, with Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, George Clooney, Jay-Z, Leonardo DiCaprio and LeBron James all reportedly being spotted there.

Schwarz went on to become a key player in Orange Countys restaurant scene, helping shape Driftwood Kitchen and the Deck into two of Laguna Beachs most popular beachfront dining destinations.

He also created menus for Hendrix Restaurant and Bar in Laguna Niguel, which has since closed.

Friends and colleagues remembered Schwarz as a larger-than-life presence with a booming personality and a reputation for generosity.

He will be the most missed person in this industry, said fellow chef Amar Santana. His smile was one of a kind, and his voice was something you could hear from a mile away.

Santana added that Schwarz was one of the first chefs to welcome him into the Laguna Beach dining scene, recalling: He was probably one of the few chefs that actually came to me and introduced himself. That, to me, was respect.

Business partner John Nye paid tribute to Schwarz in a statement Tuesday, reflecting on their long working relationship.

Driftwood Kitchen in Laguna Beach, one of the oceanfront restaurants co-owned by chef Rainer Schwarz

The exact cause of the crash, as well as what led to Schwarzs death, remains under investigation

Schwarz was a prominent figure in Southern Californias dining scene, known for his oceanfront restaurants that attracted both locals and celebrity clientele

The pair first collaborated at Disneys Mondavi Project before reuniting at the Roosevelt Hotel and later teaming up to build the Deck and Driftwood Kitchen.

We always wanted to be recognized first for our people, then our food, and lastly, the location, Nye said.

Thats when we knew we had it right. If we had a legacy, it was the family and friends we have made in Laguna to this day.

Schwarz is survived by his wife, Tasha, and their son, Max.
The founder of a once-popular restaurant in Houston will not be indicted for allegedly helping her boyfriend evade police while he was being pursued for kidnapping and assault charges.

A Harris County grand jury found that there was insufficient evidence to charge Nakia Holmes, who started the now-closed Turkey Leg Hut in 2015.

'No indictment. No charges. No case. Today, a grand jury returned a no-bill after reviewing the evidence. What was said about me didnt always match the truth, but I stayed quiet, complied, and trusted the process,' Holmes wrote on Threads.

'Now the truth has spoken. Thank you to everyone who stood by me. Im moving forward with clarity, strength, and purpose,' she added.

On October 15, Holmes, 45, was charged with one count of hindering apprehension or prosecution of a known felon - her boyfriend, Johnathan Saizon.

He was accused of beating his ex-girlfriend with a tire iron on October 8 while he was free on bond.

Saizon was already facing charges for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault on a family member.

Nakia Holmes, the founder of the once-popular Turkey Leg Hut restaurant in Houston, was not indicted on charges related to helping her boyfriend evade police

The boyfriend, Johnathan Saizon, was accused of beating his ex-girlfriend with a tire iron and was also facing charges for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault on a family member

Turkey Leg Hut as forced to shut down in November 2024. The restaurant was saddled with debt and dozens of health code violations

Police later received a tip that Saizon was hiding out at Holmes's house in west Harris County.

After sheriff's deputies surrounded the home, Holmes and Saizon's mother left in a car and were pulled over. When asked if anyone was in her home, Holmes said no, according to police.

Police say they saw Saizon leave through the back door of the home during the traffic stop. He was arrested shortly after.

Deputies say that Holmes was uncooperative at first but then told them that Saizon was at her home and that he asked her to check for police.

Holmes was never accused of being a part of the kidnapping or assault. She is now free after being held in Harris County Jail since October.

It's unclear what Holmes will do next after Turkey Leg Hut, her restaurant in the Third Ward, was forced to shut down in November 2024.

The restaurant, once known for its giant stuffed turkey legs, had dozens of health code violations and was heavily in debt. The lease was terminated after she fell behind on the rent.
A once-thriving Houston office hub valued at nearly $1 billion has been handed a dramatic lifeline after a $416 million takeover following years of decline.

Greenway Plaza, a sprawling 53-acre campus along Interstate 69 inside the citys upscale Inner Loop near River Oaks and Upper Kirby, has been acquired by Interra Capital Group after its previous owners defaulted on hundreds of millions in debt.

The deal was not a traditional sale. Instead, Interra assumed roughly $416.2 million tied to the struggling complex and injected about $15 million in cash, according to court filings. The total purchase price was not disclosed.

The 4.5 million-square-foot development was once a centerpiece of Houstons business scene but in recent years has struggled to compete, with companies abandoning older office space in favor of newer, amenity-rich buildings.

By the time of the takeover, the campus was about 57 percent occupied.

The property had been under pressure since 2022, when a $465 million loan tied to the campus came due.

Its former ownership group, including Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Nuveen Real Estate and Silverpeak Real Estate Partners, later defaulted, triggering a drawn-out restructuring.

In 2023, court-appointed receiver Trigild Texas stepped in to oversee the distressed asset, replacing the propertys management team after concerns raised in loan filings over expense reporting and budgeting.

A once-$1 billion Houston office complex, Greenway Plaza, has been taken over in a $416 million deal after years of financial struggles and declining occupancy

The new owner, Interra Capital Group, assumed the propertys debt and plans to reposition the aging campus, which has lost major tenants and fallen to about 57 percent occupancy

The takeover follows a loan default, management shake-ups and a broader exodus from older office buildings as companies move to newer spaces

Behind the scenes, control of the complex shifted multiple times, with leasing and management handed between firms as efforts were made to stabilize operations.

At the same time, a steady stream of high-profile tenants walked away.

Energy trading firm Mercuria signaled plans to relocate its US headquarters, while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America Inc. moved to a larger space elsewhere in the city.

Camden Property Trust also exited the campus, and long-time tenant Invesco Group Services Inc. significantly downsized its footprint after decades at the site.

At its peak about a decade ago, Greenway Plaza was valued at roughly $1 billion. Its decline mirrors broader struggles across the commercial real estate sector as demand for traditional office space has weakened.

Interra said it plans to reposition the campus over time, though it has not outlined specific redevelopment plans.

The firm said the property will become a flagship asset in its portfolio.

The company has already brought in CBRE to handle leasing, with a focus on retaining existing tenants and attracting new ones.

Interra CEO Jack Polatsek described the property as a long-term investment opportunity.

'Greenway Plaza is one of the most iconic and strategically important business campuses in Houston,' Polatsek said in a statement. 'This is a generational asset with unmatched scale, a premier infill location and tremendous long-term potential.'
Kemi Badenoch has accused the government of prioritising 'benefits over bullets' and said it is a 'national scandal' that plans on how they will raise money for defence have still not been published.

In a hard-hitting speech today on the urgent need for more defence spending, the Conservative leader said that the government was 'woefully unprepared' to defend the UK and had 'no plan' to defend Britain and war in the Gulf 'must act as a wake-up call'.

'We have grown fat on welfare, prioritising benefits over bullets. Britain has overspent the peace dividend that followed the Cold War and politicians of all colours as well as the electorate, prioritised day-to-day concerns over defence.'

Ms Badenoch said that US President Donald Trump was right to say that the UK and Europe was spending too much money on welfare instead of defence with the UK now spending '1 in every 3 on welfare'.

'Instead of subsidising the defence of Europe, we built welfare systems instead.

'They ignored evidence that this era of peace would not go on forever. They looked away from Georgia, Crimea, hoping they were anomalies then Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That was the moment we couldn't ignore.'

Calling for the 'biggest peacetime programme of rearmament in our history', she said the government's spending plans to enact its Strategic Defence Review 'promised last autumn' were still nowhere to be seen.

'It was promised last autumn and now we are hearing that it won't be published until next autumn. This is national scandal.'

In a speech at the London Defence Conference, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch pledges 'the largest net increase in British troops under any government since the Second World War' if the Tories return to power

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in the stands during a Premier League match at Emirates Stadium

Dismissing Defence Secretary John Healey's comments yesterday that we are ready to defence ourselves, she said:

'I am not here to lie to you. We are not ready. At a time of war in Europe and a time of war in the Middle East and at a time when these conflicts are affecting every family across Britain, at a time when Britain's place in the world is in flux, our government literally does not have a plan.

'There is no plan for how the government is going to buy equipment, weapons and munitions. There is no plan for how to enact the Strategic Defence Review. There is no plan for rearming Britain. I asked Keir Starmer about this at Prime Minister's Questions and he put his head in his hands.

'The reason there is no plan is because they have no idea how they are going to pay for it so it is time to make some tough choices. The question is not whether Britain should re-arm but it is what choices we must make to do so.'

She also warned the UK 'a once proud nation used to stamping its influence on the world' had displayed its 'shocking lack of readiness' in its response to the Iran war and even had to rely on the French bailing us out.

And in her keynote speech to the London Defence Conference Ms Badenoch also welcomed the news that the government has been forced to shelve the deal to give away the Chagos Islands without US backing.

She said the Prime Minister's Chagos deal was 'in the dustheap where it belongs' and said that Sir Keir Starmer had been 'astonishingly naive' to plan to give away the strategic Indian Ocean island archipelago to Mauritius, a country 'in the orbit of China'.

Her comments came after it was reported that the government's controversial plans to give away the sovereign territory and lease back the land for the key US-UK military base at Diego Garcia for an estimated 101 million a year have been abandoned.

They were forced to drop them after they apparently ran out of time to enact the required legislation in this Parliament because US President Donald Trump withdrew his support for the deal after calling it 'an act of total weakness'.

Ms Badenoch said the deal would also have meant that the US would need us even less, commenting:

'The Labour government's obsession with 'lawfare' is summed up by their Chagos deal  the site of a vital US-UK defence base they are giving away to a country in the orbit of China and paying billions of pounds to do so.

'This is astonishingly naive. It is romantic fiction to believe that countries will judge us based on how nice we are.

'They will judge us on what we bring to the table and what leverage we bring and what power we can protect and enforce. How much does out value to the US decrease if we give the Chagos Islands away? How much less do they need us and how much more do we need them?'

She added: 'So I welcome the news that the Chagos surrender might finally be on the dustheap where it belongs. This latest surrender underscores yet again the value of Conservatives in opposition fighting for what we believe in until the government changes its mind.'

She also agreed Donald Trump was right to question European readiness and 'right to hold a mirror up'.

Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey (pictured) delivers a statement on recent British operational activity, during which he said that Britain and allies monitored a Russian attack submarine and two spy submarines in the North Atlantic for a month before they retreated

But while she insisted a strong alliance with the US was crucial to the UK and Europe, she criticised the President saying he was 'wrong to insult our army and navy' and make 'childish remarks about the Prime Minister' and suggested 'close allies should disagree in private' not in public where enemies like Iran, China and Russia would be listening and taking delight in it.

Claiming that without the Conservative response to Ukraine when the party 'led the world in convening support for Ukraine' Kyiv could 'very well be under Russian control' she said it was not enough to have found money to increase defence spending.

And she admitted the last Conservative government did not do enough to rebuild the 'resilience and the readiness' that 'a more dangerous world required'.

But she said the Labour government was not just unprepared 'militarily with no Royal Navy warships in the Middle East for the first time in decades' but also 'strategically unprepared too' because it was too busy looking 'inward instead out of outward' and fighting within its own ranks.

Ms Badenoch said the UK government was warned about US Israeli strikes in advance and it 'was obvious' in the event of any conflict that 'our bases and our allies would be targeted' but 'just before the conflict began our only active minesweeper was taken out of the Gulf, our only active destroyer was stuck in Portsmouth'.

She said: 'We seemingly had no plan to protect our citizens in the region. Britain looked taken by surprise and woefully unprepared while our allies in France and in Greece mobilised quickly and it happened because we have a government that was politically unprepared for this war, distracted by its own infighting and psychodrama, too busy scratching itches from the opposition about the two child benefit cap, about taxing private schools to notice what was coming.

'They have now spent more time reversing their own decisions than preparing for this war, looking inward instead outward.

'I am not a military expert but I do understand the nature of power. Power does not come from wishful thinking, power does not come from speeches about values if those values are not defended by hard capability.'

Ms Badenoch pledged that any Conservative government would reinstate the two child benefit cap and spend the 3 billion saved on defence 'to fund the largest net increase in British troops under any government since the Second World War' recruiting 6,000 regular soldiers and 14,000 reservists.

She also vowed to take 17bn from sources including Ed Miliband's 'disastrous Net Zero projects' to create a new sovereign defence fund to 'invest in British defence start ups, protect our supply chains and deliver drone technology right across our armed forces'.

'My priority is to keep British families safe and this will require tough decisions.'

She also called on Keir Starmer to 'put party interests aside' and said that 're-arming Britain cannot wait until the next conservative government' and pledged to support any cross party plan 'putting party interests aside' to boost defence spending with a three-line whip to her MPs.

'The war in the Gulf must act as a wake-up call not for navel gazing or finger pointing about who did what but for action. Let's start by urgently deploying the resources we do have to serve our national interest in this conflict. We must show our allies and our enemies that we are willing to get out hands dirty,' she said.

Writing exclusively for the Daily Mail today, Ms Badenoch also warned of the 'collapse of consequences in British life' as evidenced by large-scale looting by teenage gangs in London, the 'explosion in welfare dependency' and the 'tide of small-boat arrivals that mock our border controls on a daily basis'

She warned that this behaviour in other countries would be clamped down on, 'we are building a culture in which people think they can do whatever they like - and that nothing will happen in response'.

'We appear to have forgotten the simple truth that more people will commit crimes if they believe they can get away with it,' she said.

She also blamed the country's 'increasing addiction to 'welfareism' as 'another another facet of the same problem'.

And she warned that the only way to tackle the wave of social problems we were seeing was 'to bring consequences back'.

She said: 'If welfare pays more than work, people will drift out of the labour market. And that across society, if the rules are not enforced, they will not be followed.'
A man has been charged after he allegedly rammed a group of motorbike riders who then chased him to a petrol station.

Police were called to Bass Hill Plaza's car park in south-west Sydney around 8.45pm on Friday where they found a Holden sedan that had crashed into a fire hydrant.

The driver had left the scene before officers arrived, sparking a manhunt.

After initial inquiries, officers discovered the car had allegedly struck a group of stationary motorbike riders at the intersection of the Hume Highway and Johnson Road just 15 minutes before.

The driver of the sedan left the intersection but was allegedly pursued by the riders and assaulted at a nearby service station.

Footage captured by a motorcyclist's helmet, and obtained by 7News, appeared to show the car barreling between the riders.

The car tyres could be seen driving over one of the bikes.

In another shot, some of the motorcyclists seemingly punched at the person in the car, while one jumped up and down on the vehicle's roof.

A Holden sedan allegedly struck a group of cyclists in south-west Sydney on Friday night and was followed by the bikers to a petrol station

Video footage also seems to show several motorcyclists reaching through the window in an attempt to punch the driver

After further investigation, police arrested a 49-year-old man at 9am on Saturday at a unit on the Hume Highway in Bass Hill. They will allege he was the sedan driver.

The accused was taken to Bankstown Hospital under police guard for treatment of injuries sustained during the alleged assault.

He has been charged with predatory driving and not giving his particulars to the owner of damaged property.

The man remains under police guard in hospital and is due to appear before Bail Division Court on Sunday.
An alleged California arsonist who filmed himself setting a warehouse full of people on fire compared himself to Luigi Mangione after starting the blaze, according to court documents.

Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, allegedly posted a first-person video on Instagram on April 7 igniting multiple pallets at the Kimberly-Clark warehouse in Ontario, per a criminal complaint filed Thursday in the US District Court for the Central District of California viewed by the Daily Mail.

'If you're not going to pay us enough to f***ing live or afford to live, at least pay us enough not to do this s***,' Abdulkarim said, according to the complaint.

The footage then allegedly showed his hand holding a lighter as he added, 'Should have paid us enough to f***ing live.'

'You know, we may not get paid enough to f***ing live,' Abdulkarim said, per the legal filing. 'But these b****es dirt cheap.'

He also said that the '1% is a f***ing joke' and claimed that he 'didn't see the share holders picking up a shift,' the complaint added.

During a call with an unidentified witness, Abdulkarim allegedly said his motivation for starting the fire was 'f***ing eight hours, six days  stuck paying rent on a bulls*** a** apartment that I can't afford to f***ing live.'

He added that 'a lot of people are going to understand' and compared his actions to when 'Luigi popped that mutherf***er [sic],' referring to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024.

Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, was charged with arson after allegedly setting a California warehouse on fire on April 7

Abdulkarim allegedly posted a first-person video igniting the blaze on Instagram, per a criminal complaint filed Thursday in the US District Court for the Central District of California

The fire caused about $500 million worth of damage, per the legal filing. Abdulkarim was allegedly heard bragging about igniting the 'inventory'

'If you're not going to pay us enough to f***ing live or afford to live, at least pay us enough not to do this s***,' Abdulkarim was heard saying.

During that same call, Abdulkarim also allegedly mentioned gripes with 'pedophiles out here f***ing children, profiting off  f***ing wars.'

Abdulkarim's motivations were further described in a spate of text messages sent to a coworker around 1.33am, per the complaint.

The alleged messages included 'Billionaires profiting off of war' and 'All you had to do was pay us enough to live.'

'Pay us more of the value WE bring,' Abdulkarim allegedly texted his coworker. 'Not corporate.'

Abdulkarim has been charged with arson of a building used in interstate and foreign commerce and used in activities affecting interstate and foreign commerce.

If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison and a maximum of up to 20 years behind bars.

After setting the fire, Abdulkarim allegedly bragged about how he 'just cost these motherf***ers billions.'

The 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse was fully engulfed in flames by around 1.15am, according to the complaint, causing about $500 million worth of damage.

'There goes your inventory,' Abdulkarim allegedly said in the last shot of his Instagram video.

The warehouse Abdulkarim allegedly set on fire was operated by NFI Industries, a third-party distribution company for Kimberly-Clark products.

Abdulkarim worked at NFI Industries, according to the Ontario Fire Department, but the nature or duration of his job was unclear.

The same Bayern Munich lighter seen in the Instagram video was later found on Abdulkarim by police, according to the complaint

The Ontario, California, warehouse was completely engulfed in flames by around 1.15am, though all its workers were safely evacuated

Abdulkarim told an unidentified witness during a phone call that his actions were like when 'Luigi popped that mutherf***er [sic]'

The warehouse that was set on fire was operated by NFI Industries, a third party distribution company for Kimberly-Clark products

Eighteen employees were inside the building at the time and they were all evacuated safely with no injuries reported.

As the fire spread, Ontario Police Department officers arrived at the scene looking for Abdulkarim.

Officers found him about two miles away walking along a sidewalk, and he allegedly told them that he was 'turning himself in.'

When a police officer asked Abdulkarim where he worked, he allegedly replied, 'That fire s*** right there.'

'I'm confessing,' Abdulkarim added, per the complaint.

At that point, he was cuffed and officers found a lighter with FC Bayern Munich branding on him, which was the same one seen in the first-person footage of the fire.

After he was taken into custody, an officer asked Abdulkarim if his name was Chamel, to which he said, 'Yes, that is the name on my wallet.'

Then, he allegedly refused to continue speaking to law enforcement.

'I don't answer questions,' Abdulkarim told police after his arrest, per the complaint.

Abdulkarim is being held at West Valley Detention Center without bail.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the US Attorney's Office for the Central District of California and NFI Industries for further comment.

It was not immediately clear if Abdulkarim had an attorney.
HONG KONG, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- DPC Dash Ltd  Domino's Pizza China ("DPC Dash" or the "Company", and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") (1405.HK), Domino's exclusive master franchisee for the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, continued to unlock the potential of China's underpenetrated pizza market amid a complex and evolving consumption landscape in Q1 2026. Backed by its proven 4D strategy  Development, Delicious Pizza at Value, Delivery, and Digital  the Company delivered simultaneous progress in store expansion and operational quality, underscoring its robust business resilience and long-term growth potential.

In terms of store development, DPC Dash continued to follow a disciplined "go broader, go deeper" expansion strategy, strategically "deepening" penetration in existing cities to enhance market share and "broadening" its reach into new markets. According to DPC Dash's First Quarter 2026 Investor Fact Sheet ("Investor Fact Sheet"), as of March 31, 2026, DPC Dash's total store count reached 1,462 stores across 72 cities, representing a net increase of 147 stores and expansion into 12 new cities compared to the end of 2025. On January 24, DPC Dash opened its 1,405th store in Sanya, Hainan Province, marking a symbolic milestone as the store count matched the company's stock ticker on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). As of March 31, the Company's net new stores, stores under construction, and stores signed represent 65% of the full-year 2026 store opening target, with the pace of expansion far exceeding expectations. Non-Tier 1 cities have become the Company's main growth engine, while Tier 1 cities continue to provide a resilient, high-quality revenue base with proven unit economics.

Newly opened stores in new markets continued to deliver strong performance. DPC Dash now holds all of the top 50 positions for first 30-day sales among Domino's network of more than 22,100 stores globally, fully demonstrating the enormous potential of the Chinese market and the Company's outstanding operational capabilities. In terms of store count, the Chinese Mainland market has remained the 3rd largest international market within Domino's Pizza's global system.

In terms of its Digital strategy, the Company has significantly broadened its consumer base while deepening its understanding of consumer preferences. In the first quarter of 2026, DPC Dash continued to drive product innovation, introducing new global flavors including the Year of the Horse New Year limited-edition Yak Beef Matsutake Ham Fortune Pizza, the classic upgraded Bolognaise Plus Pizza, the innovative Snowball Cheese Margherita Pizza, and the Quadruple Cheese Grand Slam Pizza catering to cheese lovers, while also iterating the product portfolio with two new rice and pasta dishes, offering customers greater choice and enhanced value. These new offerings resonated strongly with consumers, effectively supporting consumer preference and sales growth even in a soft consumption environment and highly competitive market.

In terms of marketing activities, the Company brought back the classic "Mega Week" promotion and extended the "Crazy Tuesday & Wednesday" offer through Thursday, further boosting customer visits and order volume via value-driven promotions. Meanwhile, the Company collaborated with the Dunhuang Museum to offer exclusive Chinese cultural and creative (C&C) products, integrating traditional cultural elements into the brand experience, further strengthening brand affinity and cultural identity.

The expansion of the Company's loyalty program validates the success of its digital strategy. As of March 31, 2026, the loyalty program membership exceeded 38.8 million, compared to 27.2 million in the same period of 2025. Over the past 12 months, 17.6 million new customers placed their first orders with Domino's Pizza China. The accumulated user data helps the Company to achieve personalized recommendations, precision marketing, and efficient operations, further enhancing user stickiness and repeat purchase rates.

With further strengthened brand equity and rising brand momentum, DPC Dash will continue to execute its 4D strategy, planning to add approximately 350 net new stores during the full year 2026 to further enhance market penetration.

DPC Dash has gained inclusion in major indices including the Hang Seng Composite Index and Stock Connect programs, demonstrating capital market recognition of the Company's development prospects. With its strong execution track record, attractive store economics, and operational efficiency, the Company continues to deliver robust performance in a dynamic and competitive environment, creating sustainable, long-term value for shareholders.

About DPC Dash  Domino's Pizza China

DPC Dash is Domino's Pizza's exclusive master franchisee in the Chinese mainland, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China and the Macau Special Administrative Region of China. Domino's Pizza, Inc., DPC Dash's global franchisor, is one of the most widely-recognized global consumer brands and the world's largest pizza company. Led by a seasoned and visionary management team, DPC Dash is a market leader that differentiates from competitors with, among others, a continually innovated and localized pizza-focused menu, unique expertise and leadership in delivery, technology focus and scalable and replicable store economic model. As of March 31, 2026, DPC Dash operates 1,462 stores in 72 cities in the Chinese Mainland.

For more information, please visit: www.dpcdash.com

For official company announcements, please visit: www.hkexnews.hk

Contacts

Investor Relations:

DPC Dash Ltd

[email protected]

SOURCE DPC Dash Ltd
A small retiree town in Washington is under threat of being devastated by a potential tsunami, but they don't have the funds to build the protections they desperately need to save themselves if disaster strikes.

Ocean Shores, a coastal sandbar town between Portland and Seattle, is home to roughly 7,700 people, with many of them being retirees enjoying the beautiful West Coast.

Despite tsunamis being a rare occurrence, especially in the US, Washington is situated in a precarious location that does put them at risk for the life-threatening weather event.

The Evergreen State's outer and inner coastlines are situated on numerous crustal faults and within the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 621-mile convergent plate boundary where two tectonic plates meet, making it prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.

'If the big one hits, were pretty much entirely underwater,' Scott Andersen, the city administrator, told The New York Times.

The town has been trying to build a tsunami tower, a reinforced vertical evacuation structure, for years, but it has yet to break ground.

To make matters worse, one tower won't be enough. They'd need at least 23 of them, Andersen said.

'But we can't even get one built,' he told The Times.

Ocean Shores, a coastal sandbar town between Portland and Seattle, is desperate to build a tsunami tower, but it doesn't have the funds to do so

A tsunami tower is a reinforced vertical evacuation structure. One was built in Tokeland, Washington

'If the big one hits, were pretty much entirely underwater,' Scott Andersen (far left), the city administrator, told The New York Times. Mayor Frank Eleduen (far right) said some residents aren't even concerned about building a tower

Ocean Shores started planning the first one in 2018, and it was estimated to cost around $5 million. New estimates show it needs up to $12 million to complete, The Times reported.

The city has received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but even that is up in the air, as President Donald Trump has made cuts to the vital federal agency, including ending its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which helped states with disaster preparedness.

BRIC has since been reinstated after a federal judge reversed the order.

Ocean Shores is still waiting on their grant from the agency.

Town leaders are anxiously awaiting it so the project can get underway, while half the residents aren't even concerned about it at all, Mayor Frank Eleduen told The Times.

The nonchalance from residents comes from a worry that the structure won't actually survive the storm or that they wouldn't be able to access it in time if an emergency would arise.

The age of the residents doesn't help their mindset, officials said, as many are older and shrug their shoulders at the potential loss of their life.

'It if it happens, it happens,' Andersen said of residents' attitude toward it.

The biggest and most destructive earthquake took place in Alaska in 1964

The earthquake came in at a magnitude of 9.2 and the tsunami that followed lasted 11 hours

'But of course, everyone will say that until the millisecond it happens,' he told The Times.

However, Ocean Shores isn't entirely passive about the situation while they wait for the grant to arrive. With the help of the state legislature, they're building a tsunami-safe gym in an elementary school, officials told The Times.

The high school that is set to follow is also being built with tsunamis in mind.

Ocean Shores also encourages its residents to buy National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) radios to keep in their homes, in case they miss the sirens outside.

In July, California experienced waves from a tsunami from Eureka to San Diego after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Russia, one of the biggest ever.

The biggest and most destructive earthquake took place in Alaska in 1964. It came in at a magnitude of 9.2 and the tsunami that followed lasted 11 hours.

The largest tsunami got waves as large as 1,700 feet and took place in Alaska in July 1958 after a 7.7 magnitude quake struck Lituya Bay.

The deadliest tsunami took place in 2004 in the Indian Ocean, where it killed 230,000 people across 14 countries.
Massive Attack musician Robert Del Naja has been arrested with over 500 supporters of banned group Palestine Action during a major protest in central London Today.

The singer-songwriter from Bristol was seen being spoken to by officers as he took part in the march against the group's ban in Trafalgar Square.

Del Naja was among hundreds of demonstrators who sat with sings reading 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action'.

He was later carried away by three officers and arrested on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation.

The Metropolitan Police said 523 people aged between 18 and 87 had been arrested at the mass event.

Protesters gathered in the central London landmark from 1pm and held up their placards, despite police warning any individuals engaging in such criminal activity would be arrested.

The group, which organisers Defend Our Juries said consisted of some 500 people, initially sat silently as around 100 police officers moved in to make arrests.

But some later started chanting 'shame on you' at officers as they carried protesters who refused to walk to police vans away.

Proscription makes it a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Massive Attack musician Robert Del Naja is seen holding a placard reading 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action' as he took part in the march against the group's ban

The singer-songwriter from Bristol was later carried away by three officers and arrested on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation

Thousands were expected to attend the mass event, taking place in Trafalgar Square from 1pm, as police warned it expected 'criminal offences' to take place

Police began making arrests after demonstrators taking part in the action in Trafalgar Square from 1pm today unfurled banners reading 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action'

Police officers arrest a woman at a protest in support of banned group Palestine Action in Trafalgar Square, central London on Saturday

Demonstrators participate in 'Everyone Day', a mass action against the Government's proscription of Palestine Action today

Officers from the Met Police carry a woman protesting in support of Palestine Action into custody

Police remove a protester at a demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action, in Trafalgar Square, central London

A woman shouts as she is carried away by police officers during a protest in support of Palestine Action

Around 100 police officers gathered at Trafalgar Square on Saturday in anticipation of the arrests

At the top of the square, near the National Gallery, large banners were displayed reading: 'Jurors deserve to hear the whole truth' and 'Israel starves kids'.

Several individuals, including a man and a woman with grey hair, were carried off by officers away from the demonstration.

Police could also be seen lifting a man out in handcuffs and walking an elderly protester with a walking stick to the police vans.

Protesters accused officers of dragging a woman out of the protest and not supporting her shoulders.

The woman could then be seen lying with her eyes closed as officers and bystanders surrounded her in a circle. Others shouted at the police that she needed medical attention.

One protester made the peace sign as she was removed, while another said 'Palestine Action is not a proscribed organisation' as she was led off by police.

The Met said many of those arrested needed to be carried to custody as they were non-compliant, but the force insisted none required medical assistance.

Protesters, some of whom were carried by their ankles and under their arms by officers, were led to an area at the side of Trafalgar Square surrounded by a metal fence.

Defend Our Juries said the demonstration, called Everyone Day, showed the 'resistance' to the ban on Palestine Action is 'stronger than ever'.

The Metropolitan Police said Saturday's action 'is likely to involve offending rather than a lawful protest'.

In March, the force said officers would resume arresting suspected Palestine Action supporters, as a High Court battle over the legality of the group, which was banned under terrorism legislation by the Government in July, continues.

The police paused arresting demonstrators in February after the High Court ruled the Government's ban was unlawful, but then decided to resume as an appeal against the ruling is likely to take several months.

Speaking at today's protest Yael Kahn, who used to care for female political prisoners in Gaza before moving to England, said: 'I wish, when my family was exterminated in the Holocaust by Nazi Germany, I wish there were people protesting, like all of these lovely people here. I absolutely adore them.'

A 53-year-old woman at today's demonstration said she attended to help defend the right to protest.

She said the Government 'wants to get rid of an organisation that opposes genocide, is trying to dismantle the tools of genocide, by taking direct action on weapons manufacturing, and that's a civil right to be able to protest in that way.'

She added: 'I'm basically here to uphold the right to protest in non violent, disobedient ways.'

Shortly after the group arrived, the Met Police said in a statement on X: 'We have seen a group of people sit down with signs showing support for Palestine Action. Officers are beginning to make arrests and work through the group. Some are refusing to move so will be carried into custody.'

Ahead of the protest, Defend Our Juries said: 'This issue affects everyone. From striking workers to peaceful protesters, everyone fighting for any worthy cause is at risk.

'If left unopposed, what starts with an unlawful ban on one direct action group will lead on to the removal of everyone's rights and freedoms.'

In an Instagram post last month, the group said that 'it's imperative we show that resistance to the ban is stronger than ever', adding 'we will never comply'.

Four Met Police officers carry a woman taking part in a protest in support of Palestine Action

Police officers detain a protester after the Met announced it would resume arrests for supporters of banned Palestine Action

Police remove a protester at a demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action in central London on Saturday

A woman in handcuffs is escorted by a police officer with a sign reading 'And I still support Palestine Action'

A man is detained while protesting in support of Palestine Action in London on Saturday

A woman is carried away by police officers at Trafalgar Square, central London on Saturday

Hundreds of protesters turned up to the action in Trafalgar Square today and unfurled signs in support of Palestine Action

Police vans lined the streets around Trafalgar Square on Saturday in preparation for the mass arrests

Commander Claire Smart, who is leading policing operations in London this weekend, said: 'We are preparing for another busy weekend where we anticipate policing a large-scale event that is expected to involve criminal offences.

'While the Met regularly polices peaceful and lawful protest without the need for arrests, this event presents different considerations.

'At previous events linked to this group we have seen co-ordinated attempts to disrupt police activity, including obstructing officers and, at times, verbal or physical abuse.

'I would strongly encourage anyone considering attending to reflect on the potential consequences. An arrest and criminal record can have serious and lasting effects.

'I am very grateful to the officers and staff working across London this weekend. I recognise the sustained pressure posed by repeated public order events and the dedication shown by those continuing to deliver vital policing services.'

Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Saturday, former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Dal Babu said: 'I think the difficulty is, when you've got 700 or 800 people who are willing to be arrested, that just isn't practical. The optics of this will be very challenging for the police.

'It will present some significant difficulties for the police in terms of how they manage it and also be aware of the fact there will be a huge amount of people who have sympathy with what is going on with the views of Palestine Action.'

He added that the decision to make arrests at the protest was an operational one, based on what intelligence the officers have.

He said: 'I think they wanted to give clear guidance to the police officers that will be dealing with this matter. This will be an operational decision.

'It will be based entirely on what intelligence they have, whether they have information around how many people are going to come out, what people intend to do, the kind of demonstration that they will do.'

Akiko Hart, director of human rights charity Liberty, told the Today programme she believed a new definition of terrorism was needed.

She said: 'Liberty intervened in the case because we believe that the UK's definition of terrorism is so broad and so wide-ranging that it captures behaviour that most people would not consider to be terrorism.

'When it's not clear what terrorism is, public trust collapses. And if public trust collapses, then counter-terror laws simply don't work, which is why we need a new definition of terrorism.'

Protesters have arranged mass rallies where demonstrators hold up signs saying 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action', aiming to overwhelm the criminal justice system with the number of cases.

More than 3,000 people have been arrested so far for allegedly expressing support for Palestine Action since it was banned as a terrorist group last year, including more than 2,400 in London.

Seven people were arrested on suspicion of supporting the banned group at an RAF base in Suffolk on Sunday, during protests against the Iran war.

In March, 18 Palestine Action supporters were arrested after staging a demonstration outside New Scotland Yard in support of the group.

The trials of hundreds of people accused of holding up the placards have been put on hold while the High Court case over the ban continues.
Michelin-starred chefs have said Gentleman's Relish should be saved after its owner announced it had axed the condiment.

The anchovy spread, officially known as Patum Peperium, was discontinued earlier this year in a decision revealed this week.

Associated British Foods (ABF) said it had made the move because of the product's reduced 'commercial appeal'.

But top chefs have criticised the decision and said the company should reveal the spread's secret recipe if it refuses to restart production.

Some of the country's most famous restaurants use the relish as an ingredient, with chefs now attempting their own version to ensure supply.

Tom Brown, whose restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in February, said Gentlemen's Relish was a national treasure.

He told The Telegraph: 'It is such a shame, it is a really versatile British product, like Worcestershire sauce or English mustard. If they aren't going to make it any more, they should release the recipe.'

Mr Brown added: 'It's good stuff. It is fermented and salty like soy or miso. I don't want to see it go, it has such a history to it.'

Gentlemen's Relish, a condiment sometimes spread on toast, is made of anchovies, rusk, butter and a secret combination of herbs and spices

Glynn Purnell, whose restaurants Jessica's and Purnell's have both been awarded Michelin stars, told the newspaper he was 'gutted' to see the end of the product, adding he used it in dressings, mousses and glazes.

Fans of the spread have begun petitions and written letters in a bid to reverse the decision, while bidding on one eBay listing of a pot rose to 51 with five days remaining.

The same pot was priced at less than 5 when it was stocked in shops.

Ameer Kotecha, a food writer who wrote the Platinum Jubilee's official cookbook, has started a campaign to save the relish, writing to ABF's chief executive to urge him to release the recipe.

Mr Kotecha said 750,000 pots of Gentlemen's Relish were sold per year during its peak in 2000, which had declined to five per cent of that figure - 37,500 - at the time production was halted.

Jeremy King, who has run famous eateries including the Ivy, the Wolseley and Le Caprice, has instructed his chef at the recently reopened Simpson's on the Strand to create a version of the condiment.

Mr King told the Guardian: 'We actually make our own, due to the difficulty in obtaining, so are able to continue to serve it.'

Simpson's serves the relish on toast for 6.50.

Mr King, 71, added: 'My chef found and adapted a classic Victorian recipe for Patum Peperium, which is its proper name. It is similar to mass-produced versions, but dare I say, I prefer it.'

Tom Brown's restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in February - he said Gentlemen's Relish was a national treasure

Favoured by the James Bond creator Ian Fleming, Gentlemen's Relish was created by John Osborn, an English grocer who lived in Paris.

He mixed anchovy fillets, rusk, butter and a secret combination of herbs and spices, releasing the product in 1828, the same year Simpson's opened.

Mr Osborn named his creation Patum Peperium, mock-Latin for pepper pate.

Fortnum & Mason will also reportedly continue to produce and sell a version of the relish for 14.95.

Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson once named the spread as one of the ten foods she could not live without and said: 'I love Gentleman's Relish on generously buttered toast. I think of it as the savoury version of cinnamon toast, and it is just as comforting, particularly if served on white sliced.'

AB World Foods told the Daily Mail: 'While we recognise that 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.'
Peace talks that could bring an end to America's war in the Middle East are now underway - as President Donald Trump declared that Iran is 'losing big' in a scorched-earth Truth Social post.

The President claimed that US and allied forces have effectively wiped out Iran's Navy, Air Force, and leadership. He also took a swipe at global allies, claiming they lack the 'courage or will' to clear the strategic Strait of Hormuz - a task he says the US is now doing as a 'favor' to the world.

'Most importantly, their longtime 'Leaders' are no longer with us, praise be to Allah! The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may 'bunk' into one of their sea mines which, by the way, all 28 of their mine dropper boats are also lying at the bottom of the sea,' Trump wrote.

US officials report that Iran has lost track of several naval mines deployed in the Strait of Hormuz, creating a significant hazard in the strategic waterway.

The mines were laid haphazardly without proper documentation of their locations. This lack of precision has resulted in drifting explosives that officials say could hinder efforts to safely reopen the channel to international traffic, according to reports provided to the New York Times.

The situation is further complicated by a lack of resources, as neither Washington or Tehran possesses the mine-sweeping capabilities required for a rapid cleanup. There are concerns that Iran may be intentionally withholding the coordinates of the devices to use as leverage for securing concessions during negotiations.

Earlier this morning, Trump revealed that official peace talks with Iran have started - and declared that ships across the globe are heading to the United States to 'load up with oil.'

Trump touted America's domestic oil and gas supply following a recent post on his Truth Social platform, in a phone interview with NewsNation on Saturday morning.

The remarks come amid heightened global anxiety over the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for the world's energy shipments.

'Take a look out of the great seas of our world many of them heading to the United States to load up with oil, we have plenty of it,' Trump stated during the call.

The president clarified that America's booming oil activity isn't solely due to Iran's refusal to open the Strait of Hormuz, predicting that the vital waterway will be open in the 'not too distant future.'

Taking a direct swipe at Tehran, Trump branded Iran a 'failing nation.'

However, he also hinted at new strategic workarounds for the global oil trade that would bypass the troubled waters of the Middle East entirely.

'I think people are seeing there are other alternatives to going through the Strait,' Trump noted.

Vance waves hello upon his arrival for the US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad on April 11

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

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

When pressed on whether diplomatic talks with Iran have officially started, Trump gave a definitive 'yes.'

Asked if he feels the Iranians are acting in good faith during these high-stakes negotiations, Trump offered a cryptic but confident timeline for when the world will find out.

'I'll let you know that in a very short period of time, won't take long,' he said.

The call follows Trump's latest Truth Social post highlighting US energy dominance as tensions in the Middle East continue to threaten global supply chains.

A Pakistani source confirms that Witkoff, Vance, and Kushner are holding face-to-face talks with Iranian officials Qalibaf and Araqchi, as well as Pakistan's army chief.

On Thursday, Trump blasted Tehran's handling of the waterway, writing: '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 specifically addressed reports that Iran has been attempting to extort tankers, warning: '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 concluded the post with a display of energy independence, stating: 'You'll see Oil start flowing, with or without the help of Iran and, to me, it makes no difference, either way.'

Tehran has said it needed a 'definitive end to the conflict', outlining its need for the 'end to conflicts in the region, a protocol for safe passage through the Strait, reconstruction and the lifting of sanctions.'

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

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF PAKISTAN: US delegation including special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner is welcomed by Ishak Dar, Pakistan Foreign Minister, and Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, upon their arrival in Islamabad, Pakistan

Iran has claimed the United States has agreed to release billions in frozen assets, but the administration has swiftly denied any such move as JD Vance holds these high-stakes peace talks in Islamabad.

A senior Iranian source said the US had agreed to unfreeze funds held in Qatar and other foreign banks, describing it as a sign of Washington's 'seriousness' in negotiations.

But a US official quickly rejected the claim, underlining the deep mistrust hanging over the talks.

Unfreezing the assets was also said to be directly linked to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Iranian state media, Tehran has already set out its 'red lines' for any deal, including guarantees over the Strait of Hormuz, the payment of war reparations, the release of blocked assets and a ceasefire across the wider region.
Three people have died after a car crashed off the road and struck a tree, leaving the roof torn open.

The high-powered vehicle crashed off Stoneville Road just before 9am on Saturday in Stoneville, east of Perth.

The three adult occupants in the car died at the scene.

'I came around the corner and saw the car there wedged between two trees,' a witness told 9News.

'It was pretty serious. The roof was semi ripped open. It was pretty mangled and it's an old car too, so it's made out of proper steel.

'It was wedged inside two trees - only 1.5 - maybe 2m wide. A tree was on top of it as well.

'A bobcat was already here getting ready to pull it off, just trying to open it up for the emergency services as best they could for when they got here.'

Some passersby attempted to help the occupants inside the car.

A high-powered car crashed into a tree just before 9am on Saturday in Stoneville, east of Perth

The three occupants of the vehicle died at the scene

Another witness said the car had 'careened' past her.

'I think they overcorrected and ended up sideways pinned between two trees,' she said.

Police blocked off the road for hours as first responders dealt with the aftermath.

It is understood the area of Stoneville Road where the tragedy took place has a speed limit of 80 km/h.

Officers from the Major Crash Unit are continuing their investigation.
READ MORE: Female childcare worker is jailed over assault and sexual abuse

She has been charged with attempted murder

Woman allegedly took poison and gave it to a girl

A woman has been charged after she allegedly attempted to murder a 10-year-old girl using poison.

Queensland Police Service alleges the attempt took place on March 12 in Yarrabilba, south of Brisbane.

It will be alleged a 43-year-old woman ingested poison and gave it to the girl, who was known to her, resulting in both becoming ill and vomiting, according to police.

Police said they were notified about the incident days later on March 16.

The woman and child were rushed to Logan Hospital, and the girl was discharged the same day.

Detectives launched Operation Yankee Streethawk to investigate, and the woman remained in hospital until her release into police custody on Friday.

The 43-year-old was charged with one count of attempted murder (domestic violence offence).

She has been remanded into custody to reappear before Beenleigh Magistrates Court on May 12.

Police have said that anyone experiencing domestic and family violence should report it to police.

1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732

13YARN: 13 92 76
The Prime Minister had 'no choice' but to abandon his plan to hand over the Chagos Islands in the face of an 'openly hostile' Donald Trump, the former Head of the Diplomatic Service said today.

Lord Simon McDonald, who was in charge at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office when the UK was advised to hand back the Indian Ocean island archipelago to Mauritius, said the plans would now go 'into the deep freeze'.

And the former senior diplomat warned it could take decades to work out a plan for the islands, currently under British sovereignty and officially named the British Indian Ocean Territory, calling the issue 'a hangover from the end of the Colonial era'.

His comments came as UK government officials said Starmer's plan to hand back the islands and lease back the land where the strategic UK-US military base of Diego Garcia is sited had not been 'abandoned altogether'.

But the controversial handover, which was expected to feature in the King's Speech in May, has been delayed indefinitely because there is not enough time to bring forward legislation in this Parliament and the US has withdrawn its backing.

Without US backing, the government's plans are stymied indefinitely. Donald Trump, once supportive of the deal which would see the UK pay up to 101m a year to lease Diego Garcia, changed his mind as relations soured between the two allies over the Middle East.

In January, he called the plan an 'act of total weakness'.

'The government had no other choice,' Lord McDonald, who was in charge at the FCO between 2015 and 2020, told the BBC.

Lord Simon McDonald (pictured), who was in charge at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office when the UK was advised to hand back the Indian Ocean island archipelago to Mauritius, said the plans would now go 'into the deep freeze'

The Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean. The controversial handover, which was expected to feature in the King's Speech in May, has been delayed indefinitely because there is not enough time to bring forward legislation in this Parliament and the US has withdrawn its backing

'The UK had two objectives. One was to comply with international law. The second was to reinforce the relationship with the United States but when the President of the United States is openly hostile the government has to rethink so this agreement will go into the deep freeze for the time being.'

Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, the former senior civil servant said there were 'choices over many decades' to change the way the Chagos Islands were governed but that once the government submitted to the legal process of the International Courts of Justice (ICJ), it 'was bound by the outcome of that process'.

In 2019, the ICJ recommended that Chagos should be handed back to Mauritius, triggering the current chain of events.

'Everything that has happened now and also under the Conservative government as well as the Labour government is a consequence of that ICJ judgment,' he said.

While agreeing there was a 'mood to disregard international law' and the judgment to hand back the islands could theoretically be ignored, he said:

'This mood is being led by the United States and Russia and China have always been ambivalent but the US being equally ambivalent is noticed by everybody.

'The UK has always defined itself as a country that respects and upholds international law and I think the government is correct to keep to that traditional policy.'

Lord McDonald said he expected there would be 'no change' to the islands while the Mauritians 'were in no position to take them over by force or would even try because they are over 1200 nautical miles away with no navy to speak'.

Keir Starmer with Donald Trump in October last year. Sir Keir was forced to abandon his plans to secede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius have been abandoned in the face of an 'openly hostile' Donald Trump , the former Head of the Diplomatic Service said today

He said: 'I think the status quo will persist.'

And he warned it could even take even longer than 50 years to sort out what would happen.

He explained: 'This was an issue that was a hangover from the end of the Colonial era. For the last 200 plus years, successive powers that administered the Indian Ocean administered it as one unit so, at independence, the rules of decolonisation were that the whole unit should become independent as one new country.

'The Brits - to help the US - carved out the Chagos archipelago to allow the Americans to build this absolutely vital base at Diego Garcia. The Mauritians were never happy about that. The whole process took more than half a century. It is going to take even longer to sort it out there.'

Lord McDonald, who sits in the Lords as a Life Peer and is also Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, said he expected negotiations would now continue 'in a low key way' because 'the President has already changed his mind more than once on this issue so it is possible he will change his mind again.

'If he doesn't then there will be a new president in 2029,' he said.

To enact any Chagos bill, the UK, which has controlled the islands since the early 19th Century, requires a formal exchange of letters from the US as a legal necessity.

Any deal would then see the UK formally cede sovereignty and sign a lease for Diego Garcia to maintain the military base.

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.'
A Chicago man has been arrested after allegedly sending chilling threats to assassinate Donald Trump and behead his teenage son in a string of messages to the White House.

Michael Kovco, 29, is accused of threatening to shoot the president with a high caliber sniper rifle and track down Barron Trump in order to kill him, according to federal prosecutors.

Authorities said Kovco sent multiple electronic threats through the official White House website in March, targeting Trump, his family and Secret Service agents.

In a newly unsealed criminal complaint, prosecutors said Kovco sent a March 19 message threatening to hunt a Secret Service agent and carry out a shooting at their workplace.

Im gonna hunt the secret service agent that comes to my doors family so he better not tell me any identifying information at all like first or last name or pet name or address or place of work because im going to buy a small concealable firearm and go shoot up his place of work immediately if he tells me anything, he wrote, according to the complaint unsealed in US District Court in Chicago.

The message was sent roughly two hours after agents visited Kovcos Chicago home, prosecutors said.

Kovco had come to agents attention days earlier with a March 17 message sent through the same website.

That message was signed: Mr. Im going to [expletive] kill your child Kovco.

Michael Kovco, 29, was arrested after allegedly sending a series of violent threats to Donald Trump, his son Barron Trump and Secret Service agents through the White House website

In one email, he allegedly wrote that he would find Barron in NYC or DC or wherever and attack him with a serrated bread knife

Kovco allegedly sent five more messages that day, escalating his threats and claiming he would hunt federal agents and kill the president.

In one email, he allegedly wrote that he would find Barron in NYC or DC or wherever and attack him with a serrated bread knife.

Prosecutors said Kovco also outlined plans for a sniper-style attack on Trump.

Secret Service agents visited Kovcos Chicago apartment on March 19 but did not find him at home.

Someone at the residence told agents Kovco was not taking his prescribed medication, was unemployed and rarely left the apartment, according to court documents.

Authorities said the messages included his phone number and email address, and that the IP address used to send them matched the home he shares with two other adults.

Prosecutors also allege Kovco sent a separate threat on August 18 through the Central Intelligence Agencys public website.

Kovco was arrested on April 3 and charged with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. Prosecutors are seeking to keep him in custody pending trial.

President Donald Trump arrives with first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron Trump at an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on November 6, 2024

US Attorney Andrew Boutros said political violence will be dealt with as the serious federal crime that it is.

Secret Service Special Agent-in-Charge Dai Tran added that the agency aggressively pursues threats to ensure the safety of those under its protection.

A detention hearing was scheduled for Friday.

Kovco is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison.
A man has been arrested after James Bulger's grave was vandalised for the second time in six weeks.

James' final resting place in the Fazakerley area of Liverpool had only just been repaired following previous damage to the two cherubs adorning the gravestone in February.

But now Denise Fergus, whose two-year-old son was tortured and killed by John Venables and his accomplice Robert Thompson in Liverpool in February 1993, has been left devastated after 'evil' vandals swiped the heads of the cherubs from her son's grave.

Today, Merseyside Police confirmed they have arrested a 78-year-old man on suspicion of criminal damage and theft.

Ms Fergus said it was a 'relief' that police had already arrested a suspect.

She told The Daily Mirror: 'It is a relief that someone has been arrested but it continues to be a distressing time for us. I really just want to know why these repeated attacks happened.'

Katie McCreath, Director of KMC Legal & Finance and is part of Denise's legal team, said: 'We can confirm that a 78-year-old man from Kirkby has been arrested in connection with the recent vandalisation of James Bulger's grave.

'This is an incredibly distressing development for Denise and the wider family, who are once again having to endure the pain of such a deeply upsetting and senseless act.'

A 78-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of vandalising James Bulger's grave. This marks the second time the grave has been damaged in six weeks (Pictured: The grave in February of this year)

James (pictured) was lured away from his mother at a shopping centre in Liverpool by Jon Venables and and his accomplice Robert Thompson - who tortured and killed him in February 1993

Ms Fergus was left heartbroken after cherubs on either side of the two-year-old's headstone were smashed off following a sickening attack in February.

Sharing a photograph showing the damage on social media, devastated Denise wrote: 'Today I felt my heart break once again. We got a message from a lady walking her dog at the cemetery where James's resting place is.

'She sadly told us his headstone and surround had been vandalised. We rushed down there to find the cherubs each side of his headstone had been smashed to pieces.

'I need to find whoever did this to my son's resting place. I try to help as many families as I can with either justice campaigns or helping families through the charity I set up in his memory, and some horrid b*****d has done this... to a baby's grave! Really??'

More than 20,000 was raised by 'an army of heroes' via a GoFundMe page in a bid to restore little James's resting place to its original condition before the most recent incident.

A Merseyside Police spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'We have arrested a man from Kirkby after James Bulger's grave was vandalised at Kirkdale Cemetery yesterday, Friday 10 April. At around 1.20pm, officers were informed of damage having been discovered to the grave.

'At 4.10pm, following enquiries, a 78-year-old man from Kirkby was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and theft. He has been taken to a police station.'

Denise Fergus (pictured in 2023) said it was a 'relief' that police had already arrested a suspect

Robert Thompson (right) and Jon Venables (left) were found guilty of abduction and murder in November 1993, making them the youngest convicted murderers in modern British history

Temporary Detective Inspector Viki Lanceley said: 'A man has now been arrested and we will continue to update and support James's family as the investigation progresses.

'I would encourage anyone with information to come forward directly to police as soon as possible, in any of the following ways.'

In 1993, James was with his mother at the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside, before being led away by Thompson and Venables, a moment captured in chilling CCTV footage.

His mutilated body was found two days later on a railway line two and a half miles away in Walton, Liverpool.

Thompson and Venables were found guilty of abduction and murder in November 1993, making them the youngest convicted murderers in modern British history.

They were sentenced to indefinite detention at secure units and remained in custody until a Parole Board decision in June 2001 recommended their release on a life licence at the age of 18.

Both were given new identities and moved to secret locations under a 'witness protection'-like programme.

Venables was later jailed in 2010 for possessing child pornography images on his computer.

He was released on parole in 2013 but was recalled to prison in November 2017 for again possessing child pornography images on his computer. His 2023 appeals for parole were rejected.

Following the toddler's death, Denise and her husband Stuart founded the James Bulger Memorial Trust in a bid to help other families who are going through difficult times.

Among their projects is a holiday lodge located near Blackpool, which allows struggling families to have some time away.

They revealed that extra donations from the money raised for James's headstone in March would be put towards the maintenance of the holiday lodge.
Federal agents have arrested three Iranian nationals in Los Angeles following a direct order from Secretary of State Marco Rubio to terminate their legal residency.

Seyed Eissa Hashemi, the son of one of Iran's most notorious regime leaders, had reportedly been enjoying an affluent lifestyle in Southern California for years, sparking intense public backlash and widespread petitions demanding his immediate removal from the US.

Hashemi, his wife Maryam Tahmasebi and their son had their green cards terminated. They are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement pending their formal removal from the country.

As one petitioner wrote: 'While the mother has no regret of occupying the US embassy in Tehran, many Iranians have been affected by this action while her own son has taken advantage of living in the US.'

The primary target of this enforcement action carries a lineage that resonates deeply with a dark chapter in American diplomatic history. Eissa Hashemi is the son of Masoumeh Ebtekar, a woman known to the world as 'Screaming Mary.'

Ebtekar gained international notoriety as the 'infamous spokeswoman for the Islamist militants who stormed the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.'

During the crisis, she served as the face of the regime's propaganda machine, often arranging interviews that were staged with American hostages pushed to explain their treatment in a positive way, instead of telling the truth about their harsh treatment.

'They were being held in solitary confinement, blindfolded and starved, and subjected to physical and psychological terror,' the state department explains.

Eissa Seyed Hashemi is the son of Masoumeh Ebtekar, an Iranian regime politician who also acted as a spokesperson during the Iran hostage crisis of 1979

Iranian vice president for women's and family affairs, Masoumeh Ebtekar, holds a media conference in Tehran, Iran on January 29, 2019. Ebtekar gained international notoriety as the 'infamous spokeswoman for the Islamist militants who stormed the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days'

Ebtekar later rose to the highest levels of the revolutionary government, serving as a vice president of Iran as recently as 2021.

Hashemi had reportedly been enjoying an affluent lifestyle in Southern California for years

The family's presence in the US has become a point of intense political and public scrutiny, particularly regarding how they secured residency.

Records indicate that Hashemi and his family entered the country in 2014. By June 2016, they were granted green cards through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program - a move that occurred just months after the IRGC sparked an international incident by seizing two US Navy vessels and capturing 10 American sailors.

Under the current administration, the issuance of these diversity visas has been suspended, and officials are now actively reversing prior approvals for those linked to hostile foreign entities.

This operation follows a string of similar high-profile removals targeting the relatives of Iran's inner circle.

From chugging bottles of champagne and lounging in designer clothing to partying at luxury Las Vegas resorts, the niece of the late Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani also lived a lavish lifestyle in the United States.

But Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, 47, and her daughter Sarinasadat Hosseiny, 25, are now facing deportation after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers detained them in Los Angeles.

Sarinasadat Hosseiny, 25, lounging by a pool in a black bikini

Afshar, 47, wearing a Louis Vuitton hoodie with a gold watch and jewelry

Afhsar's home in Tujunga, Los Angeles. She bought the property for $505,000 in 2021 and it is now worth $740,000

Instagram posts show Hosseiny clubbing in Miami, vacationing in Alaska and partying in Las Vegas

Both women are related to Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by a US drone strike at Baghdad Airport in January 2020

The women have also had their green cards revoked after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Afshar of celebrating the deaths of American soldiers during President Donald Trump's ongoing war with Iran.

The mother and daughter documented their glitzy lives on their now-deleted social media, posting enviable snaps of opulent holidays, expensive cars and stylish parties.

Afshar, who originally entered the US in June 2015 on a tourist visa, would often publish pictures of herself decked out in gold jewellery, dispatching from helicopters in the desert, and relaxing in Louis Vuitton clothes.

Her daughter, who came to the US with her mother on a student visa, appeared in snaps relaxing on a sun lounger by a pool in a black bikini, showing off her tattoos, and posing on a bed in a halter-neck party dress, next to a bottle of rose.

Both enjoy donning outfits deemed illegal in Tehran, where women face arrest, beating, and even rape in custody for disobeying the strict dress code enforced by the Islamic regime, which includes the compulsory hijab.

Afshar is the niece of the slain Qasem Soleimani, one of Iran's most powerful military figures who was the commander of the lethal Quds force and the architect of the regime's terror activities throughout the Middle East.

Soleimani was killed by a US Reaper drone strike ordered by President Trump at Baghdad airport in January 2020.

Before his death, he was seen as the country's most influential commander, second only to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

Afshar riding in a blue Hummer. She and her daughter lived in Los Angeles before their arrest

Afshar's daughter, Hosseiny, was originally let into the country under a student visa in 2015

Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, above, and her daughter have both been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in LA and had their green cards revoked

After joining the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in his early 20s, the hardliner eventually became responsible for hundreds of American deaths in Iraq and waves of militia attacks against Israel.

Earlier this month, Rubio terminated the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, the daughter of veteran Iranian politician Ali Larijani, and her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi.

Ardeshir-Larijani and Motamedi are no longer in the United States and are barred from entry, according to the State Department.

Ali Larijani, an architect of Iran's security policy, was killed in mid-March by a US-Israeli air attack.

In his second term in office, Trump's administration has stepped up deportation efforts against immigrants, calling them threats.
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At least three elderly people were injured in a stabbing spree by a man who claimed to be 'Lucifer' inside tourist-heavy Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.

Two men aged 65 and 85, who were not identified, were taken to the hospital in critical condition by the fire department after being slashed in the head on Saturday morning.

A third person, a 70-year-old woman, was also attacked.

Officers fatally shot machete-wielding Anthony Griffen, 44, while he was repeatedly shouting that he was 'Lucifer,' police commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a press conference Saturday afternoon.

He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

He has three prior arrests, according to Tisch. It is unclear what for.

Three train lines - the 4, 5, and 6 - were disrupted in the aftermath and not stopping at the popular station, which is one of the busiest stations in the US.

Tisch said officers found Griffen on the platform, acting 'erratically' and refusing to drop his machete. Police ordered the man to drop the weapon at least 20 times, the commissioner added.

Three elderly people were injured in a stabbing spree inside Grand Central on Saturday morning

A close-up of the weapon used in the Saturday morning attack in New York is pictured

'Officers also tried to deescalate and offer assistance, saying: "We are going to get you help,"' Tisch said.

Griffen then 'advanced toward the officers with the knife extended,' causing one officer to fire two shots toward the criminal.

Griffen initially entered the subway system in Queens at Vernon Boulevard station, where he took the 7 train to Grand Central.

After arriving to the Midtown Manhattan station, he slashed one person on the 7 train before going upstairs to the 4/5/6 platform and harmed two more people, Tisch said.

The 85-year-old victim suffered serious laceration to the head and face on the 7 train platform. The 65-year-old man suffered a skull fracture on the 4/5/6 platform, authorities said.

The third victim suffered a shoulder laceration, also on the 4/5/6 platform.

'Their injuries are not believe to be life-threatening at this time,' Tisch said.

The machete was seen on the platform of the subway at Grand Central after the attack

The crime scene is pictured. The attack sparked chaos at the tourist-heavy NYC hotspot

The incident comes after Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, said last week that the Big Apple had a gun violence problem after a seven-month-old baby was fatally shot in the head in Brooklyn.

'We cannot accept it as normal in our city. We cannot grow numb to this pain,' he said. 'Today is a devastating reminder of just how much more work there is to be done to combat gun violence across the city.

'Too many children have never grown up into becoming adults. Too many parents whove had to bury those they love most.'

Kaori Patterson-Moore was shot dead while parents Jamari Patterson, 22, and Lianna Moore, 20, and brother, Kaizen, were strolling through Brooklyn on April 1.

The parents had been taking their kids to buy baby supplies when the shooting happened around 1.20pm.

They had originally thought someone had set off fireworks, which had caused her son to hop out of the stroller.

The family fled into a nearby bodega before Moore noticed her daughter's head was bleeding, surveillance footage obtained by the New York Post showed.

Blood and trash were seen left on the platform after the attack

Police shot the man after he allegedly refused to put down his weapon. The 4, 5, and 6 trains did not stop at the station in the aftermath of the attack

Grand Central is one of the busiest terminals in the country

An increased police presence is seen outside the busy station after the attack

Just a week before the officer-involved shooting, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the Big Apple had a gun violence problem

Kaori Patterson-Moore, seven months, died last week after she was fatally shot in the head

She was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital after her father ran her there.

Despite the two violent incidents, statistics show that crime is down 5.7 percent in NYC.

However, shooting victims are up 2.3 percent and shooting incidents are up 1.4 percent compared to last year, NYPD statistics showed.

Governor Kathy Hochul said she has been briefed on Saturday's stabbing, calling it a 'senseless act of violence.'

'Im grateful to our brave officers who acted quickly to stop the suspect,' she wrote on X. 'Were working closely with the NYPD as the investigation unfolds.'

Mamdani echoed a similar statement, writing on X: 'Im grateful to the NYPD for their quick response and for preventing additional violence.'

The mayor said NYPD will be releasing bodycam footage later after the investigation is concluded.
Kamala Harris quickly faced ridicule after she mocked President Donald Trump using a fake mob boss accent.

Harris sat down with civil rights activist, Al Sharpton, at the National Action Network event on Friday to discuss a potential 2028 run, as well as her thoughts on how Trump runs the nation.

While discussing America's standing in the international community, Kamala Harris claimed the Republican acts like a 'mob boss.'

'The way that he's thinking of foreign policy, it seems, is when he talks about America first, it's to withdraw from these relationships and these connections. And then he kind of, rev[erend], like a mob boss.

'So then, he's kind of like: "Well, you know, you take Eastern Europe and I'll take the Western Hemisphere, and then you over there, you get Asia. And we'll just divide it up,"' she said in a fake mob accent.

She went on to say that America has always been about global leadership, even if it has been imperfect in the past, and by creating friction with other nations, it's leaving others, like China, to 'fill our void.'

Harris brought up her work in the Indo-Pacific to help lessen China's influence on those countries. She claims Trump has left her work behind, and it is harming America's reach abroad.

'What he is doing is making us weaker, unreliable, and less influential,' she slammed.

Kamala Harris used a mob boss accent while mimicking what she believe Donald Trump acted like while dealing with foreign leaders

'The way that he's thinking of foreign policy, it seems, is when he talks about America first, it's to withdraw from these relationships and these connections. And then he kind of, rev[erend], like a mob boss,' she said

'America has increasingly, under Donald Trump, become more unreliable as a partner to our friends. And America has increasingly - [my] second point - [had] loss of influence.'

Despite her 52-minute chat with Sharpton, her critics focused on her poorly done mob accent, ridiculing her for using it.

The Republican National Convention's research team wrote on X: 'And "Mafia boss" to Kamala Harris' list of embarrassing accents.'

Another agreed, writing: 'This is embarrassing even for her.'

A third said: 'It's almost less annoying than her real voice.'

Another said she was 'clueless,' and she sounded like she was 'speaking to kindergarten kids' rather than a mob.

Harris has been criticized before for switching between accents while on her presidential campaign.

She was accused of using different tones while speaking to different groups of people.

Her critics were quick to ridicule her for adding another accents to her repertoire

In September 2024, while speaking with a teachers' union, she was accused of putting on a fake accent.

In her remarks, social media users claim that Harris adopted an urban accent to relate to the working-class crowd.

'You may not be a union member, but you better thank a union member for the five-day work week,' Harris said in a tone of voice atypical of the one she uses in her usual stump speeches.

The former vice president is half Jamaican and half Indian.

The Trump campaign accused her at the time of using her blackness to her advantage when it suited her.
A council has announced they will take down Union Jack and St George's flags from lampposts claiming they are a safety concern.

Shropshire Council said that it supports and 'does not prohibit' residents from expressing their British patriotism and added that it recognises the flag as a 'national emblem'.

However, the Liberal Democrat run local authority added that putting the flags up could be considered a criminal offence and those responsible will be pursued for the cost of the removal.

The council's deputy leader had previously said the authority would not stop locals from putting up national flags and that he had 'absolutely no problem with people being patriotic'.

Since Storm Dave swept across the nation last week, many of the flags across the county have reportedly become torn, loose or insecure.

Now, the council have started a 13,000 full-scale removal operation of the flags which will initially start in Shrewsbury before being expanded across the county.

A group of demonstrators took to the streets of Shrewsbury today to protest the council's decision.

The protests were organised by a local group called Raise the Flags Shrewsbury Plus who previously confirmed they were responsible for putting up the flags

A GoFundMe set up by the same group to stop the flags being torn down in the county town has raised over 6,000.

Pictured: A flag being displayed on a lamppost by the group Raise the Flags Shrewsbury Plus. Shropshire Council has announced they will take down Union Jack and St George's flags from lampposts claiming they are a safety concern

Supporters of the Raise the Flags Shrewsbury Plus. Now, the council have started a 13,000 full-scale removal operation of the flags which will initially start in Shrewsbury before being expanded across the county with those responsible for putting up the flags footing the bill

Meanwhile, BBC News reported that Shropshire Council are aware of 'community tensions' including reports of abuse directed at residents, councillors and members of staff who work for the council and that it was working with West Mercia Police.

While it is removing the flags from the lampposts and elsewhere, the council is in the process of setting up a funding bid to create what they call a 'positive alternative' including a locally-designed flag involving young people from the area.

In October last year, Shropshire Council also removed a number of flags claiming on this occasion they had become 'unsightly' in the wake of Storm Amy.

The flags had been placed there and elsewhere in Britain as part of Operation Raise the Colours - a campaign started last summer online that advocates displaying Union and St George's Cross flags in public places.

Although the groups responsible for displaying the flags said they were meant to show pride and patriotism towards Britain, others have called them provocative at a time of tension over immigration across the country.
Iran has threatened to attack US Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz, just after American warships passed through the strategic waterway for the first time since the war began.

Two American destroyers went through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday for the first time in six weeks without incident, according to The Wall Street Journal.

But Tehran has since warned Pakistani mediators that if the vessel continues to move, 'it will be targeted within 30 minutes, and the Iranian-American negotiations will suffer,' foreign ministry spokesperson Khabar Network told Fars News Agency.

The threat of near-immediate retaliation came just after reports revealed that multiple US ships crossed the strait in a bold move that 'was not coordinated with Iran.'

USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG 121) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) transited the Strait of Hormuz as part of a US Navy operation - not escorting commercial ships - in what was described as a freedom-of-navigation mission.

Forces under US Central Command (CENTCOM) also announced that they had begun setting conditions to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz previously laid by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

'Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,' CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said in a statement on X.

Cooper also revealed that additional US forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance effort in the coming days.

Two US destroyers have entered the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday as part of a freedom-of-navigation mission

The destroyers (stock image) were not escorting commercial ships. Their appearance in the Strait comes as peace talks begin in Pakistan between the US and Iran

President Donald Trump has ordered that the Strait of Hormuz be open as part of the ceasefire deal.

The Iran war has led to Iranians effectively shutting the Strait of Hormuz through which 20 percent of the world's oil supplies are shipped. That has pushed up energy prices and given Iran a key point of leverage in negotiations with the US.

The transit comes as the US and Iran began face-to-face negotiations on Saturday in Pakistan, days after a fragile, two-week ceasefire was announced.

The White House confirmed the direct nature of the talks.

Iran's state-run news agency said three-party talks had begun after Iranian preconditions, including a reduction in Israeli strikes on Southern Lebanon were met, and after US and Iranian officials met separately with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

When asked if he feels the Iranians are acting in good faith during these high-stakes negotiations, Trump offered a cryptic but confident timeline for when the world will find out on Saturday.

'I'll let you know that in a very short period of time, won't take long,' he said.

The US delegation is being led by Vice President JD Vance, along with Steve Witkoff, the special envoy, and Jared Kushner, who is Trump's son-in-law.

President Donald Trump, pictured with his son Eric, has claimed the US has destroyed Iran's military. He is demanding the Strait be reopened as part of the peace deal

The Iranian delegation is being led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.

The two are discussing how to advance the ceasefire already threatened by deep disagreements and Israel's continued attacks against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, a terrorist group, in Lebanon.

The President claimed that US and allied forces have effectively wiped out Iran's Navy, Air Force, and leadership.

He also took a swipe at global allies, claiming they lack the 'courage or will' to clear the strategic Strait of Hormuz - a task he says the US is now doing as a 'favor' to the world.

'Most importantly, their longtime ''Leaders'' are no longer with us, praise be to Allah!

'The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may "bunk" into one of their sea mines, which by the way, all 28 of their mine dropper boats are also lying at the bottom of the sea,' Trump wrote.

In a separate post, he wrote: 'The United States has completely destroyed Irans Military, including their entire Navy and Air Force, and everything else.

'Their Leadership is DEAD! The Strait of Hormuz will soon be open, and the empty ships are rushing to the United States to "load up."'

Vice President JD Vance, with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is leading the US delegation in the peace talks

The Iranian delegation is being led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf

Iran wants an end to attacks, compensation for earlier ones, and a guarantee that no more will occur.

It also wants US military forces to leave the region, and Tehran wants longtime sanctions lifted.

French President Emmanuel Macron is urging 'respect for the ceasefire and its application to Lebanon.'

In a social media post, Macron said he talked to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday and that in addition to discussing the ceasefire, they urged a return to free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The French leader didn't mention the negotiations in Pakistan, but said he and Erdogan 'underlined the need for a robust and lasting diplomatic solution.'

Macron has been speaking regularly with other world leaders about the war and helping lead efforts for a mission to secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz once the fighting calms.

He has been particularly active in pushing for peace in Lebanon, a former French protectorate with close ties to France.

The Israeli military said its air force hit infrastructure of the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon and was continuing to support its ground forces operating in Southern Lebanon.

It comes as Tehran is pressing for a halt to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in three-party talks.

Earlier Saturday, the Lebanese state-run news agency reported at least three people were killed in Israeli strikes in Southern Lebanon. There were no reported strikes in the afternoon hours.

In Israeli communities along the border with Lebanon sirens continued to warn of drone and rocket attacks from Lebanon throughout the day Saturday. There were no reports of injuries.

Israel has continued striking Lebanon after a ceasefire between the US and Iran was announced, even though mediator Pakistan has said that the tiny Mediterranean nation is part of the two-week pause.
A sleek 334million superyacht has turned heads on Britain's south coast as it made its way to its secretive new Chinese billionaire owner.

German-built Deep Blue is a 439ft, 9000 tonne, five-deck superyacht equipped with a helipad and two swimming pools.

The vessel, launched in June of last year, was a highly secretive build by luxury shipbuilders Lurssen.

It set sail from Lemweder port in Germany last week before stopping in Poole Harbour, Dorset, on Friday on its way to its new owner.

Although ownership of the superyacht is yet to be publicly confirmed, it has been widely linked to Richard Qiangdong Liu by industry sources.

Mr Lui is the founder of a major Chinese retailer JD.com and is estimated to be worth $6billion.

Construction of Deep Blue began in 2021, with her hull constructed and launched on a floating dock in July 2023, followed by the joining of her bow to rest of the vessel.

The ship - which is said to cost 34million annually to run - can comfortably host 24 guests and carry a crew of at least 45.

334million superyacht Deep Blue (pictured) docked at Poole Harbour in Dorset as it made its way to its new Chinese billionaire owner

The vessel has been linked to businessman Richard Qiangdong Liu, pictured here with wife Zhang Zetian at the wedding of Princess Eugenie in 2018

And it boasts all the comforts expected of a luxury vessel. On board, there is a spa, gym and beauty room, private cinema room, bar, jacuzzi and infinity pool.

Extensive glass windows wrap around each level of the ship, which is structured in a unique tiered design.

Deep Blue is only one of many luxury ships manufactured by Lurssen for the ultra-rich.

It previously built the Al Said luxury yacht for the Sultan of Oman and Rising Sun for Oracle CEO Sam Ellison.
The Manhattan District Attorneys Office announced that an investigation has been launched into a California Democrat following a wave of sexual assault allegations reported by a former staffer.

On Friday, CNN reported that a former staffer of Representative Eric Swalwell accused him of having sex with her when she was unable to give consent.

The DAs office has since revealed that it is probing allegations stemming from the accusers claim that she awoke to him having sex with her in 2024 after a night of drinking.

'We urge survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations to contact our Special Victims Division at 212-335-9373,' the office said in a statement to CNN.

'Our specially trained prosecutors, investigators and counselors are well-equipped to help you in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner,' it added.

The woman told the outlet that in April 2024, after a night of heavy drinking in New York City, she woke up to Swalwell having sex with her in his hotel bed.

'I was pushing him off of me, saying no,' she said, adding that it happened after she stopped working in his office. 'He didn't stop.'

At least four women have now accused the Congressman of sexual misconduct, including a former staffer's claim that he sexually assaulted her twice, The New York Post reported.

Eric Swalwell issued a video where he continued to deny sexual assault claims against him as his campaign for governor of California hangs in the balance

Swalwell addressed wife Brittany Watts in the video, saying that he apologizes to her 'deeply for putting her in this position.'

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass became the latest prominent Democrat to condemn Swalwell Friday, after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Governor Gavin Newsom and longtime Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi

The new development follows Florida Representative Anna Paulina Lunas announcement that she will introduce a privileged motion next week to expel Swalwell from Congress - a move that would require a two-thirds majority to pass.

Swalwell has denied the allegations of sexual assault and misconduct as his campaign hangs in jeopardy, including in a video posted to social media in which he appeared visibly shaken and addressed his wife, Brittany Watts.

'A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations and I thought it was important that you see and hear from me directly,' Swalwell said.

'These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They are absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened, and I will fight them with everything that I have.'

He then apologized 'deeply for putting her in this position.'

He also suggested conspiracy when he pointed out that they 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.

'I do not suggest to you in any way that I am perfect or that I'm a saint, I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past, but those mistakes are between me and my wife,' he continued.

The Congressman apologized to his supporters if any of the allegations had made them doubt their support for him.

Pelosi and Swalwell stand side-by-side during a press conference in 2018

At least four women have now accused the Congressman of sexual misconduct, following a former staffer's claim that he sexually assaulted her twice

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar issued a statement alongside Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (pictured) calling for an investigation into the allegations

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar called the allegations 'incredibly disturbing' in a statement

He did not make any clarification about whether he would stay in the race but restated his case as someone who could not engage in this sort of behavior.

'For over 20 years, I have served the public as a city councilman, as a member of Congress, and as a prosecutor who went to court on behalf of victims, particularly on behalf of sexual assault victims. That's who I am and have always been.'

Swalwell finished by saying he would spend this weekend 'having time with my family and friends' before expressing thanks to those who had offered support.

'I look forward to updating you very soon.'

As more women came forward with allegations of misconduct, additional Democrats joined calls for him to step aside.

One woman said that Swalwell kissed her and touched her leg without consent, while an influencer claimed that he sent her lewd photos on social media.

Another woman told CNN that she was at a bar with Swalwell, went to the bathroom and later lost her memory of what happened afterward.

She said she woke up naked the next morning in his hotel room without realizing it was his, and said she still has flashbacks of the representative grabbing her as she told him 'no.'

Gavin Newsom was one of the prominent Democrats who urged Swalwell to step aside

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was the latest prominent Democrat to condemn Swalwell on Friday, coming after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Governor Gavin Newsom and longtime Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.

'Mr. Swalwell should end his campaign and resign from Congress immediately. His conduct is incompatible with elected office. The women who came forward deserve to be heard and deserve justice,' she wrote.

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar issued a statement alongside Jeffries 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.

'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.'

Politico 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.

It comes as Swalwell appeared to be pushing through a crowded field of Democrats ahead of California's nonpartisan June 2 primary. He suggested the allegations were timed to tank his rising campaign.

'These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,' he said in a statement.

'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 Watts since 2016 and the couple has three children.
White working-class boys do not enjoy any more advantages in life simply because of the colour of their skin, Anas Sarwar has claimed.

The Scottish Labour leader said that while the notion of 'white privilege' has been commonly debated, young males living in deprived areas such as Glasgow were statistically more likely to die younger than those from wealthier backgrounds.

Sarwar, who was privately educated and is the son of Pakistani migrant parents, told The Herald: 'We talk a lot about inequality and prejudice in this country, and challenging it, whether it be homophobia, racism, religious prejudice.

'But there's also a huge inequality in this country that we haven't confronted for generations'.

Speaking about how an individual's postcode was more likely to affect their life chances than their skin colour, he added: 'How can anyone say that a young white working-class boy in some parts of Glasgow, who automatically because of his postcode, has a 15-year shorter life expectancy, has some kind of privilege? They don't.'

Sarwar, son of Britain's first Muslim MP and prominent businessman Mohammad Sarwar, also revealed he had gone into politics after working for years as a dentist in the working-class communities of Paisley.

He recalled how 'chronic, structural inequality' had led to many lacking the right access to education, resulting in unemployment and drug addiction.

The 42-year-old was speaking in the wake of the latest polls which claim Reform UK is set to become Scotland's second-largest party at Holyrood elections in May.

White working-class boys do not enjoy any more advantages in life simply because of the colour of their skin, Anas Sarwar has claimed

Sarwar said 'chronic, structural inequality' had led to many young white men lacking the right access to education, resulting in unemployment and drug addiction. Pictured: The Scottish Labour leader with his deputy Dame Jackie Baillie

A survey of more than 1,000 Scottish voters, conducted by Survation for the Diffley Partnership, forecast Nigel Farage's party will win 19 seats in the Scottish Parliament.

This would put it ahead of Sarwar's Labour (18 seats), the Tories (13 seats), the Scottish Greens (10 seats) and the Liberal Democrats (7 seats), the research found.

The poll also projected the SNP would win 62 seats at the Holyrood contests on 7 May, which would leave the nationalist party three seats short of a majority.

The survey of 1,068 people, carried out between 16 to 23 March, put the SNP on 35 per cent support in the Holyrood constituency vote and 32 per cent in the regional list.

There is an expectation that a disastrous result for Labour in Scotland, as well as in elections in England and Wales in May, will prompt an effort to oust Sir Keir among Labour MPs.

Sarwar previously called for the Prime Minister to quit in February, saying there had been 'too many mistakes'.
A war book first conceived over a hundred years ago could be revived to prepare the nation for possible war, the head of the armed forces has said.

The top secret manual produced in the First World War became the first of many so-called detailed government war books.

It was produced right up until the early 2000s when it was mothballed in a cost-cutting exercise.

Now Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said the book could be resurrected to help prepare the public for war.

It would draw on lessons from the Cold War but in a modern context, with a modern society, with modern infrastructure, he said.

Led by the Cabinet Office and involving all other government departments, the book detailed procedures which were regularly rehearsed and is believed to have boosted national resilience.

A 1976 copy of the book revealed a fascinating, physical manuscript of hand-typed and string bound pages.

It contained detailed lists and plans about how to mobilise the military as well as civilians and industry and crisis plans including ones for shutting schools, clearing hospitals, rationing food and even storing national treasures.

Pictured: Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton walks through Downing Street to attend the annual National Service of Remembrance in London on November 9, 2025

British and German troops photographed together as they hold a temporary truce on Christmas Day 1914

NATO describes the transition to conflict as a military component, but it also has a civilian component, the defence chief said.

He said civilians now needed to be aware of increasing threats to the relative peace the UK has enjoyed for over 30 years.

That requires us to educate ourselves and help the population understand some of those threats and help them understand what they can do to support the nation and potentially support the armed forces,' he added.

He explained: I talked before Christmas of the need for - when we think about renewing our water infrastructure or electricity or transport infrastructure  thinking about the threat of action from an adversary that is above the threshold of war, not just a hybrid threat.

And think about how we build in that resilience as we renew it and that requires making some different choices and different priorities and that work that the Cabinet Office is doing across the whole of government is something that I really welcome.

Speaking at the London Defence Conference yesterday, he also talked about the challenges in defence spending if the military was working towards a war footing.

Opposition politicians say the delay to detailed defence spending plans which should have been published by the government following its Strategic Defence Review last autumn has left the country ill-prepared to defend itself as well as leaving the UK defence industry in limbo.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said earlier today that it was a national scandal that the spending plans were still on hold and accused the government which has promised a boost in defence spending to 3.5% of GDP of prioritising bullets over benefits.

Air Chief Marshal Knighton said: What I want is a defence investment plan that is properly funded and delivers what we want.

If that takes a bit longer, I'd rather have something that works and we can deliver.

The chief of the defence staff also said the UK was ready to take on threats from Russias shadow fleet even though ships already spotted off the coast have not been apprehended.

Questioned about whether ships could be boarded, he said the knowledge that we were ready to target a sanctioned tanker was already leading Moscow to divert them, commenting bullishly:

Be in no doubt. We are ready.

Kemi Badenoch attends the annual Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2026 in London

But speaking at the conference today, Ms Badenoch said Britain was not prepared for conflict and dismissed Defence Secretary John Healeys comments yesterday that we are ready to defend ourselves.

I am not here to lie to you. We are not ready. At a time of war in Europe and a time of war in the Middle East and at a time when these conflicts are affecting every family across Britain, at a time when Britains place in the world is in flux, our government literally does not have a plan.

There is no plan for how the government is going to buy equipment, weapons and munitions. There is no plan for how to enact the Strategic Defence Review. There is no plan for re-arming Britain. I asked Keir Starmer about this at Prime Ministers Questions and he put his head in his hands.

The reason there is no plan is because they have no idea how they are going to pay for it so it is time to make some tough choices. The question is not whether Britain should re-arm but it is what choices we must make to do so.
Mauritius vowed to 'spare no effort' to reclaim its control over the Chagos Islands after Keir Starmer's deal to hand them over collapsed.

Speaking at an Indian Ocean conference in Mauritius, the country's foreign minister, Dhananjay Ramful, said: 'We will spare no effort to seize any diplomatic or legal avenue to complete the decolonisation process.

'This is a matter of justice.'

His remarks came after Sir Keir was forced to withdraw legislation that would hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius due to US President Donald Trump dropping 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 $47billion (35billion).

Trump had initially supported the move, but changed his stance in January after warning it was an 'act of great stupidity'.

The US President had argued that giving away the islands was an act of surrender and warned that the territory could fall into the hands of China, an ally of Mauritius.

But less than a month later, he seemingly backed Sir Keir's deal once more, saying it was 'the best deal he could make'.

This image released by the US Navy shows an aerial view of Diego Garcia in the Chagos Island group

Trump 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.

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.'

It comes after Keir Starmer was forced to withdraw legislation that would hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after Donald Trump dropped his support

Trump talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House in August

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.'

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 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.
A college is probing two complaints against a councillor who claimed the only thing SNP sex predator Jordan Linden was guilty of was being a young person.

Kirsten Larson, a modern studies lecturer at New College Lanarkshire, made the comments during a meeting of the SNP group in the wake of Lindens resignation as North Lanarkshire Council leader.

Now the mother of one of his victims has lodged a formal complaint with college bosses, arguing she is not fit to work with young people given her serious lapse in judgment.

She said: Ms Larsons attitude is exactly why it took so long for Jordan Linden to be held to account for his disgusting crimes against my son, and seven other young men and boys. It shows a serious lapse in judgment by someone who is not only a representative of her community on the council, but responsible for teaching young people.

She shouldnt be anywhere near young people when this is the attitude. The Mail on Sunday understands a student also complained, with bosses now agreeing to investigate. The angry mother added: What if a student had a similar issue, like my son did with Jordan Linden?

Would she claim they were only being a young person too and there was no wrongdoing?

I hope that Ms Larson faces the full disciplinary process and also realises the effect her comments have had on victims of sexual abuse and family members who have to live with trauma for the rest of their lives.

Kirsten Larson was recorded stating Linden was only guilty of 'being a young person'

Former SNP council leader Jordan Linden has been convicted of 10 sex crimes

Ms Larson was secretly recorded by concerned SNP councillors during an internal group meeting, following Lindens resignation as leader in 2022. He had quit after newspaper reports revealed he had sexually assaulted an SNP member at a party in Dundee.

Ms Larson, who was then responsible for education at the council, told colleagues: In my opinion, based on the information I have, the only thing Jordan Linden is guilty of is being a young person.

Linden quit the council for good when new allegations were made against him in 2023, which prompted a complaint to the police by fellow councillor Cameron McManus. He claimed Linden had sexually assaulted him while on an SNP youth trip in Barcelona, and accused the party of failing to take his complaints seriously.

During the meeting in 2022 Tracy Carragher, Lindens deputy, was heard telling fellow councillors to be mindful of the predators mental health.

Ms Carragher, who was a defence witness for Linden during his trial, has been sacked as an SNP Holyrood candidate and suspended from the party over her handling of the issue. Opposition politicians have now called on the First Minister to suspend Larson as well.

Meghan Gallacher, of the Scottish Conservatives, said: This crass comment is an insult to Jordan Lindens victims, so its hardly surprising they have sparked outrage. John Swinney took far too long before finally suspending Tracy Carragher from the SNP. He must now take similar action against Kirsten Larson, whose position is equally untenable.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: Jordan Linden is a convicted sex offender. Kirsten Larsons remarks diminishing his actions were not only completely misguided, but offensive to Lindens victims.

A spokesman for New College Lanarkshire said: All public bodies in Scotland must comply with the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman complaints handling procedures. We are therefore unable to comment further.

The SNP and Ms Larson did not respond to requests for comment.
More than 3,000 faults linked to mould and water leaks have been reported at Scotlands scandal-hit 1 billion superhospital in the past two years, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Shock documents reveal a catalogue of problems with leaking ceilings, black mould, dripping air conditioning, dirty water and collapsing roof tiles at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) .

The lengthy list of issues equates to one new report every five hours  and comes after First Minister John Swinney consistently insisted the Glasgow hospital is safe.

The QEUHs lengthy estate logs  released under Freedom of Information laws  are revealed today just weeks after we told how health board chiefs plan to rebuild a bone marrow transplant ward beset by problems.

Earlier this year two patients picked up fungal infections on Ward 4B and five rooms were closed over fears of mould and water leaks.

Both the QEUH and the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) are at the centre of a public inquiry after dozens of patients, mainly children with cancer, became infected with rare bugs and some died while being treated at the hospital campus.

Among the patients who lost their lives were grandmother Gail Armstrong, 73, schoolgirl Milly Main, 10, childminder Tony Dynes, 63, and government adviser Andrew Slorance, 49.

Their deaths are currently being probed by prosecutors.

The QEUH hospital has been plagued with problems since it opened a decade ago

Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said the hospital was still clearly facing challenges

Scottish Tory health spokesman Sandesh Gulhane said ministers were serially dishonest about the issues at the site, while Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie called the findings deeply worrying.

She said: This is a campus which cost 842 million, with taxpayers picking up a bill of over 78 million on additional investigation and repair work.

Despite this huge expense, its clear the QEUH still has significant challenges, despite John Swinney having insisted the campus is safe.

According to the new data, there have been more than 2,500 reports of water and mould problems at the QEUH, and around 750 at the RHC in the last two years.

They include 159 reports about a complete loss of water in rooms or wards, nine mentioning dirty water leaking in, 100 complaints about mould and 341 warnings of leaking ceilings.

Staff have complained dozens of times about water leaks from air conditioning units, which have previously been cited by experts as an infection risk for particularly vulnerable patients.

In April 2024, staff asked for urgent repairs after yellow water began leaking from the air vent in patients room.

Last September, a sick child had to be moved as the air conditioning was leaking into their room, and three months later there was another report of air con leaking dirty water.

In January, QEUH staff asked for an urgent repair to the air conditioning, which they said was leaking above patients beds.

Other leaks were also reported, including one which stated there were multiple large bulges in the ceiling in the QEUH, and another which said there was

a water leak on ceiling of a patient room in the RHC.

On eight separate occasions, staff reported the ceiling in some wards and corridors had collapsed with water leaking into the building.

Mould and smells were also logged for urgent repair. In September 2025, staff raised the fact there was mould behind a dialysis port, which is used by people suffering from kidney failure.

A year earlier there had been reports of leaking behind a dialysis port. In November 2024, RHC staff highlighted a sewage smell coming from the sink and in July 2025 they again complained of a strong smell from the tap water.

A utility room in Ward 4C was found to have a mouldy sink, while flooring in various wards had mould growing underneath and loose linoleum needing replaced.

In Ward 4B, which treats bone marrow transplant patients, three urgent repairs were requested in one of the rooms in November 2024, and another urgent repair was logged for an adjacent room seven months later.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is suing contractor Multiplex for 73 million over defects with the QEUH, arguing it did not receive the building it asked or paid for.

As revealed by the MoS, two patients had to be treated for fungal infections in Ward 4B in February and a number of rooms were closed due to reports of water leaks and mould.

Despite knowing patients were infected, SNP leader Mr Swinney and his Health Secretary, Neil Gray, failed to tell the public and insisted the site was safe.

Dr Gulhane said: This astonishing list of incidents confirms yet again the SNP have been serially dishonest about the problems continuing to plague Scotlands largest hospital. John Swinney reassured the public everything was fine.

We now know he failed to tell Scots about serious issues. We must finally have full transparency from the SNP about this appalling scandal.

An NHSGGC spokesman said: The vast majority of these incidents relate to routine maintenance. We have robust systems in place to encourage staff to quickly report environmental issues.

Patient safety remains at the heart of everything we do.
Russia has violated a Kremlin-declared Easter ceasefire after it attacked Ukrainian positions with drones today.

'The ceasefire is not being observed by the Russian side,' said Serhii Kolesnychenko, a communications officer for Ukraine's 148th Separate Artillery Brigade.

He said that while artillery fire had paused in the sector where his brigade was working, at the junction of the Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, Russian forces continued to use drones to strike Ukrainian positions.

Ukrainian forces were responding with 'silence to silence and fire to fire', Mr Kolesnychenko said.

Ukraine's military command has also reported nearly 470 Russian violations of the truce.

'After 4:00 pm, 469 ceasefire violations were recorded, namely: 22 enemy assault actions, 153 shelling attacks, 19 strikes by attack drones... and 275 strikes by FPV drones,' it said on Facebook.

'Today in total, the enemy carried out 57 air strikes and dropped 182 guided aerial bombs. In addition, it deployed 3,928 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,454 shelling attacks on populated areas and positions of our troops'.

Russian President Vladimir 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.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised to abide by the ceasefire, describing it as an opportunity to build on peace initiatives. But he warned there would be a swift military response to any violations.

The latest flare-up comes despite Moscow and Kyiv both signalling that the end of the war in Ukraine may be in sight.

Russia's hardline foreign minister issued a surprise statement that 'the prospect of a political and diplomatic settlement is on the horizon.'

At the same time, Ukraine's top negotiator Lt-Gen Kyrylo Budanov, 40, made clear Russia is shifting its stance. 'They all understand the war needs to end. That's why they are negotiating,' he told Bloomberg. 'I don't think it will be long.'

Russia has violated a Kremlin-declared Easter ceasefire after it attacked Ukrainian positions with drones today

Russian President Vladimir Putin had declared a 32-hour ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter weekend. Pictured: Members of the Ukrainian diaspora take part in the traditional blessing of food baskets during Easter Holy Saturday celebrations in Krakow, Poland, on April 11, 2026

Hours before the ceasefire was due to begin, Russia launched drone strikes across Ukraine. Pictured: A view of the aftermath following a Russian airstrike using KAB-250 guided bombs in the city centre of Kramatorsk, Ukraine, on April 11, 2026

It comes as new footage showed a Ukrainian drone brigade killing 8,000 Russian troops in a single month.

The video shows stricken Russian soldiers desperately trying to fend off approaching drones, throwing sticks and swatting at them in a futile bid to survive.

The harrowing scenes show multiple 'cannon fodder' fighters ambushed on the battlefield by the Ukrainian FPV drones.

In one month, the brigade 'eliminated 8,005 Russian troops'.

The grim scenes emerged as both sides began the tense truce today, with Zelensky writing in an X post: 'Easter should be a time of silence and safety. A ceasefire (at) Easter could also become the beginning of real movement toward peace.'

But he added: 'We all understand who we are dealing with. Ukraine will adhere to the ceasefire and respond strictly in kind.'

Ukraine earlier proposed to Russia a pause in attacks on each other's energy infrastructure over the Orthodox Easter holiday.

Previous ceasefire attempts have had little impact, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday described Putin's move as a 'humanitarian' gesture but said Moscow remains focused on a comprehensive settlement based on its long-standing demands - a key sticking point that has prevented the two sides from reaching an agreement.

Hours before the ceasefire was due to begin, Russian drone strikes overnight killed at least two people in the Ukrainian city of Odesa, local authorities reported.

A further two people were wounded in the attack on the Black Sea port city, when drones hit a residential area, damaging apartment buildings, houses and a kindergarten.

The site of a Russian airstrike in the city of Kramatorsk

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia targeted Ukraine with 160 drones overnight, of which 133 were shot down or intercepted, hours before a proposed Easter ceasefire was due to come into force

Chilling footage shows a Ukrainian drone brigade killing 8,000 Russian troops in a single month

The video shows stricken Russian soldiers desperately trying to fend off approaching drones, throwing sticks and swatting at them in a futile bid to survive

The driver of a public trolley bus was killed after the vehicle was struck by a drone in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, less than an hour before the start of the ceasefire, Kherson regional head Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on Telegram.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia targeted Ukraine with 160 drones overnight, of which 133 were shot down or intercepted, hours before a proposed Easter ceasefire was due to come into force.

Russia's Defence Ministry said 99 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across Russia and occupied Crimea.

It added that a prisoner swap on Saturday brought home 175 of its soldiers.

Zelensky confirmed Saturday's exchange, saying that 175 service members and seven civilians were returned.

'Most had been held in captivity since 2022. And finally, they are home,' he wrote on X.

Hundreds of relatives, clutching photos of missing soldiers, crowded around ambulances and buses carrying returned prisoners of war in northern Ukraine.

Many called out names and brigade numbers in hopes of finding loved ones faster.
Taxpayers are funding a bloated civil service that now employs a staggering 28,000 people, the Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The record figure comes despite a promise by SNP ministers to slash the number of government employees.

The vast majority of these employees work from home at least three days a week leaving expensive government buildings like ghost offices.

With the public purse under unprecedented pressure, Finance Secretary Shona Robison last year pledged to dramatically reduce the number of government jobs.

However, the Scottish Mail on Sunday can reveal that staffing of the civil service has actually increased  to a new high of 27,600.

It follows our previous revelation that Scotlands welfare agency has also grown to a record size  with more than 4,000 staff overseeing the countrys spiralling benefits bill. Critics said Ms Robisons pledge to trim the civil service was another broken promise by the nationalists.

And they said it was wrong that, at a time of rising taxes and crumbling public services, Scots were footing the bill for an ever-growing government workforce.

The civil service in Scotland has grown despite Government pledges to reduce numbers

Scottish Tory Craig Hoy said taxpayers are being saddled with spiralling wage bills

Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Craig Hoy said: These astonishing figures tear apart the SNPs hollow boasts that they were finally going to tackle the costs and size of their bloated civil service.

Far from making the savings required, they are continuing to saddle taxpayers with an eye-watering bill for an ever-growing army of civil servants.

The record size of the civil service is revealed in new statistics about the devolved public sector employment in Scotland  meaning public sector staff who are answerable to the Scottish, rather than UK, government.

The figures show that between the end of 2024 and the end of 2025 the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees within the Scottish civil service grew by 470 to 27,600.

The number includes staff in the governments core departments and executive agencies, who are collectively responsible for overseeing Scotlands economy, education and justice systems, plus the energy and transport networks.

The rise in staffing comes despite Ms Robison vowing last year to introduce a 20 per cent cut in civil service numbers  a reduction she called significant but more than achievable. Since 2019, the size of the Scotlands civil service overall has leapt by 35 per cent, equivalent to 7,200 extra full-time staff added to the payroll over the past six years.

Scotlands most senior civil servant is Permanent Secretary Joe Griffin who took on the role last April on a basic annual salary of 175,000.

Last year we reported that taxpayers were footing the bill for no fewer than 73 civil servant bosses earning more than 100,000 a year.

The new staffing figures also show how much the devolved public sector as a whole has grown in recent years  with a record 471,000 staff in 2025, compared to 427,300 at the end of 2019.

Included within that are the staff of the Scottish NHS  which has seen its workforce rise from 142,500 to 163,200. Over the same period, however, the number of staff in the police and fire service dropped from 27,400 to 26,900.

Last night the Scottish Government said that measures were in place to manage staff numbers through reduced recruitment.

A spokesperson said: As previously stated, as part of plans to reform public services and reduce costs, recruitment controls are in place in the Scottish Government.

The SNP declined to discuss directly the increased number of civil servants, but the party's Paul McLennan said: Unlike the Tories, Scotland has balanced its budget every year under the SNP and we will continue to manage the public finances prudently.
A former California police officer is one of five people who have been charged with murder after prosecutors say they connected him to a fireworks explosion that killed seven warehouse workers.

Samuel Machado, a former lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff's Office, had one million pounds of fireworks on his property at the time of the blast and used his status as a law enforcement officer to shield the illegal operation from investigators, according to prosecutors.

Machado was placed on administrative leave after last summer's explosion in Esparto, which could be felt up to 20 miles away. It also destroyed a family's farm and caused a 78-acre grass fire.

Among the dead workers were Christopher Goltiao Bocog, 45, and Neil Justin Li, 41, both from San Francisco; Joel Jeremias Melendez, 28, of Sacramento; and Carlos Javier Rodriguez-Mora, 43, from San Andreas.

Two brothers - Jesus Manaces Ramos, just 18, and Jhony Ernesto Ramos, 22, of San Pablo - were also killed in the explosion, along with Angel Mathew Voller, 18, from Stockton.

The identities were confirmed by the Yolo County coroner's office.

Blackstar Fireworks, Inc. and Devastating Pyrotechnics LLC, allegedly manufactured fireworks so powerful that they didn't even qualify as fireworks.

On July 1, 2025, a warehouse in Esparto, California, that was storing the fireworks exploded, killing seven workers

Among the five people charged with murder was Samuel Machado, a former lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff's Office. Prosecutors said he had one million pounds of fireworks on his property

The companies behind the scheme stored the explosives at Machado's property, according to a 30-count indictment returned by the Yolo County district attorney's office.

An official within the county Building Services Department received a tip in June 2022 that Machado's property was being used for this purpose, but no followup action was taken.

Emails show that officials said they would 'tread lightly' in their search of the area because it was owned by 'deputies that we work with'.

'Inexplicably, no code enforcement occurred, even though all dangerous fireworks had been banned by ordinance throughout rural Yolo County since 2001,' said an investigative report filed by the grand jury last month.

'In the absence of official oversight and enforcement, unmitigated expansion of the fireworks businesses operating at the site in Esparto led directly to death and destruction.'

The indictment alleged that this was a decadelong conspiracy that 'turned the property of a former Sheriff's Lieutenant Sam Machado into the Northern California hub for an illegal enterprise that imports illegal explosives on the black market', according to Deputy District Attorney Clara Nabity.

Devastating Pyrotechnics CEO and owner Kenneth Chee, operations manager Jack Lee and business partner Gary Chan Jr. all were charged with murder, as was Douglas Tollefsen of Blackstar Fireworks.

Seven people who were charged for their alleged role in the July 2025 explosion were arrested early Thursday morning, District Attorney Jeff Reisig said.

Pictured: A view of the explosion from the ground in Esparto

The explosion was so powerful it could be felt up to 20 miles away. It also destroyed a family's farm and created a 78-acre grass fire

Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig said this was one of the largest investigations he's ever conducted, resulting in a 30-count indictment against the alleged co-conspirators

This included Blackstar Fireworks owner Craig Cutright. Ronald Botelho III, who worked for Blackstar, has been in custody since December on separate charges and was among those arrested and charged on Thursday.

The enterprise allegedly imported more than 11 million pounds of explosives and related materials, storing them near a family pool and where others lived, Nabity said.

None of the storage containers were approved by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. No license would have allowed them to store the materials near homes or roadways.

Devastating Pyrotechnics is accused of dramatically scaling up its operation over time. In 2015, it had just 13 storage containers on Machado's property and by 2025, there was a sprawling compound of more than 50 containers and a massive 5,000-square-foot warehouse.

Machado's wife, Tammy, was employed in an administrative role at the Sheriff's Office when the explosion occurred. She has since been placed on leave and separately charged with child and animal endangerment for allegedly storing illegal fireworks on their property, along with accusations of tax and mortgage fraud.

The sweeping indictments also pile on a string of additional charges, including maintaining an unsafe workplace, unlawfully starting a fire, insurance fraud, child endangerment, animal cruelty, tax fraud and possession of illegal assault weapons.

'This investigation has thus far involved dozens, maybe hundreds of law enforcement agencies around the state and the country,' Reisig said. 'It has taken us across California, it's taken us across the nation and it's even taken us across our national borders.'

The victims families have filed a $35 million claim against the county and state fireworks regulators, accusing them of widespread negligence for allowing the illegal operation to continue unchecked.
A nine-year-old boy has been rescued after being locked in his father's utility van in France since 2024.

Police were alerted by a neighbour to 'sounds of a child' coming from a van on Monday in the village of Hagenbach, near the borders of Switzerland and Germany, according to a statement from prosecutor Nicolas Heitz on Saturday.

After forcing the van open, they found a child 'lying in a foetal position, naked, covered by a blanket on top of a mound of trash and near excrement'.

The child was clearly malnourished and could no longer walk because he had been in a seated position for so long, the local prosecutor said.

The boy's father told investigators that he put the child in the van in November 2024, when he was seven, 'to protect him' because his partner wanted to send the boy to a psychiatric hospital.

The prosecutor said there was no medical record that the boy had any psychiatric problems before he disappeared, and he had had good grades in school.

The boy told investigators he had 'big difficulties' with his father's partner, and thought his father 'had no choice' but to lock him up. He said he had not showered since 2024.

The child has been taken to hospital, while his father was detained on charges including preliminary kidnapping. He is being kept in custody.

A building in Hagenbach where a nine-year-old boy was rescued this week after living locked in his father's utility van since 2024

The terrace at the first level of a residential building where a boy was discovered in the courtyard naked and malnourished on a pile of rubbish in a van

A van is seen parked outside the property in Hagenbach where the malnourished boy was found by police

His partner denied knowing the boy was in the van, according to the prosecutor.

She was handed preliminary charges, including failure to help a minor in danger, and released under judicial supervision.

The boy's 12-year-old sister and the 10-year-old daughter of his father's partner were put in the care of social services.

The prosecutor's office is investigating whether others were aware of the locked-up boy.

Friends and family told investigators they thought the boy was in a psychiatric institution. His teachers were told he had transferred to a different school, according to the prosecutor's office.

Authorities did not release the names of the boy or family members.

Residents of the village expressed shock on Saturday at what happened and said they were unaware of the boy's whereabouts, but did not want to discuss details.
The detective who interrogated Baby P's evil mother maintains she is a 'manipulative monster' who should never be given a 'second chance' as she makes yet another bid for freedom.

Tracey Connelly, 44, was jailed indefinitely in 2009 after allowing her son Peter - widely known as Baby P - to die in her care at home in north London in 2007 following a prolonged period of horrific abuse.

The 17-month-old was discovered deceased in a blood-spattered cot in Tottenham on August 3, 2007, after suffering more than 50 injuries, which included eight broken ribs as well as a snapped spine.

John Wedger, the former Met Detective, who encountered the twisted mother just days before the toddler's death has insisted Connelly does not deserve a second chance as a parole panel is set to review her possible release next month.

Recalling her behaviour while she was at the police station near where she resided in Haringey, he insisted she feigned being a caring mother and provided 'ridiculous' excuses about her son's injuries, some of which inferred severe physical trauma.

But it was when the detective read out the paediatric report as they decided if her bail would be extended or she would be remanded over suspicions she had been assaulting Peter, that her mask fell.

'She lost control and she stood up and spat at me and called me a ****,' he told The Sun, as he divulged how she lost control as he retorted her behaviour was 'the monster' little Baby P saw.

Yet despite mounting evidence she was abusing little Peter, she was released. The local council also did not deem Baby P as meeting the threshold to be placed in to care, Mr Wedger recalled.

Tracey Connelly (pictured), 44, will face a two day public parole hearing after being put back behind bars for breaking the conditions of her release

The wounds Peter (pictured) suffered included a broken back, broken ribs, mutilated fingertips, and missing fingernails

By this point, the 17-month-old had been placed with social services twice before being returned to his evil mother.

At the time of his death, he was on the at-risk register and had also been visited 60 times by police, social workers and health professionals in an eight-month period.

Meanwhile, Connelly has been released and recalled on two separate occasions after being sentenced for her horrifying crimes against her son because she breached the conditions of her licence.

When queried if the 44-year-old could be rehabilitated, Mr Wedger revealed that while she may present herself as 'plausible' and 'respectable', he believes she is a 'deep rooted, manipulative liar'.

Adding how she covered her tracks extremely well, he said: 'It's twisted and sadistic  I don't think that woman should be allowed near children ever.

'I don't think that woman should ever be given a second chance.'

Referring to the possibility of her release once again, the ex-Met detective insisted Connelly should be kept away from children, and if that meant prison was the sole option, then so be it.

Connelly, as well as her partner Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen were convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child in 2008. During the trial, a court order prohibited Baby P's name being reported until its conclusion.

Last October, she told the latest parole hearing from jail via Zoom where she said that she let her son die because she was 'selfish' and wanted a 'happy ever after'.

Elaborating that she did not want to admit that Barker was capable of violence, she said: 'I did not want to admit the truth.'

'I was selfish. I wanted my happy ever after,' she admitted:

'I slapped my children. I used it when they misbehaved, I think it was more that I was not coping.

Connelly sought, alongside her lover Steven Barker (pictured) and his brother Jason Owen, to cover up the injuries inflicted on the youngster - missed by social service and health workers

Barker's brother, Jason Owen, (pictured) received a six-year jail sentence for allowing the toddler to die

'It was easier for me to slap them rather than try and explain what a proper mother should have done.'

For the first time speaking about her son's death, she confessed she was a 'bad mother' before saying: 'I wanted my Prince Charming and my children paid for that.'

The hearing was adjourned, and is set to take place on May 20 and May 21, and will also be open to the public.

In 2013, Connelly was released from prison but was placed back behind bars two years later for breaching the conditions of her parole by selling nude pictures online.

And she was freed yet again in 2022, but recalled in September 2024 for openly disregarding the conditions of her release at a bail hostel.

She had 'developed an intimate relationship with a man' which she concealed from a probation officer, an parole opening heard.

The death of Peter, more widely known as Baby P, sparked outrage across the UK as the extent of his injuries were brought to light as well as the number of times he had been visited by social services, health care professionals and police.

Connelly, her partner Barker and his brother Owen, were all sentenced to time behind bars. Barker lost his parole bid in 2024, however his older sibling has since been freed.

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: 'A public oral hearing has been listed for the parole review of Tracey Connelly and is scheduled to take place in May 2026.

'Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.
The landlady of a top gastropub has hit out at a 'tight-fisted' Labour MP she claims booked a table in her restaurant, only ordered a starter  then left without giving a tip.

Karen Errington, the chef-owner of the Rat Inn in the hamlet of Anick, near the Northumbrian town of Hexham, didn't name the allegedly parsimonious politician.

But she said: 'I knew who he was. He didn't make eye contact or make any effort to inquire how business was.

'His table did the starter thing with no main course. Then at the end of the meal there was no tip. As my granny would say: "Nix, naught, nowt".'

She added: 'As they left, I briefly thought of giving him a few tips of my own. Instead, I smiled and politely thanked him for coming.

'This Government is completely tone deaf. Beam me up, Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here.'

Mrs Errington said the MP's reluctance to order a main course was part of a growing trend 'especially with the weight-loss jab situation' that was damaging the viability of country pubs.

It didn't take long for the local and online rumour mill to start pointing fingers at Hexham's Labour MP Joe Morris.

Karen Errington (pictured), owner of the Rat Inn in Anick, Northumberland has hit out at a 'tight-fisted' Labour MP she claims booked a table, only ordered a starter and then left without tipping

Fingers were quickly pointed at Hexham's Labour MP Joe Morris (pictured), although Mrs Errington has declined to name-and-shame the culprit

And last night, Mrs Errington's public criticism sparked a rebuttal from sources close to the politician, who claimed he had dined at the pub with a couple of family members, firmly insisting that the final bill had been more than 150.

The source admitted that Mr Morris's party hadn't left a tip because they assumed a service charge had been automatically added to their bill.

'Joe had contacted the Rat Inn earlier this year to congratulate them on being recognised at the Gastropub Awards and made it clear he was looking forward to visiting the pub,' said the source.

The Rat Inn, ranked eighth in the Estrella Damm Top 50 gastropubs this year, offers a chicken liver pate starter for 13.95, soup of the day for 8.50, smoked mackerel fishcakes for 13.95 and southern fried quail for 14.95.

Diners opting for a main course can try the 200g dry aged fillet steak for 42 or a Chateaubriand for two people at about 94.

Leading restaurant reviewer Giles Coren described the 18th-century former drovers' rest stop in The Times last month as 'lovely.'

Coren, who coincidentally sat in the same seat as Mr Morris on his visit, praised it for serving 'good, hearty, locally sourced, home-cooked food.'

Writing in the pub trade journal, The Morning Advertiser, Mrs Errington said the politician, Hexham's first Labour MP in 100 years, was: 'Glued to his phone throughout the meal, looking at his Instagram account to see how many likes he had or probably Googling his own name to see what came up.'

The Rat Inn (pictured) was ranked eighth in the Estrella Damm Top 50 gastropubs this year

She added: 'Yes, we are well placed when serving at the table to see exactly what you're looking at without being spotted.

'I get that people are entitled to private time, but I didn't ask him to put himself forward for public office, he chose to do that himself and with that comes a certain expectation of how you conduct yourself in the public domain  you only need to look at recent news to be aware of that.'

She admitted that she felt 'reckless' writing her comments but warned: 'It's the economic situation, the cost of fuel, the war and now with the threat of fuel rationing, before long there ain't going to be anybody driving out to rural pubs.'

A Labour Party spokesman said: 'Joe supports our great British pubs and the many fantastic hospitality outlets across his constituency.

'Joe is doing all he can to work with the Labour Government to help ease the cost of living and pressure facing businesses.

'Alongside their work representing local residents, all MPs are entitled to have a private life and, on this occasion, Joe was out spending much-needed time with his family, rather than on a constituency engagement in his role as the local MP.'

Mrs Errington did not respond to requests for an interview.
Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel's campaign against the Islamic Regime is 'not over' as US-Iran peace talks are underway in Pakistan.

Speaking in a televised address on Saturday, the Israeli Prime Minister also said 'we still have more to do' to ensure Iran doesn't achieve a nuclear weapon.

'But we can already say clearly - we have historic achievements,' he affirmed.

'They wanted to strangle us, and (now) we are strangling them. They threatened us with annihilation, and now they are fighting for survival,' Netanyahu added, as he noted that the war against Tehran had also weakened Iran's leadership and its regional allies.

Netanyahu's remarks came as US and Iranian negotiators held talks in Pakistan on Saturday to try to end their six-week war.

The talks in Islamabad were the first direct US-Iranian meeting in more than a decade and the highest-level discussions since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The Strait of Hormuz, a major transit point for global energy supplies that Iran has effectively blocked but Trump has vowed to reopen, is crucial to negotiations between the sides during a two-week ceasefire agreed last week.

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said the waterway remains among the main points of 'serious disagreement' in talks between Iranian and US delegations in Islamabad.

The American military said two of its warships had passed through the strait, and conditions were being set to clear mines, while Iran's state media denied any US ships had transited the waterway.

Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the campaign against the Islamic Regime is 'not over' as US-Iran peace talks are underway in Pakistan

US and Iranian negotiators today held talks in Pakistan to try to end their war. Pictured: US Vice President JD Vance shakes hands with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during their meeting on April 11, 2026 at Islamabad, Pakistan

US Vice President JD Vance (C) is welcomed by Ishaq Dar (R), Pakistan Foreign Minister, and Asim Munir (L), Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, as the US delegation arrive in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, for high-stakes talks with Iran to end the Middle East conflict amid the ongoing two-week ceasefire on April 11, 2026

'We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favour to Countries all over the World,' Trump posted on social media.

US Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner flew in on Saturday and met Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for two hours before resting, according to a source from the mediator, Pakistan.

The Iranian delegation arrived on Friday dressed in black in mourning for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and others killed in the war.

They carried shoes and bags of some students killed during the US bombing of a school next to a military compound, the Iranian government said.

Iran's state-affiliated Nournews said talks would resume later on Saturday night or Sunday.

US ally Israel, which joined the February 28 attacks on Iran that launched the war, has also been bombing Tehran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and says that the conflict is not part of the Iran-US ceasefire.

Israeli and Lebanese officials plan talks in the US on Tuesday.

In his televised address today, Netanyahu also said that any peace agreement reached with Lebanon must be the one that 'lasts for generations'.

The American military said two of its warships had passed through the strait

The destroyers (stock image) were not escorting commercial ships. Their appearance in the Strait comes as peace talks begin in Pakistan between the US and Iran

The Iranian delegation is being led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf

'Lebanon has approached us. In the past month, it has reached out several times to begin direct peace talks,' he said.

'I have given my approval, but on two conditions: we want the dismantling of Hezbollah's weapons, and we want a real peace agreement that will last for generations.'

It comes as more than 90 people were killed in Israeli air strikes across Lebanon on Saturday, the Lebanese health ministry said, bringing the war's death toll to 2,020 people, including 165 children, nearly 250 women and 85 medics.

Hezbollah said it had conducted several military operations against Israeli positions on Saturday, both within Lebanese territory and in northern Israel.

Meanwhile, Pope Leo today denounced the 'delusion of omnipotence' that is fuelling the US-Israel war in Iran and demanded that political leaders stop and negotiate peace.

Leo presided over an evening prayer service in St Peter's Basilica as the United States and Iran began face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan.

The Pope's tone and message appeared directed at Trump and US officials, who have boasted of US military superiority and justified the war in religious terms.

'Enough of the idolatry of self and money!' Leo said. 'Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!'

In the basilica pews was the archbishop of Tehran, Belgian Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu.

Pope Leo XIV presides over the Prayer Vigil for Peace at St Peter's Basilica, on April 11, 2026 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Leo XIV has invited the faithful and all 'men and women of goodwill' to attend the Prayer Vigil for Peace following the announcement of the two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran

Pope Leo, who was critical of Trump's threat to 'wipe out' the Iranian civilisation earlier this week, has welcomed the news of the ceasefire and urged dialogue to bring an end to the conflict

Pope Leo XIV leads a vigil for peace inside St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, April 11, 2026

The US was represented in the diplomatic corps by its deputy chief of mission, Laura Hochla, the US Embassy said.

In the first weeks of the war, Chicago-born Leo was initially reluctant to publicly condemn the violence and limited his comments to muted appeals for peace and dialogue.

But Leo stepped up his criticism starting on Palm Sunday. And this week, he said Trump's threat to annihilate Iranian civilisation was 'truly unacceptable' and called for dialogue to prevail.

On Saturday, Leo called for all people of goodwill to pray for peace and demand an end to war from their political leaders.

Praying for peace, Leo said, was a way to 'break the demonic cycle of evil' to build instead the Kingdom of God where there are no swords, drones or 'unjust profit'.

'It is here that we find a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive,' he said. 'Even the holy name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death.'

Leaders have used religion to justify their actions in the war. US officials and especially Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have invoked their Christian faith to cast the US as a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes.

Leo has said God does not bless any war and certainly not those who drop bombs.
An unusual mystery involving supposed canine carcasses being found ashore on a remote Washington island has finally been solved.

At least 21 animals initially described as 'canines' have been found along the beaches of Guemes Island, a tiny community about two hours north of Seattle, since March 26.

On Friday, the Skagit County Sheriff's Office announced that the animals were now believed to be 'foxes that originated from a farm outside the State of Washington.'

'They were lawfully purchased and transported into Washington for use in commercial fishing operations,' the statement read.

Law enforcement later added that the foxes had been used as bait in commercial crabbing when the vessel experienced a mechanical issue and lost part of its cargo overboard, the Seattle Times reported.

When the creatures were found, the carcasses were gathered by the Guemes Island's Fire Department and taken to be tested by fire chief Olivia Cole.

'I want the person prosecuted to the fullest extent,' Cole previously told KIRO 7. 'We are animal lovers out here.'

However, authorities said that 'given the facts and circumstances currently known, the sheriff's office does not anticipate referring any charges to the prosecutor's office.'

At least 21 carcasses that were initially described as 'canines' by police were found along the beaches of Guemes Island, about two hours north of Seattle

On Friday, the Skagit County Sheriff's Office said that the animals were believed to be 'lawfully purchased' foxes that were being used for commercial fishing

The Skagit County Sheriff's Office said it had contacted 'the responsible party associated with the recent animal related incident on Guemes Island,' without naming the person involved.

'The individual is cooperating with the ongoing investigation,' authorities added.

The carcasses had perturbed small Guemes Island, which has a fulltime population of around 600 and has been referred to as 'Dog Island' due to its history full of Salish wool dogs.

Cole, who is also a dog groomer, said the carcasses were roughly around the same size, with some about the length of a woman's size 9.5 shoe and others slightly larger.

She noted the carcasses could be compared to a 'fox size,' according to NBC News.

Most showed signs of being skinned, including missing front paws and fur remaining only on their back legs.

Two of the animals also had orange twine tied around their necks, according to Cole.

'I haven't slept very much,' Cole said.

She added: 'I go into all these different stages where I'm really upset, and then I'm angry, and I'm back to going, 'I'm going to find this person.' It's been very difficult.'

Guemes Island fire chief Olivia Cole took the carcasses to be tested immediately after they were found and previously said she wanted the person responsible prosecuted

Guemes Island only has about 600 full-time residents, who described their shock at finding the carcasses

Cole said she had heard travelers were calling ahead to ask whether it was safe to take their pets to the island.

'People called and said, "Should I bring my dogs?"' Cole told KIRO 7: 'There is nothing to be worried about out here.'

She emphasized that she had not seen any 'gunshot wounds or markings that would suggest something like a dogfighting ring.'

'It's a creepy mystery out here,' Cole said. 'It's like the start of a horror movie, honestly.'

Guemes Island echoed her fears, describing how the carcasses suddenly turned up across the sleepy island.

'It was so eerie to see one and then, literally, five minutes of walking, we found another,' Alexie Gregory, 41, told NBC.

'I think we found a total of 10 or 11 that day, and by the end of it, I was numb,' Gregory said. 'I was just in shock.'

Another resident, Ellen Fitch, said she had found some of the carcasses while walking her dog.

'It was like nothing I'd ever seen,' Fitch said.

'People are making assumptions or they're just exaggerating,' Fitch added. '"Oh, I heard they found wolves and foxes and coyotes. Oh, I heard there were witches involved."'

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Skagit County Sheriff's Office and Guemes Island fire chief Olivia Cole for further comment.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reportedly spent more than half a million dollars of taxpayers' money on in-flight catering during his first year as leader.

Figures reportedly obtained by the Toronto Sun claim that Carney spent $524,815 (US$379,105) on 28 flights between March 2025 and February 2026.

The data was released after questions were filed in the Canadian House of Commons.

Carney reportedly spent $21,159 on catering during a two-hour flight on his first official visit to Washington DC to meet Donald Trump on May 5.

The most expensive trip came during a visit to the United Arab Emirates and the G20 summit in Johannesburg, where $158,986.43 was reportedly spent on catering.

A second trip in October saw nearly $16,824.65 spent on in-flight refreshments for the 55 delegates on board - around 11 times more than the cost of fuel for the journey, according to the Toronto Sun.

A UK visit, where Carney met King Charles and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, came with a bill of $60,268.31, while a Vatican trip for Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass cost $93,780.18.

A note attached to the release of the data from the Department of National Defence reportedly said catering costs 'include the cost of food, non-alcoholic beverages, and associated fees, including catering handling and delivery, storage, cleaning and disposal of international waste, airport taxes, administrative fees, security charges, and local taxes.'

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney waves as he boards his plane to depart for Norway, in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, March 12, 2026

Daily Mail has contacted the Prime Minister's Office for comment.

Canadian Taxpayers Federation director Franco Terrazzano told the Toronto Sun: 'Carney billed more money for airplane food in one year than an average Canadian family will spend on groceries in about 30 years.'

'I guess one way to beat the high cost of groceries in Canada is to take government work trips and bill taxpayers for expensive airplane food.'

According to Canada's 2026 Food Price Report, the average cost of groceries for a family of four over a year is $17,571.79.

Carney's first year as Canada's leader has been dominated by his feud with Trump.

Trump reignited trade war fears in a Truth Social post in February, claiming 'Canada has treated the United States very unfairly for decades.'

Carney had earlier apologized to Trump over an anti-tariff TV advertisement that included remarks made by former US President Ronald Regan.

Trump was so infuriated by the ad, which aired in the US, that he increased tariffs on the country and halted US-Canada trade talk.

One short trip to Washington, DC, where he met US President Donald Trump, saw food costs soar to nearly 11 times the price of fuel

Speaking at an Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea, he said he had apologized privately to Trump at a dinner hosted by South Korea's president the week prior.

'I did apologize to the president,' Carney admitted.

Carney, who replaced Justin Trudeau in March last year, ran a campaign that often pushed back at the president, specifically sharing his opposition of tariffs and Trump's suggestion Canada would one day become the 51st state of the US.

Carney has focused on trying to steer away from America and not rely on it as much as his country has in the past.

Instead, he has looked toward strengthening ties with other nations, including South Africa, China and India.
Sir Keir Starmer lounged at a four-star boutique hotel in Valencia as Donald Trump threatened to 'obliterate' Iran, the Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The Prime Minister spent four days at the 200-a-night Valentia Cabillers hotel - complete with rooftop bar and swimming pool - as Trump delivered an extraordinary ultimatum warning he would 'hit and obliterate' Iran's power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not opened.

Sir Keir's sun-soaked getaway came five years after he accused then-PM Boris Johnson of 'appalling complacency' for going on holiday as Kabul fell to the Taliban in 2021, declaring: 'You cannot coordinate an international response from the beach.'

But as Trump's threats grew increasingly explosive on Saturday, Starmer made no move to cut short his Easter break.

Even as the US president told Tehran on Easter Sunday 'You'll be living in Hell. There'll be nothing like it,' the PM remained in Valencia.

French President Emmanuel Macron meanwhile spent the weekend on the phone to both Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urging an end to hostilities, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a series of emergency calls with European partners.

Despite dressing down in Adidas trainers, jeans and a light jacket, Sir Keir failed to keep a low profile - with locals quickly spotting him thanks to the team of armed police and bodyguards flanking him throughout.

One waiter said he served the PM 'cafe con leche' as he sat at a sun-drenched table in the Lope de Vega cobblestone square.

Sir Keir Starmer in Valencia on Monday where he spent four days at the 200-a-night Valentia Cabillers hotel

The swimming pool at the Valentina Cabillers Hotel in Valencia where Sir Keir Starmer stayed

A street view of Valencia where Sir Keir Starmer had his Easter break. Despite trying to keep a low profile, the Prime Minister was quickly spotted by locals thanks to the team of armed police and bodyguards flanking him throughout

'Everyone was talking about him being the British Prime Minister,' the waiter added, 'even though the police tried to keep it quiet.'

The 21-room Valentia Cabillers is tucked down a quiet side street yards from the iconic Plaza de la Reina, overlooked by the 13th century Valencia Cathedral and a short walk from the city's famous Central Market and Santa Catalina church.

The hotel describes itself as 'completely renovated, with a sober and contemporary interior design' in an 'unbeatable location in the heart of the city.'

One hotel worker confirmed Starmer and his family were there, saying staff felt 'a lot of excitement' during the visit.

Maria Jose Aranda Martinez, who sells leather goods from a market stall in the Plaza de la Reina, said: 'We had a lot of police around in the square for two or more days.

'Someone who works on the market asked them and they said it was because a very important person was in the area, but they refused to say who it was because it was a secret.'

Another stallholder said: 'There were lots of police here. I am sure he would have had a nice time looking around, but it is a little strange that he came on holiday at a time of such crisis in the world.'

A Downing Street source said the Prime Minister was focused on acting in the national interest throughout the crisis, protecting British people and interests in the region.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a detainer for an 18-year-old Honduran man who was charged in the killing of a teenage boy.

Yefry Archaga-Elvir, the suspect, was accused of shooting 15-year-old Miles Young, who was under the impression he was meeting a girl, according to court records.

In its announcement requesting Missouri authorities not grant pre-trial release to Archaga-Elvir, ICE described him as a 'monstrous illegal alien' that lured Young into a 'vicious ambush' on March 12.

'Miles Young was lured to his death believing he was going to meet a girl. Instead, he was ambushed and killed in cold blood by this illegal alien who went on to brag about the murder,' said Lauren Bis, acting assistant secretary of ICE's Office of Public Affairs.

'This animal was released into our country by the Obama administration. ICE lodged an arrest detainer requesting Missouri not release this depraved killer from jail into American neighborhoods,' Bis continued.

Archaga-Elvir was first arrested in Texas as an unaccompanied minor in 2015, according to federal immigration authorities.

The alleged fake meetup occurred in Springfield, where Archaga-Elvir and others boxed in Young's vehicle with their own cars, according to authorities.

When Young exited his car and tried to run, Archaga-Elvir allegedly chased him down and shot him. Young's last words were, 'I just don't want to die,' according to witnesses.

Yefry Archaga-Elvir, an 18-year-old Honduran man, was charged in connection the killing of a 15-year-old boy who was allegedly under the impression he was meeting a girl. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer for Archaga-Elvir, a illegal migrant

The boy who was killed, Miles Young, was lured into an ambush in Springfield, Missouri, according to authorities. Police say Young's car was boxed in by vehicles driven by Archaga-Elvir and others

Investigators believe the motive for the shooting was the fact that Young was a witness to an earlier murder and was set to testify in court.

Young had reportedly been warned not to go, but he ignored the advice, only to realize he walked into a trap when the vehicles were circling in.

Young's final cry was followed by the sound of gunshots, per court documents. Young was shot in the chest, and later pronounced dead at Cox South Hospital.

After allegedly shooting Young, Archaga-Elvir 'made a phone call' to someone about the incident, and 'was braggadocious' about killing him, police said in a probable cause affidavit.

Archaga-Elvir allegedly fled after the shooting and was arrested March 31 after a twoweek manhunt. He is set to appear in court April 13.

A second suspect, Praize King, 18, also faces first-degree murder and armed criminal action charges after allegedly joining the ambush.

At least one other suspect, believed to be a juvenile, has yet to be identified.

Authorities said Young was killed because he was set to testify in a trial concerning a 2025 murder

Young was described by his family as a 'compassionate, loving, and kind 15-year-old who brought light to everyone around him'

Young was described by his family as a 'compassionate, loving, and kind 15-year-old who brought light to everyone around him.'

'He was a big brother, a son, a grandson, and a friend. He had a beautiful heart, was full of life, and always showed care for others,' his family wrote on a GoFundMe.

'Just a couple of weeks before his passing, Miles made a heartfelt decision at church, giving his heart to Jesus during an altar call. It felt as though God was beginning to prepare him for his journey home.

'His loss has left his family, friends, and community heartbroken, as no parent should ever have to outlive and bury their child.'
Iran has misplaced mines it laid in the Strait of Hormuz and is now unable to clear them, US officials warned last night.

The regimes failure to locate the explosives  which it laid haphazardly  may be to blame for the delay in Tehran opening the shipping lane to more vessels, sources added.

It leaves tankers and other commercial ships crossing the Strait, through which up to 25 per cent of the worlds oil passes, in danger of being blown up.

The warnings came as peace talks between the US and Iran began in Pakistans capital city Islamabad yesterday, following Wednesdays fragile truce between the two countries after six weeks of conflict.

But the ceasefire appeared to be on the verge of collapse before the crunch talks even began following Tehrans threat to destroy US naval ships that enter the Strait.

Irans warning followed reports that at least two US navy ships passed through the shipping lane yesterday. Their mission has yet to be revealed.

Adding to the confusion, President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that the US was actively clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz and promised it would be reopened soon.

He said: Were now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favour to countries all over the world, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany and many others. Incredibly, they dont have the courage or will to do this work themselves.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is seen looking at pictures of school children killed in Madrasa Minab, Iran by US airstrikes

US Vice President JD Vance waves upon his arrival for the US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad on April 11, 2026

Ahead of the talks yesterday, Mr Trump appeared to taunt Tehran, also writing: Their navy is gone, their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft apparatus is non-existent, radar is dead, their missile and drone factories have been largely obliterated along with the missiles and drones themselves and, most importantly, their long-time leaders are no longer with us, praise be to Allah!

A US delegation led by Vice President J D Vance, Mr Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff and the Presidents son-in-law Jared Kushner yesterday held historic face-to-face meetings with Iranian negotiators in Islamabad.

It was the first time the US and Iran had held direct talks with one another for ten years  the most recent being the Iranian nuclear deal during the Barack Obama years.

Tehran yesterday claimed one of the pre-conditions of the talks was the end of all Israeli attacks on Lebanon, which it said formed part of the truce agreed last week.

But Israel reportedly subjected Lebanon to at least 100 strikes yesterday as it targeted Hezbollah. Retaliating, the terror group fired missiles and drones at the Jewish state.

Israel also said it will take part in direct peace talks with the Lebanese government in Washington on Tuesday.

The Iranian delegation of 70 in Pakistan was led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf as well as foreign minister Abbas Araghchi.

On Mr Ghalibafs flight to Islamabad, empty seats on the plane carried photos of some of the 120 children from a school in Minab, southern Iran, killed during a US air strike on the first day of the six-week conflict.

The US and Iran yesterday said talks were going well, but few details have been released.

It emerged last night that Irans new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, sustained serious facial injuries that have left him disfigured and that he may have also had a leg amputated.

Tehran officials, who spoke anonymously, said that despite his injuries, Khamenei was mentally sharp and taking part in all meetings, including those on the war and in Islamabad.

The sources dismiss previous US claims that the new Supreme Leader was either dead or in a coma after he was injured in US air strikes on a regime compound in Tehran that left his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dead, alongside most members of his family.
Sir Keir Starmer should be toppled as Prime Minister because of the damage his Government has caused to the economy, a key ally of Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said.

Sacha Lord, who spent seven years as an adviser to Mr Burnham, declares in an article for The Mail on Sunday that it is 'time to give someone else a go' in No 10.

Mr Lord, chairman of the Night Time Industries Association, attacks the 'catastrophic' increase in National Insurance introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, which  in conjunction with increases to the minimum wage and business rates  has hammered the hospitality industry. Describing the impact as worse than Covid, Mr Lord writes: 'With the profit on a pint now at only 12p, the writing is on the wall for many.

'We will lose more pubs now than we did during the pandemic... Reeves has been the worst Chancellor on record for my sector.'

He adds: 'Local elections are next month. It's time to give someone else a go. I've met the PM and he's a nice guy who I think genuinely means well. We don't need 'nice' though, we need someone who will work and support us to drag this sector back to how it was: world leading.'

The remarks by Mr Lord, who advised the socalled 'King of the North' on Manchester's night time economy, come as the mayor is trying to plot his way to winning a Commons seat, in order to mount a leadership bid against Sir Keir if Labour is routed as badly as expected in next month's council elections.

His main rival in any contest is likely to be exDeputy PM Angela Rayner, who is understood to have stepped up her preparations during Parliament's Easter recess by approaching allies in northern Labour constituency parties to ask for their help with her campaign.

Sacha Lord (right), who spent seven years as an adviser to Mr Burnham (left), declares in an article for The Mail on Sunday that it is 'time to give someone else a go' in No 10. The pair are pictured here together

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is seen arriving at the airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as part of a two-day visit to the Gulf region

Allies of Ms Rayner said that she will take a prominent role in Labour's local election campaign to showcase her qualities as a 'political street fighter', and boost her profile ahead of a potential challenge.

It was also reported by the Daily Mail that she has cut down on her boozing to craft 'a more stateswomanlike persona'.

Labour's deputy leader Lucy Powell warned MPs against engaging in a 'messy, bloody internal contest' after the local elections on May 7, where the party is forecast to lose up to 1,900 of the 2,560 seats it is defending.

Mr Burnham tried to stand as Labour's candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection earlier this year, but was blocked by the party's National Executive Committee.

His allies believe, however, that Labour's loss in that byelection has strengthened Mr Burnham's hand for the next opportunity  with three seats, in which the sitting Labour MPs are considering standing down, understood to be under consideration.

A spokesman for Ms Rayner said that it was 'nonsense' to say that she had been approaching allies to help with her campaign.

'I've met the PM and he's a nice guy who I think genuinely means well. We don't need "nice" though.' Sacha Lord is pictured

We need a PM who will get hospitality sector thriving again

By Sacha Lord, Night Time Industries Association Chairman

On June 13, 2024, I was standing in a packed room in Manchester.

The excitement was incredible. The entire Shadow Cabinet was on display and the UK's press were in the room to hear the Labour manifesto launch.

As Rachel Reeves announced that she would be the Chancellor of business and growth, it felt like a significant moment for hospitality.

I was hopeful  so much so that I donated to the party to get her and Starmer into Downing Street.

That's something I now bitterly regret because from the moment Reeves walked through the doors of No 11, it became clear she was far from business and growth.

With the National Insurance increase she brought in, operators were forced to shave hours off their weekly rotas. The result has been catastrophic  since Reeves became Chancellor, we've shed 120,000 jobs.

The industry is suffering worse than during Covid.

From April 1, we suffered the double blow of an increased minimum wage and increased business rates. With the profit on a pint now at only 12p, the writing is on the wall for many.

We will lose more pubs now than during the pandemic. In my lifetime, Reeves has been the worst Chancellor on record for my sector.

Local elections are next month. It's time to give someone else a go.

I've met the PM and he's a nice guy who I think genuinely means well. We don't need 'nice' though, we need someone who will work and support us to drag this sector back to how it was: world leading.
A Swedish man suspected of exploiting his 'vulnerable' wife to have sex with 120 men for payment has gone on trial for aggravated pimping, rape and assault.

The 62-year-old Swedish suspect, who denies the charges, was arrested in October after his wife reported him to police in the north of the country. He has been in custody ever since.

The man, who is reportedly a former Hell's Angel with a tattoo around his eye, appeared in court on Friday wearing a grey chequered shirt and appeared calm as prosecutor Ida Annerstedt read out the charges.

According to the prosecutor, he had for years made money from pressuring his wife to 'perform and submit to sexual acts'.

'He is charged with aggravated pimping. He has facilitated an operation in which his partner and later wife have sold sex,' Annerstedt told AFP during a break in the proceedings.

His wife was not present in the courtroom but was following the proceedings via a video link, where only her lawyer was shown so that she remained anonymous.

After the charges were read out, the trial continued behind closed doors.

The man is accused of creating online adverts, setting up meetings, keeping guard and pressuring the woman to perform sexual acts online to attract more clients.

The Angermanlands district court is pictured ahead the start of a trial against a Swedish man suspected of exploiting his 'vulnerable' wife to have sex with scores of men for payment, in Harnosand, Sweden, on April 10, 2026

The prosecutor, who also claims the man created and supported a drug addiction for the woman, has labelled it 'ruthless exploitation'.

'I maintain that he has exploited her situation in that she has been under the influence of drugs, she has been under the influence of alcohol, and she has had a serious fear of him,' Annerstedt told AFP, noting that the charges included assaults and threats.

When reading out the charges, Annerstedt said the defendant had threatened to kill the plaintiff if she left him.

The plaintiff was warned not to make him mad, because then 'the monster would be released,' Annerstedt told the court.

The accused was believed to have profited over 500,000 kronor (40,050), according to the prosecutor.

Martina Michaelsdotter, the accused's lawyer, told AFP that her client denied the charges against him.

The disturbing case has caused shock in Sweden, and comparisons have been made with France's Gisele Pelicot, whose husband was convicted in 2024 of drugging her and letting scores of men rape her while unconscious.

Under Sweden's law on prostitution, selling sex is not illegal. But paying for sex or facilitating its sale is against the law.

In addition to being charged with aggravated pimping and four assaults, the suspect is charged with eight rapes and four attempted rapes.

The rape charges include one incident when the suspect allegedly compelled his wife to have sex with a particular client and several where he made her perform sexual acts on herself for online videos.

Such offences are classed as rape under Swedish law because the victim had not given consent.

Prosecutor Annerstedt previously told AFP the woman had, to 'some extent', 'agreed to sell sex' but had objected to doing so with certain people or under certain circumstances.

The disturbing case has caused shock in Sweden, and comparisons have been made with France's Gisele Pelicot (pictured)

'She had certain boundaries. There are situations where he didn't respect those boundaries and steamrollered her after she said 'no',' Annerstedt told AFP.

The offences allegedly occurred between August 11, 2022, and October 21, 2025.

Annerstedt said that 120 buyers had been identified and that so far 26 had been charged, but she noted they had only been charged with buying sex as they were not under the impression the woman was participating unwillingly.

Public broadcaster SVT reported, citing police investigations, that many of the buyers were under the impression they were chatting with the woman when booking meetings and discussing prices, while the prosecutor argues they were in fact talking to the man.

Some buyers had also allegedly paid by performing services, with one repairing a generator in the couple's recreational vehicle and another by doing a horoscope, according to the broadcaster.

The trial started out dealing with the charges against the husband, but other accused would be called at later dates.

Martina Michaelsdotter, the accused's lawyer, told AFP that her client disputed the charges against him.

'He acknowledges that, to some extent, he has been involved in the plaintiff's business,' she said, adding that this involvement had been in accordance with the plaintiff's instructions and wishes.

'If one were to put a label on that role, I'd say it has been partly administrative and, for example, involved providing support with technical matters,' Michaelsdotter said.

'There has been no form of coercion or threat, no violence. He has not in any way caused her either psychological or physical suffering, or made her dependent on either alcohol or drugs,' the lawyer said. The defendant did plead guilty to a minor doping charge, related to steroids found in his possession.
The Queen could secretly meet some of Jeffrey Epstein's victims during her state visit to America in two weeks, The Mail on Sunday has learned.

Camilla, a life-long advocate for abused women, is said to have been approached by victims' rights groups but negotiations are understood to be in the 'very early stages.'

King Charles and Camilla will arrive in the US for a four-day tour to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence on April 27.

Last night a source said: 'It's quite possible the Queen would chose to meet with the victims in private. The victims have made no secret of their desire to meet with her.

'Any negotiations would be top secret and in the very early stages but it would be a fantastic gesture of support on her part.'

Some have suggested First Lady Melania Trump may have made her surprise six-minute speech from the White House last week  in which she categorically denied being part of paedophile Epstein's circle  in order to smooth the way for her to join the Queen at any meeting.

A source said: 'Melania is another passionate women's rights activist and she would obviously have to separate herself totally from all the rumours and misinformation that is out there before any meeting could take place. Perhaps that is why she made that stunning speech this week?'

Ex-model Lisa Phillips, an Epstein victim, told Radio 4's Today programme on Friday she was 'hopeful' of meeting the Queen.

Queen Camilla may meet some of Epstein's victims during her upcoming state visit to the US. Pictured: Camilla (right) with First Lady Melania Trump (left)

Some have suggested Melania may have made her surprise six-minute speech from the White House so as to join Queen Camilla in any meeting with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein (pictured)

Ms Phillips said: 'She's always been supportive of the survivors and she's taken a stand for us so she would be the more likely person to meet with us. So we are hopeful that maybe she will.'

The Queen has been a longstanding campaigner against domestic abuse and violence against women and girls, including talking about her own experience of an assault.

'To every survivor of every kind of violence, many of whom have not been able to tell their stories or who have not been believed, please know that you are not alone,' she said in a speech seen as a reference to Epstein's victims.

Allowing Camilla to meet the Epstein survivors alone may yet prove a deft solution to a political hot potato for the King, especially given his brother Andrew's previous friendship with Epstein.

Ms Philips, a prominent campaigner, said: 'If I met her I would make sure she understands how important it is for survivors to get some sort of justice. We need transparency. Someone of her magnitude can make sure this moves on quicker.'

A source close to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's legal team said a meeting with Camilla would have to be private but would be 'a natural thing for her to do'.

'Camilla realised early on how toxic his [Andrew's] links to Epstein were and she was a driving force behind the move to strip him of his titles,' said the source.

'The King has always had a degree of sympathy for his brother and would wobble when it came to making difficult decisions, but Camilla has never had any doubts about the fact that Andrew had to be cut out of the family.'

King Charles and Camilla (left) will arrive in the US for a four-day tour to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. The royal pair seen here with President Trump and First Lady Melania

Camilla (left) and Melania (right) in Windsor during the First Lady's second state visit to Britain last year

Spencer Kuvin, a lawyer who represents several Epstein survivors, said: 'Queen Camilla has consistently positioned herself as an advocate for women affected by abuse, and this is exactly the kind of moment where that commitment should translate into action.

'A meeting with Epstein's survivors would send a powerful message that their voices matter  not just in courtrooms, but in the corridors of power.'

Files released by the US Department of Justice exposed Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's ties to Epstein.

Last October the King stripped his younger brother of all his remaining titles. A statement announcing the decision said the King and Queen sympathised with 'the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse'.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on his 66th birthday in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office over accusations that he leaked confidential documents to Epstein while serving as trade envoy.

He has denied any wrongdoing.

Last night Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

Additional reporting: Daniel Bates
A school holiday outing has ended in heartbreak after a seven-year-old girl was pulled from the water at a popular swimming spot southwest of Brisbane.

The young girl vanished while swimming at Colleges Crossing Recreational Reserve in Chuwar on Saturday afternoon, sparking a frantic search.

Emergency crews were called just before 5pm, with police, including POLAIR and specialist dive units, scouring the water and surrounding banks for hours.

At 10.24pm, the girl was retrieved from the water but could not be saved.

A primary school-aged boy was also taken to Ipswich Hospital in a stable condition after being pulled from the water.

Earlier, officers had cordoned off the picnic area, turning away cars as the desperate search unfolded.

Police divers arrived at the section of river where the little girl was last seen shortly after 8pm.

On the bank, frantic locals used the torchlight from their mobile phones to help crews.

Police officers cordoned off the picnic area, turning away cars as the desperate search unfolded

The young girl vanished while swimming at Colleges Crossing Recreational Reserve (pictured) in Chuwar on Saturday afternoon
The Princess of Wales has routinely demonstrated her ability to communicate through fashion, illustrated by her evolving collection of elegant A-lined coats.

Yet while striking statement outwear may have become an integral asset to Kate's wardrobe, a secret royal protocol means that royal fans will never see the princess remove her coat in public.

In fact, even in the heat of summer, Kate, 44, alongside other numerous royal women, is forbidden from removing her glamorous long coats that stretch below the knee.

The reason behind such restriction? Historic royal protocol dictates that the act of removing an outermost layer of clothing in public would be considered 'unladylike', as per royal standards.

Coats must also be long in length and made of an appropriate fabric and design, meaning that Kate is unlikely to ever be spotted out in a puffer jacket or making a quick outfit change.

Meanwhile, all royal women must ensure that their skirts do not ride above the knee and that hats are not worn indoors at formal events unless it is after 6pm.

Since she wed into the royal fold in 2011, Kate has been adamant about sticking to these historic rules, while still showcasing her creativity and versatility in numerous coats that are often quickly snapped up by eagle-eyed fans.

Here, the Daily Mail revisits some of Kate's best A-lined coat looks and explores how her style has evolved as she climbed the royal ranks...

Chic red Catherine Walker coat

The Princess of Wales opted for a glamorous red Catherine Walker coat, worn with a matching red 450 Gina Foster hat

At the Commonwealth Day Service in 2025, Kate opted for a glamorous red Catherine Walker coat, worn with a matching red 450 Gina Foster hat.

It came after a general movement from the princess towards dark, neutral hues such as brown and grey, colours that mirror her intent to focus on her charitable work, rather that draw attention to the provenance of her couture.

Whether Kate has softened her 'substance over style' stance or was simply honouring the formality of the occasion, her fans will be delighted to see her dressing like the princess she is.

To accessorise, the princess opted for Collingwood pearl and diamond earrings, which once belonged to Princess Diana, and the late Queen Elizabeth II's much-loved Japanese four-strand pearl choker.

She couldn't have looked more regal, despite facing a slight fashion faux pas as she realised she had accidentally twinned with then Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

Effortless double-breasted Emilia Wickstead burgundy coat dress

While welcoming US President Donald Trump to Windsor Castle in September last year, the Princess of Wales was resplendent in a maroon Emilia Wickstead dress

While welcoming US President Donald Trump to Windsor Castle in September last year, the Princess of Wales was resplendent in a maroon Emilia Wickstead dress.

Kate paired her elegant coat dress with a 2,330 hat by Jane Taylor and a burgundy Chanel bag that she's been seen with on numerous occasions.

Adding a touch of glitz to her ensemble, Kate accessorised with a feather brooch that once belonged to Princess Diana. It featured the feather symbol of the Prince of Wales surrounded by 18 round cut diamonds and miniature emeralds.

Kate wore her newly bronde hair in loose waves that cascaded down her back, after making the switch from brunette earlier that autumn.

The princess appeared to favour Chanel handbags, after choosing a black design for the Duchess of Kent's funeral.

In addition to the deep, wine-coloured Classic Flap Bag in quilted leather that she carried, Kate also accessorised with a pair of dainty ruby earrings.

She completed her look with dark brown suede pumps from Gianvito Rossi, another of Kate's favourite brands.

Elegant navy blue Catherine Walker coat dress

At this year's Commonwealth Day Service, Kate lit up the grey skies in a cobalt coatdress from one of her favourite designers  Catherine Walker

At this year's Commonwealth Day Service, Kate lit up the grey skies in a cobalt coatdress from one of her favourite designers  Catherine Walker.

The collared gown, which accentuated her silhouette and featured a pleated skirt, was teamed with a sophisticated felt Sean Barrett hat, worn by the future Queen for the 2023 event as well.

She also appeared to be re-wearing her beloved Gianvito Rossi pumps in Navy Suede, currently retailing online for 650.

The mother of three carried a 295 bag from Strathberry, and around her neck opted for a stunning vintage faux pearl necklace from luxury jeweller Susan Caplan, a piece she has often reached for in recent months.

Susan is globally revered in the world of jewellery, and the 80s vintage design donned by the princess will be 'back in stock soon', according to the site.

In a sweet homage to the late Queen Elizabeth II, Kate wore a stunning pair of Bahrain pearl drop earrings that once belonged to the monarch, and had been in the royals' collection for decades.

Sophisticated black Catherine Walker dress

When the Princess of Wales stepped out for an Armistice Day Service in November, she opted for a Jane Taylor Decima hat and tailored Catherine Walker & Co military-style coat with two poppies on the lapel

When the Princess of Wales stepped out for an Armistice Day Service in November, she opted for a Jane Taylor Decima hat and tailored Catherine Walker & Co military-style coat with two poppies on the lapel.

She accessorised with Cornelia James gloves, Gianvito Rossie suede boots and diamond drop earrings, alongside the Irish Guards Regimental brooch.

Her gorgeous hair was arranged into a low, braided bun tucked under her hat, while her smokey eye makeup reflected the solemn mood of the day.

Kate participated in the traditional two minute silence at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month. She then laid her wreath at the Armed Forces Memorial, before being invited to view newly-dedicated names inscribed on it.

A vision in blue  striking Alexander McQueen bespoke coat

When Kate joined her husband, Prince William, to welcome the German president to the UK for a state visit in November, she debuted a fresh new hairstyle and gorgeous blue jacket that saw heads turn

When Kate joined her husband, Prince William, to welcome the German president to the UK for a state visit in November, she debuted a fresh new hairstyle and gorgeous blue jacket that saw heads turn.

Dressed in an all-blue ensemble, Kate opted for an Alexander McQueen bespoke coat by Sarah Burton over a Burberry dress, before a subtle change to her hairstyle caught the attention of royal fans.

The mother-of-three's locks, which usually fall in subtle waves, had been straightened, making for a sleek look under her Juliette Botterill bow and arrow hat.

Observers soon gushed over the switch-up, with some even comparing the look to Kate's daughter, Princess Charlotte, 10, whose hair is usually styled straight.

Kate continued her blue theme with an Emmy London Natasha clutch in lake, and accessorised with Princess Diana's sapphire earrings and Queen Alexandra's three feathers brooch.

She previously wore a very similar look for the Christmas service at Sandringham in 2023.

An elegant monochrome ensemble

The Princess of Wales put on an elegant display in a monochrome ensemble as she attended the installation of Dame Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent in March.

The Princess of Wales put on an elegant display in a monochrome ensemble as she attended the installation of Dame Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent in March.

The royal mother-of-three debuted a new 2,850 Washington Prince of Wales check Cashmere Coat from Suzannah London for the occasion.

She paired the piece with another new, standout accessory: the 690 Houndstooth Straw Boater from Juliette Millinery.

The royal mixed the old with the new, and also wore her 570 Ralph Lauren Celia Calfskin heels in black, while carrying her 4,036 Chanel Mini Classic Handbag, made of lambskin and gold-tone metal.

To accessorise, Kate donned her 7,245 Cavolfiore Earrings from Cassandra Goad, made from 18 carat yellow gold with pearls and diamonds.

A forest green re-wear

During a visit to Northern Ireland's Fire and Rescue Service's new Learning and Development college, Kate opted for a bespoke Alexander McQueen forest green coat

During a visit to Northern Ireland's Fire and Rescue Service's new Learning and Development college, Kate opted for a bespoke Alexander McQueen forest green coat.

She first debuted the gorgeous jacket in 2020 in Bradford, before re-wearing it to Sandringham in 2022, showcasing her commitment to recycled outfits.

To accessorise, the princess selected Daniella Draper shamrock hoop earrings, seen as a special nod to her Irish visit.

It's not the first time the princess has opted for colour as a way to pay tribute - she has also worn hues present on the flags of nations she has visited multiple times, including a poignant navy and yellow dress when meeting displaced Ukrainian families.

Earlier that year, when arriving for engagement in Pontypridd, Wales, Kate was elegant in a scarlet Alexander McQueen coat, matching the patriotic red dragon - also sporting a daffodil to accentuate regional pride.

Other times, her choices have been more rooted in context than culture.
Elizabeth II made history with her record-breaking reign of more than 70 years. And King Charles is determined that her authorised biography should be a landmark book.

So he is, I hear, expected to give the eminent, if laborious, job to a female author.

'His Majesty wanted the commission to go to a woman,' a royal source tells me at the launch party for my colleague Robert Hardman's acclaimed book Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story, at Hatchards bookshop in Piccadilly, London.

'He has chosen Anna Keay, whom he knows and trusts to do a thorough job.'

She will have unrivalled access to the private papers of the late Queen, which have been diligently compiled by her long-serving Page of the Backstairs, Paul Whybrew.

Ms Keay is unlikely to ruffle any feathers at Buckingham Palace with her disclosures.

She runs the Landmark Trust, a building conservation charity of which the King is patron. She is also a trustee of the Royal Collection Trust, which cares for the monarch's private art collection.

Her husband is Simon Thurley, a friend of the King who is chairman of the National Lottery Heritage Fund. He was previously chief executive of English Heritage.

'He has chosen Anna Keay, whom he knows and trusts to do a thorough job' (pictured, Anna and Charles)

It remains to be seen how long she will spend writing her book. William Shawcross, an Old Etonian friend of Queen Camilla, took his time working on the authorised biography of the Queen Mother, which was not published until 2009, seven years after her death at the age of 101.

Shawcross received a 1million advance for his efforts, was awarded the CVO and later knighted 'for public service' in 2023.

Ms Keay, 51, has twin children with Thurley, 63, whom she married in 2008, the year after he divorced his first wife, Katharine Goodison. Thurley had worked with Ms Keay at English Heritage and on the 2006 Channel 5 series Buildings That Shaped Britain.

They live in a Grade I-listed medieval merchant's house in King's Lynn, a short drive from the King's Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

The author, who was educated at 55,000-per year Bedales School in Hampshire and Magdalen College, Oxford, is the granddaughter of dashing former Tory minister Humphrey Atkins. He was recently the subject of questionable claims that he had an affair with his boss, Margaret Thatcher.

TV's Tonia, 58, gets a beauty tone-up

The 58-year-old has had an Endolift  a non-surgical laser treatment  at a beauty clinic in London

She recently hailed olive oil and spices as the secret to her youthful looks, but now TV cook Tonia Buxton  aka 'the face of Greek food'  has resorted to a bit of extra help.

The 58-year-old reveals she's had an Endolift  a non-surgical laser treatment  at a beauty clinic in London. The procedure costs around 3,000 and she's thrilled with her new look.

'I thought I'd show you a little behind the scenes of my Endolift journey and the results so far,' Tonia writes.

'I'm really happy with how my skin is looking. And the best part... it's only going to keep getting better.'

The smart set's talking about... the French business boss bidding Posh 'au revoir'

Is Victoria Beckham in mourning? The question isn't, for once, prompted by her relationship with her son Brooklyn, 27, from whom she and husband Sir David have become increasingly estranged since his marriage to American heiress Nicola Peltz, 31.

Ralph Toledano was chairman of Victoria Beckham's beauty and fashion empire  but he has now stepped down

Attention, instead, focuses on a much older  and, dare I say, immeasurably more sophisticated  gentleman with whom Victoria, 51, has forged a warm and rewarding bond since 2018.

That was when Victoria recruited French silver fox Ralph Toledano as chairman of her beauty and fashion empire.

Gallic charm and sinuous commercial skills  Toledano was previously president of Chloe for nine years, and had also headed Karl Lagerfeld's label  soon had Victoria purring with pleasure, as he guided her business to its first ever profit in 2023.

But now, aged 74, Toledano has stepped down as a director of both Victoria Beckham Holdings and Victoria Beckham Beauty UK Ltd.

'It's time for a new chapter,' he says, though promises, soothingly, always to remain 'close' to Victoria.

Catwalk queen Karen raises alarm on fat jab 'abuse' among models

'Women are vanishing before our eyes. They [weight-loss drugs] can be easily abused,' says Karen Elson

Karen Elson, who appeared topless in those memorable Jean Paul Gaultier perfume ads, has lifted the lid on the abuse of weight-loss drugs among her fellow fashion models.

GLP-1 anti-obesity drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are meant to be used only by those who are morbidly obese or diabetic.

However, Manchester-born Karen, 47, reveals: 'I know doctors who would prescribe slender women like myself microdoses of GLP-1s and peptides, and it's hard not to internalise it when everyone around you is doing it.'

She declares: 'Women are vanishing before our eyes. They [weight-loss drugs] can be easily abused.' Writing online, Karen says: 'Beyond fashion, I see more and more women looking gaunt and haggard, all under the guise of 'good health'. My industry is fickle, and it goes where the trends take it, regardless of the health of young models.'

Among the models who have admitted to abusing such drugs are Lottie Moss, 28, half-sister of supermodel Kate. Lottie said taking Ozempic was 'the worst decision I ever made' after she reported severe side-effects including vomiting and seizures.

Last year, US model Caprice Bourret, 54, said she had resorted to Mounjaro out of fear of being fat-shamed, having put on weight. She experienced heart palpitations and difficulty going up the stairs.

Becker birthday girl is Bridgerton belle of the ball

Her life has been steeped in drama since she was conceived at the Mayfair branch of Japanese restaurant chain Nobu, allegedly in a broom cupboard.

So it's no surprise that Anna Ermakova, the budding actress and daughter of Boris Becker and Russian former model Angela, celebrated her 26th birthday this week with a lavish Bridgerton-themed party.

German-born Anna chose full period-style opulence inspired by the racy Netflix costume drama.

The model demonstrated her regency flair in this photograph she posted online in which could be seen donning a tiara, wearing a pale pink crystal encrusted ball gown and white satin opera gloves

Anna, who studies at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, previously admitted that she dreamed of being a Bond girl, but perhaps corsets and a part in a period drama would be more fitting?

Anna Ermakova celebrated her 26th birthday this week with a lavish Bridgerton-themed party

One small step for Kathy Lette

Novelist Kathy Lette, who's 5ft 3in, used a stepladder to make herself seen at the launch party for her latest saucy book, The Sisterhood Rules.

Her fellow Australian, Kylie Minogue, who's 5ft, couldn't make the London bash, but her friend Sally Phillips, who plays Shazza in the Bridget Jones films, revealed the extent to which Kathy goes to help her pals.

The author encouraged lots of her friends Down Under to attend the Sydney premiere of Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, where most fans were screaming for the film's leading actors, Renee Zellweger, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Leo Woodall.

'When I went down the pink carpet, they all hid behind the Press pack and pretended to be my fans, going, 'Is that Sally Phillips? Wow, I'm so excited to see her', so I didn't feel like such a loser.'

Novelist Kathy Lette, who's 5ft 3in, used a stepladder to make herself seen at the launch party for her latest saucy book, The Sisterhood Rules

Simon Callow fears plans by London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan to pedestrianise Oxford Street could be the death of the capital's premier shopping destination. The idea is said to be inspired by New York's Times Square. The actor warns: 'To Manhattanites it is a byword for hell on earth: intolerably noisy, dirty, aggressive and ugly. They give it a very wide berth, which is inconvenient given it is at the heart of the theatre district.'

She helped end Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's career as a working royal, but Emily Maitlis has been embraced by society. So much so that the former Newsnight presenter was compared to a supermodel at the London launch party for Catherine Ostler's book, The Renoir Girls.

'You're Tatler's Kate Moss,' one guest told her, referring to the society magazine on whose cover she's appeared in 2020 and 2024. 'You've been on more than anyone else.'

Emily joked in response: 'Of course, I'm often mistaken for Kate Moss.'

At least, I think she was joking...

Very modern manners

Some might say he's a fine one to talk about vulgarity, but Jonathan Ross is scathing about those who buy personalised number plates. 'People without an actual personality have these things to exhibit and make themselves stand out a little bit,' sniffs the chat show host, 65, who was suspended by the BBC after he and Russell Brand left obscene messages on the answerphone of Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs.

'Incredibly dull people with money will buy a personalised number plate, thinking that somehow makes up for their lack of personality in other areas.'

Why shopping gives hunk Theo the shivers

'Tesco Express, I don't know why, just fills me with dread,' says The Gentlemen star, 41, who's tipped to succeed Daniel Craig as James Bond

Since rising to stardom, Theo James admits his food shopping habits have changed considerably.

'Tesco Express, I don't know why, just fills me with dread,' says The Gentlemen star, 41, who's tipped to succeed Daniel Craig as James Bond. 'There's something a bit existentially end-of-days about it.

'It's just like everyone wrecked after work and they go and get a meal that they don't know what it tastes like, or what's in it  including myself.

'I've done that, obviously, a million times. But it just gives me the shivers.'
The gushing organiser of a 'girls weekend' retreat in Australia which Meghan Markle is set to headline has said the Duchess of Sussex is looking forward to 'real woman-to-woman chats' at the 1,400-a-head event.

Prince Harry and Meghan are set to embark on a tour of Australia next week with stops in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.

It's during their time in Sydney that Meghan will headline a women-only three-day retreat organised by the Her Best Life podcast - which is hosted by the Australian presenter Jackie 'O' Henderson and her manager Gemma O'Neill.

The event promises yoga, sound healing, meditation, a psychologist-led session, a disco evening and a 'fireside chat' Q&A with Meghan alongside a gala dinner which she will attend.

Guests are being charged around 1,400 for a standard ticket or up to 2,000 for premium packages offering more direct access to the Duchess.

Around 300 guests are expected to attend the three-day event and the website states the ticket allocation has been 'exhausted'. But there have been separate claims that not all tickets have been sold yet.

Ahead of the retreat - which kicks off on April 17 - organiser Gemma O'Neill released an update to her followers about her conversation with Meghan.

She said: 'I've literally just got off the phone with Meghan... It couldn't have been any more real and she was just so divine and so beautiful.

Meghan Markle at an event in Washington D.C in October last year. The Duchess of Sussex will headline a women-only three-day retreat in Sydney next week organised by the Her Best Life podcast

Ahead of the retreat - which kicks off on April 17 - organiser Gemma O'Neill released an update to her followers about her conversation with Meghan

'I just immediately loved chatting to her she was just amazing and I just adore already and I'm so excited for those who are joining us in our community next weekend to have the opportunity to experience how brilliant she is as well.

'I know she is really looking forward to it and she can't wait to be in a room with our community and great women and she was just like "let's just have a real chat. Let's just woman-to-woman let's go for it".'

In the gushing video Ms O'Neill adds that she already Meghan's 'biggest fan'.

The event is being held at the Inter Continental Sydney Coogee Beach, where rooms typically cost between 250 and 450 per night.

The relatively cheap hotel part of the fee is understood to be included in the ticket price, meaning that the remaining ticket cost is likely to line the pockets of Meghan and the event organisers.

Meanwhile, more than 35,000 Aussies signed a petition in March demanding no taxpayers' money be spent on their upcoming visit.

Despite Harry and Meghan no longer representing His Majesty the King after they stepped back from the British Royal Family and moved to California in 2020, their trip Down Under appears to resemble a royal tour in many ways.

In her video looking ahead to the event, Ms O'Neill also thanked her fans for all their support saying she 'had a bit of retreating I guess I'd say while I'm processing a few personal things.'

In the gushing video Ms O'Neill said: 'I've literally just got off the phone with Meghan... It couldn't have been any more real and she was just so divine and so beautiful'

Harry and Meghan on their previous tour of Australia in 2018. While no longer working royals the Sussexes trip Down Under appears to resemble a royal tour in many ways

This comes after Ms O-Neill wiped her Instagram page in March and went underground.

The talent manager, who counts radio star Jackie 'O' Henderson as her main client, recently had her financial woes exposed after her Gemmie Agency was liquidated.

Her main Instagram account @gemmyjean has since been deleted.

However, the account for Gemma's Her Best Life podcast is still active, likely to promote the upcoming retreat in Sydney with the Duchess of Sussex.
Prince William rejected plans for a major investiture ceremony and church service to mark him becoming Prince of Wales, a major royal book has revealed.

Acclaimed Royal author and Daily Mail writer Robert Hardman revealed that William turned down plans drawn up by his father's courtiers for an event at St David's Cathedral in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, in 2022.

William and Catherine instead marked their new titles with a visit to Anglesey, where they lived for three years after getting married, and Swansea.

The low key approach - a sign of William's desire to modernise some aspects of the monarchy - was in stark contrast to pomp and pageantry of Charles's investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969.

The ceremony at Caernarfon Castle was broadcast live to 19 million people in Britain and another 500 million people worldwide and involved Queen Elizabeth presenting her son with the Prince of Wales's sword, coronet, ring, rod and mantle.

In Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story, Mr Hardman, writes: 'On becoming Prince of Wales, he [William] had not only ruled out an investiture, like his father's in 1969, but even a church service.'

Mr Hardman reveals that the Government went as far as consulting Plaid Cymru, the Welsh nationalist party, about the ceremony plans to ensure there was no objection but 'the idea never progressed beyond the desk of Prince William.'

One of William's team told the author 'It wasn't ever something that he wanted to do.'

Prince William (pictured) rejected plans for a major investiture ceremony and church service to mark him becoming Prince of Wales, it has been revealed

The Prince and Princess of Wales (pictured) instead marked their new titles with a visit to Swansea and Anglesey, where they lived for three years after getting married

William's low key approach is a world away from the pomp and pageantry of King Charles's investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969 (pictured)

Last month, Catherine, Princess of Wales, delivered a video message entirely in Welsh to mark St David's Day - the first time she has done so.

The Prince revealed in 2024 how he had downloaded the popular language learning app Duolingo and that he was trying to grasp Welsh 'phonetically.'

Charles's high profile investiture 57-years ago was fiercely opposed by some Welsh nationalist groups who saw the Prince of Wales as symbolic of the country's occupation by the English crown.

Early on the morning of the Investiture two members of a militant group were killed when the bomb they were carrying exploded as they were taking it to a railway line along which the royal train would run.

... he prefers to stay in and watch Traitors!

It is the BBC blockbuster about deception and trust that has gripped the nation  including members of the Royal Family.

In royal author Robert Hardman's new book, he reveals that the Prince and Princess of Wales are among the millions engrossed by The Traitors.

Mr Hardman writes: 'The King is the one who still enjoys sitting up writing letters into the night whereas Prince William's idea of a fun evening, says one of his team, is to "sit down with the Princess in front of The Traitors".'

Stephen Lambert, whose production company makes the show,  which pits 'faithful' contestants against those who are 'traitors'  said William told him last year that it was a 'big treat' as he awarded him an OBE at Windsor Castle.

Mr Lambert added: 'He said he and the family were very much looking forward to watching it.'

William later told Sir Stephen Fry, one of the celebrity contestants, that he and his family had been 'locked into' the series.
One of nearly 50 distinctive 'micro-apartments' has hit the market inside America's oldest indoor mall, offering a buyer a unique living space for just over $200,000.

The Arcade Providence, the nation's first enclosed shopping mall in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, housed dozens of shops, restaurants and historic architecture for more than 150 years before closing in 2008 after being deemed 'endangered.'

But instead of allowing it to fall into disrepair, developers reimagined the Greek Revival structure as 48 affordable 'micro-lofts,' with rents starting at $550 a month.

Each condo comes with the basic essentials: built-in beds and seating, full bathrooms with showers, tankless water heaters, a half-size refrigerator, sink, dishwasher and microwave - plus, an unusual sense of community.

From their third-floor homes, residents can peer through large front windows or stand on the balcony to wave at friendly neighbors across the way, while also taking in the view of everyday shoppers below.

'There isn't a hiding spot in this whole building,' Robin Dionne, director of outreach and client relations at the now-renamed Arcade Providence, previously told CBS News.

The condos reached full capacity within a year of their 2013 opening, leaving more than 4,000 people on a waiting list.

Just last month, however, a single unit hit the market, waiting for a buyer ready to fulfill their lifelong teenage dream of living inside a mall.

The Arcade Providence, the nation's first enclosed shopping mall in downtown Rhode Island, has 48 affordable 'micro-lofts,' with rents starting at $550 a month

The Arcade housed dozens of shops, restaurants and historic architecture for more than 150 years before closing in 2008 after being deemed 'endangered'

'It's cool to be part of such a historic building and knowing that every single one of these units used to be a shop of some kind,' mall resident Amy Henion told CNBC News.

Originally known as The Westminster Arcade, Providence Arcade - now the oldest remaining building of its type in the United States - was built in 1828 with granite blocks, stuccoed ashlar, Greek Revival columns and a spacious skylit atrium.

By 1976, it had been declared a National Historic Landmark and stood as a fixture of downtown Providence, overlooking Westminster and Weybosset Streets.

'When it was built, it wasn't common to see so many retailers in one space,' Dionne told CBS following its opening.

'Nordstrom and Macy's did not exist,' she added. 'So for small businesses, the downtown area was the place to be. As people spread out to the suburbs, people's shopping habits changed.'

It originally housed 78 small shops and restaurants and, perhaps even more importantly, its central corridor served as a public pedestrian route connecting downtown's most important thoroughfares.

The vision, according to the mall's owner and developer Evan Granoff, was to turn the space into a thriving 'live small/play big' micro-loft community.

But the Great Recession struck Providence's financial district - home to Arcade - leading to an office exodus and mounting vacancies, including at nearby Bank of America.

The condos reached full capacity within a year of its 2013 opening, leaving more than 4,000 people on a waiting list

From their third-floor homes, residents can stand on the balcony to wave at friendly neighbors or watch shoppers down below

It was at that point that the slice of American history was forced to close its doors.

'I think people definitely saw it coming,' Dionne told CBS. 'By the time we decided to close, there were only seven or eight tenants left. But people really love the building, so I think everyone in general was sad.'

Rumors swirled about the mall's uncertain future, with growing worries over whether it would be saved, demolished or ultimately taken over by a single tenant.

'When the owner decided to close, he didn't know what his plan was,' Dionne explained. 'He had lots of potential ideas - it could have become a lobby for the hotel next door.'

A decision was finally made: Granoff would collaborate with J. Michael Abbott of Northeast Collaborative Architects to develop an affordable micro-living space for Providences growing student and young professional population.

'He knew there was a huge market of young people trying to establish themselves. It was his idea for professionals on-the-go, for people who don't want roommates,' Dionne told the outlet.

The project was originally slated to cost $7 million and open in fall 2012, marking a major step in efforts to revitalize the city.

However, due to unforeseen challenges and historic preservation requirements, the redevelopment was not completed until 2013 and ultimately cost $10 million.

Even prior to opening, the developer had received 300 applications for the pet-free lofts

The unit targets young professionals, given its proximity to world-class institutions such as Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design

In a statement after its opening, former Mayor Jorge Elorza said: 'Providence has shown that bold vision and creative planning can be an economic boon to a city.'

'From creating more downtown housing to providing retail space for local entrepreneurs, to rehabilitating a beautiful and historic building - the project is a great example of economic development that just works,' he added.

The doors opened at a time when a wider national trend toward small-scale living was beginning to take hold, particularly in cities grappling with affordable housing shortages.

It especially targeted young professionals, given its proximity to world-class institutions such as Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design, as well as thousands of nearby jobs.

'Its a nice spot for people if they want to come to Providence from Boston or New York,' Lisa Jones, of Residential Properties, Ltd, who has the listing with David Hasslinger, told The Boston Globe.

'Ive seen students use them for housing, or people coming in for internships or short contract work,' she added. 'You can also Airbnb it when youre not using it.'

Even prior to opening, the developer had received 300 applications for the pet-free lofts, which range from 225sq ft to 450sq ft and include 46 one-bedroom units, one two-bedroom unit, and one three-bedroom unit.

Now, Apartment 314, a 265-square-foot micro-loft at 65 Weybosset Street, is listed for $225,000 on Zillow, with pictures offering a glimpse of life inside a mall.

The mall It originally housed 78 small shops and restaurants

The mall was built in 1828 with granite blocks, stuccoed ashlar, Greek Revival columns and a spacious skylit atrium

'Its a great historical spot. Its very unique. Its very comfortable,' Jones said, according to the Boston Globe. 'The space really lives well. Its well utilized, and although you are in a mall, it is typically pretty quiet.'

A kitchenette offers a dishwasher, built-in microwave and refrigerator within white cabinetry, with space for a hot plate or air fryer in place of a stovetop. The bathroom includes a standing shower.

The back bedroom includes a shelving nook that can serve as a study or office space, a standing closet and a storage space beneath the platform bed. A view of murals is visible from two windows inside.

'I get my hair cut in the salon downstairs, and there's little lunch spots, so you don't even have to leave the building,' Henion told CNBC. 'There's a bookstore downstairs and they'll do author talks in the private lounge area.'

With an HOA fee of $198.29 per month, the development serves as an affordable housing option for Providences Gen Z and millennial residents as they launch their careers.

'Many tenants are artisans, and the project functions as an incubator for young professionals,' Northeast Collaborative Architects said.

On the bottom floor, there are offices and retail spaces that offer built-in amenities for residents and help support the small business economy. The 400-square-foot retail spaces can also be used to promote startup businesses.

'When residents need more space than their cozy individual units offer, they can take advantage of a game room, TV room, and porches,' the development designers said.

'The Arcade has other common amenities including on-site laundry, bike storage, locked basement storage units, and a parking garage across the street.'
Another person with links to America's nuclear secrets has gone missing as the disturbing list of deaths and disappearances in recent years continues to grow.

Steven Garcia, 48, vanished without a trace on August 28, 2025. He was last seen leaving his Albuquerque, New Mexico home on foot, carrying only a handgun.

An anonymous source told the Daily Mail that Garcia was a government contractor working for the Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), a major facility in Albuquerque that plays a key behind-the-scenes role in America's national defense.

Specifically, KCNSC manufactures more than 80 percent of all the non-nuclear components that go into building the military's nuclear weapons.

Garcia allegedly served as a property custodian at KCNSC's New Mexico facility, giving him a top security clearance and broad access to the entire site's nuclear secrets.

The source described Garcia's work as 'a very high-level, overseeing position for all the assets. Tens, maybe hundreds of millions of dollars in equipment and assets, some of which are not classified, others would be classified.'

The government contractor's sudden disappearance marks the tenth person with ties to America's space or nuclear secrets who has died or mysteriously vanished in recent years, putting US national security experts on edge.

Moreover, four of these officials have vanished without a trace in almost the same manner as Garcia, and all had a connection to US nuclear secrets or rocket technology.

Steven Garcia (Pictured) was last seen on August 28, 2025. A source has revealed to the Daily Mail that Garcia worked as a government contractor at a key nuclear weapons facility

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The Daily Mail has reached out to KCNSC and the US Department of Energy, which owns and oversees the facility, to confirm Garcia's work at the site and for comment on his disappearance.

According to police in Albuquerque, Garcia was last spotted on surveillance cameras walking out of his home on Cattail Court SW in a green camouflage shirt and shorts just after 9am local time.

He was also seen carrying a handgun, and authorities warned that Garcia 'may be a danger to himself.'

However, the anonymous source disputed any suggestions that the nuclear official may have been suicidal or was battling mental health issues.

'He was a very stable person,' they declared, adding that the possibility of Garcia being the target of foreign spies 'makes the most sense.'

Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker previously told the Daily Mail: Our scientists have been targeted for a long time, especially in the rocket propulsion area, by hostile foreign intelligence services.

Days after Garcia's disappearance, KCNSC reportedly launched a desperate search for the missing contractor, including going through his work computers, emails and files for any clues to his whereabouts, but nothing has been found.

'It's a little strange that these people just keep disappearing. I mean, he literally just walked off into the desert with a firearm and a bottle of water and that was it,' the source said, comparing it to the disappearance of retired Air Force General William Neil McCasland.

William Neil McCasland, 68, was last seen around 11am on February 27 near Quail Run Court NE in Albuquerque, the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office said

Steven Garcia (Pictured) was last seen leaving his New Mexico home with a handgun and no phone, keys or wallet

McCasland, 68, who also lived in Albuquerque, vanished after leaving his home on February 27, 2026, with no phone, wearable devices or his prescription glasses. The Air Force veteran was only carrying a .38-caliber revolver.

Two other individuals in New Mexico with a connection to US nuclear facilities disappeared under identical circumstances in 2025.

Anthony Chavez and Melissa Casias both worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), one of the nation's most important nuclear research sites.

Chavez, 79, worked at the lab until his retirement in 2017, although his role there has not been made clear. Casias, 54, was an active administrative assistant at the facility and is believed to have had top security clearance.

Both were last seen leaving their homes in New Mexico on foot, leaving behind their cars, keys, wallets and phones before disappearing without a trace less than four months before Garcia vanished.

All three, Garcia, Chavez and Casias, have been tied to General McCasland, who was the former commander of the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) and oversaw research at Kirtland Air Force Base from 2001 to 2004.

Kirtland, KCNSC and LANL work closely together on national security projects, especially research involving America's nuclear capabilities.

Anthony Chavez (Left) and Melissa Casias (Right) were both employees at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Both disappeared within weeks of each other in 2025

'That entire mission runs out of Kirtland Air Force Base. A big part of it, including the technology and the production of the technology that they use, is all built in Albuquerque. So McCasland would have absolutely known and been to these facilities,' a source revealed.

Fearing that a foreign power may be taking aim at America's nuclear program again, Swecker noted: I think weve even seen instances where nuclear scientists have been taken out. They've been assassinated.

Meanwhile, NASA scientist Monica Jacinto Reza, 60, disappeared while hiking with friends in California on June 22, 2025.

The director of the Materials Processing Group at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has also been directly tied to General McCasland through her work to invent a space-age metal called Mondaloy. The project was funded directly by AFRL while McCasland was overseeing her lab from 2011 to 2013.

In addition to the string of disappearances in the Southwest, five scientists in key areas of research have died over the last three years, including two who were murdered in their own homes.

Nuno Loureiro, 47, was assassinated at his home in the Boston suburb of Brookline on December 15, 2025. Authorities said the gunman was Claudio Neves Valente, a former classmate from Portugal.

However, a former FBI official and independent investigators have noted that Loureiro's revolutionary work in nuclear fusion may have made him a target of a greater conspiracy against US scientists.

Astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, 67, was shot to death on the front porch of his home on February 16, 2026. The California Institute of Technology researcher's work had been heavily supported by NASA's JPL, including major space telescope missions led by NASA.

Grillmair's work with the NEOWISE and NEO Surveyor has also been linked to the Air Force, as the NASA telescopes used the same systems the military relies on to track satellites and hypersonic missiles.

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Two other men with deep ties to NASA JPL died recently, with the circumstances surrounding their passings remaining a mystery.

NASA scientist Frank Maiwald reportedly died on July 4, 2024 in Los Angeles at the age of 61, but the cause of death has never been made public, and officials confirmed that an autopsy was never performed.

In June 2023, just 13 months before his death, he was the lead researcher on a breakthrough that could help future space missions detect clear signs of life on other worlds, including Jupiters moon Europa, Saturns moon Enceladus, or the dwarf planet Ceres.

Michael David Hicks, a research scientist at NASA JPL, passed away on July 30, 2023 at the age of 59, but the cause of death was never made public, and no record of an autopsy being performed could be found.

Hicks had been involved with the DART Project, NASAs test to see if humans could deflect dangerous asteroids away from Earth. He also worked on the Deep Space 1 Mission, which tested new spacecraft technology that flew by a comet in 2001.

NASA JPL has not commented on the deaths of Maiwald or Hicks, and did not reply to Daily Mail's inquiries into the nature of the scientists' work before their deaths.

In another mysterious incident, Jason Thomas, a pharmaceutical researcher testing cancer treatments at Novartis, was found dead in a Massachusetts lake on March 17, 2026, after disappearing without a trace three months earlier.
NASA's Artemis II crew successfully splashed down after their historic moon mission, as their 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 at 8.07pm ET.

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.

NASA officials called the Artemis II mission a total success, with the capsule splashing down exactly where the space agency had planned.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman called the moon mission 'perfect' and declared America's intention to begin the work on a successful moon landing and construction of a lunar base by 2028.

Isaacman said: 'We are back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon. This is just the beginning.'

Following their recovery from the Orion crew module and transfer to the naval vessel John P Murtha, the astronauts were seen in good spirits, waving to cameras and hugging Isaacman before heading for a standard medical checkup after the flight.

All four astronauts were also able to walk under their own power. Previous space flights, including the ten-month saga of stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, required medical personnel to carry the astronauts because they were unable to walk well from their time in microgravity.

Victor Glover, left, and Christina Koch, right, after successfully splashing down following their historic moon mission

Victor Glover, left and Jeremy Hansen, right, after they and fellow crewmates were extracted from their Orion spacecraft after splashdown

Pilot Victor Glover is assisted off the flight deck after arriving aboard USS John P. Murtha

Artemis II's Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10 after a 'perfect' reentry, according to NASA officials

Astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch were seen waving and hugging NASA chief Jared Isaacman after being pulled from the water

The voyage home started just after 7.30pm ET Friday night, with the Orion crew module blasting away from the spacecraft's service module.

The separation exposed the craft's heat shield, which protected the four-member crew as they plunged through Earths atmosphere, experiencing temperatures of up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

As the capsule angled in for the perfect trajectory into the atmosphere, NASA lost contact with the spacecraft for six minutes just before 8pm as Orion collided with the upper atmosphere, causing what scientists called a 'plasma buildup.'

Once the radio blackout cleared as planned, Orion successfully deployed its parachutes and safely landed in the Pacific without incident.

A slight communications glitch between the astronauts waiting in the water and the US Navy recovery teams delayed the crew's exit from the craft, but once flight surgeons were able to board the capsule, they were able to give all four astronauts a clean bill of health.

Dr Lori Glaze, NASA's deputy administrator, said her team was 'thrilled' to have the four astronauts home safely.

'We accomplished what we set out to do,' added Shawn Quinn, manager of NASA's Exploration Ground Systems Program. 'It's good to be NASA, and it's good to be an American today.'

President Donald Trump added his congratulations Friday night and invited the crew to the White House, posting on Truth Social: 'I look forward to seeing you all at the White House soon. Well be doing it again and then, next step, Mars!'

Pictured: US Navy recovery crews arrived at the Orion space capsule minutes after the pod landed in the Pacific at 8.07pm ET

Pictured: The NASA Artemis II crew, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover

The Artemis II mission began back on April 1 with a successful launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

A day later, the crew set off on a four-day trip to the moon, where they would travel around the dark side and break the decades-old record of Apollo 13 for the farthest distance from Earth humans have ever traveled.

While the Apollo crew travelled 248,655 miles from Earth in 1970, Artemis II reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles on day six of their mission.

While conducting their lunar flyby, the astronauts also named two new craters discovered on the lunar surface, including naming one after the late wife of Artemis II mission commander Reid Wiseman, Carroll.

Amit Kshatriya, the associate administrator of NASA, said Artemis II was the 'most important human space exploration mission in decades.'

'Hopefully, history is kind to us,' he added.

Pictured: The Artemis II spacecraft seen returning to Earth from its ten-day mission to circle the moon and break the distance record for human space flight

NASA administrators confirmed that the Artemis II flight crew was 'happy and healthy' Friday night. They added that the astronauts would be headed to the NASA space center in Houston on Saturday before spending time with their families.

The space agency's focus will now turn to reviewing the data from Artemis II before beginning on the plans for Artemis III, which will also involve a lunar flyby but no landing.

Currently, NASA's revamped plan for the moon includes sending an additional space flight, Artemis IV, as soon as 2028. That mission is expected to land on the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972.

According to Isaacman, that mission will also begin the work of building a permanent US moon base which will facilitate future human space travel and a manned mission to Mars.
Video footage has shown how the Artemis II astronauts struggled to walk after their fiery plunge to Earth and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean last night following their historic moon mission.

The spacecraft reached blistering speeds of up to 25,000 miles per hour before making its 'bullseye' landing off the coast of San Diego, California at 8.07pm ET.

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 travelled into space before.

NASA officials called the Artemis II mission a total success, with the capsule splashing down exactly where the space agency had planned.

After being picked up from the Orion crew module and flown to the USS John P Murtha by helicopter, the history-making space explorers were greeted by cheering onboard crowds.

But as they exited the choppers, it was clear they struggled to walk normally due to their time spent in microgravity.

All four members of the team were supported by a person on each side, while a third assistant pushed a wheelchair behind them in case it was needed.

While a couple of the astronauts appeared to lean more heavily on the support than others, no wheelchair was required and one even walked unaided, waving triumphantly at staff on the ship.

All four members of the Artemis II crew were supported by a person on each side, while a third assistant pushed a wheelchair behind them in case it was needed, after arriving back from their moon mission

Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, is supported to walk as she arrives aboard USS John P Murtha

Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, is assisted off the flight deck after arriving aboard USS John P Murtha

The astronauts were all able to walk under their own power, but struggled with balance and appeared to stagger slightly

Astronaut Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, is assisted off the flight deck after arriving aboard USS John P Murtha

The crew appeared unsteady on their feet and staggered from the helicopters as their bodies adjusted to Earth's gravitational pull after a little over nine days in space.

But reassuringly for the world to see, all were able to proceed under their own power.

Previous space flights, including the ten-month saga of stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, required medical personnel to carry the astronauts because they were unable to walk well from their time in microgravity.

The longer someone spends in space, the harder it is for their brain to readapt to gravity upon their return to Earth.

In the first few hours, astronauts typically experience dizziness and even fainting spells, as well as balance issues and problems walking.

This is compounded by astronauts seeing their feet becoming more sensitive due to days spent without standing.

As the vestibular system - that of the inner ear - has become used to relative weightlessness, they also become nauseous, have motion sickness and a loss of sense of their limbs.

Longer term impacts including muscle mass and bone density loss are less likely to affect the Artemis II crew due to their relatively short time away from Earth.

Victor Glover, left and Jeremy Hansen, right, after they and fellow crewmates were extracted from their Orion spacecraft after splashdown

Victor Glover, left, and Christina Koch, right, after successfully splashing down following their historic moon mission

Pilot Victor Glover is assisted off the flight deck after arriving aboard USS John P. Murtha

Artemis II's Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10 after a 'perfect' reentry, according to NASA officials

Astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch were seen waving and hugging NASA chief Jared Isaacman after being pulled from the water

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman called the moon mission 'perfect' and declared America's intention to begin the work on a successful moon landing and construction of a lunar base by 2028.

Isaacman said: 'We are back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon. This is just the beginning.'

Following their recovery from the Orion crew module and transfer to the naval vessel John P Murtha, the astronauts were seen in good spirits, waving to cameras and hugging Isaacman before heading for a standard medical checkup after the flight.

The voyage home started just after 7.30pm ET Friday night, with the Orion crew module blasting away from the spacecraft's service module.

The separation exposed the craft's heat shield, which protected the four-member crew as they plunged through Earths atmosphere, experiencing temperatures of up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

As the capsule angled in for the perfect trajectory into the atmosphere, NASA lost contact with the spacecraft for six minutes just before 8pm as Orion collided with the upper atmosphere, causing what scientists called a 'plasma buildup.'

Once the radio blackout cleared as planned, Orion successfully deployed its parachutes and safely landed in the Pacific without incident.

A slight communications glitch between the astronauts waiting in the water and the US Navy recovery teams delayed the crew's exit from the craft, but once flight surgeons were able to board the capsule, they were able to give all four astronauts a clean bill of health.

Dr Lori Glaze, NASA's deputy administrator, said her team was 'thrilled' to have the four astronauts home safely.

'We accomplished what we set out to do,' added Shawn Quinn, manager of NASA's Exploration Ground Systems Program. 'It's good to be NASA, and it's good to be an American today.'

President Donald Trump added his congratulations Friday night and invited the crew to the White House, posting on Truth Social: 'I look forward to seeing you all at the White House soon. Well be doing it again and then, next step, Mars!'

Pictured: US Navy recovery crews arrived at the Orion space capsule minutes after the pod landed in the Pacific at 8.07pm ET

US Navy personnel work to recover the NASA Orion capsule which returned the Artemis II crew to Earth

Pictured: The NASA Artemis II crew, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover

Pictured: The Artemis II spacecraft seen returning to Earth from its ten-day mission to circle the moon and break the distance record for human space flight

The Artemis II mission began back on April 1 with a successful launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

A day later, the crew set off on a four-day trip to the moon, where they would travel around the dark side and break the decades-old record of Apollo 13 for the farthest distance from Earth humans have ever travelled.

While the Apollo crew travelled 248,655 miles from Earth in 1970, Artemis II reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles on day six of their mission.

While conducting their lunar flyby, the astronauts also named two new craters discovered on the lunar surface, including naming one after the late wife of Artemis II mission commander Reid Wiseman, Carroll.

Amit Kshatriya, the associate administrator of NASA, said Artemis II was the 'most important human space exploration mission in decades'.

'Hopefully, history is kind to us,' he added.

NASA administrators confirmed that the Artemis II flight crew was 'happy and healthy' Friday night. They added that the astronauts would be headed to the NASA space center in Houston on Saturday before spending time with their families.

The space agency's focus will now turn to reviewing the data from Artemis II before beginning on the plans for Artemis III, which will also involve a lunar flyby but no landing.

Currently, NASA's revamped plan for the moon includes sending an additional space flight, Artemis IV, as soon as 2028. That mission is expected to land on the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972.

According to Isaacman, that mission will also begin the work of building a permanent US moon base which will facilitate future human space travel and a manned mission to Mars.
Today Im at Cheltenham watching the races in a battered old Barbour. Except Im nowhere near the West Country  Im in Benidorm on the Costa Blanca.

You might well be asking, what is going on? The answer is that the entrepreneurial folk at travel company On The Beach have spotted an opportunity.

With ticket prices as much as 200 to attend the real Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire for the famous Cheltenham Festival (held last week), return train tickets from London about 70, plus often rainy weather, it might be more fun and cheaper to watch the event in Spain.

As odd as this may sound, I decided to give it go.

And it works like this. You pay 330 for five nights in a four-star all-inclusive hotel (with unlimited drinks) in Benidorm with return flights and giant screens on which to watch the racing. Sunshine is guaranteed (though it is, in truth, a little wet when I arrive).

The On The Beach people point out that all you would get at Cheltenham for the same price is entry to four racing days, two pints a day and dodgy British weather. No accommodation, transport or food.

And it's not only Cheltenham fans who have ditched the muddy stands for sunloungers. As Caspar Nelson, holiday expert at On The Beach, explains: 'What started with Cheltenham has quickly become a much bigger trend.

'When the choice is soggy tweed, 10 degrees and sideways rain at Aintree, or the Grand National poolside in Benidorm with 23-degree sunshine, its not exactly a tough call.'

In fact, its a bit of a no-brainer  and, as gamblers sometimes like to say, Im all-in.

Samantha Rea heads to Benidorm, Spain, for cheaper pints and better weather while enjoying the horse racing - thanks to a new all-inclusive package with On The Beach

Bars across Benidorm have erected giant screens for racing fans, who have ditched 'sideways rain' at Aintree for Spain's sunnier skies

Which is how I find myself checking into Villa Espana, within strolling distance of the beach and the infamous Benidorm Strip.

The giant screens are up by the rooftop bar, which is where I make a beeline in time for the days first race, the 1.20pm. Here, I soon get chatting to Ian and Liz, from Edinburgh, who are drinking (free) glasses of rose.

Ian, 68, is into horseracing and has been to Aintree for the Grand National 16 years in a row  and he has done Cheltenham in Benidorm for four years.

He usually comes with his two adult sons, but this year they could not get time off work.

Liz, 67, who is definitely not a racing fan, says with refreshing honesty: Im just here for the beer and the nice hotel.

Ian has put two 13 bets on today (soon to have his first winner at 7-1). Not bad at all.

The races begin, as do the cheers and the groans. The weather has turned for the worse; its pouring now  helping us, ironically, to get in true West Country mood.

Then I meet the Dads-and-Lads, aka the Knight family.

Keith Knight, 75, and his brother Alec, 70, are here with Keiths twin sons James and Charlie, 31, and Alecs son Spencer, 48. They are from Enfield, north London, and are Cheltenham in Benidorm first-timers.

Samantha chats to the 'Lads and Dads', aka the Knight family, about their first time coming to Benidorm to watch the races

Keiths been to Cheltenham a few times and, despite the weather, he is happy he came to Benidorm because its cheaper.

James has won 450 on the first race and Spencer a couple of hundred. They are both in a good mood, though Charlie  looking decidedly glum  has had less luck.

That said, he has an accumulator coming up that could land him 320,000. Of this, Keith says: Hes got more chance of flying to the Moon.

I ts certainly a party atmosphere here  and people are talkative. You cant help making acquaintances. Niki, 57, and Bill, 62, from Kent, have bought the On The Beach all-inclusive package, upgrading their room and extending from five to seven nights, paying 700 each. Niki estimates it would have cost 2,000 for the two of them just to get into Cheltenham for the four-day festival, without factoring in spending money and somewhere to stay.

On a walk down the Strip, I arrive at the legendary Bulldog pub, where I get chatting to Brad, 35, a builder from Essex who is here with a group of 15 to 20 mates following the racing.

He has travelled independently and is staying four nights, spending 230 on flights and a hotel. A round of 15 pints, he tells me authoritatively, is 43. Pints are generally about half UK prices. Brad is aiming to spend as little as possible and is currently 70 up on his betting.

Nearby, Patrick, 71, a scaffolder from Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, says: I love Cheltenham, but this is even better.

Hes a high-roller, having had four bets already with winnings of more than 20,000. It will probably pay my tax bill for the year, he says.

While Samantha declines to place a bet, many fans she meets have scored big - with Patrick, 71, winning a grand total of 20,000

Perhaps that is exactly why he loves it so much.

Meanwhile, Sue, 54, a social worker from North Wales  drinking Bacardi Breezers  is more modestly up 80. She says: I dont mind it [the rain]. I dont come for the weather, I come for the racing.

Spoken like a true Cheltenham in Benidorm-er.

Back at Villa Espana after the last race  they are shown just about everywhere you go  I take in the high-rise skyline that has seen Benidorm nicknamed the Mediterranean Manhattan.

My trainers are soaked through and my rain-flecked face has mascara running down it. But at least Ive broken even.

Cheltz in Benz (as Ive been privately calling it) has been a blast.
Known for immersing himself in some of TV's most disturbing characters, Evan Peters has spent over a decade building a career in darkness.

After rising to fame on American Horror Story in 2011, where he portrayed everything from a troubled school shooter to a manipulative cult leader, he became one of the show's most recognisable faces.

But years of playing psychologically intense roles began to take a toll, with the actor, 39, previously admitting he is ready to 'explore the light.'

That strain reached new heights when he took on the role of Jeffrey Dahmer in Netflix's Monster, a performance that saw him inhabit one of history's most notorious killers.

Following the series, Evan stepped away from acting for a while, choosing to prioritise his mental health after the weight of such roles.

Now, he's set to return to familiar territory with American Horror Story as it gears up for its highly anticipated 13th season.

Known for immersing himself in some of TV's most disturbing characters, Evan Peters has spent over a decade building a career in darkness (pictured as Jeffrey Dahmer)

But years of playing psychologically intense roles began to take a toll, with the actor, 39, previously admitting he is ready to 'explore the light' (pictured as Kai Anderson in AHS)

Evan made his debut in the very first season, Murder House, in AHS, which premiered back in 2011.

He portrayed the recurring character Tate Langdon, a troubled psychiatric patient harbouring dark secrets.

For the role, Evan drew inspiration from his own feelings of isolation to play Tate's emotional scenes.

During the time of filming, he was living alone in California while his 'broken family' stayed behind in Missouri and Michigan.

He blamed himself for his parents' divorce and channeled that guilt into creating Tate Langdon, according to Medium.

He then went on to play Kit Walker, a gas station attendant wrongly accused of being a serial killer; Kyle Spencer, a kind frat boy, and Jimmy Darling, a circus performer.

His next dark role didn't come till he played James Patrick March, a ghostly owner of the Hotel Cortez who built it in the 1920s to hide his murders, in season five.

The character was based on a killer known as H.H. Holmes, who confessed to murdering at least 27 people.

He was executed by the state of Illinois in 1896.

For this role, Evan was given a lot of creative control by series creator Ryan Murphy to develop the character's unique persona.

When asked about his character for Deadline, he said: 'I like playing the villain, but I like trying to figure out why they are that way and trying to sympathise with them a little bit in some way.

'Maybe some people are innately evil, but then there's always something that sort of pushes them over the edge and makes them act on those thoughts or feelings, so I always try to figure out what that was and try to give it some sort of justification so that I'm not just playing evil for evil's sake.'

Evan made his debut in the very first season, Murder House, in AHS, which premiered back in 2011 (Evan playing Tate Langdon)

His next dark role didn't come till he played James Patrick March, a ghostly owner of the Hotel Cortez who built it in the 1920s to hide his murders, in season five

After playing Kai Anderson in the series, it led him to announce he's taking a break following the intensity of his last few roles

This then led to his next character, Kai Anderson, a cult leader and psychopath.

Season seven blended reality and fiction as it centred around the 2016 presidential election.

As per Fandom, Kai is a racist, misogynistic, social misfit who dreams of a world in which white men rule supreme and women 'know their place'.

The role left Evan exhausted and feeling mentally drained, leading him to announce he's taking a break following the intensity of his last few roles.

While speaking to GQ in 2018, Evan admitted that playing such horrific characters was a huge challenge for him.

'I'm goofy, I'm silly, I like to have fun. I don't like to yell and scream,' he explained. 'I actually hate it. I think it's disgusting and really awful, and it's been a challenge for me. Horror Story sort of demanded that of me.'

At the time of the interview, he also finished filming for another popular show, Pose, and was reaching an emotional breaking point.

He continued: 'There's this massive amount of rage that's been called upon from me, and the emotional stuff that's been called on me for Pose has been heartbreaking, and I'm sick. I don't feel good.'

AHS writer Ryan revealed that it took Evan almost two years to fully recover from making that particular season.

'He really suffered while making it, it took him I don't know two years to recover?' he told Capital.

'Evan and I and Emma [Roberts] and Sarah [Paulson] and Holland Taylor had Thanksgiving together that year right after filming, and I remember Sarah and I kept feeding Evan food, trying to nourish him and make him feel better.

'He was still feeling it, the darkness, while we were making season one, it got under his skin in a really hard long way.'

'I'm going to take a little break from darker roles and explore the light,' Evan told Variety.

'It would be interesting to me to play something that is a little closer to home, a little more mundane.'

Indeed, he did end up landing a lighter role in the hit HBO show Mare of Easttown as Detective Colin Zabel.

But he quickly returned to the darkness when he landed the role of Jefferey Dahmer in the Netflix series Monster.

He later described it as 'one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life'.

Dahmer  Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story chronicles the shocking murders of 17 young men and boys at the hands of the Milwaukee killer between 1978 and 1991.

In an interview, the actor told that he was 'scared' to take on the role due to Dahmer's horrific past, adding that he had to go to 'dark places' during filming to get into the mindset of the killer.

The Netflix retells the story of Dahmer from the perspective of his victims - who were predominantly black - and explores major mistakes Wisconsin police made in handling the probe of the notorious mass murderer, who made national headlines for acts of cannibalism and necrophilia.

In preparation of his portrayal of the infamous murderer, Evan watched the Stone Phillips interview with the real killer, while he read a number biographies and the 1992 police report of Dahmer's confession.

But he quickly returned to the darkness when he landed the role of Jefferey Dahmer in the Netflix series Monster

The notorious serial killer is seen in a mug shot

In addition, the star listened to audio of the killer speaking to a psychologist or detective interviewing him, with Evan stating he was nervous about taking on the role as he noted how important it was to give an 'authentic' account to respect the victims' loved ones.

He explained: 'It was so jaw-dropping that it all really happened that it felt important to be respectful to the victims, the victims' families, to try and tell the story as authentically as we could.'

On how tough the process was, he continued: 'Honestly, I was very scared about all the things that he did and diving into that, and trying to commit to that was absolutely going to be one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life because I wanted it to be very authentic.

'But in order to do that, I was gonna have to go to really dark places and stay there for an extended period of time.'

Evan went on to credit the crew that were on set with him for keeping him stable as he delved into the dark subject for the series.

He said: 'I have to say that the crew was instrumental in keeping me on the guard rails, I cannot thank them enough and I could not have done any of this role with them...

'It was a challenge to try to have this person who was seemingly so normal but underneath all of it, had this entire world that he was keeping secret from everybody.'

After filming wrapped up, Evan took a long break from acting and went to St Louis to see friends and family.

'I really wanted to decompress and make sure that whatever I signed on to do next, I was ready to give it my all again,' he told Vanity Fair.

He joked he turned to Step Brothers to 'just change up the psyche', referring to the 2008 comedy starring his cast mate Richard Jenkins.

He added: 'I put in so much negativity and darkness to portray the character that I thought, "OK, once this is done, all of that goes away and I have to get back into the light and start filling myself back up with comedies and romance and sorts of things like that."'

Evan returned to the screen earlier this year for another one of Ryan's horrors called The Beauty.

Based on the book of the same name, the series follows the unexplained deaths among international supermodels.

Evan stars as Cooper Madsen, a former Navy SEAL and FBI agent investigating deaths linked to The Beauty.

The series premiered on FX and Hulu on January 21.

And he is also set to return to the AHS franchise, which is back for its 13th season later this year.

Speaking about the series, which is expected to drop over Halloween, Evan told The Hollywood Reporter: 'First of all, it's working with Ryan again, but second of all, he's assembled the cast from all the different seasons.

'It's sort of an alumni, and we're all getting back together to do this greatest-hits season. I'm interested to see what the scenes are and how it all plays out.'

American Horror Story season 13 premieres October 13, 2026 on FX.
A veteran actress who previously starred with Harrison Ford in a cult classic looked incredibly youthful on a rare outing over the past weekend in Los Angeles.

The 80-year-old actress made her professional acting debut in the late 60s as she landed a minor role in a 1968 thriller.

Before jumping to the big screen, she had worked as a fashion model while living in the state of New York.

The Golden Globe winner has appeared alongside a number of celebrities over the years including Pierce Brosnan, Steve McQueen, Uma Thurman, Christina Applegate and Kathy Bates.

The star has additionally taken on roles in a variety of television shows such as Melrose Place, Six Feet Under, L.A. Law and Charlie's Angels.

Can you guess who it is?

A veteran actress who previously starred with Harrison Ford in a cult classic looked incredibly youthful on a rare outing over the past weekend in Los Angeles

The 80-year-old actress made her professional acting debut in the late 60s as she landed a minor role in a 1968 thriller

It is Joanna Cassidy - who is known for her role in the sci-fi film Blade Runner (1982) where she played replicant snake performer Zhora Salome alongside Ford.

The actress was stylishly casual as she stepped out for an errand run in Los Angeles over the past weekend.

She donned a pair of dark brown pants as well as a plain white shirt and brown leather jacket layered on top.

Cassidy slipped into a pair of dark navy shoes and styled her locks into a simple updo.

While strolling outside, the award-winning star held a black purse in her hand while also carrying a laptop in the crook of her arm.

Cassidy was born in August 1945 in New Jersey and later majored in art at Syracuse University in the state of New York.

She began fashion modeling while attending college and married Kennard C. Kobrin in 1964 - with the pair also welcoming two children. Their divorce was finalized in 1974.

Following their split, Cassidy relocated to Los Angeles to pursue acting and landed a minor role as party guest in the 1968 movie Bullitt starring Steve McQueen.

It is Joanna Cassidy - who is known for her role in the sci-fi film Blade Runner (1982) where she played replicant snake performer Zhora Salome alongside Ford (seen above)

While the sci-fi film garnered mixed reviews from critics upon its release - it later became a cult classic among fans

The actress was stylishly casual as she stepped out for an errand run in Los Angeles over the past weekend

She went on to appear in other movies throughout the 70s such as The Outfit (1973), The Laughing Policeman (1973) and The Late Show (1977).

In 1982, she played replicant Zhora Salome in Blade Runner which was directed by Ridley Scott.

While the sci-fi film garnered mixed reviews from critics upon its release - it later became a cult classic among fans.

She continued to star in more projects throughout the 80s such as Under Fire (1983) and The Fourth Protocol (1987) alongside Pierce Brosnan and Michael Caine.

The following year, Cassidy portrayed the character of Dolores in the 1988 movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

The actress additionally took on guest roles in shows such as Charlie's Angels, Hart To Hart, The Love Boat and Buffalo Bill.

She won a Golden Globe for Best Actress - TV Series Musical or Comedy for her performance in Buffalo Bill.

In 1991, she played Rose Lindsey in the coming-of-age black comedy Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead.

While Blade Runner garnered mixed reviews from critics upon its release - it later became a cult classic among fans

The following year, Cassidy portrayed the character of Dolores in the 1988 movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit (seen above middle)

Cassidy continued to gain roles in film and TV projects during the 90s including Melrose Place, L.A. Law and Murder, She Wrote.

From 2001 through 2005, she starred in the HBO drama series Six Feet Under - and garnered an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

She also worked on Desperate Housewives, Body Of Proof, Switched At Birth and NCIS: New Orleans.

Cassidy recently appeared in an episode of Matlock in 2025 with Kathy Bates.

The actress has a number of upcoming projects under her belt including the drama Last Hand also starring Beverly D'Angelo.

Last year in August, Cassidy celebrated her 80th birthday and got candid about aging during an interview with People.

'Time is an illusion! I'm very aware of the fact that it's passing very quickly, but it's sort of nothing. I just say, "Go day by day,"' she told the outlet.

The star then revealed that she still feels like she is in her 30s.

In 1991, she played Rose Lindsey in the coming-of-age black comedy Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead (seen above in film with Christina Applegate)

The actress continued, 'I think that when I turned 50, that was sort of the hard one, but this is just icing on the cake. I feel like I'm 35 and I think I look pretty good'

'I know I'll make it through beautifully and come out the other side of that one. Who knows what'll happen after that? Just a decade.'

The actress continued, 'I think that when I turned 50, that was sort of the hard one, but this is just icing on the cake. I feel like I'm 35 and I think I look pretty good.'

Her romance with Suzanne Somers' widow Alan Hamel was also recently confirmed.

Cassidy and Somers - who passed away in 2023 - had previously worked together on the miniseries Hollywood Housewives in 1985.

She opened up about the relationship in February during an episode of the Still Here Podcast With Steve Kmetko.

Her romance with Suzanne Somers' widow Alan Hamel was also recently confirmed; seen in 2025 in Berlin

'Well, I am dating someone. Actually, he's a widow, and it's really interesting because I didn't date for a long time.

'I just, honestly, I don't know, it just didn't enter my life and Lord knows I'm out there,' Cassidy later expressed before sharing that the romance is 'going well.'

At first when asked if she was willing to share the name of who she is dating, the actress initially stated that she would keep it 'private.'

However, she then shared, 'Well, his name is Alan Hamel, who was married to Suzanne Somers for many years.'
In the Noughties, brothers Christopher and Danny Masterson dominated the TV scene.

Christopher, 46, played Francis in Malcolm in the Middle, while Danny, 50, was famed for his role as Steven Hyde in That '70s Show.

Despite being well-known in the industry, the brothers ended up retreating from the spotlight, both taking up careers as DJs and raising families.

While the brothers stepped away from the public eye, their half-siblings Alanna and Jordan began to make a name for themselves in Hollywood, landing roles in The Walking Dead and The 40-Year-Old Virgin respectively.

In 2020, the Masterson brothers were thrust back into the spotlight, however, when Danny was accused of raping three women at his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003.

He was ultimately sentenced to 30 years in jail for two counts of rape with force, violence or fear of bodily injury.

Now, as Danny's brother Christopher brings the Masterson name back to prominence with the success of the Malcolm In The Middle reboot, the Daily Mail reveals how the family's religion factored into the trial.

Inside Christopher Masterson's Scientology roots as he makes a career comeback with Malcolm In The Middle (pictured at the reboot's premiere this week)

In the Noughties, brothers Christopher and Danny Masterson dominated the TV scene. They stepped away from the public eye but were brought back into the spotlight in 2023 when Danny (right) was sentenced to serve 30 years to life in prison for raping two women

The Mastersons were all raised as Scientologists.

Danny's accusers were all ex-Scientologists and were also suing the Church of Scientology in civil court, claiming that they'd been harassed and intimidated since reporting Danny to police.

After his sentencing in 2023, Danny was expelled from the Church of Scientology and declared a 'suppressive person'  or 'SP'  which the church defines as someone whose behavior seeks to impede the spiritual progress of those around him.

But even with the expulsion, the church maintains that Danny is innocent of all charges, insiders have claimed.

From childhood, the Church of Scientology had been a mainstay in the Masterson sibling's lives.

Their mother Carole was a Scientologist. She split from Danny and Christopher's father Peter in the early 1980s and married fellow Scientologist Joe Reaiche in 1984.

The couple then took the joint decision to join the church's clergy or Sea Org.

Danny was nine and Christopher five when the family moved into the Sea Org's Clearwater, Florida, headquarters, having signed obligatory contracts vowing allegiance to the church for 'a billion years'.

Within a year Carole had given birth to their first born, Jordan.

Yet they soon decided to leave the headquarters after Joe claimed to witness seeing members punished by RPF  the Rehabilitation Project Force.

Joe previously told DailyMail.com in 2015 how being a Sea Org was tantamount to 'slave labor', as he and Carole worked 60 or 70 hour weeks for $30 a week.

'You're basically signing your soul away,' he said. 'And it goes from bad to worse at that point,' he said.

The couple left in 1986 and became lay members of the community. They went to California where the kids began auditioning for roles.

They later moved to New York for Joe's work and in 1988, Alanna was born.

Throughout this, time both Carole and Joe were taking course after course on the Church of Scientology's insistence that it was necessary and shelling out tens of thousands of dollars each year.

Chris, Danny, Alanna and Jordan Masterson (pictured left to right in 2006) were raised by Scientologists and their religious upbringing formed a part of Danny's rape case

The siblings are pictured with their mother Carol, a Scientologist, who once lived with the church's clergy, named Sea Org, in Florida

Danny and Christopher's stepfather Joe Reaiche, who is the biological father of Jordan and Alanna, previously claimed his children had been 'brainwashed' by Scientology

It became a strain on Joe's relationship with the church and on the marriage.

A failed business venture that ended up costing him thousands placed even more pressure on the already strained union and, in 1995, Carole and Joe divorced.

By then, Joe admitted, he was 'just done' with Scientology. He said: 'You begin to lose the faith and you start to see that you're buying the idea of being a supreme being but that's not being delivered.'

Joe had been determined to stay on good terms with his ex-wife and children so he tried to avoid any confrontation with the church.

But in the eyes of the church, Joe had traduced Hubbard's teachings and technologies and his ex-wife Carole had reported him to the church.

In October 2004 Joe was summoned but couldn't come as he was in Atlanta on business. It wasn't until January 2005 that he ended up in front of a Court of Ethics in Clearwater, Florida.

Joe said it was a 'kangaroo court' and that he 'knew it was going to be a hatchet job'.

Eventually, Joe was formally shunned and deemed a 'suppressive person' for questioning certain teachings.

He tried to make contact with his family and friends in the church but no one would answer him.

Ever since, he has had no contact with Matterson or any other of his children or step-children.

He told DailyMail.com in 2015: 'I love my kids. Maybe I'll bump into them one day. They're probably going to be shocked. But I'm just going to say: "I love you. I hope you do well. I'll miss you for the rest of my life. I'll always be your dad".'

A Scientology spokeswoman said at the time: 'Mr. Reaiches expulsion from the religion occurred a decade ago. He has had ample opportunities to resolve his personal relationships, but has instead used his one-time association with the Church to generate publicity.'

The Masterson siblings declined to comment.

While Joe has not seen his children for years, both him and The Church of Scientology played a major role in Danny's rape trial.

When Danny was charged, his younger siblings Jordan and Alanna wrote asking for leniency for their older brother, painting their father Joe as a deadbeat, and convicted rapist Danny as a parental surrogate.

In letters to LA Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo, Jordan and Alanna both wrote their father left them 'for all intents and purposes' when they were under age 10, forcing Danny, then 16, to step up.

In response, Joe claimed his children had lied to help their brother and doubled down on his claims that Scientology 'brainwashed them'.

Christopher did not send a letter and has not spoken publicly about his links to Scientology or Danny's sentencing.

Danny (second to left) was famed for his role as Steven Hyde in That '70s Show. He is pictured with Mila Kunis, Wilmer Valderrama, Ashton Kutcher, Topher Grace and Laura Prepon

Christopher was known for playing Francis on Malcolm In The Middle

During Danny's trial the judge allowed expert testimony on church policy from a former official in Scientology leadership who had become a prominent opponent.

The church said in a statement after the jury's verdict that the 'introduction of religion into this trial was an unprecedented violation of the First Amendment and affects the due process rights of every American.

'The Church was not a party to this case and religion did not belong in this proceeding as Supreme Court precedent has maintained for centuries.'

Tensions ran high in the courtroom between current and former Scientologists, and even leaked into testimony, with the accusers saying on the stand that they felt intimidated by some members in the room.

The women testified that when they reported Danny to church officials, they were told they were not raped, were put through ethics programs themselves, and were warned against going to law enforcement to report a member of such high standing.

'They were raped, they were punished for it, and they were retaliated against,' Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller told jurors in his closing argument. 'Scientology told them there's no justice for them.'

The church called the 'testimony and descriptions of Scientology beliefs' during the trial 'uniformly false'.

'The Church has no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct of anyone  Scientologists or not  to law enforcement,' the statement said.

As for Danny's personal relationship with Scientology, he opened up about his membership of the church in an interview with Paper Magazine in 2015.

'In Scientology, there's no belief system or anyone who's worshipped or whatnot; it's all sort of like college of the mind,' the now-convicted rapist told the publication.

'And so I grew up not having to go and pray to anyone. I grew up just sort of like, "Oh, if you're thirsty, drink water".'

Danny said it wasn't until high school that he started taking his participation in the church more seriously. He said he read Dianetics, a book of ideas written by the Church Of Scientology's founder L Ron Hubbard

'[Hubbard] basically spent his entire life studying every great religion, found everything that worked, found things that didn't work, took the stuff that worked, started like questioning it and grilling it and drilling it, going over and over until he could find the things that worked every time, guaranteed,' Danny said.

Danny has continually remained loyal to the highly controversial church and has hit out at those questioning his beliefs.

He told Paper Magazine: 'I work, I have a family and I'm a spiritual being who likes to understand why things happen in the world and want to learn more so that I can have them not affect me adversely.

'So if that's weird, then, well, you can go f*** yourself.'

Pictured left to right) Frankie Muniz, Justin Berfield, Christopher and Emy Coligado in the Malcolm In The Middle reboot, which dropped on Disney+ on Friday

In September, Danny pushed to overturn his rape convictions, claiming in new legal filings that a series of alleged missteps by his former attorney cost him his freedom.

Attorney Eric Multhaup filed a 183-page habeas corpus petition arguing that Masterson's retrial was flawed.

In court documents, Eric claimed a combination of alleged prosecutorial misconduct, judicial bias, and the failure of defense counsel to present exculpatory evidence led to a wrongful conviction.

'The habeas corpus petition is accompanied by 65 exhibits that document the evidence of innocence that could have been presented, but was not. The jury heard only half the story  the prosecutions side. Danny deserves a new trial where the jury can hear his side as well,' Eric said in a statement on his website.

The That 70s Show star alleges in the petition that significant errors began even before his case went to trial.

Danny was previously represented by Philip Cohen and Shawn Holley, the latter of whom was simultaneously representing former Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer in a separate sexual assault matter.

A request to push back Danny's trial to accommodate Holley's schedule was denied.

According to the filing, Danny became increasingly agitated with Philip's strategy, and now argues Philip failed to call witnesses who allegedly could have supported his version of events.

Eric claims in the court records that several friends of the accusers were prepared to testify that the women described the encounters as consensual.

Dannys petition further alleges Phillip did not sufficiently challenge the prosecution's narrative that each woman became disoriented and nauseated after drinking alcohol provided by Masterson.

At trial, Phillip pointed out, on multiple occasions, that prosecutors presented no forensic evidence that the women were drugged.

But Erics court filing claims the attorney failed Danny by not mounting a full 'affirmative defense,' which he says would have included a plethora of evidence pointing toward consensual sex.

The Daily Mail reached out to Philip and Holley when reporting the claims, but did not hear back at the time.
As MAFS draws to a close for the year, I'm reminded of a familiar truth that emerges every season: there is a point where the drama stops being entertaining and starts getting uncomfortable.

As someone who has covered the show extensively, that moment hit me a few weeks ago when I saw Bec Zacharia starting to fall apart behind the scenes.

She is undoubtedly one of the most divisive figures the franchise has ever seen - a bride viewers love to hate, a lightning rod for backlash, a literal human headline.

But after sitting down with her for a no-holds-barred interview, I can tell you this much: what you're seeing on screen is only part of the story.

And the reality behind it is far darker than most people realise - the kind of rock bottom that is a nightmare for Nine's PR machine, which is quick to emphasise its duty of care to those thrust into the spotlight.

'I've lost my job and I feel like I'm pretty much unemployable now,' she told me.

Bec Zacharia is undoubtedly one of the most divisive figures Married At First Sight has ever seen - a bride viewers love to hate, a lightning rod for backlash, a literal human headline

'After sitting down with Bec for a no-holds-barred interview, I can tell you this much: what you're seeing on screen is only part of the story,' writes Ali Daher

'My life was amazing before MAFS and now it's hard.'

She wasn't trying to be dramatic - she was just being honest. Bec knows exactly how she is perceived and how her life and reputation have been forever changed.

'The public hate me,' she added, bluntly.

And while Bec doesn't shy away from accountability - in fact, the way she owns her behaviour is refreshing - she says the version of her playing out on TV is incomplete.

'The only version of me you got to see was a crying, insecure villain,' she said. 'That's not who I am.'

What surprised me most during our lengthy conversation wasn't the relationship drama or the behind-the-scenes revelations.

It was how close Bec says she came to breaking point.

She confessed: 'Leading up to one of the dinner parties, it was the first time in my life I actually wanted to end my life. I was put on watch.'

'I've lost my job and I feel like I'm pretty much unemployable now,' Bec told the Mail

Remember: this was during filming - before she was even exposed to any public backlash. She must have known what was to come.

'I felt like I'd embarrassed my family and my friends,' she said.

'It was just too much.'

Of course, no MAFS story exists without a relationship at its centre.

And Bec's account of her marriage to Melbourne real estate agent Danny Hewitt is, frankly, confronting.

'I was constantly made to feel like everything was my fault,' she told me.

'If I had an opinion, it turned into an argument. I was always the one apologising.'

She describes a dynamic that flipped depending on whether the cameras were rolling.

'We barely argued when the cameras were off, but when they were on, everything changed,' she said.

We've all seen the Final Vows: Bec and Danny broke up, and she was blindsided.

But speaking to Bec months after that heartbreaking scene was filmed, she maintains she was strung along by a man who convinced her he was falling in love.

'Five days before Final Vows, he told me he was falling in love with me,' Bec claimed.

'He was sending me love songs [and] talking about moving to Adelaide together.'

So when she walked into that final moment, she believed she was about to get her fairytale ending - and the three words she had waited so long to hear.

Instead, she got one of the most brutal blindsides in recent MAFS history.

'I told him I loved him and he dumped me,' she said. 'I felt like an idiot.'

The fallout was just as devastating.

'I flew home and didn't get out of bed for five days,' she told me. 'I was crying non-stop. I just needed answers.'

She says she never really got them.

Instead, when she confronted Danny, she claims the blame was once again turned back on her.

Then there's the part of the story that will raise eyebrows among even the most seasoned MAFS viewers.

'The only version of me you got to see was a crying, insecure villain. That's not who I am'

Bec is now claiming that her worst moments on camera were the result of being egged on by producers behind the scenes.

She said she was 'praised a lot by production' during the infamous Dinner Party where things spiralled out of control.

And she alleged that some of the talking points weren't exactly organic either.

'You're told to bring things up. It's constant. It's relentless.'

If there's one thing Bec is desperate to get across, it's this: she is not the villain you probably think she is.

'I'm not a mean girl. I just had a really bad day,' she said.

And while she admits she's 'apologised over and over again' for how she acted on the show, part of her knows apology fatigue has already set in.

Her only solace is the fact that her real friends - the ones she has had for the last 20 years - know who she really is.

She has also learned a valuable lesson despite having her reputation tarnished on TV - and she can thank Danny for that.

'I know my worth now,' she said. 'I know what I will and won't accept in a relationship ever again.'

And despite the profound personal cost, and walking away with her heart broken, Bec insists she doesn't believe in regrets, adding:. 'I've made some of the best friends I'll ever have from this.'

As we concluded our interview, Bec made it clear she wasn't after sympathy, nor was she asking to be liked. She simply wanted people to understand she's taking responsibility and trying to improve.

'I'm not perfect. I'm just a human being trying to better myself every day.'

Statement on MAFS' duty of care 'Nine and Endemol Shine take their obligations in respect to the health and wellbeing of the participants of this program extremely seriously. 'All participants have access to the show psychologist and welfare resources during filming, during broadcast and once the program has ended. 'Nine also have an additional service for participants should they like or need further individual and confidential psychological support. This service gives participants access to clinicians to support those involved in the program in relation to their experiences. This service is available to all participants for as long as they need it, it does not end. 'Nine also provides all participants with social media support for the duration of the show. As a result of the high level of interest, all participants have agreed not to be on social media at this time and to allow Nine to manage their personal social accounts with their permission, as an extra measure of protecting them from negativity.'

If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available

In Australia, you can contact Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au

You can also contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au

In an emergency, call 000

New to DailyMail+? Here are our most-read stories from the past week

Read NAB staffers' leaked private messages in the wake of their colleague's shocking suicide - as we reveal outrage about 'inadequate' CEO Andrew Irvine

Inside the final months of Sydney socialite Annabelle Price who was found dead in her apartment - and the chilling sign something was wrong

Will no one say the bloody obvious about Constance Hall and that feral 'Denim'? Her single-mum army will crucify me, but someone has to tell her: AMANDA GOFF

'Super toxic'. Manipulative. The REAL untold story of Tess Rowlatt's spiral from party girl to life of crime revealed by LUCY MANLY, who grew up with Melbourne's 'middle-class' drug queen now sharing a jail with Erin Patterson

The tragedy of Tess Crosley ended exactly like I said it would. What Jules said at the very start became a prophecy: JANA HOCKING

How NAB breaks staff: What drove married father John to the bank's Docklands rooftop with his last will and testament in his pocket.. as we reveal cruel redundancy process that employees compare to 'death row'

'Intense'. 'Unstable'. Minutes after leaving Scott, runaway MAFS bride Gia goes rogue in interview with ALI DAHER. We reveal the REAL story of their break-up - as she delivers a savage parting shot

Kathleen Folbigg and fiance seen for the first time after she spent two decades in jail over the deaths of her four children - amid rumours she's fallen out with the woman who helped free her

For years, I thought what my older sister did to me was just part of growing up. Later, I learned just how sick and twisted she really was

JFK Jr severed in half. Carolyn Bessette's unspeakable injury. Why these sealed crash scene details that've never been published must finally now be revealed: MAUREEN CALLAHAN
He's one of the hottest properties on Australian TV right now and insiders say Robert Irwin is at the centre of an all-out network bidding war.

Sources say Network Ten is lining up the rising star to front a rebooted Australian Ninja Warrior as part of a major push to lock him in across multiple flagship shows.

'Robert is exactly what Ten needs right now,' an insider tells Daily Mail, saying the network wants the conservationist, 22, working on more than just I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

'He's relatable, he's got that natural charm and audiences absolutely love him.'

Behind the scenes, negotiations are said to already be underway, with the network keen to position the Wildlife Warrior as the new face of Ten.

'They want him across the board,' the source adds. 'If these deals land, Robert becomes their biggest asset.'

He's one of the hottest properties on Australian TV right now and insiders say Robert Irwin, 22, is at the centre of an all-out network bidding war

However, it would seem other networks have the same idea, with some of Ten's biggest competitors already looking to poach the in-demand star.

Insiders claim Seven Network has plans to secure Robert as the future host of Dancing With The Stars, following his win on the US version of the series.

'Seven sees huge potential in him,' the insider reveals. 'They think he could take DWTS into a new era.'

DWTS Australia is currently being hosted by Sonia Kruger and Dr Chris Brown.

The competing offers have left Robert weighing up multiple opportunities and sources say the decision won't be easy.

'He's incredibly loyal, but these are two very different paths,' says the insider. 'He'd thrive in both worlds.'

Meanwhile, Network Ten is said to be lining up back-up plans in case Robert gets a better offer and turns down a spot hosting the Ninja Warrior reboot.

Insiders say Beau Ryan is being considered as a potential fallback option - a safe bet given his sporting career and hosting gig on The Amazing Race Australia.

Join the discussion Should rising stars like Robert Irwin stay loyal to one network or chase bigger opportunities elsewhere?

Sources say Network Ten is lining up the rising star to front a rebooted Australian Ninja Warrior as part of a major push to lock him in across multiple flagship shows

Insiders claim Seven Network also has plans to secure Robert as the future host of Dancing With The Stars, following his win on the US version of the series

'Beau is a safe pair of hands and already proven with audiences,' the source explains. 'But Robert is their first choice, no question.'

The source goes on to say Ten are desperate to keep Robert on the books after seeing how popular he has become on I'm A Celebrity.

'They don't want to lose him,' the insider says. 'Not now, not when he's just getting started.'

Daily Mail has reached out to Ten and Seven for comment.

It comes as Robert has also been filming a spin-off series of DWTS, called Dancing With The Stars: The Next Pro, in Brisbane

Production on the anticipated Disney/BBC series, which Robert will host, is now well underway after two weeks of shooting.

Meanwhile, Robert's former DWTS partner, Witney Carson, is also expected to be a part of the production, with her arrival in Australia imminent.

Her involvement is expected to bring a touch of international polish to the series, with the pair already sharing a strong on-screen connection from their previous stint together.

The new series is set to blend high-stakes competition with behind-the-scenes access, as contestants live and train together in a format reminiscent of Big Brother.
Bachelor star Nichole Wood has revealed her ex-partner Jake Wood is currently in 'critical condition' in hospital.

The former reality TV contestant, 31, split from the tradie in 2021 after they welcomed a daughter, Bohdi Leigh Yard, in November 2020.

She has now shared a post to Instagram this week, revealing she had just discovered Jake was rushed to hospital.

'Hi everyone, I'm getting a lot of messages in regards to my child's father,' she began.

'I've just found out a couple hours ago myself and am still processing this information. I also don't know much. [I] just know he's in critical condition.

'I hope he does make a recovery and can get his life on track.'

Bachelor star Nichole Wood has revealed her ex-partner Jake Wood is currently in 'critical condition' in hospital

Fans discovered Nichole and Jake had split for good in June 2021 when she was spotted moving out of their Gold Coast home with their daughter.

In a series of Instagram Stories posts, the former reality star also made strong accusations against her ex, revealing they'd split over a number of grievances.

She also claimed the pair had 'split three times' prior to Saturday, and that Jake had previously said she was his 'best friend' and he 'couldn't live without her'.

Further Instagram posts showed little Bohdi smiling, which she captioned: 'I will always keep you safe baby girl.'

Another image showed Nichole holding her baby along with a call-out to her fans, with Nichole asking: 'Looking for a place for us two. Hola.'

The pair had earlier split in November 2020, when Nichole was 39 weeks pregnant with Jake's baby girl.

She broke the shock news on Instagram, describing the situation as 'pretty s**t' and 'another f***ing level of f***ed up'.

Confirming the split was acrimonious, the expectant mother told fans: 'Just want to jump on and tell everyone that I'm in this situation and am okay as I can be, and thanks for all the messages.'

The former reality TV contestant split from the tradie in 2021 after they welcomed a daughter, Bohdi Leigh Yard, in November 2020

The blonde managed to hold back tears as she told fans she could 'go into labour any moment'.

'I'm literally days off from having a baby and I'm [living] at my parents' [home],' she lamented.

Shortly after her post, Nichole uploaded a photo of her latest sonogram to Instagram Stories, along with the heart-breaking caption: 'I'm so glad that at least out of this I have you baby girl. Just you and me.'

Nichole announced she had welcomed her daughter in an Instagram post on November 21.

She wrote: 'I know everyone is patiently waiting. Bubs and I are doing great, will post a photo of her soon'.

Nichole was one of the standout contestants on Matt Agnew's season of The Bachelor in 2019.

She made it to the tenth episode of the series and is best known for arriving on a motorcycle to meet Matt on the first episode.

If you or anyone you know needs immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
At three o'clock on Monday afternoon, Magistrate Judge Sarah L Cave took a conference telephone call with lawyers for Blake Lively. One hour later, she did the same with attorneys for Justin Baldoni.

The subject at hand? Where each side stood in respect to settling their legal dispute centered on the movie, It Ends With Us, which has, for the past 16 months, been waged through both the courts of Manhattan and public opinion.

The week before, Judge Lewis Liman dismissed ten of the 13 claims being brought by Lively - including that of sexual harassment - leaving only allegations of breach of contract, retaliation and aiding and abetting in retaliation.

Within hours of that ruling Lively, 38, released a lengthy statement that asserted: 'I'm grateful for the Court's ruling which allows the heart of my case to be presented to a jury next month, and for the ability to tell my story in full at trial.'

Similarly, within hours of those settlement conference calls at the start of the week, Lively's attorneys had filed a letter with the court doubling down on their determination to move forward.

In it they asked that Baldoni's lawyers tell them who of the defendants released from the case when those ten claims were dismissed  including Baldoni who cannot therefore be subpoenaed  would be testifying at trial in person.

For the record, Baldoni's lawyers have stated that he will testify in person  along with the movie's producer, Jamey Heath, and publicist, Melissa Nathan.

And so, the circus rolls on. Of course, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that a settlement is reached ahead of the May 18 trial date. But, the truth is that, should the case move forward to trial, and should Lively win the day, any victory now seems destined to be somewhat pyrrhic.

Attorneys for Justin Baldoni, (pictured with wife Emily outside Manhattan's Federal Court), have said he will testify in person should the 16-month legal battle with Blake Lively go to trial

Judge Lewis Liman dismissed ten of the 13 claims being brought by Blake Lively - including that of sexual harassment

Within hours of that ruling Lively, 38, released a lengthy statement

One Disney Studios executive who once worked with the actress told the Daily Mail: 'This lawsuit has ruined her in Hollywood... the truth is she was never that popular. She had a reputation for being difficult, one of those toxic people who always thinks she knows best.'

Indeed, she is on record as claiming that her talent is being able to take a script and 'excavate' it  carve out something far superior to the original. It's what she boasted she and husband Ryan Reynolds, 49, did with key scenes in It Ends With Us.

But when it comes to projects from her own production company, B for Effort, the Daily Mail has learned that not one single film has been seen through to fruition since the company launched in March 2020.

Now, our Hollywood source said: 'The general view now is that she's made her bed and she can lie in it. I don't think people in Hollywood are shedding tears over her.'

Not so long ago, Lively seemed to have it all. Beautiful, happy and healthy, she was both an in-demand screen siren and a devoted mother to four children.

With her handsome husband beside her, she formed half of one of Hollywood's hottest couples: the pair is worth an estimated $600 million, thanks to Reynolds's wildly successful Deadpool series and their myriad telecoms, sporting and drinks deals.

Then, on December 31, 2024, Lively sued Baldoni, co-star and director of It Ends With Us which was released that summer.

Her original suit accused him of sexual harassment on set. He counter sued in early January 2025, accusing her of waging a calculated campaign against him to bolster her case. The parties denied the allegations against them.

Truth be told, it was apparent from the start that something was decidedly off. When Lively and Baldoni embarked on promotional duties it was as if they were talking about different movies.

Lively, dressed in a dazzling array of fashion-forward floral outfits, in a nod to her florist character Lily Bloom, discussed at length how it was an uplifting story of resilience and survival.

Baldoni, 42, saw it as a dark, complex saga of domestic abuse - the filming of which, he said, left him with 'a near breakdown.'

The discord leaked through as the pair promoted the film separately, studiously avoiding being photographed together at premieres, and appearing solo on chat shows.

Even screenings were segregated: Baldoni and his wife Emily in one theatre, and Lively, Reynolds and the rest of the cast in another.

The controversy didn't seem to hurt the movie at the box-office: despite mixed reviews, it raked in $350 million worldwide on a $25 million budget, making it a resounding commercial success.

But that front-of-house triumph couldn't halt the train wreck behind-the- scenes.

On December 20, Lively filed a complaint with the California civil rights division alleging sexual harassment and retaliation.

As a pair, Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds are worth an estimated $600 million, thanks to his wildly successful Deadpool series and their myriad telecoms, sporting and drinks deals

On December 31, 2024, Lively sued Baldoni, co-star and director of It Ends With Us, which was released that summer

Even screenings were segregated: Baldoni and his wife in one theatre, and Lively, Reynolds and the rest of the cast in another

The following day, The New York Times published a deeply reported survey of the case, featuring private messages Baldoni had sent to Lively and revealing that Sony Pictures had allowed Lively to commission her own rival edit of the film, featuring Taylor Swift's music. Sony used her edit and granted her a producer credit.

There was a row about an intimacy coordinator for the sex scenes, and the paper reported that Baldoni had hired a crisis PR expert, Melissa Nathan, to try and discredit Lively.

Nathan, in text messages cited in the court documents, suggested to Baldoni a strategy of 'full social account take downs,' beginning with 'threads of theories' and helping to 'change narrative.'

A publicist working for Baldoni and the studios texted Nathan: 'He wants to feel like she can be buried.' Nathan replied: 'You know we can bury anyone.'

Lively told the paper: 'I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.'

Baldoni was dropped by his talent agency William Morris Endeavor the day the article was published. He and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, hit back.

On New Year's Eve  the day Lively filed her suit against him in Manhattan's federal court  Baldoni sued the paper for $250 million in damages, accusing them of using 'cherry-picked' segments of conversations, which were 'stripped of necessary context and deliberately spliced' to 'mislead.'

On January 7, 2025, lawyers for both sides issued blistering statements attacking the other.

'This is not a "feud" arising from "creative differences" or a "he said/she said" situation,' said her legal team. 'As alleged in Ms Lively's complaint, and as we will prove in litigation, Wayfarer and its associates engaged in unlawful, retaliatory astroturfing against Ms Lively [a PR tactic in which false "grassroots" support or opposition is used for reputational damage].'

Baldoni's lawyer Bryan Freedman replied hours later: 'It is painfully ironic that Blake Lively is accusing Justin Baldoni of weaponizing the media when her own team orchestrated this vicious attack by sending the New York Times grossly edited documents prior to even filing the complaint.'

He added: 'We are releasing all of the evidence which will show a pattern of bullying and threats to take over the movie. We have all the receipts and more.'

On January 16 Baldoni sued Lively and Reynolds for defamation and extortion, seeking $400 million in damages. The gloves were well and truly off.

A trial date was set for March 2026 - later pushed to May - and a series of pre-trial hearings were increasingly acrimonious.

Judge Liman consolidated the cases, clearly infuriated by both sides: in February 2025 he reprimanded both legal teams for playing for public sympathy, warning it could taint the jury pool.

In May 2025 he struck from the docket a letter written by Baldoni's lawyer regarding Swift's input in the film, complaining that the 'sole purpose' of the letter was to 'promote public scandal by advancing inflammatory accusations.' He warned that if Baldoni's team tried a similar stunt again he would penalize them.

Yet Swift was subpoenaed by Baldoni's team that same month, dragging her reluctantly into the case.

Swift's lawyer described the subpoena as a publicity stunt stating: 'Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release.'

Baldoni's case was dismissed in its entirety in June 2025.

But Swift is not the only big name to be dragged reluctantly into the legal debacle. Hugh Jackman was named as a possible witness amid claims that he had seen Reynolds berating Baldoni and accusing him of 'fat shaming' Lively when he asked how much she weighed, ahead of a lift scene.

Taylor Swift was subpoenaed by Baldoni's team, dragging her reluctantly into the case

Hugh Jackman (left) was named as a possible witness amid claims that he had seen Reynolds berating Baldoni and accusing him of 'fat shaming' Lively

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were also cited in emails entered into the case as Lively reached out to both for their views on her cut of the movie.

In one email Lively told Affleck that her time on set was, 'the most upsetting experience I've ever had on a movie.'

In a message to Damon's wife, she said she, 'had to do everything' and that Baldoni had 'zero experience.'

These days even Colleen Hoover, the author of It Ends With Us, who was once so thrilled with its Hollywood rendering and choice of lead lady, appears to be done with the film and its fallout.

'I can't even recommend it anymore,' she told Elle magazine in November 2025. 'I'm almost embarrassed to say I wrote it. When people ask what I do, I'm just like, 'I'm a writer. Please don't ask me what I wrote.''

She called the whole sorry saga 'unfortunate' and 'disappointing:' 'It feels like a circus. When there are real people involved, with real feelings and emotions... I just find it all around sad.'
The boyfriend of Lindsie Chrisley has been arrested for aggravated assault as he is accused of strangling her.

David Landsman was arrested in Georgia for aggravated assault-strangulation and battery according to Cherokee County Jail records.

Daily Mail has reached out to Chrisley's representatives for comment and have yet to hear back. Daily Mail has also reached out to Landsman.

Landsman called police himself after Chrisley had confronted him over a lie that she caught him in which turned into an argument according to sources for TMZ.

The source for the publication said that Chrisley tried to leave when Landsman 'went berserk' then when law enforcement officers arrived they saw visible injuries on Chrisley.

Landsman's bond has not been set as of Friday evening according to online records.

The boyfriend of Lindsie Chrisley, David Landsman, has been arrested for aggravated assault as he is accused of strangling her; they are seen in an Instagram last year

Chrisley has been estranged from her convicted felon reality star dad Todd and step-mom Julie for years.

Landsman took his Instagram weeks ago to share a photo of him holding Chrisley's hand with what looked like an engagement ring on her finger as he trolled her estranged father.

He wrote: '@toddchrisley may I have your daughter's hand in marriage?,' however, TMZ revealed that Landsman and Chrisley were not engaged. They have been romantically linked since last year.

In March 2025, Lindsie gave an update about the state of her relationship with her parents as they served their prison sentences at the time for fraud and tax evasion.

Speaking about the tense topic on the latest episode of her podcast, Southern Tea, she revealed that she hasn't been to see her father Todd for over a year. They were since released in May 2025 following a full pardon from President Donald Trump.

At the time, Lindsie said she had never been to visit her step-mom Julie in the more than two years that the reality star has been in prison.

She candidly stated: 'The last time I visited my dad probably was  was it the beginning of last year? I cant even honestly remember.

Lindsie continued: '[Nanny Faye and I] used to go together [to see my dad] when they first went [to prison].

David Landsman was arrested in Georgia for aggravated assault-strangulation and battery according to Cherokee County Jail records

Landsman took his Instagram weeks ago to share a photo of him holding Chrisley's hand with what looked like an engagement ring on her finger as he trolled her estranged father

In March 2025,. Lindsie (pictured in 2016) gave an update about the state of her relationship with her parents as they served their prison sentences at the time for fraud and tax evasion

Todd and his wife Julie were found guilty of committing tax evasion and bank fraud totaling $30 million in June 2022

Todd and his wife Julie were found guilty of committing tax evasion and bank fraud totaling $30 million in June 2022.

Todd was originally given a 12-year sentence while Julie received a seven-year sentence before being pardoned.

Lindsie admitted while they were still imprisoned: 'I have not seen my dad in quite some time and I have had no contact. And thats all Im going to say for that.'

Todd welcomed Lindsie and her brother, Kyle, during his first marriage to Teresa Terry and Julie adopted both of them when she and Todd wed.

The two children were notably around during the early days of Chrisley Knows Best, but it seems Lindsie's relationship with them has been strained ever since Todd and Julie's prison sentence.
Binky Felstead brushed off the controversy over being called out by a bakery owner, as she shared snaps from her family trip to New York on Friday.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 35, was publicly criticised by Reshmi Bennett, who claimed she requested she made her a cake for her son Wilder's third birthday in exchange for an Instagram post.

Reshmi has previously hit the headlines for blasting influencers who request free cakes, with Binky the latest such star to be criticised by her after she claimed she received a message from her assistant.

Binky's representative has since told Daily Mail it was a 'standard contra enquiry', and shared their disappointment that the private request has been shared publicly.

Following the row, Binky took to Instagram Stories to share fresh snaps from her family holiday, including one from the iconic Grand Central Station, and another of her daughter India, eight, next to a parked Tesla Cybertruck.

Binky's posts came just hours after she was called out by Reshmi for seemingly asking for a free cake for her son Wilder's third birthday in exchange for an Instagram post.

Binky Felstead brushed off the controversy over being called out by a bakery owner, as she shared snaps from her family trip to New York on Friday

The Made In Chelsea star was criticised by Reshmi Bennett, who claimed she requested she made her a cake for her son Wilder's birthday in exchange for an Instagram post

Reshmi, 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 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.

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.'

Following the row, Binky took to Instagram Stories to share fresh snaps from her family holiday, including one from the iconic Grand Central Station

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

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.'

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.
Nadia Bartel has revealed the heartbreaking pregnancy loss she suffered in July last year when she miscarried amid her IVF journey with partner Peter Dugmore.

The mother-of-two, 40, who shares Aston, 10 and Henley, seven, with her ex-husband Jimmy Bartel, shared the news to TikTok on Friday.

She explained she had a 'missed miscarriage' when she was seven weeks pregnant, saying she found the experience incredibly 'tough'.

'I had a pregnancy loss, it's what they call a missed miscarriage in July last year. It was just the early stages of my pregnancy so I was seven weeks pregnant,' she said.

Nadia went on to reveal she underwent a dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure to remove tissue from inside her uterus.

'Even though it was early stages I just found the whole thing so tough,' she recalled.

Nadia Bartel has revealed the heartbreaking pregnancy loss she suffered in July last year when she miscarried amid her IVF journey with partner Peter Dugmore

'I think when you are pregnant, even if it's early days, you imagine your life with the baby... you get so attached to your pregnancy and your baby,' she continued.

'When something like that happens it's really disheartening.'

'I've gotten to the point that I feel like it is really important for me to really normalise it and just take the stigma out of talking about IVF, infertility, miscarriage,' she added.

'It's something that I know is deeply personal and I totally understand when people wouldn't want to talk about it.

'It is really hard opening up that conversation especially when you are going through it and you're really struggling.

'It's so consuming and you're so emotional and I see so many people talk about it after they've had success.

'But I think it's interesting to also share stories and talk about it when you're going through it.'

Nadia said one thing that helped her get through the pain of losing a baby was being able to connect with other women who had gone through the same experience.

Join the discussion Should more women openly share their IVF and miscarriage struggles to break the stigma around infertility?

She explained she had a 'missed miscarriage' when she was seven weeks pregnant, saying she found the experience incredibly 'tough'

'I am sharing this because what I found gave me so much hope and made me feel better was talking to other people about it,' she said.

'Learning more from other people who maybe were a similar age to me and had also gotten pregnant.

'Or maybe they experienced a miscarriage and then they went on to become pregnant, I just found it helped me a lot.

'Also the more people I spoke to about having a miscarriage, so many people had gone through it themselves.

'I feel like back when I was pregnant 10 years ago with Aston it was something people would never talk about. I'm finding it so helpful to connect with people.'

The Henne founder also said she has been leaning on her partner Peter for support as they go through the IVF journey together.

'It is also really tough because I'm almost 41 so at the age of 41 your egg quality and your ovarian reserve declines a lot,' she continued.

She revealed her Anti-Mullerian Hormone level - her total egg count - has 'drastically' declined in the last 18 months, which has made the process more difficult.

The mother-of-two, 40, who shares Aston, 10 and Henley, seven, (both pictured) with her ex-husband Jimmy Bartel, shared the news to TikTok on Friday

'I've actually been researching so much about increasing egg quality and increasing your chance of getting a healthy embryo at my age,' she said.

'I'm trying a lot of different things so hopefully I have success soon and then once some of these things work for me I'm really excited to share them with you all.

'My heart goes out to anyone that is going through IVF or has experienced pregnancy loss because it's so tough. Here for you and sending all the good vibes.'

It comes after Nadia opened up about her wedding and baby plans with Peter during an appearance at a Grey Goose party for the Australian Open in January.

'Can you believe that, he hasn't [proposed yet],' Nadia joked with the Herald Sun at the Melbourne event.

'Do you know we've barely even spoken about it. It's funny, as you get older, I've been married before, we live together, I don't think about it that much.

'But it would be nice. We will get married one day, once the boys are a bit older.'

Nadia added that she still had hopes to use IVF to have a child with Peter.

'It's so special to be able to carry a baby with your partner, it's a unique experience and would be nice for Pete and I to have that,' she said.

Nadia and Peter made their first public appearance at the 2024 Australian Open after dating for two years.

Red Nose provide support to anyone affected by the loss of a pregnancy, stillbirth, the death of a baby or child.

Reach out to their 24/7 Grief and Loss Support Line on 1300 308 307 or visit rednose.org.au/support.
Two of the biggest icons from the 1990s have sparked up a surprise romance.

Heather Locklear, 64, and Lorenzo Lamas, 68, are rumored to be dating, and have been seeing each other for months, according to TMZ.

The Melrose Place star and the Falcon Crest actor - who's been married six times - were pictured spending New Year's Eve together in Las Vegas, as they dined at Barry's Steakhouse in the Circa Resort & Casino.

The iconic pair 'had a private table and were very touchy feely with each other,' an insider shared.

Things between them are going so well that they are ready to take their romance to the next level. Their adult children are preparing to meet and bond for the first time this weekend, a source told the publication.

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Locklear and Lamas for comment.

Two of the biggest icons from the 1990s, Heather Locklear, 64, and Lorenzo Lamas, 68, are rumored to be dating; (L) Locklear pictured in 2016, (R) Lamas pictured in 2026

In snaps from their New Year's Eve outing the two were seen posing with Chef Barry Dakake in the kitchen.

Locklear looked chic in a black dress paired with a Miu Miu purse.

Her blonde hair was pulled into a casual ponytail.

Meanwhile, Lamas was handsome in a grey blazer worn over a black button-up and matching pants.

They were also pictured together at The World's Largest Disco event in Buffalo, New York, in November 2025.

Locklear was previously married to Pamela Anderson's ex Tommy Lee, 63, from 1986 to 1993, and Bon Jovi vet Richie Sambora, 66, from 1994 to 2007.

She shares 28-year-old daughter Ava with Sambora.

She also had an on-again, off-again romance with ex-fiance Chris Heisser for five years, until their split in 2025.

Join the discussion Is finding love later in life more challenging or rewarding for celebrities with complex pasts?

In snaps from their New Year's Eve outing the two were seen posing with Chef Barry Dakake in the kitchen

The rumored couple tried out fresh treats from the chef

The two have reportedly been seeing each other for months, as per TMZ. They were seen getting 'very touchy feely' over New Year's Eve in Las Vegas, and were also pictured at The Worlds Largest Disco event in Buffalo, New York, in November 2025 (pictured)

The two are ready to take their romance to the next level, as their adult children are preparing to meet for the first time this weekend, a source told the publication; Locklear seen in January

Locklear was previously married to rocker Tommy Lee, 63, from 1986 to 1993, and Richie Sambora, 66, from 1994 to 2007. She shares daughter Ava, 28, with Sambora; Seen with Sambora and their daughter

Lamas has been married six times and has six children. Last year he filed for divorce from Kenna Nicole; The two pictured in 2022

He was also previously married to one-time Playboy model Shauna Sand from 1996 until 2002; The two seen in 2025

Meanwhile Lamas has been married six times and has six children.

His new romance with Locklear comes just one year after he filed for divorce from Kenna Nicole - his sixth wife - in 2025.

He previously filed for divorce from his fifth wife, Shawna Craig, in June of 2018.

Prior to that, Lamas was married to Falcon Crest co-star Victoria Hilbert from 1981-1982; the late Michele Cathy Smith from 1983-1985; actress Kathleen Kinmont from 1989-1993 and one-time Playboy model Shauna Sand from 1996 until 2002.

He shares son A.J., 42, and daughter Shayne, 40, with the late Smith.

He also has daughters Victoria, 26, Isabella, 25, and Alexandra, 28, with Sand, and daughter Paton, 37, with actress Daphne Ashbrook.

Lamas is best known for playing Lance Cumson on 228 episodes of the CBS soap Falcon Crest from 19811990.

He also played Reno Raines on the hit TV series Renegade from 1992 until 1997, and had a small role in the hit movie Grease.

Locklear famously shot to global superstardom as Amanda Woodward on the hit series Melrose Place, a role she played from 1993 until 1999; Seen in 1981

Lamas played Reno Raines on the hit TV series Renegade from 1992 until 1997; He is seen in a still from the show

He has steadily worked on films over the past two years, racking up credits with parts in Love in the Clouds, Checkmate, Stepmom from Hell, Prepare to Die and Team of Two.

Locklear famously shot to global superstardom on the hit series Melrose Place, where she starred from 1993 until 1999.

She played scheming Amanda Woodward on Melrose Place until the show ended in 1999. Her co-stars were Rob Estes, Jack Wagner, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Josie Bissett, Thomas Calabro and Kelly Rutherford, among others.

The blonde also popped back on the new version of the show from 2009 until 2010.
Summer House stars Amanda Batula and West Wilson were spotted together just hours after she issued an apology for their controversial romance.

Batula, 34, and West, 31, were pictured at the Blind Tiger Alehouse in New York City in a snap shared to Instagram by a fan account on Friday.

It's unknown if the duo were enjoying an outing by themselves or if they were joined by friends.

The sighting follows Batula's statement via her Instagram Stories just hours prior, in which she apologized for the 'hurt' caused by her secret romance with Wilson.

Wilson isn't just any ordinary man in Batula's life - he is not only pals with her ex Kyle Cooke, 43, but she is friends with his ex Ciara Miller, 30.

'Hi guys, I'll keep this short and sweet,' she posted to her Instagram Stories along with a photo of her slumbering dog.

Summer House stars Amanda Batula, 34, and West Wilson, 31, were spotted together just hours after she issued an apology for their controversial romance

'I've obviously been MIA, but I wanted to come back on and say that I'm truly sorry to everyone I've disappointed and hurt, especially those I know personally who I've reached out to individually.'

'For the sake of my mental health, I'm going to try to start living life with some sense of normalcy. If you see me out or posting online, please know that this still weighs very heavily on me. I'm not ignoring what's happened or what's unfolded.'

'I'll be at the reunion and will be addressing any and all questions honestly and directly there.'

Wilson also plans to be in attendance at the reunion, which is set to be filmed within the next couple weeks, as per TMZ.

According to a source Wilson is choosing to attend even though he realizes the relationship drama is likely to be the focus of the reunion.

Batula and Wilson confirmed their romance with a statement late last month, writing, 'We've seen the growing online speculation, so while this is still very new, we wanted to provide some clarity.'

'It was never our intention to purposely hide anything. Given the complicated relationship dynamics involved and the scrutiny that comes with being on a reality show, we needed a little space to process things privately before speaking on it.'

It continued: 'We've shown up for each other as friends over the years, through all the highs and lows, and what's developed recently was the last thing either of us expected.'

Join the discussion How much loyalty do friends owe each other when relationships overlap in a close-knit group?

Batula and West were pictured at the Blind Tiger Alehouse in New York City in a snap shared to Instagram by a fan account on Friday; Batula is seen in 2025

The sighting follows Batula's statement via her Instagram Stories just hours prior, in which she apologized for the 'hurt' caused by her secret romance with Wilson and said she will be present at the upcoming reunion

Wilson also plans to be in attendance at the reunion, which is set to be filmed within the next couple weeks, as per TMZ; He and Batula seen in a still from a prior reunion episode

West is not only pals with Batula's ex Kyle Cooke, 43, but she is friends with his ex Ciara Miller, 30; They are seen with Miller

'Our connection grew out of a genuine, long-standing friendship, which made it especially important for us to approach this with care.'

'As our feelings evolved, we wanted to take time to understand exactly what we were feeling.'

'We also recognize that this has had an impact beyond just us and never wanted our actions to cause any hurt or be perceived as careless.'

It concluded: 'We truly appreciate the understanding and respect as we navigate this.'

The confirmation came days after rumors began to swirl that the two of them had been caught kissing each other, as gossip blind account Deux Moi reported.

Batula announced her divorce from Cooke after four years of marriage in January as well.

Miller has remained fairly tight-lipped about her ex and her friend's newly announced relationship, but she made her first public statement the same day that Wilson and Batula shared a joint statement announcing their romance.

The Summer House star posted a video along with the caption, 'If you can't trust your Friends & Neighbors, who can you trust?'

In the clip, Miller was pictured on the red carpet interviewing several cast members at the Your Friends & Neighbors season 2 premiere, on behalf of Apple TV+.

During one part of her interview with the show's star, 55-year-old Jon Hamm, Miller asks how he's feeling.

'Wonderful, thank you. How are you?' Hamm replies.

Batula and Wilson made a joint statement about their romance last month, writing, 'We also recognize that this has had an impact beyond just us and never wanted our actions to cause any hurt or be perceived as careless'

West had dated Miller before igniting a relationship with her friend Batula; Miller and Batula seen together

Batula and Cooke (pictured together) announced their divorce after four years of marriage earlier this year

The camera then zooms in on Miller, who says, 'I'm good,' before adding, 'Well, I've been better.'

In another cheeky comment elsewhere in the video, she joked that everyone in the cast is 'morally bankrupt.'

She also told another cast member that she is 'on Prozac.'

She also took a savage swipe at Batula while interviewing Sydney Sweeney at the premiere of Euphoria, asking the star: 'If you steal your friend's ex-boyfriend, what do you think is the next step?'

'I feel like you oughta get married,' Miller said while staring into the camera before Sweeney could answer.

Sweeney agreed, 'I would hope so. You gotta make it worth it, at least. Like make it worth something 'cause that's just worth too much pain.'

Fans have questioned just how long Batula and West have had eyes for each other, as they compared the salacious scandal to that of Vanderpump Rules' 'Scandoval,' which saw Tom Sandoval cheat on his longtime girlfriend, Ariana Madix, with fellow cast member Raquel Leviss.

There was also much speculation floating around on Reddit and TikTok, as Bravo fans weighed in. On Instagram, viewers even discovered that Batula and Wilson had been sharing a very unique-looking sweatshirt, with Wilson pictured wearing it in November 2025 and Batula wearing it just last month.

When Wilson and Miller were dating, they had a messy end to the relationship, as Wilson participated in a flurry of press interviews after the fact, like his exclusive with The New York Times.

During the interview with The Times, Wilson said that he couldn't commit to Miller for 'show-related reasons.'

The new season of Summer House is currently airing on Bravo on Tuesday nights, with about half of this season's episodes already aired

'I dont think it was right to place the end of the relationship on those things,' he told the outlet at the time.

'I think I wouldve read more honest if I was just like, the relationship ran its course, I dont think we were meant to be together, thats it,' Wilson said.

'I think me trying to deflect the actual relationship and name all these external things really made me sound like an idiot.'

Miller has expressed just how much the relationship hurt her, even breaking down in tears during the Summer House Season 8 reunion.
Peter Andre has asked his ex-wife Katie Price if she is 'genuinely happy' as he weighed in on her marriage to Lee Andrews.

The former glamour model, 47, shocked fans when she married the so-called businessman, 42, in Dubai in January within 10 days of meeting him.

Now her ex-husband Peter, who she has finally called a truce on a bitter 16-year feud with, has shared his thoughts on the new marriage.

Peter and Katie married in 2005, little more than a year after meeting as campmates on the third series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, and went on to welcome two children, Junior, now 20, and Princess, 18, before announcing their abrupt separation and subsequent divorce in 2009.

Speaking to The Sun, when asked what he makes of the marriage, Peter said: 'So my thing to Kate is, "Are you genuinely happy? And if you are, then that's great".

'Who am I to tell someone what they should or shouldn't be doing? Or even giving an opinion about it? I want her to be happy.'

Peter Andre has asked his ex-wife Katie Price if she is 'genuinely happy' as he weighed in on her marriage to Lee Andrews (Peter pictured this week)

The former glamour model, 47, shocked fans when she married so-called businessman Lee, 42, in Dubai in January within 10 days of meeting him

Katie recently revealed that Lee has already met Peter as the former couple spoke for the first time in nine years.

Despite her family sharing their concerns about her marriage to Lee, several of his ex-partners making bombshell accusations and a slew of his claims about his finances, business acumen and celebrity links being revealed as false - Katie is certain that he is the real deal.

She even took the step of introducing him to her former husband Peter, 53, with the two men speaking over FaceTime.

Katie told The Sun last month: 'It was time. Ironically I was FaceTiming Princess the other day when she was with Pete, so she put me onto him. It was the first time in nine years I've seen him.

'I was having dinner with Lee at the time and it was surreal  I was like "oh hello ex-husband, welcome to my new husband!"

'They had a nice chat. I was like "what the f*** is going on here?!"'

In the interview, Katie said she has only been in love three times in her life - Peter, her ex-boyfriend Dane Bowers and now Lee.

She was also married to Alex Reid from 2010 to 2012 and Kieran Hayler from 2013 to 2021 who she did not name.

Katie and Peter's surprise reunion comes after they followed each other on Instagram after confirming they'd finally called a truce on their bitter 16-year feud.

Katie is said to have stopped following Peter on the platform in 2021 after he reportedly called in a lawyer over claims she made in her memoir Harvey & Me.

She wrote that the Mysterious Girl hitmaker had no interest in keeping in touch with his former stepson Harvey, 23, following their split.

The former couple married in 2005, little more than a year after meeting as campmates on the third series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! (pictured in 2006)

But eagle-eyed fans spotted last month that the pair followed each other on social media, a week after they shared a joint statement about 'moving on positively'.

Friends claimed their children are the reason Katie and Peter resolved the acrimony that followed their divorce.

'Pete's team have been begging Katie to end this for good for months. As far back as November, they were calling Katie and her family to try to end the row.

'She was resolute she wouldn't make peace with him. It was the children who made her realise she needed to draw a line in the sand. Katie has done this for them', a source told The Sun.

Katie and Peter revealed the acrimony that followed their divorce has been resolved.

The announcement marks their first interaction in 16 years, with the former couple insisting they now intend to 'close the door on the past and move forward into a new chapter with positivity and respect'.

They added: 'We are both focused on creating a calm and supportive environment for our children.

'We have reached a mutual agreement, both legally and personally confirming that neither of us will speak negatively about the other going forward.

'This decision reflects a shared commitment to our family and stability. We want to stand united for our children.

'We are hoping this is a start of a positive relationship. We ask for understanding and support from both the media and the public as we move ahead.'
Lorna Luxe shared a hair update during a visit to her salon on Friday, after previously revealing her androgenetic alopecia diagnosis.

The influencer, 43, who has been open about her hair struggles in the past, posted a video clip for her followers as she caught up with her hairdresser, admitting she is 'so chuffed' with how her root density has improved.

Showing off her new growth, she said: 'I've got to be honest. The density of this bit here is way better. I feel like i've done my homework, I feel like I've done all the right things.

She added: 'But I am genuinely, like, when I put my hands through my hair it just feels a bit more fuller here.'

Alongside the clip, she wrote: 'It's a bit of a journey is androgenic alopecia as so many factors affect it, but all things considered the density in the root has improved no end I'm so chuffed.'

Androgenetic alopecia, or pattern hair loss, is a common hereditary form of hair loss caused by genetic factors and androgen hormones, most notably DHT.

Lorna Luxe shared a hair update during a visit to her salon on Friday, after previously revealing her androgenetic alopecia diagnosis

The influencer, 43, who has been open about her hair struggles in the past, posted a video clip for her followers as she caught up with her hairdresser, admitting she is 'so chuffed' with how her root density has improved

It involves a progressive shrinking of hair follicles, leading to a receding hairline and crown thinning in men, and a diffuse thinning of the crown in women, according to Alopecia UK.

Last year, Lorna opened up to HELLO! about overcoming her hair struggles in her 40s.

Speaking about how she has managed her hair over the years, the 43-year-old explained: 'Up until five or so years ago, I treated my hair like an afterthought and something I was deeply embarrassed of.

'I have androgenic alopecia, which is gradual hair thinning, so rather than take care of the hair I had [left], I preferred to tie it up and ignore it.'

She added: 'In lockdown, I had the time to tackle the problem head-on, and so I went to a trichologist, and thats really where my hair story begins.'

Elsewhere in the interview, Lorna revealed she is now 'big on supplements' and has noticed a tangible difference since taking them.

She also praised her Hydra Bond Hydrating Masque, which retails for 35, explaining she uses it regularly to keep her hair feeling 'strong and robust'.

The product was created as part of her minimalist brand, 98 Beauty.

Showing off her new growth, she said: 'I've got to be honest. The density of this bit here is way better. I feel like i've done my homework, I feel like I've done all the right things,'

Alongside the clip, she wrote: 'It's a bit of a journey is androgenic alopecia as so many factors affect it, but all things considered the density in the root has improved no end I'm so chuffed'

Lorna also shared that many of her hair concerns began in her 20s, admitting she has been working 'overtime' ever since to improve its condition.

She advised others to 'hair mask the heck' out of their hair, adding that hydration is key to keeping it strong and healthy at any age.

It comes days after Lorna revealed she feels 'so much happier' in her new 2m rental home after she was forced to leave her last place of residence unexpectedly.

The influencer lived in the famous 2.5million Ghost House with her late husband John, but they had to vacate the property last year when it flooded.

They bought the property in 2023, and John and Lorna had been excitedly talking about how they were going to redesign the 'his and hers' bathrooms in their home, but John sadly died before they could return.

Lorna's new minimalist property was also designed by BPN Architects, the same team behind the couple's Warwickshire mansion.

The influencer has shown off the modern home on social media with glass walls and chic furnishings.

In a post to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday inside the house, Lorna wrote: 'It's safe to say I feel so much happier in this home than the last place... all this light is doing my mood the world of good.'

It comes days after Lorna revealed she feels 'so much happier' in her new 2m rental home after she was forced to leave her last place of residence unexpectedly

The influencer lived in the famous 2.5million Ghost House with her late husband John, but they had to vacate the property last year when it flooded

It comes after Lorna admitted the move had been 'stressful', but she was now 'really glad' to be there.

'John would love it, because he loved this house. It was designed by the same guy who designed our Ghost House so its got that nice feel about it'.

The retired banker had been battling stage four adrenal cancer for a number of years, but died in February in Lorna's arms.

The couple previously moved out of their 2.5million home in 2025 while extensive renovations took place, with Lorna now forced to do it once again.

Taking to her Instagram Story last week, she said her late husband would be proud of her as she explained: 'I've whacked all my stuff in storage so it's a bit disorientating for Kev-bear.

'We moved in with a suitcase of clothes, a corkscrew and a kettle... I hadn't anticipated having to move out of our last place so this has all been a bit stressful but you know what, John would be so proud that I pulled it off and found me and Bear an even better gaff to 'temporarily' call home'.
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.
MAFS UK star Polly Selman has said she 'never wants to come back' to Britain after 'manifesting' a new sunny life abroad but is overwhelmed by the uncertainty of her visa situation.

The 30-year-old is currently on a third working holiday visa and has been left overwhelmed after 'manifesting' got her everything she asked for all at once.

Despite the 2024 MAFS UK star getting what she asked for, she is now struggling with a lack of 'security' and not being able to come home to see family in Kent.

She explained: 'I never want to come back to the UK,. If I ever end up back in the UK for whatever reason, just know it's not my choice.'

The reality TV star moved back to Australia in 2024 after she previously lived there before appearing on the show, as reported by creatorzine.com.

However, after hitting a difficult period following her move from Sydney to Queensland - Polly has become homesick.

MAFS bride Polly Sellman has revealed she 'never wants to come back' to the UK as she spirals amid visa uncertainty after moving to Australia

She explained: 'I never want to come back to the UK,. If I ever end up back in the UK for whatever reason, just know it's not my choice' (pictured on MAFS in 2024)

Taking to TikTok this week, Polly said: 'I had this huge overwhelming feeling in my stomach of I want to go home.

'It wasn't a case of I want to go home for good, it was like I want to go home because I want to see my mum, I want to see my sister and I want to see my dad.

'Unless you've just got the money and you're pulling it out your a**e, there's no way you can get home. I know that with me being here that I cannot afford to go home willy nilly.'

The homesick feeling landed after the lack of 'security' as a Brit on a working visa left her spiralling.

The star has claimed she is on 'borrowed time' whilst battling inner feelings about returning to the UK.

She said: 'There's not a lot of security. We are on borrowed time and what we're trying to do by staying here is buy more time.'

Posting on social media earlier this week the star discussed everything she had 'manifested'.

From a good relationship to a sponsorship job opportunity - Polly got everything handed to her in February.

However, this became very overwhelming for her to deal with.

Polly said: 'It's everything that I've manifested and everything that I've asked for, it kind of all came at once.

'I manifested a good relationship, a nice partner, all of these things that I wanted from a partner.

'Then I manifested sponsorship and then I manifested like a different change of career - I manifested loads of sh*t.

'Then at the end of February all of it happened, all of it happened at the same time. That scared the sh*t out of me.'

The star is pleading with other Brits on the same visas to come forward and give her advice on what to do next.

She said: 'Does anyone who is currently on a third working holiday visa know what the f**k they're going to do when that comes to an end?'

Last year Polly showed off her four stone weight loss as she took to Instagram with a sizzling photo dump of her summer in Australia

Back in September 2024, Polly first shared that she'd been on a six-month mission to slim down, and unveiled her impressive transformation in a before and after post

Last year Polly showed off her four stone weight loss as she took to Instagram with a sizzling photo dump of her summer in Australia.

Proving that it was the best decision she ever made to move down under, the beauty shared an array of racy snaps that documented her time in Sydney.

Polly first turned heads in a skimpy red bikini that flaunted her slimline figure as she posed up a storm on the beach.

She then showed off her incredible tan as she slipped into a leopard print two-piece.

The star then treated her followers to another sexy snap in a tiny green bikini as she struck a pose on the rocks by the ocean.
Shirtless Cillian Murphy showcased his physique as he joined silver-haired Daniel Craig for filming in Greece.

The Peaky Blinders and James Bond actors are currently filming Damien Chazelle's as yet unnamed upcoming American prison drama in the Peloponnese, Greece.

Cillian, 49, showed off his chiselled abs as he went shirtless while filming intense scenes knee-deep in the sea beside a dramatic shipwreck on Friday.

The Irish actor was seen jumping across rocks in the sea while wearing a pair of baggy denim jeans and sandals, also spotted wearing a blue shirt.

Nearby, Daniel, 58, cut a contrasting figure as he was smartly dressed in a white shirt with a navy pinstripe suit and carrying a brown leather shoulder bag.

Daniel - whose silver locks were on display - perched on a wooden box while watching Cillian's character in action.

Shirtless Cillian Murphy showcased his physique as he joined silver-haired Daniel Craig for filming in Greece on Friday

The Peaky Blinders and James Bond actors are currently filming Damien Chazelle's as yet unnamed upcoming American prison drama in the Peloponnese, Greece

Extras were also seen carrying out manual labour along the shoreline, adding to the gritty atmosphere.

While the prison drama's plot line and name are being kept firmly under wraps for now, a short synopsis has been released.

According to World Of Steel, it reads: 'A prison warden (Craig) attempts to discipline a defiant inmate (Murphy) within a brutal correctional system.

'As tensions rise, their relationship evolves into a psychological duel. [Michelle] Williams portrays the warden's wife. Mia Threapleton plays the inmate's girlfriend.'

According to industry reports, filming is expected to continue into May, when production will then move to greater Athens before wrapping up in Corfu.

There is currently no release date and the full cast lineup is yet to be announced, though Greek outlet iefimerida has reported Michelle Williams has signed up.

Last month, Cillian reunited with his Peaky Blinders co-stars in New York for the premiere of its long awaited feature length instalment, The Immortal Man.

Having reprised his role as Brummie gangster Tommy Shelby, Cillian claimed the spotlight outside the city's DGA Theater, where he was joined by new cast members Barry Keoghan and Rebecca Ferguson.

Cillian showed off his chiselled abs as he went shirtless while filming intense scenes knee-deep in the sea beside a dramatic shipwreck on Friday

The Irish actor was seen jumping across rocks in the sea while wearing a pair of baggy denim jeans and sandals

Cillian also flashed his abs while wearing a blue buttoned shirt with the sleeves rolled up

Nearby, Daniel cut a contrasting figure as he was smartly dressed in a white shirt with a navy pinstripe suit

Daniel also carried a brown leather shoulder bag and a bottle of water as he strolled along the beach

Daniel - whose silver grey locks were on display - perched on a wooden box while watching Cillian's character in action

Extras were also seen carrying out manual labour along the shoreline, adding to the gritty atmosphere

While the prison drama's plot line and name are being kept firmly under wraps for now, a short synopsis has been released

According to industry reports, filming is expected to continue into May, when production will then move to greater Athens before wrapping up in Corfu

Daniel added a pair of shades as he kept it smart in his suit despite the beach setting

Cillian looked to be stretching in another shot as he appeared shirtless

The star was seen carrying a bottle of water as they walked between takes

Cillian followed a member of the crew into the water

The Irish actor completed his look with black strappy sandals

There is currently no release date and the full cast lineup is yet to be announced

Greek outlet iefimerida has reported Michelle Williams has also signed up for the film

The Academy Award-winning actor opted for a black two-piece suit from Giorgio Made To Measure while greeting onlookers ahead of the film's latest screening.

Rounding off his red carpet look with a black dress shirt and spotted tie, Murphy, 49, looked appropriately dapper as he made his way inside the West 57th Street venue.

Accompanying his co-star, Keoghan - who takes a starring role as Erasmus 'Duke' Shelby in The Immortal Man - caught the eye in a smart pinstripe suit.

Currently playing Ringo Starr in an ambitious four film anthology about The Beatles, the Irish actor, 33, still modelled the legendary drummer's shaggy mop-top during his latest public appearance.

The hit show formerly ran across 36 episodes over six series before it was announced it would return in movie format, with a spin-off series also in the works.

It's been a long wait for fans of the franchise, with show creator Steven Knight first teasing the release of a film back in 2021, before it was confirmed last year.

The film will pick up four years after viewers last said goodbye to the Shelby clan in the series finale of Peaky Blinders.

Tommy, who has been played by Murphy since the show's debut in 2013, will be driven back to Birmingham from his self-imposed exile in the movie.
Eamonn Holmes was rushed to hospital earlier this week after suffering a stroke in his latest health battle.

The GB News presenter, 66, was taken to hospital on Tuesday after falling ill and is currently being treated on a ward.

Last month Eamonn disappeared from the news programme days after worrying fans by 'slurring and falling asleep' live on air.

He had been due to return to his role on GB News on Monday but will now be off until further notice.

GB News said in a statement: 'Eamonn was taken ill last week and it was later confirmed he had suffered a stroke. He is currently responding well to treatment.

'Eamonn has asked for privacy as he focuses on getting better.

Eamonn Holmes was rushed to hospital earlier this week after suffering a suspected stroke (Pictured in March)

The GB News presenter, 66, was taken to hospital on Tuesday after falling ill and is currently being treated on a ward

'His colleagues and everyone at GB News wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to the People's Channel when he is ready to return.'

Eamonn was expected to be back on the programme he co-hosts from Monday to Wednesday with Ellie Costello this coming week. Alex Armstrong will now step in to present in his absence.

CEO of GB News Angelos Frangopoulos, said: 'Eamonn is a loved member of the GB News family, and we're with him every step of the way as he recovers.'

Eamonn recently shared a 'horrendous' health update - and claimed that the 'ageist' TV industry 'doesn't want to know him' now that he is older and in a wheelchair.

Back in 2016, the broadcaster underwent a double hip replacement, but in 2021 he suffered three slipped discs and a dislocated pelvis.

He then had major spinal surgery the following year, and has had various other health issues over the past few years.

On March 11, the presenter sparked concern during his appearance on Breakfast with Eamonn and Ellie on GB News as he appeared to fall asleep in his chair, as well as play around with his microphone and mobile.

Eamonn hasn't presented the morning show since, but, as according to The Sun, he was due to return to our screens on Monday, 13 April.

'There have been lots of whispers about Eamonn being off,' an insider told the publication.

Eamonn recently shared a 'horrendous' health update - and claimed that the 'ageist' TV industry 'doesn't want to know him' now that he is older and in a wheelchair (Pictured with his girlfriend Katie Alexander in 2024)

'It's unlike him. He lives and breathes presenting on television.'

On March 17, the Daily Mail contacted GB News for comment, who confirmed that Eamonn was on annual leave.

Last month, while interviewing Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones MP, Eamonn looked like he had fallen asleep in the studio.

While Ellie quizzed Darren about the Mandelson files, Eamonn had his eyes closed and then later on during the chat he picked up a pen and struggled to put the lid on it.

After the interview finished, Eamonn told viewers: 'We'll see you bright and early again in the morning. Whatever you are up to, have a good day!'

Eamonn later clapped back at claims that he was 'falling asleep' live on air.

The star set the record straight during an appearance at Hayley Palmer's An Audience With... in London's Hippodrome Casino last month.

He said: 'I was just looking down at my mic pack to see why it was not working, as we don't have floor managers or camera operators.

'Apparently I was sleeping? Whatever!', according to The Mirror.
Kyle Richards and her sister Kim Richards ongoing feud appears to have escalated, with a report revealing that Kyle filed a lawsuit against Kim last year.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 57, took legal action against her 61-year-old sister in an attempt to have her removed from a Los Angeles condo, TMZ reported on Saturday.

Court documents obtained by the outlet reportedly show that Kyle initiated the lawsuit in January 2025.

The legal action aimed to evict Kim from a two-bedroom, three-bath, 1,633-square-foot condominium located in Encino.

Kyle alleges that Kim had been living in the condo for several years but had been asked to leave in late 2024.

As part of her legal filing, Kyle requested possession of the property and sought damages of $140 per day from Kim for every day she stayed beyond the agreed-upon departure date, starting in November 2024, per the outlet.

Kyle Richards and her sister Kim Richards ongoing feud appears to have escalated, with reports revealing that Kyle filed a lawsuit against Kim last year; (Kyle Richards pictured March 2026)

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 57, took legal action against her 61-year-old sister in an attempt to have her removed from a Los Angeles condo; (Kim Richards pictured in 2023)

The Daily Mail has reached out to Kyle and Kim's representatives for comment.

Kim and Kyle have had a tumultuous relationship for years, with frequent public disputes adding to their strained bond.

The lawsuit for eviction came just months after reports surfaced that Kim had relapsed, prompting the family to take a 'tough love' stance in hopes of encouraging her to get back on track.

Sources at the time claimed that Kim had struggled with addiction for years, and the family felt it was necessary to set firm boundaries.

In 2025, during the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 14 reunion, both Kyle and their eldest sister Kathy Hilton offered an update on Kim's situation.

The sisters revealed that Kim had moved to Florida and was 'doing better' after what had been a challenging period.

In December 2024, Kim reportedly underwent a mental health evaluation after an unusual call to the police.

The Los Angeles Police Department responded to a report Kim made about someone taking her cat, only for it to be returned shortly after.

Kyle alleges that Kim had been living in the condo for several years but had been asked to leave in late 2024; (pictured 2016)

As part of her legal filing, Kyle requested possession of the property and sought damages of $140 per day from Kim for every day she stayed beyond the agreed-upon departure date, starting in November 2024; (pictured 2010)

Upon arriving at the scene, Kim allegedly went on an extended rant about her issues with her sister Kyle.

The officers on the scene then called in a mental health evaluation team after noticing her erratic behavior.

According to TMZ, the evaluation team ultimately concluded that Kim did not meet the criteria for an involuntary hold, as she was not deemed a threat to herself or others.

At the time of the incident, Kyle was reportedly in Aspen, Colorado, spending the holidays with her ex, Mauricio Umansky, and their children.

Paramedics were also called but quickly left when they determined that Kim did not require medical transport.

As for Kims complaint regarding her cat, the police took no further action and left the scene without incident.

This event came several months after a separate incident in which Kim was placed on a psychiatric hold.

In September 2024, the LAPD had responded to reports of Kim being incoherent at the Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, where she had refused to leave when asked.

In 2025, during the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 14 reunion, Kyle and their eldest sister, Kathy Hilton, revealed that Kim had moved to Florida and was "doing better" after a challenging period; (Kyle, Kathy Hilton and Kim in 2023)

She was subsequently detained on a 5150 hold for a 72-hour psychiatric hospitalization due to a mental health crisis.

Later that same month, there was another incident at a home owned by Kyle again.

It was reported that Kim was involved in an altercation with her sister Kyle in Encino, where Kyle 'owns a home that Kim had recently been staying in.'

Later that same month, there was another incident at a home owned by Kyle again.

It was reported that Richards was involved in an altercation with her sister Kyle in Encino, where Kyle 'owns a home that Kim had recently been staying in.'

Law enforcement sources said that Kyle claimed Kim was 'in deep trouble over her sobriety' and that their entire family was 'worried about her survival.'

It was reported at the time that the rest of Richards' family had cut off contact with her following her 'relapse' as they reportedly hope to drive her back to sobriety.

Her struggle with sobriety was previously documented during her time on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

In the first season of the reality show, which aired in 2010, Kyle accused her sister of being an alcoholic during a tense exchange.

The following year, Kim entered rehab.
Taylor Swifts A-list friends Selena Gomez and Gigi Hadid are reportedly planning special surprises for her upcoming wedding to Travis Kelce.

Gomez, 33, and Hadid, 30, are said to be putting together a roughly seven-minute-long video compiled of sentimental moments between the bride and groom.

Swift and Kelce, both 36, are set to exchange vows on July 3 in New York City.

According to the US Sun, Swift's BFFs are part of the bridal party and want to highlight her career, achievements, and the bond she shares with her husband-to-be.

Wedding guests will be shown never-before-seen photos and videos that give an intimate look at the pop star.

'Much of the footage shows Taylor smiling and laughing, as she absolutely loves how funny Travis is,' a source said.

Taylor Swift s A-list bridesmaids Selena Gomez and Gigi Hadid are reportedly planning special surprises for her upcoming wedding to Travis Kelce; pictured in 2018

Swift and Kelce, both 36, are set to exchange vows on July 3 in New York City; pictured in March

Additionally, Gomez is working on a musical component that will feature the bridal party performing the Eras music artist's biggest songs.

The idea is for everyone to 'show their love to help celebrate Taylor's superstardom.'

'Everyone loved the chance to praise Taylor while singing and dancing together,' shared the insider.

The list of music is not yet finalized, but the karaoke session is expected to be a 'superb show which will be remembered forever,' per the outlet.

Kelce  who joined Swift on stage during her most recent tour  has been invited to join in the special segment and is 'super excited' to participate.

'He wants to do everything he can to ensure she has the best wedding day ever and to build lasting memories,' a person with close knowledge said.

Gomez will reportedly have a hand in coordinating the choreography, lighting, and the acoustics during the grand event.

It comes seven months after she tied the knot with Benny Blanco in California.

Gomez is working on a musical component that will feature the bridal party performing the Eras music artist's biggest songs; pictured in November 2023

Gomez has been open about navigating fame with Swift at a young age; pictured in 2024

The couple's honeymoon will include stops in the Bahamas, Europe, Singapore, and Australia; pictured in November 2025

In March the Rare Beauty founder confirmed that Swift's Evermore track Dorothea was written about her while appearing on her husband's Friends Keep Secrets podcast.

When asked if she connects with Swifts music on a deeper level because of their shared history, she answered, 'A million percent.'

She reflected on how she and Swift grew up together while navigating fame at a young age.

'I feel like a lot of huge moments that were self-defining, from relationships to family to love to hate, all of it in between, we were figuring it out,' Gomez explained.

'Because I was 15 and she was 18, and we didn't really know what was going on. And so we've never seen each other any differently.'

The US Sun previously reported that Swift and Kelce, who began dating in 2023, are preparing to jet off on a trip of a lifetime for their honeymoon.

According to the outlet, they will initially fly to the Bahamas before heading to Europe to enjoy the Italian coast at Lake Como.

From there, it's off to Paris for 'a few days' before romantic expeditions to the French Riviera and Croatia.

The couple's last European destination will be a private island in Greece before heading to Singapore and Australia.

There are also plans to visit Fiji before ending their excursion in the Hawaiian Islands.
Charlotte Dawson has responded to backlash she received for her revealing dress at this year's Grand National Festival.

The races, which are taking place at Aintree, have seen dozens of famous faces from Wayne and Coleen Rooney to Charlotte, 33, descend on the racecourse.

For the day out, her glamorous ensemble featured a plunging sweetheart neckline, a corseted bodice, and a pleated maxi skirt with a daring thigh-high slit.

Keeping with the baby pink theme, Charlotte added inches to her frame with pink pointed court heels and toted her essentials in a matching mini Hermes handbag.

To complete her look, Charlotte wore a pink fascinator and accessorised with gold-toned jewellery.

In a social media post on Saturday showing off her look, Charlotte revealed she had received trolling as a result.

Charlotte Dawson has responded to backlash she received for her revealing dress at this year's Grand National Festival

For the day out, her glamorous ensemble featured a plunging sweetheart neckline, a corseted bodice, and a pleated maxi skirt with a daring thigh-high slit

Sharing snaps with fans, she penned: 'Well Im not even gonna say where my dress is from cos the amount of s**** Ive had over it.'

Charlotte continued: 'Ps yes Im aware my udders are hanging out I only decided I was going day before it was the only dress I had and I thought it fit.

'Im proud of them tho they have fed my 3 kiddies so looking it like that way when all the milk has gone they will fall down to me bunions n turn out like long lost cousins atm they are juiceh n sistas x [sic[ also I was a few wines deep on this.'

Charlotte, who is engaged to her her fiance Matt Sarsfield, was flooded with supportive comments from fans.

They wrote: 'If youve got it! Fault it'; 'You always look lovely'; 'You look stunning! Dont listen to the haters';

'I dont actually think theres anything wrong with it, looks like it fits to me even if it is a but boobie'; 'Oh you look happy, healthy and incredible! Sod what anyone else thinks!'

Matt, 34, cut a smart figure in a grey blazer paired with matching trousers as he put on a loved-up display with Charlotte.

They share daughter Gigi, one, and sons Noah, four and Jude, two.

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, with many racegoers opting for thigh-skimming ensembles and plunging frocks.

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.

Unlike Royal Ascot, which adopts stricter rules on what to wear, the three-day festival, which hosts the showpiece Grand National race on Saturday afternoon, takes a more relaxed approach and tells attendees to simply come 'dressed to feel your best'.

Keeping with the baby pink theme, Charlotte added inches to her frame with pink pointed court heels and toted her essentials in a matching mini Hermes handbag

In a social media post on Saturday showing off her look, Charlotte revealed she had received trolling as a result

Charlotte, who is engaged to her her fiance Matt Sarsfield, was flooded with supportive comments from fans

Fancy dress for revellers is also allowed, as long as the costume isn't offensive or derogatory.

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 and attracts around 150,000 people to Aintree each year.

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, draws attention across the UK in a way that perhaps no other horse race is able to do.
Terry Crews' wife Rebecca has opened up about the Parkinson's treatment that halted the tremors caused by the disease.

The 60-year-old recently underwent a life-changing non-invasive procedure, called focused ultrasound (FUS), that uses sound waves directed into the brain to help with her symptoms.

She told People magazine that the breakthrough has restored her ability to write and stopped the shaking she experienced on the right side of her body.

'I feel good. Im able to write my name and my dates, and Im able to write with my right hand for the first time in probably three years,' Rebecca revealed.

She has been dealing with the neurodegenerative condition for the past 11 years of her 36-year marriage to Crews, 57.

But she only recently went public with it 'because I finally have some uplifting information to offer.'

Terry Crews' wife Rebecca has opened up about the Parkinson's treatment that halted the tremors caused by the disease; pictured in September 2024

The 60-year-old recently underwent a life-changing non-invasive procedure, called focused ultrasound (FUS), that uses sound waves directed into the brain to help with her symptoms; pictured in October 2024

While speaking with the outlet, Rebecca recalled the moment her husband suggested she try FUS.

'I was kneeling by my bed, praying and crying because I had not slept in several nights and was just ready to die,' she opened up.

The progressive, incurable neurological disorder causes muscle stiffness, slowness of movement, tremors, sleep disturbance, chronic fatigue, an impaired quality of life and can lead to severe disability.

Michael J. Fox was famously diagnosed with it at age 29 in 1991.

'It's a very cool, emerging technology,' said Stanford University neurosurgeon Dr. Vivek Buch about FUS.

'It gives [Parkinson's patients] back control over the simple things in life like eating and putting on clothes that you don't realize how important they are until they're taken away from you.'

The treatment lasts for five hours, and on the day of his wife's procedure, Crews was forced to be overseas for work.

While he couldn't be there in person, he stayed on the phone with doctors while Rebecca was in the MRI scanner.

He recalled, 'I stayed on the phone the middle of the night in Australia as the doctor was giving me progress reports. When I finally heard she made it out and everything was ok, it was a beautiful moment.'

Crews was the one who suggested Rebecca try FUS to manage her Parkinson's symptoms; pictured in August 2025

Rebecca, who has been married to the actor, 57, since 1989, announced her condition on the Today show this week

The longtime couple share five adult children

Rebecca recognized improvement almost immediately, sharing that results of the treatment came within hours.

'I was at the hotel [near the hospital] and as I was trying to put my pants on I realized that I could lift my leg without holding onto a table or anything. And then I realized that I could write and sign my name in perfectly legible handwriting.

I couldn't do any of those things before [having the procedure],' she explained.

She will undergo a second procedure for the left side of her body in September.

'It's definitely been hard to watch her on those days when I see her so worn out by this,' Crews said. 'We're going through this together.'

Rebecca revealed her first symptoms appeared around 2012, manifesting as numbness in her left foot, which became a limp.

Her doctor believed the limp was due to working out too much, but she said her personal trainer noticed her left arm wasn't 'swinging as much as her right' during some exercises.

The star, who shares five children with the America's Got Talent host, said she later noticed her hand shaking when she applied lip gloss, which she instantly recognized as a tremor because 'my grandmother had tremors.'
Newly-engaged Venezuela Fury made her first public appearance with her fiance Noah Price on Saturday to watch her dad Tyson take on Arslanbek Makhmudov.

The 16-year-old, who accepted the amateur boxer's proposal at her birthday party, was supported by her partner, 17, ahead of the fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Venezuela opted for a stunning, custom sequinned Tabja dress with nude heels and a glitzy necklace for the evening.

Standing beside her, Noah opted for a smart black tuxedo which he paired with a white shirt.

The couple have not yet announced a date on when they will tie the knot, but Venezuela threw a hen do last month.

Although fans didn't get the knock-out they were hoping for, Tyson won by unanimous decision with official scores of 120-108, 120-108, 119-109.

Newly-engaged Venezuela Fury made her first public appearance with her fiance Noah Price on Saturday to watch her dad Tyson take on Arslanbek Makhmudov

The 16-year-old, who accepted the amateur boxer's proposal at her birthday party, was supported by her partner, 17, ahead of the fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

The fight marked the fifth time the Gypsy King has returned having insisted he was finished with professional fighting - swearing off the physical and emotional strain it causes him and his family.

His U-turn again at 37 to face the dangerous Arslanbek Makhmudov was said to have enraged and upset his nearest and dearest.

When Tyson broke the news that he was coming out of retirement again, he revealed Paris didnt speak to him for days.

Paris sees no sense in her husband risking his health for money that will in no way materially change their lives.

His next fight will be against Anthony Joshua.

Speaking after his win, Tyson said: 'Thank you everyone for coming out tonight. I really appreciate every single one of you guys.

'Next, I want to give you the fight you've all been waiting for. I want you, AJ - Anthony Joshua. The Battle of Britain.

'I challenge you Anthony Joshua, to fight me, the Gypsy King next. Do you accept my challenge?'

Although fans didn't get the knock-out they were hoping for, Tyson won by unanimous decision with official scores of 120-108, 120-108, 119-109

Elsewhere, Tyson previously revealed his plans to 'bring the strippers' to his 16-year-old daughter Venezuela's fiance Noah's stag do.

Last October, the Furys shocked fans when they shared a video of Venezuela accepting Noah's proposal at her 16th birthday party.

Now, Tyson has shared that he doesn't know whether Noah has had his stag do as of yet but if he does get an invite, he plans to 'bring the strippers'.

Speaking to The Sun, Tyson said: 'I don't know if he's had a stag do yet. If he does, I'll be there  and I'll bring the strippers.'
Spring Break has shed light on the newest tipping scheme to strike America.

As families, college students, and adventurers set off on their springtime travels, a new opportunity for gathering gratuity has popped up.

Americans have already grown fed up of soaring percentages on receipts and the growing expectation to tip on everything from pedicures to plumbing services.

And now, the list of tipping beneficiates has spread across oceans - not to other countries, but to American cruise ships.

Indeed, a recent traveler complained that they had been told to tip baggage handlers at a cruise port $5 per bag.

'Why do they need to be tipped? They have good union jobs making a buttload of money and they really don't provide a service,' the cruise passenger complained on Reddit.

This passenger ended up not tipping because the luggage attendant had so much cash in his hands he couldn't help out in the first place.

'My wife and I were just on a cruise and when we got to the port, we already had our luggage tags on our bags. When we got to the area where the luggage goes, the guy just told me to put them on the luggage carrier myself,' they explained.

As families, college students, and adventurers set off on their springtime travels, a new opportunity for gathering gratuity has popped up

The list of tipping beneficiates has spread across oceans - not to other countries, but to American cruise ships.

'Apparently, he could not be bothered since he had a shitload of cash he received in his hands. So, I put our bags on the thingie and just walked away without tipping. My wife then asked me why I didn't tip the guy like everyone else did. I told her that he didn't do anything to warrant a tip. She just shrugged.'

People on Reddit were outraged by this latest tipping demand.

'Damn. You're expected to tip on cruises? They are already sooo expensive' someone wrote.

Another said: 'If you don't give them a bribe, they will put your bag on a cart and then hand it off. If you do bribe them, they will put your bag on a cart and then hand it off. There's no difference. They're not going to magically walk it up to your stateroom because you gave them a $5. Their job is to load carts with bags. That's it.'

'They don't need to be tipped, they want to be tipped. They want a piece of the tipping culture,' a different user wrote.

'I just do not see the logic in handing the guy a fiver when I am completely capable of handing my luggage myself,' another added.

A similar conundrum arose last year, when it became apparent that hotel staff were increasingly expecting tips.

Some Marriott and Hyatt properties started asking for tips at the front desk during check-in - a move many found off-putting.

A recent traveler complained that they had been told to tip baggage handlers at a cruise port $5 per bag

Traditionally, hotel guests might tip for services like luggage assistance or leave cash for housekeeping.

But now, places like Marriott's LaSalle Hotel in Bryan, Texas, and the Hyatt Centric Faneuil Hall in Boston have begun requesting a tip at check-in, View From The Wing reported.

'Needless to say, we ignored the tip request,' a guest asked to tip using a QR code at the Marriott LaSalle told the publication.

The guest added that they were 'smugly happy we don't stay at Marriott very often anymore.'

Hotel chains have argued that prompting their guests to tip is an effective way to boost staff pay without having to raise wages.

This practice also reflects the broader trend of 'tipflation', where tipping prompts are increasingly appearing across industries, shifting more of the responsibility for worker compensation onto customers.
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

The average tax refund issued by the IRS this year is $350 higher than it was in 2025 - that should give you yet another reason to stop procrastinating and get your taxes done.

Remember, the deadline for filing your return is just a week away, on April 15 - if youre not going to make the deadline for any reason, now is the time to request an extension from the IRS.

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

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.

The latest IRS tax filing update arrives as Americans are wrestling with higher prices across the board, especially gas costs - according to AAA, the average US gas price remains elevated at $4.12 a gallon, despite the recent Iran war ceasefire.

Another thing to remember: The government is moving toward all electronic payments, and the rule change means your refund could be delayed.

Under a law signed last year, the US Treasury has largely stopped issuing paper checks as part of a broader push to modernize payments and reduce fraud.

An Experian survey found lower-income Americans were more likely to use refunds to cover everyday expenses than to pay for eating out or going to the movies

The IRS has received 88.4 million individual returns, out of about 164 million expected

Rising prices are forcing US consumers to tighten their belts and spend less, which makes bigger tax refund checks even more important this time of year.

A March survey from Experian showed that more and more Americans are buckling under the pressure of rising prices - one respondent said I am trying to eat more at home and cut back on eating out because it has gotten so expensive.

Experian found that consumers in households earning less than $50,000 a year were more likely to say they would use tax refunds to cover everyday expenses like groceries - rather than eating out or going to the movies.

Consumers with annual household incomes between $50,000 and $100,000 indicated they were more likely to pay down debt with tax refund checks.

For households earning $100,000 or more, people said they would save or invest their tax refunds.

Another respondent aired their unhappiness with the cost of filing taxes using online platforms.

It's messed up that lobbyists from big companies have almost forced us to use their products to file our taxes and many people have to pay them to use them, one respondent told Experian.

The Trump administration recently shut down IRS Direct File, a pilot program that allowed taxpayers to file directly with the IRS for free.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed that the private sector was better equipped to handle tax preparation

For households earning $100,000 or more, people said they would save or invest their tax refunds

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed that the private sector was better equipped to handle tax preparation and that the program was an unnecessary expenditure of federal funds.

One reason for the bigger refunds this year are the changes to the tax code introduced by the Trump administrations one big beautiful bill act (OBBBA).

The law cut tax rates and expanded the standard deduction, and introduced new deductions for tip income and overtime pay.

Employers withhold federal income taxes from each of your paychecks, plus contributions to Social Security and Medicare, based on your earnings.

The laws new provisions were not reflected in tax withholding rules, so many workers likely paid more tax than necessary last year.

Its always worth bearing in mind that a tax refund is nothing more than money you overpaid to the IRS throughout the year.
Trump threatens Strait of Hormuz to open no matter if Iran cooperates

Xinhua) 09:30, April 11, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) walks to board Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026. Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation. Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation.

"That will open up automatically," Trump told reporters. He later said he believed the waterway would be open "fairly soon."

"I think it's going to go pretty quickly. And if it doesn't, we'll be able to finish it off one way or the other," Trump said of the strait, which Iran effectively closed during the more than one month long U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.

"No nuclear weapon. That's 99 percent of it," Trump said.

Earlier on Friday, Trump told The New York Post in a phone interview 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 peace talks in Pakistan fail.

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 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.

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) walks toward Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026. Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation.

Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

U.S. President Donald Trump (1st R) boards Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026. Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation.

Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) walks toward Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026. Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation.

Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

U.S. President Donald Trump walks toward Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026. Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation.

Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) walks toward Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026. Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation.

Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

U.S. President Donald Trump walks toward Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026. Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation.

Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) walks toward Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 10, 2026. Trump said Friday U.S. negotiators will discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranians in Pakistan on Saturday, asserting the crucial global energy waterway will reopen soon and "automatically," with or without Iran's cooperation.

Trump said his main focus in a deal with Iran was ensuring that Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
April 11, 2026: In 2017, an American foreign service officer experienced a sudden, debilitating health incident. Doctors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington ultimately diagnosed and treated the foreign service officer for a line-of-duty traumatic brain injury. He was never the same after the incident and years of painful recovery continued to the present. Since 1996, intelligence officers, diplomats, and military personnel have reported hundreds of cases of what is commonly known as Havana Syndrome. National Security Council officials admitted that the intelligence communitys approach had been flawed. They acknowledged that CIA leaders and analysts had resisted and ultimately ignored compelling intelligence that challenged their beliefs. From my perspective, the CIAs resistance in particular caused victims to suffer without care, unable to access government medical facilities.

The current American President was urged t0 address the problem by determining why earlier intelligence information was ignored and the victims denied care. The CIA must be made accountable for this situation. Meanwhile victims and their families must have access to the best available medical care.

A hostile foreign government was apparently responsible for causing the Havana Syndrome and must be called to account. Even today, none of the victims emerged unharmed. At least the victims know that they were right about the Havana Syndrome. It was real and they were permanently injured by what the government initially dismissed as nothing to worry about.

Meanwhile, Cuba continues to have other problems, like hunger, electricity blackouts and a total lack of public services. This is nothing new for Cuba. Its economy has been in free-fall since the Soviet Union collapsed 35 years ago, and essential cash and commodities, mainly oil, subsidies stopped. While expanding the tourism business helped avoid complete economic catastrophe, one of the major casualties has been the national railroad. Much cargo and most passenger service halted as the railroad system slowly disintegrated from lack of investment. That changed when China and Iran came forward to finance new rolling stock. 550 cargo wagons and 200 passenger cars came from Iran, and a hundred engines from China and supporting gear, especially new signaling and communications.

Earlier China and Iran signed loan deals with Cuba. This was not a new relationship. When the Russians moved out the Cubans reacted badly to the cutting of Soviet subsidies, China and Iran moved in. This has proved useful. Back in July 2003, satellite broadcasters transmitting television shows to Iran found their signals being jammed. The source of the jamming was quickly traced to Cuba. A satellite signal is very difficult to jam as it comes down from the satellite. But if you are close to the ground station that beams the signal up to the satellite, you can more easily interfere with that. At first it was thought that the Cuban government, using an old Soviet era electronic eavesdropping facility outside Havana, were doing the jamming as a favor to Iran which buys Cuban support with supplies of cut rate oil. The Chinese now ran the old Soviet facility and paid well. The Cuban government denied it had anything to do with the jamming and said it would find out where the jamming was coming from, and they did. Within a few weeks, the Cuban government reported that they had traced the jamming signal to a suburban compound owned by the Iranian embassy. The Cubans ordered the jamming to stop, and it did. But the Iranians stuck around and began to develop the kind of relationship that China already had. That's how you build, or rebuild, a railroad.
A Chipotle worker anonymously shared that the company's dreaded price increases are quickly approaching - and potentially more extreme than expected.

The Mexican grill chain announced in February that they were raising prices by 1 to 2 percent this year when CEO Scott Boatwright said during the fourth-quarter earnings call that the company was focused on increasing revenue amid weak sales.

Two months later, the anonymous employee said their general manager at an East Coast location showed them the updated menu board reflecting the changes.

'Beware,' they titled the post on Reddit. 'Chipotle is raising the prices by a $1.

'Don't know when this will take effect or if it'll only be in my area. But from a chicken bowl being $9.15, it'll be $10.15. Before taxes.'

If the company followed the initial menu price change they proposed in February, the one to two percent increase for a chicken bowl would be between $9.24 to $9.33. Instead, the price is a 10.93 percent increase.

Online users were shocked to hear the news, with one writing: 'When I first started eating Chipotle back in like 2016, it was $7.50 for a chicken bowl.'

Another had strong words for Boatwright, writing: 'Haven't been back since the CEO said I could afford higher prices. F**k Chipotle.'

A Chipotle worker anonymously shared that the company's dreaded price increases are quickly approaching- and potentially more expensive

The Mexican grill chain announced in February that they were raising prices by one to two percent this year when CEO Scott Boatwright said during the fourth-quarter earnings call that the company was focused on increasing revenue amid weak sales

Two months later, the anonymous employee said their general manager at an East Coast location showed them the updated menu board reflecting the changes, including more expensive chicken bowls

Others in the comments reported high prices in their own areas, with some citing $11.50 in New York City, $10.35 in Northern California and others claiming as high as $14.50 in unspecified locations.

Chipotle prices are more likely to be more expensive in major cities on the East and West Coasts, such as New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, than in a small city in Ohio or Oklahoma, according to the map on chipotlecost.com.

If the company followed the initial menu price change they proposed in February, the one to two percent increase for a chicken bowl would be between $9.24 to $9.33. Instead, the price is a 10.93 percent increase.

But the company has significantly raised prices from 2020 to 2026, often by 2 percent or more annually to offset rising labor and ingredient costs, pushing some popular burritos from around $8 to $9 in 2019 to over $10 to $12 by early 2026.

The February announcement sparked backlash from customers, as a growing 'K-shaped economy' is pushing lower-income diners away from eating out.

Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright noted that internal data shows about 60 percent of core customers come from households earning over $100,000, giving the company more flexibility to raise prices and target solo and group dining occasions. Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright noted that internal data shows about 60 percent of core customers come from households earning over $100,000

After criticism came for Boatwright online, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Laurie Schalow told the Daily Mail his comments were 'misinterpreted,' stressing that pricing was not directly tied to income levels.

'He stated on Chipotle's earnings call last week that 60 percent of its customers have an average household income over $100,000, so the company sees an opportunity to lean into these customers with new occasions like group or solo dining experiences,' Schalow said.

'Since this consumer population is actively spending more at shops and restaurants today, Chipotle is giving them additional reasons to visit through new marketing and menu innovations, as well as enhancements to the digital experience for all guests,' she added.

Others in the comments reported high prices in their own areas, with some citing $11.50 in New York City, $10.35 in Northern California and others claiming as high as $14.50 in unspecified locations

Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright noted that internal data shows about 60 percent of core customers come from households earning over $100,000

Schalow emphasized that pricing was not directly tied to that consumer cohort and noted that Chipotle has taken a cautious approach.

'Chipotle has only increased prices by approximately 0.7 percent this quarter, compared with an industry average of about 4 percent,' she said.

During the February earnings call, Boatwright also attributed the rising prices to lower foot traffic and said the company was attempting to draw in customers with its new protein snack menu, promotions for chicken al pastor and red chimichurri sauce.

Still, some customers have complained about rising prices and shrinking portions, including one college student on Reddit who said a $12.28 barbacoa burrito in La Jolla was 'barely the size of his palm.'

Laurie Schalow, Chipotle's chief corporate affairs officer, said: 'Chipotle has taken a slow, measured approach, raising prices by about 0.7 percent in the first quarter - well below the industry average of 4 percent.'
Detroit is offering thousands of dollars in cash to lure people to move there - as officials scramble to revive the citys population and economy.

A new program will hand out up to $15,000 to selected residents willing to relocate, stay, or invest in the city.

But only a few hundred people will actually get the money.

The initiative, called Make Detroit Home, will distribute just over $500,000 in total benefits, meaning competition is fierce for the limited spots.

Around 300 people are expected to be selected, with priority given to entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Successful applicants can use the cash for home down payments, rent, renovations or even to fund a business.

President and CEO of MoveDetroit, Hilary Doe, said participants will also receive access to industry and community events, park passes and discounts to local businesses.

'We're making history,' Doe told the Daily Mail. 'There has never been a city-wide effort of this magnitude, with this many organizations, all working together to grow Detroits population and economy.'

There are separate 'Make Detroit Home' initiatives for current and former residents of the Midwest city

Michigan Central in Detroit is now a Ford hub for mobility and community initiatives open to the public

Make Detroit Home is not a publicly funded venture, Doe confirmed, meaning over 50 Detroit-based organizations 'and counting' joined together to finance the project.

Detroit-born founder of Rocket Mortgage, Dan Gilbert, serves as the chair of the MoveDetroit coalition.

'For too long, we've been educating some of the most talented young people in the country, only to watch them leave to places like New York City, Atlanta, California, Seattle, Miami, and elsewhere,' Gilbert said.

'Our city and state has basically been running a free training program for other cities. At our largest universities, we are losing nearly half our graduates,' he added. 'But today, we're flipping that equation.'

Major businesses like Rocket Mortage, Google, Fifth Third Bank, Henry Ford Health, Birdstop and StockX all have a presence in Detroit.

The amount of money new residents will receive varies based on application type. Selected remote workers making the switch to Detroit will receive $1,000 to soften any relocation costs.

Chosen applicants who are already living in the city will be offered $15,000 to be used 'towards a business investment/work project, down-payment, home renovation or other housing subsidy.' The same offer applies to former Detroiters who are returning to the area.

'We are going to keep the people who are already here. We are going to bring back those who left,' Gilbert said. 'And we're going to attract the next generation of builders, creators, and entrepreneurs from everywhere, including the cities who stole our kids.'

Join the discussion Should cash incentives be used to revive struggling cities, or are deeper changes needed for real renewal?

Detroit has the free 'People Mover' downtown loop, as well as city-wide buses and bike-sharing

'Our flagship program, Make Detroit Home, ensures that all Detroiters, current and future, are provided with opportunities to build their brightest possible future right here in this amazing city,' Doe added.

Detroit, known as Motor City, has been a longstanding hub for auto manufacturing and industry investment - but the downfall of major carmakers, combined with the mortgage crisis, drove millions from their homes in the 2000s.

Less than two decades ago, one in five houses stood empty in the city, with foreclosed properties on deserted streets being sold for $1.

Recently, however, the city has been seeing a drastic revival. Despite its reputation as one of the most violent cities in America, crime rates in Detroit have been consistently decreasing.

Homicides, nonfatal shootings and carjackings are currently trending 15 to 30 percent below 2024, according to the Detroit Police Department.

'Detroits progress in reducing crime shows whats possible when the Court and our justice partners work together with purpose,' Chief Judge William C. McConico said. 'Were not just improving outcomes today, were building a safer, stronger city for the future.'

Last year, the Midwest city also overtook St. Louis as the number one luxury housing market.

Homes in Detroit's luxury market are far cheaper than in most major metros. The most expensive homes in the area listed at around $720,000, compared to about $1.24 million nationally.
The death of a Chinese research scientist at the University of Michigan has become an international diplomatic incident, triggering demands from the Chinese government for a full investigation, a vigil organized by campus groups, and an urgent warning from the university's postdoctoral researchers union that international scholars must understand and exercise their legal rights.

Danhao Wang, 30, an assistant research scientist in the University of Michigan's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, died on March 20 after falling from an upper level inside the George G. Brown Building on campus, according to university police. The UM Department of Police and Public Safety is investigating the incident as a "possible act of self-harm," according to spokesperson Melissa Overton. A toxicology report is pending.

CBS News Detroit confirmed that Wang died shortly after speaking with federal investigators. The FBI has not publicly commented on its questioning of Wang or any related investigation.

Who Danhao Wang Was

Wang joined the University of Michigan in 2022 as a postdoctoral research scientist in the College of Engineering, working in the laboratory of Professor Zetian Mi, a leading researcher in semiconductor materials. He had recently been promoted to the role of assistant research scientist.

Dean of Engineering Karen Thole wrote to the College of Electrical and Computer Science community on March 23: "Dr. Wang was a promising and brilliant young mind, whose research into wide bandgap III-nitride semiconductor materials and devices published in Nature stands as a landmark, uncovering for the first time the switching and charge compensation mechanisms of emerging ferroelectric nitrides. 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."

Thole also warned the university community against misinformation generated by artificial intelligence, noting the investigation was ongoing and facts were still being established.

China's Diplomatic Response

The Chinese government has moved forcefully and publicly to characterize Wang's death as the direct consequence of federal harassment of Chinese scholars on American campuses.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement without naming Wang specifically, saying a University of Michigan researcher had "taken his own life after being subjected to hostile questioning by U.S. law enforcement personnel." The ministry called the incident emblematic of a broader pattern. "These moves infringe on Chinese citizens' legitimate and lawful rights and interests, poison the atmosphere of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and the U.S., and create a serious chilling effect," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.

Liu Pengyu, spokesman for China's embassy in Washington, confirmed to the South China Morning Post that Wang had taken his own life and said the U.S. had "overstretched" the concept of national security. The Chinese Consulate General in Chicago said it had "lodged stern representations to the relevant departments of the U.S. government and relevant universities on this case many times." The consulate called on the U.S. to "carry out a full investigation, give the family of the victim and the Chinese side a responsible explanation, stop any discriminatory law enforcement targeting Chinese students and scholars in the U.S., and stop imposing wrongful convictions."

The University's Response and the Postdoc Union Warning

The University of Michigan has acknowledged Wang's death and said support resources are available to the campus community as the investigation continues. Interim President Domenico Grasso did not address Wang's death specifically in public statements.

The University of Michigan Postdoctoral Researchers' Organization (UM-PRO), which represents approximately 1,500 postdoctoral researchers at the university, issued a formal statement directly addressing the circumstances of Wang's death. Nick Geiser, an organizer with UM-PRO, confirmed that Wang was an assistant research scientist in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department who had recently been promoted. He noted that approximately 60% of all postdoctoral researchers at the university are international workers.

UM-PRO's statement said the organization had been made aware of reports that federal authorities interrogated Wang before his death. "This incident is contextual to a larger climate of fear felt by immigrant workers from all industries, home countries, and walks of life under the current administration," Geiser said. The union advised all its members  both citizens and visa holders  not to speak to law enforcement without an attorney present, citing their constitutional rights.

The Broader Context: Chinese Researchers Under Scrutiny at Michigan

Wang's death is occurring against a backdrop of significant federal scrutiny of Chinese researchers at the University of Michigan specifically, and at American universities more broadly.

In October 2024, five Chinese University of Michigan students were charged with crimes including conspiracy, lying to federal investigators, and destroying records in connection with a federal investigation after they were found near Camp Grayling, a military facility in northern Michigan, during a U.S. National Guard training exercise involving members of the Taiwanese military. The criminal case, filed by FBI Special Agent Caroline Julee Colpoys, said the students were found near military vehicles, tents, and classified communications equipment. The students left the country after graduating in May 2024 before they could be prosecuted.

Separately, the University of Michigan is one of four universities  along with Harvard, Penn, and UC Berkeley  currently under federal investigation for failing to accurately disclose foreign funding under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, including funding from Chinese government-affiliated entities.

Days after Wang's death, UM Interim President Grasso appeared before the U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce at a hearing titled "U.S. Universities Under Siege: Foreign Espionage, Stolen Innovation, and the National Security Threat." Grasso said the university continues to improve background checks for foreign students and researchers and has strengthened policies around sensitive research material. He said foreign students "come and enrich our campuses because they not only bring their intellectual power, but they bring different perspectives from around the world." He could not answer, when pressed by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), how many U.S. government-funded research projects at the university had foreign student involvement.

What This Means for International Researchers

For the estimated 1 million international students and researchers currently on U.S. campuses  including roughly 370,000 from China  Wang's death and the circumstances surrounding it have intensified a climate of anxiety that has been building for more than a year under the Trump administration's crackdown on foreign influence in American universities.

Megan Russell, China campaign coordinator at CODEPINK, said: "This is not an isolated incident. This is a series of repeated targeting of Chinese scholars."

Campus groups at the University of Michigan are organizing a vigil for Wang. A petition demanding answers about the circumstances of his death is circulating.

The investigation by university and local police is ongoing. The FBI has not confirmed the nature or scope of its questioning of Wang, and no charges or formal accusations against Wang have been made public. The family has asked for privacy as they grieve.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. International resources are available at befrienders.org.
King's College London is embroiled in a heated national debate after leaked documents revealed a radical new assessment framework that encourages staff to overlook grammar and traditional exams, to promote 'inclusivity.'

The Russell Group institution, consistently ranked among the world's best, is facing accusations of eroding academic rigour by prioritising 'diverse knowledge systems' and 'lived experiences' over traditional linguistic accuracy.

Under the new guidelines, first reported by the Daily Mail, lecturers are urged to focus on students' ideas rather than their technical command of English. This move is part of a broader overhaul aimed at making the university more accessible to a diverse student body, but it has sparked fears that a King's College London degree could be devalued in the eyes of global employers.

The policy shift also includes a significant reduction in essay word counts, dropping from 2,000 to approximately 1,300 words in certain departments, to alleviate 'academic pressure'. While the university insists this prepares students for the 'practical skills' of the modern workplace, internal critics have branded the move a 'race to the bottom' that could alienate the university from peers such as Oxford and Cambridge.

Inclusive Marking UK: Prioritising Ideas Over Technical Accuracy

The core of the controversy lies in the inclusive marking of the UK strategy, which seeks to reward 'cultural identity' in academic work. Supporters argue that strict adherence to 'Standard English' can unfairly disadvantage students from non-traditional or international backgrounds. A spokesperson for the university defended the framework, stating that KCL academic standards remain intact and that the reforms were developed alongside experts to ensure 'academic integrity'.

The KCL grammar backlash has been amplified by online commentators, who suggest that employers may soon view a KCL qualification with scepticism if basic literacy is no longer a prerequisite for high marks.

Some lecturers have described the reforms as a potential 'dumbing down' of academic standards, warning that reducing the emphasis on grammar could impact the quality and consistency of marking. One academic, speaking anonymously to The Daily Mail, criticised the direction of the policy, suggesting it risks sending mixed signals about expectations in higher education.

Students have also voiced concerns, particularly over the reduced word limits. In an open letter, some argued that shorter essays could prevent them from fully exploring their subjects.

One user, identified as 'Robo-dad', wrote: 'If employers are aware of what is going on in some of our so-called "education establishments," as soon as they read "King's College London," on a CV, it will probably go straight in the bin.'

'SandyBay159' also commented: 'Inclusive' of what?...Low standards?(!)'

KCL Word Count Reduction: Impact On Academic Rigour

Beyond the linguistics, the KCL word count reduction has frustrated a segment of the student population who feel that 1,300 words is insufficient to explore complex academic subjects. In an open letter, students argued that 'dumbing down' assignment length restricts their ability to provide the depth required at the degree level. This shift away from traditional, long-form essays and high-stakes exams marks a departure from the UK higher education standards typically associated with the 'Golden Triangle' of London, Oxford, and Cambridge.

The university counters this by asserting that shorter, more concise writing is a 'practical skill' highly valued by employers. Yet, critics note that this change follows a growing trend of 'compassionate marking' across the UK, which some fear is a response to falling student satisfaction scores rather than a genuine pedagogical improvement.

An ex-King's College student, now a lecturer at the University of East London, shared her opinion on the matter and the principle behind the changes with IBTimes: 'I believe our role as lecturers across the UK is to always be inclusive and take into account that university is full of individual students,' she said. 'As lecturers, our goal is to ensure students are supported with their academic English, but also we validate the lived students' experience and tailor our teaching and assessment to the diverse knowledge students possess.'

King's Responds To 'Dumbing Down' Claims

King's College London has rejected suggestions that the changes lower standards. A spokesperson said the university continues to include rigorous exams alongside alternative forms of assessment, adding that the updated framework is designed to equip students with practical skills while maintaining academic integrity.

'Standards at King's remain as high as ever. Our approach still includes rigorous exams, alongside other forms of assessment that help students build the practical skills employers are looking for. We have worked closely with students, alongside academic experts, to develop this approach so that our graduates are ready for the workplace  without compromising academic integrity.'

The university also noted that the reforms were developed in consultation with students and academic experts, as part of its wider commitment to inclusion.

The controversy has placed a spotlight on how universities define excellence in an increasingly diverse academic landscape, and whether inclusivity and rigour can truly coexist without compromise.

Employer Perceptions Of UK Degree Standards 2026

The long-term risk of the King's College London assessment lies in the recruitment sector. If the perception grows that elite universities are lowering the bar for entry and graduation, the prestige of the UK's 95-billion higher education sector could be at stake. Commentators on social media have already suggested that CVs featuring KCL could be overlooked by recruiters seeking candidates with impeccable communication skills.

Despite the outcry, the trend toward 'decolonising the curriculum' and adopting 'culturally responsive' assessments is gaining momentum across the country. Whether King's College London is a pioneer in a more equitable form of education or a canary in the coal mine for declining standards remains a point of intense contention.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
In a country that values the rights of criminals more than the victim and punishes citizens who fight back, broken Britain is a place run by apathetic, out-of-touch arseholes.

Shoplifting is now a normalised activity that is not only ignored by the police but also ignored by the Labour government.

 Diversity is our strength! they said. Video 1: Hooded enrichment casually bags multiple wine bottles by the checkout and strolls out, no fear, just vibes. Video 2: In M&S, vibrant shoplifter fills his bag, then shoves the staff member who dares intervene, before storming pic.twitter.com/OhHt0w173c    & , NMA. (@MadDogBrit) April 7, 2026

The conflict in the Middle East will invariably mean that the cost of consumer goods increases due to high energy costs in the UK plus the lack of fertiliser (due to the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz) because Red Ed Miliband refuses to drill in the North Sea. The cost of shipping energy to the UK is huge and a waste of money. The entire retail industry will have to raise prices from their already raised prices to compensate for the high costs incurred from delivery of goods.

Organised shoplifting crews can either clean out a store or target specific goods for theft, which they then sell on the black market for free money that is not taxed.

Some shoplifters in the UK can make over 45,000 a month, and it is perfectly safe for them as they are immune from arrest or prosecution.

Recently, a Waitrose worker of 17 years service was fired for tackling a shoplifter. Such is the malaise in the UK that even security guards in stores are barred from touching shoplifters, and if they do, they are also fired.

The message from the Labour government is thus one of reticence and apathy, which brings forth a green light for anyone who wishes to simply walk into any store they want and take what they want.

Heres to shoplifting in the UK. Hooray!
One of the biggest protests in Donegal is set to take place this evening.

A stop-protest starting at Manorcunningham Roundabout at 5pm and going onto the dual carriageway towards Dry Arch in Letterkenny is being planned and organisers have insisted they do not intend to block roads and the protest is a peaceful one.

A go-slow protest took place on the 20km stretch from Bridgend to Manorcunningham on Thursday 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.

Since then, there have been similar protests in the Twin Towns and this morning between Ballyshannon and Donegal Town.

We're in the process of organising hopefully, one of the biggest protests ever to be in Donegal, Mark said. We don't want people blocking people and stuff. There are rules and regulations.

We want to keep everybody on site. We want to keep everybody together. We'll try and make this as eventful and good as we can without anybody getting disrupted.

READ NEXT: Diversions in place to facilitate five-day east Donegal road works

This is what this protest is going to be about, it's not about blocking anybody or causing a hindrance to everybody. There's a pile of smaller protests happening all around the whole county as we can't make it to Dublin.

The ongoing fuel protests in Ireland are a response to rapidly rising fuel prices and broader cost-of-living pressures. The demonstrations around the county and specifically in the wider Dublin area, have been led by a grassroots movement of hauliers, farmers, and transport-dependent workers.

Prices have spiked significantly due to global energy shocks, specifically linked to the 2026 US-Israeli war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Diesel has reached approximately 2.17 per litre, while petrol is around 1.931.95 per litre.

Protesters frequently cite that Irish taxes - including excise, VAT, and carbon tax - account for roughly 52% to 59% of the pump price and claim the Irish government is not doing enough to protect the people from the high costs. Hauliers and farmers say current prices make their businesses unsustainable, leading to potential financial ruin for many in the transport and agricultural sectors.

The Irish Defence Forces being called in to support An Garda Siochana contributed to the reason for locally-arranged protests.

We want to unite all these together now, the whole lot as one to get as many people all packed in for social media, for drone pictures, for the news, for whoever is going to be there to send a message to Dublin to say Donegal is not gone off their map - it might be gone off the government's map but it's not gone for us, Mark added.

We want to send the message that we're here and we're loud and clear and we're behind this protest. Everyone in Donegal is affected by this. The government's going to try to divide everybody down the centre. They're going to try these dirty tactics now to divide everybody down the centre.

The only divide I want now is the Irish people against the Irish government. Keep calm heads, try not to do silly things. Let's try and make this as peaceful as possible. The boys in Dublin are doing to do it peacefully. Let's show them that we can do it as well.

We're going to try and get the guards involved here. I want everybody to respect the guards, everybody to respect, most importantly, ambulances and people trying to get to hospitals. It could be one of our own family members, who could take a turn at any time to get there. Anybody who's even organising protests, try and bear that in mind. Try not to block businesses, because businesses are affected by this as well.

If you start blocking people's businesses or blocking a hospital or blocking anything, you're going to lose the respect of the people. Let's join all the protests together. And we're going to go to Letterkenny. We're not going to block Letterkenny, so people there, so don't be panicking.

We're going to start on the dual carriageway at Manor Roundabout. That's going to be the main spot. We're going to take the two lanes and the grass and the centre. Tractors and all can get into the centre of the grass. We're going to leave the hard shoulder as big as we possibly can - bigger than it actually is. And those two lanes on each side of the dual carriageway are to be left open at all times.

I don't want to see anybody blocking those two hard shoulders - the one going into Letterkenny and the one coming out has to be kept open because at any time there could be an ambulance, or a guard of the car, or a doctor, or somebody needing to get to a hospital. We want them to have a free run straight into Letterkenny.

When you come, we'll try and get traffic marshals and the guards to all the tractors, try and get up on the grass wherever you can. There are plenty of big businessmen in Donegal. You need to get out. Get your men out. Get your tractors out. Get your lorries out. Get your whatever has a set of wheels on it that can drive. Taxis. Buses. People in cars. Take your families.

This one is going to be big. I'm hoping that this dual carriageway in Letterkenny is going to be lined the whole way. We're going to try and have as many people there, marshalling, trying to keep things moving. No blockades. We want all the protests to come together as one big one, from the whole of Donegal.

Just take control of the thing yourselves. We'll do our best. Everybody try and be responsible for themselves. If you see somebody doing something stupid and blocking something, just have a word with them. This is not what this is about. This is a peaceful protest. This is about getting everybody together and trying to unite everybody. Its about being peaceful and not blocking anybody."

Mark added that the invite is an open one and called on Donegals TDs and county councillors to weigh in with their support.

We're going to call out every TD in this county and there's plenty in this county to be there, he added. It's going to be in Donegal, so you've no excuse not to be there. Every county councillor in Donegal should be there. Everyone is invited. It's up to you if you want to come or not.
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Dreams on Four Wheels

Some are not as interested in concept cars, preferring to wait for the actual road-going model before paying them much attention. Others find them fascinating because they offer a glimpse of what the brands future may look like. For automakers, meanwhile, concept cars provide room to experiment with different ideas, some of which can eventually influence their production lineup.

Rolls-Royce, the British luxury marque known for its bespoke approach to individualization, is no stranger to concept cars, even referring to them as Experimental, or EX, models. Now, the company is celebrating the anniversaries of three EX cars introduced since the Goodwood era began in 2003 under BMW ownership. These concepts helped pave the way for some of the brands hallmark innovations, including the Starlight Headliner and its first all-electric production model, the Spectre.

Rolls-Royce 101EXRolls-Royce

The EX Files

The first was the 101EX, a full four-seat coupe introduced at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. Built on the same aluminum spaceframe as the Phantom VII, though slightly shorter, the 101EX featured a lower roofline and a reworked Pantheon grille. Notably, the first Goodwood-era EX car also introduced the Starlight Headliner, which is now seen across nearly all Rolls-Royce models.

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Next up is the 102EX, known as Rolls-Royces first battery-electric vehicle and dubbed the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE). It was unveiled in 2011 a year before the now-outgoing Tesla Model S was sold  and allowed the automaker to gather data on alternative powertrains. Those learnings ultimately contributed to the development of the Spectre, which is now among the most expensive EVs on the market, excluding electric hypercars like the Rimac Nevera.

Rolls-Royce 102EXRolls-Royce

Three Bold Experiments

The third EX car is the 103EX, instantly recognizable for its sci-fi-esque design, highlighted by large, sculpted wheel arches and a glass Spirit of Ecstasy, another first for Rolls-Royce. Perhaps its biggest talking point, however, was the interior, known as the Grand Sanctuary. It featured contemporary materials, a sofa made to appear as though it were floating through the use of lighting, and a digital assistant called Eleanor  named after Eleanor Thornton, who is believed to have inspired the Spirit of Ecstasy  designed to work with features such as fully autonomous driving.

The 101EX, 102EX, and 103EX mark their 20th, 15th, and 10th anniversaries, respectively. Together, they offer a glimpse of what future Rolls-Royce models could look like  models that may not be exclusively all-electric after the company walked back its 2030 EV-only target and committed to continue building V12s.

Rolls-Royce 103EX Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce

View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article

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This story was originally published by Autoblog on Apr 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Irish Government is to re-enter talks on Saturday aimed at defusing protests which have strangled the distribution of fuel around the country.

A series of protests, which have involved blockades at key fuel distribution sites, are continuing for a fifth consecutive day after a crunch meeting on Friday failed to end with concrete proposals.

Protesters say the Government needs to take urgent action on fuel prices or they will go out of business.

There were fears that around a third of Irelands 1,500 filling stations would have run dry by morning as protesters engaged in a blockade of the countrys only oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, as well as key depots in Galway and Foynes, Co Limerick.

There have also been concerns about fuel shortages leading to curtailments on the provision of emergency services and the delivery of vital goods  while the National Emergency Coordination Group urged the public to only buy the fuel they need.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin warned that Ireland is on the precipice of turning oil away from the country, describing the situation as unconscionable, illogical, and difficult to comprehend.

The protests, which have also seen slow-moving convoys and outright stoppages on major motorways as well as a blockade on Dublin citys main thoroughfare, began on Tuesday over the cost of fuel.

Participants include professional drivers, farmers and hauliers as well as taxi and bus operators.

Many official representative groups recognised by Government have expressed sympathy with the cause but have said they have not been involved in organising the protests.

Government ministers engaged with some of these groups on Friday but a spokesman for the protesters expressed devastation that they were excluded from the meeting.

A commitment from the coalition on Friday night to deliver a substantial package of measures on fuel costs was not enough to dissuade protesters from continuing blockades.

Christopher Duffy, a spokesman for the grouping in Dublin city centre, said the protest would continue until there was a serious reduction in our costs.

Talks between Government departments and representative bodies are set to continue at lunchtime on Saturday, with a view to finalising what deputy premier Simon Harris said would be substantial and significant measures for affected industries.

Meanwhile, ministers said the Irish Defence Forces are on standby to help the Irish police service, An Garda Siochana, remove blockades at critical infrastructure.

An Garda Siochana internally declared an exceptional event, allowing it to designate every member available for duty over the weekend.
Louth County Council have been told to use everything at its disposal to address illegal dumping in the county.

Independent councillor Maeve Yore told the March meeting of Louth County Council that the local authority should take a "zero tolerance approach" and to be "more proactive" when it comes to tackling illegal dumping.

She said residents in one particular estate are having to dump their waste over the walls to alleviate pressure on their bins.

Fellow Independent councillor Ciaran Fisher called on Louth County Council to clamp down on businesses and households who fail to abide by the local authority's waste byelaws.

"It was noted that there are businesses that often leave the bin out in contradiction of our byelaws, and fines have been issued to some businesses every week and theyre happy to pay it," he said.

Under the Louth County Council (Segregation, Storage, and Presentation of Household and Commercial Waste) Byelaws 2019 householder are required to comply using one of the following options:

Registration with one of the local waste collectors for the provision of bins to allow for kerbside collection of household waste or Bring seg regated household waste to a Transfer Station/Civic Amenity Site as required. All receipts as proof of this are required to be submitted.

Householders that fail to provide evidence of one of the above will be subject to a 75 fixed penalty notice.

Cllr Fisher questioned if the local authority could introduce escalating fines that "gets worse week-on-week if the problem doesnt get better".

David Hanratty, Director of Operations and Environment Delivery with Louth County Council said there "isn't really scope for an escalating fine" in legislation but said the Council would examine if it could be possible through the Litter or Waste Management acts.

Cllr Fisher also asked about the outcome of the Council's reverse bin register in Castleross in Dundalk.

Mr Hanratty said Louth County Council surveyed 153 houses as part of the project.

He said although it is "resource intensive" the Council hopes to replicate it in other areas throughout the county.

Read Next: Louth Gardai crack down on dangerous driving over bank holiday

The Council were also told it should be "tactical" in its approach to increase the number of brown bins across the county.

Cllr Fisher said: "We are encouraging brown bins across the county. But we might be tactical about that and if were looking at a very densely packed urban area where bin storage is an issue, maybe we could look at exemptions in certain scenarios. We already have a bin problem on footpaths and we dont want to introduce more bins."

In response, Mr Hanratty said it is national policy to encourage the use of brown bins. He said rather than granting exemptions, residents could opt for smaller bins to ease storage concerns.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Dundalk Chamber of Commerce have announced their upcoming Cross Border Tourism Conference, taking place on Wednesday, 15th April. This half-day event will bring together tourism professionals, businesses, and stakeholders from across the region and beyond for learning, inspiration, and meaningful connection.

Organised by Dundalk Chamber and sponsored by An Tain Arts Centre, Failte Ireland, Local Enterprise Office Louth, Louth County Council, Marshes Shopping Centre and Dundalk Chamber Skillnet, this event will bring experts together from various Tourism projects around Ireland and Europe. There will also be a Tourism Advisory Clinic.

Under the theme Growing Your Visitors  Learning from the Best, the conference features a strong line-up of local, national, and international speakers, each sharing insights, case studies, and practical strategies to help destinations and tourism businesses grow sustainably and competitively.

Speakers include:

-Paul Hayes & Mary Claire Cowley  An Tain Arts Centre

-Olivia McCormach- Louth County Council

-Grainne OConnor -Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark

-Rory King- Rorys Travel Club

-Raquel Naboa- Fifty Shades Greener

-Tina Novak Samec- Institute for Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sport Brda ( Slovenia)

-Pol O Conghaile- Travel Editor with the Irish Independent

Attendees can look forward to a diverse and engaging programme covering key topics shaping the future of tourism, including:

-Cultural Tourism

-Regenerative Tourism

-Sustainability

-Marketing

-Travel trends

The conference is designed to offer practical takeaways, real-world examples, and forward-thinking ideas that can be applied across tourism businesses, attractions, and destinations.

In addition to the conference programme, the event will provide excellent networking opportunities, allowing attendees to connect with peers, speakers, and industry leaders. A dedicated trade stand area will also be available on the day, showcasing services, supports, and innovations within the tourism sector.

Read Next: Man who died in Louth collision named

This conference is ideal for anyone working in or connected to tourism, hospitality, destination development, culture, and visitor experiences who wants to stay informed, inspired, and connected.

Cost

Attendees  Free to Dundalk Chamber Members, Non Members 20 plus VAT

Stands  100 plus VAT

To book a Trade Stand at the conference visit dundalk.ie
Neil Tullys grandmothers home in the 1950s and 60s probably resembled the homes of many of our own elderly relatives here in Ireland.

Of course, it goes without saying that there was the famous JFK photograph in pride of place on the wall over the fireplace in grannys sitting room after the President visited New Ross! says Tully.

His visit to Ireland in June, 1963, was a pivotal moment in Irish history and one that ignited the spirit of the nation.

JFKs arrival into his ancestral home is seen as heralding the beginning of change in this country - and is the pivotal point in Tullys new book, The Visit.

The book captures Ireland at a significant point, embracing modernity over piety and poverty, says Tully, a Cork-based dentist originally from Mayo.

His debut novel has all the intriguing ingredients that make for a good thriller; with true to life characters such as the villain, the local garda who knows a lot but says little, and the ambitious property developer.

It is all based around the historic visit of President Kennedy that has gone down in Irish history.

Tully is delighted to have his first book published. Like his dad before him, he is an avid reader.

I read for an hour before I go to work in my dental practice in Shandon Street and I read for an hour at lunchtime, says Tully.

My late dad, who was a superintendent garda, was a great reader. Dad was one of 13 and brought up on a rural farm. He loved Dickens and the classics.

He has a quote attributed to Dickens written on his tombstone, A Loving Heart is the Truest Wisdom.

Tully has the gift of authenticity when writing about one of the main characters in his book, Jim Field, the local garda.

My twin brother is also a garda, says the author, who spent time working in Australia and completed an MA in Creative Writing at UL during covid. He learned from the best.

Joseph OConnor and Donal Ryan are such literary icons who I have always admired, says Tully.

With the two talented authors supporting me and encouraging me, The Visit was completed and published.

But not in his dental rooms, I presume?

No, for sure not in my dental rooms! laughs Tully.

At home in Bishopstown, I am fortunate to have a converted garage out back that I can use for writing, which was always one of my passions.

The Visit, the debut novel by Cork author Neil Tully, which is set during the visit of John F Kennedy to Ireland in 1963

As a child, I wrote match reports and poetry. I also admired songwriters like Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, which was unusual for a young child.

Neil ended up writing the sort of novel that he likes to read.

A small town, a sense of trouble lurking...

The main character in The Visit is Patrick Hatten.

Patrick is an outcast whose parents are dead and who is at a loss financially. He is troubled and he is eccentric, says Tully.

Garda Jim Field feels a paternal responsibility towards him, even though there is a risk Patrick might be dangerous and cause trouble nearer to JFKs visit to New Ross.

Patrick lives on the fringes of the community. As time goes on, his actions threaten to unravel Jim, who is burdened by a guilty conscience of a previous event involving Patricks father being committed to a mental institution.

The town is unravelling with the threat of what Patrick might do ahead of the American Presidents visit to Ireland.

An interesting plot to be sure.

Its a fusion of interests of my own, says Neil.

Kennedy - that generation of men and women, the casualties of progress. There are undercurrents of trouble with focus on atmosphere and place.

Its the beginning of a new Ireland emerging.

The chapters in the book alternate between the viewpoints of Jim, who is a thinker and a romantic, and the third person for Patrick adds a distance that suits his isolation.

Tully reels the reader in to all the issues of 1963, and the strides men and women made after, year on year, decade on decade.

Letting the reader know what Patrick is up to before Jim does helps build tension, explains Tully.

The social strife in Ireland in the early 1960s, like housing and emigration, for instance, is the vital beat of the book.

Kennedy captured the national mood and aspiration of the nation in 1963.

Does Neil aspire to being a full-time writer? Can he extract himself from the day job as a dentist?

He laughs.

In a dream world, Id like to be writing full time, says Tully.

On the flip side, it gives me a kind of independence. I hope the book will be received well.

And if it sells well?

Even better!

The Visit is in the front window of Waterstones in Cork. How does that feel? Surreal! says Tully.

He is having the last laugh.

For 10 years now, my colleagues have had a laugh about my writing, says Tully. They have been super supportive.

His wife, Sinead, from Cork, is also hugely supportive, he says

I try and build writing into all aspects of my life and try to make sure all the dials are turned towards it, says Tully.

I enjoyed visiting New Ross for my research and for local references. The landscape was important.

I did a book signing there and I was delighted with the turn-out.

No doubt hell be delighted if The Visit is a best-seller?

That would be fantastic. But if it doesnt sell well, Ill keep writing!

The author is looking forward to book signing events around the country in the coming months, and had one in Waterstones in Cork city last week

The Visit, by Neil Tully, is published by Eriu and on sale now.
Shoppers at a busy supermarket in Co Cork had to contend with an intoxicated man who was lying asleep on the ground in the entrance before he was arrested and removed by gardai, the district court has heard.

Sergeant Eimear OConnell told Macroom District Court that gardai were called to SuperValu in Macroom on October 8, 2025, where they found a man identified as Jeremiah Twomey, aged 63, of Graigue, Inchigeelagh, Co Cork, lying on the floor by the entrance.

The court heard that Twomey was highly intoxicated and was arrested for his own safety and the safety of others.

He was taken to Macroom Garda Station and charged with being intoxicated in a public place contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Public Order Act, 1994. He pleaded guilty to the charge.

The court heard that Twomey had four previous convictions, two of which were for the same offence.

Patrick Goold, defending, said his client was an alcoholic who had left the family home due to his addiction issues and was staying with a neighbour.

He said Twomey had made several attempts to get off the drink but always seemed to relapse. He said that Twomey was always co-operative and never aggressive.

Judge Joanne Carroll said Twomey needed to try to address his problem.

She placed him on a probation bond for six months on condition that he attends alcohol addiction services as advised and also makes a 50 contribution to the court poor box.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Watch out Toyota Taco fans, the Koreans are coming after your breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Toyota Tacoma and friends are about to be shown up by take a guess. Hyundai? Nope, youre wrong. But almost.

Hyundais sister company, Kia, just officially announced its efforts to build and introduce a new midsize pickup specifically for the American market. But its not just the pickup itself that will be the main attraction.

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Instead, Kia plans to seriously one-up the Tacoma and its rivals by being the first to do a series of forward-thinking innovations for the popular open-bed segment.

Beating everyone else to the electrification trend

Kias first modern pickup, the Tasman, set the stage globally for the brands latest rugged ambitions. - Credit: Kia

The confirmation comes from Kia CEO, Ho Sung Song, who recently announced the pickup at the companys annual investor meeting. There, Song confirmed a new midsize pickup designed and engineered specifically for the American market is in the works.

The plan is to grab a piece of the popular midsize pickup market pie currently dominated by the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger and Nissan Frontier. Hyundai also has an American-focused midsize pickup in the works, while Ram is in the process of reviving the Dakota.

Although not meant for North America, the Tasman is already proving itself in the Australian and Asian export markets. - Credit: Kia

The way Kia hopes to really separate itself from the rest is by introducing electrified powertrains for its pickup. But that doesnt mean full electrification.

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Instead, Kia is ambitiously planning to introduce a gas-electric hybrid pickup, which would be a first for the US market. Ultimately, the brand hopes to move 90,000 new midsize pickups annually by 2034.

2026 Kia Tasman in Action

6 photos

Kia - Credit: Kia

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Kia - Credit: Kia

Kia - Credit: Kia

Kia - Credit: Kia

Kia - Credit: Kia

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Kia - Credit: Kia

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Currently, no option from the midsize pickup market offers any sort of electrified powertrain, as the segment exclusively offers gas-only power. Kias expected arrival date? Sometime by 2030.

Kia wont be beating Toyota on a global level in terms of electrifying a midsize pickup. Toyota debuted the next-gen Hilux with gas, all-electric and plug-in gas-electric powertrains not too long ago.

But it will be the first to introduce an electrified midsize pickup in the North American market.

Hyundai and Kia pickups will be cousins

With the Tasman, its obvious Kia knows what its doing in terms of off-road capability and ruggedness.

Over the past couple of years (and, especially, more recently), Hyundai solidified its plan to introduce a new body-on-frame midsize pickup. The Korean automaker decided to build the model as a replacement for the slow-selling Santa Cruz.

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Just last week, Hyundai also teased the pickup in a sense with the reveal of its Boulder Concept SUV. Despite being an SUV, the Boulder previews what the pickups styling could look like as Hyundai is planning to also build an SUV based on the same platform its using for the pickup.

Like the Toyota Tacoma and GM offerings, the Hyundai and Kia midsize pickups will be cousins. - Credit: Hyundai

In a sense, Hyundais looking to build a duo similar to how the Toyota Tacoma is basically a 4Runner with an open bed, and vice versa.

Kia is looking to share the same backbones with its intended pickup truck, similarly to how the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon are closely related cousins.

Although Kia already introduced the Tasman, the companys truly first-ever modern midsize pickup, its only meant for the Australian and other Asian export markets. So far, word has it that Kias American midsize pickup offering wont look or be anything like the Tasman.

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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.
Cork City Council cannot say when three Glanmire council homes, vacant for 18 years, will be occupied.

Last month, The Echo revealed that three properties in private housing estate Copper Valley Heights in Riverstown, built in the mid-2000s, had never been occupied.

The floors in the properties were not finished, as work was required to bring them up to a standard in order for them to be lived in.

The homes were originally under the ownership of Cork County Council, but after the city boundary extension in 2019, they should have been transferred to Cork City Council.

Last week, a spokesperson for Cork County Council said that the delay in transferring them was due to a legal dispute relating to a developer going out of business, and a charge on the property, but that they had put a measure in place to allow Cork City Council to use the homes even before the transfer.

They said that while work was ongoing to remove the charge and transfer the homes, in the interim, their legal team had put in place a licence agreement with the City Council that would allow them to take possession, refurbish and let the units.

When asked by The Echo for a timeline on when works would take place and the homes would be occupied, a city council spokesperson confirmed that the licence agreement was in place, said an assessment of works had been carried out, and that work on the full transfer was ongoing.

However, they were unable to provide the requested timelines.

The spokesperson said: Cork City Council has entered into a licence agreement with Cork County Council to allow an assessment of works and to carry out these works on three properties.

This assessment has been completed, and Cork City Council is finalising the legals with Cork County Council to allow a full transfer of the units to Cork City Councils ownership.

It is envisaged that this will be completed shortly.

Cork City Council did not respond to a follow-up request seeking clarity on anticipated timelines.
Cork projects are among those to be awarded funding under the Historic Towns Initiative.

A joint undertaking by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Heritage Council, the initiative aims to promote the heritage- led regeneration of historic towns across Ireland.

Funding of 325,000 is being awarded to Mallow Castle to restore the remaining external windows which are at an advanced state of disrepair.

The funding will help to complete the external restoration and conservation of Mallow Castle house.

Cork county councillor Ronan Sheehan of the Labour Party said the decision by Cork County Council a number of years ago to purchase Mallow Castle was a visionary one and it has ensured that this historic site is protected and enjoyed by the public.

Continued investment through initiatives such as this will help to further enhance and preserve the site for future generations, he said.

In Fermoy, funding of 350,000 is being made available for the proposed works to 26 McCurtain St at the Old Soldiers Home, that will repair the 19th century structure and restore its historic character.

KINSALE

In Kinsale, funding of 200,000 is being awarded towards Kinsale Market House, a focal building within the town centre that is also a national monument and houses a museum.

The initiative this year follows on from highly successful projects during 2018 to 2025. The scheme seeks proposals that encourage the specific reuse of historic buildings. The funding aims to support residential and business reuse in towns by keeping historic buildings in good conservation condition.

Minister of state for nature, heritage, and biodiversity, Christopher OSullivan said: The Historic Towns Initiative works because it provides practical financial support to keep historic buildings in use, ensuring that they retain their position at the heart of community life. Taken together with increased annual allocations to key funding streams like the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Fund, the 2m announced demonstrates strong Government support for the protection of our built heritage and the promotion of heritage led regeneration across our towns and villages.
Cork County Council is inviting proposals for events to be part of the programme for Culture Night 2026.

Taking place this year on September 18, Culture Night is a national movement which sees cultural venues stay open late and communities come together to deliver free cultural events for all.

In 2025 across Cork, over 18,000 people came out to celebrate Culture Night, attending events including fire shows, underground music events, community parades and many others.

Mayor of the county of Cork Mary Linehan Foley said Culture Night always is an exciting occasion.

Each year we see communities work together to deliver amazing arts events. The variety of activities on offer is a testament to our lively communities. I look forward to getting out and about this year to see what the county has to offer.

Cork county Culture Night will take place across the county with a particular focus on the towns of Fermoy, Mitchelstown, Mallow, Charleville, Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Bantry, Bandon, Kinsale, Carrigaline, Passage West, Macroom, Baile Mhuirne, Midleton, Youghal, Cobh, and Watergrasshill.

Further information and application details are available via www.corkcoco.ie.

Applications must be submitted online. The deadline for submission of proposals to Culture Night 2026 is at 5pm on June 1.
A 34-year-old man has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting his own daughter when she was approximately ten years of age.

Detective Garda Brendan Murray arrested the defendant and charged him with carrying out one sexual assault on his daughter on an unspecified date in November 2023 and another sexual assault on the child on April 4, 2024.

When arrested, charged, and cautioned, the defendant made no reply to the charges.

Sergeant John Kelleher said the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed trial by indictment.

The DPP also indicated that a plea of guilty could be signed in Cork District Court and the case sent forward for sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Defence barrister Paula McCarthy applied to have a copy of the prosecution evidence sent to defence solicitor Eddie Burke.

Judge Mary Dorgan agreed to assign free legal aid in the case and adjourned the matter for a month.

Det Garda Murray said there was no State objection to the accused being remanded on bail on certain conditions agreed by the defence, subject to the approval of the court.

Those conditions require the 34-year-old to have no contact directly or indirectly with the child, provide his phone number so that he can be contactable at all times by the gardai, and sign on four times a week at his local Garda station.

He is further required to have no intoxicants, not commit any offences, reside at the address supplied to gardai, and notify them in advance of any intention to change address, not leave the country without making an application to the court and to stay away from the area where his daughter lives.

Bail was on his own bond of 1,500 without requirement for a cash lodgement.
An unenviable criminal record of 579 convictions has been clocked up by a 55-year-old man  many of them related to drunkenness  as a result of a lifelong inability to cope with a traffic accident which saw six members of his family killed when he was younger.

Richard OBrien, of 14 Ardshanavooley, Killarney, Co Kerry, has now pleaded guilty to five more public order charges at Cork District Court.

He admitted being drunk and a danger on five occasions in a one-week period and engaging in threatening behaviour during one incident in Cork city.

Sergeant John Kelleher said Richard OBrien had a total of 579 previous convictions. Of those, 362 were for being so intoxicated that he was a danger to himself or others and 63 were for engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to lead to a breach of the peace.

Judge Mary Dorgan remarked previously that the extent of the defendants public order convictions must be a record.

Solicitor Shane Collins-Daly referred to that remark by the judge when he was outlining factors in mitigation.

He describes himself as having a life ruined from alcohol. Six members of his family were killed in a road traffic accident Since then he has never been able to beat the alcohol addiction.

He dries out in prison, he relapses when he gets out  he described it as a vicious circle. To his credit, while there are four drunkenness charges, there is only one of threatening behaviour, Mr Collins-Daly said.

Judge Dorgan imposed a total prison term of two months on OBrien.

On December 27, 2025, at Oliver Plunkett St, he was drunk and a danger.

On December 29, 2025, again at Oliver Plunkett St, he was both drunk and threatening.

On New Years Eve  December 31, 2025 at Grand Parade he was drunk again. Later on the same date he was drunk at Oliver Plunkett St.

Finally, on January 4 this year he was drunk at Castle St.
Garda commissioner Justin Kelly has declared a "national exceptional event" over the fuel protests and is deploying gardai to deal with the emergency.

As part of this, the Gardas two water cannons have been scrambled with one dispatched to the Southern Region to cover events at Whitegate Oil Refinery in East Cork, Foynes Port in Co Limerick, and Rosslare Port in Co Wexford.

As first reported in the Irish Examiner, it is understood the water cannon has arrived in Cork city. Its positioning means it can be deployed at short notice.

Garda HQ has declared the current blockades at critical national infrastructure  primarily the fuel depots at Whitegate, Foynes and Galway  to be a National Exceptional Event.

As part of this the Garda Working Time Directive can be set aside and the planned rosters changed in order to deal with a national emergency.

In this situation gardai nationally can be deployed for a period up to 48-72 hours, anywhere in the country.

The second water cannon is remaining in Dublin. In addition to the ports in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Rosslare, other emergency situations include OConnell Street, the M50, three to four blockades on the N4, one on the M8 and other protests on roads in Athlone and Tullamore.

The situations are listed in other of priority. Whitegate is understood to be close to the top of the list.

It is understood that there is grave concern at the level of fuel supplies in the country.

While Dublin Port has not yet been hit it is understood that much of its fuel supplies go to Dublin Airport.
Garda commissioner Justin Kelly has confirmed that a number of arrests were made at Whitegate Oil Refinery this afternoon.

Access to the Whitegate oil refinery in East Cork was restored earlier, with several tankers escorted in and out of the facility, flanked by Gardai on motorcycles.

This followed a significant escalation of the Garda operation at Whitegate around lunchtime, when members of the public order unit pushed protesters back about 100 feet, establishing a new line of barriers.

There were scuffles during that operation, with Gardai reportedly deploying pepper spray, and some protesters being removed from the crowd. A large Garda presence remains at the scene.

Read More Gardai restore access to Whitegate refinery after pushing back protesters

More than an hour later, feed lorries were allowed access in and out of the Port of Cork.

Speaking at a press conference this evening, Mr Kelly said: Some people have decided to escalate an already difficult situation by blockading critical national infrastructure such as fuel depots and oil refineries.

This has resulted in fuel shortages that are directly impacting our emergency services.

These are blockades. This is not a legitimate form of protest.

He added: Their illegal activity is endangering the State. Mr Kelly said the blockades were putting critical supplies at risk.

We gave these blockaders fair warning that we were moving to an enforcement phase and they chose to ignore that and continue to hold the country to ransom, he said.

He said a number of arrests had been made at Whitegate earlier today, adding: In the further hours and days we will have further such operations.

Tense scenes between gardai and fuel price protesters at Cork's Whitegate oil refinery on Saturday, April 11. Picture: Larry Cummins

Such Garda operations have required the deployment of a large number of Gardai, Mr Kelly added  Gardai who should have been engaged in patrolling cities and towns, community engagement, and investigating crimes such as domestic abuse.

Instead, because of the illegal actions of a few, much of this valuable work to keep people safe is not taking place.

We are aware that there has been intimidation of fuel tanker drivers, these are criminal offences, we will not tolerate this and we will investigate all such reports and prosecute suspects, the garda commissioner said.

Offences such as threats to kill or cause serious harm carry sentences of up to 10 years.

Earlier this afternoon, a slow-moving convoy of tractors, lorries and cars caused significant congestion in Cork, with traffic heavy across the city as a result.

The convoy entered the city centre via the Western Road and Washington Street, travelling along the Grand Parade, the South Mall and on to Parnell Place.

This evening, two fuel tankers left Galway Port, the first to depart since Tuesday.

OConnell Street and OConnell Bridge remain blocked, causing disruption in the capital.

In a statement, the Garda Press Office said that, as well as trucks accessing Whitegate oil refinery, following a Garda operation, trucks have been leaving Rosslare Port with critical supplies.

It added: Also, following engagement with protestors, trucks with critical supplies including fuel have been leaving Foynes Port.

By this morning, about 600 of the 1,500 filling stations across the State had run dry, according to Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan.

He told RTE Radio that he expected the number will grow quite dramatically if ongoing blockades of fuel depots remain in place.
IBM has agreed to settle the US Department of Justice's accusations that the company violated civil rights laws with its DEI practices. According to a press release from the DOJ, IBM will pay more than $17 million to resolve allegations of taking "race, color, national origin, or sex" into account when making employment decisions. This settlement is the latest development in a longstanding effort from the Trump administration to end DEI programs, which was kick-started from an executive order in early 2025.

IBM denied any wrongdoing and said the settlement wasn't an admission of liability, while the US government said this conclusion wasn't a concession that its claims weren't well founded, according to the settlement agreement. According to the DOJ, IBM had violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with practices that included altering "interview criteria based on race or sex," developing "race and sex demographic goals for business units," using "a diversity modifier that tied bonus compensation to achieving demographic targets" and more.

An IBM spokesperson told Engadget in an email that the company "is pleased to have resolved this matter," adding that "our workforce strategy is driven by a single principle: having the right people with the right skills that our clients depend on.

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According to Todd Blanche, the agency's acting attorney general, this action is one of the first resolutions to come out of the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, which was launched in May 2025. IBM isn't the only company to alter its policies, with both T-Mobile and Meta agreeing to put an end to its DEI initiatives last year.
The Orion capsule carrying the Artemis II astronauts has successfully splashed down off the coast of San Diego at 8:07PM Eastern time on April 10. It signals the conclusion of Artemis IIs 10-day journey around the moon, which is meant to be a test flight for a future mission that would bring humanity back to the lunar surface. The Orion crew module carrying the missions astronauts separated from the service module at 7:33 PM. While the service module was designed to burn up in the Earths atmosphere, the crew capsule was built to bring the astronauts back home safely.

By 7:53 PM, Orion reached our planets upper atmosphere, where a six-minute communication blackout occurred due to the capsule heating up as it started its guided descent. The capsule has 11 parachutes, with its drogue parachutes being deployed at 23,400 feet to stabilize and slow it down. When Orion reached 5,400 feet above the ground, the drogue parachutes were cut off so that the three main parachutes could be deployed. That decreased the capsules velocity to 200 feet per second, enabling a safe splashdown.

NASAs engineers conducted several tests while the capsule was in the water before the recovery team headed to the capsule on inflatable boats to extract the crew from Orion. By 9:34 PM, all four crew members were out of the capsule. They were then hoisted into helicopters and flown to the USS John P. Murtha dock ship, where doctors will assess their health.

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Artemis II launched on April 1 with four astronauts on board: NASAs Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, as well as Canadian Space Agencys Jeremy Hansen. They traveled around the moon for almost 10 days, reaching distances no other crewed mission has before it. The astronauts took photos of the far side of the moon, the side we dont see from our planet, including amazing closeups of the lunar surface using their smartphones. That makes them the first humans to directly and personally view the lunar far side.

During NASAs post-splashdown news conference, the agency said it will announce the Artemis III crew soon. Artemis III will rendezvous with one or both commercial landers being developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin in low Earth orbit, which will take humans to the lunar surface. It will test the landers ability to dock with Orion before NASA lands humans on the moon again.
Nicole Kidman graced the premiere of her new Apple TV+ series, Margo's Got Money Troubles, on April 8th, sporting a bold black and white Schiaparelli dress.

While many praised her fashion choice, some fans expressed concern after video footage showed the actress walking uncomfortably and stumbling as she greeted fans.

Kidman, who wrapped up her divorce from Keith Urban in January after nearly two decades of marriage, has kept herself occupied with a slate of film work, such as Babygirl and The Perfect Couple.

Beyond her acting, she's made headlines with her fashion choices, gracing the cover of Variety and attending both the Oscars and the Vanity Fair after-party, all while wearing stunning gowns.

However, at the recent premiere, observers noted an awkwardness in her gait, as per Atlanta Black Star.

"Something is off with her gait. Usually she has someone holding her hand lately. I hope it's nothing major," one social media user commented. Another added, "Nicole does not look effortless or comfortable... too calculated & studied. She's trying too hard to be That Girl." Some speculated that high heels might be contributing to her difficulty walking.

Kidman has been seen holding onto others for support on several occasions in recent years. At Paris Fashion Week in 2024, she was assisted while navigating the venue in heels.

Similarly, at the Vanity Fair Oscars party last year, a man guided her to her spot before she posed for photos. Despite these observations, the cause of Kidman's occasional awkward walk remains unclear. The actress has not publicly addressed the issue.

The actress and Urban share two daughters, Sunday, 17, and Faith, 15. Their divorce settlement allows the girls to spend most of their time with Kidman. Both waived spousal and child support.

Rumors have circulated regarding tensions in their marriage related to Kidman's provocative film roles and Urban's social circle, though no evidence of infidelity has been presented.

Fans continue to watch Kidman's post-divorce journey closely as she balances her career and personal life.

Nicole Kidman Lands Nine Roles in 18 Months After Keith Urban Split, Amid Romance Rumors with Co-Star

Meanwhile, Kidman has kept a busy schedule since her split from Keith Urban, landing nine roles in film and television over the past 18 months, amid rumors she has moved on romantically with a co-star.

According to Daily Mail, Kidman's recent projects include the 2024 film Babygirl, where she starred opposite Harris Dickinson, who is 30 years her junior, and the animated movie Spellbound. Last year, she appeared in the psychological thriller Holland, the Netflix hit The Perfect Couple alongside Liev Schreiber, and the crime drama Scarpetta.

She is also slated to star in four upcoming projects: Girls and Their Horses, Discretion, The Young People and Practical Magic Two.

Sources indicate that Nicole Kidman's rigorous work commitments played a role in the end of her 19-year marriage to Keith Urban, who is now 58. The couple announced their divorce in September 2025, which was finalized in January.

According to reports, Urban confronted Kidman about her unavailability during social gatherings. The couple shares two daughters  Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 15  who now primarily live with Kidman in her Nashville home.

Rumors have recently surfaced that Kidman is dating her Scarpetta co-star, Simon Baker. The two were seen holding hands at the show's New York premiere, and Kidman described their chemistry as one that "just vibrates." Baker, 58, declined to comment, saying, "I don't kiss and tell."

Baker's ex-wife, actress Rebecca Rigg, reportedly expressed shock and confusion over the rumors due to her close childhood friendship with Kidman. Meanwhile, Urban is said to be devastated by the speculation. A close friend told sources it feels like a betrayal because both Kidman and Baker are aware of the pain such rumors would cause Urban.
Prince William reportedly contacted his uncle Prince Andrew after the disgraced royal was stripped of his titles, offering a rare moment of support during a difficult time, according to a new report.

In the book "Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story," author Robert Hardman claims William called Andrew to "offer condolences" on the night he lost his royal status.

The gesture stood out, as Andrew was said to be "very touched" and surprised that William was "one of the few people" who reached out to him, People reported.

Kensington Palace has not commented on the claim.

Andrew's fall from grace intensified in October 2025 when King Charles III removed his brother's royal titles amid growing scrutiny over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The controversy deepened with new documents and public attention surrounding the case.

Months later, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to allegations he shared confidential trade information with Epstein during his time as a UK trade envoy. He was released after questioning and remains under investigation.

Prince William offered condolences to disgraced uncle ex-Prince Andrew after titles stripped The former prince was stripped of his titles and evicted from his Royal Lodge home in October 2025. https://t.co/nDkEOHUApA pic.twitter.com/Ox9cA5NqxL  UnfilteredAmerica (@NahBabyNahNah) April 9, 2026

Prince William Stands Firm on Accountability

Despite the reported phone call, William has long been seen as one of the strongest voices within the royal family pushing for accountability. After new Epstein-related files were released earlier this year, William and his wife, Kate Middleton, publicly expressed concern and emphasized their support for victims.

According to PageSix, a spokesperson said their "thoughts remain focused on the victims."

William's stance is not new. Reports suggest he has wanted Andrew removed from royal duties since 2019, following the duke's controversial BBC interview where he defended his relationship with Epstein. Royal commentators say that moment marked a turning point.

One royal author noted that William believed Andrew's actions had crossed a "red line," particularly because of his refusal to acknowledge the harm caused to victims.

Another source claimed William even urged both his father and his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, to take decisive action at the time.

There have also been past tensions between William and Andrew on a personal level. Reports suggest William held a long-standing grudge over how Andrew treated Kate when she first joined the royal family.
Kendra Duggar opened up about intense anxiety during a private phone call with her husband, Joseph Duggar, while he was in jail following his recent arrest on child molestation charges.

In a 20-minute call, Kendra admitted she struggled even to answer the phone. "I was anxious to pick up the phone," she told Joseph, adding that although she was "glad" to speak with him, her feelings were overwhelming.

"My anxiety is on a whole other level," she said, describing emotions she had never experienced before.

Kendra explained how quickly her mood has been shifting. "At one moment I could be fine, and the next minute I could be... absolutely beside myself," she shared.

She also said she felt "so weak" the night before the call and had trouble knowing what to do, PageSix reported.

"I didn't know what to say... I was kind of just spiraling downhill," she added, recalling how a family member stepped in to help calm her.

The reality star said she is struggling to be alone during this time. "I think that I can't be by myself... for too long," she said, noting she feels safer when others are around. She also revealed she has had difficulty eating because of her anxiety.

Kendra Duggar made a jail phone call to her husband Joseph and asked is he still loves her  pic.twitter.com/9EqFxP37eh  TMZ (@TMZ) April 3, 2026

Joseph Duggar Prays for Kendra Duggar

Joseph, speaking from jail, tried to comfort his wife. He told her he had been praying for her health and strength.

"I'm praying that you would get rest, that you would get food in," he said. He reassured her that she was constantly on his mind, adding, "Stay strong."

The couple ended the call by telling each other, "I love you." Joseph was arrested on March 18 in Arkansas and later extradited to Florida, where he faces charges tied to an alleged incident involving a minor.

He has pleaded not guilty. Authorities say the case is linked to a reported event during a 2020 family trip.

Following his arrest, Joseph was held in custody and reportedly made daily calls to Kendra.

According to Yahoo, he has since been released on a $600,000 bond, with strict conditions, including no unsupervised contact with minors.

Both Joseph and Kendra also face additional charges in Arkansas related to child endangerment and false imprisonment. They were released on bond and are expected to return to court later this month.
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Britain has shelved plans to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after strong opposition from US President Donald Trump who has previously described the move "an act of great stupidity".

Prime Minister Keir Starmers Downing Street office said the deal would proceed only "if it has US support", after reports the Chagos legislation risked running out of parliamentary time with no fresh bill planned.

The remote Indian Ocean archipelago -- whose main island is Diego Garcia -- was bought by Britain in 1965 before Mauritius gained independence. Following the purchase, the local population was expelled and Britain leased the territory to the United States for what became one of its most strategic military bases.

Britain's ownership was disputed for years, with the United Nations ruling in 2019 that the UK should hand back the roughly 55 islands and atolls.

- Mass eviction -

In 1965, Britain separated the Chagos Islands from the rest of Mauritius, then a semi-autonomous British territory, and paid three million pounds to acquire them, the equivalent of around $65 million today.

When Mauritius became independent three years later, the islands remained under British control and were renamed the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).

In 1966, Britain leased the islands to the US for 50 years so that it could set up a military base. In 2016, the deal was extended to 2036.

Between 1968 and 1973, around 2,000 Chagos islanders were evicted, described in a British diplomatic cable at the time as the removal of a few "Tarzans and Man Fridays". Most were shipped to Mauritius and the Seychelles.

Mauritius argued it was illegal for Britain to break up its territory and demanded the right to resettle the former residents.

- Strategic military base -

The US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island, took a major strategic role in the Cold War.

It offered proximity to Asia as an assertive Soviet navy was extending communist influence in the Indian Ocean.

After the 1979 revolution that swept Iran, the US expanded the base to receive more warships and heavy bombers.

It later served as a staging ground for US bombing campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, and was used recently to launch B-2 bomber attacks on Houthi rebels in Yemen during the Gaza war.

- Islands returned -

Britain signed a deal with Mauritius in May 2025 to return the islands, while paying to lease Diego Garcia for $136 million annually for 99 years, which London said would secure the use of the military base.

It follows decades of legal wrangling dating back to 1975 when Chagos islanders living in Mauritius launched legal proceedings against their expulsion, resulting in a 1982 payment of four million pounds in compensation along with land valued at one million pounds.

In 2007, a British appeals court paved the way for Chagossians to return home but its decision was annulled by the upper branch of parliament, the House of Lords, the following year.

In 2016, the British government confirmed its opposition to the resettlement of Chagossians, including for reasons of defence, security and cost.

Today, around 10,000 Chagossians and their descendants are divided between Mauritius, the Seychelles and Britain.

- ICJ ruling -

In 2010, Britain declared the islands part of a Marine Protected Area, arguing that people should not be permitted to live there.

Diplomatic cables revealed by WikiLeaks quoted a British official as saying the plan "put paid to the resettlement claims of the archipelago's former residents".

The move backfired as a UN arbitration tribunal declared it illegal in 2015. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) stated in 2019 that Britain had illegally split the islands and should relinquish control.

Britain rejected the ruling, insisting that Mauritius was wrong to bring the case to court, and arguing the Diego Garcia base played a "vital role" in keeping the region safe.

Later that year, a UN General Assembly resolution demanded Britain cede the islands.

- Colonial history -

Located several hundred kilometres south of the Maldives, the Chagos Islands were colonised by France in the 18th century and African slaves were shipped in to cultivate coconuts and copra.

In 1814, France was made to cede the islands to Britain, which in 1903 merged them with Mauritius, its colony around 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) to the southwest.

After the abolition of slavery in 1834, Indian workers arrived and mixed with the first settlers.

Only three of the islands were inhabited: Diego Garcia, Salomon and Peros Banhos.

bur-er-mnk/rmb
Britain indicated Saturday it is shelving plans to return the Chagos Islands -- which hosts the strategic Diego Garcia US-UK military base -- to Mauritius, after US President Donald Trump strongly criticised the deal.

Britain struck a deal with Mauritius last year to hand back the Indian Ocean islands to its former colony and pay to lease Diego Garcia, the largest island, home to the military base, for a century.

Trump condemned the return agreement as "an act of great stupidity" and on Saturday British media reported that Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government would drop legislation needed to put the deal into effect.

A former top government official said London had been effectively forced to abandon the plan as a result of Trump's opposition.

"When the president of the United States is openly hostile, the government has to rethink, so this agreement... will go into the deep freeze for the time being," Simon McDonald, previously the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office, told BBC radio.

Downing Street said in a statement: "We have always said we would only proceed with the deal if it has US support."

Starmer's office issued the statement in response to reports that legislation underpinning the deal to return the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius was due to run out of time in parliament and that no new Chagos bill would be brought forward.

The Mauritian foreign minister, Dhananjay Ramful, vowed Saturday to reclaim the islands, which lie some 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) northeast of Mauritius.

"We will spare no effort to seize any diplomatic or legal avenue to complete the decolonisation process in this part of the Indian Ocean," Ramful said at an Indian Ocean Conference.

"This is a matter of justice."

- 'Deeply frustrating' -

The UK had still not received a formal exchange of notes from Washington - a technical step but a legal necessity for the treaty to be enacted, Britain's PA news agency reported.

Time has consequently run out to pass the legislation before parliament is dissolved in the coming weeks, it said, quoting a government source as saying the situation was "deeply frustrating".

Main opposition Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said the agreement should now find its "rightful place -- on the ash heap of history.

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, she said.

Downing Street said the government would continue to "engage with the US and Mauritius".

"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," the Downing Street spokesperson added.

Trump had endorsed the deal after it was signed, but then launched a scathing attack on it in Truth Social comments in January.

"The United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia... for no reason whatsover," he said.

"There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness," he said, adding that it showed why the US needed to conquer Greenland from ally Denmark.

Diego Garcia was one of two bases which the UK allowed the US to use for what the British government insisted were "defensive operations" in its war against Iran.

- 99-year lease -

Starmer has previously insisted that international legal rulings have put Britain's ownership of the Chagos in doubt and only a deal with Mauritius would guarantee that the base remains functional.

Britain kept control of the Chagos Islands after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s.

It evicted thousands of Chagos islanders who have since mounted a series of legal claims for compensation in British courts.

In 2019, the International Court of Justice recommended that Britain hand the archipelago to Mauritius.

The deal would have given Britain a 99-year lease of the base, with the option to extend.

The UK government has not said how much the lease would cost but has not denied reports it would be 90 million ($120 million) a year.

burs-pdw/rmb
With 40,000 interlocking basalt columns marching from the cliffs into the sea, the Giants Causeway is one of the most visually stunning geological spectacles in the world  largely because most of them are strikingly hexagonal. One of the sites greatest attractions is that visitors can walk directly across the stepped basalt platforms at sea level.



For centuries, locals have attributed the formation rising from the North Antrim coast of Northern Ireland to a legend that gave it its name: that the giant Finn McCool built the causeway as a bridge to battle a rival in Scotland. Now, science offers an explanation that seems as extraordinary as the myth.


Grief is love that has nowhere to go.






Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has opened up about the casting process of his upcoming film Main Vaapas Aaunga, offering a glimpse into the thought and intention behind bringing together a diverse and compelling ensemble. Known for creating deeply layered characters, Imtiaz revealed how each actor was carefully chosen to align with the emotional depth of the story.





Speaking about the film, Imtiaz shared that the role of a 95-year-old Sikh man required a performer who could bring nuance and authenticity. This led him to Naseeruddin Shah, an actor he felt could deliver a finely calibrated performance. Interestingly, he pointed out that Shah has rarely been seen playing a turbaned Sikh character, making the casting feel both fresh and intriguing.





For the younger version of the character, Vedang Raina was brought on board. Imtiaz explained that Vedang had the right face and charm to convincingly grow into Shahs character over time, ensuring continuity across timelines.

Talking about the female lead, Imtiaz revealed that Sharvari Wagh was chosen for her ability to embody a look inspired by 1940s cinema, refined, slightly westernised, and distinct. Her presence, he noted, added a unique texture to the films visual and narrative tone.





Meanwhile, Diljit Dosanjhs casting came from a more organic place. Imtiaz shared that the idea of working with Diljit had stayed with him since Chamkila, and as Main Vaapas Aaunga evolved, the character began to reflect Diljits personality, making him a natural fit.





With such a thoughtfully curated cast, the film promises to deliver layered performances and emotional depth. Imtiaz Alis approach once again highlights his focus on authenticity, ensuring that every character feels rooted and impactful, building anticipation for what could be another memorable addition to his filmography.





















Also Read: Imtiaz Ali Reveals Original Script For Rockstar Did Not Feature Heers Death




Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Lion Rock Resources Inc. (TSXV: ROAR) (FSE: KGB) (OTCQB: LRRIF) (the "Company") wishes to clarify its news of March 3, 2026, whereby it announced the entering into of a Media Agency Agreement (the "Agreement") with Global One Media Group Pte. Ltd. ("Global One").

The Agreement is effective February 24, 2026. Services to be provided under the Agreement will include marketing and communications activities and investor relations services.

The Agreement remains subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Lion Rock Resources Inc.

Lion Rock Resources Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on advancing high-grade gold and lithium projects in North America. The Company's flagship Volney Project is located in South Dakota's Black Hills, a mining-friendly jurisdiction with a long history of gold production. Lion Rock is led by an experienced technical and capital markets team with a track record of mineral discovery, project development, and financing.

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.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information is often identified by words such as "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "may," "will," "intend," and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated. Such risks include, but are not limited to, risks inherent in mineral exploration and development, fluctuations in commodity prices, regulatory approvals, market conditions, and other factors beyond the control of the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update or revise 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/291880

Source: Lion Rock Resources Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Green Mountain Resources Ltd. ("GMR" or the "Company") announces that it has completed its previously announced plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") to spinout two of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Blue Mountain Resources Ltd. ("Blue") and Emerald Mountain Resources Ltd. ("Emerald"), to the existing shareholders of the Company (the "GMR Shareholders"). The Arrangement was approved at the Company's special meeting held on April 2, 2026, and the Supreme Court of British Columbia issued its final order approving the Arrangement on April 9, 2026. Under the terms of the Arrangement, on April 10, 2026, each GMR Shareholder received: (i) one new common share of the Company for each existing common share of the Company (each, an "Old Share"); and (ii) one common share in the capital of each of Blue and Emerald for each Old Share held. Following completion of the Arrangement, Blue and Emerald have each become independent reporting issuers in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.

For complete details of the Arrangement, readers are encouraged to review the Arrangement Agreement that is currently available under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identied as, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identied by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to Arrangement, including the timing thereof; the status of Blue and Emerald as independent reporting issuers and the Company's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs and expectations of management as of the date of this news release and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/292049

Source: Green Mountain Resources
Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2026) - Aly Pte. Ltd. ("Aly"), the parent company of Spiking, today announced findings from its latest market intelligence report indicating that the Singapore property market is undergoing a structural transition driven by capital flows rather than traditional demand cycles.

The report, covering developments from January 1, 2026 to April 5, 2026, finds that while headline indicators point to moderating price growth, underlying data suggests a divergence between perceived market conditions and actual capital activity, with significant liquidity entering the system ahead of visible price movements.

Market Transition: Capital, Not Demand, Is Driving the Next Phase

Aly's analysis identifies a shift in the market's underlying structure:

The Singapore property market is transitioning from a demand-driven cycle to a capital-driven system, where asset prices are increasingly influenced by the scale and direction of capital flows.

This transition is occurring across residential, commercial, and land markets, where capital deployment is taking place ahead of price repricing, signalling early-stage positioning by institutional and private capital.

Private Residential Market: Moderation Masks Selective Strength

Singapore's private residential market is stabilising following a strong cycle:

Price growth remains in the low single-digit range , reflecting moderation

, reflecting moderation Core Central Region (CCR) faces near-term pricing pressure amid supply conditions

faces near-term pricing pressure amid supply conditions RCR and OCR segments continue to be supported by owner-occupier demand

continue to be supported by owner-occupier demand New launches maintain strong take-up, albeit with greater price sensitivity and selectivity

Developers are increasingly adopting disciplined pricing and phased launch strategies, reinforcing a more sustainable demand environment.

Land Market Activity Signals Forward Repricing

The Government Land Sales (GLS) programme continues to anchor supply:

Expanded pipeline of sites in 2026

Developers maintaining measured but consistent participation

Increased focus on capital efficiency and risk-adjusted returns

Aly notes that land market activity provides an early signal of future price movements:

"Residential prices do not lead the market - land prices do. Developers are positioning today based on expectations of future demand and pricing."

Institutional Capital Deployment Confirms Early Positioning

Singapore's property investment market recorded approximately S$40 billion in transactions, reflecting strong institutional participation:

Sustained demand for Grade A office and mixed-use assets

Active retail repositioning and asset enhancement strategies

Growing allocation from family offices and private capital

These trends indicate that institutional capital is deploying ahead of broader market recognition.

Regional Capital Flows Reach Systemically Relevant Scale

Aly's analysis incorporates indicative cross-border capital flow data derived from publicly available sources, including Indonesia's financial intelligence authority.

Key observations include:

Estimated US$13-14 billion per month flowing into Singapore from Indonesia alone

flowing into Singapore from Indonesia alone Equivalent to approximately ~2% of Singapore's M3 money supply monthly

Approximately ~2.5% of GDP per month

On an annualised basis, this suggests flows equivalent to:

~ 25% of M3 liquidity

~30% of GDP

Aly emphasises that these figures represent indicative proxies of capital movement scale, rather than direct investment flows.

"At this scale, capital inflows are no longer incremental - they become systemically relevant to asset pricing."

HDB Market Anchors Stability Within the System

Public housing continues to provide structural support:

Resale price growth moderated to approximately 2.9%

Increased BTO supply pipeline

Continued policy emphasis on affordability and accessibility

These measures are expected to anchor long-term stability while supporting the upgrading cycle into private housing.

Luxury Segment Reflects Capital Preservation Dynamics

The high-end residential segment exhibits differentiated behaviour:

Increased Good Class Bungalow (GCB) transaction activity

transaction activity Sustained demand from high-net-worth individuals and family offices

Shift toward capital preservation and long-term allocation strategies

Prime assets continue to reflect structural wealth flows rather than short-term market sentiment.

CEO Commentary

Dr. Clemen Chiang, CEO of Aly Pte. Ltd., said:

"We are no longer looking at a traditional property cycle.

What we are seeing is not a cyclical recovery - it is a structural repricing driven by capital entering the system ahead of the market.

Singapore is increasingly functioning as a regional capital aggregation hub, and property is one of the primary channels through which this capital is being deployed.

What appears on the surface as a slowdown is, in reality, a transition phase - where capital is positioning before the next stage of the market.

Investors who understand this shift will focus not just on prices, but on capital flows, policy alignment, and structural demand drivers."

Public Briefing and Webinar

Aly will present its full findings and forward-looking strategy in an upcoming public webinar:

https://longisland.sg/webinar

The session will cover:

Strategic positioning across property segments

Capital flow dynamics and timing considerations

Opportunities arising from Singapore's evolving market structure

Outlook: Early-Stage Repricing Phase Emerging

Aly believes the Singapore property market is entering an early-stage repricing phase, supported by:

Stabilising macroeconomic conditions

Increasing institutional capital deployment

Sustained regional capital inflows

Policy-driven supply alignment

This combination positions Singapore as a globally competitive real estate market underpinned by structural capital flows.

About Aly Pte. Ltd.

Aly Pte. Ltd. is the parent company of Spiking, a financial technology firm focused on delivering data-driven market intelligence and investment insights. The company specialises in tracking institutional capital flows and translating them into actionable strategies across global markets.

Media Contact

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially due to market conditions, regulatory developments, and macroeconomic factors.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291994

Source: Spiking
VxWorks Plays Critical Role for NASA and Humanity's Return to the Moon

Aptiv, a global industrial technology company, congratulates NASA on the successful completion of the Artemis II mission and the safe return of four astronauts from the first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years.

VxWorks provides the software platform enabling deterministic performance for critical functions on the Space Launch System's (SLS) first stage of launch and within the Orion crew vehicle. VxWorks is the industry's most trusted and widely deployed real-time operating systems (RTOS) for mission-critical applications where safety and security are essential. It has powered dozens of NASA missions, from the Mars rovers to the James Webb Space Telescope, and as a key OS layer for multiple NASA core Flight System elements, it is implemented across the Artemis missions.

"Artemis II is a reminder of what is possible when the right software underpins the right mission," said Jay Bellissimo, Senior Vice President and President, Intelligent Systems, Software and Services, Aptiv. "Our teams have spent decades building software that people trust with their lives. Seeing that software on a mission to bring four astronauts around the moon and back is something for which we're truly proud."

For 10 days, the Artemis II crew aboard Orion, NASA's deep space crew vehicle, ventured around the Moon and back, confirming that the spacecraft's systems performed as designed in deep space, validating the critical life support systems needed for longer duration missions, and giving the crew the opportunity to practice operations essential to Artemis III and beyond.

"Artemis II is one of the most significant human spaceflight missions in a generation, and it was an honor to be a part of it," said Paul Miller, Chief Technology Officer, Software and Services, Aptiv. "For nearly 30 years, our teams have worked to make software that performs without fail when it matters most. This mission is proof of what that commitment looks like in practice. We congratulate NASA and the entire Artemis team on bringing their crew home."

Across numerous critical phases and components, VxWorks was the software enabling reliable, real-time performance for the Artemis II mission, from the SLS, the rocket that carried the crew out of Earth's orbit, to the systems that sustained the astronauts through deep space and brought them safely home.

A critical layer of crew safety throughout the mission was the Orion Backup Flight System (BFS). Class A certified and fully independent from the primary flight system, the BFS was built with a deliberately different architecture, with no shared failure modes or common vulnerabilities.

Beyond the flight software, Aptiv's digital twin simulation ensured that every line of software was fully validated before it ran on physical hardware. Teams tested unmodified target software on a virtual platform that behaved exactly as the real system would, decoupling software development from hardware availability. Up to 80-90% of simulation models can be reused for future missions.

Find out more about NASA's MSFC flight software and Orion crew vehicle, and our history in space.

About Aptiv

Aptiv is a global industrial technology company enabling more automated, electrified and digitalized solutions across multiple end-markets. Visit aptiv.com.

About Wind River

Wind River, an Aptiv company, is a global leader in delivering software for the intelligent edge. For more than four decades, the company has been an innovator and pioneer, powering billions of devices and systems that require the highest levels of security, safety, and reliability. Wind River software and expertise are accelerating digital transformation across industries including automotive, aerospace, defense, industrial, medical, and telecommunications. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio supported by world-class global professional services and support and a broad partner ecosystem. To learn more, visit Wind River at www.windriver.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260411527660/en/

Contacts:

MEDIA CONTACTS

Lisa Scalzo

Aptiv

Lisa.Scalzo@aptiv.com

Jenny Suh

Wind River

jenny.suh@windriver.com
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!
Trump says Iran has "no cards" except Hormuz Strait ahead of Islamabad talks, as Iran declares army "at full readiness"

Xinhua) 09:37, April 11, 2026

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.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
*Theory Earth Prisoner* Proposes the "giant impact

hypothesis" Theory7 Years of Hubble Observation

Data "Aligns" with It

Following the 2023 publication of *Theory Earth Prisoner*which proposed the "Great Collision" theoryseveral mainstream scientists reached out via letters and phone calls. Their praise was abundant and their words remarkably warma truly unexpected response, given that *Theory Earth Prisoner* makes the audacious and iconoclastic claim that the Big Bang theory of the universe is fundamentally flawed and should be corrected to the "Cosmic Great Collision."

*Theory Earth Prisoner* poses a provocative question: If a large watermelon were to undergo a "Big Bang" or a massive fragmentation, would it shatter into an apple, a peach, a pear, a banana, an orange, a strawberry, a pineapple, and a bunch of grapes? Consider the eight major planets in our solar system todayMercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune: on which of these planets does the natural environment mirror that of Earth? One thing is certain: they are absolutely not Earth's "siblings" (brothers or sisters) born of the same parentage; nor was the solar system born from the gravitational collapse of a giant interstellar molecular cloud.

The true origin of the solar system lies in a series of continuous, uninterrupted "Great Collisions" that caused newly formed planets to "swap positions." Although the theory presented in *Theory Earth Prisoner* clearly runs counter to "mainstream" scientific consensus, the fact that individual mainstream scientists still reached out with such warm and appreciative words remains deeply moving.

The fact that individual mainstream scientists have heaped such praise upon *Theory Earth Prisoner* is truly touching. Moreover, a world-leading research institutiondemonstrating a commitment to objective inquiryhas independently arrived at conclusions that align perfectly with those of *Theory Earth Prisoner*. These findings were published on June 5, 2025, in the scientific journal *Nature Astronomy*.

According to five to seven years' worth of observational data collected by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Waytwo of the universe's major galaxiesare currently traveling along a specific trajectory and are projected to undergo a "Great Collision" approximately 4 billion years from now. Subsequently, a study utilizing observational data from the European Space Agency's (ESA) "Gaia" spacecraft proposed a slightly later timeline: predicting that the collision between the two galaxies will occur approximately 4.5 billion years from nowa timeframe about 500 million years later than previous estimates.

Various media outletsincluding CNN in the U.S., and *Yomu Uchu Ryoko*, *Nakasendo Monster*, and *sorae* in Japanhave successively reported on this event, explicitly noting that the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy will pass through one another, with a 50% probability of ultimately colliding.

According to predictions, the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy will collide and merge in approximately 4 to 5 billion years, eventually forming a single, massive elliptical galaxy known as "Milkomeda."

Key Details: These two galaxies are separated by a distance of approximately 2.5 million light-years and are currently approaching each other at a speed of about 110 kilometers per second.

The Collision Process: The event involves immense gravitational forces between the galaxies, which significantly perturb stellar orbits, thereby triggering a complex merger; prior to their final, complete coalescence, the two galaxies will pass through one another multiple times.

The Final Outcome: The merged entity will evolve from a pair of spiral galaxies into a massive elliptical galaxynamely "Milkomeda"characterized by a uniform distribution of stars.

When accounting for the gravitational attraction (i.e., gravitational perturbations) exerted by surrounding galaxies, simulation results indicate that there is an approximately 50% probability of these two major galaxies colliding within the next 10 billion years. Such a collision and merger are regarded as a natural stage in the ongoing processes of galactic growth and morphological evolution.



*sorae*, a renowned Japanese astronomy media outlet, reports:

In the distant future, the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy will merge to form a single, massive galaxy.

The "Andromeda Galaxy" (M31) is a spiral galaxy that, from locations with clear skies, can even be observed with the naked eye. Located approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth, the Andromeda Galaxy is hurtling toward our own Milky WayEarth's galactic homeat an astonishing speed of 110 kilometers per second. For over a century, astronomers have been studying the fact that the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy are being drawn toward one another by their mutual gravitational pull. Andromeda is a massive galaxy with a diameter ranging between 220,000 and 260,000 light-years, estimated to contain approximately one trillion stars; by comparison, the Milky Way holds between 100 billion and 400 billion stars. What happens when these two galaxieseach composed of countless starscollide?

To illustrate this, NASA has produced an animated simulation that vividly depicts a truly fantastical scenario: What would it look like if we were standing on Earth, witnessing the entire process of these two colossal galaxies merging right before our eyes in the night sky?

Although the Andromeda Galaxy currently appears to us as a relatively tiny celestial object, as it gradually draws closer to the Milky Way, its apparent diameterthe size it appears to occupy in the skywill continue to grow. In approximately 3.75 billion years, its apparent diameter in the night sky will become absolutely immense, appearing to stretch across the entire celestial dome.

As Andromeda closes in, the Milky Way will begin to undergo deformation under the influence of tidal gravitational forces. It is predicted that between 3.85 and 3.9 billion years from now, the two galaxies will experience their first collision. The gravitational interplay between these two massive systems will temporarily trigger a surge in star formation; at that time, newly born young stars will begin to shine brightly.

Over the subsequent two billion years or so, the Milky Way and Andromeda are expected to undergo repeated collisions, eventually merging completely to form a single, massive elliptical galaxy dubbed "Milkomeda."

The orbits of stars circling the galactic centers are highly likely to be severely disrupted. Simulation results even suggest that the Solar System itself could be flung into a position much farther away from the center of the Milky Way than it is today. In the vast expanse of the universe, collisions and mergers between galaxies are by no means rare occurrences. Indeed, it is believed that the Milky Way itself has undergone numerous collisions and mergers with other galaxies throughout its long evolutionary history. It is hypothesized that the Milky Way's evolutionary journey began approximately 9 billion years ago with a merger involving a dwarf galaxy known as "Gaia-Enceladus." Subsequentlythrough repeated collisions and mergers with five galaxies each containing over 100 million stars, as well as at least 15 other galaxies each harboring more than 10 million starsthe Milky Way ultimately evolved into the form we observe today.

The renowned Japanese astronomical media outlet *Nakasendo Monster* reports:

Our Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy are but two members of a larger group comprising dozens of galaxies. The Milky Way and M31 (the Andromeda Galaxy) are currently in the process of drawing closer to one another; according to calculations, they are destined to collide in approximately 4 billion years. M31 is roughly twice the size of our Milky Way. Simulation results indicate that following their initial collision and subsequent mutual interpenetration, these two massive galaxiesdriven by gravitational forceswill continue to orbit one another. During this process, they will undergo several additional collisions before finally merging into a single, colossal supergalaxy.

When people hear the term "galactic collision," they often conjure up mental images of stars violently smashing into one another, sending sparks flying. However, because the distances between stars are incredibly vastroughly equivalent to placing a single ping-pong ball somewhere between Tokyo and Osakasuch direct stellar collisions are exceedingly rare. This immense separation between individual stars constitutes the astonishingly "empty" nature inherent within the interior of a galaxy.



*Yomu Uchu Ryoko* (Reading the Universe), a renowned Japanese astronomical media outlet, reports:

Our own Milky Way galaxy is destined to collide withand eventually merge withits nearest neighbor, the Andromeda galaxy, in approximately 4 billion years. According to information from the website of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, if we were to scale down the Milky Way's disk (which spans a diameter of 100,000 light-years) to a mere 10 centimeters, the Andromeda galaxy would be located only about 2 meters away. It appears that this distance is not quite as vast as one might imagine; even within the boundless expanse of the cosmos, the spacing between galaxies is relatively close. As they draw near one another, their mutual gravitational attraction triggers a collisiona phenomenon said to be actually quite common throughout the universe.

Arp 272 is a pair of colliding galaxies; amidst the violent impact, they have assumed a shape strikingly reminiscent of a "heart." This celestial object was formed through the collision and fusion of two distinct galaxiesNGC 6050 and IC 1179and is located in the direction of the constellation Hercules, approximately 450 million light-years from Earth.

How do galaxies come into existence and evolve? This remains one of the great unsolved mysteries in the field of astronomy. It is believed that collisions and mergers between galaxies play a pivotal role in the evolutionary process of galaxies; however, what specific effects do these interactions actually produce? In truth, we have yet to fully unravel these mysteries. The reason lies in the fact that observing and identifying actual instances of galactic collisions and mergers is an extremely arduous task; astronomers are striving to search for and pinpoint as many of these regions where galaxies are currently colliding and merging as possible.

The renowned American media outlet CNN reports:

The Milky Wayour home galaxyis destined to collide with the Andromeda galaxy within the next 4.5 billion years. Experts have been making this prediction since as early as 1912.

The distance between the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy is approximately 2.5 million light-years. They are approaching each other at a speed of approximately 100 kilometers per second; at first glance, they appear destined to collide, merge, and ultimately form "Milkomeda."

However, the "Local Group"the galaxy cluster to which the Milky Way belongscontains at least 100 known smaller galaxies. The research team took into account the gravitational influence exerted by specific large galaxiesspecifically, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Triangulum Galaxy (M33)to predict the evolutionary trajectory of the Milky Way over the next 10 billion years or so.

By calculating the gravitational interactions within the Local Group and utilizing the latest data from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Gaia Space Telescope, the team conducted as many as 100,000 simulations. The results indicate that the probability of a collision occurring between the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy within the next 10 billion years is approximately 50%.

If the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy eventually merge, their respective spiral arm structures will eventually disintegrate, and they will ultimately be reshaped into a single elliptical galaxy. When such a galactic mergeroften vividly described as "cosmic fireworks"occurs, gaseous matter is drawn toward the galactic center; this process triggers the central black hole to emit massive amounts of radiation, and this matter is ultimately devoured by the black hole.

Nevertheless, given that numerous unknown factors remain to be elucidated, it is currently difficult to make a definitive prediction regarding the Milky Way's ultimate fate. As things stand, it appears more likely that the Milky Way will collide with the Large Magellanic Cloud within the next 2 billion years; should such a collision occur, the morphological appearance of the Milky Way could undergo a fundamental transformation.

Currently, the Large Magellanic Cloud orbits the Milky Way, while the Triangulum Galaxy (M33) serves as a satellite galaxy of the Andromeda Galaxy. The mass of the Large Magellanic Cloud is only about 15% of the Milky Way's mass; however, the research team points out that the gravitational pull exerted by this satellite galaxy is tugging on the Andromeda Galaxy in a direction perpendicular to it. Consequently, the researchers have concluded that there is a 50% probability that the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy will undergo a direct collision within the next 10 billion years.

In simulations projecting scenarios 8 to 10 billion years into the future, approximately half yielded the following outcome: the Milky Way and Andromeda approach one another, graze past each other, and then loop back around. However, this close-range "flyby" would trigger gravitational interactions between the massive gas halos surrounding the two galaxies, ultimately leading to a collision between them.

*Theory Earth Prisoner* is not merely a theoretical treatise; it is also a "letter from home" addressed to humanity.

In summary, galactic mega-collisions areand have always beenan ongoing process. This fact corroborates the "Mega-Collision Theory" presented in *Theory Earth Prisoner*. The four giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) are the residual products of a nebular collision. By logical extension, among their 411 satellites, one or two are inhabited by our kinrelatives with whom we were separated in the primordial era. These kin continued to drift alongside the planetary remnants, eventually becoming the inhabitants and custodians of one or two of the 411 satellites orbiting the four giant planetsa claim supported by evidence.

According to *Theory Earth Prisoner*a work by Chinese-American scholar Hai-bo Maohumanity did not evolve from indigenous Earth species; rather, following a nebular collision, humans arrived from beyond our solar system. The Moon is portrayed as a "child of the cosmos"a "mother planet" that facilitated this human migration. Humans traveled aboard a celestial body that subsequently collided with Earth. As placental mammals drifted into Earth's atmosphere alongside humanity, the planet's gravitational pull gradually intensified and shifted; humans were effectively placed under "house arrest," thereby becoming Earth's new masters. The colliding celestial body partially coalesced to form the Moon, while its remaining fragments continued to drift through space, carrying with them a portion of the human population. This theory is employed to address twenty-one enduring global mysteriesranging from the history of Earth and the cosmos to the origins of ancient civilizations, the development of language and writing systems, and the geographical distribution of ethnic groups.

Based on the "Giant Impact" hypothesis posited in *Theory Earth Prisoner*, it is highly probable thatamong the four major planets and their 411 satellitesthere reside our long-lost kin from the primordial past. If the premises of *Theory Earth Prisoner* prove correct, the work transcends the mere status of a theoretical treatise; it becomes, in essence, a "family letter" addressed to all of humanity.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
News / Local

by eDuzeNet.com

Harare - Zimbabwe's second city of Bulawayo is running out of maize meal, but the staple is still available in the capital Harare, state media reported on Wednesday.

"A (Bulawayo) survey carried out by this newspaper showed that most outlets had run out of maize meal," the state-owned Chronicle newspaper said.

President Robert Mugabe's government has this year forecast a 1.8 million tonne maize harvest, which is expected to meet the country's food needs for the first time since 2001. Other forecasts see a much smaller crop.

The newspaper said Bulawayo's shortages might stem from millers holding on to maize meal to press for a price increase.

"Maize-meal shortages have resurfaced in Bulawayo amid fears that millers are creating the artifical shortages to press for an increase in the price of the commodity," the paper said.

In Harare most shops had stocks of maize meal, with some saying deliveries were expected to resume this week after a two-day holiday.

Maize is a controlled commodity in Zimbabwe and is sold only to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), which then distributes it for milling to private firms.

The GMB buys maize from farmers at Z$31m a tonne and sells it to millers at a 10th of the price but has barred some millers for reselling the commodity back to the GMB through third parties.

GMB officials were not available for comment on Wednesday.

Aid agencies have warned of another food deficit in the country this year, saying a lack of inputs such as seed and fertiliser has undermined production in the recently ended summer cropping season.

Zimbabwe has suffered food shortages since 2001 after being hit by drought and disruptions to agriculture blamed partly on the controversial seizure of white-owned commercial farms for redistribution to landless blacks.

The lastest exchange rate data indicates that US$1 is worth roughly Z$250 000.
Nathan graduated with his journalism degree from Auburn University in 2017. After growing up in the flatlands of rural Alabama with his parents and older sister, Nathan enjoys Western Colorado's natural resources and recreational opportunities. He currently covers education and business for The Daily Sentinel.
Joint statement by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania regarding Russia's ongoing disinformation campaign

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Published: 10.04.2026.

We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, categorically reject the ongoing Russian disinformation campaign against our countries as completely baseless. The Baltic states have never allowed their territories and airspace to be used for drone attacks against targets in Russia.

The Baltic States have officially refuted these allegations by clearly communicating this to the Charges d'Affaires of Russian diplomatic missions in Tallinn (27 March), Riga (31 March) and Vilnius (27 March), respectively. Notwithstanding the official reaction, Russia has continued lying.

Ukraine continues to defend itself from Russia's full-scale war of aggression, in full compliance with the Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Instead of continuing its malign information operation, Russia must end its war of aggression against Ukraine and fully withdraw its armed forces from all internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. Baltic States remain in full solidarity with Ukraine.

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Contracts

Contracts for April 10, 2026

NAVY

Bell Boeing Joint Program Office, Amarillo, Texas, is awarded an undefinitized, not-to exceed $157,000,000 firm-fixed-price order (N0001926F0141) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001922G0002). This order procures ten Nacelle Improvements Kits and three shipsets of Pylon Support Assemblies for retrofit in support of enhancing the operational capabilities of the MV-22 and CMV-22 aircraft for the Navy and Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Amarillo, Texas (84%); Fort Worth, Texas (15%); and Ridley Park, Pennsylvania (1%), and is expected to be completed in December 2028. Fiscal 2026 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $16,252,973; and fiscal 2025 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $60,677,027, will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Gentex Corp., Simpson, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $128,484,849 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Integrated Helmet Systems. This contract provides for the procurement of Integrated Helmet Systems with associated components and accessories. The ordering period will be a maximum of five years and is expected to be completed in April 2031. Work will be performed in Simpson, Pennsylvania. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task/delivery orders as they are issued. The requirement was procured under the authority of 10 U.S. Code 4022(f) as a follow-on production agreement to the prototype agreement (M67854-20-9-1000). Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-26-D-5401).

Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, is being awarded a $36,439,220 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-award-fee, and cost-only contract modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-15-C-5151) for new construction test support, post-delivery, fleet readiness, in-service ship integration and test, modernization waterfront integration test support, and AEGIS Ashore Planning. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (44%); San Diego, California (19%); Norfolk, Virginia (18%); Bath, Maine (10%); Pascagoula, Mississippi (9%), and is expected to be completed by July 2028. If all options are exercised, work will continue through July 2028. Fiscal 2023 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,413,559 (50%); fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $6,246,503 (22%); fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,143,180 (14%); fiscal 2025 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,805,820 (13%); and fiscal 2024 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $194,959 (1%), will be obligated at time of award, of which $6,441,462 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, was awarded a $10,610,029 cost-plus-fixed-fee, level of effort contract for the operation, maintenance, and protection of the government-owned, contractor-operated floating dry dock, Shippingport (ARDM-4). This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $57,087,819. Work will be performed in Groton, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed by March 2027. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,610,029 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(1). Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-26-C-4311).

AIR FORCE

Textron Aviation Defense LLC, Wichita, Kansas, has been awarded a $150,176,268 ($270,000,000 ceiling) modification (P00015) to previously awarded contract FA8106-21-D-0001 for sustaining engineering and program management services for the T-6. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $510,000,000 ceiling, from $240,000,000 ceiling. Work will be performed at Wichita, Kansas, and is expected to be completed by April 12, 2031. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $11,827,632 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California, has been awarded a $19,980,569 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for research and development. This contract provides for development of target recognition technology. Work will be performed at El Segundo, California; McKinney, Texas; and Goleta, California, and is expected to be completed by July 10, 2031. This contract was a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2026 research and development funds in the amount of $1,950,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Sensors Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA2377-26-C-B015).

CORRECTION: The contract announced on April 1, 2026, for Tyto Government Solutions Inc., Reston, Virginia (FA8218-26-F-B001), for $ 51,384,801,016 was announced with an incorrect amount. The correct amount is $51,384,801. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Radiance Technologies, Huntsville, Alabama, has been awarded a minimum $149,683,593 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for improvement and modernization projects to upgrade existing infrastructure and instrumentation for the Reagan Test Range. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 3204 (a)(5), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-5. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. The performance completion date is April 10, 2031. Using customers are Army and federal civilian agencies. Using customers are solely responsible for the funds on this contract and vary in appropriation type and fiscal year. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (SPRRA2-26-C-0009).

UPDATE: Hammar Lift Inc.,* Dallas, Texas (SPE8EC-26-D-0015, $255,000,000), has been added as an awardee to the multiple award contract for material handling equipment, issued against solicitation SPE8EC-21-R-0001 and awarded July 22, 2022. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

DEPARTMENT OF WAR EDUCATION ACTIVITY

School Specialty LLC, Greenville, Wisconsin, has been awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling of $20,000,000 for K-5 science instructional resources and lab kits in support of Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) schools worldwide. The contract is expected to be completed by April 12, 2036. This contract was competitively procured via the System for Award Management (SAM) Contract Opportunities website with four offers received. No funds are obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. DoWEA Procurement Division, Alexandria, Virginia, is the contracting activity (DD-LA-(AR) 1279).

*Small business

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4453896/

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News / Local

by Sukulwenkosi Dube

FAMILIES who lost their relatives in a horror crash that killed 14 Zimbabweans, including an eight-month-old toddler in South Africa recently, have travelled to Beitbridge for DNA tests to help identify the accident victims.Bulilima District Administrator, Ethel Moyo, said the 14 were all from Bulilima District and six bodies had been positively identified so far.According to South African police, 15 people, including a Malawian national, were killed in the accident that occurred at around 3AM on January 20 near Mokopane town in South Africa's Limpopo Province.All those who were killed, including the Malawian national, were in a Ford double cab travelling towards Pretoria with 16 people while the truck it collided with was going in the opposite direction.Moyo said eight family members had travelled to the border town for DNA tests to be undertaken under the supervision of medical staff from South Africa."The 14 victims of the South African crash which occurred recently are all from Bulilima District. Some of the victims have been positively identified except eight. Some of the bodies were cut into pieces," she said."Eight family members have travelled to Beitbridge where DNA tests will be administered by a doctor from the neighbouring country at the border."The bereaved relatives who came from various wards in Bulilima District converged at the Bulilima Rural District Council offices yesterday before leaving for the border.They revealed that their late relatives had travelled home from South Africa for the festive season and met their fate on their way back to work in the neighbouring country.Janet Nyathi, 52, of Masendu area said she lost two children Sihlobo and Thembani Ndebele aged 27 and 29 years in the horror crash.She said her eldest child had left behind four children under her care. Nyathi said Thembani's youngest child was three years old.Sihlobo did not have any children."Two of my children Thembani and Sihlobo passed away in that horror crash. These two children were my pillar because they were supporting me. It is painful to lose two children at the same time in such a manner."When they left I expected to get a call from them telling me that they had arrived safely and not a call telling me they had passed on. Now my children are gone and I have four grandchildren to look after and I don't know how as I don't have a source of income," said Nyathi.Powie Ndlovu, 54, from Madlambuzi area said her 27-year-old son, Trust Ndlovu, also died in the crash.Rosemary Moyo, 62, of Madlambuzi area said she lost her 30-year-old nephew Relevant Moyo in the accident while Rachel Mlala, 64, of Madlambuzi area said she lost her 32-year-son, Cosmas Mlala.Emelda Tshuma, 65, who is also from Madlambuzi area lost her 42-year-old daughter Gertrude Tshuma.Qoko Nkomo, 64, of Gonde area lost her 40-year-old son Temba Moyo in the accident.Eleven Zimbabweans from Bulilima and Tsholotsho were killed in January last year while on their way to South Africa when a vehicle they were travelling in hit a donkey and then rammed into a tree. They were also returning to their work places after the festive season.
Florida National Guard partners with Greece in State Partnership Program

By Capt. Brittianie Funderburk April 8, 2026

SAINT AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- The Florida National Guard has been designated as Greece's partner in the U.S. National Guard State Partnership Program, establishing a long-term framework for military cooperation and engagement that will enhance readiness, interoperability and regional security.

The U.S. Embassy in Athens formally announced the partnership in a post on X Tuesday, stating, "The pairing unlocks opportunities for cooperation in critical areas like joint military training, maritime security, cyber defense, infrastructure protection, and disaster preparednessincluding wildfire response and emergency planning."

The partnership follows a request from Greece to the National Guard Bureau and the Florida National Guard's efforts to pursue the opportunity, aligning their mutual interests in expanding military collaboration.

The State Partnership Program, established in the early 1990s, pairs U.S. National Guard states with partner nations to support sustained military engagement through joint training, exercises and institutional exchanges.

With Florida now officially designated as Greece's partner, the focus shifts to implementation. The Florida National Guard and the Hellenic Armed Forces are expected to begin recurring joint training events, subject-matter expert exchanges, and participation in exercises across a range of operational areas.

Key elements of the partnership include strong alignment in force structure, with both organizations maintaining comparable formations across air and ground components. Greece is also set to field F-35 fighter aircraft and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters next year, further enhancing compatibility and opportunities for joint training.

"This partnership gives us a unique opportunity to train alongside a highly capable NATO ally with comparable forces, which directly strengthens our readiness and interoperability," said Col. Patrick Heffernan, deputy chief of staff for plans, Florida Army National Guard. "It also builds on the strong cultural and historical ties between Florida and Greece, setting the foundation for a long-term relationship that benefits both organizations."

Several factors contributed to Florida's selection, including the state's large Greek population and shared characteristics such as climate, industry, littoral geography and academic institutions.

Initial areas of cooperation are expected to include operational training, maritime and air domain awareness, disaster response and civil-military coordination.

The partnership allows Florida Guardsmen to enhance joint readiness, deepen cultural understanding and support shared security goals while reinforcing Florida's role in regional stability and multinational missions.

For the Hellenic Armed Forces, the partnership strengthens interoperability with a capable U.S. partner while refining warfighting capabilities and building professional ties, reinforcing Greece's role in regional security and long-term collaboration.

Maj. Gen. John Haas, the adjutant general of Florida, said the Florida National Guard is excited about the partnership, which he said will contribute to broader national and international security objectives by improving interoperability and strengthening NATO capacity.

"This partnership reflects our commitment to strengthening enduring relationships with key allies and expanding our role in building regional and global security," said Haas. "By working alongside Greece, we are reinforcing shared values and enhancing our collective ability to respond to complex challenges."

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Blount Island Command Team Supports First-Ever MPF Offload in Mindanao

US Marine Corps News

8 Apr 2026 | Dustin Senger Marine Corps Blount Island Command

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines -- A Marine Corps technical assistance and advisory team deployed in March from Jacksonville, Florida, in support of a first-of-its-kind maritime prepositioning force offload in the Indo-Pacific region.

During offload preparation aboard the USNS Sgt. William W. Seay (T-AKR 302), the team assisted Marines in enclosed cargo holds, climbing over chained vehicles and gear. One by one, engines turned over. Exhaust curled into the pull of ventilation fans as each vehicle came to lifeready to roll off the ship.

Upon arriving at the Port of Cagayan de Oro, the team moved immediately into the selective offload of prepositioned equipment to I Marine Expeditionary Force, which was preparing for Exercise Balikatan 26 in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility.

The offload marked the first time maritime prepositioning force equipment was delivered in Mindanao, expanding distribution capability and strengthening regional responsiveness.

Florida-based service members, civilians and contractors applied expertise in arrival and assembly, equipment accountability and distribution planning, informed by Blount Island Command's execution of Marine Corps prepositioning operations ashore and afloat.

Robert Hazlett, contracting officer's technical representative for Blount Island Command, worked aboard the ship and at the port alongside Marines receiving equipment. He joined Blount Island Command in 2024, where he ensures maintenance contractors execute their work statements.

"We've never done an MPF offload in this area," said Hazlett, a Marine Corps veteran who served six years in motor transportation before transitioning to nearly 20 years as a contractor afloat on maritime prepositioning force vessels, including six years as a squadron supervisor.

That expertise enabled coordination across U.S. naval forces, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and commercial port partners, ensuring the successful reception and onward movement of equipment.

"Bringing this capability into a new location like Mindanao shows how we can extend the network," Hazlet said, "using what's already here, working with partners and still deliver ready-to-issue equipment where it's needed.

"It proves we can expand into new locations and still deliver at high standards of readiness, building a more flexible, responsive network that supports the Marine Corps wherever it needs to operate."

Marine Corps Platform Integration Center systems tracked equipment from ship to shore, providing real-time visibility of asset location, movement and arrival across each stage of distribution. Developed by Blount Island Command, the system uses digital tagging, sensors and integrated technologies to enhance accountability, readiness and distribution, improving the speed and precision of deployment.

U.S. Marines and Sailors executed the pier-side offload, integrating afloat prepositioning with host-nation infrastructure to move equipment where it is needed, when it is needed, without reliance on a single fixed distribution point.

This approach increases operational reach and flexibility while reinforcing the Marine Corps' role as a naval expeditionary force optimized for contested logistics.

"MPF operations are a unique capability of the Marine Corps," said Col. Coby Moran, I Marine Expeditionary Force officer in charge of the offload. "They allow us to deliver capabilities anywhere in the world, providing critical combat power to Marine air-ground task force commanders."

The operation, supporting dynamic maritime sustainment, centered on the arrival and offload of the USNS Sgt. William W. Seay and demonstrated how forward-positioned equipment and integrated logistics networks enable forces to respond at the speed and scale required during crises and contingencies.

Months of coordination between port authorities, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and multiple Marine Corps commands culminated in the ship's arrival at the Port of Cagayan de Oro.

"It's been rewarding to see us develop those ties here with the local population and here with the Armed Forces of the Philippines," Moran said.

Following arrival, Marines rapidly transitioned equipment from ship to shore and onto contracted host-nation barges for onward movement to Subic Bay, where it will be issued and employed by U.S. Marine Corps units participating in Exercise Balikatan 2026.

Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen the alliance, improve combined capabilities and demonstrate commitment to regional security and stability. Beyond the exercise, the offload rehearsed the ability to surge sustainment in crisis or conflict.

By diversifying locations and leveraging local infrastructure, the operation increased the resilience of sustainment pathways while deepening relationships with Philippine military, government and commercial partners.

Equipment staged forward and maintained to standard reduces timelines for employment, enabling Marine units to transition quickly from reception and staging to onward movement and integrationkey to supporting distributed maritime operations and joint maneuvers.

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Washington Guard, Thai partners strengthen port emergency response

By Joseph Siemandel April 9, 2026

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. -- Soldiers from the Washington Army National Guard trained alongside Thai partners during a weeklong subject matter expert exchange at the Port of Laem Chabang and Sri Racha Hospital, March 2-9, strengthening emergency response coordination at one of Southeast Asia's busiest maritime hubs.

The exchange, part of a decades-long State Partnership Program relationship, focused on improving all-hazards response, refining incident command systems and testing patient evacuation procedures in a complex, multi-scenario environment.

"The purpose of this exchange was to continue to improve the port's all hazard response while establishing the incident command (IC) center and patient evacuation route at the alternate site," said Capt. Matthew Carey, the officer in charge and medical lead for the exchange. "The goal is to build a unified, all-hazards response that can operate seamlessly under pressure."

Since 2005, the Washington National Guard has partnered with Thai officials at the port, making this one of the premier recurring engagements in their 24-year State Partnership Program relationship. Conducted twice annually, the training focuses on incident management, chemical decontamination and medical response through full-scale disaster scenarios.

This year's exercise combined a simulated lithium battery fire with a shipboard pandemic, requiring participants to respond across multiple domains simultaneously.

For the first time, the training expanded beyond the port to include Sri Racha Hospital as a primary operational site. The shift tested alternate evacuation routes, including a pier and helipad, and required participants to adapt while maintaining coordination across agencies.

"The purpose of this exchange was achieved in full. The alternate patient evacuation site and the incident command were established at the hospital. New leadership was utilized for the incident command with guidance from the Port Authority leadership," Carey said. "This was a change in that we saw previous students taking the lead in teaching the next generation of leadership."

Despite the added complexity, the exercise met its primary objectives. A clear incident command structure was established, and Thai-led teams demonstrated greater ownership of planning and execution of the scenario. Communication systems and logistical support enabled responders to maintain situational awareness and coordinate actions across the simulated crisis.

"This scenario introduced new challenges, including the transfer of patients in isolation containment units from ship to ship and from ship to shore," Carey said. "There was strong interagency coordination and high levels of engagement during hands-on training."

The Port of Laem Chabang is one of Southeast Asia's busiest deep-sea ports, making the partnership strategically significant for regional readiness and resilience. As a key logistics gateway, the port's ability to respond effectively to hazards is critical to preventing disruptions to international supply chains.

The exchange followed Cobra Gold 2026, during which Carey, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kristin Retherford, Sgt. 1st Class Ricky Manglona, and Victor Aguilar supported the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise for two weeks prior.

"I was in Thailand for 24 days total," Retherford said. "Cobra Gold HADR enhanced my understanding of Thailand disaster response by immersing us with civilian agencies who may be involved in a port disaster. Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation establishes guidelines and standard operating procedures to support and enable response protocols, which includes Port Laem Chabang."

Retherford said lessons learned during the exchange will carry forward to future engagements.

"Practicing these tactics, techniques, and procedures better prepare our team to support emergency responders at the port."

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25th Infantry Division Advances Transformation with HIMARS, Precision Strike and DIVARTY Integration

By Sgt. Tien-Dat Ngo April 10, 2026

WASHINGTON -- The 25th Infantry Division is accelerating Army transformation in the Indo-Pacific by integrating long-range fires, unmanned systems and networked sensing capabilities to operate effectively across diverse environments.

Maj. Gen. James Bartholomees, commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division, said the division has focused its transformation efforts on enabling forces to "see, sense and strike at distance," particularly in complex environments such as the Philippines.

Under Division Artillery (DIVARTY), the division transitioned from traditional cannon-based formations to long-range precision fires, significantly increasing its ability to strike across extended distances. Within months, units fielded High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, to support distributed operations.

"In about 180 days, we went from a towed cannon battalion to a long-range fires battalion with 16 HIMARS weapon systems," said Col. Daniel Von Benken, division artillery commander. "We can now do the things that we said we needed to do."

Leaders said HIMARS provides a common launcher capable of firing a variety of munitions, allowing units to adapt to evolving operational requirements. This includes integration with emerging capabilities such as the Precision Strike Missile, or PrSM, designed to extend the Army's long-range strike capacity.

"The benefit of the HIMARS is its capability  it's a common launcher system," Bartholomees said. "As we build more munitions over time, it provides a range of options so we can strike at a variety of distances."

The transformation also included reorganizing personnel and creating new formations to integrate emerging technologies. Under DIVARTY, units repurposed soldiers from traditional artillery roles into new capabilities, including formations focused on loitering munitions and one-way attack drones.

"So much like we repurposed a cannon battalion into a HIMARS battalion, we took a lot of our folks and created what's called a Launched Effects battery," Von Benken said. "That formation allows us to integrate loitering munitions and one-way attack drones to fill gaps between our capabilities."

These systems complement long-range fires by providing additional options in contested environments, particularly during early contact with enemy forces.

"It's not just about getting a rocket launcher into position," Von Benken said. "It's about how we fill those gaps with other types of munitions so the first time we make contact with an enemy force, it's not a fighter jet."

Leaders said experimentation has been critical to integrating these capabilities, allowing soldiers to test emerging technologies and provide direct feedback to developers and acquisition professionals.

"They bring it out to us and we have to teach soldiers how to use it," said Command Sgt. Maj. John Curry, senior enlisted leader. "Those young soldiers are testing it to see does this work for the person who's actually going to use it."

Capabilities that prove effective are then incorporated into training and multinational exercises across the Indo-Pacific, including operations in the Philippines, where U.S. forces train alongside regional partners in realistic environments.

"We walk them out to the Philippines on our campaign, while we use it in our campaigning exercises," Curry said. "Our multinational partners are seeing what is possible inside of their own footprint."

Leaders said forward positioning and sustainment remain central to enabling operations across the region's vast distances, with efforts focused on improving access, infrastructure and the ability to employ capabilities within theater.

"What we're asking for is the ability to use, procure or build these capabilities in theater," Curry said.

DIVARTY's role in synchronizing fires, sensors and emerging technologies across the division has been central to the transformation effort. Leaders said integrating sensing capabilities such as radar, electronic warfare and intelligence systems with long-range fires enables a broader approach to targeting across dispersed formations.

"As we modernize, strike is important, but the sensing aspect is just as critical," Von Benken said. "We are building the ability to see and sense at distance to enable those effects."

Leaders said the pace of transformation has been enabled by flexible funding and rapid experimentation, allowing the division to adapt to emerging technologies and operational demands.

"Without the flexibility to do what we just described, we would not be able to move to the best technology," Bartholomees said. "The technology is moving so fast that the old system will not work."

Officials said the division's efforts reflect how the Army is evolving to operate in the Indo-Pacific, where integrated fires, unmanned systems and networked capabilities are required to support distributed operations.

Bartholomees stated that continued experimentation with soldiers, industry and partners will remain essential as the Army refines capabilities for future operations in the region.

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Azerbaijan, China develop military cooperation

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

10.04.2026 [19:08]

Baku, April 10, AZERTAC

A delegation from the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan paid a visit to the People's Republic of China to expand bilateral relations in the military sphere, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense told AZERTAC.

During the visit, a working meeting on prospects for military cooperation was held at the International Military Cooperation Department of China's Ministry of National Defense.

The meeting discussed the current state of military cooperation between the two countries, potential opportunities for its development, and future plans. The sides also exchanged views on a number of issues of mutual interest.

The parties positively assessed the implementation of activities envisaged in the military cooperation plan for the past year and discussed events scheduled for the current year.

It was emphasized that Azerbaijani-Chinese military cooperation is beneficial in terms of the exchange of experience and information.

The main objective of the working meeting was to further strengthen existing relations between the defense institutions of both countries and expand mutual cooperation.

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Lebanon faces growing food crisis amid conflict, warns WFP

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

10.04.2026 [17:44]

Baku, April 10, AZERTAC

The World Food Program (WFP) warned Friday that Lebanon is sliding into a deepening food security crisis as conflict continues to disrupt livelihoods and access to essential goods, Anadolu Agency reported.

WFP Lebanon Country Director Allison Oman told reporters in Geneva that the crisis is rapidly evolving beyond displacement.

"What we're witnessing is not just a displacement crisis, it is rapidly becoming a food security crisis," she said, pointing to sharp price increases, with vegetables rising by more than 20% and bread by 17% in just one month.

"This is a very worrying combination, prices are rising, incomes are disrupted, and demand is increasing as displacement continues," Oman added. Some one million people have been displaced by Israel's attacks, or about one-fifth of Lebanon's population.

While markets appear functional at the national level, she warned this masks severe disruptions in conflict-hit areas in the south, where "more than 80% of markets are no longer functioning," with some traders reporting less than a week of food stocks.

Even before the escalation on March 2, she said about 900,000 people were food insecure, a number expected to rise further.

The WFP has reached more than 440,000 conflict-affected people and "distributed the equivalent of 2 million meals to families, caught in the crisis," she said, noting that the agency has been on the ground since the first hours of the escalation.

"Food isn't just assistance, it's stability, it's dignity, and right now, in many cases, it's a lifeline," she said.

Since March 2, the WFP, together with the logistics cluster, has launched around nine to 10 convoys, sending roughly 70 trucks with aid and reaching an estimated 40,000 to 60,000 people.

The Israeli army has intensified attacks across Lebanon since Wednesday, killing at least 303 people and injuring 1,150 others, according to Lebanese Civil Defense.

The expanded Israeli offensive on Lebanon since March 2 has killed 1,888 people and wounded 6,092 others, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

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Macron seeks to draw Trump to G7 with post-summit invite to Versailles

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

10.04.2026 [17:41]

Baku, April 10, AZERTAC

French President Emmanuel Macron has invited U.S. President Donald Trump to a sumptuous dinner at the ornate Palace of Versailles the day after a G7 summit in mid-June, although it remains unclear if Trump will attend either event, Reuters reported.

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.

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 capitalize on the two nations' shared history ahead of the United States' 250th anniversary celebrations on July 4, two sources said.

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 finalized. The visit remains to be confirmed," the official said.

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SAFE: final green light for financial assistance to Czechia and France

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

10 April 2026 11:56

The Council today adopted implementing decisions making financial assistance under SAFE available to two more EU member states: Czechia and France. SAFE is an EU financial instrument supporting member states in investing in defence industrial production through common procurement of priority capabilities.

Today's decision follows two previous batches of Council implementing decisions concerning financial assistance to Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Spain, Croatia, Portugal, Romania on 11 Februaryand Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Finland on 17 February.

With today's decision, Czechia and France can now receive financial assistance under the SAFE instrument. Strengthening the Union's defence readiness and strategic autonomy, by reducing dependencies and enhancing the EU's capacity to respond effectively and proactively, is a Cyprus Presidency key priority. SAFE secures our Union's future, by making sure that our defence industry is equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Vasilis Palmas, Minister of Defence of Republic of Cyprus

For Czechia, the Commission has allocated a maximum loan amount of 2.06 billion, which includes an initial pre-financing payment of 309 million, while France is set to receive a maximum loan amount of approximately 15.09 billion. Of this total, the pre-financing payment amounts to roughly 2.26 billion.

The Council's greenlight follows the European Commission's positive assessment of the National Defence Investment Plans submitted by Czechia and France. With initial disbursements expected to reach the member states in the coming weeks, this financing enables the acquisition of modern equipment and the enhancement of defence readiness.

Next steps

Following the adoption of the implementing decisions, the Commission will conclude loan agreements with the member states concerned and proceed with the disbursement of the pre-financing payments.

Background

The SAFE regulation was adopted on 27 May 2025, as part of 'Readiness 2030', an ambitious defence package designed to provide EU member states with financial levers to drive a surge in defence investments.

SAFE is an EU financial instrument supporting member states that wish to invest in defence industrial production through common procurement, focusing on priority capabilities. It will finance urgent and large-scale investments in the European defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB), with the aim of boosting production capacity, ensuring the timely availability of defence equipment, and addressing existing capability gaps.

Ukraine and EFTA/EEA countries will be able to participate in common procurement under SAFE, and it will be possible to buy from their industries. The same applies to Canada, which has concluded an agreement under Article 17 of the SAFE regulation. Acceding countries, candidate countries, potential candidates and countries which have signed Security and Defence Partnerships with the EU may also take part in common procurement and contribute to aggregated demand.

Following the adoption of SAFE, the Commission launched a call for expression of interest to receive financial assistance under the instrument, inviting member states to indicate minimum and maximum loan amounts. By 29 August 2025, 19 member states had expressed interest.

On 28 November 2025, Czechia and France submitted their requests for financial assistance and the subsequent defence industry investment plans. The Commission approved the two national defence plans on 25 March 2026. This brings the total to 18 member states, following the two funding waves finalized earlier this year.

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Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna meets with the prime minister and foreign minister of Armenia in Yerevan

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

10.04.2026 | 22:26

Today in Yerevan, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna met with the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ararat Mirzoyan. The meetings focused on practical bilateral cooperation between Estonia and Armenia, particularly in digital and economic development, as well as on the regional peace process and enhancing connectivity.

During the meeting, the foreign ministers signed a memorandum of cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries, aimed at deepening bilateral relations and strengthening cooperation.

Foreign Minister Tsahkna stressed that Estonia is ready to share its experience in building a transparent and efficient public sector. "We have the necessary experience. What is needed to apply it is political will, and that exists in Armenia," Tsahkna said.

The central role of the peace process in Armenia's development was also highlighted. "Achieving peace is a prerequisite for the country's opening up and economic development," Tsahkna noted, adding that it is nonetheless a complex and time-consuming process.

The prime minister and the foreign minister also discussed the South Caucasus connectivity project, which aims to improve regional cooperation, openness and economic development. According to Tsahkna, opening up the region through the peace process and strengthening democracy is of historic importance, and Estonia stands ready to support Armenia in this process in every possible way.

Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan thanked Estonia for its support, particularly in implementing reforms and advancing digitalisation. In 2026, Estonia doubled its development cooperation funding for Armenia, and ESTDEV is implementing projects in areas including Armenia's digital development and export economy.

Cooperation between Armenia and the European Union was also discussed at the meetings. "Armenia's cooperation with the European Union is becoming increasingly close, and an important next step is to advance the visa dialogue. The first EU-Armenia summit in May will be important in taking these issues forward," Tsahkna said.

At the meetings, the foreign minister also stressed the need to maintain international focus on Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. "Europe's focus must remain on Ukraine, and pressure on the aggressor must continue, despite the broader geopolitical turbulence," Tsahkna said.

Yesterday, the foreign minister opened Estonia's embassy in Armenia, which will further strengthen practical cooperation between the two countries. "We see strong potential to expand cooperation in innovation, cybersecurity and digital development. There is also growing interest in Armenia in Estonian companies and start-ups," Tsahkna added.

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China's response to Philippine latest provocation in South China Sea restrained and justified, Chinese experts say following Manila's hype over flare incident

Global Times

By Liu Xin Published: Apr 10, 2026 02:57 PM

The Philippines has accused China of "bullying" after alleging that Chinese forces fired flares at a Philippine Coast Guard aircraft over the South China Sea, where the plane was conducting what Manila described as a "routine" patrol mission.

Some Chinese experts said on Friday that China's response was legitimate and restrained, aimed at warning off aircraft engaged in dangerous flights that infringe on China's sovereignty and security interests. They noted that if the Philippines continues such actions, pressing forward step by step while mistaking China's restraint for weakness, it will be met with more resolute measures.

According to Philippine media outlet Inquirer.net, Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard, claimed that the incident occurred on Thursday. In a statement, he alleged that "Chinese forces fired flares directly at a Philippine Coast Guard Caravan aircraft while we were conducting routine maritime domain awareness flights over the Kalayaan Island Group," describing the move as "a clear and deliberate act of bullying."

Tarriela also claimed that Chinese forces issued radio transmissions during the incident, claiming "indisputable sovereignty" over these areas, according to the report.

The so-called "Kalayaan Island Group" is part of China's Nansha Qundao in the South China Sea. Last week, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson has accused the Philippines of illegally delineating the so-called "Kalayaan Island Group" beyond its own territorial scope and assigning names to Chinese islands and reefs in the Nansha Qundao, and said such acts violate China's territorial sovereignty and are inconsistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and relevant international laws.

By sending a coast guard aircraft into airspace under China's jurisdiction, the Philippines violated China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, regardless of its claimed purpose. In response, China was fully justified in taking the necessary measures to handle the situation. Whether through the use of flares or other countermeasures, such actions fall entirely within China's sovereign rights. The Philippine side is merely trying to shift the blame and portray itself as the victim, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times.

Illumination flares, tracer rounds and similar measures are the restrained forms of warning. If the other side persists in actions that infringe on China's sovereignty, China will respond with more resolute measures, said Song.

Ding Duo, director of the Research Center for International and Regional Studies at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, also noted that "launching flares was already the most restrained response China could have taken. If no warning had been issued and the aircraft had continued to intrude, who would have taken responsibility if the situation had escalated into a dangerous incident? "

Commenting on the Philippines' latest hype, the Beijing-based think tank South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI) wrote on X that "the PCG is playing with fire." It said that the traditional practice in the Nansha Islands is for all parties to maintain a 12-nautical-mile control zone around the features they occupy and not challenge one another. "Since the Philippines insists on changing the status quo, it should not complain about the consequences."

This is not the first time the Philippine side has hyped up China's use of flares. On March 20, an ABS-CBN report claimed that "Chinese forces" also fired flares at a Philippine Coast Guard Cessna aircraft.

In response, in a statement released by the PLA Southern Theater Command (STC), Senior Captain Zhai Shichen, spokesperson for the command, said that on March 20, a Philippine C-208 aircraft illegally intruded into the airspace over waters adjacent to China's Meiji Jiao in the Nansha Qundao without approval from the Chinese government. The PLA STC's naval and air forces tracked and monitored the aircraft and issued warnings to expel it in accordance with laws and regulations. The Philippine side's actions constituted a serious violation of China's sovereignty.

"We solemnly warn the Philippine side to immediately cease all rights-infringing and provocative acts and to work with China to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea," said Zhai.

Ding believed that the Philippines had carried out such aircraft flights in coordination with a media hype campaign. The Philippine side knew China would respond and take necessary countermeasures, and that was precisely what it was hoping for  to generate fresh material for manipulation of public opinion. With few recent maritime incidents to exploit, Manila appears to have deliberately staged this episode to create new talking points for its public opinion campaign.

"The Philippine side says it wants to speed up Code of Conduct in the South China Sea consultations, yet continues to provoke tensions at sea and hype up claims of so-called Chinese 'bullying.' If it were truly serious about advancing the talks, it would be helping create a constructive atmosphere rather than undermining it," said Ding.

Also on Thursday, the Philippines unveiled a major coast guard base Thursday on an island in the South China Sea to serve as a "steadfast sentinel of sovereignty," according to ABC News.

Song said the Philippine side is using frequent, low-intensity provocations to test China's bottom line and red lines, pressing forward step by step while mistaking China's restraint for weakness. China has no intention of and will not "bully" any country, he said. But if the Philippine side continues to escalate and truly misreads China's restraint as weakness, China will be compelled to take necessary measures in response, said the expert.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe's ruling party, Zanu-PF, has expressed satisfaction with the turnout and level of support shown during public hearings on Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, describing the response as a clear endorsement of its position.Party Director for Information and Publicity, Farai Marapira, said the high participation by citizens, party members, affiliates, and stakeholders demonstrated widespread backing for the proposed constitutional changes."As a party, we feel vindicated by the strong public outpouring of support at the hearings. While dissenting voices were present and we acknowledge them, the majority clearly carried the day," said Marapira.He also commended provincial party structures for mobilising supporters to attend the hearings, which were conducted by the Parliament of Zimbabwe between March 30 and early April 2026.Marapira encouraged individuals who did not participate in the outreach meetings to submit their views in writing before the May 17 deadline. Submissions can be sent electronically or delivered physically to Parliament offices in Mt Hampden.Meanwhile, Zanu-PF Harare Provincial Political Commissar, Voyage Dambuza, also praised party members for their strong presence during the hearings."I want to thank our members who came out in their numbers to attend the Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill hearing held by the Parliament of Zimbabwe. I am grateful for the overwhelming support they showed for the Bill," he said.The public hearings form part of the legislative process as the Bill moves through Parliament, with submissions expected to inform deliberations before its final consideration.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodges a strong protest to Belarus over violations of Lithuania's airspace and the increasing flow of irregular migrants

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Updated 2026-04-10

On 10 April, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong protest to Belarus over the launch of smuggler balloons from Belarusian territory on 9 April, which violated Lithuanian airspace and posed a threat to civil aviation. Due to the incident, the airspace over Vilnius Airport was restricted for more than seven hours.

The Ministry also drew attention to the increasing flows of organized illegal migration from Belarus. So far this year, Lithuanian officials have already halted 347 attempts to cross the Lithuanian state border illegally.

Lithuania demanded that Belarus immediately take measures to stop the systematic violations of its airspace and land border. Lithuania also warned that, should these illegal actions continue, it reserves the right to reinstate restrictions on traffic through border crossing points and to apply additional measures to protect its airspace, civil aviation, and national security.



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The Republic of Mali announced today 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)".

Morocco Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Friday 10 April 2026

This position was expressed in a statement by the Malian Government delivered by Mr. Abdoulaye Diop, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Mali, following his meeting with his Moroccan counterpart.

Mr. Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, is on a visit to Bamako under the High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

In the same statement, 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."

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 (2025), adopted on October 31, 2025,"according to the same source.

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.

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Palestinians across Gaza unsafe six months on from ceasefire announcement, says Turk

Press releases

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

10 April 2026

GENEVA -- Six months since the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza, Palestinians across the strip are still unsafe, as Israeli attacks continue routinely, said UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk.

"The unrelenting pattern of killings reflects continuing disregard for Palestinian lives, enabled by sweeping impunity," the High Commissioner said.

At least 32 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since early April, as airstrikes, gunfire, and shelling persist daily across Gaza, bringing to 738 the number of Palestinians killed since a ceasefire came into effect on 10 October 2025, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

"For the past 10 days, Palestinians are still being killed and injured in what is left of their homes, shelters and tents of displaced families, on the streets, in vehicles, at a medical facility and a classroom," Turk said.

Victims include women, children, people with disabilities, a humanitarian contractor, and a journalist.

On 9 April, Ritaj Rihan, a third grade schoolgirl, was killed as Israeli military forces opened fire on the crowded tent encampment housing her makeshift classroom, in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza.

On 8 April, the Israeli military used a drone to target and kill Al Jazeera journalist Mohamed Washah in Gaza City, later issuing a statement claiming he had been a Hamas operative. This is the same basis Israel has invoked in many similar killings of journalists in Gaza, with no independently verifiable evidence to substantiate the claim. Washah is the 294th Palestinian journalist to be killed by Israeli forces since 7 October 2023 as verified by UN Human Rights Office. In the meantime, Israel continues to enforce a blanket ban on independent access to Gaza by international journalists.

On 6 April, Israeli forces shot at a car transporting World Health Organisation workers, killing the driver. As of early April, 589 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023, including 397 UN staff and team members.

"The number of journalists and humanitarian personnel killed in Gaza is unprecedented, and further compounds civilian harm as it makes reporting on the situation and responding to its humanitarian implications life-threatening," Turk said. "Movement itself has become a life-threatening activity. Incidents of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces while walking, driving, or standing outside are recorded nearly every day."

Israeli forces also continue to kill Palestinians apparently for their proximity to the so-called "yellow line"  the Israeli forces' shifting and poorly marked deployment line which cuts through Gaza. "Targeting civilians not taking direct part in hostilities is a war crime, regardless of their proximity to deployment lines," said the High Commissioner.

The suffering has been further exacerbated by persistent Israeli restrictions on the entry and flow of desperately needed humanitarian aid, destruction of civilian infrastructure, the targeting of law enforcement and civil administration structures, and the increasing violence by Palestinian armed actors reportedly backed by the Israeli military.

"Palestinians have no blueprint for survival: whatever they do or don't do, wherever they go or don't go, there is no safety or protection afforded to them. It is hard to square this with a ceasefire," said Turk, pointing to the killing of over 700 Palestinians and injuries to over 2,000 others in the last six months.

"After two-and-a-half years of repeated crimes under international law, committed with sweeping impunity, and tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians killed, the international community must move beyond words," the UN Human Rights Chief said. "It must undertake meaningful actions to end Israel's ongoing violations of international law, ensure accountability for crimes committed by all parties, and guarantee that Palestinians are able to start the recovery and rebuilding of their homes and community."

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Naming 131 WPS features 'vital assertion' of PH rights

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

April 10, 2026, 2:15 pm

MANILA -- A ranking naval official on Friday called President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s order to adopt Philippine names for the 131 maritime features in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) as a "very vital assertion" of the country's rights to these territories.

"The President's directive to rename the 131 features in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is a very vital assertion of our rights under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling," Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said at a press briefing Friday.

Aside from this, Trinidad said adopting Philippine names for these 131 features will allow consistency in the country's communications, charts and education system.

"The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) is prepared to protect and to continue our patrols to ensure maritime security and our sovereignty and sovereign rights in the WPS are protected," he added.

Asked if the move would enhance efforts to recover Philippine features now occupied by other countries,

Trinidad said they will defer these questions to the Department of Foreign Affairs and other "higher echelons of government on any future moves when it comes to these illegally constructed features in the WPS by the Chinese Communist Party."

Under Executive Order (EO) 111, the government will adopt a standard set of Philippine names for 131 features located in Kalayaan, Palawan and the WPS, upon the recommendation of the National Maritime Council (NMC).

The NMC said standardizing the names is essential to ensure effective administration and governance, as well as to strengthen the Philippines' sovereign rights over the area.

The EO directs the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority to produce and publish updated maps and charts reflecting the official names.

Chinese flares 'unprofessional'

As this developed, Trinidad said the reported Chinese firing of flares against a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) plane conducting routine flights over the KIG "is illegal, unprofessional, and unsafe".

"Number one, the activity of the PCG was legal. It was within the bounds of domestic law and international law. Secondly, the firing of flares by the Chinese Communist Party is illegal, unprofessional and unsafe," he added.

Trinidad also called these actions an attempt to "regularize or normalize their illegal presence in our maritime domain."

"We will not be deterred from performing our functions, our mandate of patrolling the seas and the skies in spite of all of these illegal, coercive and aggressive actions being done against us.

"We will be there to protect and to show the Philippine flag," the PN official said.

Proposed US fuel depot

Meanwhile, Trinidad said the U.S. plan to set up a fuel depot in the southern Philippines would greatly enhance maritime security operations in the WPS. He said the plan would be under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States.

"They are designed to support our response capability for HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster response), maritime security and support, sustain our forces deployed not only in the WPS, but even in the southern border. We welcome this development," Trinidad said.

Earlier reports said the Pentagon is planning to open a "Defense Fuel Support Point" (DFSP) in the Davao Region by 2028.

The Davao Region DFSP is envisioned to be capable of storing between 41 to 42 million gallons of fuel products and lubricants. (PNA).

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Lebanon: 357 martyred during 3 days of Israeli strikes

Iran Press TV

Friday, 10 April 2026 10:51 PM

Lebanon's health ministry says as many as 357 people have been martyred during Israeli strikes across Lebanon over the past three days.

According to a statement issued by the ministry on Friday, 1,223 others have also been wounded as a result of the attacks.

Also on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced a two-week lull in American attacks on Iran.

A 10-point proposal forwarded by the Islamic Republic, which Trump has referred to as a "workable basis on which to negotiate and the main framework for these talks," explicitly conditions a ceasefire on the cessation of aggression on all fronts, including against Lebanon.

Also on Friday, Iran's Majlis (Parliament) speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf landed in the Pakistani capital Islamabad at the head of a high-ranking delegation for talks with the American side.

Earlier, he had said a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets were the prerequisites to be met before the commencement of negotiations with the United States.

According to the Lebanese health ministry, the latest deaths bring to 1,953 the number of people, who have been killed in Lebanon since March 2, 2025 as a result of Israeli violations of a ceasefire agreement that had been signed between the Israeli regime and the country's Hezbollah resistance movement the previous year.

As part of the deal, the regime was expected to end its deadly escalation towards the country that had already cost thousands of lives.

Earlier this year, Hezbollah announced an end to its period of strategic patience in the face of the breaches, beginning to strike various Israeli targets with rocket barrages.

The movement has also responded to the latest deadly strikes with several bouts of reprisal.

Hezbollah's Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem has attributed the recent deadly escalation by Tel Aviv to the frustration of the regime's sinister goals, which it had sought to achieve as part of unprovoked aggression targeting Iran and regional resistance fighters.

Most recently, Sheikh Qassem strongly condemned the recent wave of deadly Israeli strikes on Lebanese civilians, dismissing the bloody attacks as a desperate attempt to cover up the regime's "accumulated failure" on the battlefield.

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April 10: Hezbollah's operations against Zionist regime in response to truce breach

Iran Press TV

Friday, 10 April 2026 8:46 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 launched a series of retaliatory strikes on Thursday, targeting multiple Israeli military and strategic installations.

The retaliatory operations continued with full intensity on Friday as the Israeli regime continued to target civilian areas in Lebanon, particularly in South Lebanon.

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 on Friday, April 10:

Hezbollah:

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the Khiam detention center with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the courtyard of the Al-Marj site with an attack drone.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the courtyard of the "Branit" barracks with an attack drone.

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, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Metulla" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the "Shlomi" settlement with a rocket barrage and a swarm of attack drones.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted artillery positions north of the "Goren" settlement with a rocket barrage and 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 "Ya'ara" barracks with a swarm of attack drones.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the area of Wata Al-Khiam 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 villages of the south, 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 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" and "Misgav Am" settlements with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, 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 "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 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 "Doviv" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, 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 a Merkava tank southeast of the Khiam detention center with an attack drone.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, 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 Ghajar 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 its repeated attacks on the villages of the south, and after the resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted the "Kiryat Shmona" 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 a gathering of Israeli soldiers east of the Khiam detention center with a qualitative missile.

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 adhered 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, 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", "Margaliot", and "Misgav Am" 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 the "Kiryat Shmona" barracks with a swarm of attack drones.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, 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 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, in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement and its repeated attacks on the city of Beirut, and after the Resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the Israeli military base in the port of "Ashdod" with qualitative missiles.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement, and in response to 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 an artillery position of the Israeli military in the "Neot Mordechai" settlement 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 a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of "Khirbet Yaroun" site 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 aggressions against the villages of the south, 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 Liberation Triangle on the outskirts of the city of Bint Jbeil 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 a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the town of Rashaf 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 villages of the south, and after the Resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a Humvee vehicle in the town of Taybeh with an attack drone.

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" and "Misgav Am" 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 a gathering of Israeli soldiers with a swarm of attack drones.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement and its repeated attacks on the city of Nabatiyeh, 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 occupied city of Safad 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 city of Nabatiyeh, and after the resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Meron" base for surveillance and air operations management in northern occupied Palestine 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 infrastructure belonging to the Israeli army in the "Karmiel" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, 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 gatherings of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles on the hills of Friz and Ghadmatha in the town of Ainata with rocket barrages.

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 "Doviv" 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 its repeated attacks on the villages of the south, and after the Resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles at the Liberation Triangle 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 city of Tyre, 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, 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, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a number of Israeli army bulldozers that were working on demolishing houses in the town of Aita Al-Shaab 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 villages of the south, and after the resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a number of Israeli army bulldozers that were working on demolishing houses in the town of Aita Al-Shaab with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's violation of the ceasefire agreement and the targeting of the Government House building in the city of Nabatiyeh, and after the Resistance committed to the ceasefire and the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Liman" and "Shlomi" settlements with rocket barrages.

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 a gathering of "israeli" enemy army vehicles and soldiers in the vicinity of Al-Ishraq school in the city of Bint Jbeil 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 adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of the Israeli army vehicles and soldiers in the vicinity of Al-Ishraq school in the city of Bint Jbeil, for the second time, with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, 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 "Kiryat Shmona" barracks and the "Beit Hillel" base with swarms 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 aggressions against the city of Tyre, and after the resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted at 18:45 on Friday, 10/04/2026, infrastructure belonging to the "israeli" enemy army in the "Karmiel" settlement for the second time with a rocket barrage. This response will continue until the "israeli"-American aggression against our country and our people ceases.

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 a gathering of Israeli soldiers at Al-Owaidah hill in the border town of Odeissah with an attack drone.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, 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 adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Yiron" 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 its repeated attacks on the city of Tyre, and after the resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Shraga" base (the administrative headquarters of the "Golani" Brigade) north of the occupied city of Akka with a rocket barrage and a swarm of attack drones.

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 fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of Al-Ishraq school in the city of Bint Jbeil 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 the targeting of the government Serail building in the city of Nabatiyeh, and after the resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Nahariya" 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 its repeated attacks on the villages of the south, 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, 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 adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Avivim" settlement for the second time 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 southern suburb of Beirut, and after the Resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the infrastructure belonging to the Israeli army in the "Krayot" area north of the occupied city of Haifa 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 assaults on the villages of the south, and after the Resistance adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted gatherings of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Al-Ishraq School in the city of Bint Jbeil with rocket barrages and artillery shells.

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 adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the Liberation Triangle 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 aggressions against the villages of the south, and after the resistance committed to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted gatherings of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles on the hills of Frayz and Ghadmatha in the town of Ainata with artillery shells.

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 adhered to the ceasefire while the enemy did not, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Kiryat Shmona" settlement for the second time with a rocket barrage.

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'Masking battlefield failure': Hezbollah chief blasts strikes on civilians, vows to expel occupiers

Iran Press TV

Friday, 10 April 2026 12:35 PM

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem has strongly condemned the recent wave of deadly Israeli strikes on Lebanese civilians, dismissing the bloody attacks as a desperate attempt to cover up the regime's "accumulated failure" on the battlefield.

In a message to the "steadfast" people of Lebanon on Friday, Sheikh Qassem extended his condolences for the martyrdom of hundreds of people in the Israeli strikes on Wednesday, and wished the wounded a speedy recovery.

On Wednesday, the Israeli military carried out more than 100 airstrikes across Lebanon, killing more than 300 people and injuring 1,165 others.

He noted that the Israeli regime resorted to the bloody attacks "in an attempt to mask its battlefield failure", amid Hezbollah's retaliatory strikes.

"For forty days, the enemy has accumulated failure. Its settlements are overwhelmed with fear and pain, its plans in disarray, and its officials issuing loud threats with little effect."

Hezbollah chief stressed that the shed blood of the Lebanese will increase the determination of the nation to liberate their land and accelerate the victory against "the brutal and tyrannical Israeli-American enemy".

He emphasized that the "brave" resistance fighters on the frontlines have "shattered the enemy's ambitions", with the regime initially aiming to reach the Litani River, but later attempting limited advances.

"It has repeatedly shifted its objectivesat times seeking to reach the Litani River, at others attempting limited advances, then control through firepower, or relying on destruction alone," he said, noting that the fighters ambushed the Israeli forces and left their military vehicles destroyed at the crossroads of towns and villages.

"Throughout more than forty days of aggression, it has failed to stop rockets, shells, and drones from reaching its settlements, near and far, extending to Haifa and beyond," he added.

Pointing out that Israel was "taken by surprise by the resistance's tacticsthe flexibility of its fighters, their defensive capabilities, and their legendary courage", he said the enemy has realized that even deploying one hundred thousand Israeli soldiers will not enable the regime to occupy the South.

"Those who remain in the field live in fear and terror, uncertain of when they will be killed, captured, or ordered to withdraw due to their inability to maintain any foothold on the pure land in the South."

Qassem vowed that "the resistance will continue until the very last breath", and that the sacrifices made so far will "only deepen our determination to liberate our land and preserve our dignity".

He urged the Beirut government not to offer free concessions in possible talks with the occupying regime, stressing "We will not accept a return to the previous status quo".

"Togetheras a state, an army, a people, and a resistancewe will protect our country, restore its sovereignty, and expel the occupier," he stated.

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, carrying out ground and aerial attacks across the Arab country with the aim of deepening its occupation of Lebanese territory.

The Wednesday attacks came hours after Iran and the US announced a 15-day ceasefire based on Iran's 10-point proposal. One of the agreed points, as confirmed by the mediator Pakistan, has been a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the truce excluded Lebanon, and promised to continue attacks against Lebanon.

However, he later said he authorized talks with the Lebanese government, amid US pressure.

A high-ranking security source told Press TV on Friday that intense pressure and the threat to withdraw from talks with the United States in Islamabad from Tehran forced the Zionist regime to stop its military attacks on the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

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.

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US to set up Philippines fuel depot in support of its South China Sea operations

Project announced at maritime security forum, but details scarce as plan is being finalized.

By Jason Gutierrez for RFA

2026.04.10

MANILA, Philippines -- Washington is planning a fuel depot in the southern Philippines that could support humanitarian and maritime security missions of its key Southeast Asian ally, which is locked in an increasingly hostile territorial tussle with China.

The presence of the American facility will "serve as a deterrence" to China, but also signals the strong defense relationship between the allies, Rear Adm. Roy Vincente Trinidad, the Philippine Navy's spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said on the sidelines of a maritime security forum in Manila.

Manila calls the part of the South China Sea that is within its exclusive economic zone as the West Philippine Sea. Trinidad said the plan was still subject to negotiations, but that it is covered under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) already existing between the two countries.

Both agreements give the legal cover for America to rotate troops and preposition equipment in the Philippines, where Washington once maintained its biggest overseas naval base.

"They are designed to support our response capability for HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster response), maritime security and support and sustain our forces deployed, not only the West Philippine Sea, but even the southern border. We welcome this development," said Trinidad, adding that the facilities would still be under Philippine control.

While no specifics of the plan had yet been released, the Pentagon was looking at opening a Defense Fuel Support Point, or DFSP, in southern Davao region by 2028 capable of supporting over 40 million gallons of fuel and lubricants.

'Geostrategic revaluation'

That the U.S. is considering Davao for the DFSP amounts to a "geostrategic revaluation" of the region, Professor Chester Cabalza, founder of the Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, told Radio Free Asia.

"The American refueling depot to be located in the Southern Philippines can provide a critical alternative to existing ports in Manila and Subic," he said. "The projected hub opens a broader strategy of maritime deterrence and logistical resilience."

At the forum, Trinidad refused to publicly divulge details of the project because they are being finalized. But he sought to assure the public that the facilities will remain "under our control," he said, referring to the Philippines.

Top security and defense officials attended the forum which comes amid hostilities in the Middle East that have prompted an examination of fuel and energy supplies across the South China Sea and Pacific regions.

The proposed facility could support Philippine efforts at monitoring and protecting its interests in the South China Sea, where it has overlapping claims with China and other Southeast Asian countries. While its neighbors have been peacefully trying to resolve the issue, China in the past few years has become increasingly assertive.

Asked if the Philippines was not concerned that the proposed facility would give the Chinese another reason to step-up harassment, Trinidad said, "The greater risk to our security is the lack of a credible deterrence."

"The greater risk is to have no deterrence at all. So, we welcome these facilities," he said. "These facilities will help allow the AFP to perform and to sustain these operations. Hence, they serve at a very strong deterrent posture. Thus, we welcome their presence."

Maritime 'bullying'

The China Coast Guard, or CCG, has harassed Philippine government vessels and aircraft to support local fishermen in the region, often deploying militia vessels as an intimidation tactic. On Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard, or PCG, denounced a "clear and deliberate act of bullying" by the CCG for firing flares directly at a Philippine government airplane conducting a maritime patrol on the Panganiban and Zamora reefs in the South China Sea.

The Chinese also sent radio transmissions during the incidents, brazenly claiming 'indisputable sovereignty' over the reefs, the PCG said. The claims are part of Beijing's "expansionist agenda and repeated violations" of international law, it added.

"These reckless and aggressive actions by China represent yet another escalation in their campaign of intimidation and harassment," the PCG said, adding that firing flares into the aircraft endangered the lives of the crew aboard.

Addressing the conference, Phillipine Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. stressed that while the current geopolitical environment had become more complex "dialogue, mutual respect and consensus are very important."

"These are not abstract ideals. They are the very conditions that have allowed our region to grow, to connect and to prosper. And these are the principles that we must continue to uphold," Brawner said.

"At the same time, we must be clear eyed about the changes around us. Our maritime domain is increasingly shaped by the shifting geopolitical dynamics, evolving security challenges, rapid technological advancement and the intensifying effects of climate and environmental pressures," he said.

He said the Philippine military believes that "maritime security is both a national duty and a shared responsibility."

"We remain committed to protecting our sovereignty and securing our maritime interests, consistent with international law and in a manner that contributes to regional stability. We will continue to act with professionalism, discipline and restraint," he stressed.

He called for stronger collective efforts to boost maritime domain awareness, while strengthening confidence building measures to "reinforce trust and reduce the risk of miscalculation."

The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines did not respond to requests for comment.

Edited by Eugene Whong.

Copyright 1998-2026, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2026 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Between Reassurance And Rhetoric: The High Stakes Of Rutte's US Diplomacy

By Alex Raufoglu April 10, 2026

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 President 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 that 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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-rutte- diplomacy-us-iran/33729225.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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As Hungary Votes, They're Watching Closely In Kyiv, Moscow, And Beyond

By Ray Furlong and Zoriana Stepanenko April 10, 2026

Hungarians are voting in parliamentary elections on April 12 as war continues to rage in neighboring Ukraine and their government's 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. Hungary's 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 [Iran's 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 Hungary's existing foreign policy trends.

He foresaw "relationship deterioration with the EU and hence potentially some political support from Trump...seeing 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/RL's request for comment on future foreign policy steps.

Scenario 2: Magyar Wins

Magyar's 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 Hungary's 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 House's support for Orban, but added that the United States would "work with whoever wins this election."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/hungary-election- orban-magyar-opposition/33729297.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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News / National

by Staff reporter

Police in Harare have issued a warning to residents of Mabelreign and surrounding suburbs about a gang of three armed and dangerous suspects allegedly behind a series of night-time robberies and violent attacks targeting homes and churches.In a public notice, Officer in Charge of Mabelreign Police Station, Chief Inspector Progress Mangena, said the suspects are believed to be armed with a rifle, knives, crowbars, and a large torch, and are considered highly dangerous."The Zimbabwe Republic Police, Mabelreign, wishes to alert members of the public about the presence of three dangerous and notorious criminals currently operating within the Mabelreign area and surrounding neighbourhoods," she said.According to police, the suspects are reportedly targeting residential properties and places of worship during the night, robbing occupants of valuables. Authorities also warned that some victims have been subjected to sexual assault during the attacks.Chief Insp Mangena described the suspects as three men of varying heights and builds, including one tall individual of medium build and two shorter, slim men of differing complexions.Residents have been urged to strengthen home security, ensure doors and windows are locked at night, and avoid opening to strangers during late hours.Police also advised communities to move in groups where possible, remain vigilant, and report any suspicious activity immediately to law enforcement.The Zimbabwe Republic Police said it will intensify patrols in Mabelreign and surrounding areas as investigations continue, and appealed to members of the public to assist with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.Authorities assured informants that all information will be treated confidentially as efforts continue to restore safety in the affected neighbourhoods.
Dark Crossings And Danger Money: Sailors Relive 1980s 'Tanker War' Amid Hormuz Crisis

By Amos Chapple April 10, 2026

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 today's crisis in the Persian Gulf.

The tanker war was an offshoot of the Iran-Iraq war that began in 1980 with Iraq's 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.

Veterans of the 1980s tanker war say today the Strait of Hormuz could be forcibly reopened by the US Navy. But Syvertsen believes such a step "would just make [the current conflict] worse."

Myklebust points to a July 1987 incident in which a tanker under escort from US warships struck a sea mine as evidence that "even with one of the world's strongest navies present, the environment cannot be fully controlled."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/tanker-war-1980s-survivors- hormuz-strait-iran-us/33729502.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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Israel, Lebanon Set To Meet April 14 For US-Hosted Peace Talks

22:38 10.4.2026

Israeli and Lebanese officials are scheduled to meet in Washington on April 14 to discuss ways to end fighting in Lebanon that has killed hundreds of people since renewed battles on March 2.

Lebanon's presidency said Israeli and Lebanese delegations made their first contacts on April 10 ahead of the talks through a telephone call between their ambassadors in Washington, with the US envoy to Lebanon participating in the call.

"During the call, it was agreed to hold the first meeting next Tuesday [April 14] at the State Department to discuss declaring a cease-fire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices," a statement said.

The US-brokered talks could play a major role in the search for a lasting cease-fire in the wider Middle East war involving US-Israeli forces against Iran.

The United States and Israel say Lebanon was not included in the agreed two-week cease-fire with Iran. Tehran, meanwhile, insists that it was and has threatened to halt the peace process unless Israel ceases its massive military campaign against Iran-allied Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

Hezbollah, which has been deemed a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States, has suffered massive losses while also firing projectiles into Israeli territory. Israel said it will not be meeting with Hizbollah representatives in Washington.

Lebanon's Health Ministry said the one-day toll from Israel's air strikes on April 8 has risen to 357 people killed and 1,223 injured, with the totals expected to rise as rubble is cleared from buildings.

Lebanese authorities say 1,953 people have been killed since the fighting began on March 2.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=449051

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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Blue Ridge departs Changi, Singapore

Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet

NEWS | April 10, 2026

By Lt. Jaliya Wilson, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

CHANGI, Singapore -- U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) departed Changi following a port visit, April 10, 2026.

Blue Ridge arrived in Changi April 3, and throughout the week U.S. 7th Fleet and Blue Ridge leadership met with their Republic of Singapore Navy counterparts to discuss opportunities to strengthen cooperation and enhance the U.S.-Singapore partnership overall.

The U.S. and Singapore have a strong navy-to-navy relationship rooted in regular personnel exchanges and longstanding participation in bilateral and multilateral exercises such as Pacific Griffin (PAC GRIFFIN), Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT), Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), and ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercise (AUMX).

"Thank you to the people of Singapore for the warm welcome and for hosting us at Changi Naval base," said Capt. Louis F. Catalina IV, commanding officer of USS Blue Ridge. "Singapore is a longstanding and steadfast partner in the region. We are grateful for the opportunity to meet with our friends in the Republic of Singapore Navy and experience the culture in this world-class city.

A testament to the U.S.-Singapore relationship is the agreement to allow littoral combat ships to operate primarily from Singapore as a logistics and maintenance hub, as well as supporting regular port visits and logistics stops for other U.S. Navy ships.

While in port, Sailors from Blue Ridge and U.S. 7th Fleet participated in a series of activities to include band performances and community relations events. Blue Ridge last visited Singapore in 2024.

U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific.

For more news from USS Blue Ridge, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/lcc19/.

For more news from U.S. 7th Fleet, visit https://www.c7f.navy.mil/.

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Trump Ahead of Iran Talks Says US Loading Up Ships With Weapons at Higher Level

Sputnik News

20260410

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said on Friday, right before talks with Iran are expected, that the United States is loading up vessels with weapons in a bigger amount than before.

"We're loading up the ships with the best weapons ever made, even at a higher level than we use to do a complete decimation," Trump told the New York Post.

If no deal is reached, the US will be using them "effectively," he added.

The upcoming talks are expected to focus on key US demands, including the transfer of an estimated 1,000 pounds of deeply buried enriched uranium and ensuring the continued reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.

On Tuesday night, Trump said that he had agreed to a two-week bilateral ceasefire with Iran. Negotiations between Washington and Tehran on settling the conflict are expected to take place in Islamabad on Saturday morning.

 Sputnik

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Hezbollah Leader Vows to Fight on Against Israel Despite Peace Talks

Sputnik News

20260410

Islamic resistance movement Hezbollah will keep fighting the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) despite the Lebanese government announcing peace talks with Israel, Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem said on Friday.

"The resistance will continue until the last breath," Qassem said. "Together  as a state, army, people, and resistance  we will defend the country, restore its sovereignty, and expel the occupier."

He said the IDF had failed to win on the battlefield or achieve its invasion goals.

Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh said peace talks between Lebanon and Israel would he held in the US, possibly on April 14.

Qassem added that Israel had suffered losses and was forced to repeatedly change its objectives.

He stressed that after more than 40 days of fighting, Israel had failed to stop Hezbollah missile and drone attacks on its territory, reaching as far as Haifa and beyond.

Following the reported two-week ceasefire deal between Iran and the US, Hezbollah called a truce with Israel.

But Israel broke the agreement within hours with massive bombing raids on Beirut and southern Lebanon on Wednesday.

 Sputnik

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IDF Chief of Staff Approves Continuation of Israeli Operation in Southern Lebanon

Sputnik News

20260410

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that IDF Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir visited southern Lebanon to assess the situation, and approved the continuation of army operations in the region.

"The Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir, conducted a tour today (Thursday) in southern Lebanon and held a situation assessment. He later approved plans for the continuation of operations with the command leadership," the IDF said in a statement on Thursday.

At the same time, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on Israeli authorities to lift the call for Lebanese residents to evacuate from a neighborhood in Beirut.

"The Israeli Defense Forces have issued an evacuation order for Beirut's Jnah area, which includes two major referral hospitals; the Rafik Hariri University Hospital and Al Zahraa Hospital .... I urge Israel to reverse this order and ensure the protection of all health facilities, health workers, patients and civilians," Ghebreyesus said on X.

On Tuesday night, US President Donald Trump said that he had agreed to a two-week bilateral ceasefire with Iran. On Wednesday, Israeli warplanes and artillery 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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Three years on, war-weary Sudanese remain on the move

UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Briefing notes

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR Representative in Sudan, Marie-Helene Verney - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

10 April 2026

As the crisis in Sudan moves into its fourth year, fighting still rages in large parts of the country, causing new displacement and extending the daily tragedy for millions of people with no clear end in sight.

Since the war started in April 2023, some 14 million people have been forced to flee, with 9 million remaining displaced inside Sudan and 4.4 million across borders. For many, displacement has been a repeated and exhausting cycle of flight to relative safety, only to flee again. Today, one in four Sudanese is displaced.

Violence is ongoing in much of Darfur, the Kordofans and Blue Nile State. Recent increased use of air bombardments and drones has sent more people fleeing. Human rights violations continue to occur, including conflict-related sexual violence, forced recruitment, arbitrary arrests, massacres and more. Civilians are particularly at risk, with frequent reports of harassment, violence and abductions taking place en route to safety.

Women and girls continue to face heightened risks of sexual violence, exploitation and abuse, particularly as they move through insecure areas. The collapse of health systems, law enforcement, and justice mechanisms has created a climate of widespread impunity. Survivors of gender-based violence face significant barriers to reporting incidents and accessing medical, psychosocial and legal services, further reinforcing the cycle of abuse and underreporting.

Millions of children have now spent three years of their childhood in displacement, with far-reaching consequences for their futures. Most have had little to no access to school. Over 58,000 children arrived alone in neighbouring countries, separated from their families in flight, often injured and deeply traumatized.

Neighbouring countries hosting the majority of Sudanese refugees - particularly Chad, Egypt and South Sudan - are at breaking point. Arrivals from Darfur into Chad continue, while South Sudan struggles to support Sudanese refugees and almost 1 million South Sudanese who have arrived since April 2023 amid its own growing crisis. Dwindling assistance and limited opportunities across all host countries leave many with impossible choices.

At the same time, many displaced Sudanese are returning to areas where fighting has largely abated. Some 80 per cent of these were internally displaced people, alongside 870,000 refugees from neighbouring countries. Most returns are to Al Jazeera and Sennar states, with almost 1.5 million returning to Khartoum, where conditions are dire; infrastructure and basic services have been largely destroyed, the economy shattered and the social fabric torn apart. It is crucial to support returnees to mitigate risks of further displacement.

There is also a growing number of Sudanese making the dangerous journey through Libya to Europe. Over 14,000 Sudanese arrived in Europe between 2024 and 2025, a 232 per cent increase since the conflict began. These movements are not driven by choice or convenience but as a response to the lack of prospects for peace, and unmet needs in Sudan and across borders. Peace, or at a minimum, better-funded humanitarian and development responses, are urgently needed to support Sudanese to live in dignity wherever they are.

Three years on, Sudan, the world's largest displacement crisis and one of the worst protection emergencies, continues unfolding in the wake of a severe global funding crunch. Aid agencies, including UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, have so far received 16 per cent of the $2.8 billion required to deliver assistance inside Sudan, and 8 per cent of $1.6 billion for the regional refugee response.

Without renewed and sustained global attention and support, the suffering and risks will only grow for the millions displaced and for the wider region, making this crisis even more destabilizing and costly to resolve. A cost that Sudan, and the world, cannot afford to bear.

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Lebanon airstrike casualties 'still under the rubble' as ambulances, hospitals face new threats

By Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer

10 April 2026 - With Lebanon still reeling from Israel's devastating airstrikes on 8 April, UN humanitarians reported new fears of attacks on ambulances and looming food shortages in the south of the country on Friday.

Speaking from Beirut, where he witnessed Wednesday's attacks first-hand, the World Health Organization (WHO)'s representative in the country Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar, said that according to the latest figures from Lebanon's Ministry of Health some 300 people were killed in the strikes - one of the highest single-day death tolls since the renewal of full-scale hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants on 2 March. A further 1,150 were injured.

"Many more people actually are still missing," Dr Abubakar told reporters in Geneva. "They're believed to be under the rubble."

Many body parts are also waiting to be identified, he said.

Threat to ambulance crews

The UN health agency official also spoke of a warning received from Israel on Friday morning that "ambulances will be attacked as well."

He said that Israel had been warning about "the use of ambulances by Hezbollah".

WHO has insisted that while healthcare should not be militarised, misuse of health facilities or ambulances does not justify attacking them.

"The healthcare workers, the facilities, the ambulances are all protected under international humanitarian law," the senior medic said.

"Unless we have these services available, we will not be able to save lives."

On Thursday WHO also received a warning that Israeli evacuation orders have been expanded in the Jneh area of Beirut which includes "two major hospitals that are managing the mass casualty [event], Rafik Hariri and Al Zahara hospital."

The facilities are currently operating at full capacity. Dr. Abubakar stressed the impossibility of potentially having to move the 450 patients, including some 50 in intensive care after having sustained injuries in Wednesday's bombing, out of the health facilities.

Evacuation impossible

"We have decided not to evacuate because we don't have any other place to evacuate them [to], actually," he said.

The UN health agency official added that overnight "we received some feedback saying that these hospitals will not be attacked...whether that will materialize or not we will see."

Amid the surge in emergency cases, the WHO official noted that even before Wednesday's mass casualty event the country did not have enough medical supplies to last even one month.

The 8 April airstrikes took place just hours after a ceasefire was announced between the United States and Iran.

Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have continued, while according to media reports Iran said on Friday that it would not take part in peace talks planned for Saturday in Pakistan if the ceasefire was not extended to Lebanon.

More upheaval

UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokesperson Eujin Byun said that families who had already fled earlier hostilities in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon - some of whom had begun contemplating returns after mixed signals about a ceasefire - were now once again uprooted.

Areas previously considered safe were struck on Wednesday, she said, "triggering panic and forcing people to flee for the second or third time."

Ms. Byun added that the destruction of the Qasmiyeh Bridge, a major artery connecting the southern cities of Sidon and Tyre, has made "moving between northern and southern Lebanon much more difficult."

"For many families from southern villages, return is no longer possible as the entire communities have been partially or completely destroyed," she said.

The UNHCR spokesperson stressed that some 150,000 people are estimated to still be in the South and that humanitarian access to them is essential.

"They need a safe route to flee if they are forced to again," she insisted.

Worsening food security

The World Food Programme (WFP)'s director in Lebanon Allison Oman, who was on a convoy to a border village in the south earlier this week, gave reporters an eyewitness account of the situation there.

"What I saw really stayed with me," she recounted, describing a local bakery which "had the glass front destroyed just an hour before we'd been there, and they were already sweeping up the glass and had already fired up the ovens because they were waiting for the wheat flour that we were bringing in on the convoy."

"Their food stocks were very low, and it was clear that this convoy was much awaited...it was essential to help them keep going," she said.

Ms. Oman warned that the situation is "rapidly becoming a food security crisis," with food prices rising across the country.

"In just one month, the price of vegetables has surged by more than 20 per cent, bread prices have increased by 17 per cent...for families who are already struggling, this is deeply concerning," she said, highlighting a "very worrying combination" where prices are rising, incomes are disrupted and demand is increasing.

The WFP official also stressed that in the conflict-affected areas in southern parts of Lebanon, more than 80 per cent of markets are no longer functioning.

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Sudan: 14 million displaced; hunger and attacks on health continue as war enters fourth year

10 April 2026 - As Sudan approaches the third anniversary of a brutal civil war, millions remain displaced and hungry while the health system lies in ruins, with no end to the violence in sight, UN agencies said on Friday.

Speaking from Khartoum, the representative of the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, in the country Marie-Helene Verney told reporters that since the start of the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 15 April 2023, some 14 million people, or a quarter of the population, have been forced to flee, with 9 million remaining displaced inside Sudan and 4.4 million across borders, primarily in Chad, South Sudan and Egypt.

"Unfortunately, we are not seeing clear progress towards any resolution," she said, stressing that fighting is still ongoing in large parts of the country: the Kordofans, Darfur and Blue Nile State.

"One thing to note is the increased use of aerial bombardments and drone attacks," she added.

Airstrikes, rights abuses and sexual violence

Airstrikes have been targeting civilian infrastructure "with no warnings," Ms. Verney said, and serious human rights violations have continued, including massacres, forced recruitment and arbitrary arrests.

Women and girls are particularly at risk of conflict-related sexual violence which "often takes place when they are trying to run for safety," she added.

In February the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said that over 500 victims of sexual violence were identified in 2025 alone, while a record 11,300 civilians were killed that year while many thousands remained missing or unidentified.

Millions going hungry

The world's largest displacement crisis is also a hunger crisis, as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)'s representative in Sudan Hongjie Yang pointed out, stressing that 21 million Sudanese are now facing acute food insecurity, including 6.3 million in the most dire state of food emergency.

Rural households in conflict areas such as Darfur and the Kordofans are particularly under pressure, he said.

Food production capacities have been largely destroyed, specifically in the state of Khartoum, Mr. Yang added, while the wrecked veterinary laboratory cannot produce vaccines for livestock.

Health services "shattered"

Meanwhile essential health services in the country have been "shattered," Dr Shible Sahbani, World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Sudan told reporters.

Over 40 per cent of the country's population require urgent health assistance, hospitals are overflowing with patients and disease outbreaks are widespread, he said.

Access to healthcare is all the more difficult as attacks on remaining functional hospitals have rendered them non-functional.

In three years of war WHO has verified and documented more than 200 attacks on healthcare which led to 2,052 deaths, Dr Sahbani said, while health workers have been killed, injured, detained and tortured.

Middle East conflict impacts

The UN health agency official also highlighted the recent impacts of the war in the Middle East on the provision of humanitarian aid to Sudan.

"Most of the agencies, like WHO, have our main logistics hub in the United Arab Emirates and with what's happening now, it's really impacting our capacity to respond" as humanitarian supply routes have been cut and shipping aid has become slower and more costly.

"Fortunately, we had some supplies in the country to be able to respond immediately... but now we are using our stocks and we need additional supplies to come in," he said.

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Today's top news: Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Haiti

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Lebanon

Strikes leave hospitals overwhelmed, civilians at greater risk

OCHA reports that the humanitarian situation in Lebanon continues to deteriorate, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence and essential services under extreme strain.

Lebanon's Ministry of Health reported that the strikes on Wednesday across the country killed more than 300 people and injured over 1,100 others. This brings the total number of people killed since 2 March to nearly 1,900, with more than 6,000 others injured, according to the Government.

OCHA is concerned over attacks on health and emergency services. Today, a strike on an ambulance killed two first responders in the town of Deir Qanoun Ras el-Ain in the province of Tyre.

The health system has been critically over-stretched. A World Health Organization's Representative (WHO) in Lebanon warns that some hospitals may run out of trauma supplies within days due to the surge in casualties. Roughly three weeks' worth of supplies were depleted in just one day - that was this Wednesday. Disruptions to supply chains and rising demand are also threatening the availability of medicine for chronic diseases, such as insulin.

WHO and its partners continue to support the Ministry of Public Health, reaching more than 57,000 patients with medication to treat acute diseases and providing over 37,000 subsidized primary healthcare consultations since 2 March.

But needs continue to far exceed the available capacity.

As the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, the United Nations calls for an immediate de-escalation and halt to hostilities. All parties must protect civilians and fully respect international humanitarian law. Health workers, ambulances, and medical facilities must be protected. The UN calls for funding and other support and access to deliver aid safely, without impediments.

Occupied Palestinian Territory

UN relief wing cautions humanitarian crisis persists for millions

At the 6-month mark of the ceasefire in Gaza, OCHA says that humanitarian organizations continue to do their best to deliver in the face of many hurdles.

Partners leading on food security report in the first week of April, they distributed two food parcels, high-energy biscuits and one bag of flour per family to almost a quarter of a million people. These distributions covered about 75 per cent of their minimum caloric needs. This is up from 50 per cent in previous months. These deliveries were complemented by cash support, allowing families to buy additional food.

Education partners continue to help children learn through temporary sites. Last week, they installed five new learning spaces in Khan Younis and North Gaza governorates, while repairing another 17 classrooms. Overall, more than 580 temporary learning spaces are now operating across Gaza, serving nearly 360,000 children. Last month, most of those girls and boys received around 1.2 million nutritionally enhanced snacks.

In the West Bank, OCHA says Israeli forces have extended a military order by two months, prolonging the displacement of Palestinians from three refugee camps in Jenin and Tulkarm governorates. UNRWA estimates that this affects more than 33,000 people who have been displaced since January 2025.

OCHA calls for the lifting of these and other restrictions, which cause and prolong displacement, and hamper Palestinians from accessing healthcare, education and other basic services.

Haiti

Hunger, violence and displacement push Haiti emergency to new extremes

Today, Edem Wosornu, OCHA's Crisis Response Division Director, briefed the press in New York today on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Haiti, which she visited in March.

Wosornu described a rapidly worsening crisis, one of the most severe in the Western Hemisphere, with more than half the population in need of humanitarian assistance. Families are skipping meals and children are leaving schools early to help make ends meet.

She said the crisis is marked by insecurity, relentless violence, mass displacement and shocking levels of gender-based violence.

While in Haiti, Wosornu said she saw hope, with Haitians very determined to help each other and to hold onto their dignity - but people are exhausted.

Posted on 10 April 2026

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News / National

by Staff reporter

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has upheld its decision to ban "odds and ends" trading in the central business district (CBD), rejecting an appeal from informal traders who had sought a temporary suspension and broader consultation.Council minutes show that despite acknowledging gaps in engagement, authorities resolved to proceed with the prohibition, arguing that the move is necessary to restore order in Bulawayo's city centre.According to the Director of Town Planning, the decision follows a December 3, 2025 resolution to stop issuing new licences to "odds and ends" traders operating in the CBD. Existing licences will remain valid until they expire in 2026 but will not be renewed.Council said the ban was prompted by growing public complaints over congestion and unfair competition with formal businesses."The move was necessitated by a public outcry on the increase of trading activities in front of formal shops which invariably sold the same commodities," the report noted.Authorities also cited blocked pavements and disruption to pedestrian movement as key concerns.The affected trade typically involves the sale of small items such as cellphone accessories, belts and sweets along busy pavements.The Bulawayo MSMEs Working Group, led by chairperson Vincent Donga, criticised the decision, arguing that it was made without adequate consultation."This decision, made without engagement, undermines the goodwill and collaborative spirit that have been built over time," the group said in its appeal.The association warned that the ban could severely impact livelihoods, noting that many traders had been operating legally and contributing revenue to the city.It also raised concerns over proposed relocation plans, saying the cost of formal shop rentals - estimated at around US$200 per month plus a similar deposit - is beyond the reach of most informal traders."This cost structure is beyond the disposable income of many informal traders," the group said, warning that the transition could collapse small businesses.While standing by the ban, council officials conceded shortcomings in how the decision was implemented.The Chamber Secretary acknowledged that consultation may have been inadequate and that more notice should have been given to allow traders time to relocate.The Town Planning Department also admitted that the notice period was insufficient, describing it as "an area for improvement."However, council maintained that urgent action was required to address disorder in the CBD.As part of mitigation efforts, council has identified alternative vending sites, including areas near the City Hall car park (Site 7), the Highlanders site and a location at Lobengula Street and 4th Avenue.Authorities believe these sites can accommodate affected traders, although concerns remain over capacity and accessibility.Under the new framework, only selected categories - such as newspapers, airtime and sim cards - will continue to be licensed within the CBD. Traders with 2025 licences may switch to these permitted categories.The decision sets up a potential confrontation between city authorities seeking to decongest the CBD and informal traders fighting to protect their livelihoods.Calls for further dialogue and a phased transition are expected to continue as the policy takes effect.
Navy announces inactivation of USS Boise (SSN 764)

US Navy

10 April 2026

The Department of the Navy announced today its decision to inactivate the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Boise (SSN 764).

"After a rigorous, data-driven analysis, we've made the tough but necessary decision to inactivate the USS Boise," said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle. "This strategic move allows us to reallocate America's 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."

The move is part of the Navy's broader, data-driven initiative to optimize the fleet's composition, ensuring that every dollar is invested in capabilities that directly contribute to maintaining a decisive warfighting advantage. Funds and personnel associated with the planned overhaul of USS Boise will be redirected to support other Navy priorities, including the timely delivery of America's submarine capability.

The Navy is changing the way it does business, and part of that shift is ensuring all authorized funding directly contributes to readiness and our ability to defeat future threats. The decision to inactivate USS Boise and divert the financial and manpower resources to new projects directly aligns to this strategic shift.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 10 April 2026 - Day 1507

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 French Ministere des Armees et des Anciens combattants reported that territorial gains remain stable.

Over the previous 24 hours, the RFAS have targeted the oblasts of Chernihiv [A], Sumy [B], Kharkiv [C], Donetsk [D], Dnipropetrovsk [E], Zaporizhzhia [F], Kherson [G], Mykolaiv [H], and Odesa [I]. The RFAS have primarily targeted residential areas and energy infrastructure. In total, 176 drones (including 120 Geran-2 drones) have targeted Ukraine. The Ukrainian ground-to-air defense has claimed the interception of 146 drones, for an interception rate of 82%. The Russian ground-to-air defense has claimed the interception of 88 drones.

Also, over the previous 24 hours, the UAF have targeted military objectives in the Luhansk oblast [J] and oil storage infrastructure in Crimea [K].

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 148 combat clashes.

The Russian opponent made 54 airstrikes, dropped 167 controlled airstrikes. In addition, Russian troops engaged 5337 kamikaze drones and carried out 2187 shells of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops.

Twelve combat clashes took place in the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursky directions, three of which are ongoing; in addition, the Russian enemy launched 121 shelling of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops, 33 of which - with the use of reactive salvage systems, launched two air strikes using six controlled bombs.

In the South Slobozhansky direction, the Russian enemy ten times stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of settlements of Vovchansk, Kolodyazne, Staritsya, Zelene, Vovchanski Hutory and Prylipka.

In the Kupyansky direction, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled three Russian assaults in the areas of the settlements of Kurilivka and Novoplatonivka.

In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled eight Russian attempts to advance near the settlements of Dibrov, Nadia, Zarichne and towards the settlements of Olgivka, Stepovo, Druzhelyubivka, Cherneshina.

Ukrainian soldiers repelled two Russian assaults in the area of Riznykivka in the Slovenian direction.

In the direction of Kramatorsky, the Russian enemy did not carry out attacks.

The Defense Forces successfully repelled 17 Russian assaults in the Konstantinivka direction near Konstantynivka, Pleshiyivka, Stepanivka, Ivanopilya and Sofiyivka.

Russian forces committed twenty attacks in the Pokrovsky direction. The Russian occupiers tried to advance in the areas of settlements Bilitske, Rodinske, Mirnograd, Novooleksandrivka, Udacne, Ivanivka, Pokrovsk, Shevchenko, Grishine, Filiya and Novosergiivka. Two clashes are going on so far.

According to preliminary calculations, 105 Russian occupants were eliminated and 78 wounded in this direction; seven car units and six special equipment units were destroyed, one Russian fuel and oil storage warehouse, four cannons were damaged, twelve vehicles units and three enemy infantry shelters. Destroyed or suppressed 302 unmanned aircraft of various types.

In the Oleksandrivsky direction, the Russian occupiers tried five times to improve their position by attacking in the areas of settlements Kalinovsk, Oleksandrograd, Sichneve and Verbove. An aviation strike was hit on the outskirts of settlements Kolomiytsi, Velikomikhailivka and Orestopil.

In the Gulyaipilsky direction, 13 Russian attacks in the areas of the settlements of Dobropillya, Varvarivka, Bilogirya, Gulyaipilskke, Staroukrainka, Charivne and Zaliznychne. The Russian enemy caused air strikes in the areas of Vozdvizhenkoi, the upper tersa, charming and rizdvyanka.

In the Orikhiv direction, the Russian opponent made one attempt to advance towards the Sherbaky settlement, in addition, launched aerial strikes on the area of the Orikhiv settlement.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, Ukrainian defenders successfully stopped four assault actions in the direction of the Antonivsky Bridge.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that from 4 to 10 April, in response to Ukrainian terrorist attacks on civilian facilities in Russia, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out five group strikes including with high-precision weapon ones, which hit defence industry enterprises of Ukraine, fuel and power, transport as well as port infrastructure facilities that supported the AFU, military airfields, ammunition depots, storage and launch areas of uncrewed surface vehicle and attack unmanned aerial vehicles, temporary deployment areas of AFU formations and foreign mercenaries.

Yesterday, units of the Sever Group of Forces took control over Miropolskoye (Sumy region).

During the week, Russian troops delivered strikes at formations of seven mechanised brigades, two motorised infantry brigades, two airmobile brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, five territorial defence brigades, two National Guard brigades, and two border detachments of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

In total, in the area of responsibility of the Sever Group of Forces, the enemy losses were more than 1,280 troops, eight armoured fighting vehicles, 82 motor vehicles, nine field artillery guns, 11 electronic warfare stations, and 64 ammunition, fuel, and materiel depots.

The Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops launched attacks on manpower and hardware of six mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade, one assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and three territorial defence brigades.

Over the week, the AFU losses in this direction were more than 1,310 troops, 31 armoured fighting vehicles, 129 motor vehicles, and 10 field artillery guns. In addition, 13 ammunition depots, two electronic warfare and counter-battery stations were neutralised.

Over the past 24 hours, as a result of resolute offensive actions, units of the Yuzhnaya Group of Forces liberated Dibrova (Donetsk People's Republic).

During the week, Russian troops inflicted fire damage on formations of four mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one airmobile brigade, one assault brigade, one mountain assault brigade, one guard brigade of general staff, one marine brigade, two territorial defence brigades, and one National Guard brigade.

In total, in the area of responsibility of the Yuzhnaya Group of Forces, the AFU losses were more than 1,045 troops, 21 armoured fighting vehicles, 110 motor vehicles, and 25 field artillery guns. In addition, 14 electronic warfare and counter-battery stations, and 41 ammunition, fuel, and materiel depots have been neutralised.

The Tsentr Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, one infantry brigade, one jaeger brigade, two airmobile brigades, one airborne brigade, one assault brigade, one air assault brigade, two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, and four National Guard brigades.

Over the week, the AFU losses in this direction were more than 2,420 troops, two tanks, 47 armoured fighting vehicles, 57 motor vehicles, and 16 field artillery guns.

The Vostok Group of Forces' units continued to advance into the depths of enemy defences. Over the past week, Russian troops hit manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, two air assault brigades, two assault brigades, four assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, and one territorial defence brigade.

The AFU losses in the area of responsibility of the Vostok Group of Forces were more than 2020 troops, two tanks, 23 armoured fighting vehicles, 57 motor vehicles, and four artillery guns.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian troops delivered strikes at formations of two mechanised brigades, one mountain assault brigade, one unmanned aerial vehicle brigade of the AFU, one marine brigade, and one territorial defence brigade.

During the week, the enemy losses were up to 365 troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, 98 motor vehicles, and five field artillery guns. In addition, 23 electronic warfare and counter-battery stations, 10 ammunition, fuel, and materiel depots were neutralised.

Over the past week, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops, and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces destroyed four Grad MLRS combat vehicles and one UK-made Raven air defence system.

Air defence systems shot down 54 guided aerial bombs, four U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, three Flamingo long-range cruise missiles, six Neptune long-range guided missiles, and 2,411 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Black Sea Fleet destroyed four AFU uncrewed surface vehicles of the AFU as well as one Neptune-MD long-range guided missile.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation the enemy has lost:

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost 671 aircraft, 284 helicopters, 133,128 unmanned aerial vehicles, 654 anti-aircraft missile systems, 28,803 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,698 MLRS combat vehicles, 34,382 field artillery guns and mortars, and 59,045 support military vehicles.

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Australia and Vietnam train together at sea

By Lieutenant Marcus Middleton

10 April 2026

In a display of maritime cooperation, Australia and Vietnam have sharpened their skills together in the South China Sea.

Following a port visit to Da Nang, HMAS Toowoomba conducted cooperative training with their Vietnam People's Navy counterparts.

Coincidentally, the training occurred shortly after the Vietnam People's Navy supported Exercise Kakadu off the east coast of Australia.

Toowoomba officer of the watch Lieutenant Max Pappin said it was thrilling to work with the Vietnam People's Navy for the first time.

"It has been an extremely rewarding experience to work in company, not only with the Vietnam People's Navy, but a new class of vessel I haven't worked with before. I learned a great deal seeing what she was capable of," Lieutenant Pappin said.

With Toowoomba on her regional presence deployment, the crew is working with regional partners to improve interoperability across the Indo-Pacific.

During the exercise, they joined with Vietnam People's Navy Ship 275, a TT-400TP gunboat designed and built in Vietnam.

The vessel can travel at speeds of more than 30 knots and has air, sea and close-in defence systems.

Working together, Ship 275 and Toowoomba engaged in search-and-rescue exercises, man-overboard drills and officer-of-the-watch manoeuvres.

Lieutenant Pappin described Ship 275 as highly capable and versatile.

"Seeing how the Vietnam People's Navy designed the ship, and what it can do, really provided us with some insight into the priorities when operating in Vietnam's coastal environment," Lieutenant Pappin said.

Commanding Officer Toowoomba Commander Alicia Harrison said the exercise helped build defence cooperation, which is critical to protecting vital sea lanes and preserving territorial integrity.

"It's important our militaries work more closely together to effectively transfer skills and build interoperability, reinforcing our shared commitment to peace, stability and respect for international law at sea," Commander Harrison said.

Australia and Vietnam depend on a South China Sea governed by rules and norms, where all have unimpeded access to its vital trade routes.

Australia has been present and engaged in and around the South China Sea for decades, and the ADF will continue to be present in support of the rules and norms that benefit all Indo-Pacific nations.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on April 10, 2026

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: April 10, 2026 19:00

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Namibia's 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 China's defense or industrial base. What is China's 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. What's China's 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 Japan's 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 China's 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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DPRK Foreign Minister Holds Talks with Her Chinese Counterpart

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- Choe Son Hui, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, had talks with Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and foreign minister of the People's Republic of China, at the Kumsusan State Guest House on Thursday.

Recalling that the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the DPRK and China are developing with vitality at a new high stage, under the important agreement reached by the top leaders of the two countries, Choe Son Hui expressed the stand of the DPRK government to further strengthen the DPRK-China friendship with the common idea of socialism as its cornerstone in conformity with the desire and interests of the peoples of the two countries.

Wang Yi noted that Comrade Xi Jinping and Comrade Kim Jong Un had a historic meeting and talks in Beijing last September and set forth the fundamental guidelines of landmark significance in putting the China-DPRK friendly relations on a new stage of development. And he said that it is the steadfast stand of the Chinese party and government to successfully defend, consolidate and develop the China-DPRK friendship no matter how the international situation may change.

The two sides agreed to further deepen the multi-faceted exchange and collaboration and boost the strategic communication and support and cooperation between the external policy organs of the two countries this year marking the 65th anniversary of the DPRK-China treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance.

Present at the talks from the DPRK side were Vice-Minister Kim Myong Su and other officials of the DPRK Foreign Ministry, and from the Chinese side were the entourage of the foreign minister and Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Wang Yajun. -0-

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Chinese FM Arrives Here

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and foreign minister of the People's Republic of China, arrived here on April 9 to visit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the invitation of the DPRK Foreign Ministry.

The national flags of the DPRK and the PRC were fluttering at the flagstaffs of Pyongyang International Airport and the guard of honor of the Korean People's Army lined up at the apron before the terminal.

The Chinese foreign minister and his party were warmly greeted by Choe Son Hui, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and foreign minister of the DPRK, officials of the Foreign Ministry, Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Wang Yajun and staff members of his embassy.

A woman worker presented a bouquet to Wang Yi.

At the airport, the masses warmly welcomed the friendly Chinese friends, waving national flags of the two countries. -0-

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DPRK Government Hosts Reception for Chinese FM

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- The government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea hosted a reception on Thursday evening for Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and foreign minister of the People's Republic of China, on a visit to the DPRK.

Invited to the reception were the entourage of the Chinese foreign minister and Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Wang Yajun and his embassy officials.

Present were Choe Son Hui, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and foreign minister of the DPRK, and officials of the Foreign Ministry.

Choe Son Hui made a speech at the reception.

Warmly welcoming Wang Yi and his party on behalf of the DPRK government, she said that the visit is a manifestation of the firm stand of the Chinese party and government to revitalize the high-level visits and communication between the two sides and further consolidate the ties of friendship by thoroughly implementing the important agreement reached at the historic DPRK-China summit meeting and talks held last September.

It is the consistent policy of the WPK and the DPRK government to value and steadily develop the friendly relations with China, which have given steady continuity to the good traditions of unity and cooperation with socialism as their core, overcoming all the tempests of history, she said.

She wished the Chinese people fresh and bigger successes in the struggle for accomplishing the cause of national prosperity by stepping up the Chinese-style modernization under the leadership of the CPC with Comrade General Secretary Xi Jinping as its core.

Then, Wang Yi made a speech.

Expressing thanks for the warm hospitality, he said that the new successes made by the DPRK in socialist construction despite the ever-escalating moves of the U.S. and other Western forces to isolate and stifle it are the fruition of diligence and wisdom displayed by the Korean people under the wise leadership of Comrade General Secretary Kim Jong Un .

Noting that the traditional China-DPRK friendship is a common precious asset as it was forged in the revolutionary struggle and has constantly developed in the course of socialist construction, he stressed that the historic meeting between Comrade General Secretary Xi Jinping and Comrade General Secretary Kim Jong Un last September opened up a new phase of the China-DPRK friendly and cooperative relations.

He expressed the belief that the bilateral cooperation would further develop, sincerely hoping that the Korean people would achieve fresh victories ceaselessly in socialist construction and create a happier life under the firm leadership of the WPK headed by Comrade General Secretary Kim Jong Un .

The participants in the reception toasted the health of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un and the esteemed Comrade Xi Jinping and the steady development and beautiful future of the invincible DPRK-China friendly relations.

The reception proceeded in a friendly and amicable atmosphere. -0-

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Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Meets Chinese FM

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, April 11 (KCNA) -- The respected Comrade 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, met Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and foreign minister of the People's Republic of China, on a visit to the DPRK, on April 10.

Present there were Kim Song Nam, member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the WPK Central Committee and director of its International Department.

Also present were Wang Yajun, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, and Hua Chunying, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs of the PRC.

Comrade Kim Jong Un gladly received Wang Yi and exchanged warm greetings and had a talk with him in a comradely atmosphere.

At the talk, Wang Yi courteously conveyed the warm greetings from Comrade Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and president of the PRC, to Comrade Kim Jong Un .

Comrade Kim Jong Un expressed deep thanks for it and asked the Chinese foreign minister to convey his greetings to Comrade Xi Jinping.

Comrade Kim Jong Un said that it is important for the DPRK and China to further intensify the visits and contacts at different levels and boost mutual support and cooperation for the protection of the common interests and the multi-faceted and sustained development of the bilateral relations, in view of the present international geopolitical situation and the long-term strategic interests of the two countries. And he expressed the stand of the WPK and the DPRK government on the issues of regional and international situation of mutual concern.

Wang Yi expressed the steadfast stand of the Chinese party and government to successfully develop the China-DPRK friendly relations, which have greeted a new phase of development in accordance with the important common understanding reached at the summit meeting and talks between the top leaders of the two countries held in Beijing last September, in keeping with the desire and interests of the peoples of the two countries, and the view on the regional and international issues.

Affirming that it is the steadfast stand of the WPK and the DPRK government to place the greatest value on, give top priority to and further develop the DPRK-China friendly relations with socialism as their core, Comrade Kim Jong Un said that the WPK and the DPRK government would fully support all the internal and external policies of the Chinese party and government for realizing the territorial integrity of the country on the basis of the "one-China" principle and building a fair and just multi-polar world.

Comrade Kim Jong Un exchanged warm farewells with Wang Yi, wishing the Chinese party, government and people greater success in the course of accomplishing the cause of socialist modernization and national prosperity under the outstanding leadership of Comrade Xi Jinping. -0-

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Pakistan: Conversation between the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs and Mr. Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan

France - Ministere de lEurope et des Affaires etrangeres

Declaration

On : April 10th 2026

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot spoke by telephone with Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, on April 10.

The Minister hailed Pakistan's role in the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. He called for the most inclusive possible negotiations that will make it possible to resolve Iran's threats on the nuclear, ballistic and regional fronts on a long-term basis.

The two Ministers underscored the vital importance of including Lebanon in the terms of the ceasefire for the sake of its long-term viability.

They also agreed to step up their bilateral discussions in keeping with the bilateral roadmap signed in 2023. They plan to speak in the near future.

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Ran Samwad 2026 Concludes with a Collaborative Road Map to Prepare the Indian Armed Forces for Multi Domain Conflict

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 10 APR 2026 8:22PM by PIB Delhi

The two-day national seminar 'Ran Samwad' anchored around the theme "Multi-Domain Operations (MDO): An Imperative for Addressing Conventional and Irregular Threats" concluded in Air Force Training Command, Bengaluru on April 10, 2026. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan delivered the closing address, emphasising that the multi-domain operations require convergence across physical, synthetic and cognitive realms.

In his address, the CDS highlighted the urgency of faster and smarter decision-making in an Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven battlespace. He underlined that warfare in present era spans across multiple dimensions of time, cyber, Electro Magnetic (EM) spectrum and cognition, demanding seamless tri-service integration and innovative thinking. The focus, therefore, has now shifted from coordination to true integration among the Indian Defence Forces, he added.

Gen Chauhan announced that Ran Samwad 2027 would be organised on the theme "High-Intensity Operations in a Transparent and Expanded Battlespace: Challenges for Force Application and Force Preservation". Post his address, he met with the members of media fraternity and lauded their role in Nation building and nurturing the spirit of strategic culture.

The second day of Ran Samwad also witnessed profound discussions by senior officers from the tri-services on a broad spectrum of subjects including Doctrinal Adaptation and Training for Multi Domain Operations (MDO) and Re-imagining Operational Art, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillances & Reconnaissance) Integration for Information Superiority in MDO, and joint planning.

The seminar succeeded in fostering a shared understanding of the challenges posed by both conventional and irregular threats with a collaborative road map and meaningful discussions on the complexities of war, warfare and warfighting. The collaborative spirit demonstrated over the two days reaffirmed the Indian Defence Forces' commitment towards achieving decision superiority and operational excellence in an increasingly contested multi-domain battlespace.

****

VK/SR/Ruchi

(Release ID: 2250982)

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News / National

by Staff reporter

About 280 000 carats of rough diamonds from the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) will go under the hammer at an international tender in Dubai next week, as Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to grow its presence in the global diamond market.The auction, organised in partnership with Trans Atlantic Gem Sales (TAGS), will run from April 13 to 17 and is expected to attract buyers from across the international gems and jewellery sector.In a statement, TAGS said the tender will feature a wide selection of Zimbabwean diamonds."The sale will feature over 280 000 carats of original Zimbabwean mine production, offered across a full range of sizes and qualities," the company said.The sale forms part of Zimbabwe's broader strategy to maximise returns from its mineral resources and strengthen its foothold in global diamond trading hubs.It will be the second such tender within a month involving Zimbabwean stones, following a previous sale that showcased more than 500 000 carats earlier this year.ZCDC recently expanded its international marketing channels by partnering TAGS as an additional tender house, alongside Taurum Group, to enhance competitiveness and transparency in the sale of its diamonds.The company operates under the Mutapa Investment Fund and is a key player in Zimbabwe's mining sector.The upcoming auction is expected to benefit from strong global demand, particularly in Dubai's well-established trading ecosystem anchored by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC).DMCC executive chairperson Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem recently commended the quality of Zimbabwean diamonds and the level of activity at recent tenders hosted at Almas Tower.He noted that Zimbabwean goods have attracted significant interest from specialist manufacturers, with strong attendance and competitive pricing recorded at previous auctions."As one of the most active participants in the Dubai Diamond Exchange, TAGS remains a cornerstone of our precious stones ecosystem," he said.Zimbabwe's diamond marketing framework requires producers to reserve 10% of output for local buyers, while the bulk is sold through international tenders to maximise value.The Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe continues to oversee the sale of minerals to ensure optimal pricing and compliance with national regulations.With preparations complete, next week's tender is expected to further position Zimbabwe as a competitive supplier in the global diamond market while boosting foreign currency inflows.
Ceasefire arrangements should help quell the war, FM says as Iran-US talks in Islamabad set to take place

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing in Beijing and Waqas Ahmad in Islamabad Published: Apr 10, 2026 10:08 PM

Negotiations between Iran and the US are set to take place from Saturday in Islamabad. They will be the first talks between both sides since the war began. Some media outlets shed light on the uncertainty and deep mistrust looming over the talks with unresolved differences over some key issues related to the conflict.

The streets of Islamabad are on strict lockdown as Pakistan's capital prepares to play host to historic negotiations between Iran and the US that have dangled the promise of an end to war that has devastated the Middle East, the Guardian said.

Even as the US-Iran ceasefire looked increasingly precarious, amid Israel's continued bombardment of Lebanon and disputes over the terms of the talks, Pakistani officials insist that the make-or-break peace negotiations will be going ahead over the weekend as planned, according to the Guardian.

A Global Times reporter on the scene noticed that the main artery Jinnah Avenue in downtown Islamabad, Pakistan, and its surrounding areas have been closed.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday said airlines have been instructed to allow visa-free boarding for individuals travelling to the country in connection with the US-Iran talks in Islamabad, according to Pakistani media Dawn.

US President Donald Trump said he expects Iran to comply with terms he says were agreed on for a ceasefire ahead of planned negotiations this weekend, warning that if it doesn't, he'll order large-scale attacks on the country, CBS News said. Trump said Vice President JD Vance and senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would attend peace talks in Islamabad, according to the US media report.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said early Friday that it was striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, the latest attacks, according to the New York Times, are in a campaign that is straining diplomacy three days into a shaky ceasefire between the US and Iran.

Ceasefire arrangements should help quell the war and restore peace and stability, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday in response to a question about the situation in which, despite the temporary ceasefire announced by the US and Iran, Israel continues to carry out strikes in Lebanon.

China calls on all relevant parties to resolve disputes through political and diplomatic means, remain calm and exercise restraint, and work to ease tensions, Mao said, as the question noted that such actions, which violate the ceasefire agreement, have also introduced uncertainty into the peace talks between the US and Iran, and the Iranian side has stated that it will not participate in peace negotiations unless Lebanon is also included in the ceasefire arrangement.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council said on Wednesday that talks could continue for up to 15 days - suggesting the possibility that at least some members of the delegations may stay in Islamabad beyond Saturday, or return to the Pakistani capital for subsequent rounds of talks, the Al Jazeera reported on Thursday.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are expected to lead the Iranian delegation, per the Al Jazeera.

The negotiations themselves are not the most important aspect; what matters more is achieving a ceasefire through them. At present, both the US and Iran do not want the conflict to escalate further, yet neither side can unilaterally bring it to an end, because both are unable to ensure that the other side will simultaneously pull back, Wang Jin, an associate professor at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at Northwest University in Xi'an, told the Global Times on Friday.

"Under these circumstances, negotiations become a 'pretext' or a 'channel' to facilitate a temporary ceasefire and help de-escalate tensions," Wang said, noting that in reality, it is difficult for the negotiations to reach substantive consensus.

Some US media such as The New York Times pointed out that the uncertainty over Lebanon cast a shadow over preparations for US-Iran talks in Islamabad.

Given both sides can't seem to agree about what's in the ceasefire, aligning on the agenda for the talks may be tricky, CNN said.

The US has cited "a 10-point proposal from Iran," which he called "a workable basis on which to negotiate." But then Iran began sharing a 10-point list that included demands the US could never agree to, such as acknowledging its control over the Strait of Hormuz and reparations for war damages and the lifting of all sanctions, according to CNN.

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FM holds phone talks with Iran, to send special envoy to Tehran

KOREA.net

Apr 10, 2026

By Kang Gahui

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun will send a special envoy to Iran to discuss the situation in the Middle East and pending issues between Seoul and Tehran.

Minister Cho and his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi on April 9 agreed on the envoy in phone talks.

Minister Cho welcomed the ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran and hailed it for creating the conditions for the resumption of passage through the Strait of Hormuz. He added his hope for successful bilateral negotiations for the sake of peace and stability in the Middle East.

Given the ceasefire, he stressed the need for swift and safe resumption of free passage for all vessels -- including Korean ships -- through the strait. He also urged Tehran to take special interest and cooperate in ensuring the safety of Korean nationals in Iran.

Minister Araghchi explained his government's stance on the situation in the region including the strait, welcoming Seoul's decision to send the envoy. Both sides also agreed to keep close communications on related issues.

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Iran Fact-Finding Mission calls on parties to the devastating regional conflict to end hostilities and investigate alleged violations, and strongly condemns violent rhetoric

Press releases

Independent investigation

10 April 2026

GENEVA -- The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran called on parties to the ongoing regional conflict to cease hostilities, end rhetoric that incites or justifies violence, and fully comply with international law following weeks of devastating violence that has destroyed thousands of civilian lives.

The mounting loss of civilian life and the scale of reported damage to civilian infrastructure and essential medical, scientific and educational institutions in Iran caused by US and Israeli airstrikes have caused irreparable harm and long-term consequences for Iranian civilians. If confirmed, some of these attacks may amount to the war crimes of intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects or intentionally launching a disproportionate attack as defined under international humanitarian law.

The Mission deplores rhetoric by senior US Government officials that dismisses binding international law obligations - including statements on bombing Iran "back to the stone age," attacking "all" bridges and power plants and annihilating Iran's "whole civilization." These, alongside prior statements describing the rules governing military engagement as "stupid" and trumpeting "lethality" over "legality," may be indicative of violations and crimes under international law.

International humanitarian law in particular prohibits threats of violence whose primary purpose is to spread terror among the civilian population. US commanders and their forces should lead by example by fully respecting international humanitarian law and strictly applying the authoritative legal guidance of the US Department of Defense Law of War Manual.

The toll of the US and Israeli strikes in Iran continues to increase, with more than 3,000 reported fatalities. At least 216 children, 251 women and three Iranian Red Crescent Society emergency personnel have reportedly been killed and 1,881 children and 4,610 women injured.

Healthcare and educational infrastructure in Iran has sustained extensive damage. At least 315 medical and emergency facilities, 760 schools and educational facilities and 29 universities were reportedly damaged and affected. Among these, the Pasteur Institute in Tehran - one of the country's oldest research and health institutions - was struck on 2 April. The Tofigh Daru pharmaceutical facility, which produces medicines for cancer and multiple sclerosis patients, was also damaged in an earlier strike on 31 March.

Furthermore, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that strikes have affected nuclear facilities in Khondab (Markazi), Yazd and Bushehr, the latter having reportedly been struck for the fourth time. Strikes affecting nuclear facilities raise additional concerns such as the risk of radiation exposure and of severe, long-term environmental harm.

The Fact-Finding Mission recalls that international humanitarian law strictly prohibits directing attacks against civilian objects, and intentionally doing so constitutes a war crime.

Particular care must be taken in relation to works and installations containing dangerous forces, such as nuclear electrical generating stations. It is also prohibited to launching attacks against military objectives when it is known that such attacks will cause incidental civilian harm that would be excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage.

Amidst the ongoing hostilities, the Mission continues to be particularly concerned about the conditions of detainees in Iran, including persons arrested in relation to the recent protests and those reportedly detained during a new wave of arrests since the start of the US and Israeli attacks on 28 February, including Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and members of the Baha'i community.

The Mission is deeply alarmed by the ongoing near-total Internet shutdown in Iran, the continuing repression of civil society actors and executions on security-related charges, noting 14 men have been executed in just over three weeks, since 18 March.

Although the temporary cease-fire reached on 7 April is a welcome and vital step, it is imperative that the end of hostilities in the region becomes permanent. The Mission urgently calls for a human rights-based and inclusive peace process involving all parties, impartial, effective and transparent investigations by the parties into allegations of international law violations and the prompt publication of the results of such investigations, including of the US Department of Defense's investigation into the attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, Hormozgan province, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of 168 students and teachers.

ENDS

Background: The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran was established by the UN Human Rights Council on 24 November 2022 to investigate alleged human rights violations in Iran related to the protests that began there on 16 September 2022, especially with respect to women and children. On 23 January 2026, through resolution A/HRC/RES/S-39/1 adopted following the 39th special session of the Council, which concerned the deteriorating human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Council extended the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission for a further period of two years effective from the end of the 61st session of the Council, mandating it to investigate allegations of recent and ongoing serious human rights violations in the country and to conduct an urgent investigation into allegations of recent and ongoing serious human rights violations and abuses and crimes perpetrated in relation to the protests that began on 28 December 2025. Consistent with the practice of Human Rights Council-mandated investigative bodies, the Mission applies international human rights law and international humanitarian law in its assessment of the conduct of parties the armed conflict in Iran that started on 28 February 2026.

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Iranian delegation arrives in Islamabad for truce talks, insists on preconditions being met

Iran Press TV

Friday, 10 April 2026 8:26 PM

A high-ranking Iranian delegation has arrived in the Pakistani capital Islamabad for talks with US representatives, as Tehran warns that any failure to meet its preconditions will derail the process.

Headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Qalibaf, the delegation, which includes security, political, military, economic, and legal committees, arrived in Islamabad on Friday night.

Other Iranian officials on the delegation include Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Secretary of the Supreme National Defense Council Ali-Akbar Ahmadian, Central Bank Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati, as well as several members of parliament.

US Vice President JD Vance, Washington's regional envoy Steve Witkoff, and President Donald Trump's advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner have also reached Islamabad.

Trump announced a two-week lull in US attacks on Iran on Tuesday, 40 days after the country joined the Israeli regime in the duo's latest bout of unprovoked aggression towards Iran.

The announcement came after Iran's Armed Forces unleashed at least 99 waves of determined and successful retaliatory strikes against sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets throughout the region.

Earlier on Friday, Qalibaf said a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets were the prerequisites to be met before the commencement of negotiations with the United States.

A 10-point proposal forwarded by Iran, which Trump has referred to as a "workable basis on which to negotiate and the main framework for these talks," explicitly conditions a ceasefire on the cessation of aggression on all fronts, including against Lebanon.

Since Trump's announcement, however, the Israeli regime has markedly escalated its attacks on Lebanon, claiming the lives of hundreds of people, including women and children.

'Iran has good will, but distrusts US'

Upon deplaning, Qalibaf reminded Iran's past experience of invariable American betrayal, including twice during diplomatic procedures.

"Twice within less than a year, in the middle of negotiations, and despite the Iranian side's good faith, they attacked us and committed numerous war crimes," he said.

Both the latest aggression and the previous imposed American-Israeli war on the Islamic Republic in June took place after Washington had begun engaging in diplomatic processes with Tehran.

"We have goodwill, but we do not have trust [in the opposite party]," the top legislator added.

He noted that the American side would only witness readiness on the part of the Islamic Republic towards arriving at an agreement "if it is ready for a genuine agreement and to grant the rights of the Iranian nation."

'US warned against renewed deception'

However, should Washington seek to use negotiation as "futile performance" and a "deception operation," Tehran is prepared to secure the Iranian nation's rights by relying on its own capabilities, Qalibaf said.

He cited the country's successful and determined defensive and retaliatory strikes throughout the latest aggression as proof of its preparedness to resolutely secure its national interests and protect its sovereignty.

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Leader offers condolences on martyrdom of veteran diplomat Kamal Kharrazi

Iran Press TV

Friday, 10 April 2026 7:11 PM

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has offered condolences on the martyrdom of Kamal Kharrazi, head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations and a former top diplomat, in a terrorist US-Israeli strike.

In a message on Friday, Ayatollah Khamenei offered condolences to the Iranian nation, the academic community and students of Kharrazi as well as his family on the martyrdom of the diplomat and his wife.

Ayatollah Khamenei hailed Kharrazi as "a distinguished professor in the field of science and culture and an experienced figure in the field of foreign policy".

He added that Kharrazi's martyrdom is a badge of honor for "the academic community, university professors, and political officials of Iran", and at the same time is a "shameful testament to the villainy of the American-Zionist arrogant powers and the enemies of the science, culture, and civilization of Iran."

The Leader noted that Kharrazi "spent many years of his life" serving in various arenas, including culture and information, as well as at the Foreign Ministry.

Ayatollah Khamenei praised the activities of Kharrazi in the new fields of cognitive sciences as well as his role in the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations.

Kharrazi, the head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations and a former foreign minister and an adviser to the Islamic Revolution Leader, attained martyrdom on Thursday night. He had been severely wounded in a US-Israeli terrorist attack targeting his Tehran residence on April 1, a strike that also claimed the life of his spouse.

His assassination occurred amid a widespread US-Israeli war of terrorism against the Islamic Republic that began on February 28. The invading coalition also assassinated Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, alongside other senior government officials and military commanders.

Earlier, Iran's highest-ranking officials issued messages of condolence following the martyrdom of Kharrazi.

President Masoud Pezeshkian mourned the loss of a "prominent, committed, and influential figure" in the country's diplomatic apparatus, highlighting his decades of service following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf strongly condemned the act of terrorism, describing it as the "cowardly assassination of the tireless soldier of diplomacy."

Qalibaf stated that the attack on the "committed scientist and self-sacrificing warrior" was a clear demonstration of the "baseness and weakness" of the US-Israeli coalition.

Highlighting Kharrazi's unwavering ideological loyalty, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei noted that the late veteran diplomat was an "influential weight" across various political arenas.

Current Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also paid tribute to Kharrazi, saying he represented rationality, contemplation, and adherence to national interests.

The criminal US-Israeli aggression on Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders.

Iranian armed forces responded by launching almost daily missile and drone operations targeting locations in the Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military bases and assets across the region.

On April 8, Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) announced that there was an agreement to a Pakistan-brokered temporary ceasefire after the US accepted Iran's 10-point proposal.

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'Fingers on trigger': Iran warns US, Israel against any ceasefire violation

Iran Press TV

Friday, 10 April 2026 6:58 PM

Iran's highest operational command says the country's Armed Forces remain in a state of full readiness, with their "fingers on the trigger," to respond to any violation of the two-week ceasefire by the enemies.

Pointing to a long history of broken promises by the United States and the Israeli regime, the Khatam-al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement on Friday that the Armed Forces remain in full combat readiness, just as they were during the five weeks of the illegal war against the country.

Under the wise leadership of the Commander-in-Chief, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, it stated, the Iranian nation and its Armed Forces "have challenged and defeated the world's so-called superior armies of the US and the Zionist regime."

Therefore, before making any further threats against Iran, US President Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, should review their humiliating defeat in the face of the Islamic Republic.

The statement further noted that by utilizing advanced, indigenous, and groundbreaking technologies and weaponry, the country's Armed Forces managed to force these aggressors to surrender after 40 days of relentless fighting.

Citing the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, it reiterated that Iran will not let "the criminal aggressors go unpunished."

Regarding Iran's undisputed command over the Strait of Hormuz, the Khatam-al-Anbiya Central Headquarters also stated that the management of the strategic waterway is "entering a new phase".

"Under no circumstances" it reiterated, Iran will "relinquish its legitimate rights."

During the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) imposed restrictions on transit through the Strait of Hormuz for vessels affiliated with the aggressors and their supporters.

The restrictions sent global energy prices soaring and put Trump under pressure to end his illegal war against Iran.

This led him to retreat from his threats and announce a two-week ceasefire just hours before his final deadline was set to expire on Tuesday night.

Iran also agreed to halt its defensive operations and allow "safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz."

Despite the ceasefire, Trump maintained his hostile rhetoric, writing on his Truth Social on Thursday that US forces remain "loaded up" and ready for "lethal prosecution" if the strait is not kept open according to his terms.

The president once again threatened that "the shootin' starts" if Iran does keep the strait open and make a deal regarding its peaceful nuclear program.

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No talks with US without Lebanon ceasefire and unfrozen assets: Qalibaf

Iran Press TV

Friday, 10 April 2026 3:35 PM

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf says a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets are requisite to the commencement of negotiations with the United States in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

Qalibaf made the remark in a post on his X account on Friday as Tehran and Washington are scheduled to hold a fresh round of talks in Islamabad on Saturday to effectively put an end to the war jointly launched by the US and Israel against the Islamic Republic late last month.

The negotiations come after the United States and Iran agreed on Wednesday to a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire following Washington's acceptance of a 10-point proposal from Tehran.

The top Iranian parliamentarian said there are two measures agreed upon by both sides which have not been implemented yet.

He emphasized that "a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets" are conditions to the commencement of negotiations.

"These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin," Qalibaf pointed out.

Earlier on Friday, a high-ranking security source told Press TV that intense pressure and the threat to withdraw from talks with the United States in Islamabad from Tehran forced the Israeli regime to stop its military attacks on the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

According to the source, following the Zionist regime's brutal aggression on Lebanon on Wednesday, Iran made the cessation of those attacks a firm precondition for its participation in temporary ceasefire negotiations with the United States.

"The unity of the resistance front was non-negotiable for Iran," the source told Press TV.

He hastened to add that the travel of an Iranian delegation to Islamabad was delayed a few times, specifically due to the continued Israeli aggression against Lebanon.

The comments came after the Israeli regime carried out extensive attacks across Lebanon, killing at least 303 people and injuring more than 1,150. The regime said its aggression on Lebanon, which started concurrent with the joint US-Israeli aggression on Iran in late February, does not count as part of the ceasefire deal announced by Pakistan.

That comes as Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said in a post on the X platform early on Wednesday that Iran and the US and their allies had agreed to "an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere".

Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi also said on Friday that the upcoming negotiations with the United States in Pakistan will be based on the 10-point ceasefire plan proposed by Iran.

He added that Iran pursues a "responsible" approach to the declaration of the ceasefire, adding, "It has been agreed that Iran's 10-article plan will be the basis for negotiations."

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US-Israeli strikes ravage 125,000 civilian units across Iran: Red Crescent Society

Iran Press TV

Friday, 10 April 2026 2:20 PM

The president of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) says more than 125,000 civilian structures were either destroyed or severely damaged by US-Israeli airstrikes on residential areas across the country.

Pir-Hossein Koulivand detailed the extent of the devastation caused by the five-week military aggression against the country during a televised speech on Friday.

According to him, 125,630 civilian units were damaged across the country, 100,000 of which were residential properties.

While some structures have been completely destroyed, others have sustained significant damage. He added that commercial centers account for 23,500 of the total impacted structures.

The IRCS head also stated that 339 medical centersincluding hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories, health clinics, and emergency stationswere struck.

While some facilities were temporarily forced out of service, others managed to resume operations immediately.

Among these facilities, he said, Tehran's Khatam al-Anbiya Hospital was reactivated and resumed services to patients in less than 24 hours after being targeted.

Koulivand further said that after documenting all evidence, the organization will submit reports to international organizations to ensure legal accountability for these atrocities by the enemies of the Islamic Republic.

He said that extensive follow-ups have already been conducted through the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

"All documentation regarding violations of International Humanitarian Law has been submitted to the relevant international bodies," Koulivand said.

The United States launched a large-scale, unprovoked war against Iran on February 28, assassinating former Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and a host of senior commanders.

Subsequent terrorist strikes on civilian targets have killed hundreds of civilians including more than 200 children.

Among the most tragic losses are over 181 schoolchildren and teachers in the southern city of Minab.

The school massacre occurred on the first day of the illegal war on Iran, when a US military attack using Tomahawk missiles struck Shajare Tayyebe Elementary school in the city.

In an earlier address to the UN Human Rights Council, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the massacre as "the tip of the iceberg" of the systematic war crimes committed with audacity and impunity by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran.

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Iran's 10-point proposal to form basis of talks with US in Islamabad: Senior diplomat

Iran Press TV

Friday, 10 April 2026 1:24 PM

A senior Iranian diplomat says the upcoming negotiations with the United States in Pakistan will be based on the 10-point ceasefire plan proposed by Iran.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi made the remarks in a meeting with ambassadors and heads of foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations based in Tehran on Friday as he outlined the dimensions of the crimes committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against the Iranian people during 40 days of imposed war.

The United States and Israel launched their unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on February 28. They assassinated Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and struck nuclear sites, schools, hospitals and civilian infrastructure.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) announced on Wednesday that there was an agreement to a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire after the US accepted Iran's 10-point proposal, potentially followed by negotiations to effectively end the war.

The Iranian and American delegations are scheduled to hold the first round of talks after the truce agreement in Islamabad on Saturday.

Takht Ravanchi said Iran pursues a "responsible" approach to the declaration of the ceasefire, adding, "It has been agreed that Iran's 10-article plan will be the basis for negotiations."

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always welcomed diplomacy and dialogue, but not a dialogue based on false information with the purpose of deceiving and paving the way for renewed military aggression against Iran," he added.

"We do not want a ceasefire that will allow the aggressive enemy to rearm and launch another attack, and we have explicitly told our friends that this situation will not recur without guarantees," he emphasized.

He noted that the US-Israeli military aggression constitutes an "illegal war and an instance of a war crime" against the Iranian people, saying it was the second time that the United States carried out attacks against Iran as Tehran was in the midst of diplomatic talks with Washington in Geneva over its peaceful nuclear program.

The diplomat further warned against the US and Israel's goals to dominate the West Asia region and pursue the "Greater Israel" plot and reiterated that Iran's approach to neighboring countries is based on good neighborliness.

"Iran's defensive operation should not be viewed as attacks against these countries, but rather, Iran's defensive operation targeted American bases and facilities within these countries' territories that were used in the military aggression against Iran," Takht Ravanchi emphasized.

He hailed the countries that "stood on the right side of history" and condemned the US-Israeli aggression against Iran. He strongly criticized the stance of some European countries, which stood on the wrong side of history and not only refrained from condemning the acts of aggression and crime against the Iranian people but even supported them.

Iran has repeatedly stated its commitment to respecting the territorial integrity of all its neighbors under its policy of good neighborliness. However, it warns that if American terrorists utilize the soil, airspace, or facilities of neighboring countries to launch attacks against Iran, those countries will be considered legitimate targets for Iran.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister recognized the Islamic Republic's right to legitimate self-defense in the face of the aggressors as per the United Nations Charter and international law and norms.

"We fought against two major nuclear powers and a vast global army. We lost great figures, Innocent people and innocent children were martyred in the criminal attacks of the aggressors," he said.

"However, the Iranian people resisted and this resistance is not only for the defense of Iran's existence but also for defending the interests and benefits of all the countries in the region against Israel's expansionism and warmongering and this regime's threat is not limited to Iran but it poses a threat to the stability and security of the entire region," Takht Ravanchi pointed out.

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President Pezeshkian: Continuation of truce hinges on US adherence to commitments

Iran Press TV

Friday, 10 April 2026 6:37 AM

The Iranian president says the continuation of a temporary ceasefire agreement depends on the adherence of the United States to its commitments.

Masoud Pezeshkian made the remarks during a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, one day after a two-week truce went into force between Tehran and Washington to pave the way for negotiations.

The Pakistan-mediated ceasefire deal followed the failure of the US and the Israeli regime to achieve their objectives after 41 days of war against the Iranian nation.

"Iran's responsible approach towards accepting the ceasefire is in line with preserving regional stability and preventing the spread of clashes," he said, adding that the truce's "continuation depends on the opposite side's adherence to its commitments."

Pezeshkian also expressed gratitude to the efforts of friendly countries to stop the illegal US-Israeli act of aggression against Iran and praised Turkey's condemnation of the military assault and the Turkish nation's solidarity with the Iranian nation during the imposed war.

"Despite the United States' betrayal of diplomacy and attacks against Iran during the last two rounds of negotiations, the Islamic Republic maintained its responsible stance and accepted the request of neighboring and friendly states to stop fighting and establish a ceasefire," he said.

Both US-Israeli wars against Iran, including the 12-day aggression in June 2025 and this year's 41-day war, occurred amid indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States.

The latest criminal US-Israeli aggression on Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders.

Iranian armed forces responded by launching daily missile and drone operations targeting locations in the Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military bases and assets across the region.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) announced the ceasefire on Wednesday after the US accepted Iran's 10-point proposal, which also included a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon.

However, Israel violated the truce deal by launching brutal airstrikes on residential buildings in Lebanon, killing more than 300 and injuring more than 1,150 people.

The Iranian president said that Israel's actions are directed towards regional conflagration, urging regional countries to join hands to counter the Zionist regime's warmongering that endangers peace and stability West Asia.

"It is essential for the international community and Islamic countries to press the US and the Zionist regime to stop their aggression and crimes against regional countries, particularly Lebanon."

Erdogan, for his part, wished success for new Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, as well as the Iranian nation and government.

He also expressed his country's support for the Islamic Republic, as he condoled the martyrdom of a number of Iranians in US-Israeli strikes and wished speedy recovery for those injured.

Meanwhile, the Turkish president voiced his satisfaction with the the cessation of the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, saying his country stands ready to cooperate with friendly countries in the region towards a final end to the war and the establishment of lasting security in the region.

Condemning Israeli acts of aggression that violate international law, he stressed the necessity of holding the regime accountable for its crimes against regional countries.

The Israeli regime should not be allowed to disrupt the negotiation process, he said.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

Businessman Wicknell Chivayo has lashed out at social media personality Ethias following criticism over how he handled a high-profile bereavement donation.The exchange comes after Chivayo donated a Toyota Fortuner GD6 valued at US$80,000 and US$50,000 in cash to Ronald Mujuru, a Harare man who recently lost his wife and five children in a tragic road accident.Ethias, while acknowledging the generosity of the gesture, questioned the manner in which the donation was delivered.He argued that, in line with African customs surrounding "chema" - a traditional contribution to grieving families - assistance should be brought directly to the bereaved rather than requiring them to travel to collect it."It may be very difficult at this time for Ronald to travel specifically to collect this gift," he said, suggesting that the vehicle be delivered to the family instead.In a strongly worded response, Chivayo dismissed the criticism, insisting that the recipient was satisfied with the arrangement.According to him, Mujuru personally contacted him to express gratitude and indicated willingness to collect the vehicle once it is registered."The recipient is very happy he said he would head there to collect the car," Chivayo said.He went on to criticise social media users, saying he does not concern himself with opinions from individuals who "fail to appreciate" acts of generosity.Chivayo also took a direct swipe at Ethias, questioning his financial standing and urging critics to acknowledge charitable efforts.The exchange has sparked debate online, with some supporting Ethias' call for cultural sensitivity during mourning, while others have defended Chivayo's contribution as a significant act of compassion regardless of delivery method.The incident highlights broader conversations around philanthropy, public perception and cultural expectations in times of grief.
David Schenker: US And Iran 'Very Far' Apart Before Pakistan Talks

By Current Time April 10, 2026

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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-cease-fire- negotiations-war/33729595.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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Transit Toll: A Sea Change In US Freedom Of Navigation Policy?

By Ivan Gutterman April 10, 2026

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.

If the US allows a toll to be charged for use of the strait, which President Trump says could be done as a "joint venture" between the US and Iran, it could signal a shift in decades-long American policy on freedom of navigation - and embolden countries like China, which has long sought more control over the South China Sea.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/strait-of-hormuz-tolls- legal-un-law-of-sea/33728583.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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Vance Heads To Pakistan For Highest-Level US-Iran Talks In Decades, Trump Warns Of New Strikes If They Fail

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda April 10, 2026

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 we're 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 don't 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.

"We're loading up the ships with the best weapons ever made.... And if we don't 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: "We're going to find out in about 24 hours. We're 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

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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Pakistani PM Says 'Make Or Break' Talks Start April 11, Trumps Warns US Warships Rearming

22:07 10.4.2026

Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif said the US-Iran talks in Islamabad are due to start on April 11 and called it a "make or break situation," multiple media outlets reported.

JD Vance was on his way to Pakistan for the talks, which come after the US and Iran reached a two-week cease-fire agreement on April 7 after about five weeks of war.

Iranian media reported that Tehran's team had landed in the Pakistani capital, led by parliament spaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

"In response to my sincere invitation, the leaderships of both countries are coming to Islamabad," Sharif said in a televised address. "There, negotiations will be held for the establishment of peace."

Restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz and continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, the home of Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, are adding to tension ahead of the talks.

US President Donald 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.

"We're loading up the ships with the best weapons ever made.... And if we don't have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively," he said.

Asked on April 10 whether he thought the talks would be successful, he told the Post: "We're going to find out in about 24 hours. We're going to know soon."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=449049

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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Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Shot Down Iranian Drones In Middle East

11:29 10.4.2026

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukrainian personnel have shot down Iranian Shahed drones in the Middle East.

In a X post, the Ukrainian president wrote:

"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. And in my view, this is a success."

In late March, President Zelenskyy toured the Middle East, promoting Ukraine's advanced drone and anti-drone technologies to Gulf Arab states that are increasingly vulnerable to Iranian drones breaching their airspace.

During this trip, Ukraine signed long-term security and defense cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

"In those countries that opened up their air defense systems to us, our experts were able to very quickly advise how to make those systems stronger, " Zelenskyy wrote.

Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine had "shot down drones with jet engines."

He was referring to Ukrainian-made drones intercepting Iranian kamikaze drones with small turbojet engines -- namely the Shahed-238, which Russia also uses under the name Geran-3.

Most Shahed drones are driven by propellers.

"Now it is only a matter of time before we begin mass production of interceptors that will destroy drones with jet engines," Zelenskyy said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog- trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=448980

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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Iran Wants Lebanon Truce and Frozen Assets Released Before US Peace Talks - Parliament Speaker

Sputnik News

20260410

Iran expects a ceasefire in Lebanon and the unblocking of Iranian assets before starting peace talks with Washington, according to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf.

"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 on X.

On Wednesday, Israeli warplanes and artillery 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.

Iran's Foreign Ministry has stated that holding negotiations to end the US-Iran conflict depends on commitment to ceasefire obligations on all fronts.

On Tuesday night, Trump said that he had agreed to a two-week bilateral ceasefire with Iran, assuring Iran had also agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian Supreme National Security Council said thereafter Tehran would begin talks with the US on Friday in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

 Sputnik

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UN chief welcomes U.S.-Iran talks mediated by Pakistan: spokesperson

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:36, April 11, 2026

UNITED NATIONS, April 10 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes the U.S.-Iran talks that are mediated by Pakistan, scheduled to start in Islamabad over the weekend, his spokesperson said Friday.

"He calls on the parties to seize this diplomatic opportunity to engage in good faith toward a lasting and comprehensive agreement, with a view to deescalation and the prevention of a return to hostilities," spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a daily briefing.

"The Secretary-General reiterates that there is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, in full accordance with international law, including the UN Charter," Dujarric said.

The UN chief's personal envoy for the Middle East conflict and its consequences, Jean Arnault, continues to be in the region to support diplomatic efforts, Dujarric added.

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Vance Leads Critical Diplomacy With Iran As Cease-Fire Hangs In The Balance

By Alex Raufoglu April 11, 2026

Summary

Special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as well as officials from the National Security Council, State Department, and Pentagon, will join Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad.

Analyst Ryan Bohl: Both Washington and Tehran are negotiating under pressure.

A key point of friction lies in whether Israel's campaign in Lebanon should be tied to the US-Iran negotiations.

WASHINGTON -- US Vice President JD Vance has stepped into the most consequential diplomatic challenge of his tenure, heading to Islamabad to lead high-stakes negotiations with Iran.

These talks may ultimately determine whether a fragile, two-week cease-fire holds, or the region collapses back into renewed conflict.

The American delegation includes special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as well as officials from the National Security Council, State Department, and Pentagon. They face an Iranian team led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

Back in Washington, President Donald Trump has struck a dual tone of optimism and deterrence.

Speaking to reporters on April 10, Trump noted he expects progress that could "open up the Gulf with or without" a formal deal, while simultaneously warning that he would not allow Iran to effectively toll or control the Strait of Hormuz.

Yet, as negotiations are set to begin on April 11, the path to a lasting settlement remains deeply uncertain--shaped by competing pressures, regional conflict dynamics, and fundamental disagreements over the requirements for peace.

Negotiations Born of Pressure, Not Trust

For Ryan Bohl, senior Middle East and North Africa analyst at RANE risk intelligence company, the seriousness of the talks is not in doubt -- but their outcome is far from guaranteed.

"The talks are serious," Bohl told RFE/RL on April 10, pointing to a diminished US appetite for prolonged conflict and Iran's urgent need for a pathway toward reconstruction and internal stability.

"But there remains uncertainty as to how much either side is willing to compromise."

In Bohl's assessment, both Washington and Tehran are negotiating under pressure, though the leverage is asymmetrical. Iran believes it holds a strategic advantage through its influence over the Strait of Hormuz and its higher tolerance for short-term strain.

"Iran's political will, in the near term, is not as weak as America's," Bohl said. "They seem to think they can leverage this to gain concessions."

That leverage is psychological as much as it is material. Bohl suggests Tehran is finding opportunity in Washington's inconsistent messaging.

"Tehran likely sees Washington's somewhat erratic communications as a sign of weakness and urgency," he said, adding that this emboldens them to push for concessions such as the unfreezing of assets for reconstruction.

At the same time, Trump's political calculus complicates the US position. Determined not to appear to be conceding to Tehran, the president may limit the flexibility required for a breakthrough, despite domestic vulnerabilities that Bohl suggests could weaken Washington's hand.

Hormuz: Strategic Asset Or Escalatory Trap?

This tension is most visible in the Strait of Hormuz, the vital artery for global energy that Iran has partially restricted.

Dan Arbell, a veteran of the Israeli Foreign Service and scholar-in-residence at American University, describes the situation as precarious.

"The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is still very much in place," Arbell told RFE/RL. While a "trickling passage" of ships continues, Iran has linked full restoration of transit to Israeli operations in Lebanon. "That is certainly undermining the current effort," Arbell added.

Bohl views Iran's posture as a calculated gamble.

"Iran has demonstrated it effectively controls Hormuz for now," he said. "But Trump may still believe he needs to use force to reopen it if Iran uses it as a bargaining chip for too long."

The result is a volatile equilibrium: a strategic chokehold that provides Tehran leverage but risks triggering the very military response it seeks to avoid.

The Lebanon Front: A Potential Deal-Breaker

Complicating the diplomacy is the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and Israel. Iran insists this front cannot be separated from a broader cease-fire.

Bohl underscores that Tehran views the group as essential to deterring future Israeli military campaigns: "Iran cannot let Hezbollah be picked off by the Israelis."

Arbell points to the ongoing violence as a primary obstacle. "Israel is bombing targets across Lebanon...while Hezbollah continues firing rockets into northern Israel," he said.

These developments pose a direct challenge to the Islamabad track.

Parallel efforts are under way to address this. The US State Department is expected to host ambassador-level talks between Israel and Lebanon on April 14 in Washington. However, Arbell warns that expectations should remain modest.

"We have to be realistic," Arbell said. "There will not be change overnight. This is a process." He said that while Israel's priority is the disarmament of Hezbollah, the militant group is unlikely to disarm without a broader regional shift.

US and Israel: Aligned, But Not Identical

A key point of friction lies in whether Israel's campaign in Lebanon should be tied to the US-Iran negotiations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought to preserve freedom of action against Hezbollah, but that position is shifting under American pressure.

"Israel was advocating not to tie the two," Arbell said. "But in recent days, it's clear the US is expecting Israel to deescalate...to avoid undermining the larger effort."

Arbell clarified that this is a "difference of approach" rather than a rupture in the alliance. While the US is focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and stabilizing global markets, Israel remains focused on degrading Hezbollah's capabilities.

He suggested a firmer US message to Netanyahu could emerge over the weekend, urging restraint to give diplomacy a chance.

Limits of Diplomacy And Need for Realism

The core of the negotiations remains anchored in long-standing US demands: curbs on Iran's nuclear program, limits on missile development, and an end to support for regional proxies like Hamas and the Houthis in Yemen.

Arbell cautions that the US cannot expect Iran to "change overnight" or surrender. He argues for a pragmatic approach: "The US needs to bring ideas that can be implemented and accepted. Otherwise, this will not happen."

Both analysts see a convergence of interests in pausing the conflict. Arbell noted that Iran needs "breathing space" to recover from the devastation of recent attacks.

Bohl, however, sees a risk of stalemate. "One realistic off-ramp is mutual exhaustion," he said. But he also warned of a less stable possibility: If Washington exhausts its political will before Tehran, Iran could retain informal control over the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining the ability to disrupt it again in the future.

Why Islamabad Holds the Key

While multiple diplomatic tracks exist, both experts agree that the Islamabad talks carry the most immediate weight.

"I think the Pakistan talks are more important," Arbell concluded. "What happens between the US and Iran has a greater impact on the overall situation." Unlike the complex Israel-Lebanon track, these negotiations could produce outcomes implemented within days.

For Vice President Vance, the moment is defining. Success could stabilize a volatile region and mark a major diplomatic achievement for the administration. Failure risks entrenching a cycle of conflict marked by recurring violence and persistent threats to the global economy.

As talks begin, the question is no longer whether both sides want an off-ramp, but whether they can agree on one before the balance between leverage and escalation collapses.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/vance-pakistan- islamabad-iran-war-negotiations/33729623.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 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Type: Media Statements

Government: The 37th Government

Publish Date: 10.04.2026

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this afternoon [translated from Hebrew]:

"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.

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.

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Israeli missile interceptors dwindle to 'double digits' after aggression against Iran: Report

Iran Press TV

Friday, 10 April 2026 3:57 PM

The number of ballistic missile interceptors remaining in Israel's arsenal has dwindled to the "double digits" following weeks of US-Israeli aggression against Iran, according to a media report.

"They're having to pick and choose what they shoot down," an official from the administration of US President Donald Trump told Drop Site News.

A White House spokesperson referred questions about the dwindling stockpile to the Israeli military. The Israeli military responded to Drop Site by saying "we are checking" and indicated it was still working on a full answer.

The critical shortage has reportedly forced the Israeli military to be far more selective when attempting to intercept ballistic missiles from Iran and the regional Axis of Resistance.

A recent analysis by the London-based Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI)  a think tank with ties to British intelligence  highlights the serious difficulties facing the Israeli military.

By March 24, Israel had already expended 122 of its 150 Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 missiles, along with 22 of its 48 THAAD missiles. These interceptors are both extremely expensive and time-consuming to replace.

Each Arrow interceptor costs $2-3 million and takes months to produce, while a single THAAD interceptor  designed to destroy ballistic missiles in their terminal phase  costs a staggering $12 million.

In many cases, multiple interceptors are needed to engage one incoming ballistic missile.

According to the report, Iran is believed to be deliberately employing a strategy of draining the Israeli stockpile. Tehran reportedly fired older missile models in the initial waves specifically to exhaust Israel's interceptor stockpiles, effectively making a "down payment" so that future attacks with more advanced missiles would have a greater impact once interceptor reserves were depleted.

Information on missile impacts and damage in Israeli-occupied territories remains heavily censored by the Israeli military, making independent verification of Iranian attack effectiveness difficult.

However, an April 6 research paper by JP Morgan, citing data from the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), reported that the missile impact rate against Israel had risen sharply from 3% in the first two weeks of the war to 27%.

This increase is attributed in part to Iran's decision to deploy missiles with cluster warheads, which create smaller, dispersed impacts and force Israel to expend more interceptors.

On Monday, the Jerusalem Post reported that the Israeli Ministry of Military Affairs intends to accelerate production of new Arrow missiles.

The shrinking supply has also increased Israel's reliance on US Navy missile systems, particularly destroyers stationed in the region.

The recent departure of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, driven by fears of Iranian retaliation, has further reduced that support. According to RUSI, the US has fired 431 of its roughly 2,500 Navy Aegis ballistic missile interceptors in defense of Israeli-occupied territories, making them a last-resort savior for the Israeli military.

In addition, the US military has been forced to expend large quantities of its own limited interceptor stocks to protect allied Arab states in the Persian Gulf, drawing down munitions originally intended for deterrence against China under the long-planned "Asian Pivot."

Iran also launched more than 500 ballistic missiles at the occupied territories during the 12-Day Israeli war in June 2025, significantly depleting Israeli stocks even before the current conflict. The drain intensified after the US reportedly used roughly 25% of its THAAD inventory, along with an unknown number of Patriot and SM-3 missiles, to defend Israeli-occupied territories during that earlier war.

Beyond their high cost, missile interceptors are notoriously slow to produce.

Earlier this year, Lockheed Martin signed a deal with the Pentagon to raise annual production from 96 to 400 units. However, this expansion will be staggered over the next seven years and will do little to relieve immediate shortages. The US procured only 12 THAAD interceptors in 2025 and is scheduled to receive just 37 this year.

Israel's war doctrine had assumed a quick victory that would rapidly reduce Iranian missile launches by destroying stockpiles and launchers.

Despite extensive US-Israeli aerial campaigns and massive American support, Iranian missile launches have continued at a steady rate for weeks. Iran's mobile launchers and deeply buried underground bases have proven highly resilient to attack.

The entry of Hezbollah's resistance movement and Yemen's Ansarullah into the war has placed additional strain on Israeli defenses.

Israeli war minister Israel Katz has announced plans to scale up production while denying any serious problem.

The United States and Israel launched their unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on February 28. They assassinated the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and struck nuclear sites, schools, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure.

On Wednesday, Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) announced a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire agreement after the US accepted Iran's 10-point proposal, with potential negotiations to follow that could lead to a permanent end to the war.

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News / National

by Stephen Jakes

The Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Mineral Workers Union (ZDAMWU) has welcomed the introduction of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the mining sector, describing it as a historic milestone for workers' rights and protections.ZDAMWU General Secretary Justice Chinhema said the registration of Statutory Instrument 71 of 2026 marks the end of the longstanding SI 152 of 1990 framework, which had governed the industry for 34 years but no longer reflected current realities."Today we turn a historic page in the mining industry," Chinhema said, noting that the new agreement introduces a modern, rightsbased approach anchored in improved protections and clearer enforcement mechanisms.He highlighted that ZDAMWU's admission into the National Employment Council for the Mining Industry played a key role in shaping the new framework, which replaces what he described as an outdated regime.Among the notable provisions in the new CBA are stronger regulations on fixedterm contracts, aimed at preventing employers from indefinitely denying workers permanent employment.The agreement also introduces enhanced maternity protections, including 98 days of fully paid leave, retention of benefits and seniority, as well as paid breastfeeding time for nursing mothers.In addition, the agreement strengthens measures against workplace sexual harassment by aligning disciplinary procedures with the Labour Act and explicitly categorising such conduct as a serious offence that can lead to dismissal.Chinhema said that while the agreement is not perfect, it represents a significant breakthrough achieved through workers' efforts."This is a beginning, not an end," he said. "It lays a solid foundation for us to push further."Looking ahead, the union said it will prioritise negotiations around allowances under Schedule F, particularly those related to transport, housing, underground risk, heat exposure and night work. It also pledged to intensify efforts to secure a living wage, ensuring that basic pay moves beyond subsistence levels to guarantee dignity for mineworkers and their families.ZDAMWU reiterated its commitment to leveraging the new agreement to advocate for continuous improvements in safety, fair remuneration and overall working conditions across the mining sector.
Netanyahu requests delay in corruption trial testimony amid Iran ceasefire

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 11 April 2026 6:16 AM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on the court responsible for his corruption trial to postpone his testimony, citing "security concerns."

His lawyer made the request in a court filing on Friday.

Netanyahu's long-running corruption trial was set to resume on Sunday, after Israel lifted a state of emergency imposed over its war of aggression on Iran following Wednesday's ceasefire announcement.

The defense said it was prepared to continue hearing the testimony of a prosecution witness.

"Due to classified security and diplomatic reasons connected ... to the dramatic events that have taken place ... in recent times, the Prime Minister will not be able to testify in the proceeding for at least the next two weeks," the filing said.

It said that a sealed envelope detailing the classified reasons was delivered to the court, which will rule once the prosecution submits its response.

Netanyahu, the first sitting Israeli prime minister to be charged with a crime, denies charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust brought in 2019 after years of investigations.

His trial, which began in 2020 and could lead to jail terms, has been repeatedly delayed due to various wars his cabinet has initiated, including the Gaza genocide since 2023, which has killed at least 72,000 Palestinians, two wars of aggression against Iran in 2025 and 2026, and recurring assaults on Lebanon since 2023, with no end date in sight.

The charges against Netanyahu, along with the al-Aqsa Flood Operation conducted by Palestinians resistance movements in October 2023, have damaged his standing.

Israel is due to hold an election in October that Netanyahu's coalition, the most right-wing in Israel's history, is likely to lose, according to polls.

On February 28, Israel, under Netanyahu, and along with the US, began a war of aggression against Iran by attacking 30 targets across the capital and assassinating several high-ranking Iranian officials, including the Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Akhemeni.

Iranian armed forces responded by launching almost daily missile and drone operations targeting locations in the Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military bases and assets across the region.

On April 8, Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) announced that there was an agreement to a Pakistan-brokered temporary ceasefire after the US accepted Iran's 10-point proposal.

Following the announcement of the ceasefire, the leader of the Israeli opposition, Yair Lapid, condemned Netanyahu's actions, saying he failed to achieve any of the goals of the war, while Iranian armed forces managed to inflict severe damage upon US-Israeli interests in the region.

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Japan mulls extra 20 days worth of oil release with Hormuz passage unclear

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

10.04.2026 [17:39]

Baku, April 10, AZERTAC

Japan is considering an additional release of its oil reserves providing 20 days of domestic consumption in May, as uncertainties remain over safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz even with the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, according to Japan Today.

The United States and Iran agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, shortly before the expiry of U.S. President Donald Trump's self-imposed deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face the destruction of its critical infrastructure.

But it remains uncertain whether the strait will be reopened or operate under the same conditions as it was before the war, with Israel continuing to attack the Iran-affiliated Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.

The industry ministry is weighing up the extra release on concerns that the effective closure of the strait may continue.

The government started its largest-ever discharge of oil stockpiles in mid-March to ensure a stable oil supply after the U.S.-Israeli launch of attacks on Iran on Feb. 28 left the key energy shipping waterway largely closed.

The government aims to provide a total of about 80 million barrels of oil, equivalent to about 50 days' worth of consumption, to the market from oil reserves held by the state, the private sector and oil-producing Gulf countries.

Of the total, state-held oil covering 30 days is set to be released from 11 bases nationwide by the end of April.

Resource-poor Japan relies on imports for almost all of its crude oil, with over 90 percent of it coming from the Middle East.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed her support for a possible additional joint oil stockpile release by the 32-member International Energy Agency when she met with IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol in Tokyo last month.

IEA countries also started their oil reserve releases in mid-March, totaling over 400 million barrels, the first such coordinated move since 2022 when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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Japan to release extra 20 days' worth of oil reserve from May

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

10.04.2026 [10:51]

Baku, April 10, AZERTAC

Japan plans to release an additional 20 days' worth of oil reserves starting in early May at the earliest, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Friday, amid uncertainty over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz despite the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal, according to Kyodo.

The plan was revealed at a ministerial meeting to address the Middle East situation and will follow the nation's ongoing release of some 50 days' worth of oil to the market, which began in mid-March, from reserves held by the state, the private sector and oil-producing Gulf countries.

As Japan prepares for a potential prolonged disruption in crude oil supplies, Takaichi stated at the partially open meeting to media, "We will take every possible measure to ensure a stable supply of crude oil."

Takaichi also directed related ministers to clear logistical bottlenecks involving paint thinners for home construction and car repairs, as well as fuel oil used in the production of green tea.

Japan relies on the Middle East for more than 90 percent of its crude oil imports, most of which pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy shipments which Iran effectively blocked after the launch of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.

Washington and Tehran agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, just before a deadline unilaterally set by U.S. President Donald Trump expired for Tehran to reopen the strait or face the destruction of its critical infrastructure.

However, it remains unclear whether Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will be lifted, as Israel has reportedly continued to attack the Iran-affiliated Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon even after the ceasefire deal was made.

Japan's first release of oil stockpiles, which began on March 16 following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, is the resource-poor country's largest ever. Operations are expected to end by the end of April.

Takaichi has said Japan can secure enough oil supplies to last until next year. She cited the government's efforts to diversify oil suppliers and shipping routes.

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Japan-Australia Vice Ministers' Meeting

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

April 10, 2026

On April 10, commencing at 3:00 p.m. local time (2.00 p.m. on April 10, Japan time) for approximately 3 hours and half, including a break, Mr. FUNAKOSHI Takehiro, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting including a working dinner with his Australian counterpart, Ms. Jan Adams, Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia. The overview of the meeting is as follows:

Marking the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Japan and Australia this year, the two sides confirmed their commitment to building on concrete bilateral cooperation across a wide range of fields. Given the current challenging strategic environment, the two sides concurred that they would further strengthen security cooperation between Japan and Australia and pursue closer collaboration in the field of economic security, including supply chain resilience and the energy sector. The two sides discussed various challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, shared their views, and confirmed to work together to address these issues. The two sides confirmed the importance of further promoting multi-layered cooperation with allies and like-minded countries, including strengthening cooperation with the U.S., the common ally, and reinforcing the network of like-minded countries in the region. They also concurred that Japan and Australia would work closely with regional partners to realize and evolve a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)". The two sides exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East, including the situation in Iran and early stabilization of situations such as securing the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and confirmed to work closely together in addressing the situation.

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Japan-India Foreign Ministers' Telephone Call

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

April 10, 2026

On April 10, commencing at 1:45 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone call with H.E. Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India.

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. 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.

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Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Funakoshi's Call with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Landau

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

April 10, 2026

On the morning of April 10, for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. FUNAKOSHI Takehiro, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a phone call with the Honorable Christopher Landau, Deputy Secretary of State of the United States of America during his visit to Australia. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

Two sides, building on the outcomes of the Prime Minister TAKAICHI's visit to the United States, affirmed that Japan and the United States would advance high-quality bilateral cooperation in concrete terms across a wide range of areas, such as the economy including economic security, and security, and strongly promote a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, and concurred to elevate the Japan-U.S. Alliance to further heights. The two sides exchanged views on the current situation surrounding Iran. In response to the updates and explanations provided by Deputy Secretary Landau on the U.S. position and views on the issue, Vice-Minister FUNAKOSHI reiterated the importance of early de-escalation of the situation and the peace and stability in the Middle East region including the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and explained Japan's diplomatic efforts. The two sides concurred to continue close communication. The two sides also exchanged views broadly on regional situations including issues related to China. They affirmed that Japan and the United States would continue working closely together.

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Parliamentary election to be held in Kazakhstan in August, president says

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

10.04.2026 [14:32]

Baku, April 10, AZERTAC

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the president of Kazakhstan, said on Friday that a parliamentary election in the resource-rich Central Asian country would take place in August, but stopped short of naming an exact date, according to Reuters.

Kazakhs in March voted overwhelmingly in favour of adopting a new constitution to streamline the country's parliament and recreate the office of vice president.

The changes also reduce the number of chambers in the parliament from two to one.

The new single-chamber parliament will be called the Kurultai, which means "gathering" in Kazakh and is a nod to the country's steppe traditions. It will host 145 deputies elected for five-year terms.

The current parliament is due to dissolve itself on July 1.

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Anti-China Demonstrators In Kazakhstan Awaiting Sentence In Closed-Door Trial

By Meiirim Baqytzhan April 10, 2026

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 Kazakhstan's 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 China's 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 government's 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 People's Republic of China and an insult to the image of the Communist Party of China and China's 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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-kazakhstan-xinjiang- trial-central-asia-atajurt/33729266.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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PM call with Prime Minister Sharif of Pakistan: 10 April 2026

News story

The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif this afternoon.

From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

Published 10 April 2026

The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif this afternoon.

The Prime Minister said that the ceasefire was very welcome and thanked Sharif for Pakistan's critical role.

They agreed that the upcoming talks were vital to progress the ceasefire towards lasting peace, and to ensure the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Recognising that it was still early days, the Prime Minister was clear that the UK was supportive of this process and hoped it would pave the way to a long-term resolution of the conflict.

They recognised the long and deep ties between the UK and Pakistan and agreed to stay in touch going forward.

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MOFA Spokesperson's Commentary on Japan's Diplomatic Bluebook 2026

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea

Date: 2026-04-10

The government of the Republic of Korea strongly protests against the Japanese government's repeated inclusion of unjust sovereignty claims over Dokdo, which is clearly an integral part of the ROK territory historically, geographically and under international law, in its Diplomatic Bluebook released on April 10, 2026. The ROK government urges the Japanese government to immediately withdraw such claims.

The ROK government makes it clear once again that the Japanese government's unjust claims over Dokdo, an integral part of the ROK territory, do not have any impact on the ROK's sovereignty over it, and that the ROK government will continue to respond firmly to any of Japan's provocations over Dokdo.

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